Parental Rights

As a Christian parent, I pray and put my hope in my Lord that my husband and I raise our children the way He wants us to train them up. We pray and seek God's will for how to discipline, train, love and nourish our boys.

Not being one who is typically politically active, this past month I've been involved in the precinct level convention and the county convention this month in Texas. I've noticed something that I want to share with anyone who stops by. Those voices who are active in the political process are the voices that are heard.

As Christians and as parents, I believe that if we dont get involved in our government process by voting, becoming delegates, letting our representatives know how we want them to represent us, sign petitions, and support lobby groups that promote the values we want to pass on to our children then the government will get involved in our business with the family.

The government is already stepping in taking rights from parents. Just imagine if you wanted to discipline your teenage daughter whom you caught abusing drugs and being promiscuous. You deny her right to associate with those peers who encourage that behavior. She complains to a school counselor. The CPS takes her from your home and the courts agree. Then she's placed in foster care. A parent denied their right to discipline as they deemed fit. This is a true story that happened in the early 1980's as a landmark case in the Washington Supreme Court. (Parentalrights.org) This and many other real life stories can be read here.

The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom (Deut 28:13-14).

As the body of Christ, we're to be the head. However, in our government we seem to be the tail. I encourage all of us to rise up and take a stand in our values. We need to take the lead. Let's not let the government become our children's parents. Let's keep our rights to make the decisions we feel are best for our children.

I support parental rights and have placed a button on my sidebar. You too can get the code and show support on your blog.

Please visit ParentalRights.org. Read through this site. Sign the petition and pass the word on to others in your sphere of influence. Let's get the word out. We can make a difference!

Blessings in Christ--

It's Our Choice

Everyday we have choices to make. Often times we have more choices than we want. For instance at a popular coffee shop there are so many types of coffees, flavors, etc to choose from our heads can start spinning. Each day we choose what we will wear, what we will eat, where we’ll go.

We also have more serious choices to make in our lives. We decide who we will marry and spend the rest of our lives with. We make choices on how we’ll raise our children such as what schools they’ll attend and what church is best for them.

Our God is a good God that allows us to make our choices. When the Lord calls us to do something, He allows us to make a choice. The Israelites were told to take the promise land, but the were afraid. They made the wrong choice and had to spend 40 years in the wilderness as a result. That generation died in the desert. Moses made a wrong choice in his anger and sinned against God and was not allowed to enter in the promise land.

After the 40 years, Moses led the next generation of Israelites back up to the promise land. He gave a great oratory in Deuteronomy to remind them of the law and to encourage them. He told them, “Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.”

God’s word is near to us; it’s in our mouth and heart so we can obey it! We can do what God calls us to do based on HIS word. We have to believe it and get it in us to move forward.

We have to make the choice to believe God. He gives us that choice. He said through Moses, “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (Deut. 30:19-20 NIV)

God also told us what is best for us to choose—life. Choose His way of life. The Lord is our life when we follow Him.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul quoted from the above scriptures in Deuteronomy.

Romans 10:5-10 NIV

Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them. "But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, "that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

God gave us life through HIS Son, Jesus Christ. If we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that He was raised from the dead, we are saved. Then we can live the fullness of the life (promise land) God provided for us through Christ our Savior! We can conquer the enemy and take the land!

Choose life today! Rejoice in Jesus Christ!

Blessings in Christ--

From Despair to Hope--He's Alive!!

What the Father Wants

Deuteronomy 10:12-22 HSCB

"And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you except to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, and to worship the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul? Keep the LORD's commands and statutes I am giving you today, for your own good. The heavens, indeed the highest heavens, belong to the LORD your God, as does the earth and everything in it. Yet the LORD was devoted to your fathers and loved them. He chose their descendants after them—[He chose] you out of all the peoples, as it is today. Therefore, circumcise your hearts and don't be stiff-necked any longer. For the LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and taking no bribe.

“Fear the Lord your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, and to worship the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.”

When the storms of life hit, I am to fear HIM and keep walking in HIS ways. Always love Him no matter what happens. All things belong to the Lord, the heavens, the earth and all that is in it. He is awesome!

The Lord wants us to acknowledge HIM who is the “God of gods, the Lord of lords, the great, might, and awesome God, showing no partiality and taking no bribe.”

He knows what is best for each one of us. He knows what is best for me. He knows my circumstances. I lift up petitions to HIM on behalf of myself, my family, my friends, and my brothers and sisters in the Lord.

So many things seem to be going on in this season of life, not only for me, but for so many that I know as well. During this time, I want to allow the Lord to circumcise my heart. I want to be tender to HIM, by the Spirit who leads.

Romans 2:29 HSCB

On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter. His praise is not from men but from God.

The Lord wants me to serve HIM no matter who else notices what I do. He sees everything I do and knows what is in my heart. I confess I’ve desired affirmation. But I’m learning to forego the affirmations of this world so that I may have the praise that comes from God.

Dear Lord, I give You praise this day. For You alone are the Creator of the heavens and the earth and You own all that is in them. Everything is Yours! You are the great, mighty, and the Almighty—El Shaddai! You are no respector of persons. You are just and righteous. Lord, I shall praise You through all that I must face. I pray for those who face things that seem more difficult to me, but I know that You give Your grace that is proportionate to trials we must deal with. Your word says that Your grace is sufficient. Lord, I pray that Your grace be upon Your servants today. I pray that Your grace be on me today. Lord, sometimes the “to do” list seems overwhelming. I ask You to break it down in manageable bites. I pray I do all I do as unto You and not unto man. Lead me this day. In Jesus name, Amen.

Blessings in Christ--

Sunbathing Weather

My kitty, Midnight, came home from a day and a half at the veterinary hospital. She was spayed. I went to visit her in the hospital yesterday. This facility was very clean and sterile. The staff was very kind and compassionate. The kennels were very organized. However, she did have a dog under her that barked a lot. She was discharged today. I received her prescriptions for pain, antibiotics and the written discharge instructions. (The procedures were so professional, it seemed as if it were a human hospital.) After a day and a half of absence, she was very excited to come home. She decided she wanted some sun on her bare skin where she was shaved. She propped herself up in this window seal for some sunbathing.


It was 90 degrees in south Texas today and I pulled out shorts. I need to take Midnight's lead and go get some sun!! (Nope--not showing my picture with my bare, white skin!!)

Blessings in Christ--

A Day in the Life of...

Just a glimpse of my day today-- Project & Lab day

Psalms 84:3 NIV
Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.

I've been teaching Chase about birds. Spring is here and that brings nesting season for birds. Chase and his dad built this home for small birds. We'll watch to see who will nest in this home. We wrote the words from Psalm 84:3 on the side of the bird house.


Stephen worked on chemistry lab today. In the midst of his lab experiment, it was time for lunch so his lab work became the table centerpiece.


Blessings in Christ--

Sheerah

This week I read the chronological reading with Bev and her group of chronological readers. We read in the book of Numbers, but there was this one day that we deviated and read genealogies from 1 Chronicles. That is where I got stuck.

I get excited about genealogies!!! Oh Yeah, that is right. Genealogies.

I want you to see where I got stuck. Reading in Numbers 26, the Lord tells Moses and Eleazar, son of Aaron (who has already died) to take another census after a plague had ended. Then the scriptures cross references to scriptures in 1 Chronicles 7. As I was reading, his son…blah, blah, his son, blah…blah, his son…then all of a sudden the word DAUGHTER jumped off the page at me. I back tracked. Here’s that portion of scripture:

1 Chronicles 7:20-24 HCSB

Ephraim’s Descendents

Ephraim's sons: Shuthelah, and his son Bered,
his son Tahath, his son Eleadah,
his son Tahath, his son Zabad,
his son Shuthelah, Ezer, and Elead.
The men of Gath who were born in the land killed Ezer and Elead because they went down to raid their cattle. Their father Ephraim mourned a long time, and his relatives came to comfort him. He slept with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. So he named him Beriah, because there had been misfortune in his home. His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth-horon and Uzzen-sheerah,

These are the descendant of Ephraim, son of Joseph. They experienced misfortune in this family. When he had another son, Ephraim (whom Matthew Henry’s Commentary says he believes is not the same Ephraim as Joseph’s son) named him Beriah, which means misfortune.

But then in verse 24, it mentions his daughter, Sheerah, “who built Lower and Upper Beth-horon and Uzzen-sheera.” A woman in the midst of genealogy is rare in the Bible. If she is mentioned, then there must be some significance.

I’m in the process of researching this, but little is to be found. I’ve sent an email to my homeschool history curriculum author to see if she can lend any insight.

But to think about what I do know from these scriptures—Sheerah came from a family of misfortune. Sheerah (I think “she rose”) above the circumstances and founded three cities. She must have been a woman of influence. The Hebrew lexicon for built is banah (baw nah) which means to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue. One of the cities is named after her. Wow!

For some reason this woman is briefly mentioned in the scriptures and I want to know why. She came from a down and out family, but was influential in building or establishing three cities. She must have had some fortitude. She knew how to work with the establishment of men. She knew her purpose and fulfilled the call on her life.

I love the word of God and God loves women. He uses women to accomplish HIS will.

May we the women of the Lord recognize God’s plan for our lives and do what HE has called us to do. We may not be an Esther, Rahab, or Sarah who are well known. But we can still leave behind a legacy where God places us, just as Sheerah left her legacy where she was placed, though little known.

Blessings in Christ--

Winds of Change

In south Texas, the winds have blown much lately. Every time I hear the howling winds, I think of this song. Change is coming. His Spirit pouring out in the lives of the body of Christ (Acts 2).


Joel 2:28-29 NIV
28 "And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
29 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

Blessings in Christ--

PLING

Baking biscuits should be a simple task. Much more simple than I remember how my Granny baked biscuits. That was quite time consuming. Mixing the dough early in the morning (way before the sun came up). Letting the dough rise under a towel. Then baking. Or sometimes, we’d have what she called “cat biscuits.” Those where the biscuits that “the cat clawed” so the dough didn’t rise. Either way she mixed her own dough.

I don’t mix the dough when I bake biscuits for my son, which is one of his favorite breakfast foods. I buy the dough already mixed and cut in the can. All I have to do is pop open the can by peeling the paper back just right for it to pop open and place the precut biscuits on a cookie sheet in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. So in a matter of 10 minutes time, savory biscuits are ready for grape jelly.

In attempt to hurry and prepare biscuits for breakfast before church one Sunday morning, I peeled the paper back to pop the can of biscuits, but the can didn’t pop open. Nothing. Frantic as I needed to get out these biscuits in the oven, then I’d have ten minutes to get out of my robe and put on my Sunday clothes. Then another 10 minutes for us to eat and get out the door to church. This morning needed to be synchronized just right. I had it planned down to the exact minute.

Since the can didn’t open the way is suppose to or the way I expected it to open, I started hitting the can against the edge of the counter hoping to hear the pop. With each hit against the counter that it did not pop, I swung and hit it harder. After about the fourth attempt of opening the can in this manner, I heard “PLING.” The noise I heard was from the metal tip of the can hitting the ceramic tile floor. As I looked at the can with the end missing, so were the biscuits. I found them on the counter, on the floor, and in my hair that I just spent 20 precious minutes primping for church. What a mess!

I found that I tend to make mess of my life when my expectations don’t line up with God’s. Oh, I know how to stand on the promises of God and believe His promises for me. I’m making a mess when I have my own set expectations of HOW these promises will be fulfilled in my life.

I think I have it figured out and try to make something happen—PLING—there’s the mess.

Sarah, Abraham’s wife, thought she had to figure out how to make God’s promise for an heir come to pass. She convinced Abraham to take her maidservant, Hagar, so she could have a child through her. PLING!

The good news is God is bigger than our messes! He is faithful to keep HIS promises, even if we intervene and make a mess. Oh yes, God promised Abraham and Sarah an heir. But Sarah’s way wasn’t God’s way. They had to wait for God’s timing for Isaac.

2 Corinthians 1:18-22 NIV

But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not "Yes" and "No." For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not "Yes" and "No," but in him it has always been "Yes." For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Oh Yes! God’s promises are always yes. He will keep His promises for us, even if we “PLING.” I’m learning to wait on God’s timing for His yes to come to pass. By accepting Jesus as our Savior, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit. We have His guarantee. Let’s wait on HIS timing.

Lord, I want to give You all the glory and honor and praise this day. I am so thankful that You keep all Your promises in spite of my “PLINGS.” You are so faithful to Your word for my life. You promise to prosper me and not harm me and to give me a hope and a future. (Jer. 29:11) Your Word is so full of promises for my life and I shall cling to those promises. I put my hope in You. Lord, forgive me for wanting to make Your promises happen my way. Your ways are better. Help me to wait for Your way and timing in my life as You know what is best for me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Blessings in Christ--

Same Ol', Same Ol' Everyday

Some places in my life seem redundant. Same ol’ house to clean—kitchen, living room, bathrooms, bedrooms. Same ol’ errands to run—pay bills, grocery shopping, doctor appointments, etc. Same ol’ food to eat.

I’m conscience about what I put in my mouth as I gain weight easily. I am finding out it is true what people warned me about in my thirties. It is harder to take off weight after 40!! So I eat the foods that I know are healthy for me. Lean meats—chicken, turkey, and fish. Occasionally some lean cuts of red meat. Vegetables and fruit. Whole grain, whole wheat bread and brown rice. I’ve been doing this for two months and I confess I get bored. Only so many ways you can cook chicken breast. What do I do when I get bored? I sneak in other foods and thus sabotage myself. In other words, I set myself up for failure.

As I read the chronological Bible readings this week, I noticed that I’m not the only one that gets bored with what the Lord provided them to eat. God gave the Israelites angel food—manna from heaven. But after a while of being supplied with this heavenly food, here’s what they did and said:

Numbers 11:4-6 NIV

The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!"

Like what’s happening to me, they only found so many ways to cook the manna.

Numbers 11:7-8 NIV

The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin. The people went around gathering it, and then ground it in a handmill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into cakes. And it tasted like something made with olive oil.

Instead of seeking new ways to cook the manna or trying different spices, they grumbled and complained to Moses. Feeling the burden of 600,000 men (that did not include women and children), Moses pleaded with God for help. Oh I don’t blame him as I’m so glad that I have my husband to help me with the boys when they complain to me. It is a taxing experience to listen to so many complaints. God gave Moses 70 elders from the camp to assist him. I suppose God gets tired of hearing my complaints too.

The Lord heard the pleas of the Israelites and granted them their request. He sent the winds to drive the quail into the camp. Psalm 78:27 says, “He rained meat down on them like dust, flying birds like sand on the seashore.” They ate until they were stuffed—willful gluttony. Then in Psalm 78:30-31 says, “But before they turned from the food they craved, even while it was still in their mouths, God’s anger rose against them; He put to death the sturdiest among them, cutting down the young men of Israel.” Obviously, there is more to this situation than just the food; it was a matter of what was in their heart—rebellion against God.

Food can become a lustful desire. When anything preoccupies our minds more than our Lord, it affects our perspective. I’m amazed at how many scriptures deal with food and how God provides food for His people. Jesus told us not to worry about what we’re going to eat.

Matthew 6:31-34 NIV

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

The redundancy of our everyday lives can lead to complacency with the Lord. But He is all powerful, all-knowing Lord. He sees everything we do, even the things we contemplate in our hearts. Over and over throughout the Scriptures are examples of Israel’s history.

1 Corinthians 10:11-13 NIV

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

No wonder I have failed in my attempts to lose weight by eating healthy. I start out with good intentions, but then I get bored. This is the temptation for me that is common to man. I complain and give into the indulging desires of my flesh. I’m not the teen or like other fortunate people with high metabolisms that can eat whatever they want and get away with it. This is my way out—I have to accept the fact I’m the way I am and eat what is right for me—and be thankful for it! Now I can stand.

Dear Lord, I praise You this day that You made and each day is special with You in my life. I thank You for Your word that is so alive to me and judges my thoughts and attitudes of my heart for nothing is hidden from You. (Heb. 4:12-13) You’re Word is an example for me so I can learn to be like You want me to be. Lord, I seek Your forgiveness for my ungrateful heart. I want to thank You for providing a way for me to have life and have it abundantly through Your Son, Jesus. He is able to sympathize with all my weaknesses as He was tempted the same ways I am, but yet He did not sin. I am thankful that through Him I can come before Your throne of grace. I need Your mercy upon me today. Lord, I ask You to forgive me for allowing complacency to lead to the ungratefulness. I pray that I find joy in all that You have given to me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Blessings in Christ--