Today’s Reading

I read this today in my quiet time.  It touched me, so… I’m sharing.

First the KJV then NIV for those who can’t handle King James English! ;)

Romans 12

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

and again…

Romans 12

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary:
   "If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
      if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
   In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Certainty in God

 

“…they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” ~ Luke 24:32

I’ve had this post on my heart for several days, but my thoughts are so scattered I’m not sure how it will flow.  But here goes anyway…

Too many times I’ve knelt weeping at Jesus’ feet and felt His arms come around me for anyone to tell me God’s not real.

Too many times I’ve stood in the middle of a storm unable to see the light and felt unexplainable peace for anyone to tell me God’s not real.

Too many times I’ve been sick or in pain and prayed for healing and instantly been healed for anyone to tell me God’s not real.

And I could go on and on…

So what brought this on?

I sometimes read this blog by a woman who used to be a christian and now says she’s an atheist.  That made me think of this woman who went to our church when I was growing up… she was faithful every week, taught Sunday school, and yet once told my mom that she had never felt the presence of God.  So that made me think of what a short slide it is from just going through the motions to no longer believing.

I look around and see so many people just going through the motions.  How easy it is to believe Satan’s lies when we don’t really KNOW Jesus.  Just hearing about Him is not enough.  Reading the Bible is good and necessary but just reading about Him is not enough.  We must KNOW Him.  Because once we really know Him nothing and no one can take that away.

The thing is I think a lot of people don’t even know that they’re missing out.  It reminds me of the place in Acts where Paul asked the people in Ephesus if they had received the Holy Ghost since they believed and they replied that they didn’t even know that there was a Holy Ghost. People are going through the motions not even realizing that there is more, not even realizing that they are missing out.  Why?? Because we aren’t shouting God’s goodness from the rooftops. 

God moves for me and I thank Him and then go on about my business.  I never stop everything and run out to tell everyone I see.  So I’m saying it now… there’s more.  God has moved for me in mighty ways, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg.  He has touched me, healed me, turned my life around, and there is still so much more He has in store. 

The message last Saturday morning was so good… I wish I knew how to upload audio, but this is a small bit…

“Being religious is not going to help us. We’ve got to eat His flesh and drink His blood.”

“If there’s no dedication in your walk with God then you need to be in the alter. If there’s no prayer life in my ministry then I need to sit down.” 

“We’ve got to press. He said you put on the whole armor of God. He said you earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. He said you occupy til I come.  He said you hold fast.  He said you fight the good fight of faith.  What’s all that?  All that’s telling that you’ve got to do it.”

No one else can do it for us.  No one can convince anyone else with a certainty that God is real… but He can.  If you’ve never felt the presence of God, if you can’t say with certainty that God is real… seek His face.  He will reveal Himself to you.  Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.  It’s a promise! 

Wild World of Cade

 

This child constantly cracks me up.  He can be a bit of a challenge, but is such a joy at the same time.  You just never know what he’s going to come up with!

A few days ago he came up to me and said, “Why does it say no elephants in the swimming pool?”

I have no idea… but given the size of our pool it seems like good advice!

A Heart That Values Being a Mother

I’m reading A Woman After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George with my bible study group.  LOVE this book… it’s really been a wake up call in some areas of my life.  These are just a few of the quotes that jumped out at me in the chapters on mothering…

• A woman after God’s own heart is first and foremost a woman who has in her own heart a deep and abiding passion for God’s Word.  And her children… are to receive the firstfruits of this burning personal passion.
• Out of our mouths at every opportunity must come salt…. First a mother and father fill their own hearts with God’s Word and then they deliberately and diligently teach their children at every opportunity each day presents.
• How’s your walk? What are your children seeing about God in you? What are you teaching your children?
• As mothers on assignment  from God, you and I cannot underestimate the urgency of planting His truth in our children’s hearts and minds.
• We must be committed to nurturing and maintaining a godly life because a soul- the soul of each child- is involved.
• As mothers, you and I are the Number One influence in our children’s lives.
• What I put in to my children on a daily basis- seeds of patience or impatience, faith in God or lack of faith, kindness or selfishness- would be what I might gain back in years to come.
• We serve and take care of our children simply because God says to. Just as we do for our husbands, we give to our children expecting nothing in return.
• There are no other options, no conditions, no exceptions, and no fine print when it comes to God’s clear command that we are to love our children.
• This principle- Don’t give away to others what you have not first given away at home- applies to far more than just food.  We talk to people on the phone, for instance, but we don’t talk to our own children.  We listen to other people, but we don’t listen to our children.  We spend time with other people, but we don’t with our children.  We give smiles and joy to others, but don’t always share these with our children.
• Our presence in the home is important.  No dollar amount can ever be put on the value of our presence at home…

I highly recommend this book… it’s very convicting!

 

Catching Up

 

Whew… I think I’m being held hostage by my garden! To all my friends I’ve neglected and not kept up with, I’m sorry!  The craziness should end soon… I hope!  Unless I plant that fall garden I’ve just about talked myself back into after talking myself out of it last week.

The good news is I’ve put up a LOT of food for the family and our produce stand is doing great.  So there is always an up side!

The bad news is my kids have also been neglected, although I don’t think they’ve noticed to much.  You know it’s getting bad when they don’t want to eat hot dogs anymore! And when swimming in a dirty swimming pool counts as their bath!… not that I’d really do that, right?

One of the benefits (or headaches, depending on how you look at it) of raising independent, self-sufficient children, is they will take that ball and run with it if you give them half a chance. 

Yesterday I came in from picking tomatoes and Jake met me in the living room with a cake mix in his hand. “Mom, we can make this! Look, 3 eggs… we have eggs. A cup full of water… we have that!”  I laughed, said “hmmm”, and went back out to pick more tomatoes.  A little bit later, when I returned with another basket, I found Jake and Cade at the kitchen table.  Cake mix in mixing bowl, eggs already in mix and just about to pour in a plastic Pizza Hut cup full of water.  Being the good mother that I am, I stopped them and quickly showed Cade how to use a measuring cup, warned them not to turn on the oven… and went back out to pick MORE tomatoes.  I met Travis on the porch, told him to help his brothers and also gave him permission to use the oven. 

Their cake turned out fairly decent!  There were a few little mistakes but they did a good job.  And if they’ve been eating cake for breakfast and lunch the past two days… well at least it breaks up the monotony of hot dogs 3 times a day!

I also have a praise…

My wrist started hurting yesterday.  I don’t know how in the world I could have sprained my wrist shelling peas, but that’s all I can figure!  It hurt to move my wrist at all, I couldn’t put any pressure on it and even moving my fingers to type was excruciating.  So I did what I always do… ignored it and hoped it would be better in the morning!

Well, it wasn’t.  If anything it was getting worse.  I babied it through the morning but then I needed to can tomatoes, really need two hands for that.  Lifting pots of water was killing me and my fingers on that hand were beginning to feel numb.  So after almost 24 hours I did what I should have done at the start… I started praying.  Just stood right there in the kitchen, laid hands on myself and started calling on God!  Immediately the pain lessened.  I was able to can a bushel and a half of tomatoes without a bit of pain, and sitting here now I can type with no problem and move my wrist in any direction with barely a twinge!  I’m so thankful to be serving a God who still answers prayers… no matter how small the matter might be or how long we put off coming to Him!