Our God

Our God

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw0_drFzl9Y

I love the violin in this song, and the words are a comfort during times of frustration with ideologies and other oppositions to the Truth of God's word.

I was recently thinking about the amazing power of God and a sermon we just received at church really hit the nail on the head--God's power is available to each of us in the same way as any great saint we've ever read about. His potential in our lives is fully there, it is only us that limits it. Our lack of faith, our blaming others for the difficulties in our lives, our selfishness, our being most concerned with our happiness than serving Him...these things hinder His mighty hand in our lives. The reality is this: we all have come in to this world born as sinners, we've sinned on purpose and accidentally (for all have sinned and come short of God's standard). Some of us have terrible hardship put upon us in our childhood, others have love and goodness---it doesn't matter in the life of a Christian. Many who have hardship want lay blame, they want to PROVE how bad they've had it, but underlying is often a pride that says, "I'm special"...sometimes they subtly want to punish those they feel are responsible by having a wrecked life. The thing is, if we're allowed to start out with wrong thoughts in relation to wrongdoing in our lives, it will lead to mental problems. It will lead to real issues that can't be easily corrected. Just like with children labeled "ADD"...it's quite widely known that diagnosis is the result of environmental issues, but once a child is past age 5 or thereabouts, the trouble is hardwired in, so now there is a REAL problem. I can't help but believe that many adults with continual problems could have turned out different if they'd received different feedback when their troubles began. In many ways we are the product of our environments....BUT....

For the CHRISTIAN, no hardships ultimately matter, it is Christ and Him crucified that we are to be consumed with. I'm not saying pain isn't real, victimization isn't real or the fallout from our sufferings aren't real. It is all real, but we must see it through the proper lens. Satan is against people coming to Christ; he is against us fully embracing our calling. He uses different techniques to get us down, and our own family line has build in sin to get us down. It's no mystery sexual abuse, depression, alcoholism, slothfulness, anger, adultery etc. run in family lines. It doesn't point to mere biology, it points to learned and inherited responses and behaviors, it points to what we personally must submit to God so He can change us.

I'm convinced that if I'd had a different husband, I'd be a mess now, surely diagnosed with all manner of ailments-- but my husband refused to let me believe I was any sort of victim or 'special'. That was God's mercy and grace in my life.

We live in a fallen world and so much of the trouble people have in their life is the result of believing they have unique circumstances that require all manner of intervention. God is on the throne wanting to be Lord in all areas of our lives, and that might mean we're called to suffer for righteousness. It might mean we are lonely at times, it might mean we're forsaken of men.

Don't believe the lie that because your family is a certain way you are going to be that way. Sin is inherited, just like the color of our skin or eyes, but it isn't a sentence for repetition. It is what we personally are going to have to battle.

The assignment for all of us who are in Christ is the same--Go and Tell. Whatever circumstances you are in, Christian, be consumed with the reality that Christ intervened for YOU and paid the price for YOUR sin. You must believe you sin and He is the only way to the Father. When we set our minds on this truth, we cannot help but forget the past as we're instructed, and press on. What did Paul tell us in Phil 3--

7But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
-
We should forget our past successes and failures, past sufferings, and press on toward the goal. To do less keeps us in the earthly, selfish realm of living an ineffectual life. There are many, many humanistic voices that encourage us to be happy, and keep looking out for number 1, but we need voices to tell us to live out Col 3:1-3. "Set our minds on things above and not on things of the earth."

We need more people to refuse to buy into what the world says about so much that is accepted as inborn and be victorious in Christ. He wants to be glorified in our lives.

Christmas Miracle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgG3QvHMMYc&feature=youtu.be

I don't know this sweet momma though I love her. We were praying hard for her along with many others, and the Lord answered in a mighty way. His power is shown in her story. She has a long way to go, please keep praying for all of them.

Who Are You Trying to Please?

This time of year it can become difficult to live your faith amidst friends or family, or maybe both. Some "Christians" want to have Christ in Christmas, but only a little...I mean, don't go TOO far with all that religious stuff. It's a terrific time of year to come together with people of all religions and celebrate...(celebrate what I don't know). Santa? Gift giving and receiving? Friendship?

What about other beliefs that have a lot to do with Christmas, but not in an obvious way, like with Creation? "In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth..." Gen 1:1...the beginning was not when God first thought of Christ, Jesus always was, and Creation was the start of God's plan of redemption. Focusing on Creation is a great way to celebrate Christmas (but don't expect a lot of other people to back you on that).

It can be uncomfortable to sense our loved ones are not on the same page as we are, but you know, if we aren't sinning and are striving to glorify our Father who is in Heaven, who really cares what others think? God always provides someone to encourage and support us.

Our Christmas card this year has Isaiah 53:5 on it...not a typical Christmas verse, but we wanted to really draw attention to the fact that Jesus' birth is not worth celebrating or acknowledging if not for His death. He is God incarnate, and the only reason He was born, was to die. If we want to keep Him in the manger and have a bunch of feel-good pseudo Christ-centered traditions, chances are we're comfortable with the disconnect between His birth and death (can't we just focus on the good for once?!--insert sarcasm), but is that what we, His followers, are called to?

Tonight be reminded, friends, that sometimes it is only God or your spouse that is in agreement with you. This time of year be burdened for the lost and dying, those going to Hell. Christmas is the beginning of what God planned for mankind long ago so we could be reconciled to God the Father.

Hair and Nails

This is not a profound post, but it is something that has mattered to me. Until this past August, I bit my nails mercilessly. I'd tried all the things that people try to no major avail. Sure for a few weeks here or there I'd succeed in not biting, but nothing lasted and soon enough that terrible cycle of failure and frustration would return. Eventually my kids realized this albatross and prayed for me. That helped, too, for a while. But now i have enjoyed success with becoming a daily coffee drinker. Yes, just one cup a day of actual brewed (not Keurig) coffee and apparently, I'm getting those missing minerals a plenty. And I love my nails!!! It is a free hobby to just sit and gaze at them, not gnarled and misshapen. Thank you, God!

Moving on to another surface issue--hair thickness. I've always had thin hair. I credited it to my lack of good nutrition growing up since my kids have great, thick hair and they eat well :). For a month I've been using the Nioxin hair system and I'm telling you, this customer is one of the 9/10 who has perceived a thickening effect! I can even see some new hairs coming in right at my forehead (maybe I'll get a widow's peak!) so know this isn't just my imagination. You do have to do all 3 steps for success I think, but it is worth it if your hair is thin or thinning. They even have stage 2 for 'noticeably thinning' hair and products for chemically treated hair! I think that can only help my nails, too :).

Enjoy this last week before Christmas break!

Baking

I've been back to making bread for about a month now. I'm finding it needs to be done twice per week, with at least one batch of rolls. For years if I made rolls, I did the technique where you roll the dough like a snake then tie it in a knot, but I was never thrilled with that type for some reason. Now I just roll up balls of dough and press them down.

 
The bread pictured here is the typical size loaf I'm doing. I've recently moved from mixing in the Zorijushi to just using my Kitchen Aid stand mixer. It is nice to have a little more say in what is going on.

Currently the favorite recipe is from Mark Bittman--his sandwich loaf, using fresh ground hard red wheat, hard white and about 1/2 cup of oat groats ground. The new thing I'm loving is using milk in recipes; when I was allergic that wasn't an option, so I got in the habit 10 yrs ago of not using milk. It, along with egg(s), adds SUCH a lovely, flexible crumb--no need for rice bran extract, extra gluten or xanthan gum.


Cupcakes--nothing special, just a boxed mix and icing, but the kids all loved the piping and sprinkles, so I thought I'd share. They all thought I'd purchased them; sweet how some fun papers and a star tip and sprinkles can brighten up a dessert! One jar of icing will exactly cover 24 cupcakes if you are careful.



Merry Christmas!

Why Testimonies Aren't Necessary

I was listening to an excellent sermon by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones today while cleaning the garage out (after school). It has given me much to think about. (I actually listened to 2 sermons but they've blended together a bit). Namely, the point was 'what is the church' and 'what does it really mean to be a Christian'? The sermons were so different from what you hear today in much of the mainstream. Christianity isn't about adding some 'fix' to our lives or doing any sort of 'add on'. It is living utterly to the devotion of God, whatever that ends up meaning for us. We don't make all our choices, devoid of God, and then tack Him on to what we've already decided. No, that is not the life of a true follower of God. Another point that has given me tons to ponder is that our personal testimony is not really helpful or relevant. Not that our experiences aren't real or things God uses in our lives, but salvation has nothing to do with them. If we base our 'sharing Christ' with what He has done for us, we move something completely holy in to the realm of psychology. Eve the cults can talk about how Jesus has made their life better. But what also of this--we share how He helped us through our cancer, or a death, or financial hardship...we say how those things turned us to Christ. But what does that do for a person who 'has it all'? Their life isn't lacking, they are perfectly content in the world's eyes.

We need to stay true to the truth--which is that of us fall short of God's standard, and what is unique and real about Jesus Christ is that He not only died for our sins, but he rose from the dead. And no matter what is going on in our lives, we are sinners in need of reconciliation with a Savior. Living for God may not change your circumstances, or if it does, it may change them for the worse, but that doesn't make it untrue that Christ is the One to seek and save.

I know I've been guilty of trying to turn people on to Jesus because of the peace He brought in to my life, and that has been true, He brought a peace I'd never known. There is a still that comes from knowing we are right with God. But that is not the point or reason to be saved-- to be reconciled to God through His one and only begotten Son.

We need to tell people the whole truth--they are sinners, bound for an eternal separation from God in Hell, but there is One who bore the penalty for that sin and rose again showing He conquered death. This change of heart is called regeneration, when we turn to the only Savior or men, the man Jesus Christ. And it won't happen by putting on a Jesus jacket. It must be from the inside of our being.

Resources in Planning for School

When looking at schooling goals, I find it helpful to have a list of resources to help me configure our goals and plans. As kids are leaving elementary school, it is good to look ahead to all you want them to learn by 12th grade and work with those goals in mind. Even during the elementary years, what is the big picture and what skills do you want your student to have (ie solid math facts memorized, writing proficiency at a certain level, reading skill level...)

I'm looking at middle and  high school primarily, so here is where I'll possibly look to get ideas for subjects we want, curricula and work load that is appropriate. You can see schedules and materials.

Adam Andrews teaches literature classes that can have a writing element

Veritas Press Scholars Academy

Providence Classical Christian School

Potters School

Governor's School

Local co-ops and umbrella schools provide many options. In my area there are 3 that I look at. When considering opportunities for  making friends and social encounters, you can also factor in sports, church, dance and volunteer work you may do as a family. The social time doesn't have to be academic, but it is something to consider as the kids age since there are skills learned which can help with college. It all depends on when you want them learning the various skills needed for life. We're equipping future adults.