Cultivate the Spirit of Happiness

Would others say you are a "happy" person? {Ask your husband and see what he would say!} Christians should be the happiest people around! Every single one of our sins has been forgiven by the precious blood of Jesus. The God of the universe promises us that He will never leave nor forsake us. He even tells us He is building a mansion for us to live in for all eternity with all of those who love Him.  

Delight thyself also in the LORD; 

and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Psalm 37:4

Do you delight yourself in the Lord? Do you love getting to know Him better by meditating upon His words and promises to us? Do you ever sing praise songs and hymns to Him with tears streaming down your face? Do you glory in the fact that He calls you His child?

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

Philippians 4:4

The first thing you should say to yourself when you wake up; 

"This is the day that the Lord has made! I will rejoice and be glad in it!"

One man wrote this about his mother: "She made a decision a number of years ago to be happy, and let it show every day, all day. And for the most part, she's brilliant at it. Any time you talk with her on the phone or walk into her house, her overflowing joy is the first thing that you'll see and hear." This woman attracts others to Jesus by the way she has decided to live her life.

People need Jesus. He is the only One that can fill the emptiness in their soul. Many people  know nothing about Him. Jesus commanded us to go out and make disciples, not converts. The best way to do this is to build relationships with others. No matter how godless our society becomes, no matter how far our country drifts from godly principles, no matter how many young people stray from the truth, the gospel message is still the most compelling, life-changing story in the universe...The most effective way to relay the Good News of Jesus is to live it. To be the message, not just preach it. {Jim Stump}

Would others say you preach Jesus with the way that you live your life? Have you cultivated a spirit of happiness drawing others to Him because of your joy? Life is too short to make anyone else's life miserable. Use the short time you have on this earth to bring joy and happiness to others. It's amazing how a simple warm smile can brighten someone's day and maybe open a door for you to share how much Jesus loves them.

As Mother Teresa said, "Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness. Kindness in your face. Kindness in your eyes. Kindness in your smile."

My New KJV Journaling Bible

Over ten years ago, Ken and I attended a week long conference that the Pearls put on about fifteen minutes from us. Ken was only going to go the first night but he enjoyed listening to Michael so much that he attended the whole week with me! Michael taught the book of Hebrews. We went because I had recently read Created to Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl and loved it so I wanted to meet them in person!

It was a wonderful week. It actually changed our lives. We learned about our new lives in Christ and our marriage has been transformed. We had the privilege of meeting both of them and even some of their joyful children. Debi had a session for just women about the subject matter in her book which I loved. On Sunday, they had a church service and my whole family attended and enjoyed it. When it was over, we were some of the last to leave and Ken found a KJV Bible that someone had left. Michael Pearl believes we should only be reading KJV since it is the most accurate. I have grown to love this version but I do read an easier version for the Old Testament. I just can't understand it in the KJV.

No one claimed the Bible Ken had found so Ken gave it to me. It had no name in it. It was fairly worn and I have used this Bible for years. I listened to every single tape Michael came out that was teaching a new book in the Bible and took judicious notes in my Bible writing in every single space I could find. These notes have come in SO handy whenever I want to teach women the Bible! Well, this Bible is completely falling apart. The binder has come apart and I just love this Bible! Here is a picture of one page in it. You can see how marked up it is. I also highlight like crazy.

The other day, I saw this Journaling KJV Bible and I ordered it. I am going to transfer ALL of my notes, which are getting harder and harder for me to see as they begin to fade and my eyes are not as strong as they once were. I even have to use a magnifying glass to see some of my notes! Yes, it's going to take me a long time, but that's okay. I will LOVE having all of my notes clearly spelled out in this new Bible with the wide margins so I can read them better!

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

God's Beautiful Love Story to Us

When Christ died, we died. When He was buried, we were buried. When He rose again, we rose with Him and now we sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. {Ephesians 2:4-6} We are now new creatures in Christ. We are dead and freed from sin. We have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and placed into the kingdom of His dear Son.

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is free from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him; ...Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:2-11

Easter bunnies, eggs, and baskets are nothing compared to what Christ has done for us. We will never be able to comprehend the grace He has bestowed upon us until we one day see Him face to face. He now calls us saints and His chosen people.

The whole plan of salvation is a beautiful love story written by the hand of God. All He asks is that we believe in Him. Then learn of Him, walk with Him, love Him and love others. He has done all the work and now lives inside of us mightily to accomplish all that He commands.

He tells us 365 times not to fear. He wants us to trust Him. He's got it 

all under control. He has conquered sin and death so now rejoice in Him always! 

This is the day that the Lord hath made;

we will rejoice and be glad in Him.

Psalm 118:24

Uncle Si Preaches the Gospel on National TV

Uncle Si Robertson of the Duck Dynasty was on Good Morning America. He wrote a children's book. While he was being interviewed, he gave the simple Gospel message ~

I wanted to tell the real Christmas story about how God became flesh willingly; died on the cross for what Si Robertson does wrong and the rest of the world; was buried in a tomb but the tomb couldn't hold him. Three days later, He rose from the dead.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: 

for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; 

to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:16

Darius Rucker sings "What God Wants for Christmas" HERE.
Play it LOUD for your family and enjoy!

Merry Christmas to All of You 

and May God Bless You Abundantly!

Are You A Garden Of Beauty?

Are you a garden of beauty? Do you fill you thoughts and your mind with things that are lovely? Do you seek those things that are above and not those things of the world? Do you try to separate yourself from the evil in the world or do you try to get as close to it as you can get without being burned?

Charles Spurgeon wrote these words, "The genuine Christian must seek to be more excellent in his life than the best moralist, because Christ's garden ought to produce the best flowers in all the world...The saints are not to remain undeveloped, always mere buds and blossoms. We should grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

We must sit at His feet often drinking His words of life. We must remind ourselves continually of His rich promises to us and rest in them. How will the world know about our Savior if we don't draw them by our beauty? 

People who sit at Jesus' feet continually are beautiful. Have you noticed that? Not gorgeous beautiful as the world describes beauty, but inner, joyful, happy beautiful. They speak encouraging words, smile a lot, listen carefully, and are optimistic. They smile at the future to come and you always feel refreshed after being with them. 

You may ask, "But how can I do this? I try and always fail." We are transformed by the renewing of our mind. Continually remind your self who you are in Christ. You are a new creature, a child of the living God, and His Holy Spirit lives inside of you. Nothing is impossible with Him. You can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you.

We, who are called by His name, ought to look and sound different than the world. Yes, the world will hate us but some will be drawn to us because of Christ. The world needs Jesus. It is so very dark and needs the warm, illuminating light of Truth. Never be afraid to speak it, because great are your rewards in heaven.

You are the salt of the earth...

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;

nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16

Our Disposable Society

We live in a disposable society.  If something breaks, instead of trying to fix it, we throw it away.  If a relationship with a friend becomes broken, we throw the friendship away.  If the marriage is broken, we get out.  If God doesn't fix our life the way we want Him to, we throw Him out too.

We aren't tough anymore.  Fifty years ago, people darned socks when they got holes.  When appliances broke, they took them apart and fixed them.  When marriages were falling apart, they stuck it out until the hard times passed.  When God failed to answer their prayers, they clung to Him anyways knowing He was in control.

Our lack of commitment and willingness to work on fixing things and relationships is destroying our society.  Our landfills are becoming filled with junk.  Our children are motherless and fatherless.  More and more people are walking away from God's ways and doing things their own way thinking that life will be better that way.

Let's become people of hard work and commitment.  Let's not throw things out when they break.  Let's always do all that we can do to fix them, whether stuff or relationships.  Let's stick it out through the rough times and do things God's ways instead of our own way.  Let's do things opposite the way the world does them and become faithful, hard-working, commitment keeping children of God.

Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith.

I Corinthians 16:13

A Return To Loveliness

The Lord Had Mercy Upon Me

Three weeks before the wedding, I got very sick.  It started with my head pain being almost unbearable.  Then my sensitive gut acted up so I sat around home all day with an ice pack on my head and a heating pad on my gut.  It was getting closer and closer to the wedding and I was not feeling any better.

A week before the wedding, I finally put out an SOS to all my family and friends that I needed prayer so I would feel good enough to go to the wedding.  As the wedding neared, I was barely having any relief.  We were told that the tumor can swell after radiation and this could be causing the pain or my hormones were going wacky from potential damage to my pituitary.  Regardless of the reason, I was thinking I would not be able to go to the wedding.

The rehearsal dinner was at my home.  Everyone knew that I was unavailable to do much to help.  When my home was filled with the bridal party, my head was throbbing.  I got a pack of ice and went up into my bedroom to ice my head.  About 15 minutes later, I came down and was able to enjoy the evening!

The next day, my head was better but my gut was still not that good.  We got ready for the wedding not knowing how long I would be able to stay.  The wedding began at 3:30 and I was able to stay until 8:30!  The only thing I missed was Ryan and Cassi getting in the car and driving away.

God had mercy upon me and I am so very thankful.  He heard the cry of the many precious people who were lifting me up in prayer.  What a wonderful celebration I was able to witness and so many friends was I able to hug.  God is so very good to me.

The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, 

and his ears are open unto their cry...

The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, 

and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

Psalm 34:15,17

A Taste Of Heaven

My dad told me there were two times in his life that he tasted a little bit of heaven.  The first time was when he was at a Basic Institute of Youth Conflicts and there were 3,000 men singing hymns.  He said it was amazing to hear all these men praising Jesus.

The second time was at Ryan and Erin's wedding.  He was sitting near the front.  The wedding took place in a vineyard.  There were white fluffly clouds in the sky.  A soft breeze was blowing.  The whole family was all around him.

I remember diving into the waters of Lake Michigan when I was younger.  The water happened to be around 75 degrees and calm.  It was a bright, sunny day out and the water felt like silk.  This was my only time I felt a taste of heaven.

My youngest daughter, Cassi, is getting married tomorrow.  Almost the whole family will be there.  We will gather to watch the union between a man and a woman, exactly how God created it to be exemplifying Christ and His bride, the church.

Then we will all celebrate together, foreshadowing the time when we will all be gathered together celebrating the marriage supper of the Lamb.  All Christian weddings should be a little bit of heaven for the amazing portrait of Christ and His bride they paint.  Oh, what a day that will be!

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready...Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Revelation 19:7,9

Our Desire For Our Husband

We all know God gave curses to Eve after sin entered the world.  
Her curse was ~

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception;  in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.  

Genesis 3:16

Desiring our husbands sounds like a good thing, right?   What that really means, however, is our desire will be to control our husband.  In my experience,  I would say that most women do want to control their husbands.  Now, we see it is part of the curse.  God also said husbands will rule over their wives.

Isn't it just like our awesome God, however, to change something that looks so bad, a "curse," and make it a blessing?  When our eyes are opened and we no longer want to control our husbands, but allow them to be the leaders, our marriages start getting better.  

Yes, everything having to do with childbearing is painful to most women:  PMS, periods, pregnancy, delivery, and menopause but our great God brings precious babies out of all this pain.  Even in His curses, He works all things for good for us.

Even a man's curse to toil the ground turns into a blessing.  Hard work is fulfilling and provides for one's family.  And the biggest curse of all, death, He conquered on the cross over 2,000 years ago so we can live eternally with Him.  What an awesome God we serve!

My Very Boring Testimony

My testimony is boring.  I was raised in a Christian home with Christian parents.  I always loved Jesus.  I never rebelled from Him.  I knew He was alive and well in this world and living inside of me.  I went to a Christian college and married a Christian man.  I attended church my whole life. 

 Together, we raised Christian children.  I took them to Awana almost every week of their growing up years {even though I was as sick as a dog with millions of parasites} because I wanted God's Word deeply hidden in their hearts.  My children attended church all their lives and all walk with Jesus.  They are all marrying Christian spouses.  My testimony is boring, or so I thought.

I am so thankful for my life now.  I am thankful that I can relate to Paul's words to Timothy, "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." II Timothy 3:15

Elizabeth Elliott spoke in our chapel at Westmont College.  We went to chapel almost every day of the week for all four years I attended.  I only remember one line in all those chapels I attended.  It was when Elizabeth said, "If you were to make a list of all your blessings and you were raised in a Christian home, that should be the top blessing on your list."

I was blessed.  I was born into a Christian home.  Born to parents who loved Jesus and went to church every Sunday.  They never criticized the preaching, the singing, or anything about the churches we attended.  They were always faithful to their church, loving the people, and being involved.  I was blessed.

If you were raised in a Christian home, you were blessed also.  Jesus is the light of the world.  He came to set the prisoner free.  This world is in bondage to sin and to Satan.  We are not.  We are free.  Free to live holy lives.  Free to love and serve others.  Free to be submissive to our husbands and free to raise godly offspring.  Hallelujah!  We are free.

However, if your life is filled with a lot of regrets and rebellion against God's ways, God's grace is sufficient to cover your sins and redeem your life.  He freely offers forgiveness from guilt and condemnation.  All He asks of you is that you believe!

The Red Letter Words

Many people believe the red letter words {Jesus' words} are the only important words in the Bible.  These are the words we should focus on, since Jesus says nothing about homosexuality, wifely submission, or being a keeper at home.  His words are only about love and compassion.  They are the only words that matter.  Oh yeah???

What about the red words that say if your hand causes you to sin, cut if off or if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out?  What about hating your mother, your father, and your siblings?  What about selling all of your wealth if you want to enter into eternal life?  What about lusting being equivalent to adultery and hating being equivalent to murder?  Those don't sound like words of love and compassion to me.

We must remember that Jesus was speaking to people who lived under the Law.  His purpose was to show them that they would NEVER be able to attain eternal life by obeying the Law even if they cut off their hands, plucked out their eyes, hated their family, sold all they had, and never lusted or hated.  It was impossible to keep the Law.  Therefore, no one would inherit eternal life, right?

Wrong.  He was preparing the people for His death and resurrection.  If it hadn't been for Paul writing Romans 6 and 8, along with some passages in Ephesians and Colossians, we would not realize the full extent of what Jesus accomplished on the cross.  

When He died, we died.  When He rose again, we rose again.  When we believe, we are new creatures in Christ.  We are freed from our sin and dead to it.  We have inherited eternal life, not by what we have done, but solely based upon what He has done for us.

He was able to pay the full penalty for our sin.  He was the perfect, sinless Lamb.  He fulfilled the whole Law and now He asks us to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love others as we love ourselves.  By doing this, we show we love Him.

The work is finished.  We no longer live under the Law.  We live under a New Covenant.  We believe the whole Bible to be the inspired Word of God, not just the red letters.  

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable

 for teaching, for reproof, for correction, 

for training in righteousness.

II Timothy 3:16

Duck Dynasty Calls For Repentance

Phil is not afraid to speak the Truth.  I have heard of the show Duck Dynasty but have never watched it.  The whole cast was on Dr. Oz recently so I thought I would watch it.

Dr. Oz had the dad, Phil, come over and check out the difference between a duck liver and a human liver.  The duck liver was pliable, soft, and tender from eating food off of the land.  The human liver was hard and not flexible from abuse.

Dr. Oz asked Phil why he thought so many people do things that hurt themselves.  Phil replied, "We've lost two concepts that our founding fathers had.  They don't love God and obey what He says.  They don't love each other."

Dr. Oz then asked Phil how he found this love in his heart?  Phil said at 28 he finally decided, "You know, this sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll can only run so far and you either end up like this {he held up the hard, bad human liver} or you decide to repent.  Trust me, Doc, it was time for me to repent and from that point on, from 28 to 67.  Trust me, the last 39 {years} have been far better than the 28, for sure.  Everyone can repent.  It's not a scary thing, it's a needed thing."

Repentance.  Turning from your sin and turning to God. Changing course.  Deciding the path you are on is not a good one and wanting to walk the narrow path with Jesus.  No, it is not a scary thing.  You must, however, count the cost...giving up your sin, living in obedience to God, etc.   It is the needed thing.  Phil is right on.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, 

but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, 

but that all should reach repentance.

II Peter 3:9

***HERE is a speech given by Phil called
"Why This Country Needs A Lot More Jesus."

Strictly Walking With God

Strict walking is much despised in these days, but rest assured, dear reader, it is both the safest and the happiest.  Worldly conformity, in any degree, is a snare to the soul, and makes it more and more liable to presumptuous sins. {Charles Spurgeon}

God commands us,  "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" {Romans 12:2}.

We, as believers, do walk a narrow path.  This narrow path with borders is for our protection.  All of God's commands are to protect us.  We must teach our children this while they are young.  We taught our children that the majority of rules we had for them came from God so when they left home, they would be accountable to God and not us.

The world has a strong pull.  It wants you to compromise with it.  It feels good and looks good but it isn't good.  God's ways are good.  They are the best path to travel on.  I know.  Life is much better when I am walking in obedience to God.

So stop being angry with your husband because he is always late, or isn't involved with the children enough, or eats too much, etc.  Obey God.  Love your husband.  Love your in-laws.  Love your children for love covers over a multitude of sin.

picture source

The Ideal Christian Lady

Will your children rise up and call you blessed?  We can not become godly wives and mothers by our own strength.  We need daily communion with our Savior.  He needs to guide us and lead us in all of our ways.  If we want to become more like Him, we must know Him and spend time with Him.

The following words were written by Frederick William Farrar about his mother.  She is a wonderful example to us of what a godly wife and mother looks like.

My mother made it a habit every day, immediately after breakfast, to spend an hour in her room, reading the Bible, meditating over it, and praying to the Lord.  It enabled her to maintain a genuine peacefulness in spite of the normal trying worries and pettiness that so often accompany life in a crowded neighborhood.

As I think of her life and all that she had to endure, I see the absolute triumph of the grace of God in the ideal Christian lady.  She was such a lovely person that I never saw her lose her temper or speak even one word in anger.

I never heard her participate in idle gossip or make a disparaging remark about another person.  In fact, I never saw in her even the hint of an emotion unbecoming to someone who had drunk from "the river of the water of life" {Revelation 22:1} and who had eaten of the "living bread that came down from heaven" {John 6:51}.

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; 

her husband also, and he praises her.  

Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain:  

but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 31:28,30

Will You Take This Challenging Pledge?

A late Bible teacher named Russell Kelfer wrote the following challenge for people who wanted to learn to be grateful in this life and recommit to it on a regular basis.  It is so easy to not be thankful, but instead complain and be unhappy since this life gives us so many trials.  I have written out the whole challenge in case any of you want to go from being unthankful to thankful!

Having been born into the kingdom of God, I do hereby acknowledge that God's purchase of my life included all the rights and control of that life for all eternity.

I do further acknowledge that He has not guaranteed me to be free from pain or to have success or prosperity.  He has not guaranteed me perfect health.  He has not guaranteed me perfect parents.  He has not guaranteed me perfect children.  He has not guaranteed me the absence of pressures, trials, misunderstandings, or persecution.

What He has promised me is eternal life.  What He has promised me is abundant life.  What He has promised me is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness  meekness, and self-control. He has given me all of Himself in exchange for the rights to my life.

Therefore I acknowledge this day the relinquishment of all my rights and expectations, and humbly ask Him by His grace to replace these with a grateful spirit, for whatever in His wisdom He deems to allow for my life.

Maybe print this out and hang it somewhere where you will see it often and be reminded what life is all about so you can keep your life in line with God's purposes for you.

Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father 

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:20 

Hear It On Sunday

Dark Cloud Of Hopelessness

When the doctor delivered the news to us on Tuesday, it was probably the most hopeless I have ever felt in my life.  I am generally an optimistic person and have hope for the future.  I didn't feel that way on Tuesday.

A dark cloud of hopelessness seemed to have descended over my life.  I cried a lot in fear of the future.  Last night as I was in bed, I felt that cloud descending again, so out loud I just sang ~

It's a happy day and I praise God for the weather.

It's a happy day and I am living it for my Lord.

It's a happy day and things are going to get better.

Living each day by the promises in God's Word!

Then I started reciting all of God's many promises to me.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.  Be anxious for nothing...And I began to feel His peace descending upon me instead.

Your many comments and encouraging words the past few days have definitely lifted my spirit.  My best friend, Sandy, spent the day with me on Thursday encouraging me.  My dad comes over every day, massages my feet and encourages me, my wonderful husband encourages me, and the Lord sustains me.

I know many of you have gone through difficult trials.  Life is full of trials.  Our life isn't about fun, experiences, etc. but about our witness, being lights in a very dark world.  God has chosen this path for me so I must choose to use it for His glory.

None of us get to choose when we will die, but we all get to choose how we will live.  Live each day for God's glory, love those around you, and thank Him for whom all blessings flow.

Imperfect Prose

Pour Your Heart Out

Generosity Proves That We Love

When we are generous with others, we prove that we love them ~

But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work {generosity} also.  I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.  

II Corinthians 8:7,8

If you say that you truly love others, you cannot be selfish.  True love is doing what is best for others, serving them, and being generous with them.  

Therefore, if you truly love your husband you will be generous with him.  You will be generous with your affection, your body, your time, your willingness to serve and please him, and your kind, gentle words.

If you truly love your children, you will be generous with your praise, your disciplining and training them, and your time.

If you truly love others, you will be patient and kind with your waitress leaving them a big tip, you will lend your things freely to those who need them, you will support missionaries and those in need, and you will open your home to those who need a warm bed and good food.

Let us work on becoming people that don't just say we love others but show we love others by how we spend our time, our money, and our things.

Sowing Wild Oats

Many people feel they need to sow their wild oats while they are young and just "have fun."  Chuck Swindoll, one of my favorite preaches, was in Okinawa when he was a young man stationed in the military.  He said many of the young men came there for the purpose of sowing their wild oats.

One of the men, who became a very good friend of his, came for that very purpose.  He slept around, drank, and partied it up all in the name of "fun."  One night, very late, he stumbled into Chuck's room very drunk and sat on his bed and cried.  He had contracted a disease and told Chuck that he was having no fun at all.

Chuck shared the Gospel, the Good News, with him and he was saved that very night.  Chuck watched a powerful transformation take place in this young man's life.  He went on from there to live a God-honoring life.  Oh, the mysterious, amazing ways of God!

You see, people today think living worldly is fun.  All you reap is pain and bitterness.  Satan is the father of lies.  The world's ways lead to a path of destruction.  God's ways lead to life, life abundant.  

Continually teach your children God's ways.  Listen to good sermons and praise music.  Dwell on the lovely, the good, and the pure.  Be joyful always.  Let your children see that living for Jesus is the only way to live.  

As obedient children, 

do not be conformed to the former 

lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 

but like the Holy One who called you, 

be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.

I Peter 1:14,15

A Balanced Woman Of God

How do women become balanced women of God in this unbalanced society we are presently living in?  There is only one way, you must become students of the Word.  The one thing I try to impress upon the women I mentor is the importance of knowing and living God's Word.

For some reason, it is so easy to remember to eat at least three meals a day, take a daily shower, watch some television, etc. but when it comes to spending time knowing God, there is no time.  This is like going out into the world naked.  Every day, you must put on the full armor of God.

Life is a spiritual battle.  Satan would love to destroy your marriage.  He would love to destroy your children.  He would love to destroy you.  If you are not in His Word daily, you will be influenced by the lies of society.

Put down that cheap novel.  Put down that cheap magazine.  Stop watching the cheap reality shows.  They only pollute your mind.  Become a serious student of the Word.  Read it daily.  Meditate upon it.  Pray the words of Scripture over your husband and your children.

This is the single most important thing you can do for your family.  As you study His Word, you become more like Jesus.  Your husband and your children will be drawn to Jesus.  How can you expect to raise children that walk in Truth if you are not spending time knowing Truth?

Don't blame your husband on not being a spiritual leader.  You and you alone are responsible for your spiritual growth.  Have Bibles laying open around your home.  Listen to sermons being preached by godly preachers.  Listen to praise music.  Read the Bible to your children.  Immerse yourself in Truth and not in this forsaken, godless world.

It is up to you women.  Do you want your husband and children to rise up and call you blessed at the end of your life or do you want a shattered marriage and children walking with the world?  Make reading God's Word and knowing Him a top priority in your life.  This is the single most important thing you can do to make a difference in your life.  Please don't drop the ball on this one.

The only way you will become a balanced woman of God is to know God deeply.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;

 teaching and admonishing one another in 

psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, 

singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16

Making Your Home Sing

Cedar Cove

She is a judge.  The young couple wants a divorce.  The judge asked if there are any children.  The young woman said they had a child but it died four days after being born.  The judge said she wouldn't grant a divorce for 90 days.  Through a tragedy, the young couple got back together and renewed their vows.

If you like this kind of story line, you will love the new show by Hallmark called Cedar Grove.  There was a two hour special on Saturday night and it will be a series on Hallmark every Saturday night from now on.  I loved it!   

I shed a few happy tears and it is the type of show that you never want to end.  It has a few good love stories cooking up and I absolutely love the scenery.  I think it is filmed in a small town near Seattle.

It is a very nostalgic town, no one locks their doors and every one knows each other.  It is how we would love to see the world.  So if you want to enjoy a good television series, I encourage you to look it up on Hallmark and begin watching it.  It is good to support decent shows.  {It is hard to figure out why there are not more made...}

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, 

whatsoever things are honest, 

whatsoever things are just, 

whatsoever things are pure, 

whatsoever things are lovely, 

whatsoever things are of good report; 

if there be any virtue,

 and if there be any praise, 

think on these things.

Philippians 4:8