The Sensational and Uncommon Life of the Kilpatrick Family

Vote Rick Santorum!

2012-01-31T17:00:00.000-08:00

http://www.ricksantorum.com/

Learn more about Rick, his history as a legislator and his stance on critical issues by downloading our PDF "Rick Santorum: A Champion of Traditional American Values."
Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1990 at the age of 32, and from 1995 to 2007, served in the US Senate. In 2000, he was elected by his peers to the position of Senate Republican Conference Chairman.
Senator Santorum became one of the most successful government reformers in our history, taking on Washington's powerful special interests from the moment he arrived in our nation's Capitol. Along with John Boehner and Jim Nussle, Senator Santorum was a member of the famous "Gang of Seven" that exposed the Congressional Banking and Congressional Post Office scandals. It was this record of reform that prompted a Washington Post reporter to write in a recent article that "Santorum was a tea party kind of guy before there was a tea party."
He was also an author and floor manager of the landmark Welfare Reform Act which passed in 1996 that has empowered millions of Americans to leave the welfare rolls and enter the workforce.
Senator Santorum wrote and championed legislation that outlawed the heinous procedure known as Partial Birth Abortion as well as the "Born Alive Infants Protection Act," the "Unborn Victims of Violence Act," and the "Combating Autism Act" because he believes each and every individual has value and the most vulnerable in our society need to be protected.
Senator Santorum fought to maintain fiscal sanity in Washington before it was in fashion, fighting for a balanced budget and a line item veto. He bravely proposed reforming entitlements, cutting spending and even developed a "spendometer" that added up the cost of Democrat amendments to spending bills. This record made him one of the most conservative senators in Pennsylvania's history.
He served eight years on the Senate Armed Services Committee where he led the fight before the attacks of September 11th, 2001 to transform our military from a Cold War force to meet today's threats. He was a leader on US-Israeli relations, authoring both the "Syria Accountability Act" and the "Iran Freedom and Support Act" which he successfully fought to pass in spite of initial opposition by President Bush.
An accomplished author, Senator Santorum penned the 2005 New York Times Best Seller It Takes a Family.
But of all his accomplishments, Rick is most proud of his role as a husband and father. Rick and his wife of 21 years, Karen, are the parents of seven wonderful children: Elizabeth, John, Daniel, Sarah Maria, Peter, Patrick and Isabella.

Compromises

2012-01-28T09:23:00.000-08:00

“You cannot coddle, counsel, or compromise the flesh;you cannot do it. The only way to deal with the flesh is to crucify it. You will never defeat what your willing to live with.” Doug Small

Interesting as the Lord has been teaching Keith and I MUCH about any willingness we have to compromise. We are so willing, in our flesh, to live with depravity and excuse varying forms of it either in those around us or ourselves. We must also excuse it if it is a secret delight or something we just wish we could do and not feel guilty.

We find many subtle ways to excuse the flesh and say to ourselves, "I was not doing anything wrong." Overtime we even believe and justify the fact we were not doing anything "wrong". I have a little quote that hangs on our wall at home that we refer to often and though it is not a Bible quote I think it is still very true: "The easiest person to deceive is ourselves."

I often wondered how someone may get to the level to "excuse" things that God obviously says are wrong (even among professing Christians). Those who live a life that I would say is inspiring and yet hold on to a blatant sin or excuse a past sin or others. I think the very subtle way ANYONE can get themselves there to ANY level is a simple thing called compromise. We sear our very conscience toward our heavenly father when we begin to compromise...the thing is we are sometimes blind to the fact it is happening.

To compromise is to set our affections on something that is contrary to the Lord. This is the very essence of the 1st commandment and a very subtle way we break it.."Thou shalt have no other God's before me."

I know for me I have watched some movies to "see" if they were "family friendly" only to discover that almost 90% of films are not....now as a parent it is true I need to put a hedge of protection around my little ones and make sure they are not searing their conscience...but at the same time not pollute my own ability to see God and stay on the right path OR I become a hypocrite. When I fail and watch more films then I should or excuse one "for me" that is not "that bad", but would not wish them to see then believe me they know I am living that double life and in bigger degrees they will do the same.."What the parents do in moderation the children will do in excess." This quote is very true!!!

So in attempting to live my life true toward God I call on those around me who know me best to hold me accountable. I therefore have adopted in my life not watching any films that I do not tell my husband about and my children as they do not excuse hypocrisy in my life. They challenge my decision and help me to stay focused.

I also realized that I was choosing to watch the films more and more as Keith is away often and it can fill in the loneliness at the end of the day. I understand now that my heavenly father would wish me to run to him rather to to a movie to get relief at the end of a trying day! If I seek anything else that would mean that I am running to it rather then to God to get from it ONLY what God can give.

¹³He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

¹⁴Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

Proverbs 28

Election Year 2012--Our Thoughts!

2012-01-21T13:49:00.000-08:00

As we gear up for yet another election year we are seeing the signs (literally) everywhere! We have, as I think, most Americans desired that we have a godly man with virtue whose desire was to do what is best for our country in the fear of the Lord to run the country. Because of our desires and "concerns" we can be exhausted in our search for who to support for public office.....even if we support someone to public office they may not make it past the primaries then yet comes yet another decision as who is best to support. Rather then become down or fearful I have seen so much positive in this years election...crazy I know, but stay with me!

As we drive around I notice many signs advertising home based businesses. We have also noticed many building being leased as there is an eager pursuit to established many small and family run businesses...I understand the reasons as many have found employment near impossible to find, jobs being cut, being required more and more from one person as they cut more and more people as the bigger businesses seek to cut their overhead due to a decrease in spending and debts. More and more people are attempting to live within their means and cut debt. This is not bad...unless you are a mega business that runs on debt and uses others money to make your payments ect....this is good! As God's word tells us..."The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender."

That would bring us to the federal deficit......Americans owe and if you believe God's word to be true then we are a servant to the lender.....what happens when we can not pay....what happens if others fail to pay us...Europe's crisis should be a wake up call and we should NOT be so focused on ourselves, but on our future and the name of Christ!

We see that big corporate America has taken over and the small business man does not even threaten them as competition...this throws customer service out the window and right checks and balance systems set up at our founding in the dust as ancient irrelevant text...but are they???? Was not our country established as a Christian nation? Do the scriptures no longer apply? I beg to differ...scriptures are not only for the past but have great application for today!

A personal example we can offer to this dilemma in our country followed our Christmas celebration. For Christmas this year all kids old enough to ride bikes got new bikes! We knew we needed 6 of them and looked high and low for the best deals and selection. Due to time and our needs we settled on Toys R Us. We felt confident that if any "issues" arose from our purchase we could return the new bikes---our whole reason for buying new rather then good used bikes!

Since these bikes were a gift we purchased one week before Christmas and did not take the kids with us.....all the bikes were fine except for one. Rather then go into a deeply long issue the design of the bike was poor and used a plastic piece rather then durable metal ...due to this vital part the bike would ride for maybe 30 mins and then slip and make it unable to be ridden....and we repaired ourselves once, but feared it would continue and eventually if we continued to repair we would break the piece, so we felt it best to return ASAP so ensure we had "warranty" on our product. I checked the receipt for their policy on returns and saw nothing prohibiting the return and it had only been ridden for about 30 mins total time.

We made a time to return the bike and hooked up the trailer for a 45 minute drive to return the bike. We walked into the store and told them the issue. The manager insisted that they repair the bike....Keith explained that the bike could be repaired, but the fault was in that the plastic piece would just slip again and we did not care for the design and would rather pick out another bike. The manager refused and said that the policy was that once a bike had been ridden it was considered used and therefore they could not take it back. I was amazed the bike only had a bit of dirt on the tires but other then that it was in mint condition! We had had the bike 14 days and had the original receipt showing that we purchased several bikes and they were for Christmas.

Amazed at this policy I wrote the company an email and here was the response:
Recently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support
center. Below is a summary of your request and our response.

Subject
---------------------------------------------------------------
Re: Returns

Discussion Thread
---------------------------------------------------------------
Response - 01/04/2012 04:33 PM
Dear Anita Kilpatrick:

Thank you for your inquiry regarding our return policy. We will gladly accept returns within 90 days of the purchase date on most items sold at any "R" Us store in the U.S or Puerto Rico. Simply return it within 90 days of purchase,with your receipt and original packaging. Items must be returned unused and with the original packaging and since the bike you are returning as you stated in the original email your daughter rode it we will not be able to return the Bike for you because it was in fact used. Please note that "R" Us stores reserve the right to refuse a refund.

We will accept returns within 45 days of the purchase date on the following products: Video games / accessories / systems, computer software, VHS, DVD, music, electronics, radio control,trading cards and collectibles. The original receipt is required for a refund or exchange and the item must be returned in it’s unopened, factory sealed package. If the item has been opened, it can only be exchanged for an identical item.

You can also find more information about our return policy on our corporate website at www.toysrusinc.com. Thank you, once again, for contacting the "R" Us Family.

Sincerely,
Chey 2803
Corporate Guest Relations

Customer (Anita Kilpatrick) - 01/04/2012 04:55 AM
I did have the original reciept and purchased the bike assembled and therefore had no pack material to return other then the bike itself.
Is that still the policy if I had the original reciept?
I was returning in less then 14 days of purchase.
Please advise?

--- On Wed, 1/4/12, Customer Support wrote:

From: Customer Support
To: kilpatrick.family@yahoo.com
Date: Wednesday, January 4, 2012, 4:10 AM

Response - 01/03/2012 10:10 PM
Dear Anita Kilpatrick,

Thank you for taking the time to share your comments with us regarding our return policy. Unfortunately, the store was following the policy as it is required to do. All returns and exchanges must be accompanied by a receipt, be within in the set timeframe, and have all the original packaging. Please visit the link below for more information on our return policy.http://www1.toysrus.com/guest/storPoliGuarantees.cfm

We value all your feedback, positive and negative, as it helps us to understand how our guests feel and gives us an opportunity to evaluate any possible issues. Hearing from you has helped us to do just that. Again, we appreciate your feedback, and look forward to serving you again in the future!

Sincerely,
Chey 2803
Corporate Guest Relations

The “R”Us Team

Customer (REMOVE THIS CONTACT CHANGE THIS CONTACT) - 01/02/2012 10:25 AM
Dear Valued Guest,

Thank you for contacting RUs.com. I have forwarded your email to the
appropriate team for their prompt review, and you may expect a response
from a Guest Service Specialist within 3 to 5 business days.

Thank you again for contacting RUs.com. We value your business and look
forward to serving you in the future!

Sincerely,

Guest Service Teamwww.ToysRUs.com (800) ToysRUs / (800) 869-7787www.BabiesRUs.com (888) BabyRUs / (888) 222-9787
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!!

Original Message Follows:
------------------------

To: customer-service@toysrus.com

From: kilpatrick.family@yahoo.com

Order Number:

Name: Anita Kilpatrick

Phone Number: 804-966-5410

Wrote: Is it the policy of Toys R US on bikes to NOT allow returns..that
they consider them like cars and you are NOT allowed to ride them and
return them (even if it is within 14 days of purchase)?

I was told by a manager that when we returned the bike (Christmas gift
--I bought 1 week before Christmas and returned one week after Christmas
so 2 weeks) that we would have to allow them to try to fix the bike and
come back in like 2 days to pickup and if it broke a second time we
could see if they could issue a refund.

We drive 40 miles one way to store and I would not have purchase all 6
bikes from there for Christmas if that was the policy!

The bike, we purchased, has white wheels and we live on a dirt road so
it did have dirt on the tires when we returned...as my daughter had to
try it out. WE felt the bike had a design flaw (plastic sprocket and it
kept slipping out--even after you would put it back in after she would
ride about 30 mins and therefore it would not ride).

We wanted to return the bike for another model as we felt this one was
flawed (in design) but we were told we could NOT do that....???? Is this
true?

Thanks,

Anita Kilpatrick

[---001:003973:00119---]

Okay, so much for "the customer is always right" huh? This use to be the ethic by which businesses survived...I can not count how many times our orders for food were wrong and they refused to offer refunds or correct the issue...although there has been some good ones as well....this is where our smaller run businesses can really challenge the big business and offer some healthly competition, but if government always bails out our overspending big cooperation's then there is no healthy economy!

After this issue I have resolved to always check return policies and get them in writing!

Soon after this issue we went down to our local social security's office to get a card for one of our children (agree or disagree here), but this is only one child and most of the others I did not even file get the card...most hospitals have a policy to send off for the cards. Since only one child does not have a card we took the birth certificate, hospital proof of birth, our ID's and proper forms down to the office. This was after repeated attempts to get through the mail and getting the information page from the SS Office to make sure we had ALL documents needed.

After waiting over 1 hour at the office and watching most people become frustrated and leave with no resolve for what they came there for...it was now our turn. I was confident that these others had NOT read the information and failed to bring what was needed. I knew I had taken a couple of weeks to gather all the documents and go over the SS check list. When we made our way to the window and presented the package of information we were told we would have to go down to the DMV and get a photo ID issued by the state and bring it to the SS Office then we could apply for the card...the birth certificate is not proof of identity (now we are dealing with a minor NOT close to 18). When I asked what we would need to get a photo ID for the child they said, A" birth certificate. " Okay, I am no braniac, but that seems an unnecessary step....why the need to use a birth certificate to get a ID to get a SS card--when a birth certificate is not enough proof to the SS card office.

They also wanted us to send --through the US mail our military ID's to show proof of our ID. Keith informed them that is a federal offense and the lady with the SS office argued that she worked there and it was not....hmmmmm???? What does this mean...

Your Military Identification Card is government
property. It is your responsibility to maintain your military identification card on your person at all times and report its loss
or theft to the proper authorities immediately. Your negligent behavior has jeopardized the security of our military
installation as well as the security of military installations around the world. You are required to report the loss of your
Identification Card to the Provost Marshall and the ID card section of the PSB to have another Military Identification Card
re-issued immediately.

You are here by notified that if this type of conduct continues, actions may be initiated under the Uniform Code of Military
Justice to separate you from the Army prior to your scheduled ETS Date IAW AR 635-200. If you are involuntary
separated, you could receive an Honorable Discharge, a General (Under Honorable Conditions) Discharge, or a Under
Other Than Honorable Conditions Discharge. If you receive a discharge Under Other Than Honorable Conditions, you will
be ineligible for reenlistment and for most benefits, including payments of accrued leave, transitional benefits, the
Montgomery GI Bill, VA benefits, and You may also face difficulty in obtaining civilian employment.

Any member of the armed forces who, without proper authority; (1) sells or otherwise
disposes of: (2) willfully or through neglect damages, destroys, sells, or loses military property; may be punished under article 108.

We are counseled over and over on this issue...if we sent our Drivers Licence we could not legally drive...which was somewhat suggested to us to "try" and countless others do it. Has anyone read the back of their Drivers License? They claim this is what you must do but you could face serious consequnces if you do as they instruct???? Seems like a break in our system...I amazingly had an idea to cut spending...eliminate unnecessary steps like the ID and use the same form they will (ie, a birth certificate) to allow us to get a SS card....

I know that may eliminate some government jobs, but here is a question...is the government really helping us by supplying employment and creating jobs or making us dependent? Does this create a society with a good work ethic or lazy, slothful, uncaring people who want the most pay for the least work...and this question from military family???????

Don't fear we will soon be there on the front with you as Keith retires from military service and enters this unfamiliar ground of the civilian work! However, even in the military they are told to hurry spend all their allotted funds to "justify" their jobs and to write countless papers to "justify" them as well.....I can not imagine this system is different on the outside!

With this sort of system and dependency we have created a HUGE federal deficit that if NOT fixed our children will inherit and become slaves to someone.....

Here is my novel idea and one I plan on writing to my elected officials this year....(I will of course consider wording ect...)

I would willing consider voting for ANY candidate who donated their campaign funds to the federal deficit and I feel I am NOT alone in this. I hear that Obama has raised almost 1 billion dollars in campaign funds. This amount applied to our debt would be a HUGE help. I seriously do not think he would have to worry about a lack of media as that would be uncommonly noble and I think would catch the eye of media. This sort of noble deed would also prove that he is worthy of such an office as he is to lead for the good of our country and to be an example to the world of "Americans" and what we stand for and should not be desired for employment or pay. Although some men seek fame and fortune we are needing noble men to serve and I wonder who is noble? We are to be leaders NOT followers and we should be showing the world the best approach to life! A elected official MUST live a higher level as they are to be examples to all and inspiration to the future generations...the current trend has not produced this sort of nobleness and must be weighed. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results....it simply must change! How about we give the majority of the working class of American people the voice rather then the bailed out corporations who helped get us here? How about learning to think in the future rather then the present?

I will support ANY noble man who seeks rather then his own good the good of the nation....where is such a man?

A Great Post To Note!

2012-01-18T02:56:00.000-08:00

"Stop your fretting. The future does not depend on you. It depends on the One on whom you depend."

RC Sproul Jr.

Go here for GREAT reads!

Familial Curses?

2012-01-17T12:56:00.000-08:00

To read go here!

"God tells us in Exodus 20 that He will visit “the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,” (verse 5). That might settle the issue, but then God also told us this, “In those days they shall say no more: ‘ The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children’s teeth are set on edge.’” (Jeremiah 31:29). Does this mean that there was, in the old covenant, familial curses, and that in the new they no longer exist? I think not....."

Favorite Quote This Year!

2012-01-10T17:20:00.000-08:00

"Heaven is not for those that know their good enough, it's for those who know they are not."
----Tom Harmon

^3"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matt.5:3

Ringing in the New Year!

2012-01-01T12:56:00.000-08:00

Last night we rang in the year 2012!!!! I can hardly imagine that it is 2012 already!!! Where did all this time go and how much of that time have I neglected to redeem? The children are getting older and I know there are precious few Christmas and New Years celebrations with all of them at home----sniff...sniff!!!

Anyway, we rang in the New Year in typical Kilpatrick fashion. First we started by taking down the old Christmas ornaments off the tree before New Years arrived and adding to the tree New Years ornaments, streamers, hats, noisemakers, and balloons! We like to get the most out of the work to put them up!!!

Next, we sat out the food for our annual Kilpatrick sandwich and finger food banquet! This year we had all manner of sandwiches, chips and dips, egg rolls, and desserts! Yumm and boy were we full by nights end!

We try to find games that all can play and this year we included charades, pictionary (Kilpatrick version), and a scavenger hunt (mom won yeah)! Mom had the most fun I think!

We tried to ring in the New Year with each of the differing time zones (except the ones PAST our time). We missed some, but made the rest!!! We tried to include in our banquet things that would represent each of these areas!

When the count down came for our New Year Dad loaded the gun to fire the annual New Years shots in the air and the kids armed themselves with all sorts of confetti noise poppers!!!! We had glow sticks ect...and Joshua honked the horn.....I think we started a chain reaction through here and MANY others were shooting and honking as well!!! After the year was rung in and a fast sweep through we went to get ready for bed and meet in Mom and Dad's room!!!

After everyone met we read our Proverbs and cleared any offences that might have occurred during the day (as is our custom). After reading and clearing we shared one thing that we wished or resolved to do for this New Year 2012!

Dad also had a card that he signed that was in the movie Courageous and is called the resolution....he signed it on New Years Day officially 2012 just after midnight with John and Hannah as witnesses. For those interested the Resolution states:

I do solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children. I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home. I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me. I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength. I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly. I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy. I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion. I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family. I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged. I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God. I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will. I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15.

You can purchase these as well at CBD!

Well, that sums up our celebration may the Lord bless and keep each of you this new year!

HAPPY 2012!!!

Blog Heading

2011-11-07T21:56:00.000-08:00

I had to rewrite my title as my oldest son did not want to imply that our family has a "crazy" life. After listening to him I decided on the above heading!!!

"The Sensational and Uncommon Life of the Kilpatrick Family"

2011-11-07T20:03:00.000-08:00

As a mama I learn something new everyday.....mostly I learn how much I have yet to learn!

Today, my Esther, taught a friend and myself her meaning of a word.

"Wookie" = cookie

Now, how cute is that?????? "Mama, can I have a wookie?" Thinking there is no way I can say no to that...especially since that just means she wants a graham cracker!

I LOVE these stages!

Lord, please help me to learn to enjoy each and every moment!

No Time!

2011-10-31T15:27:00.000-07:00

I know I have had no time to write, call, or blog!!! Life is FULL of well.....life and I could not imagine it ANY other way!

Queen Esther

2011-10-25T16:36:00.000-07:00

Cutest queen I ever saw!

1,000 Words to Hubby

2011-10-20T14:17:00.000-07:00

A picture is worth 1,000 words?????

Nathaniel

2011-10-04T08:50:00.001-07:00

29 Weeks and Counting Down!

2011-07-17T13:42:00.001-07:00

I seem rather large and out front to me!!! Healthy baby boy!!!

Mom and Baby Nate!

Marriage is.....

2011-06-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

MAR'RIAGE, n. [L.mas, maris.] The act of uniting a man and woman for life; wedlock; the legal union of a man and woman for life. Marriage is a contract both civil and religious, by which the parties engage to live together in mutual affection and fidelity, till death shall separate them.

Marriage was instituted by God himself for the purpose of preventing the promiscuous intercourse of the sexes, for promoting domestic felicity,and for securing the maintenance and education of children.

Marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled. Heb.13.

1. A feast made on the occasion of a marriage.
The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who made a marriage for his son. Matt.22.

2. In a scriptural sense, the union between Christ and his church by the covenant of grace. Rev.19.

Noah Says...
God's Word, contained in the Bible, has furnished all necessary rules to direct our conduct.

Noah Says...
An attempt to conduct the affairs of a free government with wisdom and impartiality, and to preserve the just rights of all classes of citizens, without the guidance of Divine precepts, will certainly end in disappointment. God is the supreme moral Governor of the world He has made, and as He Himself governs with perfect rectitude, He requires His rational creatures to govern themselves in like manner. If men will not submit to be controlled by His laws, He will punish them by the evils resulting from their own disobedience.
Letter to David McClure :: October 25, 1837

Did You Know?
Ben Franklin used Noah's book, A Grammatical Institute of the English Language, to teach his granddaughter to read.

Noah Says...
In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed.. .No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.

Studies

2011-06-25T22:48:00.000-07:00

1. Suffering can be God’s loving reminder that we have violated His ways: “it is
good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes” (Psalm
119:71).

2. Suffering can be motivation for spiritual growth: “But the God of all grace, who
hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a
while, make you perfect, stablished, strengthen, settle you” (I Peter 5:10).

3. Suffering is preparation for future leadership: “If we suffer, we shall also reign
with him…” (II Timothy 2:12).

4. Suffering also forces us to stop sinning: “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered
for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath
suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin” (I Peter 4:1).

5. Lastly, suffering is also God’s way of drawing others to Himself: “For Christ
also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to
God…” (IPeter 3:18).

This is our calling when another person offends us.

Resolving Conflicts

God made each one of us with His infinite love and creativity. Our
unchangeable physical features and family features are designed by God
to develop His character in our lives and to build His message through our
lives. (Isaiah 45:9, 10; Psalms 139:14-17)

Turning Bitterness into forgiveness enables us to resolve internal conflicts.
We normally have about 6-7 areas of conflict in life. When we are not experiencing
conflicts our primary goal should be the diligent study and
application of scriptural principles.

One of the most basic human needs is intimate fellowship
with others. When we try to fulfill this need without knowing
or following the freedoms and responsibilities on each level
of friendship, a host of life-long conflicts results, and we miss
the necessary experience of developing genuine friendships.

To make application for turning bitterness into forgiveness we first
must understand what it means to fully forgive and release an offender
emotionally.

Pardon requires authority to cancel consequences (eg., if
someone kills a member of your family, you could forgive
the person, but you will not be able to pardon the person and
provide). Being able to forgive does not give the authority to
pardon.
To fully forgive we must see an offenders needs and apply
God’s solutions

To fully forgive we must want God to benefit an offenders
life.

Understanding forgiveness free’s God to reward us
unexpectedly.

*Personal comment: People who are bitter don’t know it. They call it by different names (i.e., deeply hurt, disappointed etc.), but it is like a poison that destroys a persons life.

A Email ...

2011-06-24T11:43:00.000-07:00

This email was kindly sent to us: a solider and his wife!!!

Even if you do not agree with the "politics" of this nation it really never hurts to say thank you to a solider and veteran....they are willing to lay down their lives....as my husband says, "If you are not willing to die for America you really do not need to be in the military." This is a harsh reality for a wife!

You know how many "thank yous" we get...precious few...most people take it for granted and complain about the problems of government.

As being military we really grieve when people tell us ALL the wrongs of the government....we KNOW...that is not the issue...the issue is there are men dying for the freedom to say those words and never do we once say, "Thanks!" If you are Christian how about grieving over those that gave their lives for your freedom that are unsaved? How about praying for the soldiers? How about showing gratitude and serving them?

To MY two biggest heros on this earth: My wonderful husband Keith who sacrifices everyday and my loving Daddy who always has a hug ready!!!! Thank you both!!!!!

____________________________________________________________________________________________Email

As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart of groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door open.

The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away in my car, and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty five feet away.

I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm walking towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too, and took a few steps towards him.

I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something. The young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade. He then turned back to the old man. I heard him yell at the old gentleman saying:

"You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age."
And then with a wave of his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot.

I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief, and mop his brow as he went back to his car and again looked at the engine.

He then went to his wife and spoke with her; he appeared to tell her it would be okay. I had seen enough, and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight, and as I got near him I said, 'Looks like you're having a problem.'

He smiled sheepishly, and quietly nodded h is head. I looked under the hood myself, and knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me. Looking around, I saw a gas station up the road, and I told the old man that I would be right back. I drove to the station and I went inside. I saw three attendants working on cars. I approached one of them, and related the problem the old man had with his car. I offered to pay them if they could follow me back down and help him.

The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and appeared to be comforting his wife When he saw us he straightened up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics diagnosed the problem (overheated engine), I spoke with the old gentleman.

When I shook hands with him earlier, he had noticed my Marine Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual question, 'What outfit did you serve with?'

He had mentioned that he served with the first Marine Division at Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal .

He had hit all the big ones and retired from the Corps after the war was over. As we talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the old man reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me. I told him I would just put the bill on my AAA card.

He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had his name and address on it and I stuck it in my pocket. We all shook hands all around again, and I said my goodbye's to his wife.

I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the station. Once at the station, I told them that they had interrupted their own jobs to come along with me and help the old man. I said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused to charge me

One of them pulled out a card from his pocket, looking exactly like the card the old man had given to me. Both of the men told me then that they were Marine Corps Reserves. Once again we shook hands all around and as I was leaving, one of them told me I should look at the card the old man had given to me. I said I would and drove off.

For some reason I had gone about two blocks, when I pulled over and took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his name was written: 'Congressional Medal of Honor Society.'

I sat there motionless, looking at the card and reading it over and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled that on this day, four Marines had all come together because one of us needed help. He was an old man all right, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage, and an honor to have been in his presence. Remember, OLD men like him gave you FREEDOM for America . Thanks to those who served and still serve, and to all of those who supported them, and who continue to support them.

America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the Mall. If you don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to stand in front of them!

Remember, Freedom IS NOT free. Thousands have paid the price, so you can enjoy what you have today.

LET'S DO THIS: JUST 19 WORDS:

GOD OUR FATHER, WALK THROUGH MY HOUSE AND TAKE AWAY ALL MY WORRIES; AND PLEASE WATCH OVER AND HEAL MY FAMILY; AND PLEASE PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS, AND WATCH OVER OUR TROOPS, WHO ARE DEFENDING THOSE FREEDOMS. AMEN.

I am Finally Back!

2011-06-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

I know it has been since March since I wrote and now it is the middle of June. I wrote during my sickness with this little one till I could write no more!

To catch up on our family:

Keith is on deployment and at present today was in Naples Italy! He left well over a month ago....

I had an ultrasound and we saw we are having another little boy!!! How exciting after the last couple girls...I think everyone at first was thinking girl, but we were very joyful to hear the news a little boy will join our family!

We have decided to name him Nathaniel Christopher which means God has gifted us a Christ bearer....we LOVE the name and I can not wait to see his little face!!!

We are doing summer school with the kids so we can take a longer then usual fall break when I expect my parents to visit and Nathaniel to come into the world....

Keith and I have been reading together lately--though we are miles apart and below we are sharing some of our study--ENJOY!! To get more studies like these visit here.

Conquer the Fear of Loneliness!

I was stunned when a friend informed me that his 60-year-old mother was packing her bags and moving to England to marry a man whom she had never met, never talked to, and had never even seen. I asked, “Is she rational?” He said, “Absolutely!” I asked, “How did this happen?” He explained that she had met him on the Internet, and although their communication with each other had been only through e-mails, they had formed a deep bond that was extraordinary.

There is no doubt that loneliness is a powerful force in the lives of many people. It can be a positive thing if we respond to it correctly. Often, a feeling of “emptiness” motivates a person to recognize a void in his life and begin seeking for an intimate and personal relationship with God through salvation. This is fitting, because the ultimate reality of loneliness is eternal separation from God.
Loneliness is the result of not having anyone with whom we can share our innermost thoughts and feelings.

For the believer, fear of loneliness can be conquered by remembering the truth that we are never really alone. God has promised “… I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). When we experience times of loneliness, we should use them as an opportunity to “draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you …” (James 4:8). We have an incredible friend in the Lord Jesus Christ, Who “sticketh closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).

Loneliness becomes a “friend” when it motivates us to seek the fellowship of God as much as we would seek the fellowship of others.
In addition to recognizing God’s desire to draw us closer to Himself, we need to see loneliness as His signal to also cultivate meaningful relationships with other people. God wants the members of the body of Christ to be interdependent and to share a oneness with each other (see Romans 12:5). Although Adam had an intimate relationship with the Lord, God still stated, “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18).

I know many lonely individuals who are around people all day long. Therefore, the solution for loneliness is not simply being around people, but it is enjoying the heart-to-heart fellowship that is a part of discipleship. When we reach out to others by discipling them for the Lord, we will experience the same fulfillment that the Apostle Paul spoke of when he referred to his disciples as his “joy and crown” (Philippians 4:1).

Let’s use loneliness to our advantage by allowing it to drive us closer to God and motivate us to look for those whom He would want us to disciple. For your journal entry this week, ask each member of your family what types of fears they have. Then, discuss with them the practical steps to deal with those fears, and record the results of their actions. As you do this, you will be discipling them and cultivating some of the most meaningful relationships God has given you!

Parents Are Called Delusional Suckers

2011-03-06T16:06:00.000-08:00

Put out March 4th in Time Magazine an article praised by many (that are on the increase) who have no children. From the article, if you fell into the delusion of having children you must justify your decision by making false assumptions on their being ANY joy. Here is a part of that article...

"All parents know that having kids is a blessing — except when it's a nightmare of screaming fits, diapers, runny noses, wars over bedtimes and homework and clothes. To say nothing of bills too numerous to list. Some economists have argued that having kids is an economically silly investment; after all, it's cheaper to hire end-of-life care than to raise a child. Now comes new research showing that having kids is not only financially foolish but that kids literally make parents delusional."

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/03/04/why-having-kids-is-foolish/#ixzz1FrrpM5Ym

Rights of Parents or Government

2011-02-28T17:22:00.000-08:00

My connection is so slow today. I can not seem to download the video here, so I encourage you to visit on your rights as parents and grandparents!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMFoD88LxlI

A Post to Note

2011-02-20T09:58:00.000-08:00

I was reading through some blog posts and I came across this must read....here is a powerful snippet below!

We have to stop seeing marriage as something we do and start seeing it as something we are. Women today are deeply offended by the idea of finding their identity in marriage; whereas the women of yesteryear were deeply honored by it. Today’s liberated woman believes that was oppression at its worst, and seeks now to include marriage in her plans to further herself and find fulfillment, but never to “lose herself” to a husband, because finding your identity in marriage most assuredly means losing oneself.

But wait…doesn’t the Bible say,

the two shall become one

Yes it does…a perfect, harmonious melding of two very gifted, very different souls into one very gifted, very unique union.

A Web Site to Recommend

2011-02-16T14:00:00.000-08:00

We have lots of very special friends in Virginia and I would like to recommend a web site run by one of them (and they feature other families we love very much on their web site). They sell hand made goods on their website from local families that do an excellent job!!!! Visit them here.

News to Share and a Website to Recommend

2011-02-05T14:26:00.000-08:00

The Lord is ALWAYS blessing me more then I deserve in this life. I have been given the gift of beautiful family that I adore...as we continue on our walk with the goal to grow ever closer to the Lord and conform more into His image He continues to bless us in mighty ways we do not deserve....

He blesses us with the ability to meet our bills each month...though we have not always followed His ways.

He blesses us with knowledge from His word.

He blesses us by hearing our prayers and answering them in sometimes amazing or unusual fashion and they are all exceedingly abundantly more!

He has given us a home in which to live and food to eat...maybe even too much of both!

He has given us privacy with placing us in the woods to be able to see the beauty of His creation!

He has given us children and more children and is now continuing to bless the fruit of the womb.

Yes, if you caught all the above blessings we are being blessed by another child. The Lord indeed gives us more then we ever could ask.

Please pray that mama and all children will be well as Daddy will soon be off to a deployment and will miss the birth of this arrow. We trust the Lord's provision, protection, direction, and timing as He knows the beginning and the end and can see what we can not.

I hope you will join us in rejoicing at the blessing that this new child is to Him!

Please visit AnotherBlessing.com (see side bar)

Due around October 1st, 2011

Productive Time

2011-01-26T09:25:00.000-08:00

Though Keith has been away MOST of the time we have learned that in these times of "trials" there is also much productivity. Times of long separations for families bring many kinds of struggles, but also can bring a time for the Lord to refine and try you and your family. These times can help build faith that is "unshakable" and seen in your children when you feel there are times you will "faint in the day of adversity."

I have learned through these times that it is not always necessary to be physically close to have a oneness (although it is a HUGE benefit and blessing don't get me wrong). I have learned that oneness is developed by both being in agreement with God in several key areas...and a diligence in heart to seek truth in scripture.

We have been lead to a study of several scriptures week after week and sometimes daily...it has caused us to spend many hours seeking the deeper and richer meaning of His words by simply asking Him to reveal His richer context and looking into other scripture, customs of the day, terms, ect.. He has been so faithful to answer my desire for his word that I may become strengthened.

As I realized the long hours of study, memorization, and need for meditation I at first began to feel overwhelmed. How can I possibly fit that in to my already long and busy schedule, but seeing it's importance and fruit knew this was necessary for my children and their children, for a strong home, for my own struggles, and to be able to pray as I ought. It probably seems rather easy to most of you, but was a HUGE struggle for me....

The Lord took me first to the verses found in Proverbs 24:30-34

"I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of a man void of understanding; and lo, it was grown over with thorns and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stonewall thereof had broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man."

I pondered this verse for sometime as I have read it many times and have understood it to mean just what it says--don't be lazy right??? Sure it says that but why would the Lord lead me there? To something I have read many times over and over...what was the deeper meaning.

I began thinking what the person who "considered it" had learned...what instruction did he receive other then to work hard?

Then in the context of my need I saw what the Lord was telling me...if I was not diligent and did not put forth the hard work that would take to seek God then I would become (and had become) as the slothful man. The wall that had broken down was used to protect his garden and fruits...he has little to no protection if he did not put forth the work.

I considered as well the diligence it takes to keep a garden...staying on top of those weeds and the plowing, planting, watering, protecting, and care that it takes to have a successful harvest. The work that sometimes is required to be done over and over again and how if we feel overwhelmed we can be overtaken and probably, as this description may sugges,t we just "give up." It is too hard and we simply can not do it.

Memorizing several verses each week and then digging deeper into their meaning--while also allowing God's spirit to direct you to other verses takes much work...but that work is needed as we know if we are His we WILL be challenged and tested.

"If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small."

To faint is to become depressed or low in spirits. Adversity indicates an event or series of events that may keep you from feeling successful or take away your desires..your testing or trial.

Your strength is like that wall...used as protection of your heart and ultimately your soul... you can not fight Satan or may not be able to (small chance) if your strength or fortification is small.

Consider in the biblical times how massive were there walls used for defence? They had many people that built homes in and on them...they held chariot races on top.

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that that asketh recieveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

We just simply ask, seek, and knock...God will answer His children. We must put forth the work...believe it or not even children can be brought alongside on your journey and seeking.

"When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his good are in peace: But when a stronger then he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. He that is not with me is against me and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house from whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and take to him seven other spirits more wicked then himself and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse then the first...yea rather blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it." (found in Luke 11)

In order to keep your heart we must be a strong armed man..ready. This reminds me of when Nehemiah built the wall again around Jerusalem they were always armed, guarded, and watching. If we let down our guard and become downcast "faint" when adversity comes then our strength is small...also notice in Luke 11 even the armor is taken.

"...giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue (morals), and to virtue knowledge (clear understanding of Christ's commands).."1 Peter 1:5 (there is much more here)

God already told us diligence is required using words such as heartily, diligent, seeketh strongly ect...

"Ye ask, and receive not because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your own lusts." James 4:3

We need to be sure to ask for the right reasons...in order to come into the mind of God we should remove all bitterness and guilt (which usually I have found go hand and hand)...this unresolved guilt can cause scripture to become hard to memorize as it convicts and overwhelms us we may like that slothful man feel like giving up.

"All scripture is given by God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be throughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Timothy 3:16

also in that same chapter...

"ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of truth."

Well, as the weather here is taking a turn (storms) as I write this I better end here...but be strong as you go through adversities of your own and know they are there to refine you,,,remove all guilt that may hinder you and be diligent.

NH Supreme Court to hear arguments in case of home-schooled girl Thursday

2011-01-22T18:35:00.000-08:00

“Parents have a fundamental right to make educational choices for their children,” Simmons said. “Courts can settle disputes, but they cannot legitimately order a child into a government-run school on the basis that her religious views need to be mixed with other views. That’s precisely what the lower court admitted it is doing in this case, and that’s where our concern lies.”

“The daughter was, by all academic and social measures, doing very well while being home-schooled, as the lower court itself admitted,” Marcelle added. “But it used the Christian faith of this mother and daughter as a weapon against them to force the girl into a government school. There was no legitimate reason to do that.”
more here

Daily Resolve For Our Family

2011-01-21T11:42:00.000-08:00

COMMANDS OF CHRIST DAILY REVIEW

written by the Kilpatrick family Jan.19, 2011

1. Repent with humility and visualize your sin
2. Follow Christ in meekness and you will win.

3. Rejoice and be joyful so you can have hope
4. Let Your Light Shine generously to avoid the slippery slope.

5. Honor God’s Law and in love you’ll abide
6. Be Reconciled and responsibility will be by your side.

7. Do Not Commit Adultery or your mates heart will break
8. Keeping Your Word with truthfulness for His holy sake.

9. Go The Second Mile if its deference you seek
10. Love Your Enemies creatively so nothing begins looking bleak.

11. Be Perfect as sincerely as you can be
12. Practice Secret Disciplines and faith on both knees.

13. Lay Up Treasures in thriftiness one moment at a time
14. Seek God’s Kingdom with initiative, it’s a gold mine.

15. Judge Not, be discerning of another’s expression
16. Do Not Cast Pearls at your hearts discretion.

17. Ask, Seek, and Knock where resources you’ll find
18. Do Unto Others and sensitivity will be thine.

19. Choose the Narrow Way and decisiveness will reign
20. Beware of False Prophets and have alertness to disdain.

21. Always Pray for Laborers with whom compassion and kindness rule
22. Be Wise as Serpents before you leap let wisdom be your tool.

23. Fear Not, but be bold and courageous for the fight
24. Hear God’s voice with attentiveness and your feet will not take flight.

25. Take on God’s Yoke with obedience and pursue it with all of your might
26. Honor Your Parents in reverence; they keep all that you do in their sight.

27. Beware of Leaven without virtue, it’s bitter as the rotting vine
28. Deny Yourself and with determination God’s light will shine as thine.

29. Despise Not the Little Ones, but let tolerance be by your side
30. Go to Your Offenders without a demand and justice and love will abide.

31. Beware of Covetousness it brings no contentment
32. Forgiving Offenders brings forgiveness without resentment.

33. Honor Your Marriage, be loyal and true
34. Be a Servant, be available, in all that you do.

35. Be a House of Prayer and by persuasiveness let your request go up to heaven
36. Ask in Faith anything and let patience ring seven times seven.

37. Bring in the Poor with Hospitality, practice a kind disposition
38. Render to Caesar with gratefulness, but separate ungodly tradition.

39. Love the Lord with enthusiasm let nothing distract from that goal
40. Love You Neighbor as gentleness guides as read from the age old scroll.

41. Await Christ’s Return, be punctual, be sure and be mightily in life
42. Take, Eat, and Drink, but be thoroughly reminded it can happen on any a night

43. Be Born Again and you will never lack of security in worldly matters
44. Keep God’s Commandments with diligence, for the unfaithful He will scatter.

45. Watch and Pray, everyday, endurance will come with testing
46. Feed His Sheep dependably, you’ll be rewarded by those you invested.

47. Baptize His Disciples as they cautiously run the race toward their Holy example
48. Receive God’s Power and in orderliness, give them something the world cannot trample
49. Making Disciples requires flexibleness, more difficult than once imagined, but finish with courage, He faithfully gives; His power is more than ample.

To Start the New Year

2010-12-31T19:39:00.000-08:00

Some photos for you....

New Year's Song

2010-12-22T16:33:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered the words to the typical New Year's Eve song? Well, here are the translated words to that song.

Translation:

Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
And days of long ago !

Chorus:
For old long ago, my dear
For old long ago,
We will take a cup of kindness yet
For old long ago.

We two have run about the hillsides
And pulled the daisies fine,
But we have wandered many a weary foot
For old long ago.

We two have paddled (waded) in the stream
From noon until dinner time,
But seas between us broad have roared
Since old long ago.

And there is a hand, my trusty friend,
And give us a hand of yours,
And we will take a goodwill draught
For old long ago!

And surely you will pay for your pint,
And surely I will pay for mine!
And we will take a cup of kindness yet
For old long ago!

Delayed..

2010-12-16T07:25:00.000-08:00

What is that verse, "Hope deferred makes a heart sick...." Guess that would best sum things up around here!

Keith's ship was called on to rescue another sailer that was on board a sub and had head injuries. They were the closet ship and decided to answer the call although they were pulling into the harbor to dock.

Had they docked Keith would have been home a few days ago, but such is life being married to a solider!

The kids and I were up one day cleaning and getting dressed in our best to welcome dad home. We waited about 6 hours before being informed that he was going to have to wait another 24 hours...that's okay and NORMAL so we just sighed and went on with the evening and thought dad will be here in the morning!

Excitedly, we awoke the following morning and were in a frenzy to get the house put back together (yes that is daily with 7 children to pull it apart) and get ourselves dressed again! We were dressed and again waited and waited....he was LONG overdue and then I checked the email.....He was being called back out to sea and had NO idea how long it would be!!!!!

As I said, such is life in the military..day in day out you never really know! I remember a couple of times in the Army that Keith was sent for training for a month and once 3 months. He returned for a day or two and we were thrilled to be reunited only to be hit hard that he was being deployed and had 48 hours to get his affairs in order ("affairs in order" refers to packing and going to JAG offices to get your WILL prepared). He would be deployed 7 mths one time and 4 mths on the other after having been gone ALL that time prior to leaving. I counted once and in 3 years he had been home a total of 9 mths!!! That is the reality what life is with a solider...there are the exciting homecomings, but unlike the movies it does not end there with Daddy home...I have gone through MANY homecomings...I could not even count now..it is par for the course! This is just the life I am accustomed to...

After being told we had no idea how long it would be we got the word it would be several more days (of course from what I told you of the past I feared they were deploying him). I FINALLY got word today they were rescuing a sailor and that is why they had to go back out to sea! I was able to understand and be thankful that the military ALL pulls together when it involves saving one of their own! I would sure want everyone to turn around if that was Keith out there and save him!

The one thing I notice that is different about military life then civilian life is that there is a "family" type of community. They will offer to help one another ALL the time. Sometimes the help comes needed or not, but it is amazing how everyone will look out for one another. I think much of that comes from the difficult and constantly changing circumstances that everyone finds themselves! You rarely live more then 2 years in one place and most things as a wife you never thought you would do...you do!

Well, anyway as we wait for daddy to come marching home mom is busy with projects that have needed attention (or at least I do my best as my nerves are on edge waiting to hear)! The trees are up and music like "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is playing! Keeping the home fires burning (literally) and counting the days!

Breast Cancer Article

2010-12-14T18:05:00.000-08:00

News Print Article | Email Friend | Reprint Permissions
Surgeon: birth control pill a ‘molotov cocktail’ for breast cancer
BY KATHLEEN GILBERT
Mon Dec 06, 2010 18:32 ESTComments (3)Tags: Breast Cancer, The Pill

Dr. Lanfranchi speaks at the HLI conference this past weekend.
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WASHINGTON, D.C., December 6, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - How often do doctors in America prescribe a Group One carcinogen - one recognized as a “definite” cause of cancer - to otherwise healthy patients?

Answer: as often as they prescribe the hormonal birth control pill.

This little-known fact about the pill was presented by Dr. Angela Lanfranchi, a breast surgical oncologist and co-founder of the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute, who shared her expertise on the drug at the “50 Years of the Pill” conference in Washington, DC on Friday.

“When is it ever right to give a group one carcinogen to a healthy woman?” she asked the audience. “We don’t have to take a group one carcinogen to be liberated.”

Lanfranchi offered a wealth of statistical data from various sources to support a fact that is known by the medical community to be true yet is rarely acknowledged: use of the pill has been strongly linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. The pill is also believed to increase the risk of cervical cancer and liver cancer.

“This stuff is not new, it’s not magic, it’s in the literature,” she said, linking pill use to the 660 percent rise in non-invasive breast cancer since 1973. “Women want to know, and women have a right to know, what researchers have known for over 20 years.”

She compared media treatment of the pill’s cancer risk to that of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which was found to be carcinogenic in 2002. Once word got out, 15 out of 30 million women in America taking HRT stopped; by 2007, invasive breast cancer in women over 50 for estrogen-receptive positive tumors dropped 11 percent.

Meanwhile, she noted, hormonal contraception - essentially the same drug as HRT and with a similar cancer risk, about 25-30 percent - continues to be touted as harmless and even healthy. And yet, the International Agency on Research of Cancer, a branch of the World Health Organization, classified hormonal contraceptives in 2005 as a group one carcinogen along with asbestos and radium.

Unlike the HRT discovery, “I don’t remember one six o’clock news report about that information,” said Lanfranchi.

While even medical textbooks attest to the 30 percent increase in cancer risk, Lanfranchi noted a pervasively dismissive attitude: one British medical textbook she cited said that, “Considering the benefits of the pill, this slight increased risk is not considered clinically significant.”

Not clinically significant? “To whom?” Lanfranchi asked, showing a sobering photograph of one of her own cancer patients, Suellen Bennett. While breast cancer caused by the pill is often caught early, she said, the pill’s “benefits” are hardly a reason not to mention its dangers.

“This is what you have to go through when you’re cured. You lose your hair, you lose your breast,” she said. Had Suellen been told of the risk, Lanfranchi said, “she would very well have been one of those women who would have chosen not to take the pill.”

The surgeon explained that the extra estrogen received by taking the pill not only encourages excessive multiplication of breast tissue - usually a normal occurrence in the menstruation cycle - but, when metabolized, can also directly damage breast tissue DNA.

Because breast tissue remains susceptible to cancer until it undergoes a stabilizing transformation in the childbearing process, said Lanfranchi, the pill is particularly dangerous to women who have not yet had their first child: perhaps the most popular demographic among pill users in the U.S.

To show just how much of a threat the pill posed to young women, Lanfranchi pointed to several statistics, including a 2006 Mayo Clinic meta-analysis that concluded that breast cancer risk rises 50 percent for women taking oral contraceptives four or more years before a full-term pregnancy. In 2009, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center found that women starting the pill before 18 nearly quadruple their risk of triple negative breast cancer. Even more shocking, Swedish oncologist Hakan Olsson concluded that pill use before the age of 20 increases a young woman’s breast cancer risk by more than 1000 percent.

“It’s like you took this molotov cocktail of a group one carcinogen and threw it into that young girl’s breast,” said Lanfranchi. “Is this child abuse?”

In a world where 50 percent of teenagers are on the pill, Lanfranchi lamented that publicly controverting the deep social dependence on the pill has become nearly impossible - even though the message would save countless women’s lives. She sympathized with doctors who would find the information hard to swallow.

“It’s hard to talk about this because you’re changing a culture ... I want to think that I did good, that I helped my patients, that I did better because of what I did,” she said. “25 years down in my career, when I hear that I’ve been handing out a group one carcinogen for the last 25 years, I’m going to be resistant to that.”

Waiting For Dad....

2010-12-14T15:03:00.000-08:00

I am at home waiting for Keith to return, but he has been delayed another day!!! Hopefully no more then a day. The kids and I were already to greet him, but that is the way it goes and I have come a long way in learning that EVERYTHING we have belongs to the Lord ---even my time.

So, because I have this "extra" time I thought I'd post some pictures for the blog in the meantime...also most of the cards went out today--but I realized I did not put my address on them (for return--just in case) so hopefully you all get them at the proper addresses!!!

I am Dreaming of a White Christmas

2010-12-13T11:06:00.000-08:00

Wood and More Wood

2010-12-12T10:19:00.001-08:00

We are stacking our wood that has been delivered...we have not gotten it all stacked and now the rain has come...wish I had covered it..arrrrgggg...

I am thankful for ALL this wood that will help those chilly nights to keep us comfy cozy! I hope it also helps keep down heating costs!

Winter is Here

2010-12-08T17:13:00.000-08:00

Burrrrrr.... it is chilly outside with temps on my outside thermometer at 32 degrees at night and in the 40's in the daytime.

Keith has been away at sea and I am trying to fix and winterize...I am learning much and it is keeping me busy and teaching me lots. Though I will admit I don't always love it--but it is what I can handle right?

Anyway, we have had 2 loads of firewood cut and delivered for us this week. I do not mean some little pickup truck full I mean a dump truck load full. Keith is just gone too much to cut all the wood we need this year, so we thought we have it delivered and let him work on next years wood!

Well, the company delivers the wood and dumps it in your yard and it is up to you to stack it. The kids and I have found ourselves busy stacking wood for a few days and still have more then half left to stack.....I am so thankful however for the wood and the fresh air and exercise so I really have not minded a bit!!! It's just harder then I thought!!!haha...is not everything?

I am trying to make sure little things are getting repaired like a door knob that was coming off the kitchen door!!! Interesting how these things happen! All these little fixes have not been bad and the most frustrating one has been a little wooden picket fence for my garden! They made the fence so cheap (of course it was not cheap to buy) and it keeps falling apart and it seems like I am rebuilding it every time I try to do something with it---I sure hope we do not get any strong winds!!haha

The laundry has piled ceiling high I think (dumped in moms room waiting to be folded of course) while I tend to all the other things! We have been living on PB&J I think...we just stay so busy and for the most part I have not been too hungry!

We had oil delivered and our boiler is boiling I think...it works well and the only real cold room in the house is my bedroom--LOL!!! It gets pretty chilly at night and I am experimenting with how to correct this situation like closing some vents ect....but I know like all things it will come out all right in the end.

Well, I must get the kids into bed after reading to them tonight as we have a busy day again tomorrow--the daylight just does not last long enough!!!

Hope everyone is well!!!

Long Time

2010-12-07T07:54:00.000-08:00

It's been so long since I posted.....I have been so busy with Keith coming in and out--mostly out! Since the last post he has returned for a few weeks, we had Thanksgiving, a fun but short visit with my parents, and back out to sea for Keith.

So, with all the preparations of making a home winter ready and holidays I have neglected this poor blog.

As you can see in the top picture Dad has not yet returned to take Christmas photos--so our picture looks lopsided, but will soon be corrected when Daddy comes marching home.

So, as you receive our cards this year expect to get 2--one for Christmas and one for New Years.

Until then I added a nice handsome photo of my hubby!!!

A Powerful Testimony

2010-10-28T12:23:00.000-07:00

The Testimony of Jerry Wells

My name is Jerry Wells. My parents were Wilbur and Opal Wells. I was born in December, 1954. I grew up in Oklahoma City. My Mom Opal died just before my 4th birthday. My Dad Wilbur was devastated by her death as was our whole family. He turned to alcohol to escape his pain. For the next 14 years of my life, I lived with an alcoholic.

Wilbur was a bad drunk. To his credit he maintained his job and only drank after work and on weekends. He attended clubs where he met various women and slept with them. I was five the first time I saw my Dad sleeping with another woman in our house.

Dad met a good woman at work and married her when I was six. But he did not stop drinking. His substance abuse eventually drove her away. One night he got mad at her, stripped her naked, and through her out in the front yard.

She made an excuse to leave. She said she was going to visit some relatives. She never came back. I never saw her again. Dad was served divorced papers by the courts and a restraining order. He had a nervous break down and checked into the mental ward of a local hospital. I was 8 years old.

By this time, my older brother Jim had been married for several years and my sister Sandy was a senior in high school ready to leave for college. By the fall of 1963, it was just Dad and me.

Dad rented a room from two ladies and we moved in with them. We lived there for about six months. We then moved into a one bedroom rent house that Dad owned in one of the poorest areas of Oklahoma City.

Dad met a woman at a club when I was 9 and married her. We moved into a nice home in Del City, Ok. But he did not stop drinking. She could not take the abuse. She and her teen age daughter moved out when I was 12.

My older sister and brother decided that I had been through enough. They took me from Dad. Dad begged them to change their minds. He told them I was his life. He promised to change. He did for two weeks. But one evening he started drinking. He locked me out of the house and made me set outside for hours. When he let me in he was in a drunken stupor. He told me that I was wrong for leaving him. He threatened me and told me to never leave him again.

Dad then started drinking even more. He would disappear on Friday nights and not come home until Sunday. He would normally call me from some girl friends house. To his credit he always made sure that I had money. He bought me a motor cycle when I was 15 so I would have my own transportation.

When I was 15, Dad married another woman that he met at a club and she moved in with us. It lasted six months. She divorced Dad and moved back to her home town. One night Dad got drunk and drove to see her. She called the police and they arrested him because he tried to break into her house. He called me with his one phone call from the local jail. I did not have a driver’s license but I drove a couple of hours and got him out of jail. I then drove him back to Del City. Dad had the shakes all the way home.

Then Dad’s driver’s license got suspended for drinking and driving. He was afraid to drive without a driver’s license so he made me drive even though I did not have a license.

By the time I was 15, I hated Dad. I had no respect for him as a man or as my father. I told him I was leaving one day when he was drunk. He tackled me in the living room and threatened me again.

Why didn’t I leave? I did not think I had anywhere to go. I didn’t think any of my friends parents knew about my Dad’s problem. My family did not talk with me about it anymore. Everyone has their own problems.

We went to church occasionally. Dad always wanted to be a member of a church and he always tithed as far as I know. But I was bitter at Wilbur and at God. I could not see any use for either one of them in my life. To express my anger at God, I would go to the cemetery where my Mom was buried and literally shake my fist at God.

Amazingly, I was good young man by the world’s standards. I was a very responsible student. I treated adults and peers with respect. I respected the law. I did not get in serious trouble. I did not drink. I was not promiscuous. I did not see a need for God in my life. I had the attitude that I did not need anyone and that I could succeed without God’s help or anyone else’s.

When I was 16, I met a young lady. We saw each other for more than a year. I cared a great deal for her and I also cared a great deal about her parents. But as time passed, I did not show her or her parents the respect they deserved. I was deceptive. I was not a good leader. I did not keep my word. I hurt her enough until she finally rejected me. She told me what an evil person I was. From that day forward, she would not have anything to do with me.

This hurt so much because I cared so much for her. I had hurt my Dad. But I had never hurt anyone that I really cared for. It was this experience that caused me to take an honest look at myself.

What I saw was not very pretty. Over time, I saw that I was selfish. I also saw I was proud. I saw I was deceitful. I saw how bitter I was at my Dad and at God. I saw that if I did not change I was going to hurt people just like Dad hurt me and so many others. I could see we both deserved to go to hell.

This scared me. I could see where I was headed and what kind of life I was going to experience if I did not change. I wanted to change but I did not know how. I also felt that I was powerless to change, especially my selfish motives.

This led me to start a spiritual journey. I started reading the bible. I started attending church more often and listening closer to sermons from the bible. It started making sense.

I was sinner. I was dead in my transgressions and sins. I was separated from God. I was powerless to change my heart, who I was, or who I would become.

God’s son Jesus was God. He loved me. He wanted to have an eternal relationship with me. He wanted to save me from my sin.

For that to occur, because God is just, Jesus had to suffer for my sin. He had to pay the debt I owed because of my sin and the sin of my forefathers. His death on the cross proved that He loved me and paid that debt in full. His resurrection was proof that He was God and that the debt was paid.

If I would accept that payment by faith in Jesus, I would be reconciled to God forever. He would change me. He would give me a genuine His love for others that was free from selfishness. He would live within me through His Spirit and give me power over sin.

It was a struggle to believe that God loved me. The circumstances of my life worked against this truth. By the time I graduated the sixth grade, we had moved six times and I had attended six different grades schools. I had witnessed things that my Dad did to me and others that no child should have to experience. How could God love me like the bible says and allow me to suffer so much? Why didn’t I have a good stable family with two parents that loved me? Why did God let my mother get sick and die when I was so young?

This struggle with faith lasted for six months, but God was faithful. Finally, on New Years Eve, 1971, just before midnight, I believed. The Lord spoke to my heart when I asked him why I had suffered so much. He said, “It was what I personally needed to see my need for Him.”

It was true. I was so proud of what I had achieved in spite of the circumstances in my family. I was self righteous.

My family suffered because of sin. But God let me be a part of it and then fail so that I would see my need for Him and His righteousness in my life.

I believed that night just before midnight and shortly thereafter I was baptized as a testimony to my faith in Jesus Christ.

Looking back, there have been so many blessings that are too numerous too recount. My life changed. My Dad died of lung cancer in the fall of 1977 when I was 22. He was 66. But before he died, we were reconciled. Jesus changed my heart toward my Dad so that I loved him and forgave him and did not hate him anymore. The last five years of his life we were able to talk openly about things for the first time.

Just six months before my Dad died, on August 12, 1977, I married a wonderful Godly Christian woman named Debbie Mills. We have six sons and two daughters. Jesus gave us His heart of love for one another. My relationship to Debbie and our ministry together gave me happiness that I did not know two people could share on this side of heaven.

But after more than 29 years of marriage Debbie died. She was 53. She was diagnosed with cancer in September of 2006. On May 3, 2007, Debbie left us for heaven.

Following Debbie’s death, I understood for the first time what my Dad felt when my Mom died. I struggled all over again with having faith in God’s love for me. But Jesus kept one of His promises. He says, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” After Debbie’s death, Jesus kept assuring me of His love for me and my children. He hung on to me when I had no strength or little faith to hang on to Him.

My faith has grown deeper as a result of our loss. When I think that I cannot depend upon Jesus more, I discover a whole new dimension of trust that always changes me and sets me free.

I am not an alcoholic. Through the same circumstance in my life and my Dad’s life, Jesus has proved what a difference He can make if you know Him and trust Him.

My life verse is Psalms 40:1-3. It says…
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
KJV

Jesus can and will do for you what He has done for me. You will not be able to avoid all the horrible pits in your future. Life is so hard. But with each new trial your faith in Jesus Christ can grow as you learn to depend upon Him more. If you can find your way to the Rock, He will give you a new song. He will then use you to cause others to trust in Him.

To receive Jesus Christ as your savior from sin like I did, the scripture says…
•You need to understand that you are a sinner separated from God and you are powerless to change your nature.
•You need to understand that God’s penalty for sin is death and separation from God in a place of eternal torment the bible calls hell.
•You need to understand that Jesus is God and that He died for your sins on a cross to pay your sin debt.
•You need to understand that Jesus rose from the dead and that He is Lord of heaven and earth.
•You need to put your faith in Jesus Christ to save you from sin and be willing to give testimony to your faith by following the Lord’s command to be baptized in water.

(Jerry Wells is currently the Pastor at Western Hills Church in Oklahoma City. (update he is no longer the pastor of Western Hills) Western Hills Church is located at 401 S.W. 44th in Oklahoma City. You can reach the church and Pastor Jerry by phone by calling 405-634-1454. Pastor Jerry is now married to Saundra Wells. They married in November of 2008. Saundra’s husband John Cobbs died in January of 2007. Pastor Jerry and Saundra have twelve children from their previous marriages to Debbie and John.)
You can find Jerry's blog postings during Debbie's treatment of cancer here --> http://debbieshealthupdate.blogspot.com

Giveaway

2010-10-24T17:40:00.000-07:00

The West Ladies are having a giveaway!!!! To enter send them an email..for details go here.

This giveaway is for a free Craft Video of theirs in their Homestad Blessing Series on domestic arts!!!!! Hannah and I LOVE them....

Today Is The Start Of New Week!

2010-10-24T14:15:00.001-07:00

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled…” (Hebrews 12:14-15)

If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:21-24)

What Obama Spends Your Money On...

2010-10-10T19:07:00.000-07:00

Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz Gets Millions for Teen "Pregnancy Prevention"

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The nation's largest abortion business is one of the biggest promoters of contraception and birth control and makes money from doing more than one-fourth of the nation's abortions. Despite that, several Planned Parenthood affiliates have received federal funding for "teen pregnancy prevention."

When President Barack Obama gained control of the White House, he moved quickly to begin zeroing out funding for abstinence education programs and shifting the funding to groups promoting "comprehensive" sexual education.

Last week, Obama's "Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative" doled out some of the tens of millions of dollars in funding to these groups.

Jeanne Monahan, director of the Center for Human Dignity at the Family Research Council, says Planned Parenthood affiliates were awarded millions in grants either directly or as a subcontractor.

"Although the program will replace abstinence education grants that expire today (the last day of the fiscal year), a number of anti-abstinence groups are among the major recipients. Included in that group is Planned Parenthood, which will receive $4.5 million dollars, specifically in the states of Florida and Washington," she said.....

Go here to read the rest of the story..

Ministry

2010-10-09T11:46:00.001-07:00

Just thought I'd share another ministry that as most need help and support (money, letters, material, volunteers, ect..)..you may not have heard of Open Doors which is a ministry for those Christians that are persecuted throughout the world. We here in America have really never known what it is like to suffer with Christ--oh, to be sure on a smaller scale, but these brothers and sisters of Christ understand and share with Christ everyday--willing to lay down their very lives...A test of faith all of us hope to never have to face!

Please check out their web site here.

Giveaway

2010-10-07T11:28:00.000-07:00

Go over to Marie-Madeline Studio and see their giveaway of a beautiful quilt!!!

Greater Faith Today

2010-10-04T09:09:00.001-07:00

Today the Lord is building greater faith in me. He has been faithful to do this as I wrote in my New Years Resolution this last year that I desired to grow in faith. He has brought lesson after lesson before me and showed me that He hears my heart all along the way.

I have prayed since moving to Virginia that the Lord would spare us these long separations, but at the same time thanked Him for what He continues to accomplish in our lives through them. Being a military wife (1st Army and then Navy) has never been easy, but the lessons the Lord has taught us in every circumstances has been priceless. I KNOW the Lord hears me and answers I have learned to have GREAT FAITH in that He has heard me each time. I prayed today as Keith left, yet again, to spare us---please....I have nothing else left to say yet this morning Keith packs up at 3am and headed out the door for the month...loneliness sets in as well as the struggle against the tempter that tries to whisper, "See your prayers are not heard because of this and this (fill in the this) in your life."

Satan can always be counted on to try to bring an early counterfeit to you to keep you from God's best in life. The Lord has called me to lay down habits in my life that have been ways in which I have dealt with long deployments (be they 7 days or 7 months). Not all my habits have been pleasing to the Lord and I would attempt to make "deals" with God. "Lord, please don't take Keith and I will do this..."

How humbling to admit, but yet I have done this very thing. I make a deal to move closer to God if He does what I think He should---what is the original sin? The other day as I almost breathed another requested "deal" to God I felt a question come to me..."Why are you waiting on me?" and another thought, "I have been waiting for you."

Okay those that are so much more mature then me say.."Duh!" I know I know...I have such a long way to go in my journey. Some of my habits that I developed to "deal with" these times in which Keith would be sent somewhere either for deployments or simply training were not all pleasing to the Lord...they were habits I was seeing in my children!

Some habits, that have been developed for almost 15 years, become like iron bars to break..yet they must be broken. See I have such a desire in me to love the Lord with NO competing affections that I MUST lay down anything that could possibly get in the way. That is not to say whether something is right or wrong...my habits were not "wrong", but what was "right" about them? A question to ponder when considering bringing ANYTHING into your life as ANYTHING can become a habit given enough time (and that time is not as long as I use to think).

So, as the Lord prompted me to think about why I was asking Him to conform to my will I understood what was getting in the way of my growth. I FINALLY understood what I needed to lay down....

As you lay down competing affections before the Lord your prayers become more bold and precise. Such as asking myself what am I really asking the Lord as I pray spare sending my husband away? I prayed that before as I told the Lord I would give Him this house (and I still would) if He would bring my husband home to be with us. He answered and brought Keith home and provided work that would have him home much more, but took us to California to live yet I was probably at times MORE discontent there. What is it that I am really asking? Was I simply asking to bring my husband home? Am I asking for a closer relationship with my Lord and family with NO COMPETING affections? What does this request require me to do in my life?

I have faith that even though I have asked the Lord to hear me and spare us these long separations (a 6 mth one coming up) and Keith has yet again walked out the door. I have faith that the Lord has heard and answered my request with something better then I asked--I just have to have patience to see what is that answer.

I look forward to sharing that answer with you as I continue in the school that the Lord has for me.

Teaching Catechism..

2010-10-01T10:52:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite months through the year and it is finally here! Although, this year it is bittersweet as I get to share only a few days of it with my favorite person!

It is one of my favorite NOT primarily because of the weather, but that is one good reason. It is not one of my favorite months because the leaves turn, but that is also a VERY good reason. It is NOT because of mine or Andrews birthday that come this month, but those are REALLY good reasons. ALL, these reasons help add up to me absolutely more then loving October, but it is MAINLY because it is my favorite homeschooling month due to a family tradition we have!!!

As, I have written on before we do reformation studies ALL month long and have a reformation celebration the last day of October (some call it Halloween and celebrate that). For us, we study the disciples, apostles, and reformers. We use sources such as this, this, and this. It is also devoted to improving on study of Catechism.

To my surprise most do not know what Catechisms are this shows the failing of our church to teach even the basics of our Christian belief. Many claim to save the masses yet fail to lead, teach, and instruct in even the basics...???

No wonder we are not in one accord as Christians and churches today. We are not willing to love God (who is a jealous God) with no other competing affections. Do we understand anymore what it means to love God as we ought?

I strive to teach my children the basic tenants and October provides a PERFECT time to remember to do this necessary study. And trust me I need a reminder...

For those that are new to the catechism here is a partial list to start and you can go here there are 107 of them.

Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
A. The word of God, which is contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.

Q. 3. What do the scriptures principally teach?
A. The scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

Q. 4. What is God?
A. God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.

Q. 5. Are there more Gods than one?
A. There is but one only, the living and true God.

Q. 6. How many persons are there in the godhead?
A. There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

Q. 7. What are the decrees of God?
A. The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

Q. 8. How doth God execute his decrees?
A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence.

Q. 9. What is the work of creation?
A. The work of creation is God's making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.

Q. 10. How did God create man?
A. God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.

Q. 11. What are God's works of providence?
A. God's works of providence are his most holy, wise and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.

Q. 12. What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the estate wherein he was created?
A. When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death.

Q. 13. Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?
A. Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God.

Q. 14. What is sin?
A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.

Q. 15. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?
A. The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created was their eating the forbidden fruit.

Q. 16. Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression?
A. The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression.

Q. 17. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?
A. The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery.

Q. 18. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?
A. The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell consists in the guilt of Adam's first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it.

Q. 19. What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?
A. All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever.

Q. 20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?
A. God having, out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a redeemer.

Q. 21. Who is the redeemer of God's elect?
A. The only redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever.

Q. 22. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?
A. Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin.

Q. 23. What offices doth Christ execute as our redeemer?
A. Christ, as our redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation.

Q. 24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?
A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.

Q. 25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?
A. Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God; and in making continual intercession for us.

Q. 26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.
...

Bring Fall Into The Menu

2010-09-29T08:44:00.000-07:00

On Wednesdays I intend to go wordless from now on, as I tend to speak too much as it is,so I will try to convey my thoughts in pictures. So above have my first wordless Wednesday!

Never Saw This Approach To Elections Before

2010-09-28T07:35:00.000-07:00

Interesting hmm...leaders are leaders because others tend to follow right?

Obama: Democratic voter apathy 'inexcusable'

WASHINGTON – Admonishing his own party, President Barack Obama says it would be "inexcusable" and "irresponsible" for unenthusiastic Democratic voters to sit out the midterm elections, warning that the consequences could be a squandered agenda for years.

"People need to shake off this lethargy. People need to buck up," Obama told Rolling Stone in an interview to be published Friday. The president told Democrats that making change happen is hard and "if people now want to take their ball and go home, that tells me folks weren't serious in the first place."

The midterm elections are in five weeks and polling shows that Republicans, out of power at the White House and on Capitol Hill, have a much more excited base of supporters than Democrats. Obama, campaigning this week in four states, is in a sprint to restore the voter passion that helped him win office.

Yet in his attempt to light a fire under supporters, Obama comes across as fired up himself about how many backers fail to acknowledge the progress he sees. He said the glass-half-empty view among many progressive voters can be a debilitating force that distracts them from the real worry: Republicans.

The GOP is poised to win seats in the House, if not control of the chamber, and gain ground in the Senate, too.

"It is inexcusable for any Democrat or progressive right now to stand on the sidelines in this midterm election," Obama said.

Read the rest here

Homemaking 101..Fall

2010-09-27T22:06:00.000-07:00

Fall is upon us and now is the best time to get prepared for winter. You want your home to therefore be as clean and comfortable as possible since you will be spending far more time indoors. You may also be hosting more company as fall ushers in the holidays. Bring out the pumpkins and teapots...seasons are achangin'...

Many items may need your attention as those small repairs may be easier to ignore in the summer when your out and about, but can greatly interfere with your families ability to stay comfortable in the winter time. Now is the time to "air out" as many items as possible like the comforter before it becomes impossible. Wash as many BIG linens as possible now and take advantage of that sunshine!

Now is also the time to pack away all those spring and summer decorations. That floral arrangement may help bring the outdoors in, but is it more suited to summer outdoors? How about dried flowers in the winter? The BRIGHT yellow rug (I have issues with yellow that is too bright) may be sunny and rays of sunshine for summer, but is it suited to the mood and fall muck that could be more tracked in? Could we consider a burgundy or brown? How about that background music selection? How about that candle or soap fragrance? You can come up with lots of ways to belong with the seasons the possibilities are endless.

Also when considering comfort now is the time to look to the wood stoves and fireplaces. Could they use a good cleaning? How about getting that wood stacked --we are running behind there as well! Cleaning behind the stove and refrigerator? Washer and dryer?

It is also a good time to consider the drapes and bedding. The white linen may be perfect for summer, but just may not fit the need or feel of fall or winter. Maybe just taking down that sheer and having just plain curtains or blinds with a some grapevines might be more suitable? .

Consider maybe a menu change. We have a regular rotating menu so everyone knows what to expect for say Tuesday's lunch or Saturday's breakfast. This makes things so much easier for shopping and in preparation. Some days are one persons favorite and other days another, but they can be sure their favorite will come around next week! When the seasons change I consider the need to change the menu as well. Some things are staples for our family like bean burritos...but even they can be made with added twists for a seasonal flare..changing the type of beans or mixing...changing the cheese...adding corn or rice...changing or adding veggies..changing spices. You can even take a regular food for your family and mix it up a tad. For me I like to change the things on our list like some of the pastas and make soups in the fall and winter..sandwiches are changed for pizzas or Sloppy Joe's. Think creative and with the season! In this day and age when almost any fruit or vegetable is ever available at the store we are not as creative as they once use to be with the many ways to say... make a potato into a delicious dish!

Now, I am no Martha Stewart or Betty Crocker and am limited by budget like anyone else, but one thing I am learning is that sometimes less can just be more. In the winter when we are all indoors packing more things away NOT less may be worth considering. I also loved the idea a dear friend gave me on storing everyday staples in different size jars and maybe packing away all those other decor on the counters.

I just thought it may prove a timely post and I know I enjoy and am thankful for the fruit of my labors when I begin to consider the seasons and matching them inside. It helps to go the extra mile to make my home a relaxing place for my family!

Here are some posts from the 1950's on the very subject:

“During the week before the “siege” of house-cleaning in spring or fall, look over all garments and articles to be put away, mend, remove all grease spots if possible.”~ Practical Housekeeping

“Fall house-cleaning deserves no less attention, except that white-washing and painting can best be done in the mild days of spring, when the house may be thrown open to wind and sunshine. The best time is in the constant weather of October; and before beginning, all the dirty and heavy work for the winter, such as getting in coal and wood, should be completed, and the cellar made clean and sweet.”~Practical housekeeping

Some Recipes from a bygone era...

Spice Cookies

Mix thoroughly 2 cupfuls of brown sugar, 2/3 cupful of molasses, 2/3 cupful of drippings, 2/3 cupful of buttermilk, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoonful each of cinnamon, ginger, allspice and cloves, 1 cupful of chopped raisins, flour enough to drop batter, and 1 level teaspoonful of soda dissolved in a little water. Bake in a shallow pan. When cool, cut out with a cooky cutter and ice with chocolate frosting.

Cheap Sponge Cake

Mix carefully 1 cupful of powdered sugar, 3 eggs, and 1 cupful of flour into which has been sifted 1 teaspoonful of
baking powder; flavor with the juice of half a lemon. Bake in shallow pans for 20 minutes.

And again our grandmother's knew how to store items away..like linens..

“In the country remote from drug-stores, many housekeepers use the dried leaves of sage, thyme, spearmint, and other highly scented herbs. These are gathered after the housewife has laid in all she may require for cooking and medicinal purposes, are tied in bunches and dried, and then laid among the clothes in the large wooden chest ; or a pole is laid from rafter to rafter, and the clothing is hung over this, and casings of calico or old cotton quilts are carefully pinned around each garment, the bunches of herbs being also pinned at intervals about the clothing.” ~Practical Housekeeping 1887

HMMMM..Could Never Happen Here huh?

2010-09-27T21:01:00.000-07:00

Read here

What could be next a ban on prayer? Oh, wait they do that in school assemblies and such...

What gets me is it was a private home and this was a written law?

Here's the article from March THIS YEAR...

A controversial ban on church meetings in private homes has brought the town of Gilbert into the international spotlight for all the wrong reasons, Mayor John Lewis says.

Hundreds of e-mails from "all over the world" have flooded town officials' inboxes since the Alliance Defense Fund, a Scottsdale-based religious legal organization, cried foul over perceived religious limitations in the zoning code, Lewis said.

The code, which was last updated in April 2006, states that "Religious assembly uses are not permitted in single family residential structures."

A Gilbert code compliance officer in November interpreted that to include the prohibition of church meetings, such as Bible studies and leadership meetings, within private homes, according to the Defense Fund.

Town officials subsequently sent a cease-and-desist order to Pastor Joe Sutherland of the Oasis of Truth Church, which had held small meetings in the homes of its seven adult members.....

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/03/15/20100315religion-ban-private-homes-gilbert.html#ixzz10nGx4c5a

Phrase Of The Week

2010-09-26T21:28:00.000-07:00

We have been having fun learning where some of our most used phrases originated, so I thought I would TRY and start sharing weekly with you our brief findings...

The phrase this week is...GETTING YOUR GOAT (hey Mrs.D.J. you might just like this one)

Originated: This apparently refers to an old English (Welsh?) belief that keeping a goat in the barn would have a calming effect on the cows, hence producing more milk. When one wanted to antagonize/terrorize one's enemy, you would abscond with their goat rendering their milk cows less- to non-productive.

Oh Foolish Woman, Stop Throwing a Tantrum

2010-09-26T20:57:00.000-07:00

Posted By Sandra King on September 5, 2010

I’m naturally an encourager. I can sit and encourage another woman on how to minister to her husband and children for hours on end. What I can’t do is waste time watching a foolish woman throwing a tantrum. What she doesn’t realize is that in the midst of her walking around the house with her bottom lip poked out because things aren’t going her way, she’s tearing down her house.

I was reading about her this morning in Proverbs chapter 14, verse 1. “The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her own hands.”

Does this woman realize the effects that her tantrum is having on her family? Let’s take a quick look at what her tantrum is doing to her children.
Psalm 127:3 says, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.” When a child hears a mother complaining about having so many children, it causes some confusion. Her children see her reading her Bible and confessing that it’s God’s infallible Word. They even hear her saying “Amen” to the preacher on Sunday morning. But because she can’t do some of the things that her friends without children can do, she pouts. She get tired and frustrated and don’t want to cook because she keeps repeating the lie she heard that she “deserves to go out and eat.” What about that outfit she saw on sale the other day? It can’t be hers this payday because Little Johnny has once again outgrown his shoes.

She allows her mind to contemplate over and over again about what her life can be like if she wasn’t “burdened” down with kids. All this, while she’s walking down the hall kicking the toys out of the way. But don’t worry about the kids at this moment. They’ve become accustomed to her tantrums and they are hidden out of her sight because they feel like it’s their fault anyway. Confused, of course, because they know the Bible says they are a blessing, but they are being treated like a burden.

Now where should I start with the poor husband? I can start by talking about his confusion as well. I think he’s more confused than the kids. He’s spends so many lonely nights thinking about the sweet young girl he married. How can a married man feel lonely at night when his wife is lying right beside him? Remember what I said before: he was thinking about that sweet young girl he married. The woman lying next to him has become grouchy and non-affectionate toward him because she says she’s suffering from PMS. He’s really confused because he was positive she was already having her menstrual cycle long before they were married. During their dating time, he was clueless to her suffering from PMS. All he knew is that he was hot stuff because she couldn’t stop admiring his physique. She had to refrain from touching it, but now he feels like his body doesn’t exist to her.

Her husband walks around on egg shells, because he doesn’t want to say anything to set her off. He’s lost his ability to make the final decision as head of his family because he knows if it’s one she doesn’t like, she won’t talk to him for a week–maybe longer, depending on how she feels. He doesn’t see himself as the one leading his home, so he won’t lead at church either. Ooops! Did I just say that?! Yes, he’ll come to church with her and the kids. He’ll even tithe faithfully, but taking on a leadership role is another story. He feels like he has failed as a leader in his home and doesn’t want to embarrass his wife by trying to be a leader at church. Plus he’s tired of his wife comparing him to Brother John Doe.

Then one day she gets this great revelation that they are not supposed to be at this church any longer because God told her it’s time to leave. Where are they going to go now? Her husband is not worried about them finding another church. He knows that she’ll find one for the family. If he doesn’t like it, he’ll just stay home. This foolish woman is okay with that too. She’ll have a chance to show this new church just how spiritual she is. She’ll share her testimony with the saints about how she’s being obedient to the Word and staying with her unsaved husband.

Whew! This foolish woman is out of control. Doesn’t she realize she can make a choice to stop being so foolish? If she would just stop for a minute and cease worshiping herself by singing the warm-up tune she learned in choir: “me me me meeee.” She must first acknowledge her foolishness. She must ask God for forgiveness and take it a step further to seek the forgiveness of her husband and children. She should surround herself with Titus 2 women and allow them to speak into her life. Her goal can now become that excellent wife who is a crown to her husband.

Proverbs 12:4 ~ An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.

Questions To Ask Suitors

2010-09-24T19:59:00.000-07:00

I thought this was an interesting post on questions to ask suitors of my daughters...think I'll keep this handy for future reference... Found at Your Sacred Calling here.

Your Spiritual Life

•What are the evidences of your salvation?

•Our family subscribes to the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Shorter and Larger Catechisms as our statement of faith. To what creed or confession do you subscribe? Do you take issue with any part of the Westminster Standards? If so, what?

•We are members of the CPC – a reformed Presbyterian denomination. Please read through the Constitution and Form of Church Government I sent earlier and let me know if you disagree with any part of these documents.

•What do you understand to be the role of baptism? What about the Lord’s Supper? Who should participate in these sacraments?

•What do you understand to be God’s purposes/priorities for the church?

•What is your view of the Sabbath and the proper use of that day? What activities can children enjoy on the Sabbath?

•What is the present day application of the Mosaic Law?

•What do you see as the man’s role in the local church? Your own role?

•What do you see as your wife’s role in local church ministry?

•How do you view age-segregation in the church (youth groups, Sunday school)?

•What is your view on the celebration of Christmas and Easter?

•How would those who know you well describe your personal character?

•What is your view of Christian liberty? How does this view affect your lifestyle?

•Are you faithful in church attendance/participation? How long have you been a member of your current fellowship?

•What are your habits with regard to prayer and Bible study?

•What is your opinion of personal witnessing?

•What would you say is your spiritual gift(s)?

•What are your spiritual strengths?

•What is your father’s understanding of Christianity? How would you describe your father’s personal character?

•What is your mother’s understanding of Christianity? How would you describe your mother’s personal character?

•Recognizing we are all imperfect, in what one or two areas do you think God wants you to improve most?

•Do you have a teachable spirit? Can you cite any examples?

Your Relationships

•Describe your relationship with your father? Was (is) it honoring? Was (is) it obedient?

•Does your father have any medical or mental problems that could affect you or your children?

•Describe your relationship with your mother? Was (is) it honoring? Was (is) it obedient?

•Does your mother have any medical or mental problems that could affect you or your children?

•How many siblings do you have? What are their names, ages, cities of residence? Can you describe your relationship with each of your siblings?

•Can you describe your relationship with your grandparents?

•Can you describe your relationship with your friends? Have you ever been peer-dependent? How did you resist this?

•Are you consistently faithful in fulfilling your commitments? Give examples.

•Do you show a regular willingness to serve others? In what ways?

•In what ways is self-centeredness expressed in your life?

•How do you relate to authority in your life? If so, what adjectives would your employers use to describe you?

•Have you ever been a supervisor? If so, what adjectives would your employees use to describe you?

•Are you ever manipulative of others?

•What kinds of situations cause you frustration? How do you respond?

•What circumstances might make you impatient or angry? How do you handle anger? Have you ever been violent? Do you raise your voice when angry?

•Have you ever had to deal with a broken relationship? If so, please provide the details of that relationship, how long ago, the situation, and how did you handle it?
“The Bible gives us many prescripts, but not as many processes. God’s Word presents a number of concepts on how men and women are to relate to one another, as well as how they might prepare themselves for marriage; but it is certainly not a cookbook. While I don’t see a “biblical formula,” I do see biblical principles that will help our children move toward marriage in purity.

“So, the way our family chooses to live out these precepts is just that – our choice. It is our application of the biblical precepts found in Scripture. This is not a new law for you. You may choose a very different path with your family and your children – and that is fine with me. I do not see a “one-size-fits-all” model in Scripture for courtship and betrothal. Each family’s version of courtship will look different – and it may even look different from child to child. It has in our family!”

Personal Habits Affecting Marriage

•What are your beliefs regarding diet? Are your eating habits disciplined? Do you have any food dislikes? Are you a vegetarian?

•Do you have a weight problem?

•Do you have any physical or mental disabilities or diseases? Any allergies? Prior or current health problems?

•Do you drink alcohol? If so, what and how often? What are your views on alcohol?

•Do you smoke? What are your views on smoking?

•Are your spending habits disciplined? Do you tithe? What is your view of debt?

•How would you describe your work ethic? Do you have a high standard of excellence? Do you tend to be either slothful or a workaholic? How many hours per week do you work?

•Do you travel with your job? If so, how often? Do you see this changing in your future?

•If a relocation were offered to you by an employer, would you consider it? What would you weigh when considering such a move?

•What is your discipline in studying?

•Do you read regularly, and if so, what? Who is your favorite author? Outside the Bible, what would be your five favorite non-fiction books? Five favorite fiction books?

•What are your habits regarding sleeping? Are you lethargic? Are your sleep habits irregular?

•Do you follow a regular schedule? Are you organized?

•Would you consider yourself neat or messy?

•What is your practice regarding personal prayer?

•What is your level of personal cleanliness and hygiene?

•Do you have any personal habits that might annoy others?

Marital Roles

•If you already subscribe to the concept of courtship, give me your definition of it.

•Do you tend to be more of a leader or follower in life? Can you cite any examples?

•In making decisions, what role does God’s Word play?

•What is your attitude toward women? What is their purpose?

•What is your view on the role of a wife?

•What are your views on women working outside the home?

•What are your views concerning divorce and remarriage?

•Can you tell me your thoughts on how a man should provide for a wife and family?

•Can you tell me your thoughts on how a man should protect a wife and children? How do you feel about guns?

•How do you see your future relationship with your in-laws working out?

•What has been your prior experience with dating and romance? Have you ever kissed or been physically intimate in any way with a girl/woman? If so, explain the circumstances.

•What is your stand on abortion? What about in the case of rape?

•How do you relate to children? How often are you around children?

•What are your thoughts regarding birth control and family planning?

•How many children do you hope to have?

•What is your attitude toward adopting children?

•What are your views on child training, including corporal punishment?

•What are your views on homeschooling?

•What are your thoughts on family worship? What would be the key attributes of such a practice in your home?

•When you fail someone, what actions do you take to rectify the situation?

•Are you honest? Do you ever slant the truth for your own benefit?

•How have you prepared yourself for marriage?

•In what ways do you think you may need to grow before marriage?

•What does “leave and cleave” mean to you? Are you prepared to put your wife first, before all others, including your parents? Give me an example of what this may look like to you.

Moral Standards

•What are your standards of propriety in dress? How do you dress?

•Describe your standards of dress for women?

•What are your views on head coverings for women?

•What are your views on public swimming?

•Do you use offensive language?

•Do you watch television, R-rated movies? PG-rated movies? What were the last five movies you watched?

•What kind of music do you prefer? What kind of music would you find offensive?

•Have you ever been exposed to pornography? If so, explain the extent and the circumstances.

•Have you ever been exposed to homosexuality? If so, explain the extent and the circumstances.

•Do you currently use any type of drugs? Have you in your past? If so, explain the extent and the circumstances.

•Do you have any financial debt? If so, explain the extent and the circumstances.

•Have you ever been in trouble with the law? If so, explain the extent and the circumstances.

•What tendencies do you have toward prejudice or racism?

•Have you ever had periods of rebellion? If so, explain the extent and the circumstances. Are there any unsettled issues with your parents?

Miscellaneous Discussion Starters

•What is your attitude toward pets? Indoor? Outdoor?

•What are your political leanings?

•What is your general attitude toward civil government?

•What is (are) your favorite sources for news?

•What are your interests, hobbies, talents?

•What are your income producing (vocational) skills?

•What is your attitude toward family (home) business?

•What do you value most highly in life? What next?

•What do you tend to do in your spare time?

•What is your involvement in sports? Do you participate, attend games, watch it on TV? To what extent? What sports do you like?

•If “your” daughter were marrying “you,” what cautions would you have?

•What are your thoughts on alternative medicine?

•What are your thoughts on immunizations?

•What is the role of psychology in the life of a Christian?

•Do you prefer to live in the city, suburbs, town, or country; farm, seaside, mountains, or desert? Why?

•Describe a typical week day in your life from start to finish.

•Describe a typical Saturday in your life from start to finish.

•Describe a typical Sunday in your life from start to finish.

Your Future

•Can you describe your life purpose, i.e., how you intend to use your interests, experiences, skills, and talents to serve and glorify God?

•What role would your wife and children play in your life purpose?

•What role would your job/career play in your life purpose?

•Where do you see yourself in 10 years? In 20 years?

•Where do you see yourself spiritually in 10 years? In 20 years?

•When the Lord calls you home, how would you like people to remember you?

Expectations

•Do you have a personal timetable for marriage? If so, what is it?

•What type of education are you hoping that your future wife will have?

•List the five most important characteristics of a wife (for you personally).

•List any characteristics or personality traits that would bother or irritate you in a wife.

Keith's Out To Sea And Now It's School Time For Me

2010-09-21T14:36:00.000-07:00

Yes, Keith is out again and protecting our country. I am ever grateful for men like my husband who serve this country with tremendous sacrifices to themselves and their family!

With Keith away the daily battles falls to mom to care for and defend! I have learned that each time Keith goes away to awake that morning and thank God. No, I never thank him that Keith is away--that would be just something I could not do and ridiculous as well. I thank God for the lessons He is faithful to teach each of us each time. Each trial in our life is just another chance to go through God's school and learn the next lesson we need to be more conformed to His image.

I have related to many character qualities that the children and I are attempting to learn. When Keith is gone it is a school fast track to learning these character qualities.

1.Contentment--Realizing that God has already provided everything that I need for my present happiness.

"And having food and rainment let us be therewith content." 1 Timothy 6:8

In learning contentment I am learning to value God-given relationship, that I am indestructible until my work here is done, giving up my personal expectations, and learning to never compare myself.

2. Endurance-Maintain commitment to a goal during times of pressure.

In endurance I am learning to set aside privileges which weaken me or others, uniting with those that are like-minded to withstand destructive influences, and knowing how and when to use the resources available to me.

3. Joyfulness- Knowing and being where God intended me to be.

4. Determination-Realizing that my present struggles are essential for future achievement.

In determination I am learning to break down seemingly impossible tasks by concentrating on achievable goals, expending whatever energy is necessary to complete a project, rejecting any distraction which will hinder the completion of a task.

Some character qualities I have better learned then others and some need more tweaking and on another deployment prove the need to be refined. I in no way have it together, but learning to be thankful for the "reminder" to focus on these and other areas--just as fasting during the day can remind us to do our bible reading and focus on prayer--deployments have allowed me to have a built in reminder to learn the character qualities that the Lord is attempting to teach me. Unfortunately, I seem to need some spurring to learn what I should, but am thankful that the Lord is faithful.

So, to my dearest Keith I love and miss you and will keep to the goals you have set forth. The home fires are always burning!!!

Computers a Love Hate Relationship!

2010-09-19T19:58:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I love computers like the blogs and email or the ability to order my food from Sam's Club to be all ready when I get there to pick it up. I love the fact that my older children do their school on the computer and save me endless hours!!! I love I can email Keith when he is out to sea or in Iraq!!!

I HATE computers in a major way sometimes. We just switched our computers and all my saved web sites ect.. are on my lap top that Keith needs--not really a biggie just hard to set up and get use to a new computer. It seems when we move just a couple of things around a whole array of "issues" are found and make NO sense on their little "brains".

Well, enough of my love and hate of computers...does any one else share this kind of relationship with their computer?

Ordinary day!

2010-09-18T12:02:00.000-07:00

Today we spent the day working on a list that we need to complete prior to Keith shipping out again!

Keith spent the first half of the day working at getting our ice maker working. He called GE supply for the company and got very little help there--you know some brand names offer more help then others. I would NOT recommend GE as far as if you needed future help in repair ect..

Keith is amazing at his ability to understand things and get them working. He is VERY professional about ALL he does and is not afraid to call and gain clearer understanding from professionals and understand his limitations or know he can do this. His father I think taught him well to fix and tinker with things. He can also build well when he puts his mind to it!!!

Anyway, he fixed that and went on to completing my "honey do" list for this out to sea period. We are working on finishing painting behind the refrigerator and thus complete the kitchen in painting except some touch ups that I find for weeks after!!!

We are washing our doggies, cleaning out some of the larger items left by previous tenants, organizing some computers and files, and some general cleanup for now.

After we finish some of these things we are taking time to play some of our favorite outdoor sports! They are such fun to play with and allow a proper time to work on character issues that naturally arise in athletic competition.

Tomorrow we are hoping to first spend time in the word and visit some battlefields around the area and spend as much time together as possible! We love Keith so much and the time apart can seem endless! I try to keep busy to keep from being so lonely and always set up projects and goals to complete when he is away to make time go by faster and bless him upon his return.

This outing is only a week or so--which will seem like years to me, but my goal is to finish painting the front part of the house and get things together for our annual reformation study and celebration.

Keith will be home only a few days after he gets back and then will be gone all the rest of the month missing 2 birthdays, but we are thankful he will make it in time to hear our presentations of reformations study and join in the celebration! We will celebrate those missed birthdays in November!!

Anyway, that is our weekend thus far and our last tidbits of time with our beloved patriarch!

Our Family Meditation on 2 Chr.12:9-10

2010-09-13T08:45:00.000-07:00

First prior to meditating on the verse we try to memorize the verse. Sometimes some of us have some or most of it memorized, but will move on into meditating as we tend to write the verse several times during this process and the remainder of the verse is then easily memorized.

Last evening the following was the first phase of meditation of this familiar verse as a family. Here is the verse as found KJV in scripture:

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Each of us chose a different word that stuck out to us and looked into a deeper meaning of that word and replaced that deeper meaning for that particular word in the verse. We are looking further into these words for even more meaning tonight and will find a richer meaning before going on to other words and meanings.

Here is the richer insight we got:

And he said unto me, My grace is adequate to your wants and desires: for the Lord’s power and force is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my defects or imperfections, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in my defects or imperfections, in reproaches, in all that is indispensable in life, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

I hope to post more as we dig deeper into this often quoted verse and gain the meaning from God’s perspective!

Took a Facebook Break

2010-08-28T19:08:00.001-07:00

More on that to come! Will be back to blogging within a week or so!!!

Keith's Gone

2010-08-19T16:17:00.000-07:00

Today the kids and I start countdown till Dad comes home again! We have 15 days and counting!

Amazing how lonely it feels the instant he goes and how much you can miss someone. NEVER take your marriage for granted or think you could do better. God means it when he makes the two one flesh and they become a part of you!

Please pray for us as we are still fixing, painting, and arranging things. I am taking my time to get things put in the most functional and proper places for us to work not merely "move-in".

Pray that these next two weeks will go quickly and we will grow in this tribulation and learn the next phase of training the Lord has for us!

Fire

2010-08-19T08:51:00.000-07:00

This last week we had found that our house had been burning! The electric panel box had been on fire and melting wires and breakers for quite some time. This same thing occurred 2 years ago and we had fixed the problem, but now it was obvious that the whole panel and wires needed replacement. How it never burned down the house over the past couple of years is beyond us and the electrician.

Since he was the same electrician that came out 2 years ago he pulled out one of our old breakers from his truck and said, "I show this to people and no one understands why your house did not burn down 2 years ago." He looked again in the box and saw the same problem now worse.

"And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed."Exodus 3:2

That same panel box had been smoking and had a flame inside and Keith had 2 days earlier replaced three breakers which had now melted to the panel box.

"And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:" Ex.13:21

When the Lord takes you through tribulation it is easy to find passages and see them in a whole new perspective!

"For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys"

The electrician always is amazed at how this house has failed to burn. He does work on factories and they have always burned! It's good that the Lord can send you on a search in His word due to circumstances to remind us not to be so consumed with life's business.

Amazing how many verses have the word fire in them!

"If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue."
Proverbs 25:21-23

This is the verse I found last time this happened as we had just moved here from Okinawa, Japan.

"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." Is.43:2

Another verse that sticks out to me to remember!

"And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable."

There are some really good reminders huh?

Anyway, many times as we go through these "fires" and tribulations we ask ourselves why? I have found over and over the answer is fairly simple!

"By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:" Romans 5:2-4

God seems to say to me He wants me to learn His character and be willing to show Himself strong! My tribulations will teach me patience (which I need badly), and experience, then ultimately hope---seems my classes are laid out for me!

A Lesson on Self-Image

2010-08-17T11:03:00.000-07:00

In this day and age it is NOT hard for a girl or woman to have self-image issues. All one must do if we start feeling remotely good about ourselves is stop by a local department store, gas station, drive down the road, check the mail, flip on a television, or go out to a movie. It will not take long before we realize that we are not up to par as far as social standards go in the area of beauty, talent, decorating, achievement, finances, cooking, or host of other things. Even reading blogs on the Internet can make a godly wife or mother depressed at times!

God warned us about comparing ourselves to one another as it is written, "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."

AS Christian we are very well aware that this is not wise, yet that old man creeps back in again and again and we must daily battle him again.

I have for quite some time given up on the fight to stay likened to "Miss America" because it simply won't happen. For one thing Miss American does not have 7 children, but Miss America does not have my priorities or live my life. While I am not saying being beautiful is a sin, Esther and Sarah were beautiful women, I am saying that when we make that a priority in our lives (an idol) then it becomes sin. We are reminded of the virtuous woman, "She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her."

There is always someone that will come along that will do things better then you do them. I am constantly amazed at the abilities of others! God sure gave gifting to MANY people and we are all indeed diverse!

There are things about us that are unchangeable and if you were given the power to change just one of them what would it be? As I pondered this thought I could not think of physical features that I would waste my time changing, but I would change my past! That would definably qualify as an unchangeable feature of me! It makes up who I am today! The part of my past that I would change would be my first marriage hands down! Although, I have some GREAT benefits from my sinful past (consequences too) that is only due to God's mercy (He is also Holy) on me and nothing I have done as a result.

If you, like me, can list things about your self that you would change if only you could; then you probably at one time or another suffered from self-rejection. We tend to do this by criticism, over attention to outward adornment, envy of other's abilities, anger, preoccupation on material gain, and hosts and hosts of other ways we tend to prove to ourselves and others that we are valuable.

In order to daily battle this natural tendency of ours we need to view ourselves through God's eyes and not our own. God designed us from the very beginning, he fashioned me from the foundation of the world with my unchangeable that would best achieve his purposes. God uses these unchangeable "defects" as motivation to develop His character and strength.

Everyone deals with their own struggles of self acceptance --most often they are the ones we least suspect. These "defects" will serve as a daily reminder that I belong to God and He is not finished with me yet!

I realize that if God wants to use me for His purposes, and that is obvious if He still has us here, He can transform any outward feature to take on new meaning if it may distract from His message and purpose for my life!

Understanding that God could change any of these unchangeable prior to my birth, yet He allowed them, has allowed me to see He designed these unchangeables to benefit my life and hopefully the life of others. If I focus on the fact that God is ever present and I belong to Him and these unchangeables help to serve as a daily reminder of that fact to help me develop the inward character qualities I (and He)desire then I can have the right response to these unwanted "defects".

God can correct the unchangeable features in your life after they have been used to develop the character God intended or He can change the way others view you --yes even the way your husband sees you. Glory in the fact that you are here and useful for His purpose. Stop focusing on yourself and see what this life is really about! God uses our "defects" to conform us more into His image and by developing the right responses and attitudes we can be sure our heavenly father will say we fought the good fight!

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:18

"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified." Isiah 61:3

A Blog To Note

2010-08-17T11:01:00.001-07:00

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled…” (Hebrews 12:14-15)

Bitterness is a common sin within the sons of Adam and the daughters of Eve. It is one we often try to hide, at least for a while. But bitterness, like holding one’s breath, can’t be detained for long. In the end, it overtakes us and becomes our constant focus. A most hated and beloved idol, bitterness is the cancer that consumes. It is a self-destructive sin that triggers an addictive adrenaline rush that floods our being. And, like most addictive behaviors, when out of control, it leads to our destruction.

Read the rest here.

Conquering Lies That Cause Fear

2010-08-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

Understanding that many of our fears are founded on lies we believe about ourselves and conquering the stronghold of those lies can set many women free from fear.

We naturally exalt our intellect when we decide to say or do something that violates God's given moral standards -our conscience will alarm us.

Because we want to believe lies we allow our intellect to dictate right and wrong. Our culture has elevated the intellect. They believe that every person should decide what's right and wrong for themselves. These ideas begin to deaden our conscience.

As Hitler understood, a lie that is repeated often enough will soon be accepted as truth. Once we accept lies, our conscience is damaged and we will being believing a whole series of lies about ourselves such as:

I am not good enough

I can not say anything right

I am stupid

I am inadequate

I must hide my faults in public

My life is a hopeless mess

I can never be forgiven

I can never conquer my sin

No one cares how I feel

God does not hear my prayers

God cannot use me

How can I conquer lies?

Identify the lies and search what God's word has to say about it and memorize these verses for example:

The lie such as I am a failure is a lie that many people believe. This statement indicates we can achieve our own success. Another part of the lie is we can elevate our own success. The third part is that we will be judged based on success rather then faithfulness.

Our failures can help remind us that we should be working for God and not for our own ambitions.

God's word to conquer this lie says:

"Seekest thou great things for thyself? see them not" (Jeremiah 45:5)

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shall meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy ways prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." (Joshua 1:8)

Conquering these lies and engrafting God's word can help us to overcome fears.

Identify your fears first then look to God's word.

Example:

Those that have a fear of their future have become presumptuous.

"The very fact that we have this fear reveals that we are presuming upon the future, because we have no guarantees that we will be alive tomorrow, much less in the years to come. God identifies this fear as an evil (see James 4:13-16). It robs us of the joy and achievements of today. Success comes by living each day to the fullest. This does not happen by living in the regrets of the past or in the uncertainties of the future. It is making the most of everyday."

After you have identified your fears--what lies do you believe? Look again to God's word to see what He says not to the culture or your own intellect! Transform these painful experiences into powerful responses much like Joseph did when he stated in Genesis 50:20, "Ye though evil against me; but God meant it unto good."

"Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2

Ask your self what benefits God may intend by allowing this to happen? Such as developing patience, "Tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts." Romans 5:3-5

Two resources that I must recommend are:

Lies WE Believe that Cause Stress and Disease

and

How to Resolve 7 Deadly Stresses

How to Conquer Fear

2010-08-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

Many women in our country bear tremendous guilt over a variety of issues. They also hold doubts about their future and feel like failures, worthless, hopeless, and even worse. Most of the time as women we fall prey to something we don't even realize we have fallen prey to--bitterness toward God.

Now, I have NEVER heard one woman admit to me she was bitter toward God. There are hosts of other people and situations we can blame, other people, our parents, our upbringing, our friends, or hypocrites -- those that claim to be Christian yet are living lives other then they should or defeated. This guilt inside and blame only cause other deadly stresses such as bitterness, lust (many forms), fear, and greed.

These stresses release tons of adrenaline and cortisol that will upset our hormonal balance and can bring about disease symptoms. Many medical tests will not be able to pinpoint the exact cause and doctors will be forced to prescribe toxic medications to ease the symptoms. Most of the time these issues can be cleared up by dealing with the root issue--usually bitterness and most often I find many women deal with fear (of all sorts).

Most of the time we woman fall into the trap by a few steps in a downward spiral. We can all be at different levels but it always leads in the same direction--never look down on one that may be further down the spiral then you as you are only one fall away! This spiral usually starts by first developing a spirit of ungratefulness due to our lack of contentment. I have again NEVER heard a woman admit that she is indeed discontent--we all know that is a sin so admitting it---no way! Let's get real for a moment and define discontent.

Contentment is not something we are born with and naturally have--- it is developed over time when we have a learning spirit. Paul stated, " I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therefore to be content." Eve had everything we women could ever want--she had a perfect world yet she was discontent. God was withholding from her something she wanted, but God knew it would destroy her if she had it. Contentment is realizing that God has already given to me everything I need for my present happiness. An ungrateful woman looks for things to criticize, but the one with the grateful spirit finds multitudes of things for which to be grateful. How long is your list?

We learn contentment by delighting in the things that God has given us not longing for things that He has not given us. If we are not satisfied with the things we have, we (like Eve) will never be satisfied with the things we want. Our only delight must be in the word of God with NO competing affections. We should engraft the commands Christ gave us and then transfer them to our soul by meditation.

After Eve developed guilt she blamed Satan for her downfall, however scripture tells us that Satan can only tempt us when we allow our own lusts to draw us away from God. "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1:14-15)

Satan just had Eve doubt God's word. When Eve listened he contradicted God's word, "Ye shall not surely die." The best or should I say worst lies are half truths that Satan is still using today and it is widespread!!! God said she would die--He (God) meant her spirit--Satan said she would not die he (Satan) meant her body and soul which would live on after the sin was committed. He is the father of lies and confusion because of these half truths which war against the truth of God's word.

When we develop ungratefulness due to lack of content and our drawn away from contentment by our own lusts we began to listen to these half truths. We have entered the spiral and the only way to conquer it is by God's truth, but most often we find we are unable to know which is the truth because of our guilt and we fall further down the spiral. Once we have doubts about God's truth we have already doubted the authorities in our lives. For me this started as a teenager as I doubted my parents. We begin to look to other people or things to get what only God can give and we fall into idolatry--expecting from people or things what only God can give.

Satan offered Eve wisdom, but true wisdom only comes from God. Only God can tell us right from wrong--not books, magazines, or friends only God. Idolatry blocks our escapes from temptation (1 Cor.10:13-14). When she has listened to Satan she changes her focus from God to other things. These lies will breed more lies and so on until she falls into stresses that cause the hormonal imbalances and her to seek medical help most often from those that are ungodly.

We have to feel sorry for a husband at this point, if the woman is married, as a woman who looks to someone other then God for her security, validation, or fulfillment has made that person--most often him her god and she will become disillusioned and bitter when he fails. Solomon said that a woman with these designs is more bitter then death (Ecc. 7:26). Most often to manage a husband closes off walls from her to survive and she will see this as proof that he does not love her as he should. These half truths that she has fallen prey to will rob her of joy, vitality, peace, creativity, and most of all the ability to love other--even her husband and God-- as He desires. The husband must share in this with the wife.

One of the most damaging stresses is fear--yet God tells us hundreds of times in scripture to not fear. Most wrong decisions can be traced back to fear. More often then not I meet woman who have fallen prey to fears of all sorts that is the basis of the major.... "What if".. questions...???

To conquer these giants we must realize that, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of darkness in this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

First develop a grateful spirit! To develop a grateful spirit begin to look for things for which to be thankful start with things like time, health, air we breath, sunshine, wisdom of God's word, His work on the cross, that He saved you from eternal death...Wives look to the things your husband does for you...he works to provide, he loves the children, he comes home...start the list and be grateful.

Next learn from that list and see all that God has given you and see what you do deserve! Believe in the finished work of Christ on the cross--Satan has no power there! God withheld from Eve that which would hurt her--are you desiring something that would ultimately hurt you and blaming God for withholding it? He has already given you what you need for your present happiness. God allows all things even those things that bring pain--thank God and use that as a spur to learn what God may be trying to show you list what you are learning or could learn! Don't waste a good problem and not learn from it!

Third study Gods word and learn the commands that Christ gave us. These will help us focus on the truth and discover the half truths we were believing. I find this does not always take hours of study each day--although there are and can be seasons--if God allows interruptions use those as promptings (using your understanding of proper order) to learn in other capacities. Sometimes I am in a study and I am interrupted by a baby cry or a toddler...(not a telephone call usually) I am a mother to these children and that is a right priority (again not usually the telephone). I do try to get up before them and not eat breakfast until I first eat of God's word, but beyond that if He allows distractions I need to learn in these ways. Sometimes He shows me and teaches me from my children ect.. So don;t set up these expectations and become frustrated because you can not do as _______(fill in the blank) does.

Fourth, engraft the commands of Christ in our soul and transfer them to your heart by meditation. Memorize the scripture (alone apart from commentaries ect--which may be good), say it over and over. Find those key words that stick out and learn about these words they will have deeper meanings. Pray ask God to show you more meanings from these verses...say them over and over as you fall asleep at night. Memorize the verses surrounding the verses you are focused on, often what comes before and after the verse will given more meaning to that verse.

There are a couple more steps but they get rather lengthy so I am saving them for a following post. These first four steps can be time consuming and will begin to pull you out from that downward spiral that Satan wants all of us on to destroy us, our marriages, and our children--ultimately! This is his goal what if he could do this in every believer and crush our seed? What if he could not? Realize where these lies come from and the only answers come from God. It was not until I was in step four that I could hear what I could not hear before--the voice and wisdom of God and not others! We can learn so much here!!!!

This is a never ending battle and I find I am in it all the time. Laying down my expectations and rights is a daily battle! Remembering that God allows all things and that problems that I experience are ALL for me to learn from so that I may be more useful to Him and His purpose and for my ultimate happiness. I also realize that I am capable of blaming God when I fail to lay down my expectations and rights--when I live daily without trusting what God is doing in my life for the greater good. It ALL has a purpose and no pain is without a cause and ultimately a reason. Let God carry the burden daily..His yolk is so much lighter!

May we all learn together and daily die to ourselves and "Fear not."

Thoughts of Wisdom

2010-08-13T08:35:00.000-07:00

Wisdom is discerning that because I belong to God as a Christian nothing can touch my life unless He first authorizes it--knowing it will be for my ultimate benefit.
See Romans 8:28

A basic aspect of wisdom is good judgement. God promises to give good judgement to the meek, and the way to meekness is yielding our personal rights. Demanding our rights is one of the surest ways to destroy our spiritual vision and rob ourselves of knowing God's ways. PS. 25:9

The proof of our commitment is whether or not we are prepared to thank God for whatever He does with that which we give Him.

Meekness-detecting my personal rights which have been violated and yielding them to God.

Many people often don't know HOW to hear from God or IF they have. God promises "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God."--they shall see as God sees! Seeing as God sees is a goal and is the essence of wisdom. The best way to be unable to gain wisdom and see as God sees is to fall into moral impurity--on any level. God warns us, ..abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul..."

In order to defeat moral impurity..to include the sin of desiring to be lusted after or to "Christianize" the sin (make it sawdust rather then a beam)..desire that everyone think I am pretty...we must realize that "..the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, He pondereth all his goings." Proverbs 5:21

Often we will convince ourselves that because we did not actually do that sinful deed we are innocent, but "thou understandest my thoughts afar off."

Wisdom is realizing that a man's morality dictates his philosophy and even his theology.

What I Was Reading Today

2010-08-12T08:33:00.000-07:00

In my reading today of Ken Ham's book called How Could a Loving God..? Powerful Answers on Suffering and Loss I ran across the part where he shared his story as he lost the life of his brother who died a SLOW AGONIZING death. Rob (Ken's brother) was a preacher and servant of the Lord and he had developed a disease of the brain that caused him to lose mental capacities to the point of a slow and painful death as he lost functions.

Ken claimed to have shared with the struggles of David when he wrote:

"Behold, these are the wicked; and always at ease, they have increased in wealth. Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence; for I have been stricken all day long, and chastened every morning."

As he and Rob's family suffered this great loss and feelings of frustration they sought to get the bigger picture (putting their particular situation in a bigger broader biblical perspective). Ken concluded, "I was was lead to a conclusion that reflected God's perspective rather than my human one. Did Rob deserve to suffer the way he did? The answer is "yes"."

How could Ken have believed that this was God's answer to him after such a death of a godly servant of Him? Ken explains further, "When you think about it from a Cristian perspective, we all deserve much, much more than the suffering afflicting Rob. Because of our rebellious condition ,we don't even deserve to live. But God didn't annihilate us, He allowed us to live-while at the same time giving us a taste of what life is like without God."

I know I have come to this conclusion several times, but I always seem to need to be reminded. I don't deserve life and if I was given the proper punishment I deserve then I would share in the same type of suffering that Christ endured. Christ suffered much more then any of us will suffer and yet I want to escape ANY kind of suffering! We ALL deserve death because we all sin (want our own independence from God and to be our own god). It is only due to God's mercy that any of us live!

I know I asked these types of questions as I went through my own "sufferings" of a divorce and the discovery that I broke a covenant with God and unknowingly committed the sin of adultery. I asked God, "WHY, would He allow me to commit such a sin a bear such a consequence when I was NOT even aware of this?" How could such a loving God allow such torment as I discovered the answers to this question when I discovered the bigger picture. I will examine this issue closer later.

Ken goes on to address the questions most Christians tend to ask and some "faiths" tend to claim, "Why Doesn't He Heal? and Did We Lack Faith?"

I won't give you the whole book here it is a very good resource and I think those that have gone through suffering...and who hasn't should read this book.

Esther Example

2010-08-10T19:55:00.000-07:00

What could Esther do in this situation? Was she hopeless? Did she just sit back and hope that somehow God would change her husband’s heart? No, she devised a Godly plan of action. This solution didn’t come from worry and fret; it came from days of fasting and seeking God’s help. Esther sought God with all her heart and with an attitude of total surrender to God’s will, whatever the outcome.

Now, do I think that Esther didn’t worry at all? I’m sure that as a human being and as a woman who cared for her family, she did struggle with these feelings and concerns—but they didn’t prevail in her heart. Faith prevailed—a faith strong enough to carry out the plan that God gave her.

There are a number of things that Esther and her cousin Mordecai did in response to the situation that God used to bring freedom to their people. These are concepts that a wife should consider when responding to a husband who does ungodly things and when facing the needs of a family about to be destroyed.

Read the rest here.

COUPLES CONFERENCE

2010-08-10T19:43:00.000-07:00

During the past few years, Paul and Jenny Speed have helped hundreds of families across the United States find freedom in their marriages and personal lives. They have shared tremendous truths that God has taught them through their own personal failures, and their testimony has prompted many to seek God's forgiveness and cleansing. Their open and honest discussions will comfort and challenge you, and their life message will give you hope and direction. Paul and Jenny reside in North Carolina with their six children.

If you are tired of just surviving in life and long to thrive in your relationship with your spouse, family, and God, then this conference is for you! Paul and Jenny Speed will share their life lessons and how the Lord has worked to build oneness of spirit in their marriage and family.

Conference topics include:

Marriage
Openness and brokenness
Lies we believe
Taking back surrendered ground
How to become best friends
How to clean up the past
How to communicate from the heart
Boundaries that bring safety
Learning to battle together
Love vs. lust

Family
What to do when you've messed up
Weeding the "garden" you have planted
How to parent from faith instead of fear
How to reach the heart of your children
Going after the rebel
Talking about moral issues
Ministry
Ministering as a family
Making your home a safe place
Helping others find freedom from bondage

A Life-Changing Conference for Singles!
During the past several years, Paul and Jenny have had the joy of speaking to thousands of young people across America. They have watched as many of these same young people find "Mr." or "Miss Perfect", but are soon sitting before them in tears, disbelief, and hurt. They are searching for answers to issues they are facing in their marriage that they never expected to encounter. As the Speeds began to counsel these young couples, they thought of how much heartache and damage could have been avoided if only these couples had learned certain truths BEFORE they married and not after. Thus, the idea of "WIT for Singles" was born!

"Whatever It Takes!" Singles Conference promises to be a life-changing, world-altering weekend! We will dig deep into our hearts and souls to expose all the hidden lies and strongholds that have kept us from becoming the person God has created us to be. The goal of this conference is to help you identify the areas of your life that need God’s wisdom and understanding applied to them. Not only will it prepare you for marriage, but it will prepare you for Life! You, by the grace of God, will never be the same!

Conference topics include:
Love God, Live Life!
Openness and brokenness
Exposing lies that shape your thinking
So, who is your "real" enemy?
How to throw your bags overboard!
Hanging on when you should be letting go!
Moral purity in an immoral world
How do you find Mr. or Mrs. Right when everything is wrong?
...and much more!

Attendees must be 18 years of age or older.

See this whole article here.

Hurt/Rejection—The enemy comes in on the tail end of a wound with a lie
● Many times you are hurt or rejected by the very thing you look to validate you. If that
painful experience is not responded to in the grace of God, bitterness will take root.
Satan will add incident after incident throughout life to reinforce it.
3. Bitterness—Comes when we “sit down” and have a conversation with the Enemy.
● We shake hands with the Enemy and make an agreement
● If we do not take hold of the grace of God, you become the victim. Victims never get free.
3. Lie—Conclusions about your identity based on circumstances or acceptance by others.
● “Because of this circumstance (this person who hurt me), therefore I must be
___________ (worthless, stupid, on my own, etc.)”
❒ Use irritations to identify core lies
Allow God to show you the issues of your heart, one at a time, level by level.
● Ask God what is keeping you from discovering your lie?
● “Why do I react this way? Why do I have these habits? Why can’t I respond to others and
engage emotionally? What is it inside me that leads me to choose to not lay my life down?”
● When we humble ourselves, take our own responsibility and die, God raises us up from the
grave to walk in resurrection power.
● You cannot identify your lie and find the truth if you are hiding sin and/or bitterness. When
the grace of God is resisted, freedom is bound.
● Certain facets of life, capabilities, abilities, failures, etc, may be true, but what is the deeper lie
that pins that to your character? What is the deeper lie from the Accuser of your soul telling
you about yourself as a person? i.e.: “I can’t do this or that, therefore I am ____________”
(worthless, a ‘nobody’, etc.)
● Repent—take responsibility for making an agreement with the Enemy and agreeing to these
lies, instead of just succumbing to the “fact” (lie) that he doesn’t love you, you’re not worth
pursuing, you’re abandoned, etc.
● Cry out for God to show you your true character, of who you are in Christ, Whose image you
are created in! Expose the lie you have accepted as truth for so many years, and renounce it in
the name of Jesus.
26 Whatever It Takes! Conference

1st Flu of the Year

2010-08-10T19:30:00.000-07:00

We are all passing a flu bug around this week. ALL the kiddos are sick and mom is starting to feel a bit under-the-weather!!!

A Blog To Note

2010-08-10T05:12:00.000-07:00

Found here

An Open Letter to Conservative Christian Guys

From a Conservative Christian Young Woman
Struggling to Remain Modest, Pure, and Content

I know that every family has different standards. They have different convictions that the Lord has put upon their hearts, and different likes and dislikes, unique styles and tastes. Christian fathers differ on plenty of things too. Therefore, the way each father leads his family varies. But, sometimes things that are clearly against the teachings of the Bible, get veiled under the “our own standards” cloak.

I don’t have a problem with girls wearing pants. I don’t have a problem with girls wearing only skirts. I don’t have a problem with stylish clothes, jewelry, makeup, or fashion—I wear these things. What I do have a problem with is girls who purposefully flaunt themselves in front of young men, especially since one of them could very well be my future husband - and I have a huge problem with the guys who fall them.

I don’t plan on compromising my standards. I’m certainly not saying, “If you don’t stop acting like a bunch of Gentiles (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5), I’m going to join you.” By God’s grace, I am committed to controlling my physical desires, rather than walking “in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God…" (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5)

So why do I dress and behave as I do? Why do I avoid defrauding you by flirting with you and tempting you to sin? Why don’t I enjoy your attention by lowering myself…by flaunting my body? God’s Word tells me that I was created for better things than this—and so were you. I have a husband out there somewhere who will appreciate my faithfulness.

"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies." (Proverbs 31:10)

“Women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing…” (1 Timothy 2:9-10)

"To be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." (Titus 2:5)

"That our daughters may be as pillars, sculptured in palace style…" (Psalm 144:12)
I pray he’s being just as faithful.

I don’t want to be like the woman in Proverbs 7 who selfishly flatters and entices men. I want to cause only one man to desire me- and that is my future husband.

Maybe it’s just me, but I find it really discouraging when I see a girl in tight jeans, a skin-tight shirt, and a flirtatious attitude walk into the room and my brothers in Christ, those “conservative, Christian (and yes, even homeschooled) young men flock to her side. They tease, flirt, and boost her ego (which encourages her to keep it up) by giving this girl every ounce of their attention...

Read the rest here

Resource Review

2010-08-08T18:49:00.000-07:00

Rather then go over a LONG list of resources I have recommended before I will take the rather easy way out and suggest you look over my previous postings here (resource tab below)for resources we have used and benefited from HIGHLY.

I also list some web sites and blogs!!!

Please take a look at them!!!!

Something For You To Read..

2010-07-27T20:51:00.000-07:00

Stacey wrote a great article on her blog here.

Notice I placed “homemaker” in red. That’s because I’d like to point out that out of all the things Paul lays out for old men, young men, older women, and younger women, the biggest controversy today seems to be over the homemaker. Do you think it’s a coincidence that this would be so, as we sit in a culture bathed in feminist theology?

Part 3 of The Series on Modesty

2010-07-25T19:47:00.000-07:00

You can read the full article here and link to parts 1 and 2.

Here is a part of the article:---ENJOY!

So, if “God looks at the heart,” then what does it matter how we present ourselves to others? Right? If our goal is to please God and not man, then what does it matter how I dress, or if I keep myself clean and presentable? So what if I dress a little revealing? God knows my heart. Right?

Remember, God looks at the heart, but all man can see is what we show him. In fact, I believe that God was warning us, as Believers, that our outward appearance does matter! He said that men do look at the outer appearance—right or wrong, they do. It's a human weakness.

So, although we as Christians shouldn’t judge others based on their appearance, we ourselves have a responsibility to remember that others do have this weakness

Quote To Note

2010-07-25T19:39:00.001-07:00

"There is a certain gentleness about really great Christians. There are many ways to observe this, but perhaps one of the best is to notice the tenderness for children in the great spiritual warriors of the past." Francis Schaeffer

Setting Up Home

2010-07-10T21:51:00.000-07:00

Oh boy! Lots of sweat! One of our A\Cs is out and due to the east coast heat wave the AC repairmen are BUSY!

We are finding several things that need repair! We seem to be chasing out the spiders and bugs! We have several black snakes around and a mouse!

Trying to change the VERY bright yellow on the walls to a natural brown and put up some of the fences.

Still working on getting everything to its intended location! We have most of the boxes to their labeled rooms, the kitchen set up, the clothes mostly organized, and the walkways cleared but that is about the extent.

Enjoying the green, woods, house, and bath tub!!!!

Home

2010-07-07T10:54:00.000-07:00

Made it Monday night at about 9:30pm! We have unloaded ALL our stuff whew!!!

Other then really tall grass, spiders, a couple of mice, and a snake greeting us--oh and one downed tree limb in the road.... all went well!!!

Boy, lots of work ahead as we dive into boxes, set up furniture, arrange kitchens and bathrooms, mow, and begin to paint!

Thanks so much for your prayers! I have felt the Lord moving us all along the way! Even as I open boxes nothing has been broken or lost! What a blessing after 3000 miles! Not one tire blowout even though the trailer was over loaded! God still does miracles! No sick babies!!!! I could go on and on!!!

I will update as things get settled!

Enjoy Reading

2010-07-04T07:17:00.000-07:00

A MUST read for those having seen or heard of the movie Eclipse.

“Welcome to the new majority. We’re right. You’re wrong. End of story.”

Andrew Wilkow –who my brother and I love listening to together –ends every radio broadcast the same way. He is definitely a man who is sure of himself and his position. Although you’ve got to love a conservative talk show host who has a Who is John Galt? mug and used to be a member of an 80s rock band, I’m not as confident as Wilkow, and don’t think I should be.....Read the rest here...

Also....

Did you know that Answers In Genesis goes to the NEA each year and reaches out to teachers that have to teach from the junk that can be in some text books? You can go here to read.

This dessert looks like a keeper for those recipe files!!!! mmmmmmm...

Great read on disciplining your children--especially for 1st time parents.

Another Day, Another Mile!

2010-07-04T06:39:00.000-07:00

We stopped in Oklahoma to see some family for a day and then headed for Little Rock, Arkansas. We made it safely and have rested and eaten well! We will continue today to Knoxville, TN for the last stop on the way home to Virginia!

Mom, the car is doing VERY well!

Something For You To Read..

2010-07-01T21:21:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK, June 29 /Christian Newswire/ — Irish pharmacist and pro-life leader Patrick McCrystal is in New York City this week for the U.S. launch of his second book, which deals with the devastating effect contraception has on marriages and the culture as a whole.

McCrystal’s book comes on the heels of Nancy Gibb’s recent expose in Time magazine, “Love, Sex, Freedom and The Paradox of the Pill,” which celebrates the “first medicine ever designed to be taken regularly by people who were not sick.” This was followed by the surprisingly candid commentary on the Pill by movie star and celebrity sex symbol Raquel Welch, who sees the lasting legacy of the Pill as the breakdown of marriage and the family: “I myself have been married four times, and yet I still feel that it is the cornerstone of civilization, an essential institution that stabilizes society, provides a sanctuary for children and saves us from anarchy.”

Read the rest here

Made It!

2010-07-01T20:42:00.000-07:00

Made it to Kirtland Air Force Base safely and are in our usual comfortable quarters. Do you know this is the 8th time we stayed here--crossing the US? Tomorrow we head to Oklahoma to my parents where they are graciously giving Keith a car to drive to work and help us save TONS on gasoline!

Traveling

2010-07-01T07:22:00.000-07:00

We made it to Flagstaff and boy is there some wind up here! There is always wind in Arizona when we travel through here! Keeps it from being quite so HOT I guess!

Today we are heading toward Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Pray for safety as we travel.

Checking out of housing went very smooth and they said we did fine at cleaning and repairs--whew!!!

Heading That Way!

2010-06-30T10:30:00.001-07:00

Passed Housing Inspection and we are heading down the highway toward Arizona tonight! Pulling a full load! Pray for safety!

Leaving In The Morning!

2010-06-29T18:18:00.000-07:00

Pray our inspection goes very well and for safety!

Bargains

2010-06-27T09:10:00.000-07:00

The day before we started loading our boxes and furniture onto the trailer we went looking for some bargains out in town. The military advertises items they have for sale on a yard sale web site. We came across one ad for bunk beds about a month ago. They had advertised them for $300--we waited as the price dropped to asking $175. To us it seemed that they must want them gone! They were the metal type with mattresses, so we knew we could get our moneys worth.

We called on them and found that they had been in storage for a long time and needed a bit of cleanup. Some Marines had helped one of their guys move their things into storage and had broken a small (but fixable) part. Keith bargained with the guy for a while and we ended up leaving with a $50 set of bunks that were very cleanable (which we already cleaned) and fixable (fixed now).

The next item on our agenda was a sofa! One of our sofas had it from the last move out here. I saw an ad for a leather sofa that originally had been listed for $200, but I asked if they would take $150 for it and they said that would be agreeable. We went to a home in Yucca Valley of a retired Navy guy and saw one of the nicest leather sofas I had ever seen. Keith ended up buying the sofa and a kitchen cabinet (solid wood) for under $200!

We were so thrilled with the bargains that we got we went home filling very thankful to the Lord for once again providing needs as well as wants. We were also able to find Joshua a brand new bike for about $15 and all the boys new jeans for under $3 each!

Since our bargain hunting we have been loading the trailer with all the books and furniture. We should have everything out of the house today except for mattresses and our clothes!

Monday and Tuesday will be spent cleaning to pass inspection on Wednesday morning when we check out of 29! Please pray that our inspection goes well and we are able to check out quickly and easily!

We will be having a party given for us as we leave 29 on Monday the 28th and we will be leaving early in the morning (here, but NOT too early for those of you in VA) on Thursday the first of July!

See ya all soon!!!

Packing

2010-06-24T15:34:00.000-07:00

The movers came out today to move the heavy items for us. We decided to have them move the bigger heavy items especially those located upstairs and likely to move them upstairs in the house in Virginia!

We have been spending the last few weeks packing a few boxes at a time. I had a goal of 2 boxes per afternoon and 2 boxes per evening. Most often I made that goal and it added up to big a large sum of boxes in the garage ready to be moved. I would advise anyone that knows they will be moving to begin early and pack a small amounts that saves a lot of headache later as it comes closer and closer.

I can not count the number of times we have moved. We have rarely spent more then 2 years in one location and have moved across the country or into another country on several occasions. I look forward to the remote possibility of staying in one place for a number of years--Lord willing!

We were able to purchase a trailer for the price range we were looking for and are having the brakes and tow worked on today and it should be ready to go tomorrow so we can begin loading Friday!

We are to be out of our house here on the 30th, so this is our official LAST weekend in California!

VIRGINIA OR BUST!

God's Timing Even In Our Selfishness

2010-06-22T21:59:00.000-07:00

Today I went out for my once in every 10 years or so salon day-haha! Keith took the afternoon to watch our children so mom could go get a perm at the salon. As I entered the salon they were pretty empty and only one beautician was there cutting one other persons hair. She checked my appointment and said that the young lady that was to perm my hair was getting fresh towels and would return in a few minutes.

I waited in the small waiting area and picked up a magazine to look at some hair styles. I noticed most of the books were on shorter hair and knowing I prefer and have longer hair I flipped through them looking for a book or magazine that would cater to that style preference. I saw a magazine that contained longer hair, but saw the front cover was torn, so I had NO idea what magazine it was that I was looking at. I could NOT even have imagined what I would see as I flipped a few pages. I quickly concluded that was NOT a hairstyle magazine and placed it back quickly on the self and the notice on the back it was a Cosmopolitan Magazine! I really had NO idea how bad things had gotten! I don't know what the topic was for that magazine, but it should be left to a married couples bedroom not for everyone to see especially children.

As I sat there staring off another young lady walked in and found I was her appointment and escorted me back. She begin with asking me what I wanted to do with my hair as the other customer left. After she shampooed and began rolling the basic chit chat that ALL hair dressers seem to have mastered began. As we talked she asked the infamous question, "So, how many children do you have?" This was followed by my typical, "I have 7!" And then the normal disbelief of the 2 ladies present.

As she continued to roll my hair for the next 2 hours or so I was to host 3 ladies around me asking a HOST of questions from; " Do you know the Duggars?" to "What are your dress standards?" to "What is your religious belief?"

Interesting enough not one of these woman had any children. One commented that she could not imagine having that many children and I just stated, "Just as you can not imagine having them I can not imagine not having them." "We just have different life choices." She agreed that and continued with the questions.

After my 3 and half hour appointment I had talked to over 7 ladies and witnessed to all about why I make the choices I have made and how much my life has changed over the years. How I was not raised in a large homeschooling family and have dated, divorced, and been in the Army. My life is NOT perfect and is by far from spotless!

After I left my hairdresser said how she loved big families and had been raise Catholic but became a Christian and her and her husband had talked about having children.

Please pray over these ladies and particularly the hairdresser I had Brianna!

So, what I went out for is to have a selfish pampering time, but God intended for me to invest in the life of others.

"A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps." Prov.16:9

The Dating Mindset

2010-06-21T13:16:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up I was learning the dating mindset. Much of this mindset fell into place as early as 2nd grade when I began to give my little innocent heart to boys that I would pray, even at that tender age, "Lord, let me marry him please when I grow up." So often I do have that song in my head that was sung by Garth Brooks Unanswered Prayers..

As I began to grow that mindset held me in bondage and I began to give my affections to others that I would "Go With." I prayed again that the Lord would bless this relationship and would allow me to marry this one when we were older. My heart would be broken as one relationship would end and the young man would go on to another relationship. I would begin to question what is wrong with me and I began to search out what these other girls had that I did not. I sought their examples and media that was popular and had many "examples" of what I should be. In all of that seeking about what I was to be like God became more aloof and distant to me. I entered MANY relationships in high school all which would end in "breaking up" and a failed relationship. This would prepare my heart for divorce! I learned that when someone did not fulfill your desires, make you unhappy,broke your trust, ect.. that the answer was simple..you leave and find someone else that would again make you happy. I learned to do this and had this done to me over and over, I became insecure in knowing that this fellow could leave at any time! If you acted at ALL upset over the break up then you were considered to have "fatal attractions" and weird! You had to watch the young man you dated and prayed for flatter another young lady (who usually was a "friend") right in front of you and act as though it did not bother you at all or doom yourself to weirdness and no more dates!

As I began to enter the end of my high school years I became fearful of entering college. I had talked with many "good" friends and heard how hard it was to enter college and try to remain pure in heart, mind, or body. At this point some young man came along with an offer that would provide me an escape from these "temptations" that I did not feel strong enough to stand up against. I thought it was better to marry then to "burn" and so I agreed and we married just a few days after my graduation.

Needless to say mine and his mindset was one of divorce (though I never imagined myself divorced my intentions were honorable) and after the infatuation wore off there was very little remaining in our relationship. We "tried" multiple times, but we had very little in "common" and eventually believed that we had "fallen out of love" with each other. I will tell you first hand that if your relationship is to built on lust rather then love then you are heading for disaster. Very few survive! We did not know love because we did not understand God's love and sacrifice for us. We also did not have a relationship with the Lord, though I claimed Christianity. I had NO IDEA that this would damage Christ's reputation and that is why He HATES divorce and why He placed limitations on those that are divorce in Christian work and provisions!

That relationship would end in divorce and I have no blame for that young man. It is my responsibility to the Lord for my own actions. I was NO better then he was in the relationship! Yes, I would find that I would bear a child from that relationship and that would begin to show me God's love through the life of that wonderful child!

I would within a little while meet my husband Keith while working at a school. We both worked there for a few months. I was a very young single mom and had all kinds of labels and very blunt comments when I ventured out of my parents home. I so desired a committed and loving marriage and home! I desire to please God, but even with council from pastors during and after my divorce had NO idea how to go about it. Keith and I began to date and I began to "feel" again toward him. This made feel insecure and I wanted to run (which I did and told him NO at first when he asked me to marry him). Ultimately, Keith did ask my parents for my hand and my parents gave their approval and supported a quick marriage. My parents are always VERY wise in their choices and for a note have NEVER been divorce though they married in their teenage years!!!!

The biggest regret we have for this period is that we NEVER asked Keith's mother (his only living parent) for her approval or even opinion on our marriage. For that I am grieved and sorry. What a difference that might have made to have asked her blessing and may have cemented our relationship! So, MOM forgive me for failing to ask your support and guidance in this relationship? You could have provided much insight!

It wasn't until AFTER Keith and I married that we heard and read about divorce and remarriage! We thought we each had the "exception clause" in our prior relationships and had NOT realized how we had damaged God's reputation and tainted what He would use to show himself to us in our earthly relationships! We both sought scripture to "back up" our claims, but in vain as it was clear what the Bible said and meant. Though there were MANY commentaries how to re-read scripture it was evident what the Lord meant!

Keith and I were grieved at these thoughts and purposed to rebuild what we had broken. We had broken our relationship with the Lord and damaged HIS reputation. The Lord desires a godly seed and we sought to give this area of our lives to the Lord.

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Isaiah 61:3

The early parts of our marriage were like most others in we were in absolute unwavering adoration for each other, but like most others as more children and responsibilities come adoration were off and reality and life catch up. We could NOT hide in a shell from the rest of the world--although truth be told at that point in life I could have easily gone off to live in a dessert island with Keith! We probably had MORE struggles with temptations then average due to this background AND a HUGE learning curve.

As most of you that read my blog are probably aware we still suffer from a HUGE learning curve that can probably be contributed to the divorce early in our lives. I prefer NEVER to speak of my past as I am NOT proud of it (I prefer it in my hall of shame), but if ever it can help another to avoid or learn from it then by ALL means I am willing to share.

I hope that I can be a testimony of the beauty that God can build from ashes. Divorced people have one mark in their favor if they can and are willing to learn. They can learn in a VERY real and tangible way forgiveness and that nothing can be done in their own strength. Humility is another character that can be learned. Am I saying ONLY those that are divorced can learn this? NO...in fact most often due to our sin we tend to have a BIGGER learning curve, but we can see instantly HOW sinful we are and have a REAL tangible marker on how unworthy we are to receive God's grace. We tend to also be very quick to spot sin..once lives are given over and sins forsaken, but the forsaking part can come SLOW!

I like the verse that come just prior to the one listed above verse 2 says:
"To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn." May we be used to comfort ALL who morn?

and the verse following verse 4; "And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations."

Can we be used to speak to other generations like no one else?

For those that now find themselves distraught as they begin to discover how they have broken covenants and morn (as you should) and you begin to discover God's holiness you have a unique opportunity to reach out with humility and love and use your brokenness... that he might be glorified. And guess what your children are NOT broken and can build..remember David would have Solomon in an adulteress relationship and God used Solomon to build His temple..And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

Remember WHY Christ came. Was it to save those that were already saved or to minister to the sick and lost. Did he NOT clean the leaper? Did he reject them after he cleaned them? Did he NOT tell the thief that laying dying on the cross next to him..."Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." Luke 23:43

Don't take man's word for it. Search God for the truth..And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.Zechariah 13:9

Be careful what you read and listen to; "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1

We must be careful not to overstep our boundaries that God has given us and work within these limitations, but God clearly is NOT through with you yet. How I know this is that you are still living and breathing today. You will no longer be when God has accomplished ALL He has purposed for your life until then fight the good fight and learn from your sin and be a testimony for His glory!

10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Rev.3:10-11

Some resources I recommend when you are allowing God to do the rebuilding after you have destroyed another's life!

The Rebuilder's Guide it has a supplement as well!

Also, for any in Virginia that need a copy of this book we have an extra copy! If you are Rebuilding this is an essential tool!

The Lost Pearl

Remember your goal in life is to glorify your father which is in heaven and you must learn to USE your background and testify! God can and if you asked has forgiven you--it's just in the case of divorce we find it very hard to forgive ourselves!

Not Sensuality

2010-06-20T16:39:00.000-07:00

With this in mind, we women have a choice whether or not to make it difficult for the men around us. It’s been said that just as men have the sinful tendency to lust after women; likewise, women have the sinful tendency to lust after being lusted after. Notice how the married woman in Proverbs 7 wasn't actually a prostitute, she simply dressed like one. Her heart motives were to entice a young man.

Please read the rest here. and part two here.

Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-20T16:08:00.000-07:00

Some of My Answers..

2010-06-18T21:50:00.000-07:00

My answer's are in italic!

I have no idea how anyone can care for the needs of so many children. Well, yes, I do: the kids are stacked in bunks, the garage is made into a bedroom (more bunks), the kitchen table is a door and the big kids become babysitters for the many babies, none of whom are breastfed for more than a few months between Mom's pregnancies... or else she's tandem nursing.

My kids do have bunks as well and like them very much. During preparation for this move I asked my oldest son who is 15 what type of new bed he'd like and he replied, "I don't need a new bed mine is fine for me." Yes, that shocked me as I offered him a full or queen size bed! He's quite happy with his 12 year old bunk beds!

My garage here is still a garage and I don't have a garage in Va.

As far a babysitters, I have not yet left our younger children until at least age 6 with any of their older brothers or sisters. I only did this when I was down the road or had a neighbor checking on them and that has been twice thus far!

I breastfeed usually about 18mths and Elisabeth fed for 22 mths! I have never tandem nursed! I have been closed a couple of times, but about a month before delivery they all have stopped!

The household is chaos; nobody is given really fine instruction in musical instruments, unless the Walmart plastic guitar counts; the finances run in the red, and regular dental care is nonexistent.

Most households I know have some chaos if children are present be it 2 or 19! I am guessing here by chaos she means noise and children playing and having fun!

No my children do not play instruments and neither do I or Keith. I know several homeschooling families who do. So far I have yet to meet anyone who became a professional at it!

Finances run in the red at times for everyone I believe. I have heard of multimillionaires who are now bankrupt. Then I have heard how managers of McDonald's manage their money well and thrive! We have always been provided for and our needs have been met!

We have very good dental care--now it's time to make the dentist runs again. It looks as if some of ours are headed for braces! I wonder if she meant for mom or the kids? Anytime I go they say I have great teeth???

Mom surrounds herself with pillows at night in hopes that Ol' Randy can't find her, but he does, anyway. Next morning, she prays in angst to be made willing to bear another mouth to feed. Her wardrobe is all maternity clothes, because her poor belly never goes down. Birthday and Christmas money is earmarked for another bathroom. She is 35, and looks 50. Her husband drives a wreck and longs for windfalls of cash that, when they come, are instantly gone. Sound familiar, gentle ladies?"

I have NEVER surrounded myself with pillows.The answer is simple I LOVE my husband! I LOVE having my children and although pregnancy can be difficult it is well worth any "inconveniences".

I do have many maternity items in my wardrobe. Who wouldn't if they were bearing children or nursing? Many of my maternity skirts people have no idea they are maternity at all!

My belly goes down after birth thank you! It is never going back into a size 5 nor will I weigh 100 lbs again. Again well worth the price! I never heard God praise this area.

In Virginia we have 5 bathrooms and here we have 3, so we have enough bathrooms!

Goodness, I don't think I look 50! I never had anyone say that before. I don't have any grey hairs???

My husband drives a 2006 Chevy Suburban and he told me he has everything he has ever wanted and never dreamed he would have this much!

God gives us bodies that will reproduce automatically, and that was fine in a young, underpopulated Earth. Now, however, the planet groans with its burden of humans, and this results in massive crime rates, widespread poverty, and dense pollution. We need to be responsible in our family planning; the ability to reason is one thing that separates us from the animals.

I am guessing she may believe in evolution, but I have never heard God say otherwise?
I agree that if parents are NOT wise and people do not find the Lord then sin reigns!

The ability to know right and wrong does distinguish us from animals, but being made in God's image and being able to live with him for eternity is what I thought made us different. Remember by reasoning Darwin wrote his book and by reason we kill babies!

What I'm hearing here is sentimentality, not godly obedience. Some of you advocate just letting nature take its course. You take verses out of context to justify this, but it won't wash, folks. God never intended for us to abuse the very great gift of reproduction!

Okay! I don't think we can read God or know his mind. I am responsible to stand before the Lord just as you are and we will each answer. I am doing what I believe is the right thing and obviously she believes she is! I will not try to change her mind nor will she---I promise--get me to change mine. So, we are to love one another as sisters in Christ and I hope to never speak reproachable about each other! We all stand in the judgment and we will be awarded our prize. Bless you as you endeavor to do as the Lord commands!

Before I Forget Father's Day This Week...

2010-06-16T15:13:00.000-07:00

I remember Daddy's hands, folded silently in prayer.
And reaching out to hold me, when I had a nightmare.
You could read quite a story, in the callouses and lines.
Years of work and worry had left their mark behind.
I remember Daddy's hands, how they held my Mama tight,
And patted my back, for something done right.
There are things that I've forgotten, that I loved about the man,
But I'll always remember the love in Daddy's hands.

Daddy's hands were soft and kind when I was cryin´
Daddy's hands, were hard as steel when I'd done wrong.
Daddy's hands, weren't always gentle
But I've come to understand.
There was always love in Daddy's hands.

I remember Daddy's hands, working 'til they bled.
Sacrificed unselfishly, just to keep us all fed.
If I could do things over, I'd live my life again.
And never take for granted the love in Daddy's hands.

Daddy's hands were soft and kind when I was cryin'
Daddy's hands, were hard as steel when I'd done wrong.
Daddy's hands, weren't always gentle
But I've come to understand.
There was always love in Daddy's hands.

Daddy's hands were soft and kind when I was cryin´.
Daddy's hands, were hard as steel when I'd done wrong.
Daddy's hands, weren't always gentle
But I've come to understand.
There was always love .....
In Daddy's hands.

How To Answer Controversy

2010-06-15T23:26:00.000-07:00

Stacey over at Your Sacred Calling Answers the questions or controversial ideas and statements such as the letter below on her blog here. I encourage you to read her answers as a mama of 10 children.

"I have no idea how anyone can care for the needs of so many children. Well, yes, I do: the kids are stacked in bunks, the garage is made into a bedroom (more bunks), the kitchen table is a door and the big kids become babysitters for the many babies, none of whom are breastfed for more than a few months between Mom's pregnancies... or else she's tandem nursing.

The household is chaos; nobody is given really fine instruction in musical instruments, unless the Walmart plastic guitar counts; the finances run in the red, and regular dental care is nonexistent.

Mom surrounds herself with pillows at night in hopes that Ol' Randy can't find her, but he does, anyway. Next morning, she prays in angst to be made willing to bear another mouth to feed. Her wardrobe is all maternity clothes, because her poor belly never goes down. Birthday and Christmas money is earmarked for another bathroom. She is 35, and looks 50. Her husband drives a wreck and longs for windfalls of cash that, when they come, are instantly gone. Sound familiar, gentle ladies?"

God gives us bodies that will reproduce automatically, and that was fine in a young, underpopulated Earth. Now, however, the planet groans with its burden of humans, and this results in massive crime rates, widespread poverty, and dense pollution. We need to be responsible in our family planning; the ability to reason is one thing that separates us from the animals.

What I'm hearing here is sentimentality, not godly obedience. Some of you advocate just letting nature take its course. You take verses out of context to justify this, but it won't wash, folks. God never intended for us to abuse the very great gift of reproduction. "

Testing Our Vehicle

2010-06-13T21:23:00.000-07:00

You know since I have been an adult I have never been in an auto accident. Although I hate to break that perfect record we found ourselves in one on Friday afternoon!

We were heading back from Palm Desert on Friday afternoon and came into the town of Joshua Tree. As we were going down the road I began to fall asleep (I was NOT driving) and the kids were feeling worn after being gone all afternoon.

Keith was driving and looked off for a moment and I guess the lady in front of us changed lanes and we slammed in the back of her. Her car was damaged beyond being drivable, but we praise the Lord she was fine.

Our one and only car--the Suburban was badly damaged in the front passenger side and is being worked on at the body shop. I hope it can be fixed prior to us leaving in a couple of weeks!

We became very thankful that we were ALL okay as ALL the kids were with us. We are thankful the Lord hears Israel as he prays every time, "Lord please keep us safe while we are traveling."

Knowing that the Lord knows and allows all things and nothing is out of His perfect plan or control we KNOW that this will ALL come out good in the end! God promised that ..."all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose."

Everyone is fine and we are home and have a fun little rental car to jet around town in till the car get fixed.

Please pray that the lady we hit is fine as she stated later that her neck hurt. Pray that our insurance will cover all damages and claims! Pray that we will leave 29 at His perfect timing and our travel will be safe and not drawn out!

I hope everyone else is doing well!!!

Oh, by the way if I was in an accident again--I hope not but I would pick a Suburban they stand up very well!

Kitchen Ideas

2010-06-13T14:23:00.000-07:00

Meanings of Names

2010-06-13T14:10:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot discovered in our family when we discover the meanings of our names. The Lord has been gracious to show me in scripture verses that would bring out and identify more fully the meaning of my name.

Some things we have discovered--though NOT in great detail:

Anita means gracious one or full of mercy

Marie means Living Fragrance

Hannah's name means exactly the same as mine!

John means Jehovah has been gracious

Micheal means a gift from the Lord!

Keith and Anita's name together means strength and mercy!

I really believe we all should look into the meaning of our names and see what the Lord intended for purposes in our lives. He knew from before we were born what we would do with our lives and what our purposes are in life!

Comments..

2010-06-05T19:55:00.001-07:00

Does anyone think a dark cabinet with a black counter top and a cocoa wall color would look good in a galley kitchen?

Ideas...

2010-06-03T17:35:00.001-07:00

All my ideas were taken from Southern Living!

I love the color combinations--minus the dog profile!

Any other places to visit for more ideas?

Looking For Ideas...

2010-06-03T17:26:00.000-07:00

I am looking for ideas that might help me with the decor of my house. I wanted ideas that would be at least to some degree like our home and things we own or could be found---ummmm---cheap! Here were some inspirations!!!!!

A Daily Thought on Homeschooling

2010-05-25T12:10:00.001-07:00

I get daily emails from Alpha and Omega where I get most of our homeschool curriculum. I use the Switched on Schoolhouse software. They send out daily encouraging thoughts and this is a copy of their last email. You can read more of their devotionals by ordering this book.

The most important influence on your homeschooled child is the environment
in which he grows. When parents demonstrate a healthy relationship between each other and the Lord, a child's perspective about himself and his world is
influenced for good. Parents who fear the Lord and live according to His Word
have a far greater impact on homeschooling's success than parents who worry
about having the best curriculum or the latest computer. Giving your child a
Christian education, therefore, requires a homeschooling parent to be completely
in line with God's will.

The life of Timothy in the New Testament is a
wonderful example of a young person who benefited from the godly influence of
his family. Timothy enjoyed a relationship with Jesus Christ because he first
saw the fruits of a spiritual walk in the lives of his mother and grandmother (2
Timothy 1:5). Through their sincere faith, Timothy learned the truth and became
a Christian. Later, when meeting the apostle Paul, Timothy proved himself to be
a worthy disciple capable of enduring great hardships for the sake of the
Gospel.

What kind of example are you setting for your child? In your
day-to-day living and homeschooling, is your child seeing you seek God's
strength, comfort, and wisdom? Are you serving in humility and incorporating the
Scriptures into your decision making? If you want your child to be successful
while homeschooling, make sure the example of your life leads him toward Christ
instead of away from Him. Even as Paul exhorted young Timothy, "Be thou an
example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in
faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12b).

Lord, I stand in awe at the great
responsibility You've given me to be a homeschooling parent. Let my life be a
testimony of Your unending love and may my children grow to serve You with their whole hearts. In Jesus' name, Amen.

A Gift...A Blessing...

2010-05-15T20:44:00.000-07:00

I am ever amazed how the Lord works. I mentioned once a need for fruit and the Lord answered abundantly! I recently mentioned a need to make new hot pad holders and again a need was met in the most unexpected ways. Even our "littlest" needs do NOT escape our Lord.

Thanks to both my moms that see a need and meet it. I am grateful to BOTH of you in my life and LOVE you BOTH VERY much!

Thanks for fruit..abundantly!!! yummy!!!!AND Hot pad holders--they are perfect for my kitchen by the way I do have apples in my kitchen!!!!perfect fit!!! As Keith says I am soooo country!!!--wonder where I get that from????

A Question Asked of Homeschoolers...

2010-05-15T20:13:00.000-07:00

This is an article found at Ladies Against Feminism. I missed this article, so I have to thank Meredith for bringing it to my attention on her blog Striving to Serve at Home!

This is a question I have been asked several times, but mostly avoid due to the fact we move so often and mostly to places "normal" people would NEVER enroll their children.

Having said that, I would commend Christian teachers as they have a mission field before them each day and make NO mistake it IS a mission field! We applaud your efforts and sacrifice as they are NOT at all well paid!

Also, I think there is a place for public school and private schools. Just as there are needs for Children's Sunday Schools. We have just never experienced that need, but some people DO have a need for these! For us it is just a choice to do something else OR just not needed at present!

I could have written this article minus the "level" of the school. I attended a small "country" type school. I also did NOT make this kind of GPA!!!!!haha! Otherwise, I had the same experiences. I remember bringing home and giving to my mom the explicit material given to me at a "health class". Needless to say my parents were shocked and I believe called the school--thanks to my parents!

When I was close to becoming a victim to peers my parents also stepped in and called our pastor! Thanks again to wise parents that corrected my wayward behavior!

Though I have gone through trials in my life that is exactly what Christ died for---me a sinner--undeserving and saved ONLY by His grace! If I had ANY message in life I could bring to the world it would be that ANYONE can be saved! ANYONE can live in God's grace and follow ALL His commands! Guilt and consequence are real for past breaking of God's law and how He instructed us to live. NO ONE has to live lukewarm OR guilt ridden the rest of your life. There is a way to live a happy, productive, joyful life in the Lord and it begins at salvation. A TRUE repentant heart NOT one just looking for another insurance policy--just in case!

Please seek the truth from God's word alone and test Him and see if it is true. Stop listening to the world God can speak to you ALONE (without help) if you give Him a chance. Yes, you can be free from the bondage of sin!

For the FULL article please click on the title below!

But what about the “good” public schools?
Posted By Luci McLeod on May 10, 2010

Not for young readers.

When discussing the many advantages of homeschooling, many parents are confronted with the question: “But what about the ‘good’ public schools? Why would you not send your children there?” Of all the challenges to homeschooling, this question is perhaps among the most pernicious: being vague, it’s difficult for a parent to answer. Without some idea of what students gain (or lose) from “good” public schools, homeschooling parents may find their choices difficult to defend....

Choices = Consequences

2010-05-14T14:41:00.000-07:00

"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death; blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." Deut.30:19

If you look at Deuteronomy you will find a summary of the 1st 4 books of the old testament known as the Pentateuch or Torah. To have a quick overview of these books very simply go to the book of Deuteronomy. The word Deuteronomy in Hebrew literally means the words of Moses. These are the words Moses would give just prior to their anticipated entrance into the promise land. It was to be their charter or Magna Car ta (Char ta) if you will.

Choices in life are a given. Life itself is and unending series of choices. God made humans and angels to be given choice and heaven and earth to bear witness. Make no mistake choices are inevitable you will make them.

Choices = consequences or better yet Choices = Eternal Consequences

NEVER think that choices have no consequence! They will affect your seed forever--your seed not only includes children but grandchildren and on down!

When studying the Bible I always try to remember the law of 1st mention. This means the 1st time a principle or word is mentioned in scripture it reserves the right to ALWAYS interpret ALL following passages stating the use of this word, principle, or anything.

In Genesis 2:8 first mentions that man may eat from the trees in the garden and it would be good for food.

Later it will mention the tree of knowledge that they must not eat from or they would die!

God mentioned what would result from not obeying. They and their seed would bear the ETERNAL consequences of death!

We have in our midst an enemy attempting to get us to make bad choices!

God has made man to choose and choose you must!

When God presents a choice it will come WITH consequences! Having done that He wrote a book that would give FULL dis closer of choices! He gave warnings, examples, and teachings on all choices prior to you ever making a choice!

Satan is one of God's created archangels. His name is Lucifer with the title given to him of Satan which in Hebrew literally means trap setter! found in Isaiah 14 and Ez. 28

Satan's trap or ploy is to get you to make quick emotional decisions without clearly thinking of the ETERNAL consequences for you and your seed!

Satan tells Eve in Genesis 3:4 "Ye shall NOT surely die." He makes us believe choice bears NO consequence!

If you desire to know who is speaking to you:

God gives you the choice and reveals the consequences. Satan makes you choose masking and having you believe there are NO consequences. ALL choices bear a consequence.

Satan will base choice on our lusts, pride, or desires! No consequence will be considered.

All advertising is based on this principle such as car ads: No money down and no monthly payments. Consequences WILL result!

Satan has a 2 fold attack

1. Diminish importance of God's word (Gen. 3:1). "Hath God said...?" In our society education will diminish the importance of God's word...like saying as Satan..."Did God really mean it?" "Does God really mean the wages of sin are death...?" "Does he really mean not to covet?" Education today diminishes Gods word by questioning it and then removing it. Knowledge will puff up!

2. He will rush you to make a quick decision by masking any consequences. "Ye shall not surely die..."Like meth addicts (or those addicted to alcohol) when they first indulge it creates a euphoria. They will remember that feeling and take again and again more and more believing they can get back to that initial state! Satan will mask consequences.

Choice (exouisa--Hebrew) means power of choice, liberty, doing as please, power of authority.

Parents will know about the decision of their child because they have made the wrong choice before! Children lack experience to know the consequences.

When you make a decision and considered the eternal consequence or made a quick rash decision and failed to consider eternal consequences you just revealed whose authority you are under.

The word of God confuses us at times because it will ask us to do things we do not understand...like give and it shall be given unto you.

Hebrew word ba-char choice means to prove or to try. This will precede a choice in Is.48:10. It means to examine a consequences NOT the choice itself.

Even when God's word makes no sense do it and understand later.

How do we understand consequences:

Get wisdom AND understanding (Proverbs 4:5-9)

Both examine choice AND consequence. Wise people understand to fully seek the consequence and understanding people understand what those consequences will mean or result in. Seek wisdom and understanding.

Our secret of life is to examine consequences continually!

This information was in a sermon by DR. Karl Coke I highly recommend you look at his material!

Cost of Motherhood

2010-05-10T16:21:00.000-07:00

Once a lady went to visit her friend. During the visit the children of the friend entered the room and began to play with each other. As the lady and her friend visited, the lady turned to her friend and said eagerly and yet with evidently no thought of the meaning of her words: “Oh, I’d give my life to have such children.” The mother replied with a subdued earnestness whose quiet told of the depth of experience out of which her words came: “That’s exactly what it costs.”

There is a cost of motherhood. And the price is no small sum. And if you are not willing to pay this price, no amount of encouragement about the joys of motherhood will satisfy. But the price of motherhood is not fundamentally different from the price of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. In fact, Christian mothers see their duty as mothers flowing from their calling to Jesus Christ. And what is this cost?

Christian motherhood means dedicating your entire life in service of others. It means standing beside your husband, following him, and investing in the lives of children whom you hope will both survive you and surpass you. It means forgoing present satisfaction for eternal rewards. It means investing in the lives of others who may never fully appreciate your sacrifice or comprehend the depth of your love. And it means doing all these things, not because you will receive the praise of man — for you will not — but because God made you to be a woman and a mother, and there is great contentment in that biblical calling.

In other words, Motherhood requires vision. It requires living by faith and not by sight.

These are some of the reasons why Motherhood is both the most biblically noble and the most socially unappreciated role to which a young woman can aspire. There are many people who ask the question: Does my life matter? But a mother that fears the Lord need never ask such a question. Upon her faithful obedience hinges the future of the church and the hope of the nation.

In 1950, the great Scottish American preacher Peter Marshall stood before the United States Senate and he explained it this way:

The modern challenge to motherhood is the eternal challenge — that of being a godly woman. The very phrase sounds strange in our ears. We never hear it now. We hear about every other kind of women — beautiful women, smart women, sophisticated women, career woman, talented women, divorced women, but so seldom do we hear of a godly woman — or of a godly man either, for that matter.

I believe women come nearer fulfilling their God-given function in the home than anywhere else. It is a much nobler thing to be a good wife than to be Miss America. It is a greater achievement to establish a Christian home than it is to produce a second-rate novel filled with filth. It is a far, far better thing in the realm of morals to be old-fashioned than to be ultramodern. The world has enough women who know how to hold their cocktails, who have lost all their illusions and their faith. The world has enough women who know how to be smart.

It needs women who are willing to be simple. The world has enough women who know how to be brilliant. It needs some who will be brave. The world has enough women who are popular. It needs more who are pure. We need women, and men, too, who would rather be morally right that socially correct.

As we approach America’s national Mother’s Day celebration, let’s remember that we are fighting for the Lord, and it is He who prioritizes motherhood and home as the highest calling and domain of womanhood “that the word of God be not blasphemed” (Titus 2:5). May the Lord fill our churches with faithful mothers!

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