Sunday, November 1, 2009

One Bad Apple...

I was listening to a car show today....geek for a gal, I know...but see, it's my talk radio channel and its the only thing on and if I turn it to the Christian channel, there's a 'hacking preacher' on at that time and I can't - just can't, listen to that. And besides, I don't mind, I kind of like it!

See, I grew up around cars and I picked up some things and well, God didn't give me five boys for nothing, ya know? It helps me stay in the know so I can always have something to tell them about! You know- "hey, did you hear about the new features on the new...?"(That way I always look super smart and super cool! ;)

For the record, it was me who taught the boys; "no, that's a Camaro", "ewww, would you look at that Jag", "that's like a 60 something model" etc. ..and I was able to tell them some things under the hood like; "that's the radiator", "that's the distributor", "that's the battery and if your car won't start you always need to check these first to make sure you have a good connection", etc. You know, all that geek stuff!

Ok, back off the rabbit trail-- On this program he was talking about being in Germany. He had made friends with some fellows there as they were all involved in the latest in auto-motives. He said these Germans were going to come here for a visit to learn things and had invited him back, etc.

I was listening thinking- what a small world we live in now! Isn't it something how we can get along with the Germans, the French, the Brits, etc? Everyone seems to have the capacity to get along and share and glean from one another---except that Ahmadinejad! Why does there have to be one big bad rotten apple? He spoils it all! (Not that he really is the only one- just making a point- keep reading...:)

It only takes ONE-
One person to cause unrest. One person to break the peace. One person to start a war. One person to disrupt a class. One person to cause a commotion in a store. One person- ONE- to disrupt the harmony in a home!


One child can do this, just ONE.

I have seen first hand how one child, with a bad attitude, can ruin everything for everyone in a home. You know how this works- Dad wants to take everyone to the park, everyone gets excited- then one kid- just ONE, says those magic naughty words "I don't want to". Mom makes a new dish at supper and she's worked real hard (and she has the flour on her dress to prove it) and everyone is excited about this new dish and eats it up and is happy and excited and then one-just ONE, says those magic words "I don't like it". One child encourages everyone to play a game. All the kids are excited and gathering things together to play and then one-just ONE, says those magic words "I don't like this game".


My dd and I like to watch the old 'I Love Lucy' shows from time to time. Last night we watched one where Lucy was pregnant and Ricky was so excited and making on over the baby and trying to take care of Lucy....then Lucy (being Lucy) turns on a dime and says "he doesn't love me, he only loves the baby''. So poor Ricky bends over backwards to assure her of his love for her; takes her to dinner and dancing, etc. Then Lucy (being Lucy) starts that famous 'aaaaah' cry of hers and when asked what's wrong she says 'you haven't mentioned the baby all night'.


As adults, I think we often believe we are above this- but I'm not! How 'bout you?


We have the maturity to feel things but not act on them.


But children-
Children have to be taught this tough lesson. It does not come natural! (I remember being young and dumb and thinking that it would..ha!)


I have found that story books and taking time for 'lessons in life' have been one of the best ways to deal with this. No one is pinpointed at the time and often it is a good opportunity for the Holy Spirit to speak to their heart. It can take away the defensiveness that we can automatically feel and help the child to see "that isn't good is it?"

Storybooks are good for this, but often I have to do a Bible study of my own and even go so far as to print up mini-lessons for these types of things. It is well-worth the trouble!

It needs to be noted too, that often a little slight of this can be over-looked. May I be blunt here and say that it is often one child, often a teenager, who will have just enough of a bad attitude- that the other children will be prone to a grumpiness and grumbling of sorts and not even know why?!?!?

As mothers, we have to stay on guard and 'nip it' as Barney Fife says. We often have to make mental notes to ourselves to stay on top of a certain behavior so our busyness doesn't side track us. It is hard work.

There are times when we may have to ask our husbands how to deal with certain things because we may not know exactly how to correct a behavior. Sometimes it is as simple as "don't act like that'' or "you are not allowed to be grumpy for no reason"; but other times it may be something a mother feels and senses but may not be so obvious.

Do ask, do seek, do act, do something! :-)
We can correct the outside but sometimes we must beg for God to deal with their hearts!
He can also give us wisdom and guidance on how to reach their hearts.

One bad apple-
Hmmm- let's work to get those bad spots out! :-)

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Trick or Treat....

Trick or treat
Smell my feet
I'm taking all your candy to eat

Gonna take it all
From the big and the small
And redistribute it, down at the mall

And YOU guess who I'm dressing up as!
:-)

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Forgiveness vs. Consequences...

Newton said, "To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction".


I think this is a good rule to apply to children. My DH used to often say, 'let the punishment fit the crime'.

1John 1:9 tells us that if we confess our sins that He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I think this is a good principle to follow as parents. If they confess, we can forgive. However, we can't cleanse them, not their hearts. We can't see repentance in their heart, therefore we have to examine their fruits; Luke 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance/Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
We also have to follow the principles of Prov 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go. Yes, even if they don't want to hear it. For them to protest on any level when dealing with correction, is still rebellion. 1 Pet 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. We must insist that they obey this principle because if they will not submit to us, how could we ever expect that they would submit to God?


Suffice it to say, we can forgive while still enforcing a consequence.

Prov 20:30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
That verse supports some pretty strong consequences! Now for safety's sake- we live in a day and age when you have to be very careful how and where you discipline a child- that said, consequences to bad behavior still must be enforced. For example, if you have told your child, "if you do that again, then I'm gonna...." -you best make sure that if they do THAT again that you enforce that 'gonna'! Don't threaten- take action!

Let me illustrate a little more.
If Mr. and Mrs. Jones gives little teenage Johnny a cell phone for Christmas with a set of rules such as:
-if you ever sneak and use this at night you will lose the phone for 30 days
-if you ever do anything naughty on the phone you will lose it for good.
Then 7 months later, Mrs. Jones gets up at midnight and hears Johnny talking in his room and discovers that he his on his beloved cell phone, then she is wise if she immediately makes good on her promise. Can she forgive him and love him? Yes, certainly but she'd better keep her word or she will take away from her authority in the child's eyes.

Well, 18 months later let's say that Johnny's parents discovers that he has an inappropriate picture on his phone that one of his friends have sent. Well, the parents are still under a contract with the phone! Not to mention little Johnny has football practice and sometimes needs to call them when its time to pick him up. The price of keeping your 'authoritative position' with a child is worth more than the contract will cost on the phone, don't you think?

You see, there must be consequences.
Why? Because God has them too and they are pretty steep!
We are training them to obey Him and understand that His consequences are very real too and He does FOREVER keep His Word.

May God help us to be faithful and press on!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Think It Not Strange....

When children suffer from nightmares, any loving parent will do their best to comfort them.

When a child repeatedly gets into trouble, and gets caught multiple times, any loving parent would deal with this disobedience.

But-
think it not strange, when these things happen over and over.

I heard a preacher deal with this many years ago, and now, with 6 children of my own, I've seen it first hand.

A child who gets up repeatedly asking questions about sin, death, and hell- is often under conviction. The Holy Spirit is drawing him to come to our Lord. That is a GOOD thing! However, easily missed and dismissed by a parent who wants to sincerely offer comfort. Comfort is a good thing but false comfort can be given. A parent once told me that they regretted the way they dealt with one of their children when he was younger. The parent said the child was afraid of hell for several nights and the parent told them that God wouldn't send a little boy to hell. The parent said they regretted not telling that child how to be saved that night and waiting til the child was in his teens to do so.

A teen who repeatedly gets "caught" in his troubles is a GOOD thing! How so? Well, it means that God has their number. The same parent above said they found great comfort during their child's teen years because it seemed the child got "caught" every single time they did something wrong. They said they knew that God was hearing their prayers and protecting their child. Now certainly it is no time to rest, when a child is acting up; but there's GREAT comfort in knowing that their heavenly Father is not letting them by and His all-seeing eyes are upon them.

2 Chr 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Have you heard Rush this week?

Rush has been reading over some of the liberal media reports on the lack of happiness in modern women.

I heard 2 different callers on two different days that were of like precious faith.

One lady had 9 children. He was supposed to put her comments up on his site.
One thing she said keeps ringing in my mind, because I LOVED it!
She said something like this: "I left a law firm and walked away from all my education because GOD called me to something much higher. He called me to be a mother to my nine children."
Woo Hoo! Don't that just bless your socks off?!!?! (She had Rush's full support by the way and keep in mind that Rush has 20 million listeners as opposed to like 1 to 3 million as the tv talk-show hosts have. Lots of people hear- and agree!)

The other lady had eleven children! To her words Rush replied something like "I can't disagree with anything you've said." She spoke about why women were not happy and she said something like this; "Women aren't happy today because they are pursuing things outside of God's design for them. God created women to love and nurture children. They should be home doing this and teaching them, educating them, and training them. Women just can't be happy to their fullest potential outside of God's perfect plan". After Rush shared his agreement with her, he then replied; "Yeah, just look at Hillary." ..I was laughing out loud. :-)

It is NO small thing to be home raising your family! YOU- one woman- have so very much in your hands and in your control.

Please encourage yourself as you read the following poem!


Blessings on the hand of women!
Angels guard its strength and grace,
In the palace, cottage, hovel,
Oh, no matter where the place;
Would that never storms assailed it,
Rainbows ever gently curled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.
Infancy's the tender fountain,
Power may with beauty flow,
Mother's first to guide the streamlets,
From them souls unresting grow—
Grow on for the good or evil,
Sunshine streamed or evil hurled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.
Woman, how divine your mission
Here upon our natal sod!
Keep, oh, keep the young heart open
Always to the breath of God!
All true trophies of the ages
Are from mother-love impearled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.
Blessings on the hand of women!
Fathers, sons, and daughters cry,
And the sacred song is mingled
With the worship in the sky—
Mingles where no tempest darkens,
Rainbows evermore are hurled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.


by William Ross Wallace

Thursday, October 1, 2009

What on earth are they thinking???

I heard several reports today about Generals in the military asking for more troops. The 'majority' elected a President that said Afghanistan was 'primary'.
Now that same President can't seem to get more troops in Afghanistan in a hurried fashion!??!!??! It really unnerves me that our troops would be sent in harm's way and not get what they need to WIN. If they ask for a Big Mac- they outta get it! They are hunting down our enemies! Enemies of the free world! Why don't they stop wasting our tax dollars on things that we don't want and send the support to our troops?!!??!

You know, I've read cook books written around WWII that spoke of rationing certain foods to make sure that ample supplies were sent to the troops. I dare say that the majority of us still feel that way. Our troops should come first!

....Nope, instead he seems more focused on getting the Olympics held in sin-city Chicago!
-Chicago!?!!?! Now I wonder why he made that very interesting choice!?!?!?

Weren't there like hundreds of murders last year in Chicago? Like over 400?!!?!

That brings me to another thought- The city of Chicago has some of the strictest gun bans. ....There was a town in TN that banned guns in the park.- The next day, they had an armed robbery. ...See, the bad guys don't follow the laws- SO WHY NOT LET THE GOOD GUYS HAVE THE GUNS SO THE BAD GUYS CAN BE STOPPED???? Don't they know a gun would detour some of their criminal activity?

Maybe I listened to too much news today. -sigh-

Headlines from 2029 :-)

HEADLINES FROM

THE YEAR: 2029


Ozone created by electric

cars now killing millions

in the seventh largest country

in the world, Mexifornia,

formerly known as

California .


White minorities still

trying to have English

recognized as Mexifornia's

third language.


Spotted Owl plague

threatens northwestern

United States crops and

livestock.


Baby conceived naturally!

Scientists stumped.



Couple petitions court to

reinstate heterosexual

marriage.


France pleads for global

help after being taken over

by Jamaica .


No other country comes for

ward to help the beleaguered

nation!


Castro finally dies at age 112;

Cuban cigars can now be

imported legally,

but President Chelsea Clinton

has banned all smoking.


George Z. Bush says he

will run for President

in 2036.



Postal Service raises

price of first class stamp

to $17.89 and reduces mail

delivery to Wednesdays only.



85-year $75.8 billion

study: Diet and exercise

is the key to weight

loss.


Average weight of

Americans drops to

250 lbs.


Global cooling blamed

for citrus crop failure

for third consecutive year

in Mexifornia and

Floruba.


Abortion clinics now

available in

every
High School in

United States.


Senate still blocking

drilling in ANWR even

though gas is selling

for 4532 Pesos per

liter and gas stations

are only open on

Tuesdays and Fridays.


Massachusetts

executes last

remaining conservative.


Supreme Court rules

punishment of criminals

violates their civil

rights.


Average height of NBA

players is now nine feet,

seven inches.


New federal law requires

that all nail clippers,

screwdrivers, fly swatters



and rolled-up newspapers

must be registered by

January 2030.

IRS sets lowest tax rate

at 75 percent.


Floruba voters still having

trouble with voting machines.

Now, send this to whomever

you want and as many as

you want, then, guess

what....

NOTHING will happen.

No miracles, no money,

absolutely nothing, except

you might make someone

smile or very, very

scared.



I Love This Country!

It's The Government That

Scares Me!

Friday, September 25, 2009

Train Up a Child in the Way He Should Vote...

Yes, I'm serious and I mean no disrespect to the Word of God- I mean to edify it all the more!

You see, I have ran into dozens and dozens of people who now regret their vote in that last election. ('magine that!)

If those people would simply have looked to the Word of God for guidance, their vote would have fared far better, elsewhere.

You simply CANNOT ignore someone's moral values and religious background!

You can't trust a man to do right with your's or your children's tax dollars when he's perfectly fine with killing a baby!

You can't trust a man to side with other democratic nations when his religious and educational backgrounds don't line up with those ideas!

You CAN teach your children to look at those issues before casting a vote!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

He said, she said...

The Clintons are the best at this game.

Bill Clinton today claims that he agrees with Jimmy Carter's statements about Obama's opposition being "racially motivated".

(Hey Bill! We disagreed with YOU and YOUR WIFE about socialized medicine.)

Well ,you know, seems kinda strange that just a year ago or so, Bill was saying that Obama was playing the 'race card' on him/them.

We all know that Bill's comments are about being Democrat- not race.
....One difference that I've noticed between Dems and Repubs.... the Dems will cover for each other no matter what, while the Repubs will correct and rebuke and 'eat their own'.

Modesty on Crosstalk today....

Modesty is the hot topic today on Crosstalk.
I would like to encourage you to go listen.
It will be on the site for several days. You can load
the program to your computer and listen to it at
your convenience or load it onto an ipod or MP3 player,
or even burn it to a CD a listen to it in your car!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Would Roosevelt and Churchill?

Would Roosevelt and Churchill have sat down to chat with Hitler?
You know, had him over for lunch?

Ahmadinejad and Khadafi over here???

I dunno, just makes my skin crawl!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Is it possible?

Is it possible for our government to be 'conservative' in a day when the church has gone so liberal?

As much as I want 'political revival', I desire 'spiritual revival' even more.

I find it hard to believe that men can stand against the political evils of this day for long, without the help of the Lord. It seems that ignorance truly is bliss, and once that bliss has taken over one's mind- they can't seem to come back out of it! (Those of you who have tried to 'reason' with a liberal know exactly what I mean.)

We live in a day where the spiritual link is often weak, therefore our morals are weak, which makes us susceptible to cave in to political pressures because those weaknesses are the weapons of choice. Here's how it works:nudity is slapped in a man's face on every corner, his religion is liberal, he falls, those in political power use his moral failure against him. He's done! At least he's done standing for anything since he can't "live what he preaches''- so they say.

Now, one could argue, is a man's political views wrong because he had a moral failure? But that is not my point right now.

My point is the doctrines in the modern church right now. They are weak. They are unBiblical and therefore, they cannot stand nor can they hold one up, because they are not truly God's. God's Word- His real Words are the only source of this kind of strength.

Here is what we are hearing in the church today;
"that Scripture doesn't matter anymore"
"oh, that verse was meant for that day and that culture"
"that's not what that verse (chapter) means"
"this is what so and so teaches"
"this is what *book* says"
"well that's not what seminary teaches"
"in college we learned..."
And the quotes go on and on.

...and the leaders! The leaders are people citing new age teachers! Yes, new age teachers= non-Christians. (Blind leading blind.)


The preachers- TBN- of whom even the world knows is corrupt! The world associates TV preachers with people hustling money out of the gullible. (Every few months there's some new song out in the world or a show on TV that just mocks these manipulators!)


The Christian world seems to HAVE to pick a 'top dog' but this dog is in fact a wolf! Wolf- uhmm Warren. You HAVE to worry about a man who wants to buddy up and have peace talks with the U.N. (He promotes growth and numbers above Salvation and Sanctification!)


What's my point to you? To myself even?

God help us, to pull ourselves away from all of this world and into His Word and not fall for a faith of fashion! I don't want a fashionable, trendy faith! I want a real one, grounded in real truth, fed by the Real Word of God!


I want that for my home, my family. I want that for my husband and my children. How can I help them? How can I encourage them?


Jack Hyles preached a sermon entitled something like; "What more could have been done?"
Is there more I can do to encourage Godliness and purity in my family? How can I help my husband live for Christ and promote the Gospel? How can I train five boys to serve the Lord with all of their heart? How can I teach one little girl how to be a Godly servant for Christ?

And that, is what I leave you with:
Is it possible? Possible to do more? Possible to teach them the fear of God? Possible to impact our homes, children, husband, our world?
Phil 4:13

Friday, September 18, 2009

Joe Wilson-

Why should he have to bow to Nancy Pelosi? He apologized once- and for the record if he HADN'T apologized, I just might have put him on my personal "heroes list", but he did bow once so... why should he have to do it again?!!??! He called the White House, asked for the big guy, didn't get him, so he apologized to Rahm Emmanuel- done deal!

See, the liberals don't have to bow and they don't have to apologize, typically- UNLESS ITS A REAL BAD BLUNDER (such as the big O and the white cop-black professor deal). But where was the apologies for Harry Reid's comments about Bush? Or where is the apology from Kerry about our (beloved) troops? They say what they want, when they want- and its over.

Now, I get J.C.Watts' point of view. He says that just because the Dems do it, doesn't mean the Repubs should BUT- we are in a bigger battle than etiquette right now, don't you think? In fact, I think we should consider ourselves at war against liberalism. ...War gets ugly and you fight to win. The 'bad guys' often set the rules in war, don't you think?


When a bad guy breaks into our homes (God forbid), do we say "now, now let's talk about this because I wouldn't break into your house so you shouldn't break into mine"?

When fighting terrorism, do we argue and say "now we don't do it that way, that's against the rules"? NO! ...At least we shouldn't.

There comes a time, when you have to fight to win. Not appease- WIN!

Do you remember how God instructed battles in the O.T.? Now, I know there are some softies who just know "thou shalt not kill" is the only rule- but when God ordered 'war', He instructed them to take out ALL the enemies. He was brutal!

I know there are others who think the only rule is "turn the other cheek", but ..Jesus was not passive. Even His silence was LOUD. ...Jesus defended His Father's House and He even called people names and said things that were not 'politically correct'. There is a reason and a time and place to get stirred.

Is the time and place when the 'leader' is being dishonest? Is the time and place when the people are about to be severely oppressed?(High taxes are oppression!) Is the time and place when the 'leader' is for the killing of (aborted) babies born alive? Is the time and place when the leaders are leading down a path that the majority of this country doesn't want (according to the poles)?


I don't want political conservatives to cower and fear, for the liberals are but mere men. And while I do recognize that there are powers and principalities behind them, I also know that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.


May God help them to stand, in this day. May God give them courage.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Wonder if these numbers are right?????

Here's the math !!! Guess it should really be called another “planning ahead 101”

A clunker that travels 12,000 miles a year at 15 mpg uses 800 gallons of gas a year.
A vehicle that travels 12,000 miles a year at 25 mpg uses 480 gallons a year.

So, the average Cash for Clunkers transaction will reduce US gasoline consumption by 320 gallons per year.

They claim 700,000 vehicles so that's 224 million gallons saved per year.

That equates to a bit over 5 million barrels of oil..

5 million barrels is about 5 hours worth of US consumption.
More importantly, 5 million barrels of oil at $70 per barrel costs about $350 million dollars

So, the government paid $3 billion of our tax dollars to save $350 million.

We spent $8.57 to for every dollar saved.
How good a deal was that ???
They'll probably do a great job with health care though!!


This was from an email -thought it was interesting!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

From an email....


PLEASE CLICK ON THE PIC TO ENLARGE, SO YOU CAN READ IT.

Friday, September 11, 2009

In Memory...

This day is a sad day.
Thousands of Americans lost their lives to terrorists on this day.

The greater sadness however comes to me from those in political power who are seeking to give special rights and protective rights to those who would do our private citizens harm and terrorize them.

It is as if they have forgotten this day. Forgotten the deaths- the cause.

Or perhaps it just doesn't matter at all to them. Perhaps their political position is more important than all of that.

I cannot forget what I felt when I heard the news. I can't forget the shock, the fear, the worry.
What would they do next? Where else would they strike? What all were they in control of and what else had they taken over? Was there more coming? Didn't every American feel those things?

And now, years later, after viewing movies of what happened on those flights- its just almost unbearable to think about! What those people went through- the fear- the terror- facing death and knowing it was not avoidable. It is truly terrifying!

This day doesn't mark a day of "volunteerism" for most of us.
No, most of us will remember it as a day of terror.
A day that demands justice to those who inflicted this horrible crime.
A day that had heroes but was filled with sorrow.
A day that united us, if only temporarily.
A day that liberals and conservatives alike said "let's get them"!

But now, here we sit, years later....waiting for the battle over whether our men did something 'criminal' by blowing smoke in the face of a terrorist and if water-boarding was too far!

If I thought they were going to terrorize your family, water-boarding to get the time and those involved out of one of them would not be too far to me.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

When Children Mess Up...

This is so hard and no parent wants to deal with it, nor admit it, but kids raised 'right' can still do wrong!

I was given a wise warning from a Godly woman many years ago, as we were discussing raising children. I will never forget her words: "Don't fret so much over the child who occasionally gets into mischief, but rather beware of the one who might be thinking 'I may be sitting down on the outside, but I'm standing up on the inside'". Just brilliant words of wisdom!

The Bible even deals with that kind of a spirit that can get on a child;
1 Sam 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD....
Josh 22:22 The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD,...

I have found all of this true. I have found that the children who are 'rowdy' by nature are not the ones who cause grief later, but rather those that obey outwardly but inwardly are very stubborn.

But what do you do when they mess up? ....Ouch!
Yes, I know, it seems impossible that they EVER would, but what about if and when they do? First, you keep loving them. There can be a temptation to distance yourselves from anyone or anything that causes you any emotional upset- but you would do better to do the opposite. Yes, draw near that child. Talk, listen, and sometimes just sit quietly. ...I heard a story where a father distanced himself so much from his daughter that he became very bitter, even name-calling her. The poor thing grew up and began a very painful 'search for acceptance'- with men. Very sad.

Once the initial shock of offense has worn away, days, maybe weeks- then what do you do? Well, then the child must deal with the consequences AND you must let them! This will be the hard part! Oh to see that child suffer! It will be hard and it will hurt so much, but it will be best.
This is the MOST important Scripture on this:
Prov 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

Don't give in to his crying and don't allow an outward bad spirit from that child. You see, he can be angry but he better SIN NOT! My DH says, its okay to feel certain things but its not okay to act on them! He adds to that: You may not always be able to control how you feel but you can control what you do with your feelings!

In the short, they can't take it out on other people! Nor pout!

Teaching that one can control themselves is the high part of the lesson at this time. If a child has done wrong, his lack of self-control is likely what got him into his or her current state. Therefore, part of the lesson from the mistake needs to be that they cannot act out in spite of how they feel. Feelings must be controlled and brought into subjection and submission. Again, this is the height of the lesson! After all, they will have to learn to obey God, whether they feel to or not.

Sin is still sin- whether it feels like it or not.


1 Cor 15:31 ... I die daily.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

More Liberal Media Celebrations that I Can't Understand...

Ted Kennedy passed away. Liberals and liberals who love liberals are just hailing him. Its on every channel, every single time you click. Every media outlet is running clips of him, one right after the other.

Now, hear me out. I hate that his family is hurting over his loss. Death is a final and somewhat scary thing, especially in non-religious sects.

BUT, in the meantime...not a word is said about a trial of one man who was part of a group, that kidnapped, raped, tortured, and murdered a young couple in Knoxville, TN.

Nope, this is another story the media continues to look over. And their absence on this story has even been noted on the story posted on Wikipedia. Be warned - this story is extremely brutal and gruesome! Also, the reason for media absence will be offensive to some.

But, once again, we see the media madness continue. We see their lack of coverage on touchy issues and their refusal to cover stories that don't favor their 'agenda'.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Billy Ray Cyrus should be ashamed!

His daughter, a young and attractive 16 year old, has now been completely bumped up to the next media sex toy!

Her father, whom I understand crafts all of her performances, now has her partially naked* on an ice cream cart, twirling around a pole being seductive.

What is amazing is he knows how men think! (right?) He's pushing his daughter out in front of the WHOLE world as a sex symbol! That means boys, young and old, will be forced to see his daughter in a sexual manner.

Why? Why would a father do this? Not only to his daughter but to men. Men- young and old, trying to live right, trying to keep themselves pure, will now have another young girl's image slammed in their faces on the TV, the internet, the stores, and on the magazine racks at the check out.

Why? Why would a mother allow this? Women, you know the more skin that can be seen, the more lust that will be stirred!?!... We've seen this little girl's belly, back, part of her chest, her arms, and every inch of her legs and thighs! ...Honestly, I don't see that much of my own children's skin!

But, again I ask -why!?!!!?!!

1 Tim 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
*Is. 47:2-3

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Cash 4 Clunkers.....

I told my DH several weeks ago that this whole deal would turn into more debt for more people who could not afford it! Yeah,=more bad loans!

1) If people could AFFORD a new car, they are going to go buy it anyway! This is just going to be an incentive for more bad loans like the housing problem.
2)The government is in too much debt to buy these cars!
3)I don't want the government and green people telling me to drive a cracker box- my whole family won't even fit in one of those "pregnant roller skates"! (Seriously, have you seen those little penny racers?)
4)The government not only has to pay for the cars they can't afford, but they have to pay someone to run this program!
5)What are they going to do with these cars? I heard they are going to disable them and junk them. What kind of green program is that? And that means our tax dollars are literally paying for TRASH IN THE JUNK YARD!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Let's Pray for Political Revival!!!

Some would choose to look at current events and be discouraged, but when I look and I see those willing to stand, ask questions, challenge, blog, shoot videos, and voice opposing views- well, I remain hopeful!

Sometimes it takes some dark times to look forward to dawn!

Sometimes the pot needs to boil over before we get up to stir it down! (And then, turn it down!)

Sometimes it takes a Carter to get a Reagan. Maybe it will take an Obama to get a Palin?

Well...mayyyybeeee!

But I can't look at the news and say "oh no"....nope, I look at the news and say "yes"! Stand!!!

Stand up for right! Stand up for truth! Stand up for injustice! Stand against more taxes! Stand against more government control! Stand against more debts and more financial slavery and bondage! Stand up against invasion of privacy!

Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore!...

Monday, August 3, 2009

Michael Savage says...

...Liberalism is a mental disorder. Up until recently, I've laughed at this when I heard it.

But in the last few weeks, I've purposely put myself into some situations with liberals. I have been amazed, over and over, at something that seems common among them.

The one common denominator, in every one of them, is they base their reasoning on how they feel. If they feel sorry, sympathetic, superior, inferior, etc. then they will rule and base decisions on those emotions. If you present facts, evidence, statistics, numbers- they blow a gasket! They will call you names, insult you, and when all else fails they will accuse you of listening to biased news media outlets. (As if they are not being programmed by biased media.)

Now I will admit, trying to think as opposed to ruling with feelings is a difficult thing but it is most important that it be a learned behavior.

Well, for the politically minded person, what if you are on a jury one day where you are faced with judging a terrorist? His mother comes and cries, his wife, his children, and his brothers and sisters. His appearance is clean cut, he speaks well, he seems like a humble person and often makes references to his god. How will you rule? Based on pity for him? Based on the law? Based on his actions and the facts?



As for the Christian person, this must be a little of what Paul spoke of when he made the comment about dying daily and beating his body under subjection. Feelings and emotions will steer you down a wrong path. You may feel like you need 'help' and turn to drugs or alcohol. You may feel like you don't love your spouse and then feel as though you love someone else. Your feelings and what IS RIGHT can be opposed to one another and its vital for the believer to learn to override his/her feelings.

You CAN get up everyday and DO RIGHT! You CAN love others in word and in deed when you FEEL turmoil within yourself. You CAN live right by simply saying NO to temptation. You CAN, you Can, YOU CAN!

You can walk by faith and not by sight- or feelings!

Hard? Yes!
Impossible? NO!

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Word for Word?

Do you read your Bible?
Do you pray?
Why?

As a new believer (some years ago now) I was so naive.
Every time I read the Bible, I found something new in there and I longed to share it and to live up to is as well. The funny part is, I thought everyone else would too!

Now, I understand that people don't read it very often and they certainly don't believe it; at least not word for word.

We are taught many strange, foreign, and contrary things about the Scriptures.
Just last week, I had someone tell me that you could get to god through any means but when I ask them to prove it with Scriptures, they could not. At best, you can only cite Oprah but not God for this "doctrine".

I have become more and more aware of preachers saying that certain verses "don't matter any more".

And every where I turn, the "church" is hard to tell apart from the world. It seems that the ole "come ye out from among them and be ye separate" might be one of those verses that don't apply anymore.

What about you?
Do you believe It, word for word?
Or do you believe that only parts of It are for this modern day?


2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Prov 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Who is your Jesus?

While wandering around the internet, it is amazing how many different versions of 'jesus' are out there.

Some say he is God, some say he isn't.

Some say he was a prophet, and some say he wasn't.

Some say he had long hair, some say he didn't.

But the thing that baffles me the most is the thinking that He is all love and that's IT!
They accept His "love" but reject the hell that the Bible says is real.
They accept His "love" but reject the wrath that the Bible says He has.
They accept His "love" but reject His hate and His anger.

They even accept His forgiveness but refuse to "go and sin nor more".


Is your jesus- the Jesus of the Bible, or is he one that you created, or your preacher created, or a book created?
If we accept "Jesus", the real Jesus, then we must accept Who the Bible says that He is and all that He requires.

Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Monday, July 6, 2009

A great example: watching the tongue

I told my kids this story tonight and then gave them a lot of Q&A, in hopes of really drilling in the point!

I started off by telling them that "there's a time to talk and a time to be quiet" and I won't always be there (or know) when those times will be for them but as their Mother, I have to give them instruction.

I told them about a friend of mine, from back home and reminded them about the last time we seen her and her family. That peaked their interest! :-)

I told them about a conversation that her and I had that day.

I said, "I want to compliment you on something." She looked up with a bit of a surprised look on her face but didn't say anything just waited for me to finish.

I said, "In all the time that I've known you, I have never heard you say a negative or critical word about your husband. I think that's very commendable."

She looked down and then back up at me and said very bashfully, "Well...you know, I've really tried to watch that. See, one time, after my husband started a new job someone asked me how his new job was going. I told them that he was working a lot but that it was a good job and he really did like it. Well, a few days later, my husband came in from work and I could tell that he was upset about something. He looked hurt. I asked how his day was and if something was bothering him. He told me that someone had told him that I had said he was not spending any time with his family and kids. He was so hurt, so I have really tried to watch what I say since then because I would never want to hurt him that way again."

I went on with my kids with Q&A about the dangers of talk! See, my friend NEVER said what got back to her husband. And what she meant as just small talk was twisted into BIG TALK!

Then I gave them the moral of the story (which I've had to learn the hard way!):
Don't give people bullets to shoot you with!
*****
a true story

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Displaced honor......

I saw where the House of Representatives held a moment of silence for Michael Jackson.


The "media" continues to nearly worship a president that thinks we can get out of debt by spending!


.....but, while life rolls on, business as usual, and people in high places continue to play politics... a REAL hero lost his life.


Oh great one, oh media, where are you? See all, hear all, tell all...but yet you missed the best story of them all!


I do not understand where the media sets its balance for standards.


When we look at Jackson and his life, his decisions, his troubles, and his death.... he just does not seem to be the "hero" type to me. What part of his life would I want my children to imitate? Uhm, the way he dances? Nope, don't even want them to see that- one "move" in particular. Let's see...his songs? Uhm...abstract this and that from sex to rebellion. I think I'll pass! Let's see his morals--- let's just don't go there. His stability- Ha! Not applicable. Hmm, his integrity? Let's see- he's had some crazy accusations on him...he died "loaded"- and I don't mean with cash! And he 'LOVED' sleeping with kids, boys in particular. Wacky at best! ...There's a few other things I'm thinking on here, but...well... Ok, I'll go ahead with just one... His plastic surgeries? Absolutely nothing to be proud of there! His eyes look like a woman, his chin has a cleft, and his nose looks like an elf! ...Well, its the truth and even he knew it! All those face wraps weren't just for fun- he knew they botched him up!


Whew! Boy did I digress!

My point is- he was an entertainer. He was not hero material. He hired people to put his music together.


When you look up the definition in Merriam-Webster for hero; you would have to add more to the definition in order to add Michael Jackson.


REAL heroes do something for their fellow man. They put others first. They sacrifice. They do something noble or something brave. They "lay down their own life" , not insist that others risk theirs in order to get them drugs! They don't dangle babies from balconies, they rather fight for souls in the balance! They don't keep spending money they don't have, rather they store up treasures in heaven!


Where is your priorities media people? What or who is determining the criteria for your choices in heroes?

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Modesty for boys??? Yes, and girls too..

I know people have a lot of thoughts about modesty.

Would you believe that some think if you have a 2 piece bathing suit on that you are decent?

Others think if a woman's cleavage isn't showing that nothing else matters.

And almost everyone would say that modesty is just for girls!

Well, I have say LET'S SEE WHAT GOD SAYS!

Do you really want to know?? Okay, I promise you this, YOU WILL BE SHOCKED!

I think most know these verses:
1 Tim 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
1 Tim 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

Now hang on, I'm gonna get to the boys! (..and sooo much more!)
Isa 47:2 .... uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.
Isa 47:3 Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen:

This verse clearly teaches that "making the leg bare" and "uncover(ing) the thigh" is nakedness.And this was referring to a group of people so I don't believe that its gender specific!

But this verse has led me to take a more modest approach at raising my boys. Just taking that verse at word only, has led me to attempt to lead the boys in such a manner of dress so as to cover their thighs. (And yes, even more so my daughter!)

But the other things that I've encouraged them to do, I don't have specific Scriptures to support. They are things that I've shared with them and made decisions based on conclusions that we came to. The older they get, the deeper the discussions and the more I've encouraged them to make decisions according to knowledge. Knowledge of what? Well, what the Bible says, what modesty is and is not, and we get into conversations about what girls think and say and yes, we base some of our decisions on that.

Are there details and specifics? Yes, but again, I can't directly support some of those by verses from the Bible, they are our personal decisions and therefore, I won't go further into them here.

But here is one more verse that also supports this as well as the FACT that "breeches" were for males:
Exo 28:42 And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:
Exo 28:43 And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons...

Monsanto...a new name to me

The past couple of weeks, for some strange reason, I've stumbled across this name on 2 different sites.

The first site was dealing with cancer. Seems they are giving this company some much deserved credit for it!

Another site dealing with where I saw their name mentioned was dealing with several issues including the high rise in suicide rates in India after having terrible results from using some of Monsanto's products.

Looking at this article on Wikipedia and another, which I can't find now, linking Hilary Clinton to them, really will make you wonder!

I was a little stirred after reading about them, to say the least.....

Thinking on Abortion

December 13 2006 at 9:51 PM

Abortion and Thinking: I read in the Google news where politicians are battling over what stages a fetus/unborn baby can feel pain. As much as I admire their concocted pity for the unborn's pain, I can't help but to think.............What if I were doing these same procedures to unborn animals? Animal rights activist would be screaming and causing such a commotion and I think I would likely get some jail time, don't you? But yet, our politicians are having a debate about human beings. Human beings, created in the image of the Almighty, are being debated over to determine what a "proper" death procedure should be prior to birth! ............ How could this country be in such a shape as this? How could these very beings, created after the image of God himself, be warring over the rights of their fellow-man and the procedures surrounding his demise? I just cannot understand this brutal and grotesque murder. It is incomprehensible that one human could have such a low form of intelligence as to battle another human, over his rights to kill one yet unborn! ......... No wonder these liberals are battling to take out the Ten Commandments. Who is God, and what is His Image, that He should tell us not to kill one another?.......................... Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.******Psa 106:38 And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

Digging Up Bones and Other People's Sins

December 13 2006 at 10:25 PM

-----By God? YES! By man??? That is uncertain but unnecessary for the person to be forgiven of God. …

…………I received a forward once that went something like this::::::::::::::::::::::::.

There once was a young man in a church who decided that he wanted to marry a young lady who had been a member of his church for over a year. This young man was strongly reprimanded by the elders of the church for his choice for a bride. During a meeting one night, the young man spoke up and said, “I would like to offer you gentlemen my resignation.” They were all shocked. One man dared to break the silence and asked, “May we ask why you’ve made this decision?” The young man cleared his throat and began, “Well sirs, it has come to my attention that things have changed. You see, I have come to understand that the doctrines that I once believed in and stood for are no longer applicable.” An elder stood and said,” Could we ask what you mean by that?” The young man replied, “I regret to say that it has come to my attention that the cross no longer covers all sins.” “Young man, are you well?” asked another man. While another stood and said, “I think I see what is going on here gentlemen.” A white haired man said, “Well I wish you would explain!” The gentleman began to elaborate, “This young man made an announcement of his future plans to marry a young lady in our congregation. Many of you approached him with strong discouragement. You told him that this woman was simply not good enough for him due to her past. You totally discounted her conversion in Christ. You also threw out her testimony as a member of this church for the past year. Instead, you chose to dwell on the sins of this young lady that are under the blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore, you nullified the cross and the power of forgiveness of sins.” The men hung their heads, realizing that they had not judged righteously in this matter. And of course, the point was made to all involved……………………

…………….In 1Cor 10:29, Paul ask, “for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?” He was speaking of eating and food in this verse, but this phrase could stand alone. If we are free and forgiven and at “liberty”, why is it right for another to judge us based on their conscience and what they think is right? If a person is saved and forgiven, who are we to judge them by their past and hold them to their past, if they are a new creature in Christ Jesus? We know we are to forgive others as we have been forgiven....

1 Cor 12:25 says, “the members should have the same care one for another”. It goes on to say that if one member suffers, that they all suffer and if one member is honored, they all rejoice. Do we do that? Or do we fuss and backbite and condemn and gossip? We are warned against that here: “Gal 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” And told rather to do this; “Eph 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”………

……..In 1Tim5 we are told, “neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure”. Are we pure when we dig up the sins of others? Are we pure when we make up sins against others based on our suspicions? Are we partakers of their sins when we use the sin of gossip to further the mark and stain of their sin? ...Doesn’t the Bible say; “love covereth all sins”? Yes, and it also says that hatred stirs up strife in the same verse. It is NOT love that digs up sin and strife, it is hatred. 1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

What's Love Got to Do With It?

December 13 2006 at 10:15 PM

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?--------Everything, if it truly is love…………………………………………

…………………………………………….. We have all heard and read about stories of abuse or meanness where the victim was still told, “I did it because I love you”.

This indeed, is a false example of love. For it doesn’t matter if someone can SAY that they love you, at least not according to what the Bible says that love is. The Bible doesn’t say that love is words. ……………

…………..Yes, love can be tough. Yes, love can mean we don’t always have our own way, as in the case of a child who’s mother tells him that he cannot have a cookie before dinner because he won’t eat his veggies if he eats the cookie. Love says to a child, “you must do your homework before you can play a video game” OR “you are not allowed to use drugs or alcohol in our home”……………………. Yes, yes, yes, love can be tough.

But love IS NOT abusive or spiteful, or vengeful. 1 Cor 13, tells us what love is. Look if you will at verses 4-8.

For Simplicity, I am going to use the NAS: 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.

So we see that love is not rude, it is patient. It is kind neither prideful nor jealous. Love doesn’t put self first. Others are first. It doesn’t get mad real quick. It doesn’t keep a list of all the wrongs done against one's self nor does it wait to get even. Love doesn’t want bad things to happen, but rather wants truth and what is right. Love protects those that it claims. It always trusts and believes in those to whom it is pledged, no matter what things may appear, it rather chooses to hope and believe in the best. Love can be told something bad and refuse to believe it because it always hopes and believes the best out of the person. Love endures…..it does not give up but keeps doing as much right as is possible towards the one to whom it is pledged. When love is tested, it will not fail. When history is examined, real love will come through the fiery trials unspotted by naughtiness. …………………

……The Bible says here in the previous verse that we can give everything that we own, including our own bodies, but if we don’t really have LOVE, we have NOTHING. Why is that part important?? Because many a parent has said, “I would give my life for my kids”. But if they do not have the love that these verses talk about, then they have nothing and I dare say that their kids have nothing as well. ……………………………

………We must do all that we can to give this kind of love to our children. If we don’t have this kind of love, the Scriptures are clear that we have “nothing”. Do you have this kind of love? Do you have it towards your own children? Your own spouse? You can’t fake this kind of love. This love comes from God.

To have this kind of love, we must be willing to die to ourselves and live to Him. Do you live for Him and for others? Or is your life based around yourself? Do you really have His love in your heart?

1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

Fighting and Spiritual Warfare

December 13 2006 at 10:57 PM


I took the leisure of reading a little on Martin Luther. His boldness to take a stand against the teachings of the Catholic Church was admirable and courageous we all must admit. It seems he had to defend his position repeatedly and done so in faith and truth as well as determination. ……….

.Challenges come in life when we least expect them. We can determine defeat immediately if we wish or we can determine to fight for truth in righteousness.

The one caution must be to remember the words of Scripture; that our weapons are not carnal and that we wrestle not against flesh and blood. The weapons of our warfare our mighty through prayer; they pull down the strongholds of darkness. They deliver us from evil. We cannot war after the flesh. We cannot repay evil for evil. We must put on the armor of God; truth, the gospel, righteousness, faith, our salvation, and the war-winning Word of God, our blessed sword. Carnal weapons formed against us cannot then prosper.

What are carnal weapons? Lies, untruths or half-truths, gossip whether it be truth or imaginative, slander, accusations, murmurings, name-calling, wrath, malice, insults, those of this sort are all carnal means of fighting.

I think the hardest part of the battle is choosing to lay aside these weapons as a means of fighting back and/or revenge.

We must choose to fight through prayer, through truth, in righteousness. When we stand in those things and remember the battle belongs to the Lord, then we allow ourselves the peace that passes all understanding.

Read this if you will from Jeremiah 51:36; Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry.

Read too, if you have the chance in Lamentations 3:59-66.

In Ezek. 25:15 and through the next few verses, the Lord deals with those who have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart.

And most of us know in Romans 12:19 that we are told not to avenge ourselves and that vengeance is the Lord’s (and let us not forget that He says that He will repay).

I don’t know about you, but I would rather have the Lord repay a person’s evil because we are told in the book of James that the wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God.

We must fight our battles according to the directions that God has laid out in His Word.

He made the system we live in therefore He knows how it best operates. We must trust Him. We must let Him battle for Psalm 24 tells us that He is mighty in battle.

Why I Can't Be Green....

Every time I think of this subject, I think of Kermit the Frog singing; "Its Not Easy Being Green". Except, I sort of want to sing it "Its Just Not Possible to be Green!"

Now, while I will submit to green ways of doing things for frugality's sake, often times, and I do know that some things that I do to be on the cheap happen to be green, I do not and can not set out to be green.

Examples:
I will re-use a bag at Aldi to keep from having to buy one.
I will make homemade products because they are cheaper.
I don't litter.
I don't pour chemicals on my yard that would endanger my food supply from my garden.
etc

And I won't snarl my nose if you want to be green!
If you wanna be green, be green...or purple or blue or pink!
I don't much care.

BUT, there are a couple of things about this green thing that really bugs me!
-Al Gore is in charge of it, basically
-I don't believe about 99% of what they are saying
-I've heard and read some of both sides and I choose to believe the other side (you know, those thirty-one thousand plus scientists???)
-I don't believe in the religion (that's what it is now) of Global Warming
-I do believe the Bible and what it says about the weather!
-I don't want the government MAKING IT LAW to recycle, reduce, re-use OR make me drive a cracker box for a car!
-I want to continue to have "freedom"! You can choose to be green and I will choose to be ...Oh, I don't know...out in the country minding my own business!
-I don't want the government determining what I HAVE to drive! If you want to drive a go-cart, okay...but if I can ever afford an SUV, I want to drive that!

You see, its freedoms that I don't want harmed in this thing.
There are two sides to it!
There are two SCIENTIFIC views on these issues.

If the government is allowed to make some of these things mandatory- we will lose some of our freedoms. If they continue to chisel away at our freedoms....Well, we all know what could happen.

But in closing, there is a verse in the Bible that deals with Global Warming.
AND, I will believe God ANY DAY above Al Gore and his scientists!

Gen 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.