Harvest Time

The longer I live, the more I realize that life is all about sowing and reaping. You want your kids to turn out good, sow good things into them. You want to do well at your job, you’ve gotta pour your time, energy and creativity into it. You want people to be nice to you, you’ve gotta sow kindness into their lives. You know the golden rule, the “do unto others” verse from Matthew 7:12.
There’s also the verse from Galations 6:7 that warns us not to be deceived, that God cannot be mocked and that we will reap what we sow.
I think a lot of the time we go throughout our days doing the best we can at whatever we do, whether it be work, school, or taking care of the house. I’m not sure we too often think about the fact that we are sowing seeds…all day long, sowing seeds. If we choose to eat junk food all day long and sit in front of the television, what are we going to reap? Probably an unhealthy body and mind. If you speak positive, encouraging words to those you’re around, what are you going to reap? Probably some pretty happy neighbors and I bet they will return the favor even if it’s not their style to do so. If you take the time to clean your house and not complain about it to your husband when he gets home, you’ve sown blessing and peace, so guess what – you’ll reap it!!
In I Corinthians 10:23 Paul says “everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial”. Let’s think ahead…even if something isn’t necessarily sinful, try to imagine what the return is going to be if you pour your time, money or energy into it. I want to challenge myself and everyone reading to remember that nothing is lost. What you sow, you will surely reap – whether it is good or bad.
Look around you. Who are the people you admire? What qualities do wish you possessed? My advice is to sow! And sow and sow! Is it going to be uncomfortable sometimes, YES! But so many go through life wishing and never being. Take the extra time in the Word of God if you wish to have a mature relationship with your creator. Go the extra mile in gift giving if you want to have a generous spirit.
Remember that what goes around, comes around and even though this isn’t a scripture from the Bible, I think it has some Biblical truth embedded in it. Do not give up in doing good…for at just the right time, you will reap a harvest (Galations 6:9). Praise God! May our harvest be one of blessing and righteousness because we’ve sown it in advance!

Street Party

Kelly and Christian building their first bird house...

I'm trying to talk them into going starting their own business. They had this one built and up in like 20 minutes!

Kelly

I just can't say enough about my man these days! He's my hero! As the days and years go by I'm amazed at God's goodness in giving me Kelly. What a sweet and dear husband and father he is. How I love him! He's probably going to be embarrassed by my posting, but I just wanted to let the world know what a strong, solid, sweet, sexy, sincere, sensitive, spirit-filled husband I have. I'm so thankful and proud!

Lebanon Costume Party

Gammie had a costume party for the kiddos at her house on Thursday night and it was a hit! Check out some fun photos!!

A Small Victory

Christian's diet has gotten bad lately. He's becoming more and more picky everyday. Things that were semi-healthy that I used to feel pretty good about him eating, he only maybe takes one bite out of now. Just so you know how bad it's gotten, last night I rejoiced over him eating McDonald's chicken nuggets because it was some sort of protein!! What kind of mother have I turned into???

Well, today I decided that it had been a while since I had tried some new things from the kitchen cabinet. So, I pulled out sunflower seeds and they ended up all over the couch with an, "I don't wike it". I opened a can of lentil soup and it was "yucky". I opened a can of mandarin oranges and pretended I wasn't going to share. He demanded them all (it was working), so I prayerfully gave him the bowl and after one lick of an orange he wanted nothing to do with them. I made some long-grain brown rice with some cheese in a little medicine cup to put on top and it was a hit!! He kept wanting more and he was eating the rice along with the cheese!! I think serving the cheese in the, "wittie cup" (little cup) made a big difference. He loved pouring it on top.

If anyone has other ideas about making food fun, please let me know. We do cookie cutters on our peanut butter sandwiches, but that's about the extent of creative ideas I have for food.

He likes strawberries, bananas, apple sauce, yogurt (sometimes), pizza (sometimes), peanut butter and bread. Maybe some of you would have some input on expanding his taste preferences!! I'm open to anything!! :) Thanks!

Fireproof

Just got back from seeing the best movie ever with my DH! Fireproof is a great film and I would encourage you to go and support it! We need more movies that are pointedly Christian and fun to see like this one. We rarely go to the movies anymore b/c there's hardly ever anything we want to support, but this one was so good...and we even got popcorn!!!!!!

Christian has been helping me alot in the kitchen lately. It's been fun :)
Christian and Mommy having a picnic outside on Sunday and rolling in the leaves!!
Christian went missing on Sunday afternoon and I found him like this. Outside under the trees sitting in his chair, playing his harmonica with his trick or treat basket. I think he's really in the fall spirit!

The Man Jeep

On Friday Christian and were at a garage sale and I called Kelly and said, "I wish we knew someone who needed one of those battery operated jeeps, because I just found a great Barbie one for $20."

Kelly said, "get it and we'll paint it and turn it in to a man jeep."

I warned that there was LOTS of pink and purple, but I bought it hoping he could truly revamp it.

That evening we went to Bass Pro and got some fun man stuff and Kelly remodeled the Barbie jeep and turned it into a man jeep in about an hour or two. I was amazed and Christian LOVES it!! Here are a few before and after pictures :)

Does Tolerance For Sin Equal Love For Sinners?

Is God tolerant of sin because He is a loving God? Absolutely not. God died on the cross to demolish sin. He hates it. Because God is loving, he did away with sin and provided a righteousness that can be ours apart from sin through His son Jesus Christ.

Tolerance for sin or any other religion that does not believe in the triune God is sin itself.



Now don't misunderstand me, God is very patient, loving, kind, gracious and merciful toward sinners. It is for this reason that he has not destroyed the earth altogether because of ungodly acts. 2 Peter 3:9-11 says,

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the Heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works done on it will be exposed. since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people are you to be in lives of holiness and godliness...?"

God is coming back and there will be no more sin, but in the mean time his love is not just sort of ignoring or overlooking the sin, every man will be held accountable for every act of unrighteousness if they have not submitted their life under the authority of Jesus Christ. (Hebrews: 10: 26-31)



For this reason, I am urging you to be silent no more. It is possible to be loving toward others while hating and detesting and speaking out about apparent sin. The one in the act of sin may not like it, but it is our duty as ambassadors to be bold and vocal in a world that is only screaming tolerance. (2 Cor. 5:20) So read your Bible and pray and always be ready to defend your reason for intolerance.



The Webster's Dictionary defines tolerance as: receiving or enduring without offering resistance.



Now is this what Jesus did? Did he offer resistance to sin? Yes he did, this is why he was crucified. And if we are true believers the Bible says we must be ready to be crucified with him by the society we live in today. People who call themselves followers, but aren't ready to follow down the scornful path Jesus walked, are not in God's fold. (Galations 2:20)



Webster's also defines tolerance as: the allowable deviation form a standard.



There are standards we are to adhere to and live by written out in the Bible. We live in a society where each individual decides what's right and wrong for himself. This is mockery of God's laws and it says in his Word that He will not be mocked. If you are tolerant and allow others to deviate from God's standard, then you are sinning by omission rather than by commission. In other words, by saying nothing, you're in agreement of the sin.



Another definition in Webster's says tolerance is: the capacity of the body to endure or become less responsive to a substance especially with repeated use or exposure.



Now usually we think of drug or alcohol addicts when we think of this definition of tolerance, but I think Christians are intentionally subjecting themselves over and over to sin and becoming immune to unholiness, or tolerant of it. How many people do you know that call themselves Christians but support Hollywood films with liberal actors and liberal themes? How many people do you know that watch television shows that take the Lord's name in vain or encourage immorality? Because the majority of those that go to church on a regular basis and call themselves cleansed, born again believers do these things, the majority of Christians are tolerant of sin. Who doesn't like to be entertained, or to relax and get in a good laugh, but if unholiness is involved it is blasphemy, as simple as that. There's no way around it.



My call to all true lovers of Christ is to be intolerant of everything this world stands for. Do not compromise in any area. It is crucial, especially in these times, that we are strong for the Lord, not lazy or wishy-washy. Be loving, be kind, but do not be weak-willed when you are confronted with a decision to be bold or to remain silent.



I close with a poem I found on the Internet that answers the question if tolerance for sin equals love for sinners:

This is a poem called: ”Where ’tolerance’ leads”, it speaks of a woman who is blaming her best friend for doing nothing, for keeping quiet, for tolerating evil, and for leading her to hell with her tolerance:

When we disagreed
while watching the news,
You chose to ignore
my misguided views.
I trusted you and thought
you were my friend,
But you stood by and watched me
come to this end.
When I fell for the lie
”my body, my choice,”
Fear of offending me
silenced your voice,
”Don’t let me die!”
the child in me implored,
But you drove to the clinic
and dropped me off at the door.
You didn’t tell me Jesus
took all of my blame,
Because you didn’t want to be
called a mean name,
It was all about you
not shining the light.
You didn’t speak up
to show me what was right.
That my sins were paid for
by a God who loved me,
You could have explained it
so I could see.
Yes, you were ’tolerant’
when love would have cost more,
When there was time
to choose heaven’s door.
But for the first time I can now tell,
With a warm, pleasant smile,
you let me go to hell.
You called it ’Tolerance,’
but it was not love.
You let your friend go to hell,
Who were you thinking of?

This sad poem shows how easy it is to fail God and man by trying to be too tolerant.

Fall Fun