Monday Meanderings...

Memory Verse: I am working on the entire chapter of John 15. You are welcome to join me!

Bible Study: RENEW and John 15.

Zone: Kitchen clutter & deep cleaning & laundry room

Train them up: We had an EXCELLENT week last week!! Such beautiful weather and the kids were so well behaved and kind so all in all, it was a great week. This week, we are working on getting back in our routine of picking up after ourselves and putting up our laundry as soon as it's folded! It's the little things that make a home... :)

Husband Encouragement:

Work on "The Love Dare" again..
Write a long "steamy" sweet love letter
Get the house in order and keep it that way!!
Make Charlie a chocolate pie (I'll share the recipe later)


Must Do:

Pay Insurance
Work on budget (again)
Clean out car (as always!)
Keep laundry folded and put away
Cook every night
Take kids outside more every day & do school outside!!

Fun things:

~Charlie is off for a week (paid, yes!!) starting Friday...so this will be a short week for us and we are SO looking forward to that week with Daddy!!!!! We have a date night already planned and some time with family, lots of things that will be super exciting!! Can't wait and pray for NO sickness! =)

Menu:

*Monday:
breakfast: oatmeal cookie bars
lunch: egg salad, fruit
supper: Soft tacos, sliced apples

Tuesday:
breakfast: pancakes w/spiced apples
lunch: leftover tacos or taco salad
supper: Julie's spicy spaghetti, salad

Wednesday:
breakfast: breakfast burritos
lunch:PB&honey on sourdough bread,bananas
supper: Italian sandwiches, pickles,olives, peppers,fruit salad

Thursday:
breakfast: apple spice scones
lunch:crescent roll pizza, fruit
supper: chinese chicken fried rice

Friday:
breakfast: Holiday Gingerbread muffins
lunch: homemade mac & cheese,carrots
supper: Beef Fajitas, Homemade refried beans guacamole, salsa, chips,

Saturday:
breakfast: biscuits and gravy
lunch: nachos
supper: homemade pizza, salad

Sunday:
breakfast: pumpkin scones
lunch: Jambalaya, brown rice, cornbread
supper: leftovers

*I am using what's in the pantry this week and trying to get by with buying very little to NO groceries this week...we will see if I can do that or not!! (I've got more recipe links to put up; I'll try and be back later to do that!)

Have a great week and join us at Sarah's for more Monday Meanderings!

John 15...a bible study!!

1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me. 5 "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! 8 My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father. 9 "I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. 13 And here is how to measure it – the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends. 14 You are my friends if you obey me. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn't confide in his servants. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 I command you to love each other. 18 "When the world hates you, remember it hated me before it hated you. 19 The world would love you if you belonged to it, but you don't. I chose you to come out of the world, and so it hates you. 20 Do you remember what I told you? 'A servant is not greater than the master.' Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you! 21 The people of the world will hate you because you belong to me, for they don't know God who sent me. 22 They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Anyone who hates me hates my Father, too. 24 If I hadn't done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be counted guilty. But as it is, they saw all that I did and yet hated both of us – me and my Father. 25 This has fulfilled what the Scriptures said: 'They hated me without cause.' 26 "But I will send you the Counselor – the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will tell you all about me. 27 And you must also tell others about me because you have been with me from the beginning.




When we were at our Gospel meeting this weekend, Brother Gerald (aka "Papa Gerald" to my kids) spoke on some of his thoughts concerning John 15. He also challenged us to "take your Bible home, read John 15, soak it up, spend some TIME on it, break it down" so I am doing that this week!!! I am SO excited!! I know when God is speaking to me and believe me, that was a GOD moment for me, for sure! So, if you want to join me, that would be great! I will try to be back every day and just post a little bit each day on what I am learning! I am also in the middle of a great study of RENEWal that is really challenging me! Stay tuned....


~Love ya'll!


Julie

Bible Study...

I have been feeling that I need to be part of a womens bible study for awhile now and I think I will join in with this one. If you are interested, please join us. I just feel the NEED to be a part of this so I am going to. You don't have to agree with someone completely on every.single.issue to study with them. so be in prayer about it and if you feel led to join, we would be glad to have you! I am also thinking of having a bible study on this blog. We shall see. I will have to pray about it before I commit.  I have done this in the past and really benefited from it but it's been a long while.....maybe it's time to dig deep into God's word, again!

~Love,
Julie

what do you think???

As Christians, we spend a great deal of effort in our sermons and Bible studies trying to make the Scriptures relevant to us. Perhaps it is time to make our lives relevant to the Scriptures. ~ Restoration: Returning the Torah of God to the Disciples of Jesus By D. Thomas Lancaster

Monday Meanderings...

This is in no particular order, just my order! lol

*updated to add: I totally forgot, while typing this out, to include husband encouragement!! So, here it is:

~Husband Encouragement:

*Make Charlie a peach pie from fresh peaches that we were given; yum!!

*Bible study with Charlie & praying for him

*Mowing the yard & taking care of chickens this week; giving my baby a break! :)


~Verse this week:

Romans 12: 1-2 "So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to Him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to Him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship." 2 Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect."

Bible Study/ Devotions ~
*This bible study that Charlie & I have been doing together along with Romans..

"Must Do"~

*make bread for the week
*all laundry folded & put away each day, Julie!!! lol
*Finish the painting in the house before school starts next week!!!
*Continuing to clear out clutter a little at a time!!
*Make eye exam appointment for myself


Zone~
* Family Room/Living Room
*Drew's room

Train Them Up~

* Obedience
*Potty training with Lily
*everything back in it's place

Menu Planning~

Monday- Hamburger & onions with gravy over mashed potatoes, squash & okra from the garden

Tuesday- Italian sandwiches, pickles & olives

Wednesday-Mexican food at Papa's

Thursday-Hot dogs, tater tots, pudding pops

Friday- Drew will be 1!! Spaghetti & meatballs, french bread w/butter, salad, small cake for our little family

Saturday- Supper at Granny Fogg's for Drew's birthday; cake & homemade ice cream, YAY!!

Sunday- Roast with red potatoes & carrots, salad

Okay, there's my week in a nutshell. Hope you have a blessed week!!

~Love,
Julie

Monday Meanderings....

*Bible Study:

I am looking over this study and trying to come up with something for a good character study for the girls. Any ideas?

*Memory Verse:

Actually it's a few verses but I want to work on this particular passage for the next couple of weeks. I just feel that it's very important to my life right now to carry this verse in my heart.

Ephesians 3:14-19

For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵from whom his whole family^a]">[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

*Husband Encouragement:

Help with outside chores that he usually does so that he has more time to relax in the evenings instead of being rushed around before bed and being even more stressed out and tired. Don't get me wrong, he doesn't do ALL of the outside chores but he does a lot when he comes in so if I get to those in the early evening (watering the chickens, gathering eggs, weeding the garden) he will have a few less things to do!! I, especially, will work on mowing the yard this week! It''s horrible!!

*Menu: already posted

*Zone:

~working on clutter this week (the house & the yard)

~the utility room

*Training them up:

~Fruit of the Spirit study that I mentioned

~ working on self control!!!! Any ideas on that one???

~Picking up after themselves! We have really gotten away from this for some reason and Mama is putting her foot down this week! :)

*Physical goals:

~walking every day

~playing outside with the kids at least 3 times this week! (it's hard to get all 3 outside to stay outside) lol

*Just General Goals:

~Go to bed when Charlie does not at midnight or later!!

~Get up with Charlie at 4 am and I can go back to sleep if needed but get up and at least talk to him!!

~Make his lunch every day & write a love letter to put in it!

~Make cookies with the girls

~Get some more school organization accomplished!! (we are going to officially start after Labor Day)

~Keep the car cleaned out!

That's all I can think of but if I think of any more I will be sure and add it later.

Have a great week!

~Julie~

what my children need from me....

pg. 33 "The Ministry of Motherhood" by Sally Clarkson

"What matters to them is my loving presence............ And that's what my children need from me. If I want them to be open to my messages, I need to be willing to serve them-to voluntarily give up my rights and my time to meet their felt needs-just as Jesus was willing to give for his disciples."

This gave me something to think about for awhile... actually, from now on, may I never forget these words. Something I really needed to hear today.

order of events...

Charlie & I have decided to go with the chronological reading of the Bible (the order in which the books happened in history). If any of you want to join us, we will start tomorrow. You can email me if you would like to join us at mama2clairelily@gmail.com.

Have a great week & a blessed New Year!

Love,
Julie

*We will be using the KJV, the NIV and the NLT as we read. We just like to compare the different translations. We also will be using blueletterbible.com and biblegateway.com, searchGod'sword-Heartlight.org, and some others I will list later for commentary. Hope you join us! :)

Studying 1 Corinthians..

*I am going to be studying 1 Corinthians next week and try to post some of the results of my studying. So, if you want to join me, I will begin reading this week and start posting hopefully this Saturday or Sunday. So, have your comments ready. Starting with Chapter 1. I just feel that the Corinthians lived in a society and a culture that is eerily close to what we are seeing more and more of today.

*Hmmmm.....food for thought? :)

Also, I am going to publish a "things I am thankful for" on my sidebar starting tomorrow, adding to it daily through the month of November. Stay tuned.....

Love,
Julie

Daily Heartlight

Right now, this is the only way I get to read God's word!!! I subscribe to this & I get these great little devotionals and scriptures sent to my inbox every morning! Try it; it's great for busy women, such as myself!

This morning, I was so blessed to read this article and I thought that I would share it with you! Have a great day! =)

Root Rot, by Mike Barres

I am not really good with plants. I can't even recognize the differencebetween plants and weeds very well. Many times, I have "weed-whacked"down perfectly good plants, while leaving weeds that I thought werereal plants, standing.

However, I have heard about a problem that afflicts some potted plants. It's called "root rot." The roots get rotten, the plant gets sick, and often the plant dies. Sometimes it's from watering the potted plant too much, which causes the excess waterto set up "water mold" and ultimately root rot.I think we have root rot in our country. The roots of our faith arebeing watered down and the church is sick. '

A new study by the "PewForum on Religious and Public Life" illustrates how the core lifestyles of many Christians are eroding.Tolerance and love are great; however, these cannot be purchased at theexpense of truth and character. We must be grounded and rooted in God'sWord and seek after both His character and compassion. There are a lot of philosophies and opinions floating around about spiritual things.The Bible, however, must be the anchor that holds us in this stormy sea.

My opinions about sexuality, abortion, and morality are not really important. What really matters is what the One who made us all says about these things in His Word. This is true even if our values become unpopular in contemporary culture. God's truth is still the truth.The same is true of spiritual truth.Have you ever had a friend or loved one tell you about someone sellingthem something that sounded too good to be true? That has happened tome several times. I have to say, "I hate to tell you this, but whatthey told you is not true." If we really love someone, we will tellthem the truth if someone is going to cheat them out of what is theirs.The same is true about spiritual truth. We need to help them see God'struth from the Word, even if they have been told something else.

In the very first psalm in the Bible, the psalmist reminds us of thisgreat truth: Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish (Psalm 1:1-6 NKJV).Let's nourish the roots of our faith, and not over water them with what will lead to root rot.-

-------- (c) 2008 Mike Barres <mbarres@dnet.net>.

The Blues

This was my daily Insight For Living yesterday and I just had to share it! May it bless you as well!


THE BLUESby Charles R. Swindoll
Read 1 Kings 19:1--9

Elijah was a heroic prophet, without question. He was also a man of great humility, as we have seen. But let's keep in mind that he was just a man---a human being, subject to the human condition, as we all are. He suffered discouragement, despondency, and depression. On one occasion, he couldn't shake it.
It is not surprising that at this point in Elijah's life the great prophet hit bottom. For several years he had stood strong amidst and against almost insurmountable odds and circumstances. But now, after a great victory, he dropped into the throes of discouragement and total despair.
He's a man, he's human, just like us, remember. Since this is true, we shouldn't be shocked to read that.

He was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers." (1 Kings 19:3--4)
I'm glad that this chapter has been included in Scripture. I'm glad that when God paints the portraits of His men and women, He paints them warts and all. He doesn't ignore their weaknesses or hide their failures.
Elijah had to get his eyes back on the Lord. That was absolutely essential. He had been used mightily, but it was the Lord who made him mighty. He stood strong against the enemy, but it was the Lord who had given him the strength.
Often we are more enamored with the gifts God gives us than with the Giver Himself. When the Lord brings rest and refreshment, we become more grateful for the rest and refreshment than for the God who allows it. When God gives us a good friend, we become absorbed in that friendship and so preoccupied with the friend that we forget it was our gracious God who gave us the friend. How easy to focus on the wrong things.

Taken from Charles R. Swindoll, Great Days with the Great Lives (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2005). Copyright © 2005 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

I Know the Plans I Have For You

Ephesians 3:20 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

I love this verse! It always speaks to me in times of distress or doubt. I have been going through a lot of both lately and as always this verse has brought me back to the feet of my Lord. What a beautiful precious place to be.

This verse has carried me through a lot of hard times in my life and I use it on almost a daily basis. Sometimes it is the prayer I say under my breath through out the day when life seems to overwhelm me. The words of the Spirit just grant me a peace that I really can't explain or comprehend. When we went through so much pain with infertility, this verse is often what Charlie and I read before bed at night. There are others, of course. But, I believe this is the verse that really sustained me through that painful time. And, each time I prepare to have another baby I focus on these words. It helps calm the storm in my heart. Something about these words just erases all fear.

Lately I have been doubting myself, my actions, my purpose that God has called me to. Satan has been very active in trying to control my mind and thoughts. I am by nature, a worrier. Everyone that knows me, knows that! :o) It has been extremely hard to overcome this flaw. I am still fighting that uphill battle but lately I am feeling the power within me is greater than the force that is trying to drag me down.

I have been praying through this all week as we have dealt with various trials. This morning as the girls finally feel better and we feel somewhat normal (what a horrible stomach bug), Charlie and I were drinking coffee and discussing what we need to accomplish before Drew arrives and also just basic plans for today. All of a sudden while talking through things with my husband, I realized just how much control I have been allowing Satan to have over my mind! I rebel at the thought of relinquishing control of even one tiny aspect of my life. That is a very sobering thing to realize about yourself. However, I must face this battle head on. I DO NOT have control of my life, nor should I even try. The battle belongs to the Lord. My job is to praise and follow HIM with every fiber of my being, with everything that is within me! The very idea that I can control my life is an idea that spawns from the enemy. Yes, I can make decisions from my own free will but I cannot control the circumstances that evolve from those decisions! I cannot control the plans that my God has for me and my family. We are only to pray to make the best decisions and to serve our Lord God with all of our ability!

Even now, as I type this, Satan is pressing in and trying to convince me that nothing will ever change, that God does not care about me, that HE is not with me! And, I know, without a doubt, that is the biggest lie ever from the Father of ALL LIES!!! God will pull me through and carry me throughout all of my trials and struggles! I am the one who often pulls away in my doubt.

Thank you for reading my novel today and for praying for my family this past week. It really means so much to me. Thank you for standing in the gap for me when I need someone the most!

I hope this helped someone today and even if it didn't, it really helped me to get it out and Satan has been defeated through yet another struggle!!!

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

What's Growing In Your Garden?

This is an excerpt from a book I have that is titled, "Moments Together For Couples" by Dennis & Barbara Rainey. An excellent book that has helped Charlie & I through many things in our 11 year marriage. Read along and really try to take in what they are saying in this devotional:

"Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving kindness and truth...yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations."

Dag Hammarskjold, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, once said, "You cannot play with the animal in you without becoming wholly animal; play with falsehood without forfeiting your right to truth; play with cruelty without losing your sensitivity of mind. He who wants to keep his garden tidy doesn't reserve a plot for weeds."

Did you know that what you grow and cultivate in your garden today could spread to your offspring? Did you know that a sin you now tolerate could still be tormenting your great-grandchildren in the year 2140? That's four generations from now!

Consider the warning of Scripture at the top of this page. What does it mean? Why would God set up a system that visits one generation's sins on three or four other generations? I have a hunch that God is trying to tell us that the way we live impacts others and is of supreme importance to Him. Possibly He's using a warning of future judgement on our descendants to keep us on the straight and narrow today.

Whether you like it or not, your children are becoming just like you. Their little eyes are watching to see how you relate to your mate, how you pray, how you walk with Christ on a daily basis. They hear your words and subconsciously mimic your attitudes , actions and even your mannerisms.

And as time goes by you'll find that they've inherited some of the same tendencies towards sin that you learned from your own parents. That's why so many children from broken homes, for example, grow up and fail in their own marriages.

Your kids will grow up to be like you. Is that a sobering thought, or an encouraging one?

*Well, I just felt like God was leading me to post this today. It helped me realize a lot of problems that I am dealing with right now are going to affect my children in the future. That is a very sobering thought, indeed. But, it is also encouraging to know and realize that hopefully because of my love for the Lord, that our children will grow up to love the Lord their God. Amazing, isn't it?

Hope this helps you & I will try to post the second part of this devotional tomorrow or Friday. God Bless.

Quiet Time...

*This is a journal type post today. I have a lot on my heart right now and this is the best way to deal with it. I have been praying without ceasing all week and I feel like I have come to a break through. I hope this helps someone and that is why I feel that I must share it.

I don't know what God is trying to tell me but every time I open my Bible right now it falls to some passage about worshipping idols. So, I am trying to focus and really get what He is telling me. And, I am sharing it with you. Maybe it can help you in some way. So, please read along and focus on what He is saying in these verses:

Warning from the History of God’s People

1Brothers and sisters, I want you to know what happened to our ancestors F62 {that followed Moses F63 }. They were all under the cloud, and they all walked through the sea. 2Those people were all baptized F64 into Moses in the cloud F65 and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food. 4And they all drank the same spiritual drink. They drank from that spiritual rock that was with them. That rock was Christ. 5But God was not pleased with most of those people. They were killed in the desert.

6And these things that happened are examples for us. These examples should stop us from wanting evil things like those people did. 7Don’t worship idols F66 like some of those people did. Like the Scriptures F67 say, “The people sat down to eat and drink. The people stood up to dance.” F68 8We should not do sexual sins like some of those people did. In one day 23,000 of them died {because of their sin}. 9We should not test the Lord like some of those people did. They were killed by snakes {because they tested the Lord}. 10And don’t complain like some of those people did. Those people were killed by the angel that destroys.

11The things that happened to those people are examples. And those things were written to be warnings for us. We live in the time that all those past histories were pointing to. 12So the person that thinks he is standing strong should be careful that he doesn’t fall. 13The only temptations that you have are the same temptations that all people have. But you can trust God. He will not let you be tempted more than you can bear. But when you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape that temptation. Then you will be able to endure it.

14So, my dear friends, stay away from worshiping idols. F69 15I am speaking to you like you are intelligent people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16The cup of blessing F70 that we give thanks for is a sharing in the blood (death) of Christ, isn’t it? And the bread that we break is a sharing in the body of Christ, isn’t it? 17(There is one loaf of bread. And we are many people. But we all share from that one loaf. So we are really one body.)
18And think about what happens when the people of Israel (the Jews) offer sacrifices. F71 When they eat the meat that is sacrificed, they are sharing their meal with {God at} the altar, F72 aren’t they? 19{So, what about food that is sacrificed to idols F73 ?} Am I saying that sacrifices to idols are the same as those Jewish sacrifices? No, because an idol is nothing, and the things offered to idols are worth nothing. 20But I am saying that when food is sacrificed to idols, it is an offering to demons, F74 not to God. And I don’t want you to share anything with demons. 21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and then go drink a cup with demons. You cannot share {a meal at} the Lord’s table and then go share a meal with demons. 22Doing that would make the Lord jealous F75 ! And we don’t want to do that, do we? No, because he is much stronger than we are.

Use Your Freedom for God’s Glory

23“All things are allowed.” Yes. But not all things are good. “All things are allowed.” Yes. But some things don’t help {others} grow stronger. 24No person should try to do the things that will help {only} himself. He should try to do what is good for other people.

25Eat any meat that is sold in the meat market. Don’t ask questions {about the meat} to see if it is something you think is wrong to eat. 26{You can eat it}, “because the earth and everything in it belong to the Lord.” F76
27A person that is not a believer might invite you to eat with him. If you want to go, then eat anything that is put before you. Don’t ask questions to see if it is something you think is wrong to eat. 28But if a person tells you, “That food was offered to idols, F77 ” then don’t eat it. Why? Because some people think it is wrong, and it might cause a problem for the person who told you that. 29I don’t mean that you think it is wrong. But the other person might think it is wrong. {That is the only reason I would not eat the meat.} My own freedom should not be judged by what another person thinks. 30I eat the meal with thankfulness. So I don’t want to be criticized because of something I thank God for.

*Right now I am working my way through a lot of hurt in my life. I am very sad and heavily burdened. I also worry about even posting that because I don't want anyone to be mad at me. But, that's just the truth. That's how I feel right now. I sometimes feel very overwhelmed with the pain in my life and with worrying about everyone else's pain. Sometimes I feel like it is choking me. Maybe that is what God is trying to show me. Maybe I am turning this pain into an idol. Maybe I am letting it control my life. After all, I can feel someone's pain without it shutting me down. Why do I let it cut me so deep? Because I love these people. But, do I love them more than God? That is the question I am asking myself today. Why do I not trust God to take care of these people; pain, issues & all? God loves them just as He loves me and it is time I let God handle the hurt and the anger that I feel. It is time that I give them up to Him completely and just pray. Stop dwelling. Just pray.

I am sorry if this makes absolutely no sense to you or if it offends you in some way. I do not intend for it to. I am just dealing with a lot right now and sometimes I just have to get it out and let it go. This is about some things that have happened this past week in my family and I am just having a hard time with processing it the way I need to right now. So, please pray for us.

I hope that this can help you in some way.

Love you all,
Julie

How sad....

I received this email from several friends today and I had to share this. There really are no words.

Jim Neugent is a coach in Childress , Texas .

Jim writes: My name is Jim Neugent. I wrote to ABC (on-line) concerning a program called 'THE PRACTICE.' In last nights episode, one of the lawyer's mothers decided she is gay and wanted her son to go to court and help her get a marriage license so she could marry her 'partner.' I sent the following letter to ABC yesterday and really did not expect a reply, but I did get one. My original message was: ABC is obsessed with the subject of homosexuality. I will no longer watch any of your attempts to convince the world that homosexuality is OK. ' THE PRACTICE' can be a fairly good show, but last night's program was so typical of your agenda. You picked the 'dufus' of the office to be the one who was against the idea of his mother being gay, and made him look like a whiner because he had convictions. This type of mentality calls people like me a 'gay basher.' Read the first chapter of Romans (that's in the Bible) and see what the apostle Paul had to say about it.... He, God and Jesus were all 'gay bashers'. What if she'd fallen in love with her cocker spaniel? Is that an alternative life style? (By the way, the Bible speaks against that, too.) --Jim Neugent

Here is ABC's reply from the ABC on-line webmaster: How about getting your nose out of the Bible (which is ONLY a book of stories compiled by MANY different writers hundreds of years ago) and read the declaration of independence (what our nation is built on), where it says 'All Men are Created equal,' and try treating them that way for a change! Or better yet, try thinking for yourself and stop using an archaic book of stories as your lame crutch for your existence. You are in the minority in this country, and your boycott will not affect us at ABC or our freedom of statement.

Jim Neugent's second response ! to ABC: Thanks for your reply. >From your harsh reply, evidently I hit a nerve. I will share it with all with whom I come in contact. Hopefully, all newspapers will include it in one of their columns and I will be praying for you. - -Jim Neugent- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Holy Inspired Word of God....

I have been reading and trying to comprehend what God is telling me in these verses last night and this morning. This is where God led me last night after a rough weekend. I am really struggling to understand some things that are going on right now and I am starting to make sense of what I need to do.

I just wanted to share with you what scriptures I am studying right now. Follow along if you like. I believe that we can learn something through all of God's word.

Have a wonderful week, everyone!

Love,
Julie
About Food Offered to Idols

1Now {I will write} about meat that is sacrificed F46 to idols. F47 We know that “we all have knowledge.” “Knowledge” puffs you up full of pride. But love makes {you help} others grow stronger. 2The person who thinks he knows something does not yet know anything like he should. 3But the person who loves God is known by God.
4So {this is what I say} about eating meat: We know that an idol F48 is really nothing in the world. And we know that there is only one God. 5It’s really not important if there are things called gods, in heaven or on earth. (And there are many {things that people call} “gods” and “lords.”) 6But for us there is only one God. He is our Father. All things came from him and we live for him. And there is only one Lord. He is Jesus Christ. All things were made through Jesus, and we also have life through him.
7But not all people know this. Some people have had the habit of worshiping idols F49 until now. So now when those people eat meat, they still feel like it belongs to an idol. They are not sure that it is right to eat this meat. So when they eat it, they feel guilty. 8But food will not make us closer to God. Refusing to eat does not make us less {pleasing to God}. And eating does not make us better


9But be careful with your freedom. Your freedom to eat anything may make those people who have doubts about what they can eat fall into sin. 10You understand that it’s alright to eat anything, so you can eat in an idol’s temple. F50 But a person who has doubts might see you eating there, and this might encourage them to eat meat sacrificed F51 to idols too. But they really think it is wrong. 11So this weak brother or sister is ruined because of your better understanding. And Christ died for this person. 12When you sin against your brothers and sisters in Christ like this and you hurt them by causing them to do things they feel are wrong, then you are also sinning against Christ. 13So if the food I eat makes another believer fall into sin, then I will never eat meat again. I will stop eating meat, so that I will not make my brother or sister sin.
1I am a free man! I am an apostle F52 ! I have seen Jesus our Lord! You people are {an example of} my work in the Lord. 2Other people may not accept me as an apostle. But surely you accept me as an apostle. You people are proof that I am an apostle in the Lord.
3Some people want to judge me. So this is the answer I give them: 4We have the right to eat and drink, don’t we? 5We have the right to bring a believing wife with us when we travel, don’t we? The other apostles F53 and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas all do this. 6And are Barnabas and I the only ones that must work to earn our living? 7No soldier ever serves in the army and pays his own salary. No person ever plants a garden of grapes without eating some of the grapes himself. No person takes care of a flock of sheep without drinking some of the milk himself.
8These things are not only what men think. God’s law says the same things.

9Yes, it is written in the law of Moses: “When a work animal is being used to separate grain, don’t cover its mouth {and stop it from eating the grain}.” F54 When God said this, was he thinking only about work animals? No. 10He was really talking about us. Yes, that Scripture F55 was written for us. The person that plows and the person that separates the grain should hope (expect) to get some of the grain for their work. 11We planted spiritual seed among you. So we should be able to harvest (get) from you some things for this life. Surely that is not asking too much. 12Other men have this right to get things from you. So surely we have this right too. But we don’t use this right. No, we endure everything ourselves so that we will not stop {anyone from obeying} the Good News F56 of Christ. 13Surely you know that people that work at the temple F57 get their food from the temple. And people that serve at the altar F58 get part of what is offered at the altar. 14It is the same with people that have the work of telling the Good News. The Lord has commanded that those people that tell the Good News should get their living from this work.

15But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not trying to get anything from you. That is not my purpose for writing this. I would rather die than to have my reason for boasting taken away. 16My work of telling the Good News F59 is not my reason for boasting. Telling the Good News is my duty—something I must do. It will be bad for me if I don’t tell people the Good News. 17If I do this work of telling the Good News because it is my own choice, then I deserve a reward. But I have no choice. I must tell the Good News. I am only doing the duty that was given to me. 18So what do I get for doing this work? This is my reward: that when I tell people the Good News I can offer it to them for free. This way, I don’t use the right {to be paid} that I have in {this work of telling} the Good News.

19I am free. I belong to no other person. But I make myself a slave to all people. I do this to help save as many people as I can. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew. I did this to help save the Jews. I myself am not ruled by the law. F60 But to people that are ruled by the law I became like a person who is ruled by the law. I did this to help save those people that are ruled by the law. 21To those that are without the law I became like a person that is without the law. I did this to help save those people that are without the law. (But really, I am not without God’s law—I am ruled by the law of Christ.) 22To the people that are weak, I became weak so that I could help save them. I have become all things to all people. I did this so that I could save people in any way possible. 23I do all these things because of the Good News. F61 I do these things so that I can share in {the blessings of} the Good News.

24You know that in a race all the runners run. But only one runner gets the prize. So run like that. Run to win! 25All people that compete in the games use strict training. They do this so that they can win a crown (reward). That crown is an earthly thing that lasts only a short time. But our crown (reward) will continue forever. 26So I run like a person that has a goal. I fight like a boxer that is hitting something—not just the air. 27It is my own body that I hit. I make it my slave. I do this so that I myself will not be thrown out {by God} after I have told other people {about his blessings).

Quiet time this morning....

I just wanted to share with you the scriptures I read in my quiet time this morning. All 10 minutes of it before Claire jumped in the bed with Charlie & I! :o)

Sometimes instead of reading a certain predetermined passage, I just let the Bible fall open and that is what I read that day. I feel that the Lord speaks to me a lot this way. Often the words I read on that day serve as a life line to me in certain situations that I am/have been facing. Today was no different, I believe that God was telling me exactly what I need to be doing! Giving me a little correction; a little "straightening out" so to speak! :o)

Please turn to Romans 12 and read with me this morning. There is so much life in these verses. God is truly speaking to us as the church. We should never let these words be just words. They should be LIFE to us. The very air we breathe! Let's read:


Give Your Lives to God

1So brothers and sisters, I beg you to do something. God has shown us great mercy. So offer your lives as a living sacrifice F130 to God. Your offering must be only for God and will be pleasing to him. This offering of yourselves is the spiritual way for you to worship (serve) God.

2Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world. But let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what things are good and pleasing to God and what things are perfect.

3God has given me a special gift. That is why I have something to say to every person among you. Don’t think that you are better than you really are. You must see yourself like you really are. Decide what you are by the kind of faith God has given you.

4Each one of us has one body, and that body has many parts. These parts don’t all do the same thing.
5In the same way, we are many people, but in Christ we are all one body. We are the parts of that body. And each part of that body belongs to all the other parts.

6We all have different gifts. Each gift came because of the grace (kindness) that God gave us. If a person has the gift of prophecy, F131 then that person should use that gift with the faith he has.

7If a person has the gift of serving, then that person should serve. If a person has the gift of teaching, then that person should teach.
8If a person has the gift of comforting other people, then that person should comfort. If a person has the gift of giving to help other people, then that person should give freely. If a person has the gift of being a leader, then that person should work hard when he leads. If a person has the gift of showing kindness to other people, then that person should be glad to do that.

9Your love must be real. Hate the things that are evil. Do only the things that are good. 10Love each other in a way that you feel close to each other like brothers and sisters. You should want to give your brothers and sisters more honor than you want for yourself. 11Don’t be lazy when you need to be working for the Lord. Be spiritually excited about serving him. 12Be happy because you have hope. Be patient when you have troubles. Pray all the time.
13Share with God’s people that need help. Look for people that need help, and welcome those people into your homes.

14Say only good things to those people that do bad things to you. Say good things to them and don’t curse them. 15When other people are happy, you should be happy with them. And when other people are sad, you should be sad with them. 16Live together in peace with each other. Don’t be proud. Be willing to be friends with people who are not important to other people. Don’t be conceited.

17. If someone does wrong to you, don’t pay him back by doing wrong to him. Try to do the things that all people think are good. 18Do the best you can to live in peace with all people. 19My friends, don’t try to punish people when they do wrong to you. Wait for God to punish them with his anger. It is written: “I am the One who punishes; I will pay people back,” F132 says the Lord. 20But you should do this: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if your enemy is thirsty, give him something to drink. In this way you will make that person ashamed. F133 ” F134 21Don’t let evil defeat you. You should defeat evil by doing good.

Thanks so much for reading & studying along with me today. I feel so burdened and find myself in need of much prayer right now. So, if you think of it, would you say a prayer for me today? Thank you.

Love,

Julie

Philippians 1:1-5

I am finally getting this up, it's not going to be very enthralling as I am no Beth Moore and it's been a rough day but I am committed to doing this. I want a stronger more thorough knowledge of God's word. So, here goes:



Vs. 1 - Denise said that Paul was saying a prayer of thanksgiving for the saints and I believe that is exactly what is going on here.



vs. 2-4 "Every time I think of you I give thanks to my God" Do people, when they think of me, thank God for me? Am I remembered as a good kind and thoughtful person? I am sure that many times I am not. Do I lift up others?



Vs. 4- Paul says " I always pray for you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy." Do we pray for each other always? Much less with a heart full of joy? This is such an "ouch" verse for me, often times I have to confess that I do not pray for others as I should and certainly not with the joyful attitude that I should have. This verse should step on our toes.



vs. 5- Paul says that we are partners in spreading the Gospel. Do we sometimes look at it as a competition? Sometimes I get jealous because I think so and so is a better Christian than me, a better mother than me, a better friend, a better blogger, a better baker, a better baby shower thrower, a better singer, a better crafter, a better house cleaner, a better ......... you fill in the blank, the list could go on and on! I certainly get jealous when it seems like other people effortlessly bring people to church and go and visit and reach out to others when it seems like all I can do to take care of my husband, raise my kids, and clean my house and keep hot meals on the table. That is overwhelming at times and adding in the pressure to bring souls to Christ and well, let's just say that's not an easy pressure to handle so why put it on ourselves? PARTNERS!!!! GOD wants ALL of his children working together!!!!



So,I guess this is it for tonight. I need to go get in the bed but first I still have to feed Lily and I am exhausted. A lot going on in our lives right now and my foot is really hurting!



Thank you so much if you are doing this study with us. You don't have to comment if you don't want to. I know that I have a lot of readers who do not comment, and that's okay! lol. :) Just doing this today has already helped me so much!



Tomorrow we are studying Philippians 1:6-11! So, let me know your thoughts!



Love and Prayers,



Julie