This morning as I was praying for our country I asked God to show me where He wanted me to focus my quiet time. He led me to a Bible study that I had missed a couple of days work on. It is Beth Moore's Stepping Up study....an amazing study I recently did. Well, I opened to the page talking about Psalm 123...
"I lift my eyes to You,
the One enthroned in heaven.
Like a servant's eyes on His master's hand,
like a servant girl's eyes on her mistress's hand,
so our eyes are on the Lord our God
until He shows us favor.
Show us favor, Lord, show us favor,
for we've had more than enough contempt.
We've had more than enough
scorn from the arrogant
and contempt from the proud."
This is what Beth said..."I'd like to suggest that an entire chain reaction begins with our eyes and ultimately affects our hearts, souls, and minds. Where we look---where we genuinely fasten our gaze---amid continual life challenges has a tremendous impact on how we feel.
I have stopped watching the news over the past couple of weeks. I was getting so down, depressed, irritable, and worried...when Bro. Greg preached on the election I realized that my focus was off of God. I was worried about things I have no control over. He is in control. I have just been praying...praying more than I ever have in my life. And no matter how this election turns out I'm at peace knowing that our Lord is in control of it all. He is the Holy One, ENTHRONED above. He has his throne already. And Psalm 99:1 says that "the Lord reigns, let the nations tremble". Ultimately every other crown bearer will "fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever." They will "lay their crowns before the throne and say: 'You are worthy, our Lord and God.'" Nothing operates outside God's soverign rule, including any prince or principality of earth or air. How comforting is that!! I rest in the peace of the Lord today knowing that above all He is in control and His will will be done. Please continue to pray for our nation and whichever leader is elected.
Jill
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
My Little Theologian
What an amazing day we had today. I love Sundays. I love the children we teach during Sunday School (Christian's class). I love the friends we get to see. I love the fact that though we are all sinners we are there together to seek the Lord and learn from Him how to live like Him. I love the preaching.
Today Bro. Greg didn't just preach....he PREACHED! Both Sun. am and Sun. night he shared a message that I feel was meant just for me. God laid it on my heart to share the message from this morning and since then I learned that my preacher actually reads this blog. So I hope I do o.k.! The pressure is on! I would like to share a little of the sermon from this morning because it put me at peace with the changing climate in our country. It reminded me of things I had failed to remember. With the election just around the corner Bro. Greg talked about the state of America and helped us to realize that the Lord will put in office who He wants in office. We love this country and pray for this country but we are aliens in this country. Our home is not here. He spoke from Hebrews 11:8-10. Abraham lived in a foreign land...when in a foreign land that you don't expect to become your home DON'T UNPACK. Don't act like this is your home. Abraham was looking for the city built of God (vs. 10). We do live in America but we are citizens of two kingdoms, America and God's kingdom. And one of those takes priority over the other. Bro. Greg stated, "if America means more to you than your eternal home then you're not much of a Christian".
God has made our country a very prosperous nation. It's hard to be prosperous and needy at the same time. We have to use these times of crisis in our country to realize where our need is. We need the Lord. We need Him and He knows that. But do we know that yet?? These are scary times. But like Bro. Greg said (note: this comment received loud amens and a thunderous applause in a So. Baptist church!) "They can have my retirement account. They can have my freedom. They can have my life. But they cannot have my Home!" Our home is not here. I will trust in Him to help me to get through this life and into the eternal home that He is building for me.
O.K. so after a full day of preaching and church we headed for home. Tink spent the afternoon with the G.A.'s working in our church's food pantry. I really hadn't had a chance to talk with her and since some of our friends were baptized tonight I asked her if she's thought any more about getting baptized. For those of you who don't know, Tink prayed to accept Jesus into her heart a few months ago and Jeremy and I have been working with her and praying with her to make sure she fully understood what this meant. I can assure you, she understands it more than I do I believe. It's amazing some of the answers she gives and the questions she asks. Her main drawback to "walking the aisle" and getting baptized is that everyone will be looking at her. I have to say this is understandable. There aren't many of us who wouldn't shy away from standing in front of hundreds of people. But she knows how important it is and really wants to do it. So we're praying with her about it.
So back to my story... I asked her about tonight and what she thought and she reminded me of the reason we get baptized. Once we ask Jesus into our heart He forgives us of our sin. We take Him into our heart and He takes our sin on himself. He died on the cross for the sins of OURS. We get baptized to show that we are washing away our life of sin and putting on our new life...our life in Christ. After she explained all of this again to me(I ask the questions...she provides the answers) she asked "Mommy, what happened to all of those people who died before Jesus was born? Did they go to the devil?"
O.K. my six year old came up with that one. Yes, I've asked that question myself but I know it wasn't until adulthood. So my response, "That would be an excellent question for you to ask Daddy when he comes to lay down with you." How did I do?? I am so very blessed to have such an amazing man of God as my husband. I ask him questions all the time and if he doesn't know the answer he knows where to find it. So I quietly sneak into Man-Man's room (where DH is tucking him in) and give him the heads up. In a few minutes he comes to our bedroom and leaves with two Bibles (different versions). They're still back there right now! If my six year old is asking these types of questions now...what will she be asking at 16? I can't wait! God is working in her life and I know he is in all of ours.
So I guess I was in a mood to write tonight. I know I rambled and my grammar and sentence structure is horrible...but it's my blog...I can do what I want. If you made it this far then kudos to you. Thanks for sticking with me. I'm exhausted and ready for bed. Good night and God bless you all!
Jill
Today Bro. Greg didn't just preach....he PREACHED! Both Sun. am and Sun. night he shared a message that I feel was meant just for me. God laid it on my heart to share the message from this morning and since then I learned that my preacher actually reads this blog. So I hope I do o.k.! The pressure is on! I would like to share a little of the sermon from this morning because it put me at peace with the changing climate in our country. It reminded me of things I had failed to remember. With the election just around the corner Bro. Greg talked about the state of America and helped us to realize that the Lord will put in office who He wants in office. We love this country and pray for this country but we are aliens in this country. Our home is not here. He spoke from Hebrews 11:8-10. Abraham lived in a foreign land...when in a foreign land that you don't expect to become your home DON'T UNPACK. Don't act like this is your home. Abraham was looking for the city built of God (vs. 10). We do live in America but we are citizens of two kingdoms, America and God's kingdom. And one of those takes priority over the other. Bro. Greg stated, "if America means more to you than your eternal home then you're not much of a Christian".
God has made our country a very prosperous nation. It's hard to be prosperous and needy at the same time. We have to use these times of crisis in our country to realize where our need is. We need the Lord. We need Him and He knows that. But do we know that yet?? These are scary times. But like Bro. Greg said (note: this comment received loud amens and a thunderous applause in a So. Baptist church!) "They can have my retirement account. They can have my freedom. They can have my life. But they cannot have my Home!" Our home is not here. I will trust in Him to help me to get through this life and into the eternal home that He is building for me.
O.K. so after a full day of preaching and church we headed for home. Tink spent the afternoon with the G.A.'s working in our church's food pantry. I really hadn't had a chance to talk with her and since some of our friends were baptized tonight I asked her if she's thought any more about getting baptized. For those of you who don't know, Tink prayed to accept Jesus into her heart a few months ago and Jeremy and I have been working with her and praying with her to make sure she fully understood what this meant. I can assure you, she understands it more than I do I believe. It's amazing some of the answers she gives and the questions she asks. Her main drawback to "walking the aisle" and getting baptized is that everyone will be looking at her. I have to say this is understandable. There aren't many of us who wouldn't shy away from standing in front of hundreds of people. But she knows how important it is and really wants to do it. So we're praying with her about it.
So back to my story... I asked her about tonight and what she thought and she reminded me of the reason we get baptized. Once we ask Jesus into our heart He forgives us of our sin. We take Him into our heart and He takes our sin on himself. He died on the cross for the sins of OURS. We get baptized to show that we are washing away our life of sin and putting on our new life...our life in Christ. After she explained all of this again to me(I ask the questions...she provides the answers) she asked "Mommy, what happened to all of those people who died before Jesus was born? Did they go to the devil?"
O.K. my six year old came up with that one. Yes, I've asked that question myself but I know it wasn't until adulthood. So my response, "That would be an excellent question for you to ask Daddy when he comes to lay down with you." How did I do?? I am so very blessed to have such an amazing man of God as my husband. I ask him questions all the time and if he doesn't know the answer he knows where to find it. So I quietly sneak into Man-Man's room (where DH is tucking him in) and give him the heads up. In a few minutes he comes to our bedroom and leaves with two Bibles (different versions). They're still back there right now! If my six year old is asking these types of questions now...what will she be asking at 16? I can't wait! God is working in her life and I know he is in all of ours.
So I guess I was in a mood to write tonight. I know I rambled and my grammar and sentence structure is horrible...but it's my blog...I can do what I want. If you made it this far then kudos to you. Thanks for sticking with me. I'm exhausted and ready for bed. Good night and God bless you all!
Jill
Friday, October 24, 2008
HS co-op
Our homeschool group is attempting a small version of a co-op this year. For those of you who don't know a co-op is where mom's come together to teach certain things to a group of kids. One mom may teach on the weather to first graders, while another mom may teach geometry to 7th graders. That's a very short and basic definition but you get the picture. Anyway, today we had a pottery co-op at the park. It was so much fun. Tink and Man-Man loved working with the clay and we can't wait for them to dry so we can paint them. Tink made a couple of ornaments, a goblet, and a cup. Man-Man made a couple of ornaments and a cup (with the help of mom!) Princess walked around talking to everyone! I think Man-Man's favorite part was playing on the playground though. What a boy! And that park is 1 minute from our house...it's not like we never go there! Oh, well...we all had a great time. Tonight is movie night so we went to rent a movie and bought popcorn. I think it's Polar Express tonight. We're getting in the Christmas spirit already I guess!
Jill
Friday, October 17, 2008
We're walking!
Over the past two weeks Princess has become more and more interested in a new mode of transportation...walking. I believe that she's finally decided to partake in this popular activity on a regular basis. Up until now she's been ABLE to walk, however she never really desired to do it on her own. I am very happy to say that she's now primarily walking. Oh, she gets so proud of herself too. If she's walking she wants everyone to see. We yell and clap and she starts grinning so big that she falls down. She is hillarious! She's also getting taller and is able to reach on top of tables and into drawers that she used to not be able to touch. This has caused me to do some very quick moving of items at times. Oh, she is into everything. She loves to explore. She loves to push buttons, like the computer keyboard buttons as I'm trying to type a blog entry. HAHA! Well, I'll post some pics now and leave you until next time. Have a great weekend everyone!
Jill
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