Are you Game...or Lame? :-)

Oh my goodness. I never....!

Is anybody tempted to try this???

I have to say, Life is short!

Would it be sin to mess up a Krispy Kreme doughnut with a hamburger?

Only Paula Deen.....

Have a great day in the Lord. (We ARE called to be a "peculiar" people!)

Blessings and Fun Days.

The Dreaded Testing Is Upon Us!!!!....

It's that TIME of year again!
Spring always means that Annual Testing is approaching. For homeschoolers this is a necessary but not always desired part of schooling at home. The DREADED HOUR is upon us! We must buck up, be strong, confront it and conquer!!!

My kids have NEVER liked the testing. I must admit neither have I! Not because it drains any supply from my brain, or challenges me to finish umpty-ump questions in a short amount of time! It's just the strain of administering the tests, encouraging "Just do your best", and walking away.

The purposes of these tests is not so much to let us see what our kids know. As parents who have our kids at home every day, we can pretty much discern that information by conversations and questions on a daily basis. The best reasoning for testing (besides that it is a mandatory requirement in NC) is that it allows us to see what our kids do NOT know, or where their weaknesses are. That is where we know we will need to shore up, fill in the cracks, and build their strengths.

As I contemplated all of this last week, I realized that this is a pretty true picture of why God allows us to be tested in our spiritual walks. Does HE know how strong we are? Yes! Does HE know where our weaknesses are? Yes!

How about from our end of the picture? Do we know our strengths? More than likely, and probably we exaggerate them in our own assessment. Do we know our weaknesses? I would say we naturally depress our weaknesses, and do not look at them, nor do we study them. We do not pursue ways to stretch ourselves for growth in those areas. So what does our loving Father do?....... He helps us out. :-)

God does not bring hardships, trials, or suffering our way to punish us, nor does He receive delight in seeing us pay for our shortcomings. He is our Abba! He loves us. He delights in bringing us closer to Himself, and seeing us grow and rely on Him for the knowledge and strength we need. He knows us inside and out.

"O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD." (Psalms 139:1-4)

Testings are the inevitable times in our lives, as children of a caring and concerned God, where He is preparing us for what is ahead. He is laying the foundation for continued growth and the stretching times that will most certainly come as we walk this earth.

So, today I am reminded to be thankful even in the midst of testing. It is a sign that God is just continually checking me out, having me do inventory on my strengths and weaknesses, so that I can take care of the breaches in my walls of defense against the enemy. It is a GOOD thing.

Our God is faithful. He will take care of us. He will not allow us to be tested beyond what we are capable of handling, just as I would never have tested my 2nd grader with 12th grade level materials.

"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." (I Corinthians 10: 12,13)

And now, I must go and get ready to TEST! I don't like making my boys do it, but I know it is for their best, and it is required. I must submit to the authorities over me.

May we know today that God loves us, even as He loved Job, and though some of our trials and testings seem long and hard to endure, in the end, all will be for our good, God's BEST for us. So let us change our view from this end of the picture!

Are you being tested? Thank God that He is with you. He will be your loving and caring administrator as you work through the questions and challenges you face today. He will help you find your weak spots and grow you to face and CONQUER next time this test time rolls around.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting>" (Psalm 139: 23-24)

Courage!

H O N O R A B L E

Honorable - see examples below. :-)

The good-willed men in my family, worthy of my admiration and respect and love.

Men full of compassion, who laugh and love and cry.
Men who will face eternity, who aren't afraid to die.
Men who will fight for freedom and honor once again
God just needs a few good men.....






What this dying world could use is a willing Man of God
Who dares to go against the grain and works without applause;
A man who'll raise the shield of Faith, protecting what is pure;
Whose love is tough and gentle; a man whose word is sure.

God doesn't need an Orator who knows what just to say;
He doesn't need authorities to reason Him away;
He doesn't need an army to guarantee a win;
He just needs a Few Good Men.

Men full of Compassion, who Laugh and Love and Cry-
Men who'll face Eternity and aren't afraid to die-
Men who'll fight for Freedom and Honor once again-
He just needs a Few Good Men.

He calls the broken derelict whose life has been renewed;
He calls the one who has the strength to stand up for the Truth.
Enlistment lines are open and He wants you to come in-
He just needs a Few Good Men.

Men full of Compassion, who Laugh and Love and Cry-
Men who'll face Eternity and aren't afraid to die-
Men who'll fight for Freedom and Honor once again-
He just needs a Few Good Men.

Thanking God for the Good Men in my Life,

The Big 18!

" But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world...All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love." (I John 4: 4,15,16)

Jonny is 18 today!

My 3rd born, 2nd son:

God dedicated
student
sports lovin'
hiking
driving
friend committed
big brother
little brother
Lord serving
worship team
weight lifting
supplement faithful
biggest loser (weight, that is!!!)
protein eatin'
Chuck Norris fan
Dark Knight fan
Rocky/Rambo fan
knife lovin'
gun supporting
ooo-rah Marines loyal
awesome.... son....

Happy Birthday, Jonny. We respect and love you. You are an honorable young man.
Have a Super Birthday.

God's Blessings On You, Jonny.

YOU Raise Me Up...

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

This is one of my favorite songs. It speaks of a reality that comes with an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ my Savior. I am grateful for people who are gifted to write words that hold meaning, and musicians who are gifted to set those words to melody. Together they create songs that can express what our hearts feel, but sometimes our own minds cannot find the words to say it well...

I have used this song before in one of my posts, but today it just fits my entry, so I will use it again... just because! :-)

I won't ask "Have you ever...?" because I know everybody has. We have all had those times where we were down, burdened in our heart about something, so weary from the energies spent to stay upbeat and positive. We feel like throwing in the towel, we feel like giving in, we feel defeated by our very own emotions repeatedly beating us up, pushing us back down, saying "You'll NEVER win...what you wish for will NEVER arrive, life will NEVER be what you long for."

And then, when we step away, go and sit in the silence, far from the madding crowd of those inner voices, there is THE ONE who comes, and sits with us, and HIS words begin to soothe us. HE knows all that we fight inside ourselves. HE knows all of the self-imposed words that come from our own fears, and doubts, and disappointments. HE comforts us like no other. HIS words are salve to the wounds and scars left by life and all its battles.

It is the times spent with our Lord that give us the renewed energy to get back up and go back out, revived once again with a passion to say, I will NEVER, EVER give in. We realize afresh that it is HE that lifts us up. It is HE that raises us above the turmoil of life's daily toils, and beyond earshot of those inner voices trying to pull us down. His voice rings true in our spirits and our souls are full of joy and worship and gratitude for Him, for all that He means to us, yes?

The best line of this song is the truth of this statement.

I am strong when I am on HIS shoulders.
HE raises me up to more than I can be.

In Christ I stand. I am not beaten down.

In Christ I am given the strength and power to be MORE than I could possibly be in this life on my own. It is because of my Savior and Comforter that I am anything good and worthy today. He sets me in that place. And once again I find myself on His shoulders, and it is exhilarating!!

This is life in Christ and with Christ. Yes, life is hard; sometimes it is downright depressing.
But there is more... much more to life than what we see with our eyes, what we hear with our ears, what we perceive from our own inner voices.

There is no life without its desires, wishes, or hungers. Our hearts do beat restlessly for changes and victories in our earthly race.

Today...make time. Get away. Be still in the quiet places you can find. Sit with your Lord and be filled again with wonder at His holy compassion for you, His presence that moves you to reset your eyes on eternity, not the here and now.

Jesus Christ, your best comforter in this age, and the ages to come, will give you all you need and more. He will raise you up today. You will be more than you could have been without HIM.

Blessings and Encouragement and a Hug!

Serenity...Courage...Wisdom

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:6-7, 12-13)

GOD, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. Amen.

The familiar words above are better known as the "Serenity Prayer." It is often prayed by those who are experiencing troubles, feeling unrest in their circumstances, or living in events that are threatening the peaceful existence of their day to day lives.

There are many days and years and seasons in our walks here on earth that we will have to go through times of stress, times of fear, times of uncertainty, times of recovery. Along with the good and happy moments of life, there must also fall a little rain...sometimes these showers may become storms.

Paul speaks of what he has learned throughout the ups and downs, even turbulent days in his lifetime, sometimes facing death. At the time he penned the words in his letter to the Philippians, he was sitting in a Roman prison waiting to find out whether he would be executed.
He had learned the secret to contentment. He had found that the only way to travel on his journey was to turn everything over to the Lord...to pray about EVERYTHING.

Everything that Paul had faced in his life up to this point in time had been a learning experience. He probably never walked away from any moment without having conversed with the Lord about what was going on in his heart and mind. As a result, he felt the peace of that companionship. His thoughts and heart were quiet and at rest..not troubled, as he walked away having put his trust fully in the One whose comfort now cloaked him.

Paul had most likely prayed the words of the Serenity Prayer long before they were written down and published. There were things in his life he could not, would not be able to change.
"So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me." (II Cor. 2:7-9)

There were times of fear, danger, trials, uncertainty, arrest...

"I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.[c] 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm." (II Cor. 11: 23-27)

Who of us today could speak of such trials and horrible circumstances in our lives such as this man faced constantly throughout his ministry? It puts us to shame, does it not, for the small things we may complain or whine about in our growth as Christians.

If this man could write and encourage us today to be filled with joy, to trust in our Lord and to allow God's peace to transcend over us in the midst of our trying and frustrating days, we have no excuse not to listen and follow suit.

Life is a journey. We are daily being changed and transformed into the child God wants us to become, the man or woman of God that He has foreseen from before we were born.
There will be many days we will fall short, we will stumble, we will fail to do all that we know we should. In this whole process of recovery from our past failures, God wants us to learn from our mistakes, to turn to HIM, and to find serenity in the midst, as we accept our lives as they are.

Life consists of wonderful days and joyful moments, full of smiles...and life can be difficult and trying with moments of trials and unpredictability, full of tears. These are the days of our lives, ordained by our Heavenly Father. We must become increasingly aware of the things we can NOT change in our lives, just as Paul did.
We must be constantly discerning of the things we CAN change, and always on our knees asking our divinely appointed helper, the Holy Spirit, for the wisdom to know the difference.

What will I do with these words of encouragement that this man of wisdom and experience spoke to his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? What will you do with them?

Pray every day for God's peace in your current circumstances.
Ask the Father for courage to change the things that you can do something about.
Lean on Him for inner peace and acceptance of the things that you can not change.
Look to God in His Word for wisdom, such as we read today, to know the difference.

This is our Father's desire for us. That in all things He might be the ONE to whom we turn to and get our directions and our comfort, and the peace that accompanies that submitted position in our hearts.

Like Paul, might we be able to say, "I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation..." (Phil. 4:13)

Serenity, Courage, and Wisdom!

PAID IN FULL.....Be Ye Glad!

"So be truly glad....For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver.It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days." (I Peter 1: 6,18-20)


Oh, be ye glad
Oh, be ye glad
Every debt that you ever had
Has been paid up in full by the grace of the Lord
Be ye glad, be ye glad, be ye glad.

What a wonderful thought it is to imagine what it would be like for someone to get on the World Nightly News and proclaim that every debt of every person and family in the world was paid up in full. What a noise and celebration would be heard around the world as people revelled in their freedom from the burden and bondage of paying back what they owed to institutions for services and materials rendered to them.

Of course this is an imagined thought, and not reality. What we owe to others must be paid back. If not, there are consequences and penalties.

In our eternal existence, from the beginning of time, in the Garden of Eden, by the hand of Adam and Eve, we have incurred a debt. We carry upon ourselves the bondage of that first act of sin. Our very souls are in debt to a Holy and Just Creator and God. One who designed and made us for His pleasure, and yet we turned away and sought out own pleasures, creating the debt and penalty of death, a separation from the One who loves us.

Today, those of us who know in our hearts the weight of that debt, and have heard the Good News from God's Word that we have One who has acted on our behalf, and cleared our account, stand in awe and amazement. Our debt is removed....marked Paid In Full! This is by no means a thought of the imagination. It is the truth. We only have to accept it as such, and believe. This is the wonder of a love so deep that God's Son would leave His home, come to our earth, die the death required, simply because He loved us so much, and obeyed His Father.


As I think of the earthly debts we have for our homes, or cars, or other such items that have required more than we had to give at the time, and the payments we incur and have to bear over years to repay the source, I know that the amount of joy and gratitude we would feel if someone stepped up and erased these debts would be incredible.

I think of what the Lord has done for us at Calvary. Are we incredulous at the sacrifice and depth of love it required for His death to wipe away our sin debt before God? Do we pause and ponder what our eternity would be like had He not been willing to do so?

Does your heart revel in the debt-free status it now holds because of your Savior? Then thank Him today. You owe nothing as you stand before God with Christ by your side declaring you free indeed.
God's grace is sufficient.

Be ye glad!