Another wonderful day to celebrate Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg. The love he had of the truth in God's word, though not entire in his understanding, has blessed those of us who believe for generations.
I'm so grateful for Luther's boldness and dedication to salvation being by grace through faith, and caring that people should have the Scriptures in a language they understand.
Martin Luther
“I am much afraid that schools will prove to be the great gates of hell
unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures,
engraving them in the hearts of youth.” Martin Luther
Easier to Deal With
I've been thinking lately of how much easier it is to deal with people who understand genuine forgiveness and grace. We all mess up; I certainly do, often. To be with people who are mindful of that and who don't expect too much is refreshing and easier than the alternative.
The reality of this sort of environment lasting is limited, however. I try to explain this to my children who are being raised in a rather kind and gracious world. When your social life is church primarily and your friend's families are Christians, a lot of the ugliness of the culture is avoided. When kids are young and growing, this is good. There will come a time when the harshness of life is before them.
I want to hold out on that harshness hitting home as long as possible. Of course, whenever we deal with people we experience difficulties, but there is something so much nicer about working with people who don't hold grudges and who truly know how to forgive and move on.
The reality of this sort of environment lasting is limited, however. I try to explain this to my children who are being raised in a rather kind and gracious world. When your social life is church primarily and your friend's families are Christians, a lot of the ugliness of the culture is avoided. When kids are young and growing, this is good. There will come a time when the harshness of life is before them.
I want to hold out on that harshness hitting home as long as possible. Of course, whenever we deal with people we experience difficulties, but there is something so much nicer about working with people who don't hold grudges and who truly know how to forgive and move on.
Sodom
Our youth pastor is preaching a sermon from Genesis and it is not only timely, but encouraging. After being with family who are not saved and getting discouraged on some fronts, as usual, it was really a boost to hear the reminder that Lot offered his children up to sin as a result of dwelling amongst sinners. We can start out as righteous but pitch our tent 'toward' sin, then we end up moving directly in to the sinful land, and the downward spiral is serious.
Sometimes we must move out from the land in which we were raised in order to raise our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. I know in my family I'm seen as 'not normal' and they praise everyone else who is 'normal'. Let it be said of those in Christ that we are indeed not fitting in to the world's ideas of how to live and act. We should try to influence as God leads, but we must be sure our ideals and convictions won't be tainted by the ungodly.
Blessed be the Lord who meets our needs according to His riches and glory. It is He who gives comfort to the alone or hurting, and rest to the weary.
Take heart, Christian, if you are alone in your family as a follower of Christ. He sees your needs and will meet them. God loves you and will bless your faithfulness.
In closing keep in mind that this was said in Scripture...
They went out 'from us' because they were not 'of us'.
Sometimes we must move out from the land in which we were raised in order to raise our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. I know in my family I'm seen as 'not normal' and they praise everyone else who is 'normal'. Let it be said of those in Christ that we are indeed not fitting in to the world's ideas of how to live and act. We should try to influence as God leads, but we must be sure our ideals and convictions won't be tainted by the ungodly.
Blessed be the Lord who meets our needs according to His riches and glory. It is He who gives comfort to the alone or hurting, and rest to the weary.
Take heart, Christian, if you are alone in your family as a follower of Christ. He sees your needs and will meet them. God loves you and will bless your faithfulness.
In closing keep in mind that this was said in Scripture...
They went out 'from us' because they were not 'of us'.
Sarah
We are so thankful to God that Sarah went potty last night while we were at church. She is not out of the woods yet, but is improving.
The trees are being cut down at back...what a change. The sunlight is pouring in more and we see that the pine we cut down was really the best looking one.
The trees are being cut down at back...what a change. The sunlight is pouring in more and we see that the pine we cut down was really the best looking one.
Life, Rabbits...Turmoil
It is a hard time right now. We have a sick rabbit who needs a lot of special care. The next 24 hrs are really critical; if she doesn't go to the bathroom, she is likely to die.
As often happens, it is just a time of lots of stuff. The washer was broken but praise God, my husband got it fixed in the midst of his working.
We're having major tree removal starting tomorrow and I'm watching a baby girl also. School must go on, rabbit force-feedings every 3 hrs and medicine...and waiting.
There is more, but I won't post it. But if you read this, please pray for me tomorrow to have wisdom and to be used of God to bring help to those in need.
As often happens, it is just a time of lots of stuff. The washer was broken but praise God, my husband got it fixed in the midst of his working.
We're having major tree removal starting tomorrow and I'm watching a baby girl also. School must go on, rabbit force-feedings every 3 hrs and medicine...and waiting.
There is more, but I won't post it. But if you read this, please pray for me tomorrow to have wisdom and to be used of God to bring help to those in need.
Paring Down the Clothes
Paring down the clothing...how often have I thought about it and started, but just never made it happen? I have clothes from DECADES ago that I still wear and like.
Now that I have two other women living in my house, and they can wear a lot of my clothes, the items just shift from my closet to theirs. Praise the Lord for stretching resources further. He will supply my needs and my kids'! I was blessed to find so many slips in my drawer tonight.
So I've made a list of what we're going to try in my girls' room for a month:
5 casual outfits
3-4 dressy outfits (probably 3 casual dressy, 1 fancier)
3 pajamas
max 7 undies
max 7 socks
tennis shoes
boots
3 pr dress/other shoes
slips you need
panty hose
1 robe for winter
1 robe for summer
3 jacket/sweatshirts
It isn't minimalist but it will get us thinking in the right direction--outfits vs. a lot of mix and match. Surely there will be some overlap, but looks can be changed with a scarf, necklace or sweater. Too much vanity and prosperity leads to TOO MANY clothes and choices.
Here is something you might enjoy watching from Crystal, the Money Saving Mom. A true minimalist who is beautifully working the mix and match. I'm dazzled.
Minimalist Wardrobe Vlog
Now that I have two other women living in my house, and they can wear a lot of my clothes, the items just shift from my closet to theirs. Praise the Lord for stretching resources further. He will supply my needs and my kids'! I was blessed to find so many slips in my drawer tonight.
So I've made a list of what we're going to try in my girls' room for a month:
5 casual outfits
3-4 dressy outfits (probably 3 casual dressy, 1 fancier)
3 pajamas
max 7 undies
max 7 socks
tennis shoes
boots
3 pr dress/other shoes
slips you need
panty hose
1 robe for winter
1 robe for summer
3 jacket/sweatshirts
It isn't minimalist but it will get us thinking in the right direction--outfits vs. a lot of mix and match. Surely there will be some overlap, but looks can be changed with a scarf, necklace or sweater. Too much vanity and prosperity leads to TOO MANY clothes and choices.
Here is something you might enjoy watching from Crystal, the Money Saving Mom. A true minimalist who is beautifully working the mix and match. I'm dazzled.
Minimalist Wardrobe Vlog
Babies
Babies--they are so great. Sadly I can no longer have babies. It is a door the Lord closed and it was brutal to have to face it. Technically I'm middle aged, so it isn't the sort of crushing news you can imagine, yet I still started crying last year when the doctor told me that to fix my problem, that would be the outcome.
Sometimes we have to make decisions we never imagined we'd be making.
Isn't life like that?
We make plans, but God directs our steps if we are faithful to Him and following.
Tomorrow I'm watching a baby all day because the Dad has cancer and has appointments. It will be a hard day for the Dad. He didn't plan this to be a part of his life just a few short years after marrying. When he and his wife began the process of fostering to adopt, it never occurred to them she may be raising their young son alone. Yet, the day they got a call that the papers were all going through just fine, he got a call about his biopsy earlier that week.
We make plans, but God directs our steps if we are faithful to Him and following.
Sometimes we have to make decisions we never imagined we'd be making.
Isn't life like that?
Two people fall in what they think is love. Plans start to be made and expectations start to build. Dreams are dreamed and hopes rise. Then the Lord closes a door and it is brutal to have to face it.
Isn't life like that?
We make plans, but God directs our steps if we are faithful to Him and following.
Sometimes we have to make decisions we never imagined we'd be making.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. ESV Proverbs 3:5-7
Where God is, there is always hope for the born again believer. If we are obedient to the Word, we'll find blessings beyond anything we could ask for or imagine. Life will not be free from problems, but God is faithful and He does not leave nor forsake His children. He is a God of details and He has a design for our lives to bring Him glory that go so far beyond our day to day. It isn't about us; it is about God. The more we remember that, the better off we, His children, will be.
Sometimes we have to make decisions we never imagined we'd be making.
Isn't life like that?
We make plans, but God directs our steps if we are faithful to Him and following.
Tomorrow I'm watching a baby all day because the Dad has cancer and has appointments. It will be a hard day for the Dad. He didn't plan this to be a part of his life just a few short years after marrying. When he and his wife began the process of fostering to adopt, it never occurred to them she may be raising their young son alone. Yet, the day they got a call that the papers were all going through just fine, he got a call about his biopsy earlier that week.
We make plans, but God directs our steps if we are faithful to Him and following.
Sometimes we have to make decisions we never imagined we'd be making.
Isn't life like that?
Two people fall in what they think is love. Plans start to be made and expectations start to build. Dreams are dreamed and hopes rise. Then the Lord closes a door and it is brutal to have to face it.
Isn't life like that?
We make plans, but God directs our steps if we are faithful to Him and following.
Sometimes we have to make decisions we never imagined we'd be making.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. ESV Proverbs 3:5-7
Where God is, there is always hope for the born again believer. If we are obedient to the Word, we'll find blessings beyond anything we could ask for or imagine. Life will not be free from problems, but God is faithful and He does not leave nor forsake His children. He is a God of details and He has a design for our lives to bring Him glory that go so far beyond our day to day. It isn't about us; it is about God. The more we remember that, the better off we, His children, will be.
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