MARY'S SONG

"And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever." Luke 1:46-55 (Mary's Song)

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 Mary faced certain shunning and disgrace, even from her betrothed, Joseph, yet she followed what God asked her to do without question.

 OH, that we should be so willing to do as the Lord asks US to do, no matter the cost! What is He asking you to do? Follow His calling. You will not be sorry. He would not ask you to do something that you are not able to do. He will give you the strength.
Have a wonderful and blessed Sunday!
Beth :-)

WHY DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU BELIEVE?

Good morning, my dear readers! Yes, it's been a while since I've posted. You see, I have decided to go back to school to pursue my Bachelors in Elementary Education. It's a big step to fit into my busy, busy life along with my family, church and employment, but, with lots of prayer, I took it. My family still comes first and foremost, so if it looks like my schooling is starting to take too much time from my first priority, my boys, then I will once again step back.
The class that I chose to start out with is Environmental Biology. It seemed the logical choice since it is a completely online class, and I really, REALLY didn't want to jump into Algebra after not having looked at an equation in almost twenty years! I didn't get along very well with them, even back then.
What do you think we talked about in the first chapter? That's right. Evolution! OH, I'm ready for this, I thought. I do not believe Darwin's theory. Well, "I do not believe" was not a good enough answer. Since this is an online class, there is a Discussion Board on which we have to interact with our other virtual classmates. WHY do I not believe? This chapter really opened up my eyes. Why do I not believe? It's easy to say that you don't, but WHY not? What do you base it on? As I researched my answers (by the way, two very good Christian websites to visit on this subject are ANSWERS IN GENESIS and INSTITUTE FOR CREATION), my faith and beliefs were strengthened.
This begs the question, "Why do you believe what you believe?". You have convictions-WHY? Do you live and do things a certain way because that is what you have been taught growing up, or just told that you should do?
If someone tells me this or that when it concerns my Christian walk, I want back up from the scriptures (KJV!).
For instance, over the past several years, I have been convicted on how I dress. I used to be a "jeans and t-shirt" type of girl. I usually only wore dresses to church and sometimes to work. One lady that worked with me (she also attended my church) always wore dresses, no matter what. I always thought that was a little overboard and, yes, strange. Also, growing up, one of my best friends in high school always wore a dress. I never thought to ask her why. The lady at work, on the other hand, would tell me that she wore dresses because that was her conviction. WHY?
My husband, although he wanted very much for me to stop wearing my tight jeans and small tops, was very wise. He did not "demand" that I stop. If he had, I am ashamed to say that I would have "bucked up" and rebelled. He would just say things like, "Those jeans really bring out your curves" or "Should you be wearing something that will tempt other men?", etc.
Although the Lord had started tugging at my heart on this issue some time before, I came to a turning point when my husband became the pastor of our church. Our church holds to dress standards, and women are expected to dress like women (dresses and skirts) and men like men (no shorts) at all church activities and functions. We are ambassadors for Christ, after all! At this time, I still wore jeans around the house or to the grocery store near my house. I wore dresses or skirts everywhere else.
But then, the Lord really started convicting me. Why am I one way in the general public (church or when we go to town), but another in the privacy of my home? Isn't that being a hypocrite? Shouldn't I be the same no matter what? Hmmm.....
So, I started to really study this subject of Modest Dress. I came across a really good book, "What in the World Should I Wear?" by Cathy Corle (you can purchase a copy here-Baptistink or use the search engine). Another article that helped me was "What About Women Wearing Pants?" by Brother Potter (Priceless Woman Ministries). In these two places, I found the scripture that I was looking for. I could not deny it! From that point on, I have only worn dresses and skirts. Now, when someone asks me why do I dress the way I do, I have an answer. I also would not have changed if I had not been clearly shown in the scriptures.
That is just one apect in my life. How about you? Do you have an answer when someone asks you "WHY?" when you say you do or do not belief something? Always, always study your Bible. Be ready with an answer. Also, always, if someone says you should or should not, ask for scripture to back it up.
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

PSALM 73:26

SPIRITUAL DETOX DIET

I got on the scales the other morning and noticed that my weight has slowly crept up. Ten pounds??? NO WAY! How did that happen? But, unfortunately, the scale doesn't lie.
Now, some people will tell me that because I am now officially over the "40 Mark" (I am 43), it will become harder to lose and maintain my weight and that weight gain is just a natural thing in this stage of my life.
I do not accept that! So, I started scouring around for some quick detox diets (you know, the ones that will guide you on what to eat and not to eat to flush impurities from your body). Most call for more water, fruits and vegetables. Not just ANY fruits and vegetables, mind you. There are specific ones that contain more water and nutrients to help your body rid itself of built up impurities. Believe it or not, there are some fruits and vegetables that will sabotage your plans.
How can we apply this spiritually to our lives? How about a "Spiritual Detox Diet"? The Bible tells us about the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law."
How are you feeling spiritually? Tired? Worn down? Bloated? Heavy? When was the last time you looked at this verse? I mean really, REALLY looked at this verse? Can you look at each of these "fruits" and see how each is being applied to your daily life?
Every now and then, our spiritual lives need a good cleansing, one that will get rid of impurities that have built up over time, many of which we are often unaware of. Is it time for a Spiritual Detox Diet? Is it time for a spiritual cleansing? The answer for me is YES!
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

I WILL LIFT UP MINE EYES UNTO THE HILLS

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” Psalm121:1-2

***********************************************

A couple of weeks ago, this pastor's family finally got to go away for a WHOLE week! It was wonderful. We haven't been able to do that for a couple of years. Trying to coordinate between my work schedule and things that are happening in the church (deaths, sicknesses, etc) is very difficult.

We chose to go all the way to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge this time. It is about a nine to ten hour drive (depending on how many times the boys had to stop!) for us.

We absolutely love the mountains. But I noticed something right about the second to the last day of our stay.

We had been so involved in all of the activities that these two towns had to offer, that we hadn't once looked up at the mountains that surrounded them (see picture below).

Isn't that the way we are with life sometimes? We get so involved in or overwhelmed with looking around at what is going on in our life that we forget to "look up unto the hills" as the Psalmist said, look up to God. We don't exactly forget that, "My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth", per say, we just kind of put it to the back of our minds.
Some Christians aren't on their knees as much when things are going well for them. They don't really get serious about praying until something drastic happens. Oh, they still pray, just not as fervently or maybe as frequently.
We need to always remember our God, in the good and bad times. We need to remember to lift up our eyes and hearts to God, thanking Him for His constant blessings and help in our lives. He is there with us through the good and the bad-ALWAYS. He will never leave us or forsake us. But we need to always keep those lines of communication open.
What an eye opening life experience this was for me!
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)



VBS TODAY!

Our 2012 VBS is today. I am SO very excited! Please help me pray for the workers and the children.
I did something different this year and did not go with any particular curriculum. You see, by the time we have our VBS program, which is usually the last Saturday in July or the first Saturday in August, the children have already been to several in the area, and "know" the different programs, so they are more easily bored because they've already "been there and done it".
Well, today, they are going to learn about the Tabernacle in the Wilderness, along with life in Biblical times (food, clothing, shelter). They will also learn about the order of the encampments of the Israelites. For instance, did you know that they always camped the same way around the Tabernacle according to their tribes? There were four camps, in which were three tribes.
Everything that we have studied in preparation for this VBS regarding how the Tabernacle was set up, how the services were performed and how the Israelites set up their camps has confirmed that God wants everything done decently and in order. We can also see the symbolism of His plan of salvation for us.
There is so very much more to tell, but I have to get ready to go. A report and LOTS of pictures to follow!
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth

GOD'S PATTERN FOR OUR LIVES

I love to sew. When I was about twelve years old, my mom bought me an older, used portable Singer sewing machine. I think that it was close to being antique then, possibly dating back to the 1950's, but I absolutely LOVED it! It even had an "old timey" type key on a string and key hole on the cover. It only has one stitch-a straight stitch, but I sewed many a "creation" for my dolls on it. I still have this machine.
I got out of sewing in my 20's as I was working full-time and going to school full-time. After I got married, my mom and sister got together and bought me a new portable sewing machine for my 30th birthday (sorry, Singer! It's a Brother!). I let it sit for a couple of years until the "sewing bug" bit me again. I thought that I would like to make tote bags, so I scoured the internet for simple, free patterns that I could use. That started the sewing journey that I am now on, and I have gone on to create my own small business.
My thought for today is about the patterns that I use. Now, really, I am not a patient person when it comes to patterns. I like to go ahead and get started on my project. I have learned through experience, though, that it is for my benefit when the pattern maker says, "Read all instructions before beginning".
Sometimes, I'll look and just start to sew, thinking that I understand what I am looking at. After the project begins not coming along quite right, or not fitting together properly, I will go back and actually READ the instructions. Then I see where I went wrong. If only I had read that to begin with, things would have worked out much better and smoother. I wouldn't have to rip apart and start all over again!
God has given the Christian a "pattern" for their life. It is His Holy Word, the Bible. Often times, though, we want to go ahead without reading the instructions. We jump into situations without consulting Him or His Word first. We think that we know better, or "know" what the Lord would have us do. Then we don't understand when our life or things in our life start to unravel or don't seem to be going as planned.
When this happens, we need to STOP, LOOK and LISTEN.
STOP-Stop right now, before things get any crazier or worse. I have found with my sewing that if things don't seem to be going right, I need to stop right then, before I mess things up more, and once again consult the pattern's instructions.
LOOK- What is going on? Did we pray and seek the Lord in this? Is it about something that we know He is convicting us of, and we just didn't want to study the scriptures, because, really, deep down, we knew that we would see what needs changing in our life?
LISTEN-Now, talk to your Heavenly Father and get into His Word. Listen to what He has to say. He will guide you in the direction that you need to go in. Sometimes, we will have to do some "ripping apart" and start all over again. That's alright! He will forgive you and you will have a clean slate to start over with.
If we continue to follow, and are WILLING to follow, the instructions in God's "pattern" for our lives, the Bible, we will always be where He wants us to be, and our lives will be "sewn" together beautifully.
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

EXAMINE ME, O LORD....

“Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.”

                                               Psalms 26:2

Last Sunday night, my husband was preaching out of Psalms 26. He came to verse 2, then he threw out a "challenge".
"I wonder" he said, "If anyone here would ask the Lord to seriously examine their heart and lives, then be willing to change whatever He says needed changing?". This statement really spoke to my heart, so I prayed right then that the Lord would examine me and show me what in my life needed changing. I prayed the same thing that night before I went to bed and again the next morning. I was not really prepared for the quick response that I received!
When we go to an earthly physician for an examination, we want them to be honest and tell us if there is something wrong, even if it is something that we don't want to hear. We then want them to tell us how to treat and correct the problem, right? When we approach the throne of the Great Physician, we should have the same attitude, no matter what the cost. It is often hard to do, though.
Well, the Lord spoke to me that very next morning. He brought to light several things that needed changing in my life. Really? That many? Some I was not even aware of, and a couple I already knew, but had been reluctant to really look at before.
I meant business when I prayed those prayers, so, hard as some of the changes have been, I went ahead and did as the Lord asked me to do. Guess what? He has blessed me in SO many ways since I have been obedient to Him! I feel that I have drawn closer to Him as well.
How about you? Are you willing to pray and ask Him to examine your heart and life, then make those changes? I grant you that it won't be easy, but you will be so very blessed when you do.
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

GOD'S PROTECTION



I just have to share a wonderful praise about God's protection!
Yesterday, I had taken down one of my hummingbird feeders to clean it and refill it. I was in my bathroom, washing out the feeder when I felt something on my left arm, close to where the short sleeve of my blouse ended. I looked down in time to see a black widow climbing on my arm! Yes!
Well, I screamed, my six year old ran from the room, and I flung that spider into the sink. I killed it dead, yes, I did!
After my stomach stopped feeling so sick, I thought about how good my God is to protect me! My husband said that he didn't know why the spider didn't bite me. A black widow bite is a terrible thing.
We often don't realize what God has protected us from through out our day, be it a spider bite, a car accident, whatever. We need to thank Him daily for His blessings! How often I take them for granted.
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)



WITNESSING AND MY LITTLE MUSTARD SEED



My Little Mustard Seed

Last night was a very long night for me. One of our cats had her very first litter of kittens, three total, under our carport. They are now about a week and a half old.
One of these kittens, though, did not seem to be thriving. While his siblings were going strong, he just didn't seem to have the strength to fight his way to sustenance. My husband kept finding this kitten a ways from where the others were. He didn't know if it was moving itself, or the momma. So, he would place the kitten back with the mother. My husband would come out an hour later, and this poor little thing was once again away from his family.
Finally, the momma cat moved the other two, but didn't move him. She would come back, sit with it and lick it some, but refused to move it with the others. We could not find where she had moved her litter (we finally did later that night. She had moved them to the bed of my husband's pickup truck under the toolbox!).
We couldn't stand to let him just die. His cries were pitiful. So, we brought him in, made him a warm place to lay, and I proceeded to feed him with a dropper of milk. I actually thought he was going to make it, because every two hours, on the dot, he would wake up squalling. I even named him. I called him Mustard Seed, referring to Jesus' parable about faith and the size of the mustard seed. Around 1:30 a.m., though, things started looking worse. He didn't eat as much, and fell right back to sleep. I woke up around 4:30 a.m., and panicked. I thought that I had missed his waking. But truthfully, anyone who has ever been in this situation knows that you just can't miss a kitten's cry for food, especially when it is in the room next to you! When I got up and checked him, he had already passed away. Yes, I cried.
You know, I got to thinking about this experience and comparing it to the unsaved people that we know or come in contact with. It really did open my eyes.
We will put so much effort to save a dying animal, but how much effort do we put into the dying world around us? Do we do all that we can to tell people about the Lord and His saving grace? When was the last time we witnessed to someone, anyone?
I really need to start doing better. I have asked the Lord's forgiveness for being so slack. How about you? Will you put forth that effort to tell someone about Jesus? That is what we are called to do as Christians. Let's start working harder. There's a lost and dying world all around us that needs a Saviour!
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

What does it really mean to be feminine? by Pastor Art Kohl

Good morning, my dear readers. Here is an interesting and insightful article that I found pertaining to modesty:

What does it really mean to be feminine? by Pastor Art Kohl

I hope this helps you along if you are searching and praying about the issue of  Christian Modesty in your own life!

Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

SATURDAY MORNING SAYINGS-MODESTY

"Either we must speak as we dress, or dress as we speak. Why do we profess one thing and display another? The tongue talks of chastity, but the whole body reveals impurity." Saint Jerome


Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Beth  :-)

SATURDAY MORNING SAYINGS-MEMORIAL DAY

It's Memorial Day Weekend! Let's not forget to remember the ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice that we might have the freedoms that we enjoy today!

Have a blessed and safe weekend!

Beth :-)

SATURDAY MORNING SAYINGS

“When a woman veils her body in modest clothing, she is not hiding herself from men. On the contrary, she is revealing her dignity to them.” -Unknown

Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Beth :-)

TWO SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL WORDS

THANK YOU. Two simple words, and yet, they can be so powerful!
I did not realize just how powerful they could be until the other night.
 Our church had Spring Revival last week. Although always spiritually uplifting, this week can also be physically taxing, especially where the pastor's family (hi! that's us!) is concerned.
Well, after revival service one night (my husband was still at the church), I was folding laundry, cleaning up our kitchen, trying to get the boys ready for bed, feeling VERY exhausted and, yes, a little unappreciated. My oldest son walks up to me and says (with a little hug), "Mommy, you work hard for us. Thank you!". I didn't know what to say for a second. I then gave him a big hug. Do you know, that "thank you" gave me more of an energy boost than anything else could! It made such a big difference to me for the rest of the week. Wow!
I think that we often take those two simple words for granted. When we are out in public, do we thank the waitress for refilling our drinks or even for clearing off our table? How about that cashier who has just checked us out? If we do say thank you, do we say it as something we're just supposed to say, or do we actually look at them and say it with meaning? This could make a big difference to someone who is having a terrible day or has been dealing with cranky customers.
Have you thanked your spouse for the things that he or she does for you? For example,if your husband takes out the trash, thank him! That may sound trivial, but sometimes we take our spouses and what they do for granted, especially if we have been married for a while. Those two words are very important in the marriage relationship.
How about God? When was the last time you thanked Him for what He has done for you? He loves to hear our praises and thanksgivings. The Bible is full of passages that tell us so. He does SO much for us, EVERY day! I think back to the way I was feeling that night, then how I felt after my son told me thank you. I wonder if God feels the same way when we thank Him, not with just a perfunctory "Thank You", but with a heartfelt and meaningful THANK YOU!
How about it? Let's try to use those two simple, yet powerful words more often, not just with other people, but with our God!

Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

SATURDAY MORNING SAYINGS

               "The Two Prayers"

                         "Last night my little boy confessed to me,
                         Some childish wrong;
                         And kneeling at my knee.
                         He prayed with tears,
                         "Dear God, make me a man
                         Like Daddy-- wise and strong,
                         I know you can."

                         Then while he slept,
                         I knelt beside his bed,
                        Confessed my sins;
                        And prayed with low bowed head.
                        "Oh God, make me a child
                        Like my child here--
                        Pure, guileless,
                        Trusting Thee with faith sincere."

                                     ~Andrew Gillies~

 

RESURRECTION SUNDAY-PRAISE THE LORD!



Hallelujah! I serve a RISEN Saviour! He is alive today. I am so thankful for what He did for us.

 "And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazereth, which was crucified.: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him." Mark 16:4-6

Amongst all of the beauty and excitement of new Easter outfits, hats and flowers, we can't forget the real reason for today-our Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us that we might live with and see Him one day.

Have a wonderful and blessed Resurrection Sunday!
Beth :-)

SATURDAY MORNING SAYINGS

Little Birdie Blessings

“HE PAID A DEBT HE DID NOT OWE”

HE PAID A DEBT HE DID NOT OWE;

I OWED A DEBT I COULD NOT PAY;

I NEEDED SOMEONE TO WASH MY SINS AWAY.

AND, NOW, I SING A BRAND NEW SONG,

“AMAZING GRACE”.

CHRIST JESUS PAID A DEBT THAT I COULD NEVER PAY.

HE PAID THAT DEBT AT CALVARY.

HE CLEANSED MY SOUL AND SET ME FREE.

I’M GLAD THAT JESUS DID ALL MY SINS ERASE.

I, NOW, CAN SING A BRAND NEW SONG, “AMAZING GRACE”.

CHRIST JESUS PAID A DEBT THAT I COULD NEVER PAY.

ONE DAY HE’S COMING BACK FOR ME

TO LIVE WITH HIM ETERNALLY.

WON’T IT BE GLORY TO SEE HIM ON THAT DAY!

I, THEN, WILL SING A BRAND NEW SONG, “AMAZING GRACE”.

CHRIST JESUS PAID A DEBT THAT I COULD NEVER PAY.

YES, JESUS PAID A DEBT THAT I COULD NEVER PAY.

-Ellis J Crum

DESENSITIZED TO SIN



           Bran Made Tags   

             

I have heard it said that if you put a frog in a pot of water and slowly bring it to a boil, the frog will not be aware of any danger until it is too late.
Christians are in the same kind of danger today. Slowly, slowly, we are being "desensitized" to sin. Through media (television, books, internet, etc) and public schools, we and our children are exposed every day to the world's views that living together and sex before marriage is ok, homosexuality is just another lifestyle, immodest dress is the way to be attractive and cursing is fine. People are exposed to violence and sexual content in their video games. If we choose to simply just tolerate and "quietly overlook" these sins, eventually we will not see it as such a bad thing.
Listen dear readers, if it was an abomination to God back in Bible times, it's STILL an abomination to Him today. If it was a sin back then, it's STILL a sin today! God does not change.
What is a Christian to do? How can we protect ourselves and our children from this?
First, stay in the Word! 2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  Read and study the Bible. Keep up your family prayer and devotions. Constantly talk to and teach your children about God's ways, as it says in Deuteronomy 11:19, "And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."  That's ALL the time!
Know your Bible so that when a situation arises, you can show your children what God says about it. If you don't know, search the Scriptures together with them to find the answer (a concordance helps alot!).
Second, when you are watching a movie or TV program and someone curses, walks on the screen scantily clad, magic or sorcery is introduced, or any other questionable thing comes on-TURN IT OFF! If it is on a DVD that you own-THROW IT AWAY! Sounds drastic? Yes, but it needs to leave your house. You may have to endure some crying and arguments from your children. My husband and I have been there. But, protecting our families should be the most important thing to us. Don't forget that you are the parent, and are the one in charge.
Monitor very, very closely the video games that your children play. Even some of the innocent looking ones may have some surprises as the levels progress.
 Although it's an easy way out, don't use the explanation of, "Just because I say so". Your children need to know why you are doing this. Once again, go to God's word and show them.
My friends, it is a battle which can get very hard sometimes. Satan is shrewd and cunning. But we must fight for the sake of our families. We must continually be on our guard, staying in the Word and on our knees! Watch out that you don't get caught in boiling water!

Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

WE ARE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE!

"For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mothers womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works;and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." Psalm 139:13-16               

Hallelujah! We are wonderful works of God! He knew us from the beginning. Life begins at conception. The Bible even tells us that!

Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

SATURDAY MORNING SAYINGS

Bran Made Tags

I would like to dedicate my Saturday blogs to posting different quotes, sayings, verses and poems that I hope will uplift you, encourage you or even put a smile on your face.

“God’s work done God’s way will never lack

God’s supply.”-Hudson Taylor

Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)
                        

EYE HATH NOT SEEN

I just had to share this beautiful picture I found at Little Birdie Blessings Blog. Her address is littlebirdieblessings.blogspot.com. She offers free Vintage images. LOVE THEM!


Little Birdie Blessings

Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

MOVING MOUNTAINS

Palm Sunday is quickly approaching. Soon, children will be making "palm leaves" in Sunday School and we will be talking about the "Triumphal Entry" of Jesus into Jerusalem and the events which led to His crucifixion and Resurrection.
The day after He came to Jerusalem, the gospel of Mark tells us that Jesus was hungry. He saw a fig tree and went to it, hoping to find fruit on it. The tree had nothing but leaves. Jesus was upset and the disciples heard Him say unto it, "No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever." Mark 11:14. The next morning, when they went by the tree, it was dead (Mark 11:20). Peter, remembering what Jesus had said the day before, remarked about this.
Jesus said, "Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Mark 11:22-24.
Did you know that real mountains CAN actually move? Yes, they can. This is usually due to the movement of the plates in the earth below the mountains. Scientists have found that they can move from a few feet to a few miles. Amazing! These mountains will move at different rates of time, some quickly, some slowly.
Often, we have "mountains" in our lives. We pray, wanting God to answer our prayers immediately, removing these situations so that we can continue on. But God moves in His time, not ours. These "mountains" in our lives move somewhat like actual mountains, depending on how He answers and what He is trying to teach us at that time. We need to pray in faith and believe that God will move that mountain. All prayers are not answered in the same way or in the same time frame. Make sure that you are praying that HIS will be done, and not your own. We should always want to be in God's will for our lives, although it is often hard to do. We will not be happy if we are not, I can tell you from personal experience!
Do you have a "mountain" in your life? What is it? Financial? Your children? Your marriage? Whatever it is, keep bringing it to the throne of God! Do not doubt, but BELIEVE! Yes, it is often hard, so VERY hard,  to keep trusting when your world seems to be falling in around you, but you can do it. Have faith in God. He is there for you, to put His loving arms around you, to comfort you and to uphold you through your difficult times.
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

SATURDAY MORNING SAYINGS

I would like to dedicate my Saturday blogs to posting different quotes, sayings, verses and poems that I hope will uplift you, encourage you or even put a smile on your face.

Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Beth :-)

SATURDAY MORNING SAYINGS

Saturday Morning Sayings

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I would like to dedicate my Saturday blogs to posting different quotes, sayings, verses and poems that I hope will uplift you, encourage you or even put a smile on your face.

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"Hold everything in your hands lightly, otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open." -Corrie ten Boom

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Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Beth :-) 

PETER AND POPCORN

One of my favorite object lessons that I like to teach the children is about the Apostle Peter and a bag of popcorn. What do they even have in common, you ask? The answer-they both "popped under pressure".

For popcorn to pop, it needs to be exposed to extreme heat. When I was growing up, we would make popcorn every Saturday night. My dad would take a bag of popcorn kernels, some cooking oil and a very hot pan and pop the corn on the stove top. I can still remember the sound of the kernels swishing back and forth in the pan and the delicious smell that would fill the house. Today, all we have to do is take a bag and throw it in the microwave.

Shortly before the Crucifixion, Jesus was talking to His disciples. He told them that they would all desert Him that very night (Matthew 26:31). But Peter, who loved His Lord very much, said, "Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended." Matthew 26:33. Jesus looked at him (I wonder if sadly), and told Peter that he would deny Him three times before the cock crowed twice. Peter insisted that even if he had to die with Jesus, he still would not deny Him. He meant it. But, the "heat" was closer than Peter knew.

Shortly after this, the guards came to arrest Jesus. There was quite alot of activity. Peter even drew his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus, the high priest's servant (John 18:10), who, by the way, Jesus healed before He was led away. All of the disciples, including Peter, forsook Jesus at this time and fled (Mark 14:50), although Peter did follow from afar off all the way to the palace of the high priest, where he sat by the fire with the servants (Mark 14:54). He was asked three times as to whether or not he was a follower of Jesus. Each time he denied, each time more vehemently than before. He even started cursing and swearing! Alas, when he heard the cock crow the second time, he remembered the words of Jesus with great sorrow and wept. He had "popped" under pressure when the heat became too much.

When things are going great for the Christian, we are often, like Peter, on fire for the Lord, praising Him, promising Him that we will always serve Him, thanking Him for such wonderful blessings on our life. But when trials come our way, how do we react? It's easy to follow Him when things are good. But what about the hard times? The tragedies in our lives? We are all human, this is true. We all will deal with emotions and feelings. But, when something happens, and we're "down in the valley", do we still keep our eyes on Jesus?

There is a song called, "God on the Mountain".  One of the verses says, "You talk of faith when you're up on the mountain. Oh but the talk comes easy when life's at its best. But it's down in the valley of trials and temptation that's when faith is really put to the test."

When things in life are going good for a Christian, it's easy for us to serve the Lord. But, as we all know, life isn't always easy. Trials and tragedies will come into our lives. But when they do, remember to keep looking up and looking to Jesus, your Lord and Saviour. Don't "pop under pressure" as Peter did. If you do, that's alright. Jesus knows us. He knows that we are sometimes weak. That is why we need Him-ALWAYS. He will never leave you or forsake you.

If you have wandered away from the Lord because of circumstances that have happened in your life, don't you think it's time to come back? He is waiting for you with open arms. Pray, ask His forgiveness, then give your situation over to Him. Trust Him! Start reading His precious Word again. Ask Him for guidance. Then, if you have stopped attending church, go back. Begin fellowshipping with other believers again.

Now, whenever you have some popcorn, maybe you will think of Peter. :-)!

Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

LET THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH...

This is one of my favorite verses, yet one of the most convicting for me. I want everything that I say and think to always be acceptable to my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!

Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

HOW GOD SEES YOU

Not too long ago, while I was shopping at the Salvation Army (one of my favorite places to shop!), I saw this:

I am guessing it was a plant holder of some sort. It was very plain and unattractive. Yet, in my mind's eye, I saw this:

Much prettier! (I will be posting about this simple craft a little later).
Well, this whole experience got me to thinking. Sometimes, we feel like the first picture-simple, unattractive, not qualified or talented enough to work for the Lord-you get the picture.
Well, today, I just want to let you know that God sees you much differently. Although you feel like the first picture, He sees you like the second-a beautiful creation of His hands! You are special in His eyes. Did you know that the Bible says, "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31.
He loves you so very much! Please don't ever forget that!
Has God been asking you to do something, but those feelings of inadequacy are holding you back? Do you want to do something, anything, for Him, but are homebound, have your life full and busy with small children, are disabled, etc? Look around! There are still alot of things you can do! Write cards of encouragement. Bake something and take it to the shut in down the street. If you like to talk, call someone up on the phone and let them know someone is thinking about them. Pray for people! Prayer warriors are always appreciated!
What if you don't feel qualified or talented enough to do what you know that God is asking you to do? Know this-He wouldn't be asking you if He didn't think you could do it. There are alot of people in the Bible who God called to do things they didn't think that they could do, yet they followed His calling anyway. Go ahead and do it! You won't be sorry!

Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

THE HEART OF HER HUSBAND DOTH SAFELY TRUST IN HER

 

"The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil." Proverbs 31:11

Does the heart of your husband safely trust in you? Our first response usually is, "Of course he can trust me! I would never cheat on him. When I took our marriage vows, I meant them for LIFE."
That's wonderful. I am glad to hear it! I always responded the same way whenever I read this verse. And, yes, that is one of the trusts. But when I really, really read this, I found that "trust" in this verse means SO much more!
Can your husband "safely trust" you financially? Are we a wise steward with our household finances, or do we go out and run up the credit card with purchases that we really can't afford, need or are able to pay off within a reasonable time limit? Is the checking account always low, not because of our income, but because of purchases that really can wait?
How about housework? Yikes! Yes, that is a sensitive spot with me as well. I realize that alot of wives, myself included, work outside of the home. When we come home at night, the last thing we want to do is clean our house! My husband helps out some with the housework, and I am trying to train our sons to help, too. I have found that if I set myself to a schedule, and tackle one room a night, it is not so terrible. Cleaning up as we go along helps tremendously. Wash the dishes (or assign one of the children to do this task) as the cooking is done. Keep a roll of paper towels handy in the bathroom, and wipe down the sink after teeth are brushed or hands are washed.
Another area of "trust" is training up our children. Moms, we are the ones who really have the greatest influence on our children. Let's face it, when one of our children falls down and gets hurt, who do they usually run to? Mom! Can our husbands trust that we won't put our children aside for our own selfish desires? Can our husbands trust in us to take care of and train up our children like the Bible calls us to do? This is a very big responsibility!
Can he "trust" in you emotionally, or does he never know which way you will react? We set the temperature of the home, ladies. Our moods effect our family.
Lastly, but most importantly, can our husbands "trust" us to let them be the head of the household, as we are told in the Ephesians 5:23?
The more I study Proverbs 31:11, the more I realize how much work I have to do in my own life. If you are struggling with any of the above "trusts", ask the Lord for help and guidance. Then, go talk to another Christian lady who can help you and pray with you.
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

SPRING IS HERE?

Aren't these daffodils lovely? They were growing in my yard and around my mailbox. This early warm weather has brought them out.

Maybe winter is over?

We'll see! We still have March and April to go through, but these flowers are a reminder that spring is just around the corner!

Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

THAT'S MY PEW!

Has this ever been you-It's Sunday morning, it's time for the service to begin. You're making your way to the pew that you sit in every Sunday. You happen to look up and see a visiting family looking for somewhere to sit. They glance in the direction where you normally sit. Silently, you tell them not to sit there, that there are other pews to sit in. Or, you quickly slide into your pew, placing your Bible, purse, coat, etc down, knowing that there won't be room for all of you. The family comes closer, you hold your breath. Then they find another place to sit. You are relieved.

Or, how about this-Have you ever visited a church, found a pew and sat down, only to have someone a few minutes later come and stand by you, letting you know in no uncertain terms with their body language that that was "their" pew? Or, gasp! actually TELL you that is "their" pew?

My boys and I usually sit in the same pew every Sunday-the fourth one back on the left hand side, I guess because that is where my husband and I started sitting when we got married and after he became a pastor, I just kept sitting there. This Sunday, something happened to make me realize that I need to work a little bit harder on teaching my two little "gentlemen" some "pew manners".
This was the situation-we had already sat down in the pew. The service had already started. As we were singing the first hymn, a man, his wife and family proceeded to sit in the same pew. Now, please bare in mind, that these pews were only meant to hold six adults comfortably. Since the seating situation got a little bit cramped, and there were other empty pews, I went ahead and moved us to another pew. It did not bother me in the least. My oldest started complaining, however. He didn't like the view. He felt weird sitting in a different place. I drew the line when he said, "We were there first. Why did we have to move?".

First of all, I let my son know that it is not "our" pew, it's GOD'S pew. It is in His house. Besides, I don't see our name written on it anywhere! Secondly, I feel like it was the right thing to do. Yes, I could have let them know that there were other pews open (which I would not do under any circumstance), but, the Bible tells us, "If it be possible, as much lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." Romans 12:18. It was also the POLITE thing to do.

When visitors come to our church, we need to make them feel welcome. How can we show them Christ if we selfishly hold onto something so material and, yes, trivial?
When we are out in public, if an older person, a mother who is obviously pregnant, a disabled person, etc comes into a room or enters the bus or train that we are riding and needs a seat, we (I surely hope!), will rise and give them our seat. Why don't we do this in our churches?

I was very impressed when we visited a church in the mountains while on vacation one year. The church was small and extremely packed with people. They were in the middle of adding on an addition to their building. A man stood up when he saw us enter, immediately recognizing us as visitors. He willingly and gladly gave up where he was sitting so that we could have a seat.

Oh, Christians! Let's not hold onto such trivial things! No matter what we do, we are representing God and our church. We need to let the love of Jesus shine through!

Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

HANDWRITTEN NOTES-A LOST ART

A handwritten note. What is that? In today's society of social networks, email, etc., handwritten notes seem to be a thing of the past. It's a lost art. It's so much quicker to post to someone's wall on Facebook or send them an email when you want to tell them something. I am very guilty of this myself. When I tell myself that I am going to grab a piece of paper or note card, sit down and actually WRITE a letter or note, I quickly get aggravated at the slow process of writing. I have noticed that I am slowly losing my handwriting abilities. My hands tire quickly trying to hold the pen and write with it. My mind starts to wander to thoughts of just typing this note out. Stop!
Although messages through the internet are widely accepted these days, a handwritten note just says so much more. It tells the person that you are sending it to that they were actually worth the time that it took to write it. This also applies to businesses, as well. I am always impressed when I receive something that I have bought and find a handwritten note on the invoice or even on a separate sheet of paper, thanking me personally for my order.
Do you know someone who has recently lost a loved one, gotten married, had a baby or given you a gift? Send them a personal, handwritten note! As the pastor's wife, I try to send cards when one of our people are sick or mourning. I like to use blank note cards when I can, but if I use a card with a pre-printed message, I still write a short note on the blank side.
We also need to teach our children to write these notes. I have heard that some public schools are taking the emphasis away from handwriting all together, and focusing on the children's computer skills. What a loss! Children need to be taught to write thank you notes when they receive a gift, or when a friend or relative is ill or just feeling down, to send them a "cheer up" card.
Yes, handwritten notes are slowly being lost. But they don't have to be! Let's try to save this lost art! Send someone a special, handwritten note today and let them know how much you care.
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Happy Valentine's Day to all of my wonderful readers! Don't forget your husband or wife, children, parents or grandparents!

This is the greatest Valentine that we could ever receive:

            For God so loVed the world,

 That He gAve

                                         His onLy

     BegottEn

          SoN

                                    That whosover

          Believeth In Him

                   should Not perish,

                           but have Everlasting life."

                        JOHN 3:16



Have a wonderful and blessed day!!

Beth :-)

SONGS ON THE HEARTS

The other morning was one of those typical, chaotic mornings that we often have getting ready for work and school. You know the kind-your youngest is "lolly-gagging", taking his own sweet time, your oldest is half way getting dressed, but decides to stop, look out your back door window and start swinging a string back and forth for the cat to play with on the other side of the glass, you're trying to get the lunch boxes together, on and on. When you finally get everyone back on track, your mind is still racing with everything that needs to get done.
Amidst all of this, I started to listen to all of the different sounds going on in my house. I mean, actually LISTEN. When I did, do you know what I heard? It was something that made me thankful and joyful in my heart. Every one of us-my husband, Nathan, Samuel and I-were each singing a different song. These weren't just any songs. They weren't secular, worldly songs. They were HYMNS. Old time hymns.
What an uplift to my spirit! My morning seemed a little less chaotic. How wonderful to know that the song in each of my family member's heart was one for the Lord!
What kind of song is on your family's heart? Do you play and sing the old time hymns with them? My mom always said that the first song that you hear in the morning will be the song that plays over and over in your head throughout the day. I have found that to be so true. Try turning on the radio to a good, Bible-believing station that plays those songs that have testimonies and fire behind them. Play songs in the car as you are taking your children to school. It will definitely make a difference!
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

COYOTES IN THE WOODS!

The other night, after our boys were asleep, my husband wanted to go outside and try out his "Predator Call" to see if there might be any coyotes in the woods that would answer.  For those who don't know, a Predator Call is an electronic device that has several different sounds imitating an injured animal as well as some actual "predator" sounds (a coyote howl, etc) to attract the animal. 
My husband set the device to a coyote howl. At first, the only answer we heard was a neighbor's dog some distance away. My husband tried again. We got an answer that time. Where? In the woods, RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET from our house! With that, I promptly turned around and said, "OK, I'm going back inside now!". I am NOT one to stay outside with a coyote that close!
Coyotes are actually on an "open season" hunting list all year long in our area as their population has become quite large and they pose a threat to smaller farm animals such as chickens. They are also interbreeding with the Red Wolf population that has been reintroduced here in our county.
I started thinking about this experience. I thought about how Christians often forget just how close Satan is lurking, just waiting for the right moment to attack. We often get a little "slack" and let our defences down. When we do, we are opening ourselves and our family up to an attack that we won't be prepared for. The Bible tells us, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" 1 Peter 5:8.
Be sober, be vigilant! Keep a watch out! You have children to protect. Keep those family devotions and prayer times going. Keep them in church. Constantly talk to them and teach them about the Lord. Be careful about and monitor what your family watches and listens to. How quickly Satan can come in to your home through television, video games or music.
"..as a roaring lion,.." Have you ever heard the roar of a lion? I have, when we have visited the zoo. This roar will literally vibrate and rumble right through your whole being! It is a frightful thing to hear! I can not imagine what it would be like to actually come across one in the wild!
The devil will roar. There will be circumstances in your life that will have you so frightened and shaking right to your inner core. Always remember that if you are a born-again Christian, you have One Who is mightier than Satan on your side! Satan wants you to believe that there is no hope, that you can not make it through. All you can hear is his loud roar. But you can! Romans 8:31 says, "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?". Romans 8:37-39 also tells us, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." That covers everything. The Lord will never leave you, nor forsake you! He is always there by your side.
There are some things to remember when you are going through these troubling times. First, don't stop praying and reading your Bible, even when you don't feel like it. The Lord encourages us through His Word. Second, don't stop going to church. You need the fellowship and prayers of your fellow brother and sisters in Christ. There is strength in numbers! Lastly, don't forget that these experiences usually draw us closer to Christ. You won't be able to see it now, but further on up the road, you will see where you have grown and learned to lean more on the Lord, and not on your "own understanding".
I pray for all of you, my dear readers! I pray that you will have the strength to go through that trial that you are experiencing. I pray that you will keep a constant vigil for your family! With the Lord's help and strength, you can!
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

GOODBYE, 2011, HELLO, 2012!

Ah, so we've come to the end of yet another year! What has your year been like? Did you accomplish anything that you set out to do? Did things happen to change you or your life's path? Can you look back and count all of the blessings that God has bestowed on you this past year?
My year was pretty eventful and full of changes. It started with my surgery in January-a hysterectomy for health reasons. The Lord brought me through wonderfully, although I still struggle now and then with the emotional sadness of the finality of such a surgery.
There have been struggles and trials through the church, but the Lord has seen us through, and I have grown spiritually because of these. I have learned to lean more on the Lord, and not my own understanding.
Hurrican Irene hit us in September with quite a punch. How blessed we were that God took care of us and kept us safe!
The original "First Lady" of our church, our previous pastor's wife, passed away this month. I know that she is now at peace and is in heaven.
When we look back at the past year, we can see how God has blessed us in so many ways. We see all that He has done for us.
 Now, look back again.What have you and I done for HIM? Did we do all that we could? Were we the best witnesses that we could be, telling others about Christ and His saving grace? How about that ministry in the church that you know He is calling you to do, but you keep putting it off with excuses (fingers pointing back at me, too!)? Hmmm.....
Just about everybody makes "New Year's Resolutions". I actually call them goals. This year, I want to definitely work on being more consistent with my personal and our family devotional times and witness more for the Lord. I also want to be more "natural" this year-I am going to try my hand at making my own soaps and lotions (in my "spare" time, ha!) and make more of our snacks that I put into the boys' lunch boxes and for our family snack times. The Lord has been dealing with me for sometime about starting a group for the young girls in our church. Even among the children of our church members, modesty, home skills, etc are quite lacking.
If we are serious, let's start praying that God will use us in a tremendous way to reach others for Him. Pray, then go ahead and get into that ministry that He has been calling you to do. Put some Bible tracts in your purse, and when you go out in public, leave one on the bathroom counter, or leave it on the table with your tip money. When you visit someone in the hospital, place one on the table in the waiting area. Plant that seed! Make this the most fruitful year that you have ever had for the Lord!
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)