Jesus is the source

1For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

5So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

"You are my Son,
today I have begotten you";

6as he says also in another place,

"You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek."

7In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

This is the start to Hebrews 5. Remember that Jesus is our Great high priest.

In this passage we learn that high priests are chosen from among men. They are appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God. They offer gifts and sacrifices for the sins that men make. The high priest can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward because he himself is also beset with weakness. The high priest must also offer sacrifices for his own sin.

Being a high priest is an honour, but not an honour one can choose for himself. It is a position one is called to by God.

Jesus was appointed by God.

It is God who said the following:

"You are my Son,
today I have begotten you";

6as he says also in another place,

"You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek."

Jesus didn't make it up himself. God's choice.
So when Jesus walked on earth he offered up prayers and supplications to God. It was God who was able to save him from death. God heard him reverently.

Jesus....God's own son, learned obedience through his suffering.
Jesus...was a perfect being. He became the source of our salvation. If we obey him, he is our salvation.

Jesus was a high priest in the order of Melchizadek. We'll learn more about him another day. :)

But think about this for a moment.
Jesus was perfect. That means he didn't sin. Think back to the first couple of verses in this section where we learn what a high priest does. He makes sacrifices for the sins of others as well as for the sins he himself commits. Jesus didn't have to do that. He was perfect. He only had to make a sacrifice on behalf of everyone else.

So when he died, and then was raised to life again. It was enough.

All we have to do is believe in him and obey him. Then we have eternal salvation in him.

The Fruits of My Labour

First Justin enjoying waffles :)



Then me finished with my canning. 19 jars of pears. Given to me by a lady in play group who had WAY too many pears for her own use.

Christian Carnival is Back

Posting in reverse order received because it was just easiest that way. :) I'm into easy right now as I've a sore knee and just wanting to get done what needs to be done while keeping a toddler happy. :)

Ancient Hebrew Poetry presents Upcoming Reviews on the ESV and NLT study bibles.

I plan to review both Study Bibles in some detail in the not-too-distant future, but a short and not too sweet version is already on the tip of my tongue.

Heart, Mind, Soul and Strength has us reading Is Doubt the Opposite of Faith?

Over the last year or so I have seen a number of pieces around the Christian blogosphere singing the praises of doubt and raising the question, "Is doubt really the opposite of faith?" I am at times amazed at how we humans so often put our cleverness to work at the job of kidding ourselves.

Should Christians Vote is the topic presented by The Bible Archive. I couldn't actually get this page to load up on my computer though it tried mightily several times to do so. So I have no "blurb" to peak your interest today. If it loads up later in the day for me today I will add a blurb. :) Sorry about that Bible Archive!

Be confident is presented by Fish and Cans.

Jesus...our great high priest. That's what verse 14 means you know. Jesus is our high priest...and not only that...he is the GREAT high priest. That's like saying he's the high priest of all high priests. But we'll read about that more later in Hebrews...chapter 5 or seven or something. But that's getting beyond this passage.

A True Believer's Blog gives us this entry called Touching Jesus.

In a crowd of people, Jesus noticed that one specific person touched Him, and asked about it. It wasn’t really a matter of touching Him in the simple sense of coming into contact with Him. Jesus was calling attention to the fact that someone had touched Him and meant it. Someone had needed healing that only Jesus could give, reached out for Him, and really touched Him.

Parableman brings us Biological Humanity, Personhood, Moral Status.

There are a number of arguments on both sides of the abortion discussion that involve conceptual slips across important distinctions, and I think it's worth clarifying the assumptions that enable this process.

Rodney Olsen presents Every 7 seconds.

a child is dying from hunger related causes.

An almost equal tragedy is that we’ve become so desensitised to the suffering of others that we often let statistics like that float past us without a second thought.

The Moral Collapse of America sends this post to us: Christmas was not originally a Christian holiday.

Did you know that a pagan winter festival was traditionally the most popular festival of the year in many cultures long before Jesus ever came to this earth?

Did you know that December 25th was celebrated as the "birthday" of pagan gods such as Mithras and Sol long before it became Christianized?

Did you know that Jesus WAS NOT born on December 25th?

Dokeo Kago grapho soi kratistos theophilus submits You are a priest forever.

In Psalm 110:4, David is designated as a priest for ever. It would not surprise me that someone wrote this verse some time after Jeremiah announced the end of the Davidic dynasty. However it is not necessary to determine when this verse was written. It is more important to ascertain why this verse was overlooked by the gospel writers.

Repentant ramblings..... is sent to us by parables of a prodigal world.

I harmed myself, my community and my purpose immensely in that running away.

Yeah, yeah...we find the personal message within the big picture. Within God's love and salvific justice for the whole world, there is room for every man, woman and child.

Faith-based investing is written by Free Money Finance.

In the book of Mark, this question is posed: "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?" (8:36 nasb). Through the effort to find solutions to address the issues that go along with this question, faith-based investing was born. This movement seeks to align a person's faith, moral beliefs, and ultimately God's Word with the investment community.

Perfectly Versatile Campsite

Jim sent this me, Perfectly Versatile Campsite.

Thought I'd keep it handy.

This is just wrong...just so very very wrong!

Kill it kill it kill it dead!

What is, you are wondering, just what is this woman talking about?!?!?!?

THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!

So very glad these spiders didn't live close to me when I was a child.... can just imagine my brothers chasing me with them.

I HATE SPIDERS!
Well okay....I hate spiders in the house, OR on my person. I can admire webs, spiders hanging off plants etc...but this spider...THERE IS JUST NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just not gonna happen.

Be confident

Continuing in Hebrews 4 today I finish the chapter.

14Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus...our great high priest. That's what verse 14 means you know. Jesus is our high priest...and not only that...he is the GREAT high priest. That's like saying he's the high priest of all high priests. But we'll read about that more later in Hebrews...chapter 5 or seven or something. But that's getting beyond this passage.

What we are being encouraged to do here is to HOLD FAST our confession. Hold it fast. That's an active state of being. That's being involved and remembering and living out our faith. That's not saying we have faith and then putting it up on a shelf. Holding fast implies action.

See Verse 15 where we are told that Christ (our great high priest) is not one that doesn't understand that we have weaknesses, but rather a high priest who understands what it means to be tempted. EVEN THOUGH he didn't sin, he understands that we struggle with sin.

Knowing this, we can be confident as we draw near to him, to the throne of grace. We can confidently expect mercy and grace in our time of need.

I consider that verse you know....and I look back over my day...how I bunged up my knee again and how it just hurts...yet today has been a GOOD day. I played with my boy. I talked well with my hubby. I pet my dog. I took care of my bunnies...just grumbling a bit because it was wet and rainy and slippery out there and with a bum knee it was a challenge...but I did so well. I even got my pears canned. AND I have to say....it's all because of Christ. I could have chosen to whine and complain and grumble all day...but it's like no...I will choose better. I will choose to rely on God to help me hobble through the day. :) I even was able to spend time with him.

Rather cool all that. :) God is indeed gracious. We can indeed approach the throne of grace and know that we will receive mercy and grace sufficient for our needs.

Jesus, our GREAT high priest knows us all full well...let us then be confident coming to him.

My day has been slowed down

slowing down the day....

Okay... so last night I even more appreciated the fact that this is done. Made doing this job painful, but easier. :)

While caring for such critters though I tripped. Landed on my bad knee, bashing it against a concrete block holding up on outside rabbit hutch. It got rather swollen. It doesn't like to bend. Painful is a bit of an understatement.

BUT I managed to get some sleep. :)
AND I had a boy who didn't wake me up last night to go pee. :)

So today has slowed down a bit. No cleaning up the yard, doing pears up, doing laundry and so on and forth.

BUT I have a happy boy and a willing hubby to help. Jim even brought down the laundry. :)

I'm still hoping to get laundry done and to do the pears.... it will just take....longer. :)

Request

for regular readers of my blog...

You know that this is where I do the bulk of my devotions.

You may have noticed they've become a bit more sporadic.

Life somehow between toddler, tiredness, and so forth has made it more difficult for me to have my devotions on a daily basis.

I sorely feel the lack. I need that daily grounding in the Lord. I really do.

Please pray that I find more of an equilibrium here.... I need my time with God too.

thank you.

Don't delay, come quickly.

Okay...that's just weird...I know Jim sent me the order of worship for this Sunday. I was just about to read the passage and study it, but it's gone missing. rather frustrating that!

Ah well...I guess I"ll read from Hebrews this morning....

Today we start Hebrews 4, we find these words:

1Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

"As I swore in my wrath,'They shall not enter my rest,'"

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works." 5And again in this passage he said,

"They shall not enter my rest."

6Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7again he appoints a certain day, "Today," saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

"Today, if you hear his voice,do not harden your hearts."

8For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. 9So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

11Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Last time we met we learned about the importance of listening to Christ. He who is more important than Moses or the angels, has words that we must heed.

The author of Hebrews goes on to tell us that Christ, that God calls us to enter into his rest. The we must strive for this. That while the promise is still before us, that while there is yet time, we must strive for this. If we don't believe in God we won't enter that rest. That's a promise from God! Perhaps not the kind of promise that we want to remember God making, but none-the-less.....if you FAIL to believe in God, you won't get to enter his rest. Please folk...if you don't know God, if you don't believe IN him (not just about him or his general existence, but IN him as the sole source of your salvation) then you won't be able to rest in him at all. Come while there is still time! Don't wait around, Christ could return tomorrow and then sorrowfully, it will be too late! Come now!

Do not let these words be said of you....

"As I swore in my wrath,'They shall not enter my rest,'"

"They shall not enter my rest."
"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."

God's voice. God's word.
"12For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

See the power in it?
It is active, living, sharper than a two-edged sword.
It can pierce the division between soul and spirit, of joints and marrow.
It discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Nothing can hide from it.
All are naked and exposed before him.
It is to GOD that we give account.

You know...if I didn't firmly believe in God this could be frightening. TO know that I stand so exposed before God. To know that he knows me probably even better than I know myself. And yet he still loves me (sent his son to die for me!), and yet he still calls me to show forth HIS glory. Me in all my sin and shame and "ick". he knows me...and he still says...Child of mine....you are capable of showing my glory to the world around you. Go do so! Kinda cool eh? rather mind-boggling at times.

Don't delay folks. Really truly get to know God. Let him search you. Let him know you. Turn to him, strive to promote his glory, don't delay...you really, really don't want to miss out on his eternal rest...you just don't want to go there.

COME QUICKLY!

And God rested

okay, this is a bit of a pain...my "copy" feature has gone missing. How do I clip and paste now? Okay...that is just weird...I thought okay..I'll do my devotions using scribefire and opened up that window and voila! my Copy feature suddenly worked again. Weird.........

Anyways, Jim got the order of worship done early this week so I figured I'd look at Sunday's passage today. :) Genesis 2:1-3.

1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

God has just finished making the world. it was all finished. It was the seventh day and God rested. This day he made holy because he had finished all this work and had rested on that day.

Hmmm... I read that and said to myself....so? What can I learn from this today? I already know this so what is new? Or am I just to be reminded of this? And how on earth is Jim going to preach for 20-25 minutes on this? I know...I'm probably being too honest here........

Hmmm.....
God finished his work.
God then rested.
Because he rested, that day was declared holy.

This is what these verses tell us.

Okay, The sabbath used to be Saturday, Sunday is the new sabbath. Changed I think because of Christ. oh my....did a search on that and found all sorts of reasoning for the change. The biggest being the Jews worship on the Saturday (old sabbath) and Christians wanted to show their difference from them and therefore worshiped on Sunday. Here are some of the sources I found. Religious Tolerance, Got questions, and Rev. Ken Collins.

In a nutshell I really have to ask, does it really matter? Work for 6 days, rest for one. Whether you start or end the week it doesn't really change anything. One has still worked for 6 and rested for one.

But as I thought about this I realized something... God's work was DONE! He was done...he rested. Clear and simple.

And it got me thinking.... as I prepare for worship and rest on Sunday... is my work done? Am I able to set aside my "I need to get to this that and the other thing" so that my focus can be where it needs to be? My focus needs to be on worshiping God and resting (because we are called to be like him) and not on "other stuff".

Each week God allots me so much time to get things done... I'd best use that time wisely hmm? :)

there we Got it...the results

here's where I got the information.

Leading: Popular vote (%):

Cons. 143 37.6 Lib. 76 26.2 B.Q. 50 10.0 N.D.P. 37 18.2 Other 2 8.0

Total 308 100

Total seats: 308 Majority: 155

so even if the Liberals and the NDP form a coalition goverment, they don't have enough to stop the Conservatives. If the BQ don't fight everything, perhaps the conservatives can actually get some of the things done that they want to.

It's not as good as a majority government, but it's better than what was I think......

Canadian Election Day

Canadian election day.

GO OUT AND VOTE!

We got a message from Stephen Harper himself yesterday asking us to do the same.

GO VOTE!

GO TORIES GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

True Woman Conference - Lessons

Okay...can't seem to find right now my book with notes from the first four messages...rather frustrating that. Wish I could I loved the message from John Piper and appreciated the others I heard from. It will show up again! :)

Anyways, ... Mary Kassian (I think is the spelling) and Carolyn McCulley both did talks on feminism and it's roots and how that affects us. Both were excellent. Taught me things I had never known or expected. Knowing the whys of things is good, helps to understand it and therefore hopefully to combat it where it needs to be. Feminism is not all wrong. Being able to vote...I appreciate that very much. This demand that for men and women to be equal meaning that they must be therefore exactly the same. That is not good.

Janet Parshall spoke on Motherhood. She used 1 Samuel as her basis. Talking about Hannah and the things that she needed to go through, and how she kept her promise to give her baby back to God. I thought it a good message, perhaps didn't expound on how Christ and the gospel fits in with all of it. But she used humour well :) and explained the text with some thoughts that I hadn't considered well before.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss did the final message of the weekend. I COULD NOT sit still for this. I was trying and drowsy and I kept walking around. Took some notes. Spoke from Esther. And how Esther was used of God in her time. Spoke a lot on how throughout history there are two stories going on. Man's and God's. We need to pay more attention to God's history.

She closed this message making six points.
1. we are in a battle
2. the weapons and tactics of human kingdom are different than those of the heavenly kingdom.
3. God has a sovereign redemptive plan and his plan won't fail.
4. Through faith and obedience you can be part of God's plan.
5. There is no situation so desperate that God cannot redeem it.
6. Don't judge the outcome of the battle by how things look now.

It was a good message.

I thoroughly enjoyed this conference.

Yes, there were things at it that you only see at a women's conference. (aka the white hankies). Yes, I remain bothered by weepy women as they are convicted of things. Those things I dislike en masse, but one on one...t'is okay. Is this stuff right or wrong? I don't know. All I know is that each individual person has to decide...is this right or wrong for me in my walk with my God? Does it harm anyone? Does it cause anyone to sin?

I had some marvelous conversations with people.
I saw God at work.
I had strangers pray for my safety when they learned I was traveling alone.
I learned that I too, can handle a toll road. :) And that I can ask for directions when lost without melting down first (thanks Jim for that influence!). :)

Met one lady who touched my heart deeply though I don't think she'll ever know that. She found out I was a pastor's wife and the first thing out of her mouth was...write your name down here in my book. I will pray for you until I don't use this book anymore, pastor's wives need prayer. Joan...thank you!

Ah... books I came home with. Some I got free from going to a women director's thing. Some were freebies off tables, and some were in the bag that we got.

Books:

• "for women only". (things about the inner lives of men) - upstairs by my bed so can't say author
• "becoming God's true woman" by nancy leigh demoss - bought one, received one. Gave it away.
• "apples of gold" betty huizenga
  
• - now this is a program that I would like to do. NOT THIS program, but one like it. Teaching women how to cook and then doing a bible lesson at the same time. Really like it, just this program costs $$'s that I don't have and that I don't think women would have who need this type of program.
• "Brokenness, surrender, holiness" - nancy leigh demoss
• "50 Crucial Questions" - john piper and wayne grudem
• "What's the difference" - John Piper

Pamphlets:

• "free at last" by debra fehsenfeld - about eating disorders
• "learn to discern" by revive our hearts ministry

Booklets:

• "the attitude of gratitude" - nancy leigh deMoss
• "Cultivating a pure heart" by nancy leigh deMoss
• "protrait of a woman used by God" - nancy leigh DeMoss
• "the power of words" - nancy leigh deMoss
• "biblical protrait of womanhood" - nancy leigh deMoss
• "the look - does God really care what I wear?" - nancy leigh deMoss
• "heartcry" - life action ministries - 2 journals
• "Today in the word" - devotional by Moody

So some good resources.

Oh..prayer request. Joni Eareckson Tada wanted to come but her health prevented her from doing so. She's having bone pain. not a good time pain wise for her.

Okay...some other blogs I've found on this conference.
Old fashioned lady.
Radical womanhood.

There are more out there, but I'm done searching for now. Need to walk an overly anxious dog while the boy yet sleeps. :) He sleeps! Living the light on helps!

I'm back :)

So I got home yesterday at 835 p.m. I just pushed through. had zero wait at the border.

Tired!

Glad I went.

Things that are in my brain right now.

1. Kindness of others. People prayed that I would get home safely. People I didn't even know, once they found out I travelled alone, stopped to pray OR said they would be praying as I travelled home tired. Very cool that!

2. Trust. trust, trust. I NEED to trust God more.

3. My hubby (whom I love dearly) managed just fine without me. The boy not so well from what I hear, but all are healthy. :)

4. I miss having friends that I can just chat with about anything and everything. I SO enjoyed having Evy to chat with. She's a real heart friend. I miss having those heart friends close by. Jim is good....but he's not a woman...so sometimes doesn't get "girl stuff and girl chatter". :)

I'll write more later. but ah....twas good to go, AND twas good to come back.

Oh ... for those interested...tim challies did a whole series on the conference. I'm not going to link to the individual posts, just go here. No, I don't know where he was sitting, I looked around a few times so I could say hi, but didn't see him (or at least recognize him from the last time I met him.)

Music was done by the Getty's. I wanted a CD but apparently 6300 other women did too. Sold out completely! Here's their Website. I find it very slow to load. But Celtic flair to solid theology songs. Easy to sing for the most part as well. LOVED how they led worship. :) They led they didn't overwhelm with themselves. Always like that.

Listen To him! today!

today we continue on with Hebrews 3.

7Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

"Today, if you hear his voice, 8do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
on the day of testing in the wilderness,
9where your fathers put me to the test
and saw my works for forty years.
10Therefore I was provoked with that generation,and said, 'They always go astray in their heart;
they have not known my ways.'
11 As I swore in my wrath,
'They shall not enter my rest.'"

12Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15As it is said,

"Today, if you hear his voice,do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."

16For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

we know that Jesus is better than the angels and better than Moses.

THEREFORE says the Holy Spirit, TODAY if you Hear his voice...LISTEN TO IT!

Do not harden your hearts as you have in the past.

Take care and listen, take care lest you fall away from God with hardened hearts. Exhort your fellow believers every single day to not have hardened hearts, but hearts that listen.

Remember what happens to those who harden their hearts. Don't be like them. Do not be like those who can't enter into God's rest.

Listen to him! Today!

True Woman Conference

Tomorrow I am leaving my house to go to the True Woman Conference in Chicago.

I am very much looking forward to this. Leaving Wednesday at lunch, coming back late Saturday night. Jim will care for the household (Dog and bunnies). His mom will provide support with Justin.

from the website:

How it All Began

In 1997, the Lord began to impress on Nancy Leigh DeMoss' heart the need for a widespread movement of revival and reformation in the hearts of Christian women. Out of this burden, Revive Our Hearts was born.

Now is the Time

Nine years later, in 2006, Nancy and the Revive Our Hearts' team agreed that now was the time to begin to plan the first-ever True Woman conference, in order to help women...

• Discover and embrace God's created design and mission for their lives
• Reflect the beauty and heart of Christ to their world
• Intentionally pass on the baton of Truth to the next generation
• Pray earnestly for an outpouring of God's Spirit in their families, churches, nation, and world

Several other ministries believed so strongly in the mission of this conference that they partnered with Revive Our Hearts, including Moody Publishing, Moody Radio, Moody Bible Institute, FamilyLife, Moms In Touch International, The Council for Biblical Manhood & Womanhood, and more.

True Woman '08: The Movement Begins

On October 9-11, 2008, over 6,200 women will gather in Chicago, Illinois, for Revive Our Hearts' first-ever national women's conference. This conference will launch the True Woman Movement with the unveiling and signing of the True Woman Manifesto on Saturday, October 11.

I'll be staying at a friends house in Burbank. It will mean a 45 minute drive both ways which I'm not looking forward to. BUT it will be free. :) It will be fun to see Evy a bit (not much, but at least a bit). And is only 15 minutes longer to drive than the campsite I was planning to stay at.

I've gotten almost everything done that I wanted to before I leave. The only thing I haven't finished and won't is making dog food for Sassy. AND I'm half-way finished the rabbit stand. YEAH!! hopefully will get that done today. Jim might need to help a wee bit!

The Number One Song the Day Your Were Born

Just for a bit of fun.

Here's where you can find the number one song the day you were born. :)

Mine is: . "I Got You Babe" by Sonny & Cher

Top 10 predictions no matter who wins the election

This came from a christian group I am part of. Works for both Canada and USA at this time in history I should think. :)

> TOP 10 PREDICTIONS NO MATTER WHO WINS THE ELECTION
>
> 1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
>
> 2. Prayer will still work.
>
> 3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
>
> 4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
>
> 5. There will still be God-anointed teaching and healing.
>
> 6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
>
> 7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
>
> 8. There will still be room at the Cross.
>
> 9. Jesus will still love you.
>
> 10. Jesus will still save the lost.
>
> ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS REALLY IN CONTROL?!!!!
> At least this will bring comfort!

Some Links sent to me

Ensure your volume is on for this. It was harder than you'd think.

Fun test...see how well you can do

Marketing test.

Ecclesiastes 3 with Pachabel's canon

An Easter Trilogy.

Carla's Store

A while back Carla sent me an email asking if I'd be willing to link to her store site. She sells all sorts of Christian apparel and other neat stuff.

I thought hmm... okay... I can do that.. but never got around to it. I have no linky yet, but thought I could at least post about her store.

Here's what she sent me.

If you've never been to my store, let me just take a minute to point out some of the good stuff there. First, we carry the LARGEST selection of reformed/Calvinistic/sovereign grace themed t-shirts and gifts, of any online (or offline) retailer (that we know of, anyway). As of this month we now have 85 exclusive and original Christian designs, along with a wide variety (32 at last count) of funny (yet clean) designs on t-shirts and various gift items. We carry Bible verse yard signs, personalized birthday gifts for kids, modest & cute designs in Just for Girls, fun designs in Just for Boys, baby items, maternity tops, posters, a Bible verse calendar, greeting/note cards, framed prints, buttons and so much more. I generally create 3-5 new designs a month (sometimes much more), and we have new products in store on a regular basis. We send out a newsletter highlighting new designs, new products, upcoming specials and sales, once a week to our 500+ private mailing list.

Reflections is the host site for the TeamApologian gift store, as well as the Iron Sharpens Iron gift store. TeamApologian purchases support the ministry of Dr. James White's Alpha and Omega Ministries (http://www.aomin.org), and Iron Sharpens Iron purchases support the Christian radio ministry of Chris Arnzen (http://sharpens.blogspot.com).

Aside from the ministries that we financially support through our store (through customer purchases, of course), the purpose of the store is two-fold.

1. To give Christians who like Christian t-shirts, quality items instead of corny, and at the most reasonable price we can manage. We all know there are some really bad and really overpriced Christian t-shirts out there, that give Christian t-shirts (and retailers) a bad name. My goal is to change that and give Christians great t-shirts that they're glad to wear and even spark conversations and questions. They really are a fantastic evangelism tool. Christian comedian and singer Clyde Bauman (aka "Mylo Hatzenbuhler") shared with me that while wearing his Five Solas t-shirt from our store, he's been approached with questions on what "five solas" means. What a great conversation starter and opportunity to share the truth of God's grace. All from a simple t-shirt. I've also had complete strangers comment on my shirts to me, when I'm wearing them in public. It's just a great way to proclaim God's truth to the lost, in whatever public setting you're in.

2. The secondary purpose of the store is to create a regular source of income for our home schooling family, to offset the costs of a one-income, "stay at home mom" family. In other words, this is my "job", aside from being teacher/mom. It's not an easy task to stay at home and raise & teach kids, but we do it because we believe it's for the best. While homeschooling isn't all that expensive, it's not free either and this little store is our way of trying to offset the costs associated with that.

Her store is called Reflections Apparel and Gifts.

Have to admit, I tried to do a linky, but blogger has changed how to change their settings and my tired brain just isn't doing it today. Maybe hubby can help me out with that. :)

Words to Grow On

A college days friend sent this to me:

WORDS TO GROW ON...

> >>> If I want my dreams to come true, I mustn't oversleep.

> >>> Of all the things I wear, my expression is the most important.

> >>> The best vitamin for making friends: B-1

> >>> The quality of my life depends on the quality of my thoughts.

> >>> The heaviest thing I can carry is a grudge.

> >>> I should keep my words soft and sweet in case I have to eat them.

> >>> One thing I can give and still keep: my word.
>
> >>> One thing I can't recycle is wasted time.

> >>> I lie the loudest when I lie to myself.

> >>> Ideas won't work unless 'I' do.

> >>> My mind is like a parachute...it functions only when open.

> >>> The 10 commandments are not multiple choice.

> >>> It is never too late to become all God can make me.

> >>> Have a blessed day!

A friend Introduced me to this Comedian

Her name is Mrs. Hughes.

Sand Art

I found this creative ability just fascinating.

Explanation on death

I thought this rather cool.

~DEATH~
WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO EXPLAIN IT ..

A sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to

leave the examination room and said,

"Doctor, I am afraid to die.

Tell me what lies on the other side."

Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."

"You don't know? You, a Christian man,

do not know what is on the other side?"

The doctor was holding the handle of the door;

on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining,

and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room

and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said,

"Did you notice my dog?

He's never been in this room before.

He didn't know what was inside.

He knew nothing except that his master was here,

and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear.

I know little of what is on the other side of death,

but I do know one thing...

I know my Master is there and that is enough."

Jesus better than Moses

Okay... I'm TIRED today. Justin thought that 3 a.m. was a good awake time. I disagreed, but he didn't seem to much care about that! :) Mom! my blanket isn't flat. Mom! I have to go pee! Mom! I have to sleep with you. (giggle giggle ever so softly when I did let him 'sleep' with me. I finally got up at 630 for another Mom! I have to go pee! and said...enough of this...I'm getting up. "I'm coming too!" I installed him on the sofa and said STAY THERE. BE QUIET! He did fairly well, wanted to get off at one point and I said no... So he fell asleep on the couch at 732 in the midst of saying...it light out mom? YEAH he fell asleep again!!! I wish I could go to bed but have much too much to get done yet. So anyways, bear with me, I'm sleepy headed.

In Hebrews one and two we had it explained to us that Jesus is better than the angels. Now we come to Hebrews 3 where we'll learn that Jesus is better than Moses.

1Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. 3For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4(For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

We need to consider Jesus. He is "the apostle and high priest of our confession". He was faithful to God who appointed him just as Moses was faithful to God.
BUT Jesus has been considered to be worthy of more glory than Moses. Because Moses was faithful as a servant, Jesus is faithful as a son. Therefore he is more worthy of glory.

Moses as a servant was faithful, he would be a witness to things spoken about later.
Jesus is faithful over God's house.....God's house consisting to those people who hold fast to God. In our hope of him and our salvation. Of this we can have confidence and boast in.

That's all I got today folks. :) Comments today on things that I may have missed due to tiredness would be much appreciated. :)

And it was very good

This Sunday's Sermon will be based on Genesis 1:26-31.

26Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
27So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

28And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth." 29And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

The world has been made. :) God spoke the words and thus it was so.

Now we come to the creation of mankind. Here we have introduced the idea of "us" as God. God isn't a "one" he is an "us". The implies plurality in the midst of oneness. The bible doesn't specifically talk about a trinity/triunity, but it does talk about God the father, God the spirit and God the son. We know that God is one, so the differences show God's uniqueness...how he can be three in one. Don't ask me to explain it, it's one of those mysteries of God that I can't fully explain, I just know it to be true. :) We see all three aspects present at Jesus' baptism.

But God said "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." And so he did.

And this is the charge that God gave to man

• Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth
• subdue it
• have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth
• plants were given as food

Hmm...hadn't really noted this before, but God also gave plants as food to every creature that moved on the earth as well. Any thing that had the breath of life in it had plants (and what plants produce) as food.

Hmm.....That makes me think some. God created all creatures, so you're talking cats, dogs, pandas, dinasours, chickens, rabbits etc..... God made them so they could survive on food. YET these animals will eat meat as well....well...I'm not sure about pandas as they do the bamboo thing, but they eat meat. Is that then the result of sin in the world? Those advocates of raw-feeding for dogs and cats who insist it has to be meat and meat alone for their animals, are they in actuality doing less by their pets to not feed them plants material at all? OR has sin so intrinsically changed the animals that God created so that they MUST have meat in order to live? Has sin permeated their very genetic code?

I know that people sin as a matter of being. That sinful behaviour has been part of us since the day Adam and Eve rebelled against God's own word. I've just never seriously thought about that in regards to animals so much. hmmm......just makes me think....and is it something then we aught to as believers work against? I have to admit though I just can't fathom putting Sassy on an all plant diet. I just don't see her going for it.

ANYWAYS, God made man and he said "it is very good". He added that word. Everything else he made it said it was good. But for mankind...it is very good. We were/we are the pinnacle of his creative abilities. :) He made the world ready for us, and then he pronounced it all very good. I don't know, but somehow I just really liked reading that today.

I welcome your thoughts.

Humour in an Email

I love this logic!

















Give me a sense of humor, Lord, Give me the grace to see a joke,

To get some humor out of life, And pass it on to other folk.

Blond Joke

Okay...this made me hoot!

The Wal-Mart Cat

A BLONDE was weed-eating her yard and accidentally cut off the tail of her cat
which was hiding in the grass.
She rushed her cat, along with the tail over to WAL-MART!

Why WAL-MART???

HELLOOOOOOOOO! ?



WALMART is the largest RETAILER in the world!!!

Sorry, I couldn't resist that.

have to admit...i felt sorry for the frog

Salad anyone?? This should make your day!!!

Lettuce

Look closely at the package -- Just below the words Fresco Lavado.

Don't forget this brand of fresh lettuce.
The water the lettuce was washed in probably contained polliwogs and these became fresh new frogs, right in the packages.
So if you're looking for salad fixins with a little body,
be sure and try this brand.
Don't forget, it's the extra care that Mexican companies take that makes the difference.

Don't forget to spot the frog!!! UGH!!!

Food For thought

Sent to me in an email

Here was a short reflection I found in a local newspaper that I wanted to share with you.

I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone.

• What if we carried it around in our purse or pockets?
• What if we flipped through it several times a day?
• What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
• What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
• What if we treated it like we couldn’t live without it?
• What if we gave it to our kids as gifts?
• What if we used it in case of emergencies?

This is something to make you think, “Hmm…where is my Bible?”

Unlike our cell phones; there will be no dropped calls!

Oh, and one more thing. We don’t have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill!

ACK!

Look at the first picture, carefully before you look at the second. I still get the hejebegees.





Look at the picture above and you can see where this guy broke through the guardrail,
right side where the people are standing on the road (pointing). The pick-up was traveling
from right to left when it crashed through the guardrail. It f lipped end-over-end, across the
culvert outlet, and landed right side up on the left side of the culvert, facing the opposite
direction from which he was traveling.

Now look at the 2ND picture below...






If this guy didn't believe in God before do you suppose he believes now?

Wal-mart Job Application

This is an actual job application that senior citizen submitted to Walmart in Arkansas

They hired him because he was so funny.....

NAME: Kenneth Way (Grumpy Bastard)

SEX: Not lately, but I am looking for the right woman (or at least one who will cooperate)

DESIRED POSITION: Company's President or Vice President. But seriously, whatever's available. If I were in a position to be picky, would I be applying here in the first place?

DESIRED SALARY: $185,000 a year plus stock options and a Michael Ovitz style severance package. If that's not possible, make an offer and we can haggle.

EDUCATION: Yes.

LAST POSITION HELD: Target for middle management hostility.

PREVIOUS SALARY: A lot less than I'm worth.

MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT: My incredible collection of stolen pens and post-it notes.

REASON FOR LEAVING: It sucked.

HOURS AVAILABLE TO WORK: Any.

PREFERRED HOURS: 1:30-3:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL SKILLS?: Yes, but they're better suited to a more intimate environment.

MAY WE CONTACT YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYER?: If I had one, would I be here?

DO YOU HAVE ANY PHYSICAL CONDITIONS THAT WOULD PROHIBIT YOU FROM LIFTING UP TO 50 lbs.: Of what?

DO YOU HAVE A CAR?: I think the more appropriate question here would be 'Do you have a car that runs?'

HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY SPECIAL AWARDS OR RECOGNITION?: I may already be a winner of the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes, so they tell me.

DO YOU SMOKE?: On the job - no!
On my breaks - yes!

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING IN FIVE YEARS?: Living in the Bahamas with a fabulously wealthy dumb sexy blonde supermodel who thinks I'm the greatest thing since sliced bread. Actually, I'd like to be doing that now.

NEAREST RELATIVE....7 miles

DO YOU CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE IS TRUE AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE?: Oh yes, absolutely.

***Old People Rock! ***

Mind Boggling

How do they do it? ... don't know but they did

I Still don't quite get how they do it.




Mind boggling!

CLICK ON HOUSE

Carry Your Books?

Faith Cup

Two Boxes

Two Boxes

God's Boxes

I have in my hands two boxes,
Which God gave me to hold.
He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black box,
And all your joys in the gold."

I heeded His words, and in the two boxes,
Both my joys and sorrows I stored,
But though the gold became heavier each day,
The black was as light as before.

With curiosity, I opened the black,
I wanted to find out why,
And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole,
Which my sorrows had fallen out by.

I showed the hole to God, and mused,
"I wonder where my sorrows could be!"
He smiled a gentle smile and said,
"My child, they're all here with me.."

I asked God, why He gave me the boxes,
Why the gold and the black with the hole?
"My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,
The black is for you to let go."

We should consider all of our friends a blessing.
Send this to a friend today just to let them know you
are thinking of them and that they are a joy in your life.
A ball is a circle, no beginning, no end.
It keeps us together like our Circle of Friends.
But the treasure inside for you to see,
Is the treasure of friendship you've granted to me.

Today I pass the friendship ball to you.
Pass it on to someone who is a friend to you...