HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers and mothers-to-be! What a special and awesome calling we have been given!
Have a wonderful and blessed Sunday.
Beth :-)

30 DAYS OF THANKFUL VERSES-DAY 18

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body: and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."~ Colossians 3:15-16
Good morning, everyone! I hope your weekend was good! The weather was great here, and, as always, I enjoyed time with my husband and boys!
Today, our thankful verses come from Colossians, which was written by the Apostle Paul.
The Apostle tells us that we are to let the peace of God "rule" in our hearts. When we let something rule us, we are giving it complete control. We need to give God complete rule of our hearts and lives. When we let go of self, and let God lead, there will be peace in our hearts. We can not have this peace if we are fighting Him about different aspects of our lives.
How can we let the word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom? By studying His word and hiding it in our hearts.
I have always liked the last part of verse 16. Did you know that when we are singing hymns and spiritual songs, it uplifts our mood and souls? When I was growing up, my mom would always have Christian music playing every morning when she woke us up. Why? She said that the first song that you hear of a morning will be what sticks in your head the rest of the day, which is very true. I have also found that when I am teaching Children's Church and my pupils seem to be somewhat rowdy, I can put on a children's Christian song CD while they are doing crafts, and they quiet right down. They even start singing to themselves.
Is there something in your life that you haven't turned over to God? Have you given Him complete control of your life? I am one who is bad about wanting my way, because I sometimes think it is better. But it isn't. God knows the plans that he has for each of us. We need to trust Him, then be willing to do His will.
I hope you have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

ENVY, STRIFE AND MOM

Envying and strife are not of the Lord, they are of the devil (James 3:14-17)!The devil absolutely LOVES to attack a Christian home. The Bible says that he, "as a roaring lion,walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." He wants to devour and destroy your home and family. And, ladies,who better to start with than mom? Who sets the mood in the house, really? Mom does. If we are bitter and moody,our house is unhappy. I'm first in line needing a change! How short I fall many times. Lord, please forgive me! Help me to be the wife, mother and woman You want me to be.

Have a 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 :-)

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 :-)

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 :-)

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 :-)

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 :-)

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 :-)

MAKING TRACKS

The weather Saturday was just SO beautiful that my family and I (our cats came along, too!) took a walk in the fields behind our house.
Nathan and Samuel love to look for animal tracks. The ground is still kind of soft, so the tracks show up pretty well. Among the tracks that we found were tractor tire tracks, deer tracks and, of course, people tracks (ours :-)!).
Some of the deer tracks were old, but my husband said that you could tell from the track how heavy the deer was, along with whether or not it was a buck or doe, as well as if it was running or walking. Boy! I learned alot that day. See pictures below:

BUCK TRACKS
MY HUSBAND SAYS THAT YOU CAN TELL THE BUCK WAS RUNNING BY THE WAY THE FRONT OF HIS HOOF IS SPREAD.

DOE TRACKS
MY HUSBAND SAID THAT THIS DEER WAS JUST WALKING.

PEOPLE TRACKS

TRACTOR TIRE TRACKS

CAT TRACKS
OUR LITTLE "TAG-ALONGS"

When we got back to the house, I started thinking about my life's path and what kind of "tracks" I was leaving behind me.

I have a poem on my refrigerator that reads, "The future lies before you like a field of driven snow; Be careful how you tread it for every track will show." Author unknown.

You know, everything we do, every decision we make, how we talk to and treat people (our families included), all leave "tracks" both in our lives and the people around us.

Our children are like sponges. Whether we are aware of it or not, they watch us VERY closely. Sometimes too closely. Often times, I will see an attitude or action in my child that I know they have seen in me. It's often hard and most humbling to see yourself reflecting back in your child, especially when it's a not-so-pretty attitude.

We as Christians have to be so very careful how we walk down this path of life. We should be a light, a beacon, shining out and showing people the way to Christ, starting with our own families.

Saturday's walk opened my eyes to a few life lessons. I am so very human. I need to rely on the Lord an awful lot. But, you know what? He is there for us. Keep praying, stay in your Bible, attend church REGULARLY.  We will fall, that's the truth. But He is there to catch us and put us to right again.

What kind of tracks are you leaving?

Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Beth :-)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my readers! I can not begin to thank the Lord enough for all of the blessings that He has bestowed on my family and I!
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

A MONTH OF THANKS-DAY 23

"Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name." 2 Samuel 22:50

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

I am so thankful today that my son, Samuel, joined me for my morning devotions. He has always been an early riser, but I usually have already had my devotional time with the Lord by the time he gets up (I try to get up atleast an hour before the rest of my house does).

Well, this morning, I told him that I hadn't read my Bible or had my special time with the Lord yet. He was excited to join me in my devotional time. We each took our Bibles, climbed up on my bed (my husband had already left to go deer hunting), pulled the quilt up and read. I read three verses and he read three verses. At six years old? Why, yes! As soon as each of my sons started to learn how to read, I would give them verses to read out of the Bible at our Family Devotion Time. It is VERY slow going at first, I must admit, and takes alot of patience. But they do eventually start doing better and better.

After reading, we prayed. Then Samuel jumped up and said, "Mommy! We have to sing some Bible songs!" So I said OK. He ran into his room and grabbed his little song book. We sang about five songs.

 Let me tell you, nothing, absolutely NOTHING, could have made my morning any better! What a joy and awsome privilege to share Jesus with my children!

Have you shared Jesus with your children today?

Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Beth :-)



A MONTH OF THANKS-DAY 14

"Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." Psalm 50:14-15

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

I am thankful for a wonderful, Christian mother-in-love. She took me in with arms wide open and accepted me into the family with love.

You know, before my husband and I were married, I heard all sorts of "mother-in-law horror stories".

 My husband and I lived in two different states before we got married-I lived in New Jersey, and he lived in North Carolina. We decided that, when we got married, we would live in North Carolina (much to my Mom's dismay! But that worked out, and that is another story of God's grace to tell!). This meant that I would be moving ten hours away from everything I had ever known, to where I knew absolutely NO ONE except my husband and my uncle, who had introduced us. Alot of my friends and co-workers tried to talk me out of it. They said that was too far away to go where I didn't know anyone. They especially emphasized the "mother-in-law" factor, for , you see, she lived next door.

Well, let me tell you. All those stories were FAR from the truth about my husband's mother. She is a sweet, loving and kind woman. She never intrudes in our marriage, and will not take sides when we have disagreements, unless absolutely necessary, which does not happen very often.

I could not have asked for anyone better for my mother-in-love!

Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Beth :-)



A MONTH OF THANKS-DAY 13

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." Colossians 2:6-7

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

Day 13! Wow. The month is really flying by. Next week is Thanksgiving! Well, today, I am thankful for my children's hugs and love.

You know, some days I feel like such an imperfect mom. I make SO many mistakes. Sometimes I fuss and am grumpy when I should have just stepped back, looked the situation over, then reacted. The list goes on and on. I start thinking about it, and I get somewhat discouraged. I love my children SO much, and yet I am always messing up, or atleast that's the way it seems to me.

Then, out of nowhere, I get an impromptu hug from one or both of my boys. How wonderful that makes me feel. But I also think about how undeserving I am for such love! They seem to love me no matter what.

You know, that's the way it is with the love of Jesus. We don't deserve it, but He loved us so much that He came to earth, lived, died and rose again, for you and me-imperfect, undeserving you and me.  

Do you know Jesus as your saviour? If not, why not today? He knows your heart, your imperfections. But He LOVES you. He is knocking at your heart's door. All you have to do is let Him in. Ask Him in today!

Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Beth :-)





A MONTH OF THANKS-DAY 12

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name." Psalm 100:4

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



Today, I am so very thankful for my home. Last month marked our eighth year here in this house, the house that God provided for us.

How so? Well, let me tell you our story.

When my husband and I were first married, we lived in his grandmother's old house (she had passed away several years before) which we were renting from his uncle. My mother-in-law lived next door, which worked out perfectly when our first son was born. She watched him while I worked.

One day, we decided that it was time to look for a house of our own. We started praying and looking and PRAYING! Like everyone else, we were on a budget, had a certain price range we could afford, and we really needed a house in the area that we were living in. My prayer was for a house close to my mother-in-law so that I didn't have to do any extra travelling during the work week.

Every house that we looked at was either way out of budget or just too far. What were we going to do? Time was getting short. We really had to move out of the house that we were in. It was getting pretty discouraging. But, we held on to the promise that Jesus gives us in the Bible that says, "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall as, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 18:19. John also tells us, "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:" 1 John 5:14.

The key words in 1 John 5:14 to me is "according to his will". We knew what WE desired in a house, but we also wanted to be in the will of God, and go where He wanted us to go. Well, only two months after we started looking, guess what? A house opened up that wasn't on the market, but was being sold privately. How far do you think it was from my mother-in-law's? About two miles right up the street! Plus, it was definitely in our price range. Glory to God! 

What are you praying for today? If you are a born again Christian, are you praying YOUR will or GOD's will? We need to pray for God's will. Make Him first in your life and decisions, and it will all fall into place. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Lean on God, He knows what is best for you.

Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Beth :-)



FIERY SERPENTS IN YOUR CAMP

If there's one thing I don't like, it's a snake. They fascinate yet scare me, even the non-poisonous ones. Since there are irrigation ditches around our house (we are surrounded by farm fields) and woods, it is not uncommon to have an uwelcome visit from a rattlesnake or water moccasin on occasion. We always give our boys strict instructions that if they see one, they ARE NOT to even go near it, but to come and tell us immediately.
Well, not too long ago, I had allowed "fiery serpents" in my house. What? Yes, that's right. Please allow me to explain.
A couple of months ago, I just went on a complaining, mumbling and grumbling spree. I was looking at all of the stay-at-home moms, wondering why the Lord hadn't answered my prayers. I wondered when He was going to move and allow me to be one? I was tired of praying and waiting. I also had some set backs in setting up my small business. Time definitely was not on my side. As I allowed myself to wallow in my self-pity and unhappiness, I became a little bit grumpy with my husband and children. I was finding little ways to bicker with my husband. I just wasn't happy with how my life was turning out because it wasn't the way I wanted it to be. I was, yes, a little angry with God. Hmmm....
The Lord started to deal with me, and let me tell you, when He starts dealing with you, you know it! One scripture reference that kept coming to my mind was Numbers 21:1-9, where the Israelites were whining, complaining, and being VERY unthankful for what the Lord had done and was doing for them. The Lord had just given them a wonderful victory over the Canaanites and they were on their way to "compass the land of Edom". But the verse goes on to say that, "and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way." vs 4. Maybe the way was rough and hard to travel on, I don't know. But the people got discouraged, so they start to murmur and complain against God and Moses. They even started to complain about the bread (manna) that God miraculously provided each day for them. They said that, "there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread," vs 5. How spoiled does that sound?
Well, God had heard enough, so He sent fiery serpents among the people. They bit the people, and many died. You know, when we get a bitter and complaining spirit, we are not the only ones affected. It affects our families and those we come in contact with. It causes strife in our homes. Nothing pleases us.
 James 3:14-17 says, "But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."
Envying and strife are not of the Lord, they are of the devil! The devil absolutely LOVES to attack a Christian home. The Bible says that he, "as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." He wants to devour and destroy your home and family. And, ladies, who better to start with than mom? Who sets the mood in the house, really? Mom does. If we are bitter and moody, our house is unhappy. This shouldn't be, and this is what the Lord was bringing to my attention. I really believe that He kept bringing those scriptures to my mind because He was giving me a warning. He would have to deal with my attitude!
It was hard, but I humbled myself and brought everything to the Lord. I asked His forgiveness. We are told "in everything give thanks". We need to thank God because He sees the end that we don't. If we are letting Him guide us, then we are on the right path. This has taught me to be thankful for my circumstances. There is a reason that I am still working. I can't see it, but He does. There is a reason that I had to slow my business plans down. This I now see, because it really was becoming like a second full-time job, and was robbing me of my time with my family. God is so good to us! And I am exceptionally thankful that He gave me a warning!
How short I fall many times. Lord, please forgive me! Help me to be the wife, mother and woman You want me to be. 
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

HURRICANE IRENE

Well, Hurricane Irene has come and gone. She made landfall here in North Carolina on Friday and didn't leave until sometime late Saturday night.
We lost power around 2:00 a.m. Saturday morning. What a very long day without power and having to ride out the storm! My husband and I looked out of our dining room window, and watched as shingles flew off of our garage roof. What can you do, except just watch and pray that the damage is not too extensive.
But, God is so good to us! He protected us during this hurricane. The loss of shingles and branches was the worse for us. This was not so for everyone else in our county and surrounding towns. As of now, there are still so many without electricity and phone service. My husband and I are very blessed as our power was restored at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon and our phones this afternoon. Many, many trees down, houses and vehicles damaged, and much flooding. Even cel phone service was limited. Gas stations are slowly getting power back, so everyone rushes to fill their gas tanks and their generators.
Please keep us all in your prayers as we all try to get everything cleaned up and back in order.
It's funny how we take all of our "modern technology" for granted, until we don't have it! The Lord blesses us so much in so many ways!
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

Earthquakes and Hurricanes

As we here in Eastern NC are gearing up for Hurricane Irene, which may be a category 4 by the time it makes landfall on Saturday, we felt the aftershock of an earthquake in Virginia. What a strange feeling to one who is not accustomed to earthquakes!
It's funny, but with all of the crazy weather and earthquakes that we have been experiencing, it is all so clear to me as a believer in Christ that everything that the Bible says will happen in the last days is coming to pass. But, when I try to say this to my unsaved friends and co-workers, they just kind of "hem and haw", give me a funny look, and say that it is just "nature".  Oh, the prayers I put up for those souls who need the Lord, that He would open their eyes before it is too late!
Something else happened that same day which I definitely took as a "teachable moment" for my boys.
When I talked to Nathan after school, he told me something that worried me and had me calling the school to check into.
He told me that they were all told to get under their desks because there was a man outside their school, wearing a mask, just standing there staring at the building. Of course, in this day and age, this is a very real concern. I asked him repeatedly as to whether or not this was just a drill, to which he answered very adamantly that it was not a drill.
Of course, I called the school to verify this. I was pretty certain that it really was just an earthquake drill, but I had to make sure. The school reaffirmed what I thought. It was an earthquake drill.
As I got off of the phone, I asked my son where he had heard this information. It came out that he heard it from one of his friends, who "heard" two teachers whispering loudly. Boys like action, and since I'm sure they didn't feel the tremor, this was a more exciting way to explain the drill.
Well, I took this opportunity to talk about gossip. Even we as adults are guilty sometimes of spreading some news that sounds interesting or exciting about someone before we find out if it's actually true or not. We, as Christians, should not do this. If someone comes up to us trying to talk about another person, we should stop the conversation before it even starts.
Did you know that the Bible says, "A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter." Proverbs 11:13? The Bible has alot to say about those who gossip and spread stories about others. A Jewish proverb says, "What you don't see with your eyes, don't witness with your mouth". I also have a saying on my desk that says, "Whoever gossips to you will be a gossip of you." How true!
Lets stop that gossip wheel!
Please keep those of us on the East Coast as Hurricane Irene makes landfall.
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)