HAS YOUR CHRISTIAN JOY BEEN STOLEN?

Guess what? The devil is a thief! He will try to steal your Christian joy through things and circumstances. A lot of times, we allow him to! Yes, even I have been there. At one time I was so angry and bitter because I have to work outside of the home to provide our health insurance benefits as our church does not (my husband is a pastor). My bitterness and anger grew so big and out of control that it was affecting every aspect of my life-family, church, etc. First of all, the Bible says, "Be ye angry, and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath."~Ephesians 4:26.
Is it wrong to get angry? NO. Let's read the verse again. It says, "Be ye angry, and sin not..." It is not wrong unless we do something we shouldn't along with it. In my case, it was my bitterness. Friends, bitterness will eat you alive, literally. If we are truly born again Christians, we need to learn to bring the "old man" under subjection. It isn't easy.
Once Satan steals our joy and we have allowed what is happening to overwhelm and take over, he moves in for the kill and tries to completely destroy you, your relationship with God, family and friends. John 10:10a says, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:" When someone breaks into your house, they are not there to make things better. They want to steal your possessions. They often destroy your house in the process and sometimes someone may even be killed. But wait! John 10:10b says, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." There is hope. Jesus is there to bring you back. He offers abundant life.
Is there bitterness or anger in your life? Bring it to the Lord. Pray, leave it at His feet and don't pick it back up. Find a Christian (pastor, friend, counselor) who you can talk to, pray with and can help you through. It is definitely not an easy road to embark upon. Sometimes the bitterness and anger goes very deep. Healing often takes time and the devil will certainly try to keep opening up old wounds. We are not promised an easy life, but we are promised a Saviour Who will always be there for us.
I will pray for and lift you up as well.
I hope you have a blessed day!
Beth :-)

DARKNESS AND LIGHT

The Lord has laid it on my heart to say something and I have got to say it because I cannot believe how many of my Christian friends actually approve of Sleepy Hollow, which is a new television show. I'm hearing a lot about this new show, so I decide to look into it. Many people, including some of my Christian friends, are excited and have been talking for months about it because some of the scenes were shot right here in New Bern, NC.
Guess what? After only 2 minutes into the trailer, I knew definitely that this is not something a Christian should be watching, endorsing or proud to be a part of. I saw graphic violence and gore, killing, heads being cut off, etc. The occult and witchcraft are also mingled in. The Bible says:
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" Ephesians 5:11a.
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."2 Cor 6:14,17.
The Bible also has somewhat to say about witchcraft (King James Bible Online).
Are we Christians so desensitized to sin and the occult that we readily accept and participate in it? Friends, the spiritual and demonic world is definitely real (Ephesians 6:12-13). It is not to be taken lightly. We are in a continual spiritual warfare. We are not to have any part of this darkness, but, as soldiers of the Lord, we are to fight it.
Also, our Christian brothers and sisters in other countries are losing their heads for their faith, and we are over here being entertained by that same thing on a television show. I just don't understand.
My heart is so heavy for my fellow Christians who have been drawn into the blindness that they have allowed Satan to put on their eyes. I feel a special burden for today's young people. Media (electronic and written) has such a strong influence on many of their lives, which Satan knows and uses well.
My dear readers, will you please join me in lifting this up in prayer? Or, if this has spoken to and convicted your heart, won't you ask the Lord for forgiveness and for guidance in your life? We need to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17) to fight this constant battle. We do not have to fight it alone. If we are truly born-again Christians, we have Jesus on our side!
I hope you have a 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 :-)

PAPERCRAFT MEMORIES

I just had to share with my readers. I found another blog that offers free, personal use WORDart and printables. All scripture used is KJV.
It's Karen over at Papercraft Memories. I am loving her designs. She will even make personalized gifts and cards.
You might want to stop on over and see what she has to offer!
Have an awesome and blessed day!
Beth :-)

PAPERCRAFT MEMORIES

THE WEAVER BY B.M FRANKLIN

THE WEAVER

My life is but a weaving

Between my Lord and me,

I cannot choose the colors

He worketh steadily.

 

Oftimes He weaveth sorrow

And I in foolish pride

Forget He sees the upper

And I, the underside.

 

Not till the loom is silent

And the shuttles cease to fly

Shall God unroll the canvas

And explain why.

 

The dark threads are as needful

In the Weaver’s skillful hand

As the threads of gold and silver

In the pattern He has planned.

 

-Benjamin Malachi Franklin-

 

 



KEEP PRAYING

My sons, Nathan and Samuel both have the nasty cold that's been going around, although not as intense as I have seen others have, so for that I am so very grateful!
This mommy is at the point of exhaustion, however, as nights of broken sleep are catching up with me. Prayers are greatly appreciated!
James 5:16 says that, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Well, last night, when I heard Samuel, my youngest, start coughing, I was too exhausted to even  lift my head from the pillow, let alone fervently pray. So, I prayed, "Lord, you know how tired I am, too tired to even pray like I want to. Please hear and quiet Samuel's cough." You know what?? Yes, you guessed it! Samuel's cough quieted down. We have an awesome God! I give Him all honor and praise!
Don't stop praying for whatever it is you are praying for, even if you are at the point of exhaustion. Have an awesome and blessed day!
Beth :-)

LABOURERS INTO HIS HARVEST

Labourers are needed for the fields-not just in another country, but right here where you live. We all know someone who needs the Lord, who needs an encouraging word, who needs someone just to say that they will pray for them. Will you go? Are you willing? Jesus can use you.
Have a wonderful and blessed Sunday!
Beth :-)

A MOM'S JOB IS NOT INSIGNIFICANT!

"Moms, never think your job is of insignificance. You are as much serving God in looking after your own children, training them up in God’s fear, minding the house and making your household a church for God as you would be if you had been called to lead an army to battle for the Lord of Hosts.”

Charles Spurgeon

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)

****************
 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 :-)