I am super duper excited for Christmas next week! But something that is honestly different this year than in all the past years is that I have truly been preparing my heart to worship our King. I talked about this with my Sunday School girls a few weeks ago. The wise men had prepared and planned for years and years before that glorious star shone in the heavens. They knew exactly Who that star was for and exactly what they were going to take to Him and how they would worship Him. The Bible says that their joy and excitement was almost too much to contain when they saw the star appear again after arriving in Jerusalem and asking Herod where they could find the new King. Their journey was long, but the King they were going to see was worth it! I am so thankful that Christmas is on a Sunday this year. It gives me an even better chance to worship my King, that same King the wise men worshipped 2000 years ago. I will be able to worship Him with my family and my church family. My heart and mind are prepared to bring Him praise and worship.
Merry Christmas, everyone! God is good!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Adios, Facebook!
While I have loved keeping in touch with friends and family on Facebook, the time has come for me to say good riddance. I have loved being able to read other people's statuses, quotes, verses, daily knowledge, etc, but what I saw today infuriated me to the core of who I am. It made me sad because I know that it was absolutely contrary to what God would want.
Let me explain....
After I finished up my transcription work earlier, I clicked over to Facebook. One of my friends had posted a commented on a picture that was HORRIBLE! HORRIBLE!!!!!! It was the worst image I have ever seen in my life. It was not an ad on the side of the page, but an actual picture that someone posted to get a rise out of people and start a battle. There were over 26,000 comments for the picture by the time I saw it, so that means it had been on there for some time.
I just cannot tolerate this in my house. What if my little girls had been beside me and looked at that??? No way. Not in my house.
I know what some people are going to say...."But FB can be used for so much good." or "I am able to pass along prayer requests so people will pray for whatever is going on." I answer "true" to both of those. But the thing is is that FB was created by someone who is not a Christian and is not regulated by Christians. If I have a prayer request, I am going to go about it the old fashioned way. I'm going to talk to people face to face or give them a call on the ole telephone.
This is not by any means written to try to convince anyone else that they should not be on FB any longer. But the convictions of the Holy Spirit have led me to the deactivation. He made it fully aware to me that it was time to say Adios!
Let me explain....
After I finished up my transcription work earlier, I clicked over to Facebook. One of my friends had posted a commented on a picture that was HORRIBLE! HORRIBLE!!!!!! It was the worst image I have ever seen in my life. It was not an ad on the side of the page, but an actual picture that someone posted to get a rise out of people and start a battle. There were over 26,000 comments for the picture by the time I saw it, so that means it had been on there for some time.
I just cannot tolerate this in my house. What if my little girls had been beside me and looked at that??? No way. Not in my house.
I know what some people are going to say...."But FB can be used for so much good." or "I am able to pass along prayer requests so people will pray for whatever is going on." I answer "true" to both of those. But the thing is is that FB was created by someone who is not a Christian and is not regulated by Christians. If I have a prayer request, I am going to go about it the old fashioned way. I'm going to talk to people face to face or give them a call on the ole telephone.
This is not by any means written to try to convince anyone else that they should not be on FB any longer. But the convictions of the Holy Spirit have led me to the deactivation. He made it fully aware to me that it was time to say Adios!
"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." James 4:17
Sunday, October 2, 2011
This was in a BAPTIST church...
This is an excerpt from a book by Bro. G.E. Jones....
"In 1930 I was holding a meeting in a Baptist church at Birdtown, AR. One Monday morning the services began at 10:30. I only spoke about 30 minutes. But the Spirit of God came on us in a mighty way. For about two hours we wept, we shouted, we laughed for joy, we walked the floor and shook hands with each other. One wave of joy would sweep the congregation for 15 or 20 minutes. Then everything would get as quiet as death. Then another wave of joy would come over us an for about 15 or 20 minutes we would again shout, and laugh, and weep for joy, and shake hands. Then everything would be quiet again for 5 or 10 minutes. Then again a wave of joy would sweep the house and we would rejoice as before. It went on and on in this way for about two hours. I guess I must have shouted a dozen times that day, and so did others. A Negro woman nearby came out in the yard to draw water. The power of the Spirit rested on her and she shouted all over the back yard.
If something like this would happen in some of these fine expensive churches the people would be scared half to death. Well, brother, if you can't take shouting, you had better be getting ready to where you can take it. Some day our Lord shall split the heaven open with a SHOUT. He will begin it, and immediately He shall be joined by the shouting of millions of saints whose graves have bursted open, and by the livingt saints who shall be translated. The very heavens will ring with the shouts of angels and the redeemed and with Christ. "Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever SHOUT FOR JOY," Psalm 5:11. Many yet tell me that service we had that Monday morning at Birdtown was the greatest they were ever in. Take your fine church buildings if you want them. I will take a great spiritual service like this every time.
One Sunday morning in a service at the old Mt. Pleasant Church near Plumerville, AR, about 40 lost people came for prayer. I called on the saved to gather at the front to pray for them. They packed the front of that building. For about 10 minutes we knelt and wept. We were too full for anyone to word a prayer. After a while Bro. Trafford, who is now with the Lord, became able to control his feelings enough to word a prayer. As he prayed with fervor and with a choking voice, the sinners began to come out of the altar shouting. They were saved so fast we lost count. Would you like to see such as this again? Well, God has not changed. If we will get back to the old time ways of preaching, living, and holding services then we can see such again. "
WOWZERS. What do y'all think about that? I am open to hearing your thoughts....
"In 1930 I was holding a meeting in a Baptist church at Birdtown, AR. One Monday morning the services began at 10:30. I only spoke about 30 minutes. But the Spirit of God came on us in a mighty way. For about two hours we wept, we shouted, we laughed for joy, we walked the floor and shook hands with each other. One wave of joy would sweep the congregation for 15 or 20 minutes. Then everything would get as quiet as death. Then another wave of joy would come over us an for about 15 or 20 minutes we would again shout, and laugh, and weep for joy, and shake hands. Then everything would be quiet again for 5 or 10 minutes. Then again a wave of joy would sweep the house and we would rejoice as before. It went on and on in this way for about two hours. I guess I must have shouted a dozen times that day, and so did others. A Negro woman nearby came out in the yard to draw water. The power of the Spirit rested on her and she shouted all over the back yard.
If something like this would happen in some of these fine expensive churches the people would be scared half to death. Well, brother, if you can't take shouting, you had better be getting ready to where you can take it. Some day our Lord shall split the heaven open with a SHOUT. He will begin it, and immediately He shall be joined by the shouting of millions of saints whose graves have bursted open, and by the livingt saints who shall be translated. The very heavens will ring with the shouts of angels and the redeemed and with Christ. "Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever SHOUT FOR JOY," Psalm 5:11. Many yet tell me that service we had that Monday morning at Birdtown was the greatest they were ever in. Take your fine church buildings if you want them. I will take a great spiritual service like this every time.
One Sunday morning in a service at the old Mt. Pleasant Church near Plumerville, AR, about 40 lost people came for prayer. I called on the saved to gather at the front to pray for them. They packed the front of that building. For about 10 minutes we knelt and wept. We were too full for anyone to word a prayer. After a while Bro. Trafford, who is now with the Lord, became able to control his feelings enough to word a prayer. As he prayed with fervor and with a choking voice, the sinners began to come out of the altar shouting. They were saved so fast we lost count. Would you like to see such as this again? Well, God has not changed. If we will get back to the old time ways of preaching, living, and holding services then we can see such again. "
WOWZERS. What do y'all think about that? I am open to hearing your thoughts....
Saturday, October 1, 2011
What I want and what I need...
I've been thinking about this a whole lot lately. I have so much in my life that I am so very thankful for! My husband, children, family, church, house, cars, clothes, jewelry, shoes, decorations, washing machine/dryer/dishwasher, a/c and heater, flushing toilets, etc. The list could go on and on and on. But point of the matter is that I do not NEED any of it. Please don't get me wrong in this. Like I said, I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR ALL OF THESE AND MUCH MORE. But I do not NEED it. What I need is Jesus. He is all I need. He is everything. He is.
There are often so many times that I get that thought in my head of "I need this new thing or that new thing." In my daily walk with Christ I have to make it a point to wake up in the morning and say, "Jesus, YOU are my all in all. You are Who sustains me. It's not things, and it's not even the people in my life. It's You."
Jesus tells us in Luke 14:26 "If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison--your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple." Those are strong words, right? But we must take this to heart. The way we love others in our life can in no way compare to the way and how much we love Jesus. He is our All in All!
We do absolutely no good in people when we allow them to believe that our wants are the same as our needs. Everyone NEEDS Jesus! If we cause people to believe that they need anything other than Jesus, we have done them a great travesty. We must guard our witness among others and be sure to prove that all we NEED is a relationship with Christ. He supplies everything we NEED. EVERYTHING. Philippians 4:19 "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." That's a promise. Jesus is ALL WE NEED.
I think John Piper said it best in his Prosperity sermon...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTc_FoELt8s&feature=player_detailpage
This is hard to swallow isn't it? As I type this, it is hard. But this is who we are called to be. I choose Christ and all that implies. If God says do it, I choose to do it.
Christ is worth it! He is Love. He laid down His life for me and you. That's not just a story that we have heard at church or on a television program. That's real life! He's real life. He is Life!
There are often so many times that I get that thought in my head of "I need this new thing or that new thing." In my daily walk with Christ I have to make it a point to wake up in the morning and say, "Jesus, YOU are my all in all. You are Who sustains me. It's not things, and it's not even the people in my life. It's You."
Jesus tells us in Luke 14:26 "If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison--your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple." Those are strong words, right? But we must take this to heart. The way we love others in our life can in no way compare to the way and how much we love Jesus. He is our All in All!
We do absolutely no good in people when we allow them to believe that our wants are the same as our needs. Everyone NEEDS Jesus! If we cause people to believe that they need anything other than Jesus, we have done them a great travesty. We must guard our witness among others and be sure to prove that all we NEED is a relationship with Christ. He supplies everything we NEED. EVERYTHING. Philippians 4:19 "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." That's a promise. Jesus is ALL WE NEED.
I think John Piper said it best in his Prosperity sermon...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTc_FoELt8s&feature=player_detailpage
This is hard to swallow isn't it? As I type this, it is hard. But this is who we are called to be. I choose Christ and all that implies. If God says do it, I choose to do it.
Christ is worth it! He is Love. He laid down His life for me and you. That's not just a story that we have heard at church or on a television program. That's real life! He's real life. He is Life!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Shipwreck and Mississippi Mud
My Mam-ma and Mama have made these recipes for years and have passed them down to me and my brother and sister. The original recipes came from my Aunt Sudy who was my Great Granny's sister. I have a cookbook she wrote years ago, and it is FULL of YUMMY recipes! Good 'ole Southern cooking at its best. Here are two of the recipes I made today. Both are super easy and super tasty!!!
Shipwreck
1 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion-chopped
1 medium green bell pepper-chopped
1 small pkg. egg noodles
1 jar (4 oz) chopped pimentos
1 can cream style corn
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 c grated cheddar cheese
salt and pepper
Brown beef, onion, and pepper together stirring over medium heat. Cook noodles according to directions. Drain well. Blend noodles with beef mixture. Stir in pimentos, corn, and soups. Salt and pepper to taste. Pour into 2 1/2 quart casserole dish. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes. Sprinkle cheese over top. Continue baking 10 minutes or until cheese melts.
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| This is a very hearty meal! |
Mississippi Mud Cake
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
2 sticks margarine or butter
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp vanilla
Mix together. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes in a greased and floured pan. Take out of oven and cover with miniature marshmallows. Bring to a boil in a saucepan the following:
1 stick margarine or butter
6 Tbs milk
3 Tbs cocoa
Stir in 1 box powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla. Spread this over top of cake.
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| This cake is insanely delicious! |
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Me! Me! Me! No... J.O.Y.
Too often we are ME-centered. How can I feel happy? How can I look better? How can I get everything in life I want? Why do these things happen to ME? Why can't anyone understand how I feel? Why is no one calling/texting ME? Why do people care about everyone else except ME? etc etc.
Well, the truth is...this world is not about ME. We were not created to bring happiness to ourselves. We were not created to bring glory to ourselves. We were not created to make a bunch of money and continuously buy, buy, buy and want more, more, more. We are in this world for a specific reason.
God tells us, "You have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created." Revelation 4:11. We were created to bring God glory. We are here to love God and to love others. We are called according to His purpose. We are most like Jesus (OUR SAVIOR!) when we love and serve others, and in doing this we further His kingdom.
John 15:12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you."
We must have the mentality of a Christ-centered lifestyle. When we know Who we are loving, serving, and bringing glory to, then everything falls into place. When we replace our thoughts of "I need a break from my family" with "How can I better serve my family today", our world changes. Seriously. When we replace "She ate the last cookie" with "I'm glad she got the last cookie", our world changes. When we replace "I have to do all the work around here" with "Thank you, Lord, for a family to take care of", our world changes. When we replace "These kids are driving me nuts" with "For this child I prayed", our world changes. When we replace "I cannot live with that man/woman for one more second" with "Love is patient. Love is kind.", our world changes.
We live a selfish world. The world tells us to look out for #1. But I can tell you this from experience, my world changes every day that I focus less on ME and more on others.
JESUS first, OTHERS second, YOURSELF last. = JOY
And what is absolutely so neat about this is that not only will we have joy as a reward here on this earth, but Jesus has promised a reward in heaven for serving others.
::Hebrews 6:10 "For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints."::
::Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." ::
::Hebrews 13:16 "And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased."::
This is my goal every day. In all honesty, it is sometimes very difficulty to put others first. Our nature is to immediately think, "well, what about me?". But I am fighting against that. Satan wants me to think about me. And he will not win this battle. God is good to me, and I want to be good to Him which means serving Him and others. I know that staying close to God through prayer and keeping my head and heart in the Word will help me achieve this daily goal. It's hard, but it's SO worth it. :)
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Front Door-First Impression
It's that time of year when I'm feeling especially crafty. I love to recreate things around the house, and this week it's the front door. We don't really have much of a front porch, so I just call it the front door. :) It's time for a little sprucing up and cleaning, and THEN some new decorations at a cheap-O price. I've learned to be very frugal as a stay-at-home, homeschooling Mama. I have set a budget for this "front door" project at $15. My goal is to have mums, pumpkins, and a new homemade wreath. Can it be done for $15? We shall see...
Here is a before pic {Ele felt she needed to be in the pic ;)} and I'll post the after later in the week when my new "first impression" is complete!
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