No Particular Reasons

I haven't read my Bible for two days and I am begining to feel drained physically and spiritually. If got me to wonder how the physical man and spiritual man are connected. I am not the person who believes that God will punish or discipline for not reading His Word daily but I do know when I am not in His Word my body feels it. Is this just physchological or is there truth to it. Obviously those who are not saved have energy and on the physical level feel normal, even thouugh they are in reality empty, and feel normal while in their vanity. This is strange, because even as I am writing I think that I have come to my own conclusion; For me, I think, that my physical body becomes exhausted because I know that when I am not in God's word, that I am doing things in vain and that it is exhausting to do mundain things without His word guiding me through the day. Just another reminder how much strength that Christ gives to His children and how much we (especially me) need it.

Let's Give them Something to talk about!

So last night at small group we continued our discussion on Calvinism with help from 'The Five Points of Calvinism' and we talked on the subject for a hour and half! It was crazy! The girls really seemed to be understanding what the points of Calvinism were and could articulate it back to us! I think that this had to be one of the first times that this has happened! We are thankful to God for giving us His Word and other resources that helps guide us to know why we believe, and we are also thankful for SKH for teaching on this subject!!

Enjoying the Process pt2

So here it is another month and hence another blog about etp-ing. It has been crazy thinking how much God has blessed me with and He has been showing me so many things to be thankful for. It has helped me with the fact that my husband has been SOOO joyful the past months that it has not only made our life at home better but has also freed me up to enjoy this process called life.
At staff meeting this past Saturday I shared how Curtis and I have been focusing on enjoying the process as a family. However, last week....in fact it was last Thursday where I attempted to blog about enjoying the process while potty training and doing taxes, but I couldn't because I wasn't etp-ing. It has been said that you attitude is a reflection of your heart....my attitude STANK......and I was having a STINKY heart. I was upset about our taxes and I felt like a failure through potty training. But, my husband is great and put things in an eternal perspective for and by the next day I was enjoying the process again. I am reading the book "Loving God with all your Mind" again. It is one of my favorites. This is a small section where the author reminds the reader about all of the promises that God gives to His children. As I was reading my heart was filled with so much joy. And I thought that how could I or any believer be discouraged while actively reading God's Word. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, we are made for a purpose, if and when we go through trials He has promised not only to be there for us but also promises to not to put us through something that we cannot handle. How crazy is that!! God is faithfully on our side and that brings about GREAT joy....oh how my cup over flows!!

Elisabeth Elliot and Calvinism

Jesse Martin inspired me to read after he shared at our staff meeting this past week. So, today I had some free time and I thought that there was no better time then the present. Curtis and I are starting a diet together as soon as he gets back from L.A. so I thought that a book on displine would be a great starter for me. I picked up Elisabeth Elliot's "Discipline; A Glad Surrender" I got a chapter or two into it and thought to myself, "This is kind of weird, she is refering alot to free will. So, I decided to scam through the upcoming chapters hoping to find a chapter refuting the first chapter. I stumbled on the chapter entitled "A Sovereign God and Free Will" I was horrified to read on and discover that she is not a Calvinist. In fact I was so upset that I called Mo to make sure that I was understanding her rightly. Mo said "Oh yeah, most definity"! So, that was pretty disapointing but on the flip side if it wasn't for Sean's messages on Calvinism I definitly would not have picked up on it so quickley. Thank you Sean!-**************************

Enjoying the Process pt1

So, one thing that I resolved to do this year is to write out the things that I have been thankful for every month, blogging is the perfect way to share. I am first of all thankful for my Savior and Lord. I am thankful that my life has a purpose and that I am not wandering around this earth being hopeless and lost. I am thankful that He(being God) is constintly molding and shaping me into what He wants me to become. I am thankful for His perfecting and completed work on the cross through His Son!
I am thankful as well for my husband that loves me inspite of myself. He is constintly investing in me and our family. He loves me for who I am, where I am at, and who I will become. Curtis holds me together, provides structure, and reminds me that life needs to include tasks as well as relationships. He says that God is a God of order, which translate that our house needs to be in order...lol! I love him so much!!
I am thankful for my two kids Hannah and Ben! They provide so much joy in my life! They help me with scheduling out my days, helping me not to be slothful or self motivated! I love seeing them grow; physically and in their understanding. I mean my two year old can count to twenty-ten(thirty), she likes to learn, she likes to pray, she likes looking at her bible! Ben loves to laugh and to wrestle around. He is energectic and loves life, he also enjoys to pray and to be together as a family.
I am thankful for my church(even though it seems like I am never there). I love the focus on the truths that are in God's word. I love that it is one big family and that there is no major conflict that is dividing it. God has been working in our church, even through the trials of sickness and deaths within our church, He is showing Himself through our cares for eachother in meeting eachothers needs! And THAT in awesome and rare!

So , here lies pt. one of twelve months of enjoying the process!!

Influenza

So, my kids have been sick since Thursday, well Ben got sick on Thursday and Hannah got sick on Saturday. We found out today(after three trips to the doctor) thaty they both have the flu...not the throwing up or sick to your stomach kind but the put you in the hospital kind that kills thousands of people each year. Praise be to God that they are not sick enough to be in the hospital!

Oprah and Romans 1

Romans 1:18-22

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor where they thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools."

Last Friday I had the chance to go out shopping with my mom for my birthday present. On the way there she was telling me about the Oprah show that she and my dad had watched a day or two before. The main guest was a woman who was promoting her book called "The Secret", for she had found out the secret to a happy and fulfilled life. She was pointing out that people who are constently looking for bad things in their lives are going to find them because they put forth negitive energy. For example; if you start out your day thinking and saying to yourself that it is going to be aweful, it will be because you are looking for it. She said that if you want to be the best you you have to ask for it, believe that you will get it, and finally receive it. Another example; if you really want a raise ask for it, really believe that you will get it, and finally receive your raise. If you put forth positive energy you will receive positivity. My mom continued on saying that after a few minutes that my dad wanted to change it. My mom questioned him and asking him why, he replied, you really believe in this? My mom told me that through out the program scripture kept on popping up in her mind and so how could it be bad. My mind was racing, how do I respond to this, without getting too upset and trying to thread the gospel into my response. I started tell that they were basically teaching carma, that everything has it's own energy and how we need to respect everyone's energy, and how that is basically Hinduism mixed with New Age beliefs. She asked me why that is when asking, believing and receiving is a biblical principle. I told her that this particular principle is only in regards to salvation, and even in salvation there is more to it then ask, believing and receiving. Sean Higgins had said in one of his sermons that the act of salvation is so simple and so complexed at the same time. Asking, believing and receiving is only a small part, there is also repentence of sin, and turning from your sin. I told my mom that the principle was taken out of context and why context was important. She continued on about how inspiring the program was. By this time I was starting to become upset, so I quickly changed the subject. As I thought through it more and dicussed it later with Curtis over dinner it dawned on me that even if they were using biblical principles, they were not mentioning the Bible or God, He was taken out of the equation so that man might get the glory rather than God. Then I thought of Romans 1 "although they knewe God they did not glorify Him as God, nor were they thankful but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise they became fools." This has been one of the first times where I had seen this scripture play out right before my eyes, and it was horrifying. It is my prayer that God would come quickly to gather His sheep or lighten the darkened hearts of those who are lost.