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But a Simple Woman…

Pretty Rose

…with simple faith. Although I share my faith in Christ on this Blog, I am not here to apologize for the faith I have…

You are wondering why I say this? Well, this post is in response to an email I received this past week. I don’t want to go into details, because the email was just too confusing. No, I don’t have theological discussions on my Blog, because I choose not to.

My Blog has the purpose (besides my personal life) to point to the One way to Heaven. God is a just God, but He is also a loving God. He made a way to Heaven for all of us. The Gospel is but a simple message, I will not add nor will I deduct from it. Jesus was not murdered, but it was the choice of God:

“I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
~ John 10:16-18 (ESV)

Since we all have sinned and have fallen short of glory of God, we needed His way out. To be reconciled to Him and spend eternity with Him. Have I stopped sinning? By no means. Although my sins are changing, there are many that reoccur. My pride is my worst enemy. My pride stands in the way of loving the un-lovable. My pride stands in the way to forgive as He has forgiven me. My pride stands in the way of being the wife and mother God wants me to be. And my pride stands in the way for fully living out the life He has planned for me…But through the blood He has shed for me and the gift of the Holy Spirit, I am able to still witness of His great love for all of us and who are willing to receive this gift.

I read a wonderful quote this morning by one of my favorite Bible study writers. You guessed it — Beth Moore. She says in her book “A Heart Like His“:

‘We must remember we don’t stand in victory because of our faith. We stand in victory because of our God. Faith in faith is pointless. Faith in a living, active God moves mountains. He is alive. He is active. He wants to make you living proof. Remember, the Cross would have been God’s worst defeat had the people not had cause to exclaim, “He’s alive!”‘

With His help, I will move mountains — because I believe that He is alive and active in me…

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
~ John 3:16-18 (ESV)

BTW – you might have noticed a new button on my side-bar. My friend Carrie is collecting links of women of faith for her web-site. If you are interested in being linked and share your faith on your Blog, let Carrie know here…

Have a blessed Sunday :smile:..

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Monday Morning Snippets

  • You know, I think I start a new theme – “What Does Not Work Household Help – Monday” (just kidding). If you are like me, you search high and low to find help with the chore of ironing…I fell again for a product that I thought would make it easy for me to complete the chore without any hassle – yeah right and a ‘big-dah Iris’. I already saw my WFMW post in bold letters. I bought Downy Wrinkle Releaser (sorry tried to find a link on the web for you – couldn’t find one – :???:). Well, ladies, it doesn’t work for me, maybe it works for you…
  • On a more positive note: As I mentioned in my post yesterday, Darlene added a new feature to CWO, “Snippets from the Word“. Why don’t you join us and feast on His Word with us?
  • Don’t forget! Tomorrow is Tuesday with two great memes to participate. Visit Janice’s ‘Tackle It Tuesday‘ home-page and get all the information. I have my project already planned. I have to admit – this one is in the works for 4 weeks now (that is when I took the before picture). But it got totally out of hand now and I really need to tackle it. The other one is hosted by CWO. This week’s quote for “In Other Words” is by Albert Einstein – check it out.
  • Also mentioned yesterday, Jamie has a great link to support the troops currently serving in Iraq. Get involved, would you?
  • And last, but not least. If you like me and enjoy teachings by a woman for women, check out Beth Moore’s daily teachings on the web at Living Proof Radio. You can listen in when you want and can stop when you need. Really :cool:. I enjoy it greatly…

Have a blessed Monday…

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How About Self-Control?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-25 (emphasis mine)

Sometimes it is amazing to me how some subjects keep come up. As we just finished Beth Moore’s ‘Living Beyond Yourself’ study, the first carnival deals with Self-Control…

Since I just posted extensively about Self-Control, I want to keep this post short and sweet. Well, okay, not so sure about the sweet part. Lets just say, more honest with myself and, you my faithful readers (I think I do have them :smile:).

So you are wondering how I am doing with this issue? Well, when I have His protection and let Him lead, very well. When I think I can handle it myself, I get in trouble. As I mentioned many times before, I worked in a ‘protected’ environment of a church office for 6 years. It had its perks. Devotions and prayers in a group of Bible believing Christians. Great way to start the day. And you don’t have to worry about using the name of Jesus without offending anyone…But are we able to witness in a protected environment like this? Sure, we pray, support and listen to each other. But is this what God wants us to do? How can we lead others to the Hope we have…Okay, getting of track here.

So, now working ‘outside’ this protective environment, it is very important for me to be on guard at all times. The evil one likes to make me unsure of God’s promise. That He will be with me at all times. It is not easy to ‘bless His name’ in all circumstances. But I know that God wants me in the place where I am at…So, I need His protection. I am sealed with the Holy Spirit, Who can give me Self-Control in every situation. When I feel that myself wants to take over, I pray and sing (in my head)…So, really self-control is nothing I can learn, but have to trust that God will fill me with His Self-Control…And I want people to see Him through me, to give people the hope they are searching for. It wouldn’t help if I acted like my ‘old self’ without the hope and promises I have in Him, my Lord and Redeemer…

So, who are you doing with your Self-Control? Do you let Him lead you, or are you trying to handle it yourself?

Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:5

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This entry has been brought to you by the ‘Carnival of Beauty’, created by Sallie at ‘A Gracious Home’ and hosted by Susanna at ‘A Christian Mother’s Reflections’. There is still time for you to submit your entry for this week. Deadline is Tuesday, June 20th, 3pm EST. Living in His grace ~ Eph2810

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LBY ~ Self-Control

Ah, yes self-control. What a great fruit of the Spirit. I have to admit, some days I truly lack it. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I don’t yell or start swearing. No, I shut down. Have you ever shut down? No talking, just moping around? I think it is just as bad as yelling or swearing. You know why? Because we are in ‘control’ of the situation and not God. Beth asked on day one to paraphrase Proverbs 25:28. My personal paraphrase: ‘If I don’t have the protection of the Holy Spirit, I am a good target for the enemy.’

You know, we are so vulnerable when we let our guard down and don’t trust in the promise of God that we will go with us every step of the way. Yes, I have let down my guard several times this past week. At work and in my personal life and the enemy used it to ‘raise havoc’. God gives us help in raising the walls again that the enemy has broken down. He has given us the Holy Spirit and coworkers in His kingdom. I have had the protection of my sisters in Christ to raise my walls again. Isn’t that awesome? There is nothing better to know that in distress we are surrounded my saints that will lift us up in prayers.

You know which Scripture passage I really liked on day two? Galatians 6:7-8. Sometimes I am surprised to find little nuggets like this. Why is that sometimes we read Scripture over and over and than all of a sudden they just pop of the page? Ah, yes, God doesn’t reveal the meaning of a passage until the moment when we need to understand it…Yeah, I was a rebel like Samson and still am at times (but not to that extreme). The years I refused to walk with God, the times I disobeyed my parents. Today, I ignore His voice in situations when I shouldn’t ignore it. I don’t listen to my husband, when I should or my Godly friends. You know the bad thing about not listening to the good things, is that I grieve the Holy Spirit…I liked the difference between Daniel and Samson. Samson fell because of his self-indulgence and Daniel was lifted up, because he listen the voice of God to stay pure. Shouldn’t we all stay pure – feeding on His Word? I have said it so often; if I don’t take my time in the morning for devotion and a verse I can meditate on all day (surprisingly God always gives me one I would need for the day), my day just unravels in front of me and I loose control.
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