Organizational Determination

ChaLean Extreme Guide

2009-09-02T20:27:00.004-05:00

This is the newest weight loss effort I have. After buying it off ebay and having the Weight Loss Guidebook be a mere pamphlet rather than a book, (feeling a little ripped off here) I was left wondering what exactly I was to do. Then I searched online for my answer. I was actually looking for a replacement book, but couldn't find one. I found a blog with the list I have below and one similar on Yahoo answers. It didn't seem right to keep this to myself as I saw so many people looking for the same thing.

Burn Phase - (first 30 days)
Burn Circuit 1
Rest day
Burn Circuit 2
Burn Intervals & Ab Burner
Burn Circuit 3
Burn It off & Recharge
Rest day.
Burn It off & Recharge(Day 29)
Track Results (Day 30)

Push Phase(2nd 30 days)
Push Circuit 1
Rest Day
Push Circuit 2
Burn Intervals & Ab Burner (during week 3- this changes to Burn Intervals & Extreme Abs
Push Circuit 3
Burn it Off & Recharge
Rest day
Burn It off & Recharge(Day 29)
Track Results(Day 30)

Lean Phase(3rd 30 days)
Lean Circuit 1
Rest day
Lean Circuit 2
Lean Intervals & Extreme Abs
Lean Circuit 3
Burn It off & Recharge
Rest day
Burn It Off & Recharge(day 29)
Track your results(day 30)
　
Lean for Life Phase
Week 1
Burn Circuit 1
Rest Day
Push Circuit 2
Burn Intervals & Extreme Abs
Lean Circuit 1
Burn it Off & Recharge
Rest Day
Week 2
Burn Circuit 2
Rest Day
Push Circuit 3
Burn Intervals & Ab Burner
Lean Circuit 3
Burn it Off & Recharge
Rest Day
Week 3
Burn Circuit 3
Rest Day
Push Circuit 1
Burn Intervals & Extreme Abs
Lean Circuit 2
Burn it Off & Recharge
Rest Day
Week 4
Burn Circuit 1
Rest Day
Push Circuit 1
Burn Intervals & Ab Burner
Lean Circuit 3
Burn it Off & Recharge
Rest Day
Burn it Off & Recharge

Here is a link to a PDF file for the calendar and it even has blanks for putting in the weight you used and the reps. Works for me!

http://www.beachbody.com/text/products/programs/chaleanextreme/CE_Workout_Sheet.pdf

Our Forecast for Spring and summer 2009 in Wisconsin

2009-04-21T08:42:00.002-05:00

"Typically in weak La Niñas you do have some higher chances for above-normal precipitation, but the correlation is not very strong," J.J. Wood of the National Weather Service said. "For this year -- compared to last year -- I wouldn't say there is less of a chance, but more of equal chance of it being dry, very dry or very wet or in-between, more in the normal range."

I guess this means all we know for sure is that...well...ummm...
It won't be just wet?
Why not just say, "We have no idea!"?

Obama and Oprah's World

2009-04-17T08:15:00.005-05:00

I ran across a couple videos this morning that quite honestly make me nauseous.
While none of it surprises me, it is none-the-less sickening.
Seems that Satan has two of the most influential people in the US doing his bidding while lazy Christians can't get away from the TV or whatever to share His word with people to make the only kind of "Change" that really matters. People make excuses by saying they don't have the gift...The great commission isn't to the gifted, it's to all Christians and it's about time Christians wake up. I know that good-hearted people say "we need to pray, we need to fast" and yes, we should (I don't know about the fasting, but it sure wouldn't hurt!) but the verse that comes to my head is

"How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?"
and then...
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel, immersing in the name of the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you"

These verses are written to everyone who believes Christ died for their sins. We need to get out there and DO something. Well, first, we need to know the gospel ourselves and then stop being ashamed of Him and tell everyone!

If you know the one way out of a burning building you'd scream "it's this way!!" but when it comes to the gospel, we say "oh, they're ok, if they want to know, they will seek and find..." You need to plant the seed...then God'll water it...

There is also an excellent post along with another video which is in regards to Oprah's church (I didn't know she had a church...maybe it's not her church, but she surely promotes it...) at The Sacred Calling.

God is love

2009-04-06T22:17:00.007-05:00

At our local airport, our church has permission to witness, handing out tracts. I had a really nice conversation with a gentlemen, kind of makes you bubbly when people talk to you. Brightens the day. It's like after standing there for an hour offering tracts without anyone stopping to talk giving you a boost of caffeine to keep you going for another hour or so!

And then, I said to a lovely couple walking by, the husband pushing the stroller while the mom was holding an absolutely cute and cuddly baby, "Would you like a free book about Jesu---". I never got the "s" out before she cranked her head back and contorted her once pretty face into that "look". The look of disgust, putrid disgust of "how could you possibly say that name out loud. How dare you?"

For a moment
I think,
"that's the look on God's face right now"
as He peers down at her lost soul (an assumption on my part)
and then
I realize
no,
His face
would have
a tear
running
...d
........o
............w
.................n
it
with her name on it.

Not invited...

2009-04-01T09:49:00.003-05:00

*sigh*
I went to read one of the blogs I like to read and blogger said I couldn't because I wasn't invited...
Alisun??
Did I make you mad?

*sigh again*

One time I posted on a Christian woman's blog and she ignored me...Didn't even approve my post...Just trying to figure out why a person would have a public blog and then not want to interact with people who read it...What's the point? Maybe I am just missing something...

Ok, done griping...no biggie... I love the comments, the interaction so keep bringin' it!

Oh, hey!!
Do you like the new blog layout? I tried three column ones before and could never get them to work without losing half my widgets, but I figured it out!!

HA, have that, you uncooperative 3-column layout!!

feeling frisky today... :)

Tagging fun

2009-03-22T20:00:00.003-05:00

Your oldest friend is how old/who is it: Sue...ummm...she's as old as my husband (18 years older)

Your youngest friend: Sue's daughters

The friend that you've had FOREVER: My conscience (just like all friends, sometimes we just don't get along!)

The friend that you always seem to be talking to: God and Sue

The friend that never seems to get on their email: Lillie

The friend that is always on their email: Therese

The friend that is much taller than you: My hubby...my mighty oak...

The friend that is shorter: Lillie (it's the asian in her...she could wear 4" heels and still be short! lol)

The friend that will always reply to your emails, no matter what: Sue

friend that is verrrryyy crazy: I always thought I was the crazy one...

friend that is serious: Chet

friend that you don't see them for a year but you two can pick up like you were never apart: my sister Heather

friend that you knew when you were little, and were shocked to see them again: ?

friend that can make anything: Sue

the friend that needs to call you: Sue? "needs" is such a strong word

friend that seems to have the most friends: Gabe lol (Lillie's baby)

friend that will reply to this email first: i'm not emailing it

The friend that is so creative: Lizz

The friend that you haven't seen in a while: I keep in touch with my friends at church...

the friend that you have a lot of inside jokes with: Hubby-no one "gets" me like he does!

The friend that you would like to trade places with: Toni Lynne...I sometimes wish I could take her place so she wouldn't have to have cancer anymore...I know it's not possible...but...otherwise Chet cuz he's in Malaysia right now...although he IS working and that isn't really fun but I would love to go to a different country, especially somewhere in Africa...

Your newest friend: the neighbors??

the friend that you see the most: Hubby

the friend that is SO funny: they all make me laugh

the friend that hugs you the most: Leah...not as much as she used to...I think she's too busy with school to pass out the love! lol

the friend that has your same style: hmmm...I'm SO unique! lol Probably Lillie because we are close tot he same age and had a similar upbringing

the friend that doesn't have your style: we are all individuals! but I think it would probably be Sue...she's the country gal and I'm the city gal...

The next friend that you will see: Hubby

When will you see that friend: when he gets home from the shop

The friend that lives the closest to you: besides hubby, it's Lillie, she lives about 2 miles away...

the friend that will probably not do this tag: none of them will, none of my in real life friends blog (seems weird to call them that--afterall, you guys are in real life too, aren't you?? lol)

your best blogging friend: I think it'd be Sharon...what she says sticks in my head the longest...

Evolution

2009-03-09T09:30:00.003-05:00

This morning I was reading a sort of devotional focusing on evolution. It was talking about the population of the earth. If the population increased at the same rate as has been observed and recorded back to one million years ago, when the first ape man had supposedly evolved, the population of the earth would exceed the stars in the sky, even the atoms in the entire universe.

Anyway, it got me thinking about how atheists sometimes ask where the first Biblical descendants got their wives. I know they married their sisters, aunts, nieces, whatever, but then I thought, "What an ironic question!" I mean, wouldn't the same question apply to evolution? Where did the first ape get his wife? Why would an atheist who doesn't believe in God or His rules bring up the morality of incest into the equation? No longer is it that one paramecium in a pond evolved into such a complex animal as an ape, but TWO did. At the same time and the same rate to be able to procreate! I had a hard enough time believing only one evolved, but now to understand there had to have been two at the same time! That is just insane! Incomprehensible and highly unbelievable!

PS-I don't mind comments, but keep it civil. Anytime I mention something contrary to popular belief people get mean-evolve claws or something. (not usually any of my lovely "regulars")

I've been healed!!!!

2009-02-09T09:34:00.002-06:00

Seriously.
I wouldn't lie.

My surgery was canceled.
The cyst was gone.

Monday, I was sort of freaking out because I wouldn't find it. I called the doctor's office, assuring them I wasn't exactly insane. I just couldn't see why I should get cut open for something I wasn't even sure was there! So they told me to come in on Wednesday. Well, by Monday afternoon I was positive4 I had found it again. Afterall, when my lovely son pushed there, it hurt! SO I called the doctor again, once again assuring them (and myself) that I was not insane. They said for the sake of my sanity, I should see the doc anyway on Wednesday. So I went in. Wednesday morning I couldn't find it again. By now I figured if I wasn't insane already, I surely was on my way! The nurses know me by name there...I don't know that I think that is a good thing under the circumstances...Anyway, the nurses and assistants all wanted to feel it and see if they could find it. No one could, including the doc. He assured me it would be back and that I should call him when it does. I like to think that it won't come back. The Lord took it away. I suppose if He wants to put it back, He can and will, but I hope He won't.

Now...Tuesday I go to an ENT for the cyst in my neck...so if the Lord takes that one away, I'll be estatic! Maybe ya'all can pop up a prayer or two on my behalf?

Where I've been

2009-02-04T07:51:00.003-06:00

Just dropping in to let you all know I'm still alive. I've been re-evaluating a lot of things in my life and really want to focus more on school. The Lord is pushing me to do my best to bring up little ones that can take on the world for Him...(sounds big, doesn't it?)

Also, I have another cyst -this time in my left hand- and am scheduled for surgery on Friday. So, I've had to do a lot to make sure I don't get too far behind because of that as well.

My right hand has still been giving me grief and all I can say is that it doesn't work right . At least not yet. Lord willing, it will, again, someday. I was taking a pizza out of the oven, had it on the cardboard and I dropped it. I mean, my hand dropped it. It's weird but I just couldn't hold it. I wanted to cry...My hubby saw my...my...umm...disappointment? in myself and was so sweet. He helped me pick it up and now I don't even remember what he said, but I know it was sweet and I was touched by his compassion.

I don't want to whine about all my little aches and pain, but I really hope they will go away. I know when I die, I will have a new body, one that doesn't hurt and I SO look forward to that day. Until then, please pray that I have the right attitude toward these little struggles of mine.

I say little because there are people in other places in the world today that are having real struggles. Being jailed and beaten for their faith. When I read the Voices of the Martyrs letter, showing the persecutions going on today I am filled with shame. Here I am in the good ol' USA, whining about my little booboos....I want to keep my perspective right.

I read an article in the VOM letter about how a boy who was 17 walked miles to share his faith while guerrilla fire was going on around him. He could be killed accidentally by the gunfire around him or he could be killed just because he is sharing Christ when the main religion is Moslem, if I remember correctly. He walks miles in mud and gunfire...Then I think of the people who come up to me on the streets or at the airport when we are witnessing, handing out tracts, who say "you are so brave!" Makes me want to scream, "You can't be serious! This is America!"

Wow, now that was a serious rabbit trail, eh?

Is it working?

2009-01-19T20:34:00.003-06:00

I was asked by Frazypoo if my sludge is working. I'll get to that. First I want to tell you how it does taste better purple!

I added some strawberries to the blend the first day. Yuck.
Strawberry and banana the second. Still yuck-o.
Then I added blueberries-frozen-over a cup's worth...
blue + green = purple, Praise the Lord!
Ahh, tastes much better-but still slightly yuck!

To top off the irresistible flavor, the more fruit you add, the more sludge there is to drink. I also added some vanilla rice milk rather than plain ol' milk and that seemed to help the flavor. Seriously, with the blueberries, it seems ok...

On the day that I added the banana, I also added vanilla yogurt which didn't do much for it, in my opinion. Maybe it added some priobotics or whatever they are called, but the flavor was still yuck.
I don't mind it so much with the blueberries. It is tolerable. I know it's good for me which helps me trick my brain into thinking it tastes good.
I think, too, if I take the tablespoon of flax oil separate, that'll help. I plan to try that tomorrow. I think the flavor of that stuff overpowers the rest of the shake. The oil stuff is seriously the nastiest slime I've ever tasted. I would put it up there with the time my husband had run out of gas, siphoned some into a soda bottle and then...yep, chugged it. While I may not have chugged it myself, I surely can imagine the quality of that fine beverage. This "lemonade" flavored (yeah, right) oil has got to be of the same caliper!

Ok, so does it work?

Can I say it's probably too early to tell?? But I do feel much better in an overall sort of way. Yesterday, I just thought to myself, "yeah, I feel good." I don't really know why. I even felt thin. I mean, I wasn't any thinner than the day before, but for some reason, I just felt good. I think maybe the glucosimine may be helping my knee a bit as well. It seems to grind a little less, but that very well could be my positive thinking. After all, it's only been a week.

Frazypoo also asked where my headaches come from. I think my headaches are from the car accident years ago. I've had them ever since then. They used to be 24/7 right after the accident for month and then as time went on they seemed to ease up in intensity and in frequency. If I move my neck the wrong way, or strain it lifting something heavy or use my neck during a sit-up, I start to get the headaches more frequently again. So I would say they are caused by the tightness of the muscles in my neck.

But with the latest MRI, I wonder. I think I'm allowed to wonder...

I don't know if I mentioned the other day or not that when I had my MRI they found a cyst in my neck...I found one in my left hand the other day as well. The same spot as I had one in my right hand at the base of my middle finger that they removed a few years ago. It feels like a small pea, but it hurts. I must be just susceptible to these things. They aren't liquid filled cysts that they can just stick a needle in and suck out the juice, either. (sorry for the graphics here) Instead they are filled with more sludge.

At least it's not green!

Green sludge

2009-01-15T10:09:00.003-06:00

So after forcing myself to drink this green sludge, yesterday, I think I felt some improvement. And if I didn't really improve, I will tell myself I did anyway!
I spent a few $$ on some supplements from www.vitacost.com. This is the cheapest place to get vitamins and their shipping is only $5 no matter how much you buy!

I got a whole food shake that has every vitamin imaginable tucked in with some seaweed, tons of veggies, fruits, and some mushrooms (not the wacky kind, I don't think!). This is some power packed stuff which I mix with some milk, a scoop of Barleans greens (more seaweed! lol), a tablespoon of Barleans Omega 3-6-9 mix (flax, fish, and borage oil) and also a tablespoon of liquid glucosimine Chondroitin (praying this is God's way of healing my wrists and knees and hip and neck and...).

I also still take my Natural Calm which is magnesium in it's most easily assimilated form. I drink that disolved in hot water with some orange juice. This is some awesome stuff! It is the only supplement I have ever taken and truly felt it work! They say most everyone is deficient in magnesium and it controls over 250 functions of our bodies! Love this stuff!

As for the green drink, I have to convince myself that it is is good for me. Yesterday, I forced it all down and it was to be quite honest, disgusting. Today I blended in some frozen strawberries and it was a bit more tolerable. I thought yesterday, "If I don't throw up, I will have done well."

Barleans Greens Supplement oops

2009-01-12T14:02:00.002-06:00

lol
This is a review for a vitamin supplement. According to this guy, I will feel the effects of him taking it and I'll stay regular to boot! HA! I can save myself the $20!!

"You can feel the surge of energy about 5 min. after i take it and you will stay regular."

Again...

2008-12-30T08:35:00.002-06:00

Here we go again!

lol

The flight was bound for Flint. None of the 40 passengers was injured.

This was a local news story. Take out the prepositional phrase and it reads, "None was injured." That's how I teach my daughter to find the mistakes--take out the unnecessary words and phrases.
Last night I had an MRI and the tech kept saying over and over, "You're doing real good." When you're in that little tube with all that banging and then the tech keeps saying the same grammatically incorrect statement, you tend to wonder what school he went to. I hope he paid more attention for his medical exams than he did for his English exams! lol I'm glad I did really well in my exam so it only took an hour...

PS (I'm not claiming perfection here, I just notice it all the time because I am teaching these things to my daughter.)

Phineas

2008-12-30T07:32:00.003-06:00

I wonder if anyone knows who Phineas was.

When the Israelites were marrying foreign wives, God said for the judges to kill all the men who were doing so. I think it's in Judges 25. Anyway, when one man brought his "girlfriend" before the congregation, just to...ummm...show off his sin, Phineas rose up from the congregation and slew the man and the woman.

Out of all those people, he was the one who did what God wanted. Not the judges, not the priest but young (he was a grandson of Aaron, I think) man did it.

My mind keeps going to the fact that there was a whole congregation, and he was the only one who stood up, had zeal for the Lord. I suppose some in that situation may have thought it was the judges' job to do it, not theirs, and maybe that's why no one else stood up. Some might think he was overstepping his authority, but God said it was great and held off the punishment of Israel because of him.

The whole nation was preserved because of one young person's zeal. It was reckoned to him for righteousness to all generations. Ps. 106 3:4?

Latest Paintings

2008-12-29T08:37:00.001-06:00

Oh, Grammar...

2008-12-20T17:08:00.002-06:00

As a homeschooler, I always seem to see grammar mistakes in the news. Yes, if I am watching the news, I verbally correct the anchor person, not to be rude, but to make sure my kids see the error. My hubby always says "seen" instead of "saw" and "saw" instead of "have seen", or just "seen" without the "have". lol I always say "may" instead of "could" and "could" instead of "may". Could you, may I, is what I have to constantly say to myself! lol It's terrible when your 8 year old corrects you. And then my daughter always says, "Mom, you're the teacher; you know everything!" (She's joking, of course!)

Anyway, I saw this online, on our local news website. Can you find the error?

Firefighters arrived at the 8-unit building around 7 p.m. to find flames engulfing the west end of the second-floor attic area, said 5th Battalion Chief Ralph Gallow. None of the occupants was injured and had already begun evacuating the building, he said.

Lazy

2008-12-12T08:19:00.002-06:00

Lazy.
No, I'm not completely lazy, but there is definitly some laziness in me.
I spent an hour or so last night writing out all the verses I could find in regards to laziness. I thought that it was a good place for me to start.
Seems from what I read the lazy person is wasteful and makes tons of excuses not to do work and then complains when they don't have the fruit of their labor (that they didn't do). Yes, in ways that sounds like me. I'd rather not go into details of how it's like me, but it is. Not big issues, like getting up int he morning, but just not having my priorities in order, takes me away from the work God has set before me and I choose to spend my time doing other things. Then I tend to find myself complaining that other things are quite the way they should be, because I am choosing to do other things-not sinful things- just other things so the things I want to have done don't get done. Know what I mean?
For example, if I know I need to be spending more time in my schooling, but then decide the I need to clean up the copper legs of my living room table, I really am choosing to clean the table because I am tired of school work. Is this good? No, I don't think so. Of course, it all falls into I know what my attitude is when I choose to do the other things. I need to be diligent in the other things and then leave the non-important things for later.

Prov. 13:4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing but the soul of the diligent is made fat.

Prov. 20:4 The sluggard does not plow after the autumn so he begs during the harvest and has nothing.

Prov. 19:15 Laziness casts into a deep sleep and an idle man suffers harm.

Prov. 22:13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!"

I need to stop making excuses for my lack of desire to do the things I know I should. There's no lion out there, except myself and my fleshly desires.

I want joy, peace and contentment in all areas of my life. My heart feels heavy and I'm not sure why. But this seems like a good place to start.

My thoughts for the day

2008-12-06T06:46:00.003-06:00

So, where is my thoughts today?
I went to bible study last night and as usual, had a great time. After leaving, I told my hubby if my pastor keeps using my name during study, people are going to think I'm the teacher's pet! lol

I don't think that's a bad thing, though. We have memory verses every week--two of them. It was mine and Craig's turn to say them, and after I said mine, I made a couple comments in regards to what I thought they meant and the Pastor, two weeks in a row, said the comments I made were good! Then Craig said his verse, and they waited for someone else to comment, but no one else raised their hand so I raised my hand and commented on his verse as well (this comment wasn't quite as good--I got corrected on something I said--I'm ok with that, though). No one else commented after me, other than the pastor.

Seems that rarely does anyone else say anything. Seems I am the only one who asks questions too. I mean, others do here and there, but it seems I am the one who asks the most. I can see people as looking down on me for it-- kind of like the kid in school who gets the most attention. I don't like it. It feels uncomfortable. I wish others would ask and maybe be more interested that they would comment or ask more questions...

I want to know things. I want to understand things. I want to grow. That's why God gave me leaders. So that they can help me do that. I'm not the smartest book on the shelf, lot of times I get rather dusty and I have to blow off my dust, shake it off a bit and pick myself up again. I feel lately that the cobwebs in my spiritual life need to be cleaned out. I need to get myself all ready for if Christ comes back today or tomorrow or whenever. I don't want to feel dirty (any more tan I have to) when He comes back.

I got some bible studies to help me, and I've been waking up earlier to get in some extra time during the day to do what I need to do. That's all I can do right now. *sigh* I just want to do better. I can always do better. His mercies are renewed every morning...

Why I don't do Christmas...

2008-12-04T17:25:00.003-06:00

It's that time of year...
Last year, I didn't make mention of Christmas to you'all. I just hid away, letting you do your thing without me raining on anyone's parade. I know in my saying this, I'm not really stomping on toes, but some people I'm sure will see it that way. Everyone is entitled to do as they wish, I am not personally condemning anyone by what follows. I just saw on a couple blogs people saying why they do Christmas and so I thought I would share why I don't.

Feel free to leave comments, but please be nice to me. Last time I spoke up, I got 50 or more comments bashing me as a person without them even really knowing me. And like I said before, this is what I choose to do. We will each answer to Him for ourselves.

Christ never told me to. (I see the baby as the man who was only born to die...not a festive happy thing)
The three wise men is all messed up...(the bible never says how many and they came when He was two...If you will read Matthew 2:7-11carefully, you will see that the star led the wise men to Nazareth, not to the stable in Bethlehem where our Lord was born. Verse 9 tells us that they found Jesus in "the house" where He had lived with Mary and Joseph since He was 91 days old. (Luke 2:7, 21-39) This "house" was in Nazareth, the place where Joseph and Mary lived.
Christ was not born on December 25th. "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night."Luke 2:8.it is a well known fact that December is the rainy season in Palestine and the sheep were kept in the fold at that time of the year. The shepherds always corralled and brought their flocks from the mountain sides and fields not later than October l5th, to protect them from the cold, rainy season that followed that date. So the birth of Christ could not have taken place at the end of December. Then, in the second chapter of Luke, you will find that at the birth of Christ every woman and child was to go to be taxed at the city where they were citizens. This could not have been in winter. Augustus, the king of Rome, would certainly not call for such a taxing in the depth of winter. Therefore, Christ could not have been born in December. Actually, Christ was most likely born some time in the first part of October. This is figured from the fact that His earthly ministry lasted 3 1/2 years, and He was crucified on the l4th day of Nisan which corresponds to our April. See John 19:31; Leviticus 23:5. If we go back 3 1/2 years to the time when Jesus was 30 years old (when He began His public ministry), we come to the month of October. This was probably the month when our blessed Lord was born into the world. (Of course, the date of Jesus' birth is not too important. The important thing is that He was born and that He died for our sins. We're not worshiping a helpless infant lying in a manger, but we're worshiping a risen and exalted Christ who has all power in heaven and in earth. Matthew 28:18.)
Christmas is of heathen origin. Christmas started w i t h the Sun worshipers in the t i m e of Nimrod, the man who built the Tower of Babel. Any reputable encyclopedia will tell you that our modern day Christmas customs came out of paganism. Encyclopedia Britannica has this to say: "Christmas (i.e., the Mass of Christ) was not among the earliest festivals of the church." Other encyclopedias say much more, but I am sparing you the reading! :)
Christmas is a Catholic holiday. Why should I steal Christmas from the Catholics? They got it from the pagans and I'm happy to let them keep it. Sometimes you hear the slogan, "Let's Put Christ Back Into Christmas." Well, how can you put Christ back into something when He was never there? History teaches that the Catholics invented Christmas to get the pagans into the church so they mixed their pagan ideas with Christ and this is what they got. (most of the traditions have pagan roots-- misiltoe, yule logs, stockings and the lump of coal, even the tree--especially the tree)
Even the name "Christmass" is an abomination to the Lord. Christmass is a combination of two words, "Christ" and "Mass." Christ is the divine title of our Lord. "Mass" is from the Roman Catholic sacrament of the mass. Certainly born-again Christians shouldn't have anything to do with masses. The mass is a Roman Catholic invention. The mass is a prayer that is read or sung for the soul of a dead person.
Christmas is of the world. We are commanded in I John 2: 15, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." One fact alone proves to me that Christmas is not of God. It is this: The world which hates Christ and His blood atonement for sin makes more fuss about Christmas than any other holiday. Now , just think, if December 25th were really the birthday of Jesus, don't you know that the world would have nothing to do with it?
Now the tree...The Christmas tree is condemned by the Bible. "Learn not the way of the Heathen . . . For the customs of that people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not . . . But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities . . ." Jeremiah 10: 2-4, 10. Here you have a perfect description of the Christmas tree, called by God "the way of the heathen." We are commanded not to learn that way or follow it. It is also viewed in this passage as idolatry. The fifth verse says that these trees cannot speak - cannot walk - must be carried. Some people misread this to make it say there is no harm in having a Christmas tree, but that is not what it says at all. Rather, the prophet Jeremiah tells us that it is vanity and foolishness and says "learn not the way of the heathen." Some people will stay up all night to work on an old dead tree. They'll trim it all up, and stand off a little ways and admire their handiwork. Some of you will sit up all night and look at that old Christmas tree. I'd like to leave this little thought with you. Did you know that the green tree is mentioned 14 times in the Bible, and in every instance it is linked with idolatry. There isn't one place in the Bible where God commends the use of the evergreen in connection with true worship.
When people exchange gifts, they're not bringing them to Christ; they're giving them to one another. You have got to keep a list of the people who sent you presents last year and each year your list grows longer and longer, and before long you're in such a heavy debt buying Christmas presents that you've got to start saving money right after one Christmas in order to buy presents for the next Christmas. Beloved, I can't understand why anyone would went to be in bondage to such an expensive custom. Jesus is supposed to be the cause of Christmas, and yet people give their gifts to everybody but Jesus.
Perhaps some of you are asking, "Didn't the Wise Men give gifts to Jesus?" They certainly did, but they didn't give them to one another. And their gifts were not birthday gifts because the Wise Men did not come to visit Jesus until he was nearly two years old.
The name Santa Claus is a corruption of the name Saint Nicholas who is none other than Old Nick, the Devil. And yet thousands of parents will encourage their children to write to dear old St. Nick or dear Santa. Now if you're a Christian, you should be ashamed of yourself if you lie to your children by telling them that there is a Santa Claus. Through the year you punish your children for lying, and then you turn right around and lie yourself by telling your children that there is a Santa Claus. Is it any wonder when they grow up and learn the truth that they begin to believe that God is a myth too?
The Bible says in Colossians 3: 9, "Lie not one to another." We are commanded in Ephesians 4:25, "...to put away lying, and to speak every man truth with his neighbor
Finally, I don't celebrate Christmas because God's Word absolutely forbids the (spiritual ) observance of any holy days in this dispensation of grace.
"Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain." Galatians 4:10-11.
That sounds like the observance of Christmas, doesn't it? Here the Apostle Paul absolutely forbids the ( spiritual ) observing of days, months and seasons. To the Christian there are no special holy days. Every day should be alike, holy unto the Lord. If you are a Scriptural believer you will not "esteem one day above another." Romans 14:5. If you are truly saved, you will remember the birth, the life, the death, the burial and the resurrection of your wonderful Savior 365 days a year. Yes, I am glad to serve a real and a living Christ who lives all year round. Let us as born-again Christians use our money this season of the year, not for foolish and unnecessary presents, but to spread the Gospel message to this lost and dying world.

I choose to teach my children the truth about Christmas. God's Word says ( Ephesians 6:4) to bring our children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and why should we dishonor the name of Christ in such manner under the pretense of showing the children a good time? There are 364 more days in the year during which we can give gifts to our children. Trust me, my kids aren't missing a thing!

Most of this info comes from Charles Half and the Christian Jew Foundation

Smashed...

2008-11-28T11:54:00.003-06:00

So, my Thanksgiving was spent with friends. It was a wonderful time, excellent food, great fellowship with believers...

Wednesday night, I was in a car accident.

So, I was sore, limping like I was 80 which gave a few of my friends some good chuckles. I had a green light and a car turned left in front of me. Some weird things happened like the passenger disappeared and a witness said I floored it to make it through a yellow light which turned red. I don't get it. I was insured, they weren't... That's probably where the lies came from, but the Lord is in control. So, I am not going to worry about it. I feel like I got hit by a train, sprained my good (haha) hand so now I went from a brace on my right hand to one on my left. Go figure. House smashes into my porch last month, and now this. Thank God for insurance...Thank God for everything.

Such a blank statement, eh? Thank God for everything. What if God took away everything we've not verbally thanked Him for? What would we have left? We say Thanks for everything, but what is actually included in that "everything"? Are we really saying thank you for everything or is it really just thank you for everything that I am really thankful for? I don't think it includes the things we take for granted. I was thinking of something as simple as water. I have water. I have running water. I have water on demand. I don't have to go get it from a nasty stream or even a clean stream. I have water that is filtered with things in it to make my teeth healthier. And if I am really picky because I don't care for the taste of the water that freely comes out of my faucet, I can got to the store and buy some good water...I can buy water with vitamins, or I can get some with a nice flavor in case I don't like the water I get freely out of my faucet...That's just one small thing. What about my closet filled with clothes or my rack of shoes, or my cooshy bed with a pillow top mattress that wasn't good enough so we added some memory foam...hmmm...I am really thankful or do I just say it because I know I should? Or because it sounds good to other people when I say it?

I am so spoiled...
I usually call it being blessed.
But is it? When is what I have too much? Computers laptops, cell phones, regular phone, dial-up high speed or road-runner fast...13" or 27", soap or soap with soft lotions that feel nice... what am I giving up in this life to gain in eternity??

Thanksgiving and a good smashing always makes a person think a little, eh? Thanks for hearing my thoughts...

A decent holiday being smooshed off the calendar

2008-11-24T07:18:00.003-06:00

I saw some commentary blub with a guy ranting about how the stores were smooshing out Thanksgiving with Christmas. He was so right in everything he said. Seems every year the stores get the holiday stuff out earlier and earlier...Thanksgiving is such a peaceful national holiday; it is a shame commercialism is trying to wipe it off the calendar! Some stores got out the Christmas decorations right after Halloween! What is wrong with these people!

A little story...

2008-11-23T09:25:00.002-06:00

In reading at Bible study I was reminded of a story I once read. I'm sure I will butcher the story, but I hope you all get the idea. (As I type this, I am thinking Sharon at Sit with me Awhile could write this so much better!)

There was a little girl who ate breakfast in her room every morning. She had a cupboard of lovely dishes, teapots, tea cups...Then she had one ugly wooden bowl. The wooden bowl was sad and wished he was as pretty as all the fancy teacups lined with gold rims and pretty paintings all over them. The teacups and pots got to be used on special special occasions. Oh, how he wished he could be like them. The wise old teapot encouraged the little bowl. She said to him, "yes, you may be ordinary, while we are fancy, but you are used EVERY day by the little girl. She cherishes you!

So, I was thinking, it is the same with us. We can be a fancy dancy Christian, that looks nice and talks nice, but how much better it is to be that ordinary wooden bowl, useful to the Master!

^{2 Tim. 2:20}Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. ²¹Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

Thanksgiving

2008-11-22T09:33:00.002-06:00

I was posting a comment on someone else's blog and thought I'd share it here. Seems time appropriate.

We did the first Thanksgiving as a research report and it is interesting to see all the errors we have grown up to believe. One example of a falsely is that the Indians were invited to the feast. They heard gunshots from the English hunting and came to scope out if it was war-- that's why only men were there. The Indians later finding out it wasn't war, had the wives and kids come a few days later.

The famous painting of the Indians and the settlers at a long table filled with food have the Indians painted wearing the wrong kind of clothes for their tribe.

And the Wompanog Indians (I know I'm spelling it wrong...)are the same tribe that later killed that missionary...shucks, I can't remember his name...The movie End of the Spear was made after him. Anyway, had they not been wiped out by some sort of plague, when the pilgrims landed on the new land, the Wompanog would have massacred them...

Obama's priority

2008-11-17T08:50:00.002-06:00

I saw a snippett of an interview of Obahma and his wife with some reporter guy. No clue who. ANyway, he said his priority in the next 4 years was to keeps his girls normal. I suppose with a new bowling alley, personal restraunt, popcorn machine , ect. in the white house, in may be difficult. he also mentioned how he was a normal american. Umm...doesn't he live in a 3 million dollar home? hmmmm...that's normal in America? I mean, I know we are arich nation, but are we really that rich??
Oh, and did I mention that Michelle made note of them still deciding whether or not to put the girls in public school? Why is it ok for them to have the choice of how to school their kids but not me? Just a thought...

It's done!

2008-11-12T07:42:00.003-06:00

I made a big boo-boo when it was done. I was shaking a bottle of gold ink and some must've been ont he rim and splatted right on the finished picture. I said "oh no..." and then got to thinkin' how I could fix it. I took some paper towel and tried to get it off, but it just smudged, so I took the ink, watered it down and sarted smearing it all over the paper, making hte cool green background! Thank-you, Lord, for making my picture even better!

Isn't that the way it goes, though. We mess stuff up and God turns our mess into beauty!

Just for Fun...

2008-11-10T11:40:00.003-06:00

Found this on Sharon's blog

Pick the 4th picture folder on your computer

Pick the 4th picture in that folder

Explain what the picture is about

Tag 4 blogging friends to do the same

I went to the fourth folder, and there wasn't a fourth picture! Go figure. So I went by dates instead, and this is the fourth picture out of the fourth folder I added to my computer. No, this is NOT my kitchen. It's a kitchen my hubby built many moons ago for some family that lives on Lake Michigan. It's one of my favorites he did. (The picture only shows part of the job! lol--It was HUGE!) There was a wall with a desk, which you can see the chair for, and the doorway led to the butler's pantry and then there was a cherry entertainment center wall/ fireplace.

Sort of a poll...

2008-11-05T07:59:00.002-06:00

I was going to make my grandma one of my pictures. She's in a nursing home and I don't get to see her much. She claims to be a Christian but has her faith to get to heaven in how good she has been in her life, and the blood of Christ. The one nullifies the other according to the Bible.

If there was one verse you would want
an unsaved person
to see on a regular basis,
which would it be?

Opinions??

2008-11-04T15:06:00.004-06:00

Here are a couple pictures of a sketch-up of the commissioned work I am tackling for the lady at the bank. The only instruction I got was to have a crown, the initials COP, kids bithdays and names and a Bible verse. I am wondering if you all could give me some advice before I finish it. I know that it needs to have more white space around it, so I was going to move the kids names and birthdays closer to the crown. I also know that I need to drink less coffee before I write so I don't have the shakeys when I write! This is just the mock up, so the writing isn't the greatest, I don't think...Any critiscm that I can put into it would be great!

This is the picture since I fixed the spacing on the outside edge. And I wrote the scripture smaller to make it fit better.

2008-11-01T07:33:00.003-05:00

I pretty much sold another of my plaques... maybe it's time for me to get business cards?? The teller at the bank and I always have small talk about the kids and such. SHe commented on a signature on one of my checks (not mine) and I said I do fancy writing and she told me of how she loves handmade custom stuff, so I happened to have Jessica's verse in my car to show my friend at church so she begged for me to go to the car and get it so she could see it. She wants me to somehow write her 6 kids names and birth dates on a picture for her...How cool is that?? Someone slap me, cuz I think I stunned!! lol

hillbilly economics class

2008-10-31T13:10:00.001-05:00

Things are always easier to understand when explained in
terms of beer!

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all
ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it
would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that’s what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar
every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one
day, the owner threw them a curve. ‘Since you are all such good
customers, he said, ‘I’m going to reduce the cost of your daily beer
by $20. Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so
the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free.
But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could
they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his ‘fair
share?’ They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they
subtracted that from everybody’s share, then the fifth man and the
sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the
bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man’s bill
by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the
amounts each should pay.

And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now paid $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four
continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men
began to compa re their savings.

‘I only got a dollar out of the $20′, declared the sixth man. He
pointed to the tenth man,’ but he got $10!’

‘Yeah, that’s right’, exclaimed the fifth man. ‘I only saved a dollar,
too. It’s unfair that he got ten times more than I!’

‘That’s true!!’ shouted the seventh man. ‘Why should he get $10 back
when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!’

‘Wait a minute,’ yelled the first four men in unison. ‘We didn’t get
anything at all. The system exploits the poor!’

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up!

The next night the tenth man didn’t show up for drinks, so the nine
sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay
the bill, they discovered something important. They didn’t have
enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how
our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the
most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them
for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact,
they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is
somewhat friendlier.

David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics, University of Georgia
For those who understand, no explanation is needed.
For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible

Jessica's verse

2008-10-29T07:16:00.006-05:00

Here is the layout--straight out of my wee little noggin'...This is the final layout. I drew it all out once before but the paper wasn't as good so I had to re-draw it on this paper.

With the words written.

Finished! (4 hours later)

Up close the "I"
SO pretty. Not quite as I had hoped, but I'm OK with it!

In the same frame and matte I test all my pictures in...

Jessica asked me to write her this verse (my first paying customer LOL) before I injured my hand last year. I made it back then. The original is here. But I messed it up and wasn't happy with it. While, since then, I haven't been able to write, I have read and studied books to get better. This is actually my first real attempt at the painting. I've never really painted before so it was challenging. And yes, I of course find some issues with it. None that I am going to share!

I hope you like it, Jessica! And Ronnie, too, seeing as he'll have to look at it as well! lol

2008-10-28T07:41:00.005-05:00

I made this the other day. I asked my daughter what she thought and she emphatically stated that she swore I had bought. She walked over to it with awe saying, "I saw it. I thought you bought it at the store!" How sweet.

I want to do this one over. I pictured it much differently in my head. For this one, I just grabbed some paper and drew it out. When I look at it, I can see how little of time was spent on it.

Invites

2008-10-27T17:59:00.003-05:00

This is for a different friend. She always has Thanksgiving at her house for the whole church. I decided to make these for her--if she approves!

Sharon asked if I make money at this or have tried to. i haven't. I'm not really good yet. I've got a long way to go. Besides that, I have no idea how to go about it and with the kids and homeschool I wonder when I would ever have time. I really want to. I love it. I think that God can use it--somehow. I just don't know how yet. I thought of do verses and framing them and selling them at consignment or something like that, but again, I'm not that good...and then there's the time issue...I should always be doing something else, really...

For a dear friend...

2008-10-25T09:46:00.004-05:00

If you click on the pictures, you can see it much bigger and more clearly.

I made this for a friend. She picked it as our weekly memory verse at Bible study, so I just wrote it up. I love it when people say "How long did it take you?"
How long does it take you to find a pen and write a sentence? Cuz that's how long...
Except I do have to open an ink bottle and dip the pen a few times...so maybe a couple seconds extra?

Thanks for the prayers about my hand. It feels much better as each day passes. I have a little numbness still in the palm of my hand, but other than that, I feel like God is doin' his healing thing through the blessings of capable physicians!

Hand

2008-10-24T07:31:00.001-05:00

I went to the second opinion doctor for my hand. he said I had a minor torn ligament and injected it with cortisone. They could've warned me as to how badly it owuld hurt the next day...Needless to say, typing is SO not happening right now!

2008-10-21T09:44:00.003-05:00

Five reasons I love my hubby...
from Sit with me a While

He is like a knight in shining armor to me. before I was a christian, he swept me off my feet. He took care of me when I was sick. He prayed for when I went to the doctor (which at the time felt creepy...) He takes care of me still. And he's still my knight in shining armor. yes, he falls off his horse sometimes, I still love him!
He led me to the Lord. I would not be saved today if he had not been faithful to me. Even with all the garbage we went through as new couple. It's amazing to see how much we have changed and grown together.
Craig loves others. It shows in how he is at work, in doing job for people, in hiring people who need help- or at least say they do. He goes out of his way for people the best he can. Unfortunately, a person can't please everyone and that is what he tries to do...It ends up stressing him out in the end.
He calls me cute nicknames. (Oma bagoma from Tacoma is one of them) So I know he loves me. He tells me so. He shows me so.
He is growing as a dad, a christian, and a husband. He makes me want to grow along side him. Just as tall. He doesn't see himself as tall, in a spiritual sense either. I see him a s a mighty oak with faith that can move mountains. I wanna be like him. :)

2008-10-21T07:53:00.002-05:00

Psalm 98:1
O sing to the Lord a new song,
For he has done wonderful things.
His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him.

I often find myself singing hymns while I do, well, while I do most anything. Look around and see all that the Lord has given us. He has done wonderful things for me. I think I should always have a song in my heart for Him. When I came on here, I started my post complaining. I obviously deleted it. And then I thought, shame on me. How dare I wake up on this glorious day the Lord has made with a stinky attitude like that! Shame on me. I am so blessed and yet so unthankful. I mean, I say how thankful I am and yes, I am thankful, but deep deep down, when I look at the parts of me that only God can see, am I really all that thankful? Would I really be willing to give all I have up for Christ? Sure, I say I would, but if it really came down to it, would I? I think of all the areas I fail Him. What a wretch I am. I know, Becca, look at all the good you do...I don't want my eyes to focused on me...I want my eyes to be focused on the nails and on the foot of the cross. I want to wash His feet with my tears...*sigh*...wretch that I am...I so want to be holy as He is holy. SOmetimes I think I want to talk all smart like other people when I read what they write. And I want to pray so smart like other people and talk all spiritual like they do...I think sometimes that God wants to hear all that hoity toity big talk... and then I remember He came to sinners. He came to those that needed Him. Without Him, I am nothing. Nothing but a dumb highschool dropout who now can't teach history for the life of her...

Lord, help me to be better. To be a better teacher, a better mom, a better wife. I know it's a simple request, but it seems so huge to me...

Mind wanderings

2008-10-17T08:01:00.002-05:00

So, where is my mind at this morning? I want to do well. I want to do better.

I am really excited that I can write again! It's been so long since I hurt my hand, that it's a breath of fresh air to be able to spend time writing. I like to write His word...brings peace to my heart when I am struggling with myself.

I met a man this week at McDonald's who professed to be a Christian and then said he was a Calvinist. But he wasn't. Not by what Mr. Calvin taught. He didn't believe the same. Isn't that the way it is though, people claim to be a follower of somebody in the past, but don't really believe what they believed. They just think that thye believe the same things, same ideas, but in reality they have their own perception of the way things are and what the Bible teaches. he was a very interesting fellow. I don't want to share what he said as I'm not sure I get what all he said...Anyway, it's not like there will be Lutherans, Catholic, Calvinists, Paul-ians, ect, in heaven. The only people there will be Christians. The bible does say you must be "Born-again" though. Which some people who claim to be Christians don't even know what that means...Can a person be saved and not be born-again? Can a person be born-again and not be saved? Nope...not according to the Bible I read...

I need to get ot work! c-ya

How will we compare?

2008-10-14T16:41:00.001-05:00

This is from my church's website and it inspired me today to be a little bit more faithful...

In America we are possessors of religious freedom, unparalleled in all of church history. Yet the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is rarely ever heard publicly, in the market place, where Jesus has commanded us to go. It has been confined behind the closed doors of buildings we call our places of worship. Here we dress in our fine clothes, sing the old hymns, pray, and hear the scriptures taught. But is our God pleased with our worship, or does our aroma before Him reek of hypocrisy? While Christians have sailed through bloody seas, beginning with the Apostles and the early Saints under the Roman Emperors, down through history into the inquisitions, and up until this present time under Islamic and Communist tyranny, shall we be carried away to heaven on flowery beds of ease? Those who have gone before us should bring our hearts to shame and repentance, causing us to confess our cowardly, selfish, and prideful ways. Their faithfulness at the cost of their fortunes, imprisonment, and extreme torture, should move our hearts with great zeal to witness His word to the lost. How will we compare when we stand next to these faithful saints in glory? Jesus has warned us, from everyone who has been given much , much will be required, Luke 12:48.

The debate.

2008-10-08T18:11:00.002-05:00

OK, so I never saw myself as some sort of political type person. No, I didn't know who my representatives and congress people or mayor or even who my police chief was until I had to make a list of them for our homeschooling. But as I watched part of the debate last night, I was really turned off.
I mean, seeing as I am not really aware of all the ins and outs of the economy, I am watching these men as their personalities unfold on the stage. I don't really care too much about politics, because none of it changes for me where my hope lies and where my trust is. I saw the one or should I say, that one, as a pompous idiot who spoke as if he knew everything, but was really just umm...the only word coming to my mind is jerk. Sorry.
The guy paid no attention to the time limits and when to the fact he wasn't supposed to respond anymore. It was supposed to be MC OB MC or OB MC OB, not MC OB MC OB!! Brokaw says end discussion, so then he talked over Brokaw as if he was the chief of the tribe. I just thought it was rude and obnoxious. If he's that haughty now, how will he be if he actually becomes the head guy in the White House?
And McCain...
I just saw him as, I don't know...fake. Sorry, but he didn't feel real to me. Like when Palin was talking in her debate, she still seemed real. She was almost too relaxed with the winking and stuff. Kind of unprofessional... Maybe he was just uptight or nervous...I thought he was much better at keeping his composure than Obama. Obama seemed irritated with McCain a couple times and McCain was right about saying that Obama running out shouting, "I'll get you to Pakistan, was it?, was dumb. Just plain dumb.
I am voting for McCain. But I am voting for him because of moral reasons, nothing to do with the economy or anything that has been discussed in the last two debates.
I really saw this debate as whining sniveling children argueing over peanut better and jelly.

Babbling

2008-10-07T08:19:00.004-05:00

Have you ever sat down to your computer and said to yourself "I haven't posted in awhile and people are looking for me to say something, but I don't know what to say..." So, that's where I am at right now. I figure if I just start typing something will have to come to my head.

My friend is having a baby girl. They had chosen a name but I didn't know. It was Abigail something...I don't remember what the middle name was. SO I didn't know they had already decided on a name. I asked if I could suggest a name and Lillie said sure. I really like the name Hadassah and seeing as I am fixed like a dog, when my friends have babies I get probably as excited as they do, maybe more excited seeing I don't have to go through the labor! lol You know, the name Hadessah is mentioned only once in the Bible. Without looking in your Bible, do you know who's name it is?

This is my friend Lillie. I photoshopped her picture. When we see each other, we usually say how radiant, illuminating, or some other big word the other one looks...Like,
"My, don't you look radiant today!"
And doesn't she? :)

Our Nation

2008-10-05T14:46:00.002-05:00

Just think...

Our nation is an abomination before God in many different ways, but imagine how much worse it will become as an Obama-nation!

I know, I shouldn't joke about such serious matters, but I heard someone say this and couldn't help myself...

Quiz

2008-10-04T19:51:00.003-05:00

Ok, so I found this at Amy's Place and decided to take the open invite. I don't care to tag people either, but if you want to go for it, more power to you!

Oh, it's a quiz you have to answer with one word answers.

where is your cell phone? counter

where is your significant other? basement

your hair color? blonde

your mother? couch

your father? basement (his)

your favorite thing? God

your dream/goal? perfection (lol)

The room you're in? den

your hobby? copperplate

your fear? God

where do you want to be in 6 years? eternity

where were you last night? bible-study (ha! a hyphen makes it one word, right?)

what you're not? skinny!! (lol)

one of your wish list items? patience

the last thing you did? grill

what are you wearing? cozies

your tv? junk

your pet? Moses (kitty)

your computer? fast

your mood? content

missing someone? always

your car? PT

something you're not wearing but love to wear? fur

favorite store? Sam's club

your summer?insane

love someone? absolutley

your favorite color? pink

when is the last time you laughed? today

last time you cried? Wednesday?

This WAS my porch...

2008-09-29T08:46:00.005-05:00

There never ceases to be excitement in my life!

12:30 AM Sunday I am startled awake by some sort of vibration. Craig and I both jump out of bed. "Something hit the house" I said it twice. I went to the window above the porch in my daughter's room and Craig went downstairs. I said it all looked fine. nothing on the street. The I heard Craig saying "What is going on?, What happened?" And people outside saying is everyone alright? Craig said call the cops, but I didn't even know what was going on yet. I grabbed the phone looked on the porch and saw the SUV in front of my door and some of my neighbors who heard the squealing of tires and the crash. Thank God, no one was hurt. The driver ran. The witnesses saw him running down the street, but because no one saw him in the car or actually get out of the car, it is considered a hit and run with no driver. The guy gets a ticket for "driver responsibility"; a whopping $350, and has to pay to get his car out of hock. Whoopie. What ever happened to taking responsibility for your actions? *sigh* I have a smashed house. The floor is smashed, the glass is smashed, the two cement pillars are cracked and who knows about the integrity of the house yet. We'll have to see. Oh, well. Thankfully, I didn't have an SUV in my living room, right? Or it wasn't during the day while I getting the mail or something like that! Ha, and my mailbox wasn't touched! lol
Craig usually parks where the guy went up on the lawn but wasn't parked there because he got a ticket the other day for someone else cutting the 08 sticker off his plates so he was parking in the vacant lot across the street! Thank you , Lord!

Photo Share

2008-09-25T15:53:00.003-05:00

This is some pictures I took with my sister and brother-in-law's family and one of close friend's family. I have never been to place as beautiful as these gardens.

I am in the blue shirt (with the wretched wrist brace), my hubby is in a black shirt, my kids are the blondies.
The asian girl is my close friend Lillie. The little tike in the jeans is her son Gabe, her hubby is Zach (I think there is a picture of her with him in the set), and her daughter (asian, long dark hair) is Ariel.
The tallest of the young men is my nephew Justin. Hannah is the young lady with brown hair and glasses. Her mom Toni Lynne is the one in the wheelchair, walker or being carried by her husband Kevin(my hubby's brother and one of my pastors).

Tears on my pillow 2

2008-09-24T14:52:00.002-05:00

I was thinking maybe I ought to update the post from the other day. Craig and I talked some more about it and while we didn't really figure anything out, I just want you all to know I somehow feel better. My husband is such a sweetheart and he really tries to do all he can for us as a family. No, he's not prefect, but he sure does try!
I went back and read my post from the other day and for those who have read it, I am afraid I may have portrayed my husband is a poor light. Something I try to take care not to do. I hope no one saw me as bashing him, because that I was not doing. In the situation, there isn't really a black and white answer and I think I was expecting him, my knight in shining armor, to hop on his stallion, come running to rescue me out of my pathetic despair and, well, just "fix it." Reality says he can't just "fix it." Aww shucks.

Honest Kids Juice Quote

2008-09-24T14:40:00.003-05:00

My kids were enjoying their Honest Kids fruit drink. They are kind of like Capri Sun only healthier. Anyway, on the backs are sayings and this one I particularly liked.

Don't worry if your tasks are small and rewards are few, remeber that the mighty oak was once a nut like you!

To be honest, I was surprised by how it ended! I was expecting something sweet like "the mighty oak started a mere seed." But no, I got, "a nut like you!" and if you only could've heard my son rolling with laughter!
Speaking of my son's laughter...Ever notice how a child's sincere laughter lifts a heavy heart?

Tears on my pillow

2008-09-23T10:31:00.004-05:00

I hate to use my blog as a dumping grounds for my problems, but it seems I have always been one to feel 100 times better after letting it all out...
I have been struggling with teaching my kids. My son needs extra help and so I am giving him the help he needs but kind of setting my daughter to the side. Then when I go to help her because she can't do it completely by herself, I have to set Colton off to the side. I feel like I am on an educational roller coaster.
I tried to talk to my husband about it and he walked away after about two sentences. I know there isn't anything he can do--at least not at 10pm. But these are his kids, too. I suppose it's his way of dealing with it? By not dealing with it? Just leaving it to me. Such a small thing feels like the weight of the world on my shoulders. I actually feel, for moments, like I am practically single mom.
A minute or so later he came back in the room and started telling me about something at the shop. I wanted to walk out of the room and show him how it felt! Instead, I hung my head low and listened to his ramblings and complaints--shop talk. Then he said, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." (what I always say...)
"What's wrong?"
"I tried to tell you and you wouldn't listen."
"But, there's nothing I can do. What do you want me to do?"
"I just wanted you to listen."
And he left the room. I went to bed, only to find myself weeping in bed. I don't remember the last time I cried. It seems like such a silly thing to be so upset about.
I pray. I ask. I cry out to God.
I keep trying to figure out how I can be super mom. I don't have a cape. I don't have a mask. The only thing I have is the armor of God. Maybe I'm not putting it on right? Maybe it just doesn't fit anymore...Why can't I do this?
This morning, we had our prayer time as a family and he prayed for me to have the strength and wisdom to teach them. After the prayers, he said again "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"What's wrong?"
"Craig, it's nothing new, so there's no point in talking about it again. I need to figure it out."
"WHAT"S WRONG?"
"You don't need to yell at me." (he wasn't yelling, just adding a little emphasis...)
"Well?"
"It's school. I need to figure this out..."
"hmff...I don't know what to tell you. When we get enough money, we can get videos for Amanda so you can spend more time with Colton."
And he walks out of the room. This is not the solution I want. It's definitly not the solution I can afford. I know he wants to help, he just doesn't know how he can help.

I'm ok

2008-09-16T18:54:00.002-05:00

Sharon asked how I was doing so I wanted to let you all know I'm alright. There have been a few complications-- like being allergic to my pain meds and the palm of my hand being completely numb-- but I'm alright.

My hand actually feels awesome today. I smashed it earlier by accident helping the guy who is doing our concrete and I think maybe my joint was a little out of whack and the jolt may have snapped it in place so it feels really good right now. I probably shouldn't have been out there helping him, but I just can't help it. It's the way I am. Besides, he wouldn't know where to replant all the flowers he had dug up! I mean, they were up by the house and we are having the cement poured up to the house, so the flower beds had to go. I had to do it myself. It's the only way to have it done the way I would want it. And it's not really his job to replant my flowers, even though he pitied me and my hand!

Hopefully now my basement won't leak. Wouldn't that be nice to be able to use up all that space down there! Maybe I can move the school room down there. It's nice and cool in the summer and it's so quiet!
Anyway, back to my hand! I go to the doctor tomorrow for my post-op checkup. Hopefully it all goes well.

I learned something new today.

2008-09-13T09:19:00.006-05:00

Did you know that Paprika is made of a variety of ground peppers of different...uh..spicynesses? I feel I just learned something so amazing and wanted to share it with ya'all! I never knew what it was and to be honest, I always thought it came from a Paprika plant!

plese forgive my poor typing

2008-09-05T09:27:00.002-05:00

quick update-surgery went well, but if still hurts--just hurts differently. but i know it will hurt less as time goes on. and it only took two tries this time for them to put in the IV. last time it took them about 5! I feel tired and dizzy so I am going to rest. Thanks for the prayers if anyone prayed for me.

Surgery and New Template

2008-09-03T09:33:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is the big day.
I think I'm a little nervous. Not a lot nervous, just a little. I know the Lord is in control of everything.
I was so afraid the last couple weeks that God was going to heal my hand and they would preform th surgery without checking. Then they wouldn't find anything and I would've went through the surgery for nothing. So far, I'm not healed so I guess I don't have to worry about that. It has been quite painful the last couple days. Nothing compared to a nail through my wrist, but I must say, I feel somewhat more empathetic as to the torture of it. Just watch, tomorrow my hand will be pain free and I'll be wondering why I'm going through it all!

On a different note, I've been trying to change my template to a three column one. It seems more complicated than I thought it would be and have thrown in the towel on it for now, unless anyone can here can help me. Maybe I need to pick a different starting template and make my changes that way. Maybe it'll be easier that way. I found a neat template that I downloaded off the web, but if I use it, I'll have to re-write all my lists and I don't want to lose any of my friends... Seems like a lot of work so I want to make sure it is what I really want to do, before I change it, ya know?

I can be poo

2008-08-28T20:30:00.005-05:00

At my church, there is a weekly bible study held every week on Friday. Yes, I am a regular attendee. I've only missed one or two times due to illness. (I'm not patting myself on the back, just giving background.) There are two verses that the attendees are expected to memorize. Then we take turns reciting them and everyone can give their opinion as to what they think they mean. The person who says the verse gets to pick the next week's verse to memorize. Last week I was the one to recite the verse so I got to pick one of this weeks verses for everyone to memorize.

I like to hear what everyone has to say about the Proverbs because we all come from such different walks of life. Application of verses can run the gammon. I picked:

Proverbs 14:4

Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,
But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.

Craig said I can't share what I thought at church so you'all are blessed with my thoughts. haha!

I think of the oxen owners as the leaders, the pastors, those who are disciplining. If their are no oxen or disciples, there is no poo and the manager is clean. If a Pastor or any Christian really chooses not to disciple and share the faith and interact within the body, they don't have any poo to deal with either. Some examples of what I mean might be that when you take someone under your wing, you may get a phone call at midnight with your sister in Christ crying about her unbelieving husband and wanting to know how to deal with it. Small poo, small shovel. Maybe some one you led to the Lord is thinking they are of no use to God and is contemplating taking their own life. Big pile of poo-You might need help with this shovel. Maybe I myself am a big ox with a pile of poo when I call the pastor whining about my kids or my unsaved family or whatever. I can be poo, too...

It's easy to keep our own mangers clean, but it's not so easy to help other people clean up the messes in their life. I could hide out in my house, reading my Bible and being faithful to God on my own, but like James says, "Faith without works is useless, being by itself." What good is my faith if I just clean up myself; I need to clean up after others, so to speak.

The second half of the verse to me just shows how if we do put ourselves out there, God will give us reward for our work. I liken the revenue to the rewards in heaven for being faithful and the strength of the ox to the gumption it takes for us to go out and do something. And if you think about it, if you as an oxen owner choose to have a lot of oxen, think of how much work can be accomplished by having those oxen and all the revenue that could be passed on to you by their faithful work in following after their owner.

I don't know if I have communicated what I wanted to, but I hope I did. Please leave your thoughts as to what I said and also your application of the verse. :)

Homemade spaghetti

2008-08-27T20:49:00.005-05:00

Last week I made homemade pizza from scratch. Really.

I used to say as long as I had to cook it it was "homemade" hence the need to mention it was "from scratch"!

So this week I took a stab at spaghetti--including the noodles! It was delicious!

First I had to cut the ends off the tomatoes (a ton of them--from my garden) and place them in a large pot. I put about a half inch of water in the bottom of the pan so I wouldn't burn them.

It took about 30 minutes to cook them. Then I let them cool. I took most of the skins off. Then I used my handy dandy hand blender ($2 at the thrift store--LOVE this thing!) and buzzed away. I poured it into a mesh colander, kind of mushing the sludge through it. This left the seeds and tiny pieces of skin. (Make sure to clean the colander immediately or you will never get it clean! --TRUST ME!)

Chop some onion, garlic, and saute in the big pot. I did the hamburger and mushrooms too right away (against the recipe's suggestion). Add some basil and oregano and simmer for what seems like an eternity until the pureed tomatoes condense to a sauce. Oh! I forgot! There was a tbsp. of Worcheshire sauce and a heavy tsp. of beef base or bullion that gave it a nice rich color (and flavor)

I had to move the sauce out of the pan and into this gorgeous serving dish so I could cook the pasta. I made the pasta with my Presto Machine ($6 at the thrift store) using semolina flour, eggs, and a titch of oil. Yes, I did actually serve the sauce out of this bowl. If my hubby would've been home for dinner, I would've made it a bit prettier.

I had leftover hamburger buns so i took some chopped garlic and mixed it with some butter to make garlic bread. I was pretty proud of myself with the garlic bread because I have a poor tendency to waste things like leftover hamburger or hotdog buns.

Countertop Clutter Conquered!

2008-08-23T19:33:00.006-05:00

After spending all the time in fixing up my kitchen, I like to keep it clean. Unfortunately, I am not the most organized person in the world. (We're working on it, though!) I tend to have a lot of clutter on my countertops. The way I decided to remedy this is by taking a serving tray and using it as the designated dumping grounds. Nothing is allowed on the counters except appliances (coffee pot, and espresso machine). Anything small must go on the tray. I have small jars to keep itty bitty items and a cup to hold pens. I also keep a small paper pad to jot down my grocery list. Besides keeping my counters clean, I don't spend nearly as much time searching for a pen, paper, or the fingernail clippers!

You could get one at most anywhere. I've seen them at Target, Pier One, Pottery Barn and many other places. I picked up mine from my basement! My sister in law gave it to me and I never really used it. It always seemed too big for anything useful. Seemed like more clutter to me, more junk. Exactly what I'm trying to get rid of!

My tray is a dark brown with a leather look to it. I could see a shiny brass one in a Victorian kitchen and a rustic wood one in a country style kitchen. Maybe a stainless steel one in a modern styled kitchen. Anyway, with this being the only place any items are allowed to be, my counters stay pretty neat. Well, except for the stray library book...(which belongs in the large basket in the living room...)

Containers

2008-08-22T21:50:00.005-05:00

Open your drawer. yes, the one right next to you. Do you find it a cluttered mess? Pens, pencils, tape, package of portable tissue...That's ok. I understand. I have lots of messes too. I try to deal with them one at a time. That's really the only way to do it.

I have found that one of my favorite things to help organize is baskets. Any shape would do, but the best are rectangular or square. Any size would do. A person can always set a smaller one inside a larger one.

Silverware containers do alright as well to separate the chaos--that is what it is--chaos. Ok, you can take a deep breath and just admit it. My drawer is chaotic. I need to fix it. I can and I will.

Sometimes there are adorable containers at the thrift store or maybe even an antique shop if you're into that sort of thing. I personally prefer cheap. Maybe inexpensive is a better choice of word. Sounds better, doesn't it? Inexpensive.

I re-use boxes, too. I took a dryer sheet box and set my extra bars of soap in it. It was better than having them scattered on the shelf in my laundry room.

I have a three teired hanging basket hanging from the ceiling of my basement next to my elliptical machine to hold a towel, my bottled water, MP3 player and the remote to the VCR.

I use little plastic baskets from the dollar store to hold my mix packages in the kitchen. Oh, and the metal cans that held my espresso pods now hold the kids' Koolaid packages.

Summer slideshow

2008-08-07T23:12:00.001-05:00

Surgery...again...

2008-08-07T22:09:00.004-05:00

Ok, I know I've been kind of MIA. I am going to struggle through this post and then I will have to go back to lurking for a while. I think I told everyone about the ice smashing I did and how it messed up my hand back in December. Well, I was still experiencing pain and went to the doc. He sent me to a hand specialist who had an MRI taken. They found a 9mm cyst somewhere in my wrist that is causing my grief. I can't see it, but it's in there somewhere... My hand isn't swollen nearly as much as it had been, but it is quite irritating. Oh, so they are removing it, sometime in the next couple weeks. I sy surgery again" because I've already had a cyst removed from where my middle finger meets my palm about a year ago. maybe it was two years ago. I don't exactly remember. Regardless, it's hard to deal with because it is my dominant hand.

Here are some cute pictures of the family over the summer. I doubt I will be in any of them as I am the one always taking the pictures! Actually, I'm going to make a slideshow instead...

A Card

2008-07-23T07:05:00.004-05:00

We get cards all the time-- for birthdays, anniversaries, when we are sick, or even just because. I always try to jot in it something witty out of my own head. Needless to say, that is quite a challenge for me!
I got a card for my birthday (I turned 30 on the 9th) and my pastor's wife wrote in it what I think could be on a Hallmark! The card was of a flower and I don't remeber what the actual carrd said, but she wrote in the corner of the left side, "The beauty of a flower is great, but temporary. But a Christian watered by the water of the Word will bloom forever. This is my prayer for you."
Now, isn't that the sweetest thing you have ever heard? And what a picture it presents in my head! If I am faithful to Him, I will bloom. Daniel says that the faithful who lead the many to righteousness will shine like the stars.

(Daniel 12:3 3“Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of
the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the
stars forever and ever.)

I think that sounds similar to the blooming forever. The opposite being a yucky wilted flower for all of eternity...(outside the city weeping and gnashing my teeth)

Rev 22:15Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the
murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying. (these are Christians -non-Christians are listed in Rev. 21:8)

The verse in Daniel says it's those who have insight will shine...so, how do we get insight? By readying His Word!

I want to shine!

I want to bloom!

I need to read His Word!

2008-07-21T07:59:00.002-05:00

Seems the people who don't like me for what I believe have moved on...well, there are still some who peek in once in a while...I feel like I can breathe again.

You know people believe what they want to believe. All of us. It's our choice. We live ina nation that has allowed it.

My husband says (he's a cabinet maker), when two people are looking at a board and one says it is 6" long and the other says it's 7", you get out a ruler. God gave us a ruler. It's His Word. I would have to say I think it's pretty accurate. I suppose one might try to make it a rubber ruler and stretch it a bit, but it we just read it accurately, we can clearly see what God has to say...

I'm a good wife according to SOMEBODY!

2008-06-27T15:36:00.002-05:00

As a 1930s wife, I am
Very Superior

Take the test!

This quiz is so cute. I loved the question about putting my cold feet on my hubby to warm them up at night! Yes, I was left with no choice but to mark it...That is my sin nature working! lol

I found this at Amy's Place.

Is Faith a Work?

2008-06-26T07:02:00.002-05:00

Karl asked (kind of asked, I guess...) me this and the comments are getting to be so long, so I am moving it here...

You still haven't understood what I'm saying.It is necessary for Christ to be
preached in order for His saving work to become ours by faith. You clearly agree
with this.Thus, the Word saves you. Paul says it saves you. Peter says it saves
you.So obviously, they are adding something to salvation--according to your
logic.Because when Lutherans say that Baptism saves--in the same sense that the
Word saves--you say they are adding to the work of Christ. We no more add to the
work of Christ than Paul, Peter, and you when all three agree that it is
necessary for the word to be preached, and that the word of Christ gives
salvation.I'm glad to debate all the other points we're talking about here on
the basis of God's word, but I want to make sure you see this point above before
we go any further.I'm sorry you think it's rude that I don't read all of your
posts, but I kind of think that it's rude that you presume to call the pure
Gospel all sorts of names without even clearly understanding it.The other
arguments about free will we can talk about later. But first, do you understand
that the Word is a means of grace--that is to say, that you cannot have faith in
Christ's blood without the preaching of the good news? And if so, do you
understand how it is hypocritical to accuse Lutherans of adding the work of
baptism to the cross, when you (and Peter and Paul in the bible) insist that the
preaching of God's Word saves?

I don't believe a person needs to be preached to to be saved or to hear the gospel. One can read His word and understand the simplicity of the gospel if they are open. Also the people who do not have the gospel are judged based on the knowledge they have, whether they have rejected what little they have. I have already went through this. I Tim. 3:15 says that people had the knowledge since childhood that leads to salvation... Eph. 5 says that the people hardened their heart, not that God did. James separates faith from works (most religious people know of those scriptures)...

Regardless, the preaching is a work which I do not do it to get saved. Someone else does, and then I get saved. I did not do the work of preaching.

Also, Scripture NOWHERE teaches that faith is a "work". John 6:28, people ask what works they can do of God and Jesus corrects them... John 6: 29 "This is the work OF GOD that you believe in Him whom He has sent." How much more clear can one get than that? So, God calls everyone, but only the person who chooses to come, receives the free gift of salvation.

At best, the Word of God brings the message of salvation to a person but it is the blood of Christ which saves them. Faith is not a work and preaching that leads to salvation is a work of someone else. I am still preaching the cross of Christ and nothing else. Baptism is you getting into the water...

John 12:32 Jesus says He draws ALL men to Him, so why aren't all men saved? Because they have the free will to say "no thankyou, not today" or "No thankyou, I've got things under control"

My recent Visitors

2008-06-18T08:46:00.002-05:00

I know most of the people that have been coming here the last couple days see me as a "lost cause". Out of the hundred or so stops to my blog the last couple days, only 3 messages have been left, and no one seems to be able to refute the verses I have posted which obviously show Luther's doctrine doesn't "jive" with God's. Also, no one has left any responses to the link that brought the "Lutherquest" people here. I wonder why that is. I guess I don't really wonder.

I believed what Luther taught most of my life because it was what I was taught. When someone showed me I could be wrong, I thought "Gee, maybe I was wrong all these years" whereas people like the original poster, Steve, don't think that. They seem to have in their mind they are right. But the Word of God is what will stand in the end. Not my word. Not Luther's word either.

I surely won't be standing regardless. When I meet the Creator, I picture myself with my face in the ground, not patting Him on the shoulder saying, "so glad I made it". The attitudes are so different. I surely wouldn't call someone a lost cause. There is hope always, for anyone.

To call me a sister in Christ and then to say I am a lost cause is a whole different post, of which I don't care to write at this moment...

Is Faith the gift?

2008-06-17T08:36:00.004-05:00

I decided to start a new post as the comments on the last post were getting to be a bit much, I think.

Anonymous asked in the comments...

If faith is a gift of God, and faith is a requirement for salvation, only God
saves. If I believe, baptized or not, it's because he's given me the faith to
believe. It's all up to Him.Or, is that wrong?

Good question! I have run across it many times in witnessing.
The common thought of faith being the gift comes from Ephesians 2:8-9 which reads "8For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast"
Grammatically, through faith is a prepositional phrase modifying how you have been saved. The "it" is actually referring to the grace that saves you. The sentence could be read "For (by grace through faith) you have been saved, it is the gift of God..."

God is not standing up in heaven saying "I pick Sally and Mark and Becca and Rachel and ... to be saved and everyone else can go to hell, because *I* didn't die for the *whole* world."

There are too many verses that say He died for all. Too many that say it is our choice...

Ez. 18:23 says God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, (2 Peter 3:9 says He doesn't wish for any to perish)
Rev 22:17 says that anyone who wishes to take the water of life without cost may, whereas Matt 23:37 says that He wanted to gather up His people like a hen gathers her chicks but they were un-willing.

I think that people will also single out John 6:44 which says "44“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day." BUT if you read the next verse, it explains vs. 44 in that God draws through hearing and learning what has been taught from the Father either through His disciples or His word--vs. 45 "“It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me."

When you, me, or anyone else study the bible, we need to remember one main point. God will never contridict Himself. Yes, there may be scribal errors from the copying over and over the bible over the past couple thousaind years, but God's meaning is inrefutable. Now, knowing that, we have to take what is black and white (like Christ dying for all people and all sin (Romans says many times Christ died "once for all.") and weigh it against what I would call "grey" or "cloudy" spots in the text. Because in the end it all fits together like a beautiful puzzle.

I hope this helps your question and you won't ever be afraid to ask more!

Bumper Witness

2008-05-02T09:18:00.002-05:00

My old car wouldn't fit in my dinky garage, so we bought a new one. I got a 2005 PT Cruiser with 35,000 miles for the the bargain price of $7500! (Kelley Blue Book was $10,000min. and dealers were selling the same car for $13,000) Awesome deal, eh? Thank you , Lord!

So, now I am on the hunt for new bumper stickers. My old car's read "Many religious People, Few real Christians. Why RU Real? and our church phone #" and one also that read "Real Christians know that Abortion and Homosexuality are Sin" I got flipped off, honked at, and cut off on the freeway because of that one. One time a guy driving next to me wrote on a piece of paper that I was a ****ing hater. I just waved. The bumper stickers aren't hateful, just truthful and people hate that.

Anyway, the church ran out of bumper stickers so my hubby and I came up with a couple on our own. The PT has room on the back for at least 9 bumper stickers! lol I put one on the other day that always leads to witnesses in the store parking lot. "Ex-Lutherans for Christ" People always ask what that means so I explain the difference about water baptism paying for sins, keeping the commandments to go to heaven, repenting for salvation verses Christ paying for your sins , Him being the only way, and that you'll never repent of all sins, ect.

Back to the ones we made up. Can you guys vote on them? Or let me know what you think.
My church made one more that read. "They murdered 50 million babies and now they can't figure out marriage. Where are all the real Christians?" I don't care for that one, because an unbeliever may think that I am saying a real Christian wouldn't have an abortion or that they would know what marriage is supposed to be. But a Christian can still do bad things. Duh, we do! We still sin every day. We are supposed to do better. We are supposed to sin less, but not every Christian is a disciple. There are baby Christians on one end of the spectrum and mature, bond servants on the other end. There are even what the bible calls fleshly, worldly, and dead Christians. But they are still Christians if they truly believe God died and paid for the debt they owe to God for their sins...

There I go babbling again!

#1- "God died for the ungodly. That's you and me."

#2- "I have salvation, not probation. How about you?"
(could read "Do you have salvation or probation? God died for all, not all
but ___!"

#3- "The nation who God is the Lord shall be blessed"

I think I'm going to try and make the bumper stickers using a kit I saw at Office Depot. I don't know how well it'll work, but that's the plan.

Spring is in the air

2008-05-01T07:21:00.002-05:00

Don't worry, ladies, I am still here. Alive and well. Business is booming and life never seems to slow up for it. haha
As I am coming tot he end of the year, I have been trying to be diligent in getting the schoolwork completed in a timely manner so I'm not stuck teaching class when it's 80 degrees outside. Our family enjoys class in the backyard, but, well, to be honest, I'd rather be in the backyard without the classwork!
My son had to have 2 of his baby teeth pulled this week because of the infections he had had never went away. What started as one, became two and then three. After them putting him on the antibiotics 5 times, I had enough. I took him to a new dentist who recommended I just pull them. It was actually kind of humorous. The dentist came in the room and gave me a lecture on how a child his age shouldn't have these problems and how I must be neglecting him. Then he opened Colton's mouth and said "Never mind, it's not your fault." Personally, I felt an apology was in order, but I left satisfied and encouraged to not neglect my son any further...sugars and sweets in moderation. Well, they were always in moderation, I thought, but we as a family decided it best to curb them even more. Just because we like it, doesn't mean it's good for us.
Hopefully, I can get back into the groove here and find more time to post. Maybe early like this will work. We'll have to see.

Comment Moderation

2008-03-26T10:09:00.003-05:00

Hey, friends!
I had no intentions of ever doing the comment moderation. I like the fact that people could be free to post as they wished, but a couple minutes after posting my last post, someone added a comment that as far as I could tell was a virus or spyware. I shut off my computer before it could go any further, but gee, how rotten this world is. It's just sadistic. I have never come up with any reason why people send out viruses except for fun. Sad sad sad... So, for everyone's protection I decided to do the comment moderation. I deleted the post adn then re-wrote it so the message is gone now.

*sigh*
sad, sad world we live in...

Cross the yellow tape

2008-03-26T10:05:00.001-05:00

Last night, 2am...

Pound

Pound, pound pound...

"Craig,

"Someone's pounding on the door."

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

"Ok."

"Come down with me "(he's got the club in his hand, still a little paranoid from the burglary)

"Are you serious? Fine."

"It's the police, they're everywhere."

"I'm going back to bed."

He went outside and waited for the police to talk to him.

I can't help but grab my camera.

He crossed the yellow line. Shame on him.

My neighbor got shot in the rear end...seriously--his rear.

probably a drug related thing...

I have yucky neighbors...

Which is better?? Opinions???

2008-03-26T09:16:00.002-05:00

Square or oval?

Someone gave us the square table, but it didn't come with chairs...So I think maybe it looks goofy with the old chairs? Any opinions?

Picture and Exercise

2008-03-13T08:06:00.002-05:00

Sharon wanted to know what the white was in the picture of the can of paint. Well, it was the lights on the ceiling reflecting off the liquid. I think that's what made the picture more difficult to figure out.

Well, shame on me...I haven't used my elliptical yet...I'm soooo lazy... I never get up early enough and when I get in my head to exercise later in the day, something tells me not to or I get called to the shop...urg...Makes me think "Away from me Satan!" He just wants me fat. You know, my hubby loves me no matter what; he still thinks I'm wonderful, but I really don't like the weight I've put on. On the other hand, when I look in a mirror, I don't feel I look fat, at least in my clothes. It's when you strip all that away and see the rolls as they lay that you get annoyed...Boy, I feel motivated right now to exercise, but I have to go teach my lovelies their school.

Maybe tomorrow...

Contest over...

2008-03-07T22:01:00.006-06:00

Ok, so no one answered EXACTLY right, but this was close...

"A bug floating inside of a can of paint that is not properly mixed?"

So, no bug, but that what it was. A can of paint before they mixed it. I was at the Sherwin Williams closest to the shop and they had a sort of rummage sale. The can of paint ended up a smoky blue. I forget the actual name of the color. Anyway, the new guy thought it looked really neat and brought it over me and the normal clerk to look at. And me, I carry my camera everywhere, so I snapped a picture and told them I intended to do exactly what I did. Post it and have a guess the picture contest.

Christine, the guy thought it looked like an arcid underwater. That's why he brought it over for us to look at! lol

So, Jessie, you win!! I'll email you privately so I can get your address and send you something special. I'm not sure what yet, but I hope you'll like whatever I decide on!

What fun, eh!?

(OMG!! This is my 100th post!!! Do I get a prize??? lol)

2008-03-03T13:09:00.003-06:00

Found this at Devoted Heart's Blog and she suggested everyone answer the questions.

Three names you go by:
1. Becca (I hate "Becky"...sounds like a chicken squacking..."here Becky Becky Beeckyyy" *while pecking at the ground for corn*)
2. Oh-ma Bagohma from Tacohma--hubby calls me that, than I reply with Oompa doompa from galoompa
3. Sisssss-ter B of which I reply Bro--ther C!!

Three things you are wearing right now:
1. fuzzy socks from Walmart
2. my glasses
3. my favorite pink cardigan sweater...it's so snuggly!

Three longest car rides:
1. Missouri many moons ago to go to some dance club...drove 3hrs, get there, 10 minutes later some moron pulled out a gun and they shut it down for the night and we had to drive all the way home...what a bummer, eh?
2. Up North to install a kitchen...no kids so it wasn't too bad...

3. Anywhere with my mom...

Three of your favorite things to do:
1. Spending time with family / friends
2. Walking on trails/being outdoors
3. Cooking

Three things you want very badly at the moment:
1. To have my hubby home
2. Menapause
3. Spring

Three animals you have or have had:
1. My most precious best cat ever in the whole wide world Moses
2. A parakeet named Peepers who we found in the church parking lot
3. A fighting fish named Red Fish Reddy

Three things you ate/drank today:
1. Coffe with internation delight cream French Vanilla
2. Mini Corndogs--they're addicting
3. V8 Fusion Pomegranate Blueberry

Three people you last talked to:
1. Craig (hubby and I are attached at the ear)
2. Amanda (me and the kids are attached at the hip)
3.Colton

Three things you're doing tomorrow:
1. Teaching school to my lovelies
2. Cleaning the house- maybe tackle the kids' rooms AGAIN)
3. Making dinner (I will probably get asked to go to the shop, but I always pray I won't)

Three favorite holidays:
1.Thanksgiving
2. Fourth of July
3. Memorial Day

Three favorite beverages:
1. Pepsi
2. Mint Mocha Latte
3. my daughter makes the best Hot Cocoa

Three places you'd like to visit:
1. Africa
2. I miss my grandma...
3. My sister, too...

Three things that upset me today:
1. My daughter writing sloppily...
2. Three of Colton's socks on the living room floor--none of which with a pair...
3. My husband asked me to go to the shop when I have school to teach (but he changed his mind, I think--it's still early and could always be changed again).

Ok, so now I did it, how 'bout you??

Guess the Picture!

2008-03-03T08:40:00.004-06:00

Ok, so what is this??

I will leave this up for a week or so and after a bit,

if someone gets it right, I'll send them something special.

Awww, shucks, this is my first blog game! (a sentimental moment)

Should I give a clue??

Hmmm....

I'll wait a bit...maybe tomorrow...

Our shop

2008-03-03T08:23:00.004-06:00

So, here's the shop. This is the downstairs where Craig does cabinets. (He's the handsome guy, by the saw, who blushes when he sees me pointing the camera at him)

He didn't know I was taking a movie until I was done and was so impressed that I got this awesome little camera for $50 when it is worth $200! This viseo is really me just walking through the shop. It's my first ever video. I think there is supposed to be sound on my camera but I don't know how to turn it on yet.

We also have a space in the upstairs of this building where we do Solid Surface countertops like Corian and Avonite. Avonite is way better than Corian but can be much cheaper depending on the color you pick.

My hubby loves me...

2008-02-25T18:35:00.004-06:00

I am so very spoiled. Or is it blessed? I'm not sure...When I get up there, before my Lord, with my blessings in this life turn out to have been my curse? I mean, look at all we have as a people in this nation compared to others...then remember the verse that says that to much is given much is required...ahhh...
anyway, he bought me my elliptical last week, now everyone needs to harrass me to make sure I use it or I'll never hear the end!
And today...he bought me my camera!! Yay!! Yahoo!! I can't wait to take a mess of pictures! I don't know where to start! I was so excited to have a camera in my hand, I actually took a picture of my ball point pen tip. How silly is that?!

Well, hopefully I am back in business! I think I'll take a picture of the kids' school work...I've never done that before, have I?

2008-02-17T13:03:00.001-06:00

You Passed 8th Grade Math

Congratulations, you got 10/10 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Math?

I haven't forgotten...

2008-02-17T12:30:00.002-06:00

How many times over the last couple weeks, I've thought of posting and then decided against it...For no particular reason, I suppose, except that I didn't feel like it? I don't know how many times but it was quite a few.
I rarely have anything beautiful to say as others always seem to...ahh, but I have been reading posts by my friends as time permitted.
I can only write this now because I am home from church with the flu...life can be so insane...
I feel like I need to pay closer and better attention to how I spend my time. My time escapes me...I don't know where it goes...So, I've been working really hard with the kids on their school. Keeping up with the house, the shoveling here in Wisconsin is ridiculus...and then to rake the snow off the roof...(I didn't exercise the day I did the roof rake lol) ANd we also are refinancing our house to pay the bills that are piling up (from people not paying my hubby for the work he does)...My frustration with people, society, and its morality is, I think, at a breaking point.
I miss my camera, which I still can't afford to replace since the burglary. I want to post so many pictures. I've missed capturing so many memories...
My exercise has been on a hault for a couple days until I start to feel better. I am still frustrated because I am not seeing any difference on the scale even though I am doing all this working out...urg...I'm too young for this...
Ok, so my negative attitude is probably the real reason I haven't posted. I don't like to whine and complain to people, but it seems all that is able to come from my heart right now...

Muscle woman!

2008-01-31T09:46:00.000-06:00

Oh my goodness!!!
I was playin' around with my hubby--actin' all macho-workout-woman-like--and I saw muscle!! I mean, you can see it!! The real thing! I'm not imagining to be there anymore! It is actually poking through my flab!! I flexed my arm as if saying to my hubby,"look at the progress" (as a joke, of course) and it was there!! I was so surprised my hubby was cracking up at me...so I had to remind him to not laugh too hard or the button off his pants might pop! **wink** (It's so nice to be able to laugh with your hubby)

Oh, and here's one for you all! My 7 yo son said yesterday after I came up from exercising in the basement, "Mom, you look thinner than you did this morning!" It's only so funny to me, becasue he was serious! lol If only it actually worked that way!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

Ebay...

2008-01-30T10:21:00.000-06:00

I don't know how many of you do Ebay, but I guess I am somewhat of an ebay hound- at least in comparison to my real-life pals...

I bought some *make your own grocery type books* a few months back.

Speaking of one in particular, the listing said it's page were clean and in good condition. This is the actual description from the listing:

FARM JOURNAL’S COUNTRY COOKBOOK - Revised, Enlarged Edition. Copyright 1972. 559
pgs. Edited by Nell B. Nichols. Book is in good to very good condition. Cover
shows edge wear - particularly light wear on corners and some scraping of color
along bottom of spine. Spine tight, pages intact, no rips or tears. Pages look
very good, clean. There is some light spotting on page edgings - which can be
seen when the book is closed.

I recieved the book and 6 pages had writing on them-no biggie.

So, I am not an overly picky sort of person and really didn't care, until I went to leave feedback and they have those stars now for rating the transaction more specifically. One of the new star ratings is the accuracy of the listing. I emailed the seller, because I wasn't exactly sure what to do. I mean, I wanted to leave her positive feedback, but I also didn't want to lie (before my God) in regards to the stars rating. (Probably seems odd to a "normal" person, now that I think about it)

Anyway, she said, "don't leave feedback, if it's a problem." I found out I could leave the feedback without answering the stars. So, I happily left positive feedback and just didn't fill out the one star.

A month passed and she hadn't left feedback for me, so I politely asked why she hadn't in an email. No response, so I waited another month or two and emailed her again-yesterday. I asked why she hadn't. Again. I was kind. Not rude at all. I merely asked why she hadn't left feedback and that I thought it wasn't very nice that she hadn't, seeing as I had paid immediately and left her feedback as well. My exact words:

Is there any reason you still have not left me feedback? Seeing as ebay
works around the feedback scores, it doesn't seem very nice for you not to. I
paid immediately and left your feedback as soon as I received the books.
Becca

This was the response I got:

"Feedback is a privilege not a requirement. I don't like being ordered to
leave feedback by anyone. And, feedback is not as meaningful as you may
think. Ebay is soon going to make changes to the Feedback system - that
will make it even more worthless than it is now. So, you shouldn't
place so much emphasis on it. Yes, I remember your transaction all too
well. You were the one who made such a big stink about one of the
cookbooks that had a little bit of writing in it. You stated that my
description was so very incorrect because I failed to mention that this book had
some writing in it - that I did not notice. You were so worried about how
you were going to fill out the stars. I recommended that if it was such a
problem - that you shouldn't leave me any feedback at all. Leaving feedback
was your choice to do. No one forced you to do that. On principle
alone - I decided that I did not want to leave feedback for someone who
practically accused me of lying. If I would have left feedback - it
wouldn't have been positive - because your transaction did not leave me in a
positive frame of mind. So, please do not communicate with me again.
I have nothing more to say to you. Any further communication from you -
will be treated as SPAM and reported as such. "

I am almost in shock.
I was nice.
I should've left negative for her misrepresenting her auction. But I figured it was an honest mistake--I never accused her of lying. Nor did I ever order her to leave me feedback. I was so concerned about *my* being honest. If I were to say her listing was accurate, I would be lying. That in no way says she lied!

So, here is my response, which will somehow be treated as SPAM:

I am so sorry. I did in no way accuse you of lying! Not even close. Again,
I apologize for even making you think that I thought that, because I never at
any point in time thought that. I was worried about *myself* being dishonest. I
thought the book was great, the seller was great, it was just those stupid
stars, which I did not have to fill out. As for a little writing, 6 pages is a
lot in a listing of which there is no mention of writing. It's not like it was
one little note. I don't know why you have to be so rude. I didn't order you to
give feedback, I merely asked why you hadn't. Twice. I wasn't mean or rude in
any of my communication and I never said you lied. I believe it was an honest
oversight. No big deal, except it made an accurate description inaccurate-but
not intentionally. Again, I am truly sorry for making you feel I was accusing
you of lying. Becca

I don't know what to say...
People are so crabby and mean...
Cold...
I guess maybe I did something wrong, but I'm not sure what it was yet. Any ideas?

I was reading last night...

2008-01-23T09:13:00.000-06:00

I was reading last night in the book of Haggai and was set back by how unhappy God was with his people. Have you read it?
He said to them to Consider their ways TWICE!
And then asked them if doing something holy made everything they did holy...well, NO...and then He asked if touching something unclean made everything good unclean as well and then of course, the answer is yes.
Then He told them that's the way they are! That all their good is unclean and slimy before God... Think about that for a moment. I mean, you can be doing so well in so many different areas, but if you are living unclean in an area, in makes everything you do unclean.
Maybe like when the bathroom is completely spotless, but the mirror is dirty. You look at the bathroom and see it as so sparkly, but God looks at it through the reflection of the dirty mirror and He sees it as a big mess... Time for us to clean the mirror, I think...

A full week, I think...

2008-01-23T09:06:00.000-06:00

I walked 2 miles today with the Walk Away the Pounds video. I like that they are easy enough, I don't give up. And yet, I can make the workout harder just by how hard I work. I mean, if I lift my legs higher, it's harder and therefore I sweat more! i feel really good! I also started taking some vitamins My hubby must not have thought I was really doing this until he got up, I was making a smoothie and on my way to the basement to exercise. When I told him I had exercised every day since Sunday, he looked shocked--but trust me, I've told him every day!

Homeschool Tracker

2008-01-15T09:03:00.000-06:00

Wow, have I missed you guys! I've been so utterly busy in real life. Between burgalaries, business taxes, and my new Homeschool Tracker--my world is in a daze! lol
While the burglary stresses one out -with all the getting prices of comparable replacements of your stuff, and, not to mention, going to the PD 3 times to get the police report and it not being ready yet, even though they told me it would be each time--and well, Lord knows about taxes....*sigh* they are overwelming enough for a person who doesn't own a business!
So, this Homeschool Tracker software is supposed to somehow make my life easier.

I know I got the free version a couple years back and thought it was way too much work to download everything and type each individual lesson in, that I just deleted it off my computer and went back to pencil and lesson plan book. But this time I paid for the Plus version and it is awesome. You can download the plans that other people already filled in that match your curriculum books, leaving you with, like, no real work except to tweak their plans a bit to fit you! And if you DO have to do some yourself, you can copy a simple lesson plan for one day 170 times and just add/change the page numbers or whatever, making it so much easier and quicker! I know this probably doesn't make too much sense if you don't have the program--in fact I KNOW it doesn't make sense because when my friend Sue was telling me about it all, I thought she was from another planet or something! :)
But now, I think it's great! And I can't wait to put it into action. It is a little nerve wracking to take the plunge of a whole new schedule or whole new way fo doing things, but I know I can...I know I can... (I'm one of those people who always order the same thing at a restraunt for fear I won't like what I order if I try something new)

Oh, and last night, I accomplished the impossible with the Lord's help. Since I bought this new printer, I didn't have it hooked up to my wireless network, because I didn't know how to do it, but because I put the Homeschool Tracker on my laptop, I had to get the printer up and running. (I could only print off the desktop before). Right now, I can't afford to have my computer guy come out and do it, so I pulled out the manual and went to it.
Ahhh, but it didn't go smoothly. My computer kept saying I needed to insert the original MicroSoft XP disk (as though, any normal human would have it) because it was missing a file...The printer would print, but becasue this file was missing the install wizard deleted the printer and said the installation failed-removing the printer...I enev tried to turn off the computer without the install wizard deleting the printer... I searched and searched for this file...but it just wasn't in my computer. All the while, I said Lord lord, can't you help? It wasn't an on my knees sort of prayer, just a subconcious sort of prayer...(what I consider as praying without ceasing-my God always talking with me inside my head--don't worry, I don't hear Him talking back!) Ok, so somehow, I found this files in the depths of my computer, not even named as the one I was looking for and when I clicked OK, the install continued. I kept looking at my computer wondering what in the world it was doing because I still have no clue what I did...I think as I sat there waiting for it to finish installing, I thought it was going to blow up or something. I may even had shed a tear. Either way, I was absolutely amazed! I have no clue how it worked, I'm still a bit in shock! What an awesome God! To think He is even helping us with those little things like that! Amazing!

Absolutely Precious!

2008-01-09T12:34:00.000-06:00

This is absolutely precious! And to think, we claim WE can't memorize scripture!

Flowers in the Attic

2008-01-08T11:59:00.000-06:00

I was looking at Dawn's profile and saw that she liked the book Flowers in the Attic by VC Andrews and I thought I'd share another of my unbelievable childhood memories!

My mom loved that series, read it over and over. (that's the background)

We got snacks every night before we went to bed. I remember apples, a couple cookies, or whatever. Usually my mom made popcorn in lunch bags in the microwave. She would put on some powder saying it was popcorn salt. There was popcorn salt in the cupboard and for a while I know it was popcorn salt, but one time it tasted weird. She'd sprinkle it on. Now maybe in her drunkeness she really was thinking it was popcorn salt, but it was MSG (at the time I didn't know what MSG was but I remember the letters on the bottle). I don't know why she used it. I just remember it tasted awful and when I didn't want it, she'd insist on putting it on. I remember arguing with her that it wasn't popcorn salt. SHe kept insisting it was. Yuck! Needless to say, with her insisting on MSG as a flavoring, I chose to go without the snack.

When I heard that MSG was so bad for you, I remembered that nasty popcorn...so in my mind I still wonder if my mom was trying to poison us kids...like the arsenic the old lady sprinkled on the kids cookies in Flowers in the Attic. Really, I wonder. You may think this is crazy but my mom is something else...

New Year's Award

2008-01-07T13:08:00.000-06:00

After spending what seems like an hour trying to get this silly picture on my blog, I finally got it! Sharon gave it to me. I love Sharon. Her writing is so fresh, hard hitting, convicting and real. Because she gave it to me, I can't give it to her. But I still can pass it on....

This little award is called The Daily Dose.And here is all the important info. Because you know you want to know what it is about and where it came from. ;)

".. here's to all the blogs that you've discovered that you can't possibly live without. They make you laugh, cry, think and feel connected every time you read a post. They give you a thrill as you see them loading into your browser and you get an equally satisfying thrill when you see that they have commented on your blog".

From Xandra : creator, The Daily Dose Award.

There are some blogs I just can't keep away from.

First one is my friend Dawn. I met her online through a different website and she has a tender heart. Her soul is warm, her words and true, and to me, she is a dear friend. When I say something stupid, she's there to kindly correct me in that loving questioning way, that would only offend someone not open to correction, I guess. Her convictions are strong and biblical.

The unclutter blog is another blog I can't live without! I only found it a while ago and I have found some really good ideas on there. This goes a little with my title of my blog...I don't think it's the kind of blog that accepts rewards.

I would also give it to Jessi but Sharon gave it to her already so I can't give it to her too. But she now knows I would've!

Hmmm...who else...I love visiting a couple other blogs, but they don't post much. I suppose they are to busy with real life.

I also love this blog, but when I went to tell them so, I read a post that they were no longer posting...It was for us multi-taskers... *sigh*

I don't know who else...There are a couple blogs that I went to, but never had my comments published. I took it as I wasn't welcome. I enjoy reading their posts, but because of their unfriendliness, I choose not to name them...I wonder why people would be like that...

I guess the rule is, if you take the award, you have to pass it on.

Toodles!

Another quote

2008-01-01T22:16:00.000-06:00

Adam was created…to have
dominion over all the life in the
air and earth and sea, but one
thing he was not to have dominion
over, and that was himself.

—Oswald Chambers

Pride

2008-01-01T22:15:00.000-06:00

In all unbelief there are
these two things: a good opinion
of one’s self and a bad opinion of
God.
—Horatius Bonar

AKA- Pride
Unless a person knows what they are in comparison to the Almighty, they aren't saved. I always say if a person says they are good enough to go to heaven- I can promise if they die believing that, they won't be there. No one will ever be good enough. No matter how hard we try, we will never deserve to go there. But we get to. Because our debt has been paid in full, nailed to the cross. All we do is believe it's real. Awesome.

I just had an idea...for those shy about witnessing...You could tell someone you read a great quote, share the quote and head into a witness...

You see the neighbor...
"Hey, how's it going?"
"Oh, great and you?"
"Really really good...say, you believe in God and all that stuff?"
"Well...uh..yeah..."
"I read this great quote today, It was something like in unbelief, people in hell, there's always an awesome opinion of self and a poor opinion of God. Isn't that so true? I mean...."blah blah blah

and you just go on and on about how awesome God is and how yucky you are and how all means all and free is free.

Bam! A full fledged witness and brownie points in heaven!

Another quote...(someone who talks smarter than me!)

2008-01-01T22:14:00.001-06:00

Beware in your prayers,
above everything else, of limiting
God, not only by unbelief, but by
fancying that you know what He
can do. Expect unexpected things,
“above all that we ask or think.”
Each time, before you intercede,
be quiet first and worship God in
His glory. Think of what He can
do and how He delights to hear
the prayers of His redeemed people.
Think of your place and privilege
in Christ and expect great
things!
—Andrew Murray

Tony Wons radio book again...

2007-12-31T19:27:00.000-06:00

<><><> The Average Man’s Prayer. <><><>

Lord, I speak not in scholarly language,
But somehow, I know You wont care;
For mine is a humble petition…
Mine is the average man’s prayer.
<><><>
My thoughts are, of course, not brilliant,
My wishes, You know them quite well.
There are many of me and my fellows,
So many, it’s needless to tell.
<><><>
You know that I am one of those pluggers,
I go out each day and I fight;
And sometimes I’m beaten, discouraged,
And I’m very weary at night.
<><><>
I bark at my wife, who is patient,
I bully my children, who cry.
I know I could be better natured,
But often, I don’t even try.
<><><>
But You know how rough things are running,
How business is all in a hole,
A man’s got to sweat for his living
And struggle with body and soul.
<><><>
Lord, help me face life with courage,
And bless everything that I do.
I’m dumb when it comes to this praying,
But I trust and rely on You.
<><><>
Watch over the days of my dear ones---
They’re all that I have to share…….
And I wish I could make this more lofty,
But it’s only the average man’s prayer.
<><><><><><><>

Imagine this...

2007-12-28T09:07:00.000-06:00

You are sleeping, soundly...you hear clunk, clunk on your stairs. You suppose it's your daughter, coming up from the bathroom. Squeak....shoes on your painted floor...why would your daughter have shoes on at midnight? Clunk, clunk down the stairs....you get up, tiptoe to the top of the stairs...the waft of cigarette odor makes your stomach jump...it's NOT your daughter...the frigerator opens...chug chug chug, you hear the crink of the milk container...Your husband is snoring away in bed...and your 11 year old CAN NOT chug the milk like that...well, maybe...but she wouldn't have shoes and the cat would follow her down the stairs like a puppy dog, right? But the cat is at your feet afraid to go downstairs (so are you!)

So, I tell you what I did. I tiptoed and whispered to Craig. "Someone is in our house." He snapped awake and said "No." I whispered in seconds every thing I just said about the clunks the milk and the cigarette smell. He got up grabbbed the old stair rail and went to the stairs. He heard them and started banging the stick on the stairs and they ran out. I was on the phone to 911. WE saw three men run through the back yard. The police came and then a detective. It was like CSI in my living room! I would've taken a picture, but they stole my camera. LOL
After they left, I couldn't fall asleep. Every noise was a person (in my head)...

They stole stuff, they stole my only set of keys, the stole, they stole, they ransacked my house...had they not come upstairs, I don't think I'd have ever known they were there...They came in through a window and left out the front door...

God protected me. I put my laptop away before I went to bed in it's bag, behind the couch (not normal) I took the home phone upstairs with me...I don't know why. I've NEVER done that before when Craig was home...

I heard they steal your keys to come back later and drive down the street using the clicker to make the dome light come on. My clicker stopped working last week. Serious. Last week!

Well, don't expect any pictures any time soon. I can't afford to run out and buy a camera. Thankfully, I had an extra monitor in the basement and they didn't steal the rest of my computer. I am most thankful the man who was by my bedroom door, went back downstairs and didn't hurt my family. Colton never even woke up.

Roscoe Gilmore Stott

2007-12-25T21:29:00.000-06:00

I know You're the God of the wise,
Men say You're the God of the strong;
But I hope You're the God of us blundering fools
Who have faultered and stumbled along!

The wise need so little, the good are all blest;
Their strength for the strong you renew.
Oh, how I hope You find time, in Your infinite plan--
For the weak ones have nothing but You!

Not broken, BUT....

2007-12-24T08:56:00.000-06:00

LOL, Well, my face is less swollen, but more painful, I suppose. I think that when it was so swollen, it was affecting the nerve maybe, making it hardly hurt at all. I had a big bruise on my jaw yesterday, but that seems to have subsided too.

As for my wrist, when they took the xrays they said they'd call if the radiologist found anything when he went over the xrays. See that was a week ago, I assumed I was good. Well, I got a call after church yesterday. Something about metacarpals and spirals and my thumb and radial flection or something--all in one title. Haha I asked for English, but she didn't reword it. All I know is I was advised to follow up with my general doctor for a splint... Oh, well...

I had a great worship service, got to sing my absolute favorite song. It's called God's Own Fool by ummm...Micheal Card? A little before my time I suppose but it's a beautiful song.

Hear the song

This song brings tears to my eyes every time I sing it...

For fun...

2007-12-21T10:35:00.000-06:00

Don't laugh too hard!

I thought now would be a good time to share why my dad called me pack-rat when I was kid, but I guess I did a ways back.

How Mom found out...

2007-12-21T09:13:00.000-06:00

I was at Sharon's and she was talking about waxing and piercing so I thought it would be fun to share the experience of me telling my mom about my tounge piercing many moons ago.

SO I got it pierced and a month or so later my mom took me to the mall to go shopping with her. It was a great time. She had no idea it was pierced. I was talking a little bit with a lisp because of it, but she didn't figure out why. YET!

We went to the Steak Escape for lunch. They have the BEST food in my opinion. Their fries are awesome. So we were sitting at a table across from each other and as I was eating my steak sandwich, I started gagging...

My eyes wide, I opened my mouth even wider and proceeded to pull the meat out of my throat and unwrap it from the tounge ring...I started at my mom expecting something. She didn't say anything. I mean NOTHING. I don't know who was mortified more. Either way, she knew...

Ok, so I DO NOT recommend anyone pierce their tounge. It is stupid! I think I did it to get attention or something. Maybe I wasn't happy with myself. I don't know why I did it. Maybe for my boyfriend at the time...whatever the reason, it wasn't a good one. I don't think there is a good one...hmmm...

Owwwww

2007-12-20T09:07:00.000-06:00

I want my mommy...
except she wouldn't care...
I want sympathy like a little baby...

Do you remember my awful tooth experience acouple months back? Well, it was still infected so I went to the dentist and he said I needed to have the root tip surgically removed. I went to the oral surgeon yesterday. The whole office was green and yellow for the Packers-- which to me, is so stupid, but whatever. Just giving you first impressions. The waiting room was small with paper signs all over saying that things like "No Kids" (good thing hubby took the kids to the shop with him) and "No smoking" (duh) among a collage of other ones...pretty cheese-mo. The waiting room was merely 10 folding chairs...needless to say,I was feeling a little concerned by my surroundings.
They took me into a little, (you guessed it) green and yellow room. All that was in there was the chair, a red table whose base was covered with dust, and an xray box with my mouth on it and a foding chair in the corner. Across a sort of hallway was a young lady getting her wisdom teeth out; he pulled her teeth out in seconds! And I heard him talking to her, he seemed very nice. My discomfort was waning a bit.
Then he came to my room. He says "Look at the xray."
I looked.
"See this line? That a nerve and if I hit it while I am drilling in your gums, you will either be numb for a little while or forever. I will just slice open your gus, flap them back and go fishing for the root tip. But that is the danger."
"Gee, as if my palms weren't sweaty enough before!" So I had to decide how much it bothered me. Sort of weigh the options. He said it didn't look infected but yet I know it is, because it burst a week ago again. It was painful but I got used to the pain. It took me about 5 minutes to give him an answer. He was beginning to look at me as if I was pathetic so I told him to go for it. He made it sound like it would take 20 minutes at least to find the tip.
I saw the scapel (I forgot to mention the local anethsetic, but he numbed me *giggles*) . I heard the drill for about 30seconds--all the while I am in fervent prayer...Lord, Lord...The doctor speaks up,
"You got to be kidding me. You can't make it this easy on me--that wasn't even FUN", He said.
He got the tip out that quick! I think he put in 6 or 7 stitches and sent me on my way.

An interesting side note is that the dentist who left it in, said it would work itself out. I had that happen before, so I believed him. I also expected it to be the size of maybe a pencil tip, I had seen it in an xray. It always amazed me that an itty bitty bit of tooth could cause me so much problems. But get this! It was round so it could never have wroked itself out and it was the size of a small pea!! No wonder it bothered me so much...

I am so happy that God allowed it to come out so quickly. I don't know if the nerve is damaged yet. My face is swollen pretty badly. It's like the hunchback of Notre Dame's hump only on my face! LOL Seriously, my face looks deformed becasue it is so swollen, but it's not nearly as painful as I would have expected.

Talk about URGGG!

2007-12-18T14:47:00.000-06:00

To finally be able to pick up your pen, go to write something,

get it 90% finished,

somehow get ink on your finger,

which is gently resting on your paper,

and realize too late,
you should have put a piece of paper

under your hand

to prevent the infamous

SMUDGE...

Can you say it with me, now?

URGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!

(and all this for you, Jessica...*giggles*)

You've got to be kidding me!

2007-12-18T10:07:00.001-06:00

Talk about ridiculus!
I read an article last week talking about all the diseases phychiatrists have come up with...like too much coffee before you go to bed is a caffiene induced sleep disorder, not you being so foolish as to drink the coffeee before you retire and if your kids fight, they has a sibling rivalry disorder, not a sin nature-- that's only a couple of the silly labels--all of which the doctors have a pill to fix...well, I saw this and while it doesn't exactly surprise me, it does make me nauseous.

2. Thank God. We’ve been so worried since Lucky dyed his hair jet black and
started listening to the Smiths. Eli Lilly
wins FDA approval to put Prozac into chewable, beef-flavored pills to treat
separation anxiety in dogs

Prozac for dogs?? I suppose, if we humans are merely evolved
animals, why not?

YEAH!!!

2007-12-17T18:29:00.000-06:00

Ha, it's NOT broken!! Can I dance like King David, only with all my clothes on? hehe (It was David, right?...or was it King Saul?...)

It's still sore, so I am limiting my typing a bit.

Second opinion...

2007-12-11T16:51:00.000-06:00

I got a second opinion and they said it is not tendonitis. More than likely I broke my wrist and it didn't show up on the xray because it would be a hairline fracture. So, if I am not feeling 90% better by Sunday, I will go in for xrays again on Monday and then the fracture should show and they will put me in a cast, or I will be healed by Sunday--which I like the sounds of much better! *wink*

maybe you all could drop a note to God for me...
Prayers of a righteous man accomplish much... (Becca's paraphrase...)

Not quite a nail through my wrist but...

2007-12-10T19:55:00.000-06:00

I think I broke my wrist...
On Sunday, hubby wanted ice in his coffee, and I smashed one chunk of ice with another. Hard.
Then, during prayer it started to hurt, got a bruise above my wrist...went to the Urgent Care last night, they did xrays and found nothing. Told me I had tendonitis--which is something that comes on over a matter of years...I think they are wrong. I just feel they are. I think I'd know if I broke a bone-no matter how stupidly it occurred-- so I did a bunch of research and I guess the most common wrist bone to break is also the most commonly misdiagnosed and sometimes takes days to show up on an xray...The pain is overwhelming me...I've never cried because of pain as an adult, but I did today...
I think God is spanking me...The Bible says He disciplines those He loves...I haven't been praying, reading, nor witnessing nearly as much as I used to....
I've always prayed that if I stray, He would do whatever it takes to remind me of who He is...I think He has...
I'm not sure what to do right now...it hurts...badly...