Life's Image

When I made the decision to home school my children...I had no idea what I was doing, how I was going to go about it and what changes it was going to have in my life.  I have looked around, payed attention to the parents and children in our church who have been homeschooling their children forever.  I asked lots of questions and received many different responses, but each one of them also said that homeschooling provides a controlled environment, one that envelopes the morals, beliefs and Bible time our children need. For me, it doesn't stop there.  Recently some truths and blessings have been revealed to me.   Whether it's through Facebook, news, seeing and hearing other families who have their children in a classroom, Mom and Dad are working full time jobs, etc. their routines & schedules that keep them so busy they dot have time for "quality" time with one another.  They have given their all, their best to their jobs, co-workers, Facebook, cl...

Still mulling over the message from Kirk Cameron's movie, "UNSTOPPABLE" from last night.   As a believer there is still much that can be learned and taken in from such movies.  I've read & heard the same events that took place in the Bible many times for many years...I Love that God's Word is alive!  It teaches us new things everyday, whether we are reading it for the first time or the hundredth.   God revealed to me some different & beautiful ways in sharing His love with others from that movie.  I clearly saw the love of Christ in Kirk.  From his body language to, not just his words but he follows through and puts it into action!  What a Christ-like example!! I am so thankful for our pastors at TBT, that we are blessed to see this in each of them as well!! Have much to pray about and look forward to putting what God has laid on my heart, into action as well!! Won't you pray today for an area that you too can step out in faith? ...

I woke up this morning with some thoughts and images in my mind that had caused my heart to cringe yesterday.  In fact, I may even offend some of my friends and family with what I'm going to say.   After having been out shopping with my husband yesterday, I felt a deep calling to write about it...but, in my heart I knew it would be risky and the possibility of losing some people in my life kept me from being obedient to my Lord.  Lord forgive me for not putting Your call into action immediately. I feel I need to share a bit from my past so that I am transparent here and so those who have a time frame ready in their mind regarding it, won't need to comment. Not just a year ago, I too wore clothes that revealed cleavage and made sure that I wore the "perfect" bra so that they were presented well.  And even before then, I made choices in my life that I know did not win people to Christ.  In fact, I'm sure I kept some from even seeing Him in...

How do we forgive someone who has wronged us or hurt someone we love? How can we forgive when we don't feel forgiveness. Carrie ten Boom, survivor of a women's Nazi concentration camp, wrote, " Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature if the heart." For every Christian, forgiveness is a choice, in order to fully receive God's forgiveness we must willingly extend forgiveness to others. Though an act of her will. Corrie forgave her persecutors and her sister's murderers.  Jesus forgave humankind of even more.  How can we do less? ~(From  "The Bible Promise Book for Women) For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew  6:14 , 15 KJV) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath fo...

Do you remember the first time you heard, “ I f you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all; or even, if I hear you say that bad word again, I’m going to wash your mouth out with soap ; be nice!, stop being so rude! ”? As we get older, we see, we hear and we feel how powerful words truly can be.  Many times we learn of this by those who  we live with , the ones we are to look up to.  Many years go by and you become accustomed  t o that “way of life/lifestyle.”  It grows on us.  We conform to it.  We begin practicing those very things, those people told us not to.    Don’t forget, it isn’t just our words, it is the shows we watch, the activities we partake in, the choice of friends we have etc.    The reality of it is, is that we live what we learn.  And  these very people who make the choice to live this way and continue to follow their own way, but rebuke your children for their words, are fooling thems...

(I'm speaking to believers in Christ.) Do not listen to satans accusations of already forgiven sins. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. (Psalms 32:7 KJV) Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. (Psalms 60:12 KJV) He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. (Psalms 62:6-8 KJV) It is satans goal, his desire to keep you from moving forward and closer to God.  He will keep throwing fiery darts at you, reminding you of your past and make you feel like a horrible person who is unworthy of being utilized by/for Our Lord.  If you are sick and tired of feeling less than or for feeling like you're paying f...

There are many times that I find myself out of commission on my couch, thinking of and having a lil' bit of envy creep in...knowing that most of my friends and family are free to enjoy life.  How they can run, play ball or simply just wrestle with their children.  And hearing my husband and children talking, saying how they wish this or wish that, but because mom is hurting...it's definitely heartbreaking!  My favorite season is approaching fast.  I am so far behind on all the plans and time frames I had made for this upcoming holiday season. Isn't it funny how the words: I, me & my can take on a selfish root.  A root that stays focused on one thing, itself.  Growing, maintaining and feeding it. Did you also notice, I said "can" take root. It's no secret I've been dealing with the problems of my physical body, especially since the injury in March.  But my weight...that's been all my life. This sinful world has a way of captiv...

It has been an eventful week!  Last Wednesday night I completed my Discipleship Class.  I believe God revealed to me many life lessons that night. I was quite emotional and my heart was and continues to be heavy.  I've always carried the burdens of those I love.  Over the years it takes its toll on your body and the condition of your heart. So, I was excited to see all that God has accomplished within my own heart upon completion of that class. We arrive home from church, its late, but as usual, everyone is hungry.  Alec and I were sitting here on the couch, Alexis was wondering about and Jace was in the kitchen munching .  Then I heard the sound that has torn my heart out many, too many times before, coming from my kitchen.  It's the Love of My Life.  He's choking. (I'm reliving this as I write this...it's heartbreaking and scary!!) I fly off the couch to him; his eyes were wide open, he was looking at me as if I was his only hope. This all happe...