The Birth of Our Savior

The Birth of Our Savior

What a day full of joy

Is it because of a new toy?

No

Today was the birth of our Savior

We sing songs and cheer

Is it from wine and beer?

No

We sing praise for the birth of our Savior

We gather with family and friends

Is it because Christmas is a time to share with them?

Yes

We share joy over the birth of our Savior

Shopping for gifts does not put stress on our face

The ultimate gift was given by the one who took our place

Thank God for the birth of our Savior

Many do not know our King was born today

Tell them the reason why we say

Merry Christmas

We celebrate the birth of our Savior

                                                              Kimber Ribble

 

I was inspired to write this because I had a friend approach me and wish me "Happy Hollidays".  I thought Happy Hollidays?  He knows I'm Christian.  So I responded MERRY CHRISTMAS!  He must have observed my discomfort in his intentionally thoughtful greeting and responded, "I didn't want to offend anybody."  I pondered over this little dialogue for a couple of days and I must conclude my thoughts by sharing them. 

 

Jesus Christ was born King and Savior of all the earth.  The day of His birth has been celebrated by Christians since His coming as Christmas day.  Although the whole nation celebrates this day and takes off work for this day, it has become politically incorrect to wish a Merry Christmas because we may offend someone who does not believe in Jesus.  The solution is to wish a happy holliday so everybody can enjoy the perks of this glorious day even though they don't believe in it's meaning.  Unfortunately, some don't even know the meaning anymore to make the decision of whether or not they believe Jesus came to die for us. 

 

Well, I'M OFFENDED.  First of all we can't have a world where no one is offended.  It is impossible because we are human and all have different views, beliefs, ways of life, etc...  So we all need to stop worrying about offending and being tolerant and stand strong for what we beleive in regardless of whether you disagree or not.  Second, you can't change what Christmas is.  It is the celebration of the birth of our Savior.  If you don't like it or don't believe in it then don't celebrate it but don't wish me happy hollidays.  Whether you believe in Jesus or not, Christmas is His birthday so don't expect me to be sympathetic or tolerant of ones who devalue the birth of my Lord.

 

Invite God to Move You

How often does God move you? I don't mean from here to there. I mean emotionally and spiritually. If you are only feeling God's presence in your life every once in a while then I believe there are things you can do to change that. Invite God into your daily life by doing these things: Give Him a personal invitation through daily prayer; Keep scripture fresh on your mind through daily reading of God's Word; This next one takes stepping out of most of our comfort zones but I've found it to be the most rewarding. Introduce the topic of Christ into as much casual conversation as you can find an "in".


I've found that I seem to have very little casual conversation this way. Isn't what God is doing in a friend or even stranger's life far more important than the weather? There is so much joy in serving God and seeing what he means to others. Open real conversations. Don't be afraid to mention to a nonbeliever or stranger that you are "blessed" or "God has been good" to you. Just mentioning His name often sparks questions from others.

Many are afraid to talk about God or pursue their curiosity because they are embarrassed to ask questions or don't know who they can ask. With your bluntness about your love for Christ, it is an open invitation to the curious nonbeliever, the struggling believer searching for prayer support, or the recently moved who is dying to share their story with someone who can relate or appreciate what has happened to them. Don't miss these opportunities for God to show His awesome power to you. Take action to bring Him into every aspect of your life and watch Him move you constantly.

1 Peter 4:10
“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Share what you’ve learned, seen, and heard pertaining to God. It is all a gift and should not be kept to yourself.

How has God moved you lately?  What are some things you do to keep your focus on God in your daily routine?

Thankful Always

As a Thanksgiving message, I offer these passages Hebrews 12:1-11. It is easy to be thankful when the Lord rains down blessings on us. But sometimes it is difficult to be thankful when things don’t seem to be going all that well. This passage reminds me that everything God gives us is with His amazing love. We are His children and He is training us as our father.


1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:

"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."

7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:28-29 28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our "God is a consuming fire."

Have you found thanksgiving in hardships?  What training are you thankful for? 

What Can We Do About our Government?

Let’s talk politics. Well this is more than just politics; it is our lives as we know them that are in danger of detrimental change. Our country that was founded by God fearing men is now being ruled by just the opposite. They are looking to take away everything our constitution stands for and are doing it in a way that is very deceptive to We the People. They (President Obama and his administration) are trying to make us believe that their goals are to help the needy “level the playing field” says Obama. In a way, this can be looked at as commendable. After all, the Bible states you will be rewarded by the Father for giving to the needy but what else does it say about giving to the needy?


Matthew 6:1-4 “Be careful not to do your acts for righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Giving to the poor and the needy is to be done by the body of Christ. We as individuals are suppose to be taking care of our family members, our neighbors, and anyone we see needs help that we have the means to help them. We can trust that the Lord will provide when we are doing His will. The government is now taking full control over who we will give our money to. This is no secret, I’m sure most of you are aware of what our president is doing with our tax money. I’m not announcing anything new, especially to Christians. He is controlling who receives our money and then he is taking all the credit for it like he is a savior to our American people.

I would like to bring up a point about missionaries. When missionaries reach out to the needy in the name of Christ, they search for a need of the people. By satisfying that need, the peoples’ hearts are softened to receive the truth of our Heavenly Father. However, when the needy receives our money in this forced government manner, they are now softened to nothing other than the reign of Obama and how he is their savior. If he keeps taking our money, there will be no more to give. The only thing these people who are accepting this charity are learning is that all they have to do is keep doing what they’re doing (or not doing) and there is more where that came from. This is not the way the churches operate when they distribute our tithe. They teach them about Christ, they link them with members of the church who may have something they can use. It is one big family that the needy person then becomes a part of and has a heart molded to do the same for others. They give something back whether it is sharing the love of Christ, sharing their materials, or a meal with a hungry friend, they don’t just take and take. They learn to give back in the name of God.

The number of the needy is growing due to these new taxes taking care of them. There is a huge incentive now not to work. I’ve heard the working man who can’t get his insurance to cover his diabetic strips for his machine say, “If I wasn’t working, it would be paid for.” Do you hear this INCENTIVE? It is true. The rich (which has simply become the working) has to pay horrific amounts for their insurance then the insurance isn’t covering the things it needs to so the working has to pay more money out of pocket. The nonworking does not pay anything! The government health plan is not the answer here. All that will do is lower the quality of health care we receive and the working man will still be footing the bill.

Well that’s not all. Our taxes are not at a stand still. They keep going up and will continue to do so like we (the working) are a never ending money distributer. I’m angry about all of this and I imagine many of you are too but it gets worse. At least now, we can share our concerns on the internet, on news programs, and we can assemble and discuss our concerns thanks to our forefathers and the men who have given their lives for our freedom. This may be changing and this is the most concerning thing to me of all. Yes our dollar will probably crash, we’ll probably have a new socialist health care, abortion may become legal in all of America, same sex partners will probably have all the same rights as the man and woman married under biblical principles, and we could very well be amidst the end times but at least now we can share our concerns and the truth can be told. The government is trying to control that too. Freedom of speech will be no longer unless you are freely speaking in support of Obama and his goals for what was once known as OUR country.

I am afraid for what is becoming of our country. I want to stop this evil. I want the government to stop stealing my money and I want incentives for the nonworking to become the working. I must say that I realize people have lost their jobs due to economic crisis and many have worked all their lives. I’m not referring to those people in the group of the “needy” that I’ve referenced in this post. You are commendable and God has given you the skill and desire to find a way to provide for your family and you will find that way. I’m talking about the lazy, entitled, self-centered generation that has erupted. A generation without pride, without the value of earning one’s own dollar, and without a conscience letting them know that what they are doing is wrong. What can we do to stop this madness? Can we get the value of our constitution back or is it too late?

Peace of Mind

Have you noticed that everyone is trying to sell you “peace of mind”? Security systems, health insurance, life insurance, extended warranties, etc… The world is making money off scaring us into needing the world to protect us giving us “peace of mind.” I would like to remind you that Jesus Christ is the only peace of mind we need. God is in control of the security of our home, our cars, our plasma television, all of our possessions and even our own life is not our own. It all belongs to our Heavenly Father. Christ is truly the only real peace of mind we can ever receive. No amount of money we give to a business will give us the priceless peace of mind given to us by the blood of Jesus.

Obviously, it is the law to carry certain types of insurance. I’m also not saying to cancel your health or life insurance. I’m saying beware of the media, the slogans, and the sales pitches that are all trying to get rich off of scare tactics. Ask for the Lord’s guidance when you make a big purchase. Pray for a hedge of protection around your home keeping safe all who are in it. Pray a prayer that never ends, constantly asking for guidance, protection, good health, and peace in your life and family. God will provide and your faith is free.

Exodus 9:29 Moses replied, "When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the Lord. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the Lord's.

It all belongs to the Lord. If he can stop the thunder and the hail in answer to prayer, He can stop a burglar. Have faith. God is huge and He can do all things. Trust God to provide you with peace of mind.

Surrrounded by Demons

She awoke from a dream. She was frozen with fear. She tried to recall what happened in the dream but she couldn’t. Only sheer terror was among her. She realized the evil was not left behind in her stage of sleep. It encompassed the room.


The room felt thick with a darkness that overshadowed the moonlight shining in the windows. Her bedroom was different. Something was wrong. She felt so deep in her sole that evil was among her. She was so afraid to admit it but she stated inside herself, I’m surrounded by demons . Her husband lay restless beside her. He tossed and turned and scratched as if he had a bug biting him on his shoulder then his back then his leg and continued randomly.

She feared the demons would possess her husband in his vulnerable state of sleep. Will they use him to hurt me? She knew, They want to stop me. Her husband rose up in bed looking very confused. She prayed, God protect me. She whispered, “Sweetheart, are you alright?” He quietly responded, “Yeah.” He laid his head back down .

Her 15 month old baby who sleeps in their room in his crib let out a cry. My baby! Can they harm him? Do they have that authority? She mustard the will and went to her child and held him tight. Satan does not have authority in my house, she proclaimed inside. She pleaded to God: God protect me. Protect my family. This is your house. We are your children. Kick them out of here. They don’t belong. God told her, “My child, why do you ask with so much fear? You can do all things through Me. Now YOU kick them out in My name."  Me, cast out demons?

She could feel their strength brewing again. In her doubt and fear, Satan was strengthened. She began speaking softly, Get out Satan. She could tell they didn’t believe her and were going nowhere and knew it was because she didn’t believe herself. She continued, I am a child of God and this is His house. You have no authority here! I cast you out Satan in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Savior!! I do not fear you!!! You are nothing!!! Get out in the name of Jesus Christ!!! Christ is my strength and He lives in me. I cast you out in His name, in the name of Jesus Christ GET OUT!!!

Peace came over her and her bedroom returned to her familiar, safe, room. Her husband rose and went to the bathroom. She thanked God for giving her strength. She began reflecting on the witnessing she had been doing. It seems like everyday she had been given opportunity to share God’s love with the lost. She had been holding nothing back as if each person she spoke with would not be given another opportunity to hear God’s Word. She had been wondering if those people were brought to her by God so she could speak with them but now there was no doubt. God is using her. In Satan’s attempt to scare her or stop her, it did just the opposite. She is a child of God, a warrior. She has learned no greater joy in any other thing under the sun than serving God and bringing Him victory. She will continue to share the Holy Truth and now with even more conviction and more urgency.

In this time when God is so scarce in our worldly lives we need to speak more and louder than ever. Do not be shy or embarrassed. We could very well be running out of time. Jesus could come for all of us any moment. You know that when our day comes, we will give account for every idol word we speak? Matthew 12:36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 

Allow some urgency in your life and those who surround you. You may be rejected. You may become less popular but you will be blessed and you will plant seeds for people to have opportunities to receive Christ. This will anger Satan and he will stage attacks on you maybe not so blatant and direct but God is your strength and with Him, you will overcome.
Whose battle are you helping to win if you won't speak in fear of rejection?

Open Forum for Christ

I would like to offer an open forum to share about God. Many have been invited to this website who are all in various stages of their walk with Christ. Some do not know the Lord but are becoming open to discussion. My prayer for this site is that everyone has an opportunity to grow closer to God here. I hope that some of my friends in Christ who visit this website will be a help in prayer and encouragement through scripture for others who come with questions and concerns about who Christ is and what He did for us.

I also want to hear your stories about how God is working in your life. Share something God has taught you lately or what you are asking God to help you with. How can we pray for you? Are you lacking peace in an area in your life? Is there questions you have or do you need help in an area that you don’t want anyone to know your situation? We are sometimes ashamed or embarrassed to share with someone we know so we keep things inside and try to go it alone. See if God can help you find the support you need through this site where you can open up and remain anonymous if you wish.


At the end of your post, I ask that you label yourself in the stage you are in on your walk. I think it will help everyone to have an understanding on how to relate to you. Sign out using one of these symbols (zero, dash, or plus sign): 0 - +


0= I do not believe in God.


-= I may believe in God but I’m not sure yet.  I have not accepted Jesus into my heart.


+= The cross says I know Jesus as my personal savior.

Praise the Lord, call upon His name;  Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted.
~ Isaaiah 12:3

How Tame is Your Tongue?

How Tame is Your Tongue


Do you know when to rebuke or when to be silent? When you do know you should be silent, do you rebuke anyway? When you know you should rebuke, can you will your tongue to speak out even if it could cause conflict? The Lord’s Truth is not always popular sometimes even among fellow believers. “For the word of God is living and powerful, ad sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and morrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

Be one who people can rely on to give wise truth. Do not be one with a flattering tongue but one who breathes God’s love and truth. “He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue.” Proverbs 28:23 Every conversation you have should be being applied to your knowledge of scripture. Do comfort your loved ones but do it in truth. Seek God’s guidance and pray for his wisdom. If you don’t know what to say or if you don’t know the answer, be silent and listen. Let them know you will pray for them and make sure you follow through. Get back to them if the Holy Spirit leads you to a passage that can be applied to that person’s circumstances.

What an amazing comfort that is to know that the answers to all we face is given to us in scripture. It isn’t up to us to bring comfort and to say the perfect thing, Jesus has taken care of all that for us. Do not counsel with your own wisdom. We aren’t wise but the Father is. Let your way of comfort be that all of the answers we seek are in the Holy Bible and if we surrender all of our problems there is peace and joy in our Father’s everlasting love.

What if a fellow believer is not asking for advice but is close to you and you witness ways that he or she is slipping away from God’s doctrine. If you are bringing matters to light in the love of Christ than you are living out God’s word. 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season; Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching. In no way should your offering correction be for any kind of personal gain, not pride, greed, or self-righteousness. 1 John 3:18 let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

We have no control over how our rebuke is received. That is up to our friend whom we are speaking. Proverbs 15:31-32 The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise. He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.

What kind of friend are you? Are you a flatterer or do you speak God’s truth even if you may lose a friend? Is the loss of a friendship worth an opportunity to help a friend grow spiritually? Have you taken heed to rebuke or been angered by somebody bringing a shortfall to light? Do you need to rethink a circumstance where somebody brought you to anger when they were only presenting the truth? Maybe you weren’t angry with that person but at yourself.

How to Accept Jesus as Your Savior

You are getting ready to experience the love that you’ve been searching for all of your life. That hole in your heart you’ve been trying to fill is about to be overflowing. The feeling of just existing on earth is about to give way to purpose. How do I know all of this about you? All people who have not accepted Jesus as their Savior live their lives this way. There is no peace or love without Jesus.

You must understand that God created you. You aren’t here accidentally in any way. God created every little fingerprint and hair on your head. He designed you to be unique and he has a purpose for you. He loves you. He loves you so much that He sent His son, Jesus, to die for you. “For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” Without Jesus, we never could have been made worthy of God’s presence in heaven. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice to cover all of our sins. Do you know you are a sinner? Admit it, out loud. “For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.” Romans 3:23

Now that you’ve confessed your sins, ask for forgiveness. No sin is too great and no number is too many. Leave them all at the foot of the cross and ask Jesus to save you from them. Ask Him to come into your heart and life as your Savior. Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Once you’ve accepted Jesus into your heart, you need to share with somebody. Tell someone that you have been saved. Find a church to attend where you can fellowship. Most importantly, begin reading your Bible. You cannot grow spiritually, without the knowledge of the Word so dive in. Pray constantly. Begin a conversation with God that never ends. Begin in Matthew, the first book of the gospels. This explains of the coming of Jesus, the persecution of Jesus, the death of Jesus, and the rising from the grave of Jesus.

Ephesians 5:8-10
…walk as children of light for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and the truth. Finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

Let me know if I can help direct you in any way with a church, good study Bible, any questions at all I will do my best to help you find the answers. Please keep me posted on your progress.

Father, Hear Me

FATHER, HEAR ME

How long must I wait

How much can I take

I’ve stayed strong in my faith

Through these trials I’ve faced

But there is no finish in sight

No morning to my night

I long to receive your grace

How long will you hide your face

Have I lost favor in your eyes

Must I wait till my flesh dies

Before you fulfill the desires of my heart

And mend the pieces of me that are falling apart

As I endure for your name’s sake

Comfort me

As I fight Satan in this battle

Strengthen me

As darts of temptation are fired

Shield me

Dress me in the whole armor of God, Oh Lord

And let me bring you glory

Do not let this take too long, Father

Oh, grace me with your mercy

I humble myself before thee

Knowing that I am not worthy

I don’t deserve what I ask for

Still I ask for more

With your Holy Word

Convict me

With your merciful heart

Forgive me

With your saving grace

Save me

All is chasing the wind without You

But all is possible with You

I hope to bring you victory

But fear I don’t have it in me

Rescue me from this storm

I am tired and I am worn

I continue to endure

But for how long, I am not sure

Be Thou near me

Oh Father I cry out

HEAR ME

Be Careful What you Pray For

Be Careful What you Pray For


1 Timothy 6:11
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

In order to be a good Christian, there are certain qualities that we aim to possess. We pray for knowledge, patience, love, faith, etc… Have you ever really studied how God answers our prayers as we ask to be better Christians? Sometimes, we may ask for something and He grants us that something as simple as that. Other times, it’s not so easy.

Ecclesiastes 1:18
For in much wisdom is much grief; And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Solomon tells us how we must grieve to become wise and have sorrow to gain knowledge. God normally does not just snap and make us smart. He shows us how to make good decisions. He teaches us often through trials.

Hebrews 12:11
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

I’ve been looking back on some of the recent events in my life and remembering what I had been praying for. I’m learning that God really has been answering my prayers even if it wasn’t perfectly clear to me while it was taking place.

The Lord blessed me with a child which was an answer to prayer. I had prayed that God would give me the patience, knowledge, love, and biblical knowhow to raise my child for God’s glory. I prayed God would strengthen me as a warrior to fight His battles on earth and bring him glory in spiritual warfare. (Be prepared on that one.) The more I learned, the more I felt I wanted to put on the armor of God and bring Him as many victories as I could.
Here’s what God did…

He placed it on my heart to work inside of my home. He led me through scripture showing me that working outside of my home was following the ways of the world and my place was serving Him in my home. He even gave me a revelation. He told me to follow in faith and leave my job telling me He would provide for my family. He gave me a deep love for my child, I never imagined having. Sounds great so far, right? Let me continue; He gave me a husband with a hardened heart toward me quitting work and following in faith. Instead, my husband is doing all he can to please me and get me working in my home. He is not ready to receive God’s guidance to follow in faith. He is much too practical. God has kept it on my heart to follow in faith and I’m still working at my job waiting “patiently” for my husband’s heart to change. Every day is a spiritual battle staying faithful to God and submitting to my husband.

Don’t be discouraged from praying. I would go through all of this over again to obtain the closeness I’ve been receiving with God. God is amazing and I love seeing Him so active in my life. I’m in the middle of a spiritual battle keeping strong in faith, learning patience as I wait for God to soften my husband’s heart, receiving knowledge as I drown myself in scripture and increasing my love each day for my child making all of this more difficult to endure. Yet, I still say BRING IT ON! I welcome trials from my Father and I’m finding joy in His teachings that will continue to build and grow throughout my life on earth.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Psalm 24:4-5 Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths, Lead me in your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.
Revelations 3:10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

Has God answered your prayers in a way you wouldn't have expected?

Poor Baby

They say cherish every moment. Even these moments are so precious to me; I want to hang on to them forever. Of course, there’s always the opportunities for humility that I get to hang over his head. I love being a mother. I couldn’t imagine God giving me any other assignment that would bring me this much joy.

Psalm 92:4For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

My New Logo

My latest painting. This will also be my new logo for The Fruit of Her Hands. This picture was actually taken on my dining room table. The cross seen in the back is just the way the light hit the grid in the chair behind it. Once I saw the cross I was confident this was going to be perfect for my logo. Things seem to be coming together.

Goat Milk Soap

We have been trying to utilize all that God has given us. On our humble 5 acres, we have our own little farm. Our milk goat, Milly has been a great blessing. Her milk is delicious and we plan to try our hand with cheese and butter. I have had success with soap and have been using it. I love it and would recomend it to anybody. It is such a creamy lather like no other soap I've used. My skin feels really soft afterward and seems to help my lotion absorb into my skin making a long lasting nourished effect. I plan to sell it once I get a system down so stay connected and I'll let you know when I'm ready to market it. I love all of this stuff and feel like I'm fulfilling God's purpose for me when I'm working in my home with my hands. I am making the most out of my husbands hard work as well. We are experiencing what it is like to reap the direct fruits of our own labor. Now that we've had a taste, it's all we dream of doing.

Proberbs 23:4 Labor not to be rich.

What does that speak to you? Do you think going to work for somebody else at a job you hate and never getting any time with your family is working to serve the Lord? In some cases, some have been called to work for others and some is a blessing but for us, we do it to be rich. We aren't rich in the worlds ways but we have more than we need and we work hard so we can have more. We are now learning that farming isn't going to make us rich but it can make us rich in time with our family, rich in work ethic, enrichen our children's characters and family values. Being rich in the Holy Spirit is more valuable to me than any of the things that money can buy and I think my job outside of my home is robbing me of that richness. Pray for me, I'm struggling.

Packer

Well, I don't make a dime off of sketching my own family but I have to create when I've been inspired.

Steward of Opportunity

We go to God in prayer asking Him to help us be good stewards of all our blessings. Now, when I asked for help in this area, I was referring to stewardship of my home, my finances, my children, my job, and other things that are quite tangible. Have you ever thought of your stewardship of “opportunity”?

A couple of days ago, I was having a discussion about a woman in a book who seemed to have so much opportunity to witness to people in her everyday life. These weren’t people at a seminar or even at a church. These were strangers in need who chose to open up to her. Some of these people learned a wonderful lesson or maybe even accepted Jesus as their savior. Others gave her a chance to learn something from them.

I was sharing how a couple of weeks ago, I had been wondering how this woman has all of these opportunities fall into her lap. Later that day, I was at the grocery store placing my son into the shopping cart. A lady next to me with two beautiful, blond little girls was trying to place the second child into the shopping cart. The little girl was distracted by her doll and wasn’t very helpful in putting her feet into the cart. The mother began yelling at her, “What are you doing?! Put your feet in! Oh, I can’t wait till you guys go back to school!” She turned to me and continued, “Then I get some peace and quiet.” She laughed as if she wanted me to agree with her.

Well, I didn’t show her any support by giving her a courtesy laugh but I also felt the desire in me to share with her that our children should be able to rely on us to always feel wanted, welcome and loved. They do need discipline but making them feel unwanted or unappreciated is no way to teach a lesson. As our children grow, they will feel unwanted and unappreciated plenty by the world. We as parents should be their safe haven. I wanted to ask that woman if she knew Jesus and point her toward a book I’ve been reading “The Mission of Motherhood” by Sally Clarkson knowing it would guide her through scripture in this specific area in her life.

It was then that the question I had been pondering had been answered. The opportunities are all around me but I haven’t had the courage to take them. I dealt with thoughts of it’s none of my business, she could get mad and start yelling at me,I could be completely rejected and made to look like a fool. Yes, any of those things could have happened but what if she was a Christian and God placed me there to encourage her in Godly mothering, reminding her to have the law of kindness on her tongue. Perhaps she was crying out because she was feeling overwhelmed and needed to know she was loved and somebody cared about what she was going through. There are endless what ifs. Bottom line is I was not a good steward of that opportunity so I did not get to find out.

Hebrews 13:2
2Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
My friend reminded me that there are angels among us and we never know if we are being tested in how we treat them or don’t treat them.

Are you a good steward of opportunity?

Age with Grace

Today is my mother’s 50th birthday and I wanted to honor her. My mother dealt with all the over the hill jokes last night at her party and it sounds as if she handled it rather well. I was thinking about what it means to grow older and how I want to age and how beautifully my mother always has been and continues to be. Each season is God-given and none should be less enjoyable than any other. Maybe this is easier said than done. I am only 30 but I’ve learned that if I write about something and look back on it later my own advice can slap me in the face at a time when I really need it. So I am taking this opportunity to show my appreciation for my mom, Connie Bogle, and to think about what it should mean to somebody to turn 50. Hopefully, I will look back on this when I turn 50 and see that I’m aging as gracefully as my mother has.

Age with Grace

You have lived for 50 years today
So I choose to honor you in this special way
I ask for God’s blessings on this new chapter of your life
As you continue your journey as Grandma, mom, and wife
Remember there is a time for every season
And for all you encounter God has a reason
I pray that you age with grace
Being most concerned by the beauty of your heart
Magnifying the beauty of your face
Embrace these years to come
Reflect on the glory of your past
And share all your wisdom
Relish every second of grand parenting
And let the Holy Spirit guide you when called upon for mentoring
You are an energetic grandma and a charismatic mom
Take a deep breath and try to remain calm
Your fun is not over
It’s just the beginning
So stop moping around and start grinning
You have become wise in your years
Laboring hard, keeping a clean home, changing diapers, easing tears
I love you Mom and I want you to know
This is also the season for our friendship to grow
Though you are still my mother
You’ve become my dearest friend
And this is a season that will never end
God Bless You Mom and thank you for being who you have been, who you are and who you will always be

Love,
Kimber

What is Your Will for Me

What is your will for me
Open my eyes so that I may see
Your plan that you have in store
Where are the signs I’ve been looking for
I pray for your guidance and seek out your will
And I await your answers still
You’ve tugged at my heart urging a time for change
You’ve painted the future in my mind
But presented no avenue to obtain
Give me the patience and will to follow only your guidance
Do not let me be confused between your will and my preference
I feel discontent with where I am
Oh Lord, I pray
Reveal Your plan

My Husband's Biggest Fan

I love being a cheerleader for my husband. It is amazing how much influence wives have on our husbands. I believe my husband makes it easy for me but you can make it easier on yourself by supporting and praising him. He needs to know you rely on him and have confidence in him to be your rock. In turn, if you have a husband who doesn't make it easy, you will see that he will feel the need to meet the worthiness of your praise if you give it to him anyway.
Proverbs 21:19
It is better to dwell in the wilderness than with a contentious and angry woman.
Proberbs 31:12
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

God's Will in Reproduction

The evening began with a wonderful prayer spoken by the head of the home. In his prayer, he thanked God for our time to fellowship. Well, I just thought we were invited for dinner but I took his invite for fellowship quite literally and joyfully.
As we sat down for desert, we were discussing the children. I asked an open ended question, Are you guys done? The response was apparent that the question itself was comical. My husband looked at me and wanted to know why I asked that, (knowing exactly why I asked). Our host jokingly responded about me,” she wants 10 kids” and my husband joined in saying, “She does.”
I explained that recently, I went to God and asked Him to reveal His will to me and there is no doubt in my mind that He did and he did it very clearly. I talked about the peace and joy there is in knowing that what you are doing is exactly what God wants you to do. This is a new experience to me and now I know I want God’s will in each part of my life. I am surrendering wholeheartedly all of myself to His purpose.
In saying all of that, I will say the statement about wanting 10 children isn’t accurate but a concept has been introduced to me that has been baring a lot of weight. Do you believe God is the Author of Life? Do you believe that all children made by the hand of God have a purpose in God’s eyes? I do believe that and I believe He makes no mistakes in placing a life into any person’s womb. There are many arguments about birth control and it brings up a huge debate. Well, I’m not looking for a debate, I can have that with my husband but open your heart and mind for a moment and think about this. If you are completely submitting to Christ, mind, body and spirit, then why would you not say to God: Dear Lord, my body is not my own nor is anything else I have. You have given me life and a wonderful God-fearing husband. I surrender it all to You. Use me to fulfill Your purpose whatever it may be. I am Your servant and am pleased to be part of Your plan to advance Your kingdom.
So I’ll touch on a couple of debate points because I can’t help myself. God created the people knowledgeable to invent birth control and gave us free will. I have found that whenever people want to deny something to Christ they use the excuse, God gave us free will.
What about the drug addicted people who have many children and can’t afford to feed them and have no means of raising the children properly or giving them love. Why would God do that?
FREE WILL: You have the God-given right to choose whether or not you want to try to have lots of children or no children at all. Ultimately, God is in control anyway. What happens though when you truly give your life over to God’s will? Do you think that means God gives you a bunch of things you don’t want and it makes life on earth harder for you? Have you ever been brave enough to truly surrender in your heart all things without holding back? Try. Want what He wants and find peace. Be amazed at the happiness and blessing brought from surrendering. Like a parent to a child, God knows what is best for us. We are just inexperienced, unknowing children and when we get our way over our Father’s it may seem good for a moment but ends in bitterness.
INCAPABLE PARAENTS: God does teach us lessons the hard way sometimes. Really, who are we to ask? But maybe God is showing us what happens when people try to be Gods of the earth and control when and how many and to whom children will be born. The Christians are being less fruitful and not multiplying like they use to in the days of old and now our world is being overcome by the darkness of lost souls.
So, do I want 10 children? I just want God’s will in my life. He can make that choice much better than I can. I could way pros and cons for the rest of my life trying to decide if I want another baby but I would like to give the decision to God and reap whatever blessings he pours out simply for surrendering.
After the men and children went out on a nature hike, the hostess and I stayed behind and shared with each other. She praised me for seeking God’s will and shared some struggles of her own. I feel I have a new friend in her and have been praying for her and her struggles that they will seek and find the will of God in their lives. What a blessing the evening was strengthening friendships in Christ and enjoying delicious food in the process.

Mr. Tuttles

Here is my latest.

Seeking God's Will

I have been learning through experience that if you truly want to live out God’s will He will show you the way. I’ve done some self examining and learned that when I was praying for God to show me the way, I was actually asking for Him to open a door for me to follow my own desires. I found I tried to sell my desires to God. Lord, give me this gift. It will bring you glory in this way... Perhaps that sounds silly to you or maybe you have also done the same thing.
All I know is that when my heart began changing, I actually began wanting GOD’S WILL. I stopped justifying and worrying. I stopped putting so much emphasis on pros and cons and I started praying and searching scripture. When your heart’s desires are after God, He will reveal His will. Guess what, it’s wonderful! There is peace and joy in your heart when you are following Him which is far more valuable than anything I can come up with on my own.

Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psalm 37:4

Mediocre Christianity

I fear I’ve been living a life of mediocre Christianity. I have been saved and have believed in God and even have prayed almost daily. But as I would listen to some of the Christian music and some of the speakers on the radio, I realized I did not have the relationship with God that those people had. I began to realize that my love for Christ was lacking. My fear of Christ has always been pretty strong, being aware of God’s power and authority. I decided I wanted more than to just fear the Lord. I wanted to love Him. I wanted a deep love for Him like the Love I knew he had for me.

1 John 4:19 We love Him, because He first loved us.

I prayed for God to increase my love for Him. I prayed for passion and excitement for my Lord and Savior. The Lord answered my prayers. I rise in the morning rejoicing in the day He has made. I go throughout my morning routines giving Him praise. I can’t wait for Sundays to come around and I have given up television and replaced it with God’s Word or other literature that brings me back to God’s Word. I can’t stop sharing the truth of the gospel, nor do I want to. I pray about everything! God is working daily in my life and I am overwhelmed with excitement for Him.

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find: knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Why not pray for an increased love for your God? The more love you have for Him the more you seek His will, the more you seek, the more you find, the more you find, the more doors will open for you. It is much easier to discern God’s will when you are living for Him and loving Him wholeheartedly because your heart is shaping to be like His. Isn’t that what you want? If it isn’t, my friend in Christ, pray for it to be because that should be your desire.

True Woman Makeover

“True Woman Makeover”
I encourage any woman to accept this challenge. It is an in depth study on Proverbs 31. It was so very inspiring to me. I feel like this passage is where women need to begin their Biblical studies because it is such a definitive guide on what a Biblical woman should be. If you set your heart right with Proverbs 31 then all things holy seem easier to obtain and often will just fall into place.

Let me also give you a little challenge of my own. If you do this "True Woman Makeover", approach it with prayer that God will teach you what kind of woman he wants you to be. Then jump in with both feet. For instance, I have a full time job that I leave for work at 2 pm and do not get to bed until 1-2 am. But when I learned that my responsibility is my home and was to make my home a sanctuary for my kids and husband, a glimpse of Heaven on earth, I decided I would not allow my job to be a hindrance. I decided that if God assigned these tasks to me His grace would cover me while I did His will. I began getting up at 7am to begin my housework and breakfast preparation. God has graced me with energy and a joyful spirit as I have been serving Him in my home.

My children are showing heart changes as well as my husband because I am being a faithful servant. I feel torn as I leave for work each day because God has made it clear to me that my place is serving in my home. The Lord has not removed me from my job yet but He is teaching me how to be productive with little time. Thanks to His grace, my home is more organized and clean than ever before and I know that when the time comes for me to be home full time, I will have what it takes to be the woman God wants me to be.

Please take the challenge and I would love to be updated on your story. Just give me your request and I’m always happy to lift you up in prayer.

Matthew 19:26
With men this is impossible: but with God all things are possible.

Proverbs 2:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.