The New Testament

Our church is experiencing the New Testament together over 40 days of reading divided into 8 weeks.  I can't even explain how great it is to look at the works of the Lords people during and after the time of Jesus.  The study is called "The Books of the Bible" and they lay out the new testament without the formatting of books and versus and just gives you the story.  A story that you just want to sit down and read like a novel and yet it gives you a whole new perspective of the events. A song that came on the radio last night more than one time by Addison Road called "What I Know of Holy" really puts into perspective of how this study is making me feel.  We are at Day 17 in this story and I am already gaining so much more beyond the stories I grew up learning by seeing it as a whole story.  This is something I suggest if you have the time to read to really do it!

I'll leave you with the lyrics of the song "What do I Know of Holy" by Addison Road.

I made You promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from Heaven but I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small, I never feared You at all, no
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes, could I behold You?

What do I know of You who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood but the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury? Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were might to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees

What do I know of You who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood but the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury? Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?
And a God who gave life it's name?
What do I know of holy of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name on earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love?

What do I know of You who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood but the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury? Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?

Twelfth Day of Christmas

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas my true love gave to me twelve drummers drumming. The twelve drummers are the twelve points of the doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed.
1.I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
2.I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our lord.
3.He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
4.He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into Hell.
5.On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right had of the Father.
6.He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
7.I believe in the Holy Spirit.
8.the Holy catholic (Christian) Church.
9.the communion of saints,
10.the forgiveness of sins,
11.the resurrection of the body,
12.And life everlasting.

Eleventh Day of Christmas

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas my true love gave to me eleven pipers piping. The eleven pipers are the eleven faithful Apostles, including: Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James bar Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas bar James. (Luke 6:14-16). This list excludes the twelfth Apostle, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.

Tenth Day of Christmas

On the Tenth Day of Christmas my true love gave to me ten Lords a-leaping. The ten Lords are the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17.
1.You shall have no other gods before me.
2.Do not make an idol.
3.Do not take the Lord’s name in vain.
4.Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.
5.Honor your father and mother.
6.Do not murder.
7.Do not commit adultery.
8.Do not steal.
9.Do not bear false witness.
10.Do not covet.

Ninth Day of Christmas

On the Ninth Day of Christmas my true love gave to me nine ladies dancing. The nine ladies are the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. (Galatians:5:22)

Eighth Day of Christmas

On the Eighth Day of Christmas my true love gave to me eight maids a-milking. The eight Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-10.
1.Blessed are the poor in spirit.
2.Blessed are those who mourn.
3.Blessed are the meek.
4.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
5.Blessed are the merciful.
6.Blessed are the pure in heart.
7.Blessed are the peacemakers.
8.Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.#ixzz1iRQSiFem

Seventh Day of Christmas

On the Seventh Day of Christmas my true love gave to me seven swans a swimming. The seven swans are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading and compassion. (Romans 12:6-8; Corinthians 12:8-11).

Sixth Day of Christmas

On the Sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me six geese a-laying. The six geese are the six days of creation described in Genesis 1.

Fifth Day of Christmas

On the Fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me five gold rings. The five golden rings are the first five books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or Pentateuch. The five books are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Fouth Day of Christmas

On the Fourth Day of Christmas my true love gave to me four calling birds. The four calling birds are the Four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the Bible. The Holy Gospels proclaim the Good News of God’s reconciliation to the world in Jesus Christ.

Third Day of Christmas

On the Third Day of Christmas my true love gave to me three French hens – The three French Hens represents the three theological virtues, faith, hope and love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Second Day of Christmas

On the Second Day of Christmas my true love gave to me two turtle doves – The two doves represent the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.

First Day of Christmas

On the First Day of Christmas my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree – The partridge is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ‘Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but you would not have it so…” (Luke 13:34)

Memorial weekend....

Oh what a Day..... a quick brief run down is we had the campground looking for Logan today and 911 on the line when Logan decided to hide and seek on us as we were packing up. Then came home to a defrosting deep freezer...unplanned BBQ of weird things tonight now.  This is after taking Maddie to the ER yesterday for periorbital cellulitus (infection in the skin around her eye) and Logan getting sunburned in 59 degree weather on Friday.

A little more on the Logan thing:  

Logan got in trouble for eating his popscile in the trailer after I cleaned it for packing up. So he decided to hide in there apparently while Joel and I were on the otherside of the camper getting electric, water, and sewer put away. We ...noticed he was not on the playground so I went into the camper and called for him. Then we ran around our friends sites calling for him and a better search of the playground. Nothing...I went into the camper and did a hardcore search and found nothing. At this point I sent Joel to the office to start checking the gate and alert the staff...our friends started to call 911 and people were looking through out our area for him. I decided to plug the camper in and slide our slide out incase somehow it had trapped him somewhere. As I go in for the fourth time he pops his head up and said here I am................... I totally lost it to tears at that point. I am relieved that he did not wander away but hate his ability to play hide and seek so well that he moves spots and does not even answer when Mom is yelling "Logan please come out I am not mad I am so scared please tell me where you are". We have had some major talks as can be imagined.See More

It was time!

So I have mentioned before I believe that a few years ago I had a test done to see if I might have Celiac's well one of the test results came back indicating that I might have it. At the time I knew my Aunt had it and she no longer could eat bread and it scared me horribly. So did some research and saw that the test results can be wrong so easily in fact it's common for people to get a negative result but still have it and vice versa have a positive result and not have it. So I went with that and convinced my gasterenterologist that I felt fine and would wait for the biopsy.

Ok so fast forward to today. I've had some other medical issues along the way with blood pressure issues and anemia issues durning my pregnancies. I also do have as horrible of IBS as I use to have but it still affects my life. Now I am struggling the last few years with this mood type depression issues, inablity to lose weight, funky test results that lead no where, and even still losing hair like I'm pregnant. So I made the call today to the Dr to get this biopsy done once and for all! I also have seen many symptoms in each of the kids. Maddie has horrible tooth enamel problems and has way to many cavities for someone who brushes as much as she has in her life. She also has been very slow for gorwing in both weight and height. They were very concerned about her about a year ago that I really should have done something then!

In the meantime I need to not change my diet because that will affect the test but I also really want to lose this weight. I am praying that I can get this test done ASAP so I can start a new lifestlye change if need be. One of the first orders of business if I do have Celiac's diesase is to find a protein powder that is glueten free and get this weight gone before introducing new types of carbs! I want to make a huge change in my life no matter the outcome but I need to cross this test off my list. Please prayer for a fast test date so I can truly move forward!

Happy Thanksgiving

I just wanted to wish every one a Happy Thanksgiving.  I know I have so much to be thankful for this year and it all comes from the one who made me!  I hope you all have a wonderful day and are able to reflect on the many blessings in your lives!!!

Please Vote but...

Of course there is a but because even though we are doing the right thing by making our voices heard we also need to remember that God puts people into places for a reason. We honestly do not have ultimate control as he is the one taking care of us and making his will for us. We need to do as Peter talks about and be mindful that even if the rulers that are put into place are not the Christian leaders we seek for our lives we need to respect them and honor their rules. We may not agree on things that they do and it's okay to feel that way but we can not slander then because then we are slandering God who created them and orchestrated their lives. He has purpose for everything and we need to trust that he will take care of us even in times of bad leaders!

"13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor."

1 Peter 2:13-17 (New International Version © 2010)

Spend, Save, Give

As Joel and I go through the Financial Peace University Program in small groups our kids are also going through FPU Jr in their Kids Church Programs.  For Joel and I we are so shocked that just the awareness of our money flow has made a huge change in our financial situation.  Our kids though have truly started to look at money in a different way and it so neat to see them going through this.  I would have never thought that instead of feeling how are we ever going to get ahead and save for the future could truly be changed by such simple steps and a mind awakening.   Now we can start putting our money to things that would please God and it's all from trusting Him to give us what we need.

As we proceed into the future our outlook for the kids future of money has changed as well.  With the Spend, Save, Give plan we are showing them to be wise and also to honor God in the process.  We have changed it a bit because we also feel that they need to save for more than just their current wants.  So we have broken down the percents of how the incoming money is broken down.  They get to have 40% for Spend, 30% Save, 20% Long term Savings, and 10% Give.  I can see that for the most part the girls are planning for now only keeping a very small amount of the Spend and putting the rest into their Save for their next awesome purchase.  It's so great to see that!

I hope that by next month I can truly say that the 2 credit cards we are planning to pay off are paid off and closed accounts.  They aren't interest growing ones just those pesky no interest pay plans we set up to buy things from certain stores.  How ever they keep money from going to other things.  At a long term plan we hope to be 100% Credit Card Debt free by end of summer and hopefully by Sept 2012 we hope to have no payments for anything but the house!  That is the point we will be screaming we are debt free.  So we will fully pay off the student loans of mine, the camper, and our car all about 4-6 years early saving us money in the long term too!!!