Stop Lying and Worrying About Your Reputation.... - Pastor Tim Conway

So much of what Pastor Tim says in this video is what I have known the Spirit was speaking into my life for some time now. I know in my life that I do exactly what he is speaking of....not telling the whole story...or answering in a way that makes me look better...making excuses for the way things are instead of telling it in a way that clearly states where my fault lies in the situation. This was very convicting to me. I hope that you will enjoy it like I did.

Overcome - Desperation Band

Come to Christ, He is Mighty to Save - Paul Washer

He doesn't care what you have done or what you have become.....

Groaning over Grieving the Holy Spirit

Groaning over Grieving the Holy Spirit

The Unconditional Love of Christ - Paul Washer

Are You Clothed With Power - Paul Washer

This is amazing! It really makes you want to run away and be alone with God!

Destined

This (below) is one of the ten chapters that I read this morning. One word stood out to me...."destined"....I ask you to take a look. These kind of things strike a bit of fear in me. I know that God is Sovereign...I have considered how I think of my 'possessions' and I know it is at my discretion how I would like to 'treat' them. Some for fancy things, others for common use, some get thrown out and others are kept. I know that in Christ we have favor and therefore we are precious. I wish I could express this without causing anger. God doesn't place men in high esteem. He uses us for whatever purposes He decides. It is hard to consider this in accord with those we love but if we really cared about 'them' that much then what stops us from being in continual prayer for them? Why do we care so little that we would waste time with selfish pleasures and chasing after our own passions? We do not know who is destined for what. We do not know who the elect is and who is not. And why would any of us want to determine this in our own meager judgement? If we feel that someone does not know Christ....is going to hell...then that person is to be pitied, not condemned by us to hell by our pitiful, meager judgement. "Love others as yourself." Love in the same way you have been loved by Christ. Fall to your knees and cry out to God on others' behalf! Cry out to God in the same way you would want others to, if they were in your place...if they knew the Truth and you didn't. 
We get so frustrated with each other. We do not tend to bear with one another, overlook another's faults, we do not tend to want to bring out the best in others but only think they should be the best. "They shall know us by our love." Are you known by your love? Am I? What are you destined for?


So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:

   "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
   a cornerstone chosen and precious,
 and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."

 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

   "The stone that the builders rejected
   has become the cornerstone,"

 and

   "A stone of stumbling,
   and a rock of offense."

   

   They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined ("appointed" in KJV) to do.

 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2)

Four Part Series on the Holy Spirit by Pastor Tim

This is such a good series touching on many topics

surrounding the Holy Spirit and the Church. 

I recommend listening to it a couple of times 

because there is just so much to digest. I pray

that you enjoy them as much as I did:)

The Gospel - Paul Washer

This is such an amazing explanation of what Jesus did for us! 

I really recommend taking the time to listen!

~Worshiping in Truth AND Spirit~

My little artist's 
newest masterpiece:)

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Gal.5:16

This morning, I got up to do my devotions as usual. I have started praying on my knees...I have never done this before (I always sat at my kitchen table and wrote in my prayer journal). I do not know, personally, if it will make a long-term difference but I have noticed that many of the ones who have had tremendous answers to prayer, prayed on their knees or fell on their faces before God (Moses and, in more modern times, A.W. Tozer). I see this, in others, as a mark of humility before God. I pray that He sees it as such in me.
I was listening to Kim Walker Smith yesterday and a line that she sang made me really question if I could sing it with honesty: "There's no place I'd rather be than here with You." I asked myself about how long I wanted to linger on my knees. To be honest, I found my mind wandering to things that needed to get done. I found that I would have rather been reading my Bible or listening to music, looking on Facebook, blogging....I know this sounds shameful. I want to be honest with you, with myself and, most of all, with God. Thinking more on this, I realized that this is what Jesus was saying to Martha when He said, "Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."(Luke 10:38-42) I rush around 'doing' and even when I take the time to 'be', my mind isn't 'being' with Him. 
We are in a battle. A battle for Truth but even more than that, a battle, between the flesh and the Spirit. "The true worshipers worship in Spirit and in Truth." (John 4:23) Do I? I am seeking to know the Truth and I know that He has given me understanding in so many areas...although, I know I still have so far to go. Now, what about the Spirit? If we look at Jesus and search out every passage that it says that He prayed....if Jesus did, how much more should I? 

Godly Influence

This blog post spoke right to my heart this morning. I had some glorious progress in prayer this morning (and it was much needed) and this post confirmed in me what the Spirit was saying. Please read this excerpt and if you wish to read the entire post, continue reading here. 

My beautiful Reesy's painting
from yesterday:)

"The example of Jesus was holy and sanctifying. All who came into His presence could feel how dreadful, yet how attractive, holiness was! Is ours such? Can we in sincerity say, “Follow me, as I follow Christ?” Is our example as a religious professor such as to influence others for good?–as a parent, such as you would desire your children should imitate?–as a husband or wife, as a brother or sister, as a master or mistress, such as to mold for holiness in this life, and for happiness in the life to come, those whom it daily reaches? Is our example such as to attract them with the beauty of holiness, to impress them with the excellence of Jesus, the service of God, and the solemnity of eternity?"

Reese's Artwork

~Patience, Homeschooling and Boldness~

Such a sweet and loving girl!
My Reese:)

Another day has come and gone and what a day! I really struggled with patience...again....and thankfully, it is a struggle and not something that I have no clue about. This does not make it any easier. I am tired of suppressing this feeling of irritation...even more tired that I am irritated at all. I know this comes from a place of selfishness and pride in me and my prayer is that God would pull it out by the roots...that I could be done with it for good. I hear it in my voice...I see it on their faces....they know that I am irritated. I don't like that I am like this and I want it to change. I want to love my kids with the pure love that God gives us. I want to be merciful as my heavenly Father is merciful. I want to express a kindness that is abled only by the Holy Spirit. I can't tell you how much I want this to change. Meek and mild....slow to anger...patient to a fault....I want this to be the description of me. I pray one day (soon:) that I will be able to tell of my victory over this....my God is so faithful! I know that He will finish this work He has started in me.


We started working on the math curriculum called Math-U-See. I am really excited about it. It's been suggested by many homeschoolers and I am certain that it is great just by going through the first lesson. I know it is going to be one of the ones we stick with through our time homeschooling.


I was searching through my friend, Anna Wood's blog, and came across another blog called the Berean Wife. Berean Wife had an interesting link that I hope to check out more called Keepers of the Faith. It's a site for teaching kids about godly character and practical life skills. I highly suggest checking it out. It looks so great!


***This morning in devotions, I read, again, in Acts 6 about Stephen. I was struck by the statement that was made about him there: "But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking." Please read it for yourself. I can't even put into words how this stirs me. 

This is a sermon I listened to today. 

A very good exhortation to press on with boldness for the Kingdom of God.

Where is your faith?

Why did Jesus still the storm? Imagine what the disciples might have been thinking a half-hour later.

*          *          *

The sea was quiet now. And there was just breeze enough to push the boat along.

The disciples were quiet too. Andrew was steering. He had taken over for Peter, who sat wrapped in a cloak, exhausted and lost in thought. He had been soaked to the skin. Others were bailing out the remaining water.

Jesus was sleeping again.

James leaned on the bow gunwale watching reflections dance on benign waves. He was trying to absorb what he had just seen.

James knew this sea. He and John had spent most of their lives on or in it. His father was a fisherman. So were most of his male kin and friends. His mind flashed the faces of some of them who had drowned in unpredictable Galilean windstorms like the one that had pummeled them barely a half-hour ago.

A seasoned boatman, James was not alarmed easily. But he knew a man-eater when he saw it. This storm had opened its mouth to swallow them all into the abyss......

Read more HERE

Withholding?

Fooling around with the camera on my iphone:)

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Phil.3:12-13) 

Yesterday was a pretty great day. Devotions, schoolwork, housework, laundry, and meals went off without a hitch. This is good...lol. 

Reese (4) really loves, and I mean LOVES, to paint and I have had issues with how to handle all her artwork. I do not want to hurt her feelings but there is just no way that I can keep it all. I decided yesterday that I would take pictures of them and save a few of the originals and maybe frame them. Maybe switching out one a week or a month...I think that sounds doable...I just need to convince her that this will work. I hope to put some on here too. I think she would really like that. 

I want to start taking more pictures of everyone. I love looking through photos and seeing how everyone is growing and changing.

***This morning in devotions, I read in Acts 5 about Ananias and Saphira. They had sold a field and kept a portion of the proceeds for themselves but claimed they had given the total amount. They had lied to the Holy Spirit and they both died because of it. This really struck me. How often do I claim to have given all but have kept something for myself? I am a living sacrifice. I am to be crucified with Christ. Is there anything that I am allowing of the flesh to continue living? This is something I will seek out an answer to in prayer. If you would, please do the same.  "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling..." 

I pray that our day will be filled with ambition and efficiency. That we would be prudent in all we do unto the glory and praise of Jesus Christ:)

Extravagant Worship and a Daily Routine

Devotions: Another day begins. I have had my 'daily bread' but will continue munching throughout the day...I know that sounds 'cheesy'...lol. I find praying difficult at times. I do sit and have a time for prayer, it just seems like in the morning I am more tired and my mind wanders easily. As the day proceeds, I find I pray more....I do want this to get better overall.  

***This morning in Matthew 26 (this is one of the 10 chapters from Horner's reading system) I read about the woman with the Alabaster Jar. She poured the perfume over Jesus head. This seemed to be an extravagant perfume if you judge the reactions of the disciple. It makes me think of how I worship. Is my worship extravagant? Do I bring my richest worship to Jesus Christ? This and the one of the woman who washed Jesus feet with her hair and tears are absolutely provoking. I want my worship to come from the depths of my heart, flowing through everything I do unto my Lord.

May integrity and uprightness preserve me,  for I wait for you. Psalm 25:21

Housework: I have so much laundry to catch up on and that is even with working on it already. My Jenna (2) has a bit of trouble with bed wetting and has snuck by without a pull-up/diaper twice now and I have ended up with bedding to wash. I need to stay on top of my daily chores. I have made a list and need to stick with it. I know that the Spirit is ever a constant help in God's children and I am planning to rely on Him FULLY today.

Schoolwork: I am finding that this is becoming more easy everyday. The kids are getting into the routine of it and even though there is still much protesting, I think they like it as much as I do. Our routine is breakfast/devotions, get dressed and do morning chores (make beds, clean playroom, put PJs away, clean off table), a Bible story from the Rod and Staff with a coloring page and then memory verse and pray, we do schoolwork(Math, copy work, language arts) until 10-10:30, have a snack and then proceed with working to 11:30 and then we exercise...this one gets left out lots and I mean to change that. We have lunch at 12pm when Dad comes home from work. Up til last week, I hadn't pushed school into the afternoon but I now do some Creation Science(this is a work in progress) and I would like to do some Arts and Crafts as well. We have been making an effort to get outside for a few minutes each day but right now it is extremely cold and so we haven't gone out this week. I am really open to suggestions on how to make things easier but I have to say that I am liking this system. The day is difficult if the kids are not wanting to do it but I don't feel that changing anything would change that.


Meals: I had intended to try a new recipe each week in this new year. That has not happened as of yet but it still is my plan. I will post whatever I make for you to try too if you like.


I pray that your day is productive and full of God's presence as you meet the tasks of the day.

Professor Horner's 10 Lists

“If your Bible is falling apart, you probably aren’t.” 

Your Bible is the only thing on Earth that, as you wear it out, will actually work better and better.

THE TEN LISTS:
List 1 (89 days)
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

List 2 (187 days)
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

List 3 (78 days)
Romans, I&II Cor, Gal, Eph, Phil, Col, Hebrews

List 4 (65 days)
I&II Thess, I&II Tim, Titus, Philemon, James, I&II Peter, I,II&III John, Jude, Revelation

List 5 (62 days)
Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon

List 6 (150 days)
Psalms

List 7 (31 days)
Proverbs

List 8 (249 days)
Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I&II Samuel, I&II Kings, I&II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther

List 9 (250 days)
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah,
Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

List 10 (28 days)
Acts

If you are wondering why you should read Acts (or Proverbs) all the way through *every single month* then
– you’ve just shown that you NEED to read them that much!

*Put these instructions in your Bible and review them from time to time*

SECRETS TO SUCCESS WITH THIS SYTEM:

• Read one chapter from each list each day, in one sitting or two. At the end of a book, go to the next book. At the end of the list – start it again. Do it in the order given above.
• Read quickly (without “speedreading”) in order to get the overall sense. Read as fast as you comfortably can with moderate retention. You’re not studying deeply or memorizing; shoot for 5-6 minutes per chapter. At the end of a chapter, move immediately to the next list.
• GET THROUGH THE TEXT – no dawdling, back-reading, looking up cross-references!
• There are different ‘kinds’ of reading: super-quick skimming, careful moderate-paced, studying the text, deep meditation. You should be between the first and second kind.
• Most people decrease their time spent and increase their retention after just two-three weeks! I now read and retain the entire text of Matthew in 35 minutes, Romans in 20, Genesis in *one hour*!
• Don’t look up anything you ‘don’t get’ – real understanding will come through contextualizing by reading a LOT of scripture over time. Get through the text!
• If you miss a day or two – ok, get over it, then keep going. Don’t cover yourself in sackcloth and ashes and quit! Move the bookmarks along, to find your place(s) quickly next day.
Heb 4:12&5:11-14; Eph 5:26&6:17; Col 3:16; 2 Tim 3:16; Ps 119; Ezra 8; Prov 3: 1-2, 10:14; Dan 1

*PLEASE* INVITE ALL THE CHRISTIANS YOU KNOW TO LOOK AT THIS GROUP — AS WELL AS ANYONE ELSE WHO’S THINKING ABOUT READING THE BIBLE, EVEN FOR THE FIRST TIME!

The goal of this sytem is simple, and twofold: To know scripture, and to love and obey God more!

Read more here

~Confession and Reflection~

Decided I need to be writing more here. This new year holds so many promises but the one that I treasure most....it seems like I have a second chance to have the best year ever. I love Jesus Christ. He is my hope and stay. He is my pearl of greatest price. He is my one and only desire for this life and the next. 


I am realizing more and more that I am not perfect and not even near it. I know that may seem a funny thing to say but as I am learning (and that is continuous), I am seeing that I have many things in my character that need to be taken care of, that need to be conformed to the image of Christ. I see how I still say things that are not completely truth and are not honoring to the Lord....this really troubles me. I see how I get angry and yell....I stay irritated and I can't seem to bring it under control. I am lazy. I let my housework go unfinished. I know these are not the most godly traits and I do not want to keep them. I avoid doing things...this is a shame to me because I feel like I let my husband down when I do this....for instance, I do not like to make 'business' phone calls. I hate it. Things that need to be done are put off because I do not like to do this. I am not saying all this for any other reason then that I mean to change these things by the grace of God. I am sure if I sat here I could tell you many, many more. I have prayed the prayer so many times "search my heart, O God, and see if there be any wicked way in me." He has and, there is. 


I see this new year as a clean start. I do not want to drag these things into another year. Can I change them immediately? That is a complicated answer because I believe I can change them one day at a time. To get up out of bed and leave those things at the Lord's feet with my anguish over my sin...I believe He will change me as I am faithful to do what I know is right. I can pray for Him to change me but if I sit here and stay doing exactly what I have always done, I know that I am not intending to change and so does He. Faith, without works, is dead. 


I am reading 10 chapters a day in the Bible...I love doing this....it is not a struggle for me. I love the time in the morning, sitting with the Lord....some mornings, I find myself begging God to come and be with me. I want Him ever nearer. I am in awe of how faithful He is to me even when I am so unfaithful. I am in awe of His love for me and His unlimited grace that He has offered to me. I want my life to reflect that I am grateful. I want my life to reflect that I am thankful. I want my life, by my actions, to reflect my love for Him. This is why I focus on the Proverbs 31 woman. I did not believe that I would be able to attain this standard but I believed that God could do that work in me, I still do. I hope to share this journey as I pursue Christ, as I set my sights on Him, as I love Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and love my neighbor (my family, my friends, strangers) as myself. May He bless us both with conforming me to His image, for His glory and for your encouragement and in answer to my prayers.