tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31590653306405987132024-02-18T20:03:16.177-08:00Because of HimAny good that I've done, any success that I have attained, any accomplishments I've achieved, any goals that I have reached.....it's all because of Him - Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior!Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-19855733155756841222013-08-05T06:28:00.004-07:002013-08-05T06:28:51.468-07:00Marriage Prayer
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-currency-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">Phil 1:27, 2:2-4<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eph 5:25,33<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none;">May _____and _____’s conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none;">May _____ and _____ stand fast in one spirit; with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none;">May _____ and _____ be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none;">May _____and _____look not on their own things, but each of them also on the things of the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May _____(husband) love _____ (wife) as Christ loved the church and gave His life for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none;">May _____ (wife) honor and reverence her husband _____.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-76420947438187559072013-07-31T13:11:00.000-07:002013-07-31T13:11:05.626-07:00Exit StrategyThere is a book our family loves to read called <em>Created for Work</em> by Bob Schultz. We have read it many times over the years. My children are all hard workers and this book is an encouragement to keep the right perspective on work. Mr. Schultz is a great writer! He helps the reader keep their focus on God.<br />
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The chapter we read last week talked about having an exit strategy before you begin anything. When you fly on a plane, they first tell you how to exit if there is an emergency. In the same way, he recommends you plan how to get out of a job before you begin it. It has to do with finishing strong. You need to end with a good reputation, a clear conscience, and no regrets.<br />
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One thing he touched on, which I was very blessed by, was his exit strategy for marriage. Every marriage should have one. Does yours? You must know before you get married how you plan to end your marriage. This is an easy plan because God has already told us in His Word exactly how to exit marriage - through death. Death is the only exit strategy for marriage!<br />
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When you go into a marriage with this in mind, your actions and attitudes will be greatly influenced by this decision. If you know that "till death do you part" then you will work harder at having a good marriage, but when divorce is an option, you'll never be motivated to do the right thing. Honestly, who wants to be stuck in a bad marriage? But when death is our only exit strategy, we will, by our own selfish desires, naturally want to make our marriage work because we all seek happiness. If the husband you have is your husband for life, you will figure out how to get along with him. When the options are be happy or miserable, you'll make the right choice! :) And in that process, you will be blessed beyond your dreams. There is nothing better than a good marriage! It is a blessing beyond words!!<br />
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I have a friend who was very afraid to get married. Most of the married couples she knew had bad marriages, and she did not want to end up miserable like them. I told her that I knew dozens of couples who were very happily married, and if she went into marriage with the right plan, she did not have to worry about ending up like those people she knew. The exit strategy makes all the difference!!!! Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-21245493920434701482013-06-13T03:48:00.000-07:002013-09-09T18:45:54.460-07:00A Prayer For Self-ControlI wrote this prayer this morning for someone who is struggling with self-control and has asked me to pray for them. We can pray it for ourselves or change the wording and pray it for others. In my opinion, the best prayers are those written with God's own words! Have a blessed day!<br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-currency-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 119:11;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Galatians 5:16-18;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Proverbs 16:32, 25:28; James 1:12-15; 2 Timothy 2:22; Titus 2:12-14; 1Corinthians 6:20<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-currency-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">Thank you, Lord, that the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-currency-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">May I hide Your words in my heart that I might not sin against you, Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-currency-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">Help me Lord to walk in the Spirit, that I would not fulfill the lust of the flesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For my flesh lusteth against my Spirit, and my Spirit against my flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other, but help me to be led of the Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-currency-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">You have said in Your Word, that he that ruleth his spirit is better than he that taketh a city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And You said that he that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Help me to rule my spirit, Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-currency-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">For You have said,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-currency-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">Let me not say when I am tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-currency-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-currency-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-currency-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">Give me the strength, Lord, to flee youthful lusts and temptations: and to follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-currency-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">May I deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and my Savior Jesus Christ; who gave himself for me, that he might redeem me from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-currency-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none; mso-thai-font-family: "Angsana New";">May I always remember that I have been bought with a price: therefore may I glorify God in my body, and in my spirit, which are God's. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-34176944090000800902013-06-07T12:00:00.000-07:002013-06-07T12:00:33.641-07:00Do You Eat "Normal"?Here is a question for you. Was Jesus normal? Well, it's pretty easy to see from scripture that He was not. He told us to love our enemies, to do good to those that hate us, and to pray for those that despitefully use us and persecute us. (Matthew 5) That certainly is not normal! So I guess it's safe to say that as His followers we shouldn't be normal either.<br />
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So what is normal?<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Normal: conforming to the standard or common type</span><br />
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If we wanted to live a normal life, we would simply do what most everybody else does - follow the crowd, but as Christians we chose a different path (through repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ) because we know that the normal life (wide road) leads to death.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." </span><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Matthew 7:14</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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As Christians our thoughts on marriage, raising children, relationships, dress, finances, speech, social activities, music, and how we choose to spend our time are all different than those who do not love God. So why is it that Christians overlook taking the narrow road when it comes to food? We Christians eat like the world, look like the world (overweight), and have the same diseases as the world. Why? Shouldn't we be different in this way too? Instead when it comes to food, we indulge ourselves just like the heathen do, eating whatever looks good, tastes good, or is satisfying in some way to our flesh. Eating is America's number one sport! It doesn't even matter if it is food. If someone (FDA) tells us it is edible, then we are all in. Like dumb sheep, we just follow along. <br />
Do you know what the definition of food is?<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Food</strong> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">(from Wikipedia) </span>is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of<span style="color: black;"> plant</span> or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is ingested by an organism and assimilated by the organism's cells in an effort to produce energy, maintain life, or stimulate growth.</span><br />
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Do the foods we eat really provide nutritional support for our bodies or produce energy, maintain life, and stimulate growth? Most of what Americans call food should be classified as art supplies or chemical concoctions, not nourishment! How can a product that can sit on a shelf for ten years be classified as something that maintains life? Does dead food maintain life? We have been so deceived! We listen to the FDA and others who tell us that these "foods" are safe to eat while everyone around us is dying. Wake up Christians!! The devil it trying to kill you (I know that sounds really stupid, but it's true!) and instead you are killing yourself. It makes his job really easy! You are a complete fool if you think that what you are eating is not affecting your health!! As the old saying goes, "You are what you eat". Eat dead foods and you'll soon be dead. It's that simple.<br />
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As believers in Christ, our goal is to be representatives of our Lord. Every area of our life should be under His control. We must learn to control ourselves and eat what is nourishing for our bodies, not only for health sake, but because of a responsibility to care for what God has given us - our temple. Our emotions will draw us to just eat what we feel like eating or are lusting after, but we must eat to live, not live to eat -there is a big difference!<br />
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"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"<br />
1 Corinthians 3:16<br />
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This may seem obvious, but if your temple is dead, the Spirit of God will NOT be dwelling in it. God has a work to do through you! Don't waste your temple on some lethal garbage that someone calls "food"! Give yourself fully to Him! Eat what He has created for you, not some concoction thrown together in a factory or lab. Nourish your body so God can use it! This is a heart issue.<br />
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With that in mind, I don't want to leave you hanging if you are someone who has no clue what eating for nourishment means. Pleeeease....it is SIMPLE!!! You DO NOT need to be on a special diet! Eat whole foods. (No, that doesn't mean a whole donut or a whole pizza.) :) Whole foods are God's foods. He has masterfully put them together with everything that is essential for your body. You will have no need for supplements. God is the Master Chemist! These foods do not come with an ingredient label....no secret codes to decipher, no chemicals, no altered genetic codes, no fortification necessary. Enjoy them all....fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, seeds, meats, eggs, beans, and dairy! They are delicious, satisfying, and most of all nourishing to your body!<br />
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Longing for the best for my "abnormal" family in Christ... :)<br />
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P.S. Yes, there are times when I eat non-foods. Those are usually times when I do not want to offend someone, am making an exception for a special occasion, or am in a pinch. Still it's a heart issue. For the sake of our Lord, we must see the need for a strong body and have a desire to care for our temple.Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-66842920786165042602013-04-16T07:23:00.000-07:002013-04-16T07:24:49.409-07:00The Master of Messes<br />
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I like to clean. I guess I'm kind of odd that way. :) Ever since I was a little girl, I can remember the enjoyment I found in cleaning and organizing. But I have to say, my house does not always look like I enjoy cleaning because I have learned that when you home school, and you have a house full of people every day, it is hard to keep up with the cleaning. But once I do get to cleaning, I enjoy the rewards of an orderly, sparkling house. :)<br />
This morning, while having my prayer time, I was praying about a mess, a devastating situation. It's the kind of mess that sin makes in a life. The mess from sin affects many people. Lives get stained by it, hearts get broken, and it can seem like the mess will never be able to be cleaned up. But the Master of messes spoke to my heart..."no mess is too messy for me!" In the same way that I like to tackle a mess in my house, our Lord likes to take on our messes in life.<br />
When it seems like we have gotten too dirty, when we have lost all hope, Jesus is there to clean us up. There is always hope, and His love is so great that no matter what situation may arise, He is able to clean it up!<br />
Praise God for His love! Praise God for His hope! Praise God that He can pull us up out of the muck and mire of life and wash us whiter than snow!!!<br />
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"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. "<br />
Psalm 51:7Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-90189963070068732522013-03-11T18:48:00.000-07:002013-03-11T18:48:30.885-07:00Adrenal Fatigue and TemperanceIt has been a long time since I have written on my blog. There have been so many things that I have wanted to write about, but I needed to let some things go, and this was an easy thing to let go. My body really needed a rest from our crazy busy summer and fall, and for me, blogging takes a lot of time. I put a lot of thought into what I write and am kinda slow. :)<br />
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We have made some big changes in our life, and I am excited to be cutting back and slowing down. Although, I am not sure if life on a farm is ever really that slow. :) Nevertheless it is always good to cut back. Americans are not very good at that. We usually get everything we want, and just continue wanting more...until we break down. We collect more and more stuff until we have so many things to manage, we are about to go crazy. Then we eat and eat and eat "rich foods" until our bodies break down with disease, and we add this event and that event to the calendar until we are so exhausted and stressed out that we cannot function anymore. Gluttony - greedy or excessive indulgence, that's our problem! Some doctors call it Adrenal fatigue, I call it gluttony.<br />
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"Adrenal fatigue is an epidemic in our country", a friend, who is a doctor, told me. Why? Because we cannot tell ourselves "No!" Sure there are physical causes like too much caffeine which can wear out the adrenal glands and cause all kinds of problems, but I think the root of the problem lies in our inability to deprive ourselves of anything.<br />
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The worst part is that we often can't fit God into our lives because they are so full of other indulgences. If we are too busy to pray and read our Bibles, then we are not doing what God wants us to do. Self- control and moderation are marks, or should be, of the Christian life. If we do not conquer ourselves, we will become a slave to self and suffer physical consequences.<br />
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"Temperance is the best medicine - for it is a preventative and a preservative, as well as a cure."<br />
-C.H. Spurgeon <br />
Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-88976020488107781492012-10-20T18:53:00.001-07:002012-10-20T18:53:12.274-07:00Aware of His GoodnessThis afternoon customers arrived at our farm to pick up the chickens we butchered for them this morning. One couple that came today, started coming out a few years ago. We see them twice a year - once for chicken pick up and once for turkey pick up. We always look forward to our visits with them. But today was even more enjoyable for me! <br />
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When they arrived, there weren't any other customers waiting, so there was no reason to rush. We had a great time with them laughing and visiting as we bagged, weighed and loaded up all their chicken. (They had over 40 of them!) As our time together was drawing to a close, a thought popped into my mind, "Ask them if they know where they will spend eternity." I glanced at the tracts sitting on our counter, ignoring the prompting. We talked a little more. The thought came again, "Ask them if they know where they will spend eternity." More thoughts came.... "They won't be interested in the things of God....but what if they were? What if they have been talking about Him? What if the Lord has been wooing them? What if he wants me to be an encouragement by confirming what He is doing in their life?" Suddenly we were thanking them for their business and saying goodbye. Out the door they went. "No!," I reasoned, "I have to ask them!" So I grabbed a tract and rushed out the door. <br />
When I got to their car, the wife was standing facing me. I said, "Do you know where you will spend eternity?", as I handed her the tract. Then her husband looked at me and said very sincerely, "You are my sister, aren't you?" And he gave me a big hug. Then he went on to tell me that just this summer, someone witnessed to him at the State Fair, and he got saved. He is now going to a good church and taking an evangelist course. My eyes filled with tears. When he got saved, his wife was in another country, visiting relatives. He said he has been sharing with her and trying to help her understand what happened to him. On the way out to our farm he was telling her that we were a Christian family and that we knew the Lord too. Growing up Catholic, they had learned religion, but had never found the Savior. I asked her to read the tract and told her that I would be praying for her.<br />
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I was blessed beyond measure by this incident in my day. Our God is such an awesome God! He is alive and working in the hearts of men! He uses different events and people to help us to understand His love for us. He wants this woman to know just how much He loves her! And He will orchestrate all kinds of situations to show His mercy and grace to her because it is the goodness of God that leads men to repentance. <br />
Praising Him! :)Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-57333362481877993592012-10-12T08:39:00.001-07:002012-10-13T04:18:27.803-07:00Baby Steps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This morning, after praying for a friend, I was thinking about those days when we wake up feeling like we have a mountain to climb. Those are the days we need determination! It reminds me of the hilarious movie, "What About Bob?". We need to take baby steps down the hall, baby steps to get on the bus, and baby steps until four o'clock. :) The point is, each step brings progress, and with each step in the right direction, we will find satisfaction. We cannot focus on the mountain, or we will become overwhelmed and full of fear and worry. Today we just need to take that one step knowing that joy will follow.<br />
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I looked up determination (in <em>Achieving True Success</em>) and found that it is the opposite of faintheartedness. It is the purpose to accomplish right goals at the right time, regardless of the opposition. Let's face it, we will have opposition in this life! But today let's just take that one baby step in the right direction. After many days of baby steps, we will look back and see the mountain behind us. It will bring God glory, and fill us with courage. Remember, the harder the fight, the more determination, and the sweeter the victory! Take that baby step today and forget about the mountain! :)</div>
Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-10457050018011517852012-09-27T18:52:00.000-07:002012-09-27T18:52:34.618-07:00WaitingWaiting on God is not something that comes easily for me. I think that maybe I am too American! :) If I am hungry, a quick walk through the kitchen to grab a snack is all that is needed to satisfy my desire for food. Within minutes, I can have any question I have answered, with the help of Google. Feeling lonely? No problem, just grab the phone or hop on Skype and that longing for someone to talk to is fulfilled. Waiting is for the birds! We Americans have places to go, things to do, people to see...who has time for waiting? The longer we wait, the less we get...and we want more!<br />
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Unfortunately God does not always answer us in an American way! Although He does do that at times, as seen in many healings and deliverances, but all around God is very patient, which I am very thankful for, especially when it comes to Him being patient with me. But when I have a prayer I want answered, I don't want God to be patient or teach me patience. I WANT IT NOW!!! Does that sound like a two-year-old or what? Actually is sounds like most American adults and kids alike!<br />
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A farmer's market customer was sharing with us about his brother's cancer treatment. One of the things he was required to do was chew his food fifty times before swallowing it. So that has been my new kick. At meal time, I am reminding everyone to chew, chew, chew. Then it dawned on me, it takes patience to eat this way! I don't want to eat slowly. I want to get as much done as possible in the shortest amount of time as possible...swallow it hole and move on!!!<br />
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I often think about how disadvantaged our children are because they live in such a fast paced world. Yes, there are many advantages too, I won't deny that, but think of how patient the old timers must have been because they had to make everything they needed to survive. Very few things came quickly. Waiting was part of life. When hungry, they had to go out hunting for their food and there was plenty of waiting and patience involved in that meal. But our children really have very little need for patience. Yet they must know how to wait on God, or they will be tempted to seek out quick answers from the world.<br />
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Hebrews 12:1 says, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run <strong>with patience</strong> the race that is set before us, "</blockquote>
Who runs with patience!?! It's get to the goal as fast as possible and do whatever it takes! I used to run races as a kid, and I never ran with patience! Yet that is how we are to live out this Christian life. <br />
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Patience here means, "cheerful endurance". Waiting should not be burdensome. That cheerfulness is found in our faith in Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think. It's found in the One whose Word does not return unto Him void. It is found in our God who cannot lie. We must trust Him, and we must wait on Him...cheerfully enduring...and teaching our children to do the same! :)Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-10463123355527550692012-09-18T18:38:00.000-07:002012-09-18T18:38:26.044-07:00A Good Reminder About Life On Earth<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=86dsfBbZfWs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=86dsfBbZfWs</a>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-50908324861357989152012-08-08T14:44:00.001-07:002012-08-11T19:00:39.426-07:00Back to SchoolEmily and I were off running errands, and we needed to stop at Walmart for a couple things. Before we got there I said with excitement, "I bet the school supplies are out!" As we walked in the door, I giggled with joy when I saw the isles of note books, pencils, and glue. I love this time of year! Getting my school room organized, receiving my shipments of books from UPS, and counting down the days until we begin are some of the highlights! :)<br />
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When I was checking out, the guy said to me, "Are you excited about the school supplies?" I smiled and told him I was. He said, "Ya, the day I went back to school was my mom's favorite day of the year." My heart sank. Then I said, "Well, it is my favorite day too, but I home school my children." Then he looked at me in disbelief and said, "Oh, OK."<br />
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How sad that this is how many American women feel. They can't wait to get rid of their children. When I got home I told my children (not that they don't already know this) how much I look forward to hours of reading and studying with them. I get to spend the whole day with them! :)<br />
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Of course that doesn't mean it is always easy. Homeschooling is not perfect. And yes, there are days when I would rather leave, but those are the exception. But whether we home school or send our kids to public school, we should not make our children feel like we don't enjoy being with them. And if it is true, that we don't enjoy our children, then we need to fix that problem. One thing I love about No Greater Joy ministries is that they teach parents to love their children and enjoy being with them. If you don't have a copy of their child training book, you need to get one, or visit their website (the link is on my sidebar). Read and learn, and enjoy your children! They are a gift from God! :)Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-85555773586441880522012-08-08T14:36:00.001-07:002012-08-08T14:46:41.938-07:00Mother Hen<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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Last week one of my kids heard peeping in the barn while looking for stray eggs from disobedient hens who refuse to lay in the nest boxes in the chicken coop. :) Following the sound, they discovered a nest of six little chicks in the hay loft. Here the broody hen that they thought had disappeared was hiding in the loft of the barn sitting on a nest of eggs! :) The kids were thrilled! Ordering chicks is fun, but having a hen hatch out a batch right on the farm is even better. So the children moved her to a small brooding pen in the chicken coop in order to keep her chicks safe from the cats.</div>
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Now the children have added changing mama chickens water and giving her feed to their list of morning chores. This morning at breakfast, they were telling me how protective mama hen is. Most hens are this way, but this mama is especially protective! Jonny said she was viciously scratching his rubber boots with her claws and pecking at his legs this morning. She is determined to keep her babies safe!<br />
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This reminded me of something I had read one time. In Debbie Pearls book, <em>Created to be His Help Meet</em>, she has a chapter on loving your children. She encourages moms to be watching out for their children.<br />
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We know the facts...one in four kids are molested...kids are kidnapped every day...and abused in many ways. So, knowing the facts, do we make careless decisions about who our children spend time with and then just pray for protection for them? God has already provided protection for your child - YOU! Would you sit out in the rain and pray for a dry place when God had already provided shelter for you? There are some things that we don't need to pray about because God has already provided the answer. Do not be lazy, mama! Watch out for your little chick; it's your job! There is no reason to be afraid, but there are many reasons to be protective and rude if necessary in order to protect your children. Debbie says,<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"How many times will your little toddler wander down the hall (while you sit in a roomful of friends engrossed in a video) before some young "trustworthy" teenage boy slips silently in behind him or her and maneuvers her into the bathroom for a four-minute "session"? When the four minutes are up, your little child will emerge forever broken and diseased. You cannot pray and expect God for supernatural intervention and protection. God has already provided for her through you. You can and must pray and ask God to make you a more attentive and sober parent, that you might better protect your children. You are your babies' keeper. Please, keep them well."</span></blockquote>
In our home, my daughter does not go anywhere alone with a male, other than her father and brothers. I don't care if it's a relative, a good friend, or someone that I think I can probably trust. Knowing the statistics, makes me a fool to do otherwise! It is simply a rule that we have always had, and if I have to be rude in order to enforce it, I will. God has given my daughter a mother for her protection! It is WISDOM to put these rules into practice, and a mother who overlooks the facts, hopes for the best, and says a prayer for protection as she carelessly drops her children off with whoever she can find to babysit, so she can have some time alone, is a fool! You are your children's protection, don't neglect your duty and be lazy! Watch out for your kids, pour your life into them, sacrifice your "me time" right now and be what God called you to be...a "Mother Hen"!Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-14966345885726403042012-07-29T18:28:00.002-07:002012-07-29T18:28:52.964-07:00Victory at TargetWhen I was shopping the other day, I couldn't help but notice a family with small children shopping together. Their littlest one was screaming...very loud. He kept throwing a toy out of the cart and would then scream for it. Finally the dad said, "If you stop screaming, I will pick it up for you." The battle was on! :) The kid screamed all the more...louder and louder! The mother was getting very agitated. Scowling at her husband, she said, "Why is he crying!" The father, who was pushing the cart and waiting for his wife to find what she needed, explained the situation. She rolled her eyes and grumbled.<br />
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All this time, I was pretending not to notice. And I kept saying to myself, "Dad, don't give in! Don't give in!" As the kid continued to scream, the dad shouted even louder, "Stop crying and I will give it to you!" Then suddenly the kid stopped and the dad got the toy and gave it to the boy! Victory!!! :)<br />
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Then he said, "If you throw that again, I will not buy it for you. We will leave it in the store. Do you hear me? Look at me! Do you understand?" This boy knew that his father meant business, and he was learning to obey his father. This was a wise father.<br />
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As I walked past the family, I just smiled, but I wanted so badly to encourage that man and tell him what a great dad he was. He certainly wasn't getting any encouragement from his wife! But his little boy will grow up to respect him. Men need to be leaders and children need to obey their parents. It is in God's plan! And God's ways always work best!!! :)Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-22297840717254737462012-07-06T04:02:00.001-07:002012-07-06T05:24:19.207-07:00A Prayer For ProtectionThis morning as Ben was heading out to mow, he mentioned that he needed to mow the large dog pen that Princess and Captain are in. He said he hates to mow that area because there are so many bones, and as much as he tries to watch out for the bones, some usually end up getting mowed which is not good for the mower and is also very dangerous. Last time he mowed that pen, he watched a bone go sailing through the air and up and over the house! So this morning I told him, "You need to remember to pray that nobody will get hurt while you are mowing." He said he would do that.<br />
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Later I called Ben in while he was mowing that pen. I had made his favorite snack - a kefir shake! :) After he finished his shake, he headed back out to finish the pen. Then Mike and Jonny came in for their shakes. As Mike, Jonny and I were in the kitchen drinking our shakes and talking (Emily had just gone out to pick peas) suddenly there was deafening sound! It sounded like a shot gun went off in the kitchen. I immediately cried out to the Lord and hit the floor. As the three of us looked around, we realized what happened. Something came flying through the bay window in the kitchen. There was glass EVERYWHERE! We all felt glass spray our faces and arms. Jonny was closest to the window, and felt his whole head get showered in glass. I had a little burning on my chest and noticed I was bleeding a little. It was just a very small cut. We all had glass in our hair and in our clothes. Mike and Jonny were sitting on the bench at the table directly in front of the window and I was standing in the kitchen beyond the table. As Mike looked around he found a dog bone on the floor by the window. I couldn't believe it!! I thought to myself, "Ben must have prayed...he had to have prayed!"<br />
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As the bone came through the window, it hit one of the metal grids that is in between the panes and as it ricocheted off of that, it headed to the corner of the kitchen...where there was nothing and nobody! All I could do was thank the Lord!! Every surface of my kitchen and much of the living room was covered in glass pieces and yet NOBODY was hurt!!<br />
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As Ben was making another pass with the mower, he looked up and saw the window. Then he came in. I immediately grabbed him by the shoulders and said, "Ben, I gotta know, did you pray before you got on the mower?" He said, "Yes, I did." Then we hugged each other and cried. Ben was so upset about the window and the mess it had made, but I didn't care a bit. All I could think about was how the Lord had protected us all...and answered Ben's prayer!<br />
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It took Mike and I two hours with two shop vacs to clean up the glass. EVERYTHING needed to get vacuumed! My floor, rugs, furniture, piano, desk, computer, bowls, counters, pans, stove, sink, benches, chairs, and baskets were all covered with glass pieces...it was a mess!!<br />
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So what are the odds that Ben and I would have that conversation only hours before that bone came flying through the window? God used that situation to teach us all a lesson...well, maybe a few lessons. In my opinion, the cost of a broken window is nothing compared to the value of my children seeing God clearly answer a simple prayer. Ben will never forget what the Lord did for him today! None of us will! I was not the only member of my family that was teary-eyed today. We serve an awesome God!! Nothing happens by chance and everything is in His control. <br />
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The Lord tells us in His Word to pray without ceasing. And I was thinking today how at times those simple prayers for protection can seem so insignificant, but we need to resist those thoughts and pray anyway. Once we pray, we commit every situation to the Lord and trust Him for the outcome. We don't need to worry because He hears every prayer and answers according to His will. Praise God for His protection! :)Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-1608762299056124392012-06-18T14:53:00.001-07:002012-06-18T17:00:58.877-07:00The Lord, He is God!With everything going on around the farm in the summer, it is really hard to find time to write on my blog. But today is unusual in that I actually have some time to write AND have something on my heart that I want to write about. :)<br />
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As I was reading my Bible this morning, I was getting really worked up. :) I just wanted to jump and shout...God is such an awesome God!! If you happen to be reading my blog, and you don't know the Lord, I have some questions for you...<br />
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If what you are doing in life is not working...if you are miserable much of the time...always searching for answers...unhappy with relationships...worried and fearful...why don't you turn from your ways to the One who has the answers you are looking for.<br />
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In 1 Kings chapter 18, Elijah said basically the same thing to all the people following after Baal (a false god).<br />
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"And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him." 1 Kings 18:21</blockquote>
If you are finding the peace you need by doing Yoga, practicing breathing techniques,and taking antidepressants, great! Follow that! If the love novels you are reading and the soap operas you are watching are helping your marriage, wonderful! If you are finding that month after month, year after year, your marriage just keeps getting better and better, great! If the vacations, coffee with the girls away from the kids, and a busy life, full of events, are filling you will joy unspeakable, then by all means continue on! But, I know something...they aren't enough for you! How can I know this when I don't even know who you are? I know because I know the One who made you, and He made you to need Him. There is nothing in this world that will satisfy all the desires of your heart...except Him! The "things" of this world that we put our hope in and use to replace God in our life, are all false gods.<br />
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Elijah continued to challenge the people. He decided to have a contest to see which God was really the true God.<br />
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"And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God." 1 Kings 18:24</blockquote>
So the contest was to see which God would send fire and burn the offering. The prophets of Baal called on their god from morning until noon, but nothing happened. Then Elijah began to mock them and tell them that maybe they should cry louder. Maybe their god was on vacation, or maybe he was sleeping. So they cried louder and cut themselves, gushing blood all over, hoping to prove their god was the true god. But evening came and still nothing happened.<br />
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We are like that...we like to continue in the same foolishness (false gods) that we started with, instead of admitting that what we are doing isn't working. We think... maybe if I just get a better psychologist, or maybe I just need a longer vacation. We think that if we just keep trying, we are sure to find the answers to life's problems in this world....somewhere. Wrong! Jesus Christ is the only answer!!<br />
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Elijah was so confident in his God that he told the people to drench the sacrifice and the wood in water...not once...not twice, but THREE times!! Then he cried out to God and asked Him to send fire to consume the offering that the people may know that He was the One True God. And the Lord did!<br />
And what did the people do? They came to their senses and cried, "The Lord, He is the God! The Lord, He is the God!" (vs. 39) <br />
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If I were standing in front of you right now, I would grab you by the shoulder and shake you and say (loudly)...once you know His forgiveness from sin, once you see Him working in your heart, your life, your marriage, your children, you too, like me, will want to shout, "The Lord, He is the God! The Lord, He is the God" There is nothing too hard for Him and no problem that He cannot solve! You may be "soaking wet" in sin, but God's love can still burn it up! Stop wasting your life away trying to find what you are looking for in this world. This world belongs to the devil, is full of wickedness and has nothing to offer you! Jesus is what you are looking for! He loves you and has an awesome plan for your life! Repent and trust Him!<br />
<br />Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-27733143516061746072012-05-26T11:53:00.001-07:002012-05-26T11:53:48.566-07:00The Sugar Creek Gang<br />
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If you are looking for some quality stories for your kids to listen to, I highly recommend the "Sugar Creek Gang" CD's. My kids have been listening to them for many years. They are geared towards boys, but even Mike, Emily and me enjoy listening to them. They are funny and educational. Woven throughout the stories are facts about nature, hymns, and poetry. They teach manners, respect, obedience, and much more. The gospel message is clearly presented over and over, and the group of young boys seek to live out their faith through all the different situations they find themselves in. <br />
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Before our boys fall asleep at night, they listen to a CD. The "Sugar Creek Gang" is one of their top picks. So for those moms who need to have a little quiet time during the day or something to listen to during a long car ride, pick up a set for your kids. You won't regret it! There are six sets - over 100 hours on 72 CD's!<br />
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You can find the CD's at the JM Cremp store in Dassel or on their website.<br />
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<a href="http://www.jmcremps.com/Sugar-Creek-Gang-Volume-1-Audio-Book/productinfo/15001/">http://www.jmcremps.com/Sugar-Creek-Gang-Volume-1-Audio-Book/productinfo/15001/</a>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-89777548929147628272012-04-24T18:09:00.001-07:002012-04-24T18:09:38.419-07:00Teach Your Children to Yell and Tell<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sara-Sue-Learns-Yell-Tell/dp/1616440171/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1335315206&sr=8-2" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Product Details" class="productImage" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61x4DtaLngL._AA115_.jpg" /></a><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61OJSgJ4U%2BL._AA115_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Product Details" border="0" class="productImage" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61OJSgJ4U%2BL._AA115_.jpg" /></a>One in three girls and one in six boys are molested by the age of eighteen. The perpetrator is usually someone you and your children know well. Make your children aware of these evil people and teach them how to respond. If you are not sure what to tell your children, the <em>Yell and Tell</em> series by Debi Pearl is a helpful tool for parents. These books are written very well and help children to clearly understand what a sexual predator is. The books are fun to read and there is one for boys and one for girls. Buy them both. Buy lots! Give them away! Make others aware! Let's protect our children! <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=yell+and+tell">Yell and Tell Books</a>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-3625432762028405082012-04-03T18:41:00.000-07:002012-04-03T18:41:36.306-07:00Could You Give It Up?How do we know what the Lord really wants from us, especially in areas that are not specifically pointed out in scripture? One Christian might have a strong conviction in an area and another may not. I have told my children, the only way you will be able to discern the Lord's will for you when you are at a fork in the road, is to be willing to go down either path. If the one path seems easier and more pleasurable to you, and you are really leaning towards that path, you will never be able to hear from the Lord. You MUST get your heart to a place where it is willing to follow WHEREVER the Lord may lead.<br />
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I remember years ago, a friend was convinced that it was wrong to celebrate Christmas. I personally had never had that conviction, but I wanted to see if maybe the Lord was trying to tell me something through her. So I asked her for all the information she had on why Christians should not celebrate Christmas, and Mike and I went through it and prayed. During this time, I had to get my heart in a place where I was willing to celebrate it or willing to give it all up - to get rid of all my wonderful decorations and family traditions. Then Mike told me, after reading through the information, that he felt there was value in our family celebrating Christmas. So that was that! But I would not have known the Lord's will in that area if I had not been willing to give up. And now, I celebrate Christmas with a totally clear conscience, full of joy!<br />
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In the same way, the subject of wearing a head covering came up once. Again, I had to get my heart in a place where I was willing to wear one, if that was what the Lord wanted me to do. I had never in my life desired to cover my head, but I wanted to be open to the Lord's will, so I prayed and again got my heart in a place where I was willing. Then the Lord showed Mike through His Word, that He did not want me to wear a head covering. <br />
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There are so many areas in life where we need to discern the Lord's will. But the question is...Are we willing? Most of the time, we just dream up the kind of God we want to serve. And then we live our Christian life based on a false God that we created with our mind. True Christians have been bought with a price, and our life is not our own. We should not be making decisions about our life based on our knowledge, emotions or what other people do. We need to search His Word and pray for wisdom. He wants to use us; He has a plan! But if we don't let Him have His way in us, what good are we to the Kingdom of God?<br />
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Ask Him what He wants from you! How does He want you to treat your husband, your children, your friends? How does He want you to dress? What does He want you to put before your eyes? What does He want you to listen to? What does He want you to invest your time in? Are you willing to let God have His way in your life? To make yourself of no reputation, to become a servant, and follow Him? That's what it takes to truly walk with Him. Anything else is just a false form of Christianity! Surrender it all to Him!! <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/b0jbBlcWzyk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-8288955598753003592012-03-30T10:34:00.002-07:002012-03-30T10:34:35.077-07:00Keepin' a Schedule<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img class="sg_t" height="263" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=5016011209114663&id=a35cf0a7f566f510ca1659dbd72a6e52&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.eecs.harvard.edu%2f%7euribraun%2fimg%2fschedule.jpg" style="height: 249px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="264" /><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></div>
<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ligatures: none;">When I first started homeschooling, the idea of following a schedule was the hardest thing for me. I was so used to getting up and planning out my day according to how I felt that day. If I was in the mood for shopping (which was usually the case :)), I would pack up and go! On the way home, I might stop for lunch and then decide to go visit a friend. Usually in the evening I would realize that I had forgotten to home school Brandon that day. I finally came to the conclusion that if I was going to successfully home school my children, I was going to have to learn to live by a schedule.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ligatures: none;">Disciplining myself to plan out my day took years of training. I would get a good schedule written down, and I'd follow it for a few days. Then I would get distracted, so I'd try again! I tried to follow a schedule and failed over and over again for years. But I knew it was what I needed, so I just kept trying. Now my life is so scheduled I can hardly believe I used to forget to do school. :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ligatures: none;">Scheduling isn't just good for homeschoolers. In his book, </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ligatures: none;">The Teenage Years of Jesus Christ</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ligatures: none;">, Jerry Ross quotes a pastor who said, "The longer I live, the more convinced I am that the key to a successful Christian life is living by schedule." Mr. Ross says, "To become a disciple of Christ requires discipline - the discipline to do, not just hear. Without a specific schedule and the character to follow that schedule, you will soon forget what you have learned... The desire to live like Jesus cannot be just a fad or a phase. It must be the most important goal of life, a goal that will only be reached when we discipline ourselves to live on purpose and on schedule" </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ligatures: none;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ligatures: none;">I know for myself, if I don't plan to read my Bible, it won't happen. If our family doesn't schedule a time for praying together and memorizing scripture, other things will suck up all our time. The important things in life will always get pushed aside by what seems necessary at the moment. Then we will look back and wish we had lived our life differently. How does the Lord want us to spend our time? Let's make a list of things that the Lord has put on our hearts to do and to teach our children, and then let's figure out what time of day we are going to do those things. At first, it will be painful and laborious, but over time we will adjust to the schedule. Then when we look back over our week, we won't have regrets, which becomes the motivation to keep on keepin' on! :)</span></div>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-6683450527027224902012-03-09T20:34:00.000-08:002012-03-09T20:34:19.541-08:00Should children be made to work?I was on the blog of a Christian author, and she was writing about how we need to teach our children to work. I was amazed at one of the comments from a reader. The person was so upset that there are people in the world who make their children work. She said that childhood is a time for playing. She was really bent out of shape and felt that it was a great disservice to a child to make them work.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily taking care of her chickens</td></tr>
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I laughed as I read the comment. My children are all hard workers. And what ignorant people, like the woman commenting on the blog, don't understand is that children who work hard and live productive lives are <strong><u>very</u></strong> happy children. It is very rare for my children to wake up grumpy or even want to stay in bed. They are happy and look forward to life. I am not saying there is never a bad attitude, but it is rare to see my children feeling down or unhappy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys helping dad pour concrete</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brandon mowing the lawn</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonny cutting chicken throats</td></tr>
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People that see work as a crime against children are most likely lazy people themselves. In our home work is fun! My husband and I love to work. And if given the chance, most kids will like work too. But if dad always sits on the couch watching television and mom always sits in front of the computer on Facebook, the children are not going to naturally think, "I should do the laundry and wash the floors." They will want to self-indulge too! And if they are made to work while mom and dad are being lazy, they will become bitter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdhrdzLJ4XCDMhF45RGb1LSp2XhJ6haYx9s6pMLgkzCxMb7M51Uze1BzAFdgJXhHL5RjWfQFQqbH7R9MQ1ZCeypB81eWV1h2ynsLWh8K6p8ch_tsNxn_Pga868Qt3sjzHoeSOKE-mcVU/s1600/DSC08527small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdhrdzLJ4XCDMhF45RGb1LSp2XhJ6haYx9s6pMLgkzCxMb7M51Uze1BzAFdgJXhHL5RjWfQFQqbH7R9MQ1ZCeypB81eWV1h2ynsLWh8K6p8ch_tsNxn_Pga868Qt3sjzHoeSOKE-mcVU/s320/DSC08527small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike and Jonny working on the sugar shack</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41YpCA7rniYOTdfr1dgBx2vTrUNmXUUM6f9NmzW_WoeboZtqGTtqfDkkdVXgEBOpZykMk2C7tAhq2ezd69YTPgTp0YSAsswsypzT6_eiip3L59GDukECK7uC9Bh9KSgANYh9E52VU30s/s1600/DSC09809small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41YpCA7rniYOTdfr1dgBx2vTrUNmXUUM6f9NmzW_WoeboZtqGTtqfDkkdVXgEBOpZykMk2C7tAhq2ezd69YTPgTp0YSAsswsypzT6_eiip3L59GDukECK7uC9Bh9KSgANYh9E52VU30s/s320/DSC09809small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike and Ben cutting off chicken feet</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnliWMh0XizpurS83c8JsT-6IKcAA7qTQqV15zDxYIMFmu5V_1LU94a1NXp_SeOPorQPFeme04fzyVlUwBz-O5XcFmxO8xAwvGOPaXuZyScX5v3HyNUFh3U5VOXn0mZrkFEnUgDVhkK2o/s1600/289small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnliWMh0XizpurS83c8JsT-6IKcAA7qTQqV15zDxYIMFmu5V_1LU94a1NXp_SeOPorQPFeme04fzyVlUwBz-O5XcFmxO8xAwvGOPaXuZyScX5v3HyNUFh3U5VOXn0mZrkFEnUgDVhkK2o/s320/289small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple picking day with friends and family</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0feFrh4mqaNgb73PWRO5STDoKfE4rLvREMWma7kaBCIlRDOZswBVzu7WXwDtiYwGs3J4JVYGVlLAg-1NKFWm5Su82k7rV_WV3XzIgGjBbdKDggsXyx_5SMQ6ayUOdYmp7o-NxmxEp1gY/s1600/DSC00177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0feFrh4mqaNgb73PWRO5STDoKfE4rLvREMWma7kaBCIlRDOZswBVzu7WXwDtiYwGs3J4JVYGVlLAg-1NKFWm5Su82k7rV_WV3XzIgGjBbdKDggsXyx_5SMQ6ayUOdYmp7o-NxmxEp1gY/s320/DSC00177.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben changing the oil in his four wheeler - with Brandon's help</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaW9LhMhx5D-AKhIMrOef6mB0flBlYP1KUV8eL6_1irQT-DYsruoakdHZLkKXp5iSNYglWH7PvMGWMquS0AZFTfBGjbLiXCmOzKjgnUgkD6C_9jngVahSd5h-WagE521_pwTCQOUg6Bs/s1600/DSC09378small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaW9LhMhx5D-AKhIMrOef6mB0flBlYP1KUV8eL6_1irQT-DYsruoakdHZLkKXp5iSNYglWH7PvMGWMquS0AZFTfBGjbLiXCmOzKjgnUgkD6C_9jngVahSd5h-WagE521_pwTCQOUg6Bs/s320/DSC09378small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily showing of her baked goods</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPBRCcUtfd4ft6IKNQruRL-o-NiCT2Sinjk-q7FaVhl3Q6cQiBHq_zZ5gpZOfo5dBNxRZU-OYyAIx8X8Uk7wCYg1mjkuN_BrX9orxEv1OXzRuahFRDSB39ipJtjggZM8gO7ZoIxEL25g/s1600/Garden+produce%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPBRCcUtfd4ft6IKNQruRL-o-NiCT2Sinjk-q7FaVhl3Q6cQiBHq_zZ5gpZOfo5dBNxRZU-OYyAIx8X8Uk7wCYg1mjkuN_BrX9orxEv1OXzRuahFRDSB39ipJtjggZM8gO7ZoIxEL25g/s1600/Garden+produce%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brandon, Em, and Ben showing off the harvest</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsovL4F0QAOz4iAWHV6JwIbdOWchh3wEln4mzu6YHFZoxsxSiE5Waz2YQ3K5SgOo5V21wEo6RitZRFLd4COdrc7r049PqKKoeO1nioqyR9euFWmVTJnNpfJGPL0gISip0_0hhzOzsLvJM/s1600/285small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsovL4F0QAOz4iAWHV6JwIbdOWchh3wEln4mzu6YHFZoxsxSiE5Waz2YQ3K5SgOo5V21wEo6RitZRFLd4COdrc7r049PqKKoeO1nioqyR9euFWmVTJnNpfJGPL0gISip0_0hhzOzsLvJM/s320/285small.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben with all his potatoes</td></tr>
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What little girl will pass on baking with her mommy so that she can go play by herself in the playhouse? Why play make-believe when you can do the real thing? And what little boy will want to play with blocks when he can help daddy build something with a real hammer and real nails? A child who is included in adult activities knows they are loved. If you want your children to be confident and content, then include them in all you do. Children who are pushed aside are angry, unhappy children.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8S3FjgI2gmneFAY5eBkbRtKs_n7u68unWZQSCi5RXn5GzbrGU3GCTyT6_UTNghRCzUB4FYTTt4WU-FB7PXksEP_uVBaUqWDzO9afXbRFtAV83H60pg2jRh57Mzt3vGXIqS5MFgV1oy10/s1600/DSC04074small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8S3FjgI2gmneFAY5eBkbRtKs_n7u68unWZQSCi5RXn5GzbrGU3GCTyT6_UTNghRCzUB4FYTTt4WU-FB7PXksEP_uVBaUqWDzO9afXbRFtAV83H60pg2jRh57Mzt3vGXIqS5MFgV1oy10/s320/DSC04074small.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Em and Jonny working in the garden</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vdFjb5LPYxRQL4fBVCPktTzlpR54hUe8JbvBOqnc9xkBpQWkr6WmTUZJ8psevqp3yiyB0VTAfCcIgtbPUpsm3PwSmLHcGBadDPNJtzjVGFdJxucLsC5IZHtFMWQaSYfdfqulhMYjsRw/s1600/DSC02299small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vdFjb5LPYxRQL4fBVCPktTzlpR54hUe8JbvBOqnc9xkBpQWkr6WmTUZJ8psevqp3yiyB0VTAfCcIgtbPUpsm3PwSmLHcGBadDPNJtzjVGFdJxucLsC5IZHtFMWQaSYfdfqulhMYjsRw/s320/DSC02299small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben mowing the lawn</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoXgyhv8mLmdxjy5fl5rM0jfm-yC6Om0Y3VDneabdRYvypCAZEjrJUFN8JmFPkZ7jihkkwRWmeROxpek-VU59R0ysLdooV1jW6AfKxq63VKa7-WdpDROT20WvTBz4i0fFGlTy-jybe-s/s1600/DSC04494small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoXgyhv8mLmdxjy5fl5rM0jfm-yC6Om0Y3VDneabdRYvypCAZEjrJUFN8JmFPkZ7jihkkwRWmeROxpek-VU59R0ysLdooV1jW6AfKxq63VKa7-WdpDROT20WvTBz4i0fFGlTy-jybe-s/s320/DSC04494small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben and Jonny choppin' chicken heads</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxKRVGy5WJqez7LclUVH5SFSOTMJrpsCEyhas1ARYRBCoXrABj_CrhAmW8OPbE_9sOQuUn_bJbPqk-1k5V8OaZ-FJoSCZYH3wBP7yiSwXL1Q0r9XMX8UWWBFF3iyd3Qf5IdtyjlrmSTU/s1600/DSC07925small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxKRVGy5WJqez7LclUVH5SFSOTMJrpsCEyhas1ARYRBCoXrABj_CrhAmW8OPbE_9sOQuUn_bJbPqk-1k5V8OaZ-FJoSCZYH3wBP7yiSwXL1Q0r9XMX8UWWBFF3iyd3Qf5IdtyjlrmSTU/s320/DSC07925small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Em watering the garden</td></tr>
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Furthermore what girl, when considering a husband, says with a starry look in her eye, "I hope my husband is lazy." No woman wants a lazy husband!! Yet there are parents training their boys to play, play, play. Then when the boy becomes a man (or maybe I should say...when he gets older), the parents will despise him for not being able to hold a job. People have always admired my boys (and my daughter) because they are such good workers. I told my oldest son that he will never have a hard time finding a job because employers are always looking for hard workers. And he never has struggled to find work or keep a job! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xcc7vD413AxgxGo_3vtOkqrDrSZGeVPPpgQ3mA8RconTJ7RWqJexTT3LfxF42syt5OKMv9iJvA7edWBlHwdGeUmgPB71qHlu9OJcTvnej8RqCTisx0rVhFVxQtjc8RQ1pJsOStqytGY/s1600/DSC00877small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xcc7vD413AxgxGo_3vtOkqrDrSZGeVPPpgQ3mA8RconTJ7RWqJexTT3LfxF42syt5OKMv9iJvA7edWBlHwdGeUmgPB71qHlu9OJcTvnej8RqCTisx0rVhFVxQtjc8RQ1pJsOStqytGY/s320/DSC00877small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben, Jonny, and a friend (RJ) gutting our chickens</td></tr>
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Yes, children need play time. So do adults! We love to play with our kids. Family games and family sports are something we do regularly. After all, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. But let's not forget that all play and no work makes Jack a lazy, unhappy, ungrateful, unproductive, bored, confused, and depressed citizen. It will also make him a good socialist! :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsKXXqSShowaLwO8WvTw0hltNmT6Ds7vohb8wMLTHSvhZ4jjV4FiMpDI1c0QppYCXbMHShXspAVLwLHSmWY8jXnL2pAsP2rMVOb88mEwW4vbdMc2uM_ocYegQTYrysoXykMuJkHla4aw/s1600/DSC03156small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsKXXqSShowaLwO8WvTw0hltNmT6Ds7vohb8wMLTHSvhZ4jjV4FiMpDI1c0QppYCXbMHShXspAVLwLHSmWY8jXnL2pAsP2rMVOb88mEwW4vbdMc2uM_ocYegQTYrysoXykMuJkHla4aw/s320/DSC03156small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys playing army</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5yKdNJXO8WpxdWNY4FK5W1Ih9k5QN7mJKJGsHIIRzVOONJZlbAxlO-s6I6oM-ZQHYi7O5EVcZOlrLczW7jDgZ7gKViNorGanKCTtD25ydLPoLXTkXiB_KrMC3D1Sq-xA1pFQ2uZChww/s1600/DSC03607small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5yKdNJXO8WpxdWNY4FK5W1Ih9k5QN7mJKJGsHIIRzVOONJZlbAxlO-s6I6oM-ZQHYi7O5EVcZOlrLczW7jDgZ7gKViNorGanKCTtD25ydLPoLXTkXiB_KrMC3D1Sq-xA1pFQ2uZChww/s320/DSC03607small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A ride in the boat Brandon made</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRluojthtDuY6AAx8ghdY5gq5tXItdAt9F9jAoV64TtBUUV2sij-Ah2neXE8tmvbh9cM_Zisbei6TAyXP7nGYKok7wBAU8NXRQEMWrLRSYL8O0kI-BsqP-X6MnJ4erRuf7p7WTpXyADm4/s1600/DSC05138small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRluojthtDuY6AAx8ghdY5gq5tXItdAt9F9jAoV64TtBUUV2sij-Ah2neXE8tmvbh9cM_Zisbei6TAyXP7nGYKok7wBAU8NXRQEMWrLRSYL8O0kI-BsqP-X6MnJ4erRuf7p7WTpXyADm4/s320/DSC05138small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two fierce Indians</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiiQ9EUuX9FXF5bnK8BtcnN0-0k-oJAvHY6yDSp8WhHXBhvx5x-HWGuyN93SgQkU3biblBYd50WnkUpKK2Euir4MWs3d_7xU-4seh2C_etZwyKqnD5QQ_tv0QXai-NdgUnopndgdvaUY/s1600/DSC04983small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiiQ9EUuX9FXF5bnK8BtcnN0-0k-oJAvHY6yDSp8WhHXBhvx5x-HWGuyN93SgQkU3biblBYd50WnkUpKK2Euir4MWs3d_7xU-4seh2C_etZwyKqnD5QQ_tv0QXai-NdgUnopndgdvaUY/s320/DSC04983small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys on their contraption</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOikMe5F7cpdxwZEt8vVhT0PzFWTdsBNbvXul5SvFDKlDarH9fwbXpVDcig-p-hHUUolw-DNgJQMj2B16LendYjEpVBM81WvWMCVkZ0fOseP2fU6zf7-SlbWbYXvQoeJ1SRG5xbbjmfo/s1600/DSC05848small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOikMe5F7cpdxwZEt8vVhT0PzFWTdsBNbvXul5SvFDKlDarH9fwbXpVDcig-p-hHUUolw-DNgJQMj2B16LendYjEpVBM81WvWMCVkZ0fOseP2fU6zf7-SlbWbYXvQoeJ1SRG5xbbjmfo/s320/DSC05848small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding four wheelers together</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvSjT8x_QVSpIZ3UwDt5yzX21azjN_Tin_djnQSgFgFHP55SXVLgK5kFtkl7aWLJrOEZUpx7b2ZriDwTdXMyVZ4UkPmsjpeMtXJKJtPo4U2fnmAc-V-TG089lvm1RZiCiVA8hEY7KexI/s1600/DSC08279small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvSjT8x_QVSpIZ3UwDt5yzX21azjN_Tin_djnQSgFgFHP55SXVLgK5kFtkl7aWLJrOEZUpx7b2ZriDwTdXMyVZ4UkPmsjpeMtXJKJtPo4U2fnmAc-V-TG089lvm1RZiCiVA8hEY7KexI/s320/DSC08279small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making a brick oven</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZsEr5Y8mPMhr-yAzZw1nwjzq26_7rqRvMBJQug2DYQwMrUzgsvscHOSBmKtsc8OC6O-grOmB96GbZTCiXUtDxwQgR_i6y3LJRseWo6Cgw6WbPnGCBChN8RGttG2OLxcaa_ACG4kQq9k/s1600/DSC06617small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZsEr5Y8mPMhr-yAzZw1nwjzq26_7rqRvMBJQug2DYQwMrUzgsvscHOSBmKtsc8OC6O-grOmB96GbZTCiXUtDxwQgR_i6y3LJRseWo6Cgw6WbPnGCBChN8RGttG2OLxcaa_ACG4kQq9k/s320/DSC06617small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hunting together</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Z-Q1bZmSkBuvGvta_2G_ijVcFuuC8_5jIhp1WFa7O0vlcV44-T9uUZ_ZFaY7Y-T3yhGACtFW5LRtrh2ldZmkgPjPchDb8yhYXd15mgrlYA09oE9Y-AahDpG4OyX3gTkaoHmuwaFlntI/s1600/DSC09328small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Z-Q1bZmSkBuvGvta_2G_ijVcFuuC8_5jIhp1WFa7O0vlcV44-T9uUZ_ZFaY7Y-T3yhGACtFW5LRtrh2ldZmkgPjPchDb8yhYXd15mgrlYA09oE9Y-AahDpG4OyX3gTkaoHmuwaFlntI/s320/DSC09328small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four wheeler fun!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oa-GqC_KKiOSODjVBUZDIMMVgKQmdccvc10sBZr5UHW-Xco2bvV2brPDjVoolkG0snqKr6IxssSQy6I7kGBIsytizRX03xxP2JF97xdV9ddhyphenhyphen5-vJfHXWed9waD1vfj22d6hV4lbF2U/s1600/DSC08903small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oa-GqC_KKiOSODjVBUZDIMMVgKQmdccvc10sBZr5UHW-Xco2bvV2brPDjVoolkG0snqKr6IxssSQy6I7kGBIsytizRX03xxP2JF97xdV9ddhyphenhyphen5-vJfHXWed9waD1vfj22d6hV4lbF2U/s320/DSC08903small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time for target practice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We just really <strong><u>like</u></strong> our kids and want to be with them! We play together, pray together, laugh together, cry together, work together, and enjoy an exciting productive life together! The bottom line is, life is work, and I want my children to enjoy life! ...and they do! :)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvU3FJrFNz6ZgsWnN9nJDaZR8x-7NL8mQuGBgski0t3kraPLLnlJvWII1h3NJ-lLWXm6MHDdlfrAZCKSQn3A47RDgCmel_FFtGSgojAUqIhyIx7iimSElQZlIHgdzbI7EncJBxPDxry5o/s1600/DSC01011small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvU3FJrFNz6ZgsWnN9nJDaZR8x-7NL8mQuGBgski0t3kraPLLnlJvWII1h3NJ-lLWXm6MHDdlfrAZCKSQn3A47RDgCmel_FFtGSgojAUqIhyIx7iimSElQZlIHgdzbI7EncJBxPDxry5o/s320/DSC01011small.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mama lovin' on Jonny</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-57002547129278068482012-03-01T04:37:00.000-08:002012-03-01T04:37:17.360-08:00Sixteen and PregnantI met Tracie about a month ago. She has an incredible testimony! I asked her if I could share her story on my blog and she graciously sent me this written testimony. <br />
Her email is <a href="mailto:tjaigrademacher@yahoo.com">tjaigrademacher@yahoo.com</a> if you would like to get in touch with her.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 24pt;">
<u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">16 Years Old and Pregnant </span></span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
“Being 16, scared to death, confused, and deceptively misguided, I was at a
loss for what I should do. Everything inside me was telling me that abortion
was wrong. However after numerous conversations and an ever present pressure
that abortion was the best thing to do by my family, I gave in.<br />
I remember it like it was yesterday. The clinic workers were so cold and the
entire place was vacant of any morality. The doctor who murdered my baby even
asked me at one point ‘why are you crying?’ I knew before I went that it wasn’t
right. However when I walked into that cold room I was literally debilitated. I
felt like there was no turning back and no escape. That day I went home in
tears and cried for days. No talking, just crying. My mom swept the whole thing
under the rug and never brought it up again. I was never able to speak to a
counselor or support group I suppressed these emotions for over 5 years. <br />
<br />
After I got married and started having children with my husband it all came
flooding back, times 10! What had I done? The abortion didn’t make me
un-pregnant, it just made me the mother of a dead baby. I spiraled downward
into an abyss of sadness and pain. My depression worsened day by day and it
became difficult to function. I didn’t want to ask for help because I was
terrified of the “judgment“. <br />
<br />
My husband was extremely supportive, however I felt very alone and confused.”
After a while I finally hit bottom and I found God waiting there for me with
open arms. Up until then I didn’t have much of a relationship with God .
However I was so desperate for help that I began to read the bible and study
God’s word. I realized that I was forgiven through the blood of Christ. This
was great but I still wouldn’t forgive myself.<br />
God started to put it on my heart that I should get involved with the pro-life
cause now that I knew how horrible the affects of abortion were. <br />
<br />
It took a some serious time with God in prayer but he revealed to me that
my baby was a little girl and her name is Julia. Having a name now helped
me to focus on her and not the abortion. I was finally honoring her life.<br />
It was through 40 Days for life and the unconditional love I received
from those involved that I was finally able to remove the heavy chains I was
carrying and surrender my life fully to God. I realized that GOD’S FORGIVENESS
IS ENOUGH!<br />
Once I did that, God has blessed me by using me, my mistake, my baby and my
journey to teach others about the TRUTH. The truth about abortion, and
God’s love and forgiveness. I am now a public speaker on abortion,
leading a post abortive bible study and a board member at Pregnancy Resource
Center in St. Cloud, MN. <br />
<br />
God is so good and continues to amaze me with his blessings, mercy, love and
forgiveness. He has bestowed amazing blessings on my family and I am eternally
grateful. <br />
There is a scar on my heart for Julia, but I will walk out the rest of my days
on this earth following God’s call for me and honoring the short but beautiful
life of my little girl.<br />
<br />
With all of my heart, Tracie Rademacher</span></span></div>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-49575738305647143232012-02-15T14:07:00.000-08:002012-02-15T14:07:19.009-08:00Have you found your life?Many times, when you talk to the lost about the Lord, they are not interested in committing their life to Him because in their mind it means giving up everything they love. But for those of us who have joined the Lord's Army, we know that commitment to Him brings about total freedom, joy, peace, and a love for what it right and good. There is no remorse for what was left behind because through new eyes we see it as the pig pen of life. The Truth has set us free, and the total fulfillment of our spiritual life has made us completely satisfied and content, beyond what words can describe. If only the lost could know His freedom.<br />
<br />
The evening before my planned abortion in 1992, I sat in my room reading a tract. It was filled with scriptures telling how God feels about abortion. I read:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Matthew 10:39</blockquote>
All I had cared about was MY life and MY future. God's way seemed like bondage. I would have to give up everything I loved. Yet when I read that tract, I knew that all that I was really longing for in my life was found in Christ. The verse above and many others brought me to my knees in repentance. On that evening in March, almost 20 years ago, Jesus forgave me of my sins and set me free. I didn't know the life I was living was bondage until I let it go. Sin feels like freedom until you know the freedom found in Jesus Christ! "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23 Only when we surrender to Him, do we "find" our life and become totally free! <br />
<br />
If you do not know His freedom, get on your knees and confess your sins to Him. Then confess Him as your Lord and Savior and believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. After believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9-10) Now follow Him, and you will end all your searching...you will have found your life!!Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-86659765126925106512012-02-12T15:37:00.000-08:002012-02-12T15:37:25.773-08:00The PianoOur old piano has had "issues" for a long time. We bought it about 10 years ago, when Emily started taking piano lessons. If I was musically inclined, I could explain its problems to you, but let's just say our piano is a tuner's worst nightmare. But it is one of the most beautiful pianos I have ever seen. It was built in the 1890s and is a work of art!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.craigslist.org/5Lf5Fb5H73G13M33o4c1ec6f5882f946710e2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image 1" border="0" src="http://images.craigslist.org/5Lf5Fb5H73G13M33o4c1ec6f5882f946710e2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is a picture of our piano in its new home - the garage.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Last fall we had it tuned again. After 6 hours, our piano tuner was ready to pull his hair out! Many of the strings broke as he worked, but he had the piano in good working order when he left. A few days later, he let us know that he had a piano for us, if we wanted a different one, that was in very good condition, but it wasn't very pretty. The sound would not compare to our old piano - it would be much better! Some wanted to keep the old piano because it was so pretty, but Emily, who plays the most, was anxious to play one that sounded good.<br />
<br />
Our new piano is very plain. It was built in the 1950's and is a little scratched up. It was in a first grade classroom for many years and was well cared for. And boy can it sing! :) I often hear Emily say, "I love this piano", while she is playing it. :) <br />
<br />
As I watched the men hauling our very lovely old piano out of the house, I started thinking about something that I have been meditating on for a few weeks - beauty. How important is beauty? In our culture, it is one of the most sought after attributes in a woman's life. Oh to be beautiful! We color our hair, straighten and whiten our teeth, pad our bras, cover our faces in make-up, purchase sunglasses with latest in-style shape, and search for fashionable clothes, all so that we can be counted beautiful with the masses! Even men who are running for president desire to be handsome because they are more likely to get elected. So, if physical beauty is necessary to win the approval of the world, why wasn't Jesus handsome? (See Isaiah 53:2)<br />
<br />
The truth is beauty is empty. The Bible calls it "vain". God says that this kind of beauty in a woman's life is worthless, having no substance, value, or importance...just like my old piano. On the outside my old piano looks fantastic, but inside it's empty. A piano was created and designed to make beautiful music. What good is it if it just sits there looking nice? We were created to glorify God, to be His representatives to a lost and dying world. While I do not think there is any value in us trying to look ugly, nor do I think that that is what God wants from us, our true beauty is found in the heart. The Bible says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. God made us beautiful, but His <em>beautiful</em> and the world's <em>beautiful</em> are two different things. "Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." Proverbs 31:30 This same word, <em>beauty</em> is described in Proverbs 6:25, with a warning to young men about evil women. "Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids." We need to start to see this type of beauty from God's perspective. It is neither necessary or of any value.<br />
<br />When I get all dressed up and look my best, and I go out and someone says, "You look so pretty!", what value does that have in my life? Not that it is wicked to get dressed up and look nice....don't get me wrong! But do I really think that God looks down from heaven at that moment and says, "Mindy, that's my girl! I am so proud of you! You look so pretty!" You would think, at times, by the value that my mind tries to put on beauty, that I really do believe that!<br />
<br />Trying to look beautiful is bondage! There will always be a new and ever changing standard for "pretty". It is like a hungry monster that can never be satisfied. If we let it, it will keep us striving our whole life, never able to find rest and contentment. In the end, it will keeps us full of ourselves and distant from God. To be honest, I have bondages in this area that run so deep that there are days when I wonder if I will every be free from them. Yet another thought reminds me that God is able! I want God's mind on this matter! I want balance, but it is hard to find balance in a culture that worships beauty. It feels at times like I am going against a tidal wave of lies that constantly bombard my mind and contradict God's Word, making me focus on the worthless and empty things of this world.<br />
<br />
The real problem is a focus on outward appearance. It not only keeps captive those seeking the world's approval, it keeps anyone captive who is overly concerned with how they look. An Amish woman can be in just as much bondage as the young girl who is consumed with fashion magazines, seeking the next fad. Oh to get our focus off ourselves and onto the Lord! May we seek to impress only Him and rest in His love for us! And like my new piano, may our true beauty be found within!Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-10033627081048504032012-02-01T14:28:00.000-08:002012-02-01T14:28:58.342-08:00"I'm Bored!"Years ago, I had gotten into the habit of putting movies on for Brandon. He was my only child at the time. When I wanted some time alone, I used the TV as a babysitter. I justified this action by making sure they were good, quality videos. <br />
<br />
Brandon gradually got to the point where he needed to be entertained more and more. When he wasn't watching a movie, he didn't have any idea what to do with himself. I began hearing, "I'm bored!" more and more.<br />
<a href="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1520135114420&id=255aad4e397eba91d28ae6269c2d36e4&url=http%3a%2f%2f3.bp.blogspot.com%2f-vd3-JHU8_BU%2fTdT6XzvR7NI%2fAAAAAAAAAAg%2fSV0RspbFiJ4%2fs1600%2fchild%2btv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" class="sg_t" height="199" sb_id="ms__id4025" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1520135114420&id=255aad4e397eba91d28ae6269c2d36e4&url=http%3a%2f%2f3.bp.blogspot.com%2f-vd3-JHU8_BU%2fTdT6XzvR7NI%2fAAAAAAAAAAg%2fSV0RspbFiJ4%2fs1600%2fchild%2btv.jpg" style="height: 165.83px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /></a><br />
One day we decided that we needed to go on a movie fast. I figured this would be a good exercise in self-control, but I had no idea that it would produce the results that it did. Brandon suddenly became very creative! I was amazed when he would show me the things that he had made out of Legos. He began drawing and doing other things that showed great talent. It made me so sad to think that I had squelched all these abilities in him by encouraging him to let something else control his mind. By my poor decisions, I had created a lazy child. But the reality was that Brandon wasn't lazy or dumb. He just needed someone to unlock the potential that was within him.<br />
<br />
It's easy to just let our children's time slip away in meaningless activities. If they are quiet and entertained, why bother them? But I want to encourage you to find activities for your children that will help them discover the gifts that God has put in them. Ever since that day, when I realized how talented Brandon was, I have told him, "You will invent something one day!" I have continued, over the years, to be amazed at his abilities! And it's all because of that one decision to take away the TV.<br />
<br />
That incident with Brandon happened about 16 years ago, but Mike and I continue to exercise caution when it comes to movie time. Too much time sitting in front of a screen produces bad fruit, bored children, and unleashed potential! Your children may not be thrilled when you take away the forms of entertainment that are not producing any good fruit, but, trust me, the day will come when they will be thankful for it! :)Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159065330640598713.post-3288368049454657412012-01-30T14:51:00.000-08:002012-01-30T14:51:50.031-08:00Please Pray!Our family and our church body have been praying for Youcef. Would you please pray for him too? We received this email today:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #1d1b1d; font-family: "Verdana Italic","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><em>URGENT PRAYER NEEDED for cancellation of execution for Pastor Youcef in
IRAN</em></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /><em>
</em></span><span style="color: #1d1b1d; font-family: "Verdana Italic","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><em>This Prayer Chain is calling ALL Christians into action NOW on behalf of
this Iranian pastor, who faces execution!</em></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /><em>
</em></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana Italic","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /><em>
</em></span><span style="color: #1d1b1d; font-family: "Verdana Italic","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><em>Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani never practiced the Muslim faith and converted to
Christianity at age 19, becoming a pastor later. But the courts say that since
his mother and father were practicing Muslims, he must recant his Christian
faith or die. So far, in three court appearances, he has refused to do so -
RISKING EXECUTION AT ANY MOMENT. The Iranian Supreme Court often
acts quickly in administering the death penalty.</em></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d1b1d; font-family: "Verdana Italic","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><em></em></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /><em>
</em></span><span style="color: #1d1b1d; font-family: "Verdana Italic","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><em>According to a report, when asked by judges to "repent," Youcef
replied: "Repent, What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had
before my faith in Christ?"<br />
<br />
The judges replied: "To the religion of your ancestors - Islam." To
which Yousef replied: "I cannot."<br />
<br />
It's time for the body of Christ to act, to pray, to plead for the life of our
Brother before Christ so that His servant may be spared.</em></span>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408116612457049210noreply@blogger.com0