Out of the box

Everyone has them....dishes in a box, or a cabinet, or a cupboard. The special dishes we keep in a box for pulling out to look fancy. We keep them in a box, pull them out to show off or when we think the occasion is special enough.

I have some of these dishes. We did not register for china when we married. I really saw no need in having it. We went on a trip for our 2nd anniversary to a bed and breakfast. The china we used there I loved. It so happened that the outlet for the china manufacturer was nearby, so off we went. We bought our china.

When we moved to a different house, I bought a china hutch for it. To show it off. We have moved again, and I sold the dining room furniture. Now the china sits in special china protectors. No dust, no scratches, no breakage, but it is not being used. All because I have certain ideas about how it is to be used, or its purposes.

You know there is an odd analogy coming up.....and here it is....Do we treat God in the same way? God in a box.

We had an exciting week in our ladies' ministry at church. We started our Bible studies back after the holidays. We have experienced such growth in our church. My friend and I were blown away as almost 90 women joined us to study God's Word. We have a morning session with two studies and an evening session with two studies. It was a full day and I know we were praising God for bringing all these women to learn more about Him.

I remember the first time I sat in a in-depth Bible study. It was over ten years ago, and it was Beth Moore's A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place. I was struck by her love for God and His Word. I wanted that. I have it now. It was a growth process, as I learned to take God out of the box and be my constant companion, friend and Lord of my life. I often want to rush this experience for other women, but have learned that He will meet them where they are, just like He did me.

There are many boxes we put God in. There is the "Sunday only" box. We pull God out for church and "playing church" on Sunday, then put Him back in for the rest of our daily lives. There is the "Doesn't care" box. We think God only cares about our spiritual lives, and does not care what we read, what we watch, or what we wear. We pull him out to pray or read the Bible, then put Him back in. There is the "God can't" box. We keep God in the box, because we think He can't take care of this situation, whether it be a job loss, money issues, or a sin we won't let go of.

We think we can control God, when He cares, or when He works. We need to take Him out of the box. First, because He really is way too big to fit. We have made Him too small. Second, because we can't control how He works, what He sees, or where He is. Last, because we need Him. He is big enough, strong enough, powerful enough, everlasting, eternal, just, merciful, disciplining, loving, and just plain ENOUGH.

Go get that box. Dust it off. Take Him out. Let Him have control over your life. It will be much better than you could ever have dreamed.

"For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37

The Miracle of Thanksgiving

Can you feel sorry for a holiday?

Poor Thanksgiving. It is overlooked in the overcommercialized holiday season. Many even call it Turkey Day. It is thought of as a day of parades, overeating, and football. I don't think it is what our forefathers pictured when it was first celebrated. Of course, many people today don't even know the history of it, or at least the TRUE history....due to some politically correct history adjustments.

Religious freedom in the 1600s was a very scary movement. For the state, it was because they feared it and losing power for the Church of England. For the "Separatists", it was because they feared the consequences and punishments for going against the state religion. In order to worship God and stay true to His ways, they left for Holland. Holland gave them the freedom to worship, but the culture around them went against everything they believed in. They decided that the New World would be their new home.

If you look back at writings from this time from William Bradford, they fully understood what they were doing. It was not a life of luxury they wanted, nor a promise of an easy time. Bradford wrote, "They had a great hope and inward zeal of laying a good foundation, for the propagating and advancing of the kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world; yea though they should be but even as stepping stones unto others." They fully expected to begin something that they would not finish, but lay the foundation for future generations.

This reminds me of Hebrews 11, the Hall of Faith chapter. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and many others knew they were laying a foundation of faith for the next generation. It was up to the next generation to keep building on this foundation, or to walk away. We see some that did continue to build, and some that did walk away.

We all know that the trip on the Mayflower was not a joy ride. It was a long, cold, and miserable trip. Many on the ship died and most were sick. It is worth taking a look at on your own to see the faith these people had, and how they looked to God for everything.

The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth and praised God. Can you imagine? All the death and destruction they had seen. They landed somewhere they did not want to. They did not know anyone and had no food. But they prayed and celebrated by reading Psalm 100! We can't even go on a three hour trip without complaining about hunger or getting lost!

The days ahead got even worse. By the end of the winter, more than half of the people had died. When spring came, Natives came to help them. The one whose story I am constantly amazed by is Squanto. He is their Joseph.

Squanto's tribe, the Patuxets, once inhabited the land the Pilgrims were living on. The tribe had been wiped out by a plague. Squanto had survived because he had been kidnapped and taken as a slave to Spain and then England. He knew English, and had been taught about God by some monks that had helped him. Out of the evil that had been done to him, he was able to help the Pilgrims.

Squanto taught the Pilgrims how to grow food and harvest it. It was after this harvest that they celebrated what we think of as Thanksgiving.

This is not a holiday of overeating or spending lots of money. It is not a holiday to forget. It is a holiday to teach our family about...to add to the foundation that was laid before us.

We remember the sacrifices made by those first Pilgrims, laying a foundation for a Christian land. We remember the Natives, that helped them. We remember the Sovereignty of God. We remember that God is in control.... and we are thankful that He is.

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him; bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting,
And His faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100

Pluck it out!!

Are you a tweezer or wax girl?

Sorry any men reading, but stick with me..

I really didn't give it much thought until about the time I got married. I look back at my bridal portraits and cringe. It must have been some time after that when I first had my eyebrows waxed. It would take me years to tweeze them!

It is a personal preference. I would rather have lots of hair ripped out by the roots at one time, than to deal with each hair being plucked out at once. (Bless your heart if you are still reading!) And you have to stay on top of it too. You can be fine one day, and then look in the mirror and think those eyebrows are going to take over! So, do you pluck one out at a time before it gets too bad, or do you wait and have it all pulled out at once. Decisions, decisions.

So, when it comes time to deal with the sin in your life. How do you deal with it?

WHAT!! Yes, I am making the analogy, just go with me.....

When is the last time you took a look at your life through the lens of God's Word. Did you see some out of place things? Are there things in your life that keep it from being a life that glorifies God? Even if it is stuff that no one else knows about. He does.

I have lived most of my life as a Christian. I have spent the past couple of years dealing with the fact that I may not have been a Christian as long as I thought I had. My close friends have been with me through these long theological discussions. I have one friend I must continually annoy with the types of things I get her to discuss with me, but she sticks around anyway.

One of these ideas, is how have I allowed God to deal with sin in my life? I could tell you that 4 years ago, it would be let it go until I have to deal with it. My life was too much of the world. God decided to make me deal with it by ripping a lot out at one time. Ouch! Did it hurt! But, He had a plan that He needed me ready for, and my life needed "waxing". It was not a fun process, but it was worth it.

Since then, I have taken the "tweezer" approach to sin in my life. Pluck it out! When I have something in my life that does not honor God, it is time to pluck it out.

So, are you watching something you shouldn't....pluck it out! Are you saying things you shouldn't....pluck it out! Are you WEARING things you shouldn't....pluck it out! I could go on, but you get the idea.

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21

Go get those tweezers!!

A new twist on pumpkin!!

I love pumpkin recipes! I am willing to try any new pumpkin one I find. I make a pumpkin dip for gingersnaps that I really like. And I have a new favorite, a pumpkin cobbler.....it is wonderful!

I am sharing the recipe in hopes of changing your traditional pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving to this easy dessert.

Pumpkin Cobbler

1 large can pumpkin pie mix (with the sugar and spices in it)
1 large can evaporated milk
4 eggs
1 box spice cake mix
1 stick butter
2 cups chopped pecans/walnuts (your preference)

Preheat oven to 350. Mix the pumpkin pie mix, eggs, and evaporated milk together. Pour into greased 11x13 casserole dish. Melt butter and mix with dry cake mix and nuts. Crumble mixture over pumpkin in casserole dish. DO NOT MIX TOGETHER. Bake for 1 hour. Serve warm with Cool Whip or ice cream.

Enjoy!

I am still here.................

"Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated"...............stealing a quote from Mark Twain.

I am diagnosing my problem as "scared to blog without pictures." I had someone tell me once that they looked at the blog once, but since there were not a lot of pictures, they didn't bother going through and reading it. Well, what do you say to that? So, now I have a fear of writing a post with out wonderful pictures to go along. I think I need to get over that.

Here is another idea.....there has been so much in my head to write about all the political things going on in our nation, and that might not have been best. I do plan on posting about it, but it will be much different than if I had been too emotional.

So....expect more from me soon......next time it won't take Carmen yelling at me from Tennessee!

Another year older

Today is my birthday.

I am getting closer and closer to another decade. But why do you always feel 17 inside, 'cause the outside sure does not.

I have been trying to figure out what to write. It is much easier to write about my children or my husband on their birthdays.

Today is the day that the Lord chose for me to be born. There is some significance in that. He is the One that numbers our days, so I am sure He had a reason for it.

I was born almost two months early. My mother tells the story of how the doctor did not tell her until the next day that he was surprised that I lived through the night. The other family story is that I was two years old until I was "paid off", from all of the medical bills.

I guess it is a day to reflect on my life and what God has done. He continues to amaze me, that His lovingkindness towards me continually renews. I love Him more and more, with each year...each day...each hour that passes. I guess that is the lesson from my birthday.........Great is His Faithfulness!!

"For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting."
Psalm 139:13-18, 23-24

You would think I would learn.......

This is a spill my guts post, just because I need to.

Last week, my family went to the Creation Museum. It was a wonderful trip and I will post about it later in the week, along with pictures. I was immersed in the world of Genesis, a book I love. We learned of Adam and Eve, Noah, Babel, Abraham and lots of wonderful evidence for our Creator. Learning about the faithful.

Yesterday, my youngest son was sick and we were not able to go to church. I spent the day in my Bible and watching preaching on TV.....good preachers, not bad ones.

I watched a well known preacher. He was preaching on the parable of the sower and the seed. I love that parable, there is much to learn. He had a point that struck me about the sustaining power of God's Word and having the faith to believe it.

After he was through, I watched another church and their annual Night to Honor Israel. The guest speaker did a wonderful presentation of the idea of God blessing those who bless Israel. This was the promise God gave Abraham when his faith was counted unto righteousness.

After that was through, I watched an apologetics show on the parables of Jesus. Jesus was trying to show the "religious" people they had it wrong about works. We still do it today, by forgetting the grace we are saved by, but wanting others to receive judgment.

After that, I found a movie about Joseph that was coming on. It was really good. They ordered a few things wrong, but all the parts of the story were there. It was told in flashback, as Joseph telling Potiphar his story. I liked it, and cried when Joseph forgives his brothers....like I didn't know it was coming!

Today, my oldest son and I were studying Mesopotamia and the call of Abram. We talked of how Abram had faith to believe God and obey.

So....where am I going with all this. I have been surrounded with Scripture, even on the computer...I am looking for verses to put on my walls. But, am I believing them?

You would think I would learn, that this is the perfect recipe for a stumble or a pitfall. It is always the same one, for me it is one thing, and for you it is probably something else, but it works the same way. The ideas come in my mind, the whispers of insecurity, and the feelings start. I see it for what it is now, not like times in the past. It does not mean that the feelings that come up don't hurt. I just know to go to God with them and cry to Him to help me...He can be trusted, my feelings can't.

Tonight, I watched The Way of the Master on TV. Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort did a whole show on how our senses can not be trusted. Only the infallible Word of God can be trusted.

This time, I don't want to stumble. I want to believe. I choose to believe.

"I life up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip-he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you- the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm-he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

Psalm 121