Happy Birthday, Grampy!

We had great fun making this video for my dad's birthday.  Alizona did the video editing, and a great job, too... we should get a high-speed camera card.

Please Help!!

Hurry on over to Booklover's blog and leave her a comment!  She is just a few dozen comments away from her goal of 1000 for 2007.  Come on, help make a little girl's dream come true. (Oh, excuse me.  She says it is not her dream, but she would still like your comments!)

UPDATE:
Thank you to all of you who clicked on over to Booklover's blog and left her a comment.  She accumulated well over 1000 comments and is very happy with her popularity!

Loving Daughters

Lately I have seen some very nice demonstrations of daughter-love, that is, love of daughters for their moms. First of all, Luthien wrote a most beautiful card for her mom, Denise, at HeartnSoul. 

Then, Eyebright posted this very gratifying-to-a-mom entry here.  What a thrill to see a young lady make her own choice to do right, and not just say, "I can't do that. My mom won't let me." 

Alizona, my own precious oldest daughter, awarded me the Blogging Friends Award. (Yes, this is still an award-free zone, but hey, I can make an exception for my own daughter!  It's my blog.) Alie has entered that time of life when mothers and daughters begin to be not only parent/child, but close friends. I am so blessed to have her call me her friend! She is a treasure. I am so enjoying watching each of my girls' talents and personalities growing.  Each of them is so different! 

And last, but not least, Booklover reached beyond herself the other day as I was drifting away in a low-blood-sugar episode, and actually said,  "Mom, are you okay?"  This may not seem like a big thing to you, but this is the happy-go-lucky kid who always wants (and usually gets) the biggest or best or last piece of whatever delicious thing we happen to have sitting around -- chocolate, cookies, fudge, whatever.  That means she is not usually thinking of someone besides herself, but sometimes she does.  Today I saw by accident that she had slipped some of her own hard-to-come-by money into a good-bye card for our missionary friends who are moving on.   This is such a blessing to me.  There is a little heart of gold in there, and it just warms me up all over to see my girls growing like this.  Thank you, Lord, for these little jewels. They are getting brighter and shinier all the time.


(Sorry about the little teeny links. Will have to figure out how to fix that...)

Knee Mail

If you are familiar with Dr. Dino, Dr. Kent Hovind, you know that he is in prison right now with a new ministry, preaching to fellow inmates. I don't know enough about his case to defend him or otherwise, but he still has some great stuff. His prison experience has grown him as a Christian and a man. He has written some great devotions on his blog; many of them are conversations with God.  This is one that I particularly enjoyed.

GOD:    Good morning, son.

kh:    Good morning, Lord.

GOD:    I see you are reading My Word.

kh:    Yes, Lord.

GOD:    Why?

kh:    Why am I reading Your Word?

GOD:    Yes, son, why are you reading it? Examine your heart. Are you reading because you feel obligated? What’s your motive?

kh:    I guess I never thought about it, Lord. There are lots of reasons to read it.

GOD:    Yes, son, there are lots of reasons people read My Word. Some read it because of habit. Habits are good, son, and I want all My children to get good habits and avoid bad habits, but habit alone is not a good reason to read My Word.

Some only read it to get a message to preach to others. Some read it to salve their conscience. It makes them feel that they have done their daily duty to Me. Some read it so that they can impress others with their Bible knowledge; some so they can win a debate; and others so they can brag and say, “I have read my Bible every day for X number of years. I have read it cover to cover X times (Luke 18:11-12)!”  Some read their “chapter a day to keep the devil away.”  Some think reading My Word obligates Me to protect them or provide special blessings to them. Thus, thinking that My Word is a magic potion, they read it and think I’m indebted to them. However, I’m never in debt to any man. Some read it to look good to their fellow man (Matthew 23:26). They have their reward (Matthew 6:2).

You see, son, I search the hearts (Jeremiah 17:10). I know why people do what they do. I don’t need anyone to tell me what is in man (John 2:25). You would be surprised to know how many people read My Word only because of peer pressure or because they think others expect it of them.

Still others read it only hoping to find errors or contradictions so they can justify not submitting to its authority. Quite a few read it to see which Scriptures they can wrest (II Peter 3:16) to fit their own wild doctrines or wicked life styles. I wrote it so that some passages appear to contradict at first glance, so those who hate Me will be caught in their own net (Psalm 35:8).

kh:    Have I ever read Your Word for any of those reasons, Lord?

GOD:    Nearly all of them at one time or another, son.

kh:    Why should I read it, Lord?

GOD:    My Word provides more things than you realize. It washes like water (Ephesians 5:26-27) and quenches the thirst (John 4:14) in those who hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matthew 5:6). My Word brings life (Proverbs 3:2) and light (Psalm 119:130). It is milk (I Peter 2:2), bread (Matthew 4:4), and meat (Hebrews 5:12-14). It is a light to your path (Psalm 119:105) and a search light for your heart (Psalm 139:23). It is your armor against the devil (Ephesians 6:11,17). It keeps you from sin (Psalm 119:11). It brings healing (Matthew 8:16). It makes you bear fruit (Matthew 13:20-23). It helps you learn of me (Matthew 11:29) to prepare you to live in my palace forever (Revelation 21:1).

kh:    Do I ever read it for those reasons, Lord?

GOD:    Sometimes, son, but not often enough. I’ve given you a lot. You have a sharp mind, good health, a loving family, a relatively free country, and lots of people who love and pray for you. You need to study to show yourself approved to Me (II Timothy 2:15). I’ve given you much and I will require much of you (Luke 12:48).

kh:    I know, Lord. That verse scares me.

GOD:    It should, son, it should. I love you. Get back to reading. I’ve got your back.

Mnemonics for 10 Commandments

Do you have trouble remembering which of the Ten Commandments is which?  I did.  I grew up in a protestant church that followed the Roman Catholic version. After the Lord saved me, I could never keep them straight. If you have read through Exodus 20, you may have wondered why they don't match what you learned in catechism or CCD or whatever.  I'll spare you the explanation here, but I wanted to share this link with you, which is a great mnemonics device! Here are a couple of examples:

The second commandment, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, (...) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them..."

The eighth commandment, "Thou shalt not steal."

Neat, huh?

Four Year Old Author

Emily announced to me the other day, "Mom, I am writing a book."
Me: Oh really.  What's it about?
Em: George Washington!  Will you help me?
Me (distracted): Okay.Sure...
Em: Mom.  Mom.  Mom?  How do you spell "George Washington"?
Me: G...
Em: Okay, what next?
Me: E....
Em: Okay, what next?
Me: O....
Em: Okay, what next?
(etc)
Me: What are you going to write about George Washington?  That he was the father of our country? Our first President?
Em: No. What year was he born, Mom?  ....Mom.  Mom.  MOM!  Mom, what year was he born?
Me: Oh, I think 1700 something.  Let's look it up... 1731 or 32.
Em: How do I write it?
Me: 1....7....3.....2

For a while Emily worked alone. Then,
Em: Mom, how do you spell "dead"?
I spell it for her.
Em:  Look, Mom, my book!  Do you want to see it?  Mom, mom, MOM! See my book?
Me (still distracted): Yes. Okay. Where's your book?


Translation:
"George Washington (was born in) 1732"  (32 written backwards)
"NOW HE IS DEAD."
Well, she is not very detailed in her report, but at least she's accurate... lol!

I Am Not Religious

Do you ever have people confuse your salvation for religion?  Sometimes people think we do what we do (or don’t do what we don’t do) because we have a given set of church rules to follow. My good friend, Kristy, wrote this good piece on the differences between God-given salvation and man-made religion; I begged it from her for my ladies' newsletter and my blog.   Thanks, Kristy!

 

I Am Not Religious. I Am Saved!

 
I am not trying to keep a set of rules to attain salvation.

I already have salvation.

I am not religious; I am saved.

When I die and stand before God,

I don't have to worry that my good outweighs my bad.

I am not religious; I am saved.

I am not walking around observing ceremonies and traditions

because that's the way it's always been done.

And I don't need them to attain salvation.

I am not religious; I am saved.

I am not a person that can no longer sin. I still sin.

When I ask God’s forgiveness it's granted.

Salvation is not a process. It's a gift. A gift has to be accepted.

I am not religious; I am saved.

When I learn some new truth and God shows me my error, I try to correct it.

I fail over and over again.

I am not changing my life for salvation.

My life is being changed because of salvation.

I can't change my life by my own power.

I am not religious; I am saved.

I can't lose my salvation because of mistakes I make. God promises that.

I am not religious; I am saved.

I don't always feel saved. But that's okay. It's not about how I feel or what I think.

Being saved is based on God’s Word and His promises.

I am not religious; I am saved.

I am not trying to be better than my neighbor, friends or family.

I am trying to be like Christ.

I am not religious; I am saved.

I am not always understood. I know that. It hurts. God's Word comforts me.

I am not religious; I am saved.

My stand on issues is not popular. I strive to follow God's Word, not man’s.

I am not religious; I am saved.

Salvation is a gift from God. It can't be worked for or bought.

It's not a list of rules that have to be followed.

Salvation is not a doctrine, a denomination or a fancy church.

It's God loving us enough to send his Son to die for us.

Salvation is not in traditions, ceremonies, or what church you attend.

Salvation is in Jesus Christ.

I am not religious. I am SAVED!!

Thinking on Eternity

As we speak my DH is conducting a memorial service. He didn't want to do it -- this is a really tough one, a suicide. But funerals aren't for the sake of the dead.  They are for those who are living on without their loved one. The woman (not someone we knew) hung herself, which, in my mind, has got to be one of the worst ways to die. In the old days, the condemned had his head put into the noose, and then he was suddenly dropped a good distance, enough to break his neck.  But someone who puts a belt around her neck and swings away from a chair must be absolutely tortured for several minutes, both in her body and in her mind.  I know, this is really morbid.  But I can't help thinking about this poor woman, who, if she never gave Jesus Christ any of her time before this, must have been desperately begging God for her life in her last moments. I hope she realized that he was her only hope for eternity. I hope someone in her life loved her enough to tell her before this how to be saved from her sins, and I hope she remembered that while she was on her way out.

My older daughters, Alizona and Booklover, are providing the music for the memorial service. I didn't want them to have to be there. This is one of those ugly things I wanted them to be protected from forever. The spirit of grief is so heavy at something like this.  I know if it were I playing the piano, I wouldn't be able to see the music for the tears. I have been praying for all three of them, the girls and my DH, all morning, as well as for the woman's husband and for the others who are attending the service. Could something good come from all this?  Could someone there realize their own need for peace with God?  That is also my prayer.

In our own home the whole situation has opened up some opportunities to talk with the little girls about death. "Mommy, is a rock dead?  How about a flower? Is a waffle dead?"  What makes a body alive?  And how can our souls have life? Oh, our souls live on forever.  It is the spirit that dies in sin and needs to be born again. The soul without a living spirit goes down to hell when the body dies, and "lives" there suffering and perishing, for eternity.  The soul that has been redeemed, bought back from the dead by the blood of Jesus, has been given eternal life.  In the OT, those who believed God sacrificed animals for blood to cover their sins. But when the Messiah came, the Prince of Peace, he was the last sacrifice for sins. His blood no longer only covered sins; it actually took them away.  Praise God, when Jesus Christ willingly went to the cross, he shed the last blood God would ever need. The blood of atonement.  It is finished.  Jesus paid it all. What peace I have in my heart, knowing without a doubt that my sins are paid for. No matter how bad things could get in this temporal life, I know I have peace with God through the blood of the cross. Do you? It is my prayer that someone at that service will receive this peace today.