Blessed are you when men hate you......

I've been so blessed by the ministry of the radio program "Revive Our Hearts". I don't have the opportunity to listen to the program "live" on the radio, but I listen to it on their website:

www.reviveourhearts.com

Last week I was browsing around the website and I stumbled upon a series of talks called "Countercultural Woman". It was a long series of talks that Nancy Leigh DeMoss did back in February on Proverbs 31. For each 30 minute program she discussed each verse of Proverbs 31. I cannot express how blessed I have been by these programs. Proverbs 31 is one of my favorite passages of Scripture, and these talks have made it more "alive" and applicable to me than I ever thought possible. It has also been very convicting in many areas of my life. One of the most convicting, however, has been in the area of personal devotions and quiet time with the Lord each day. I have been very sporadic in this area. I've had all the good intentions in the world, but also all the excuses in the world for NOT spending time in prayer and Bible reading. I have renewed my commitment in this area, and am hoping with God's help to make this a regular daily practice.

In the past I have tried the "read the Bible in a year" schedules, and I've not been very successful. I really get "unmotivated" when I spend day after day reading Numbers and some of the other books of the Old Testament (minor prophets, etc.). It's not that those books aren't important, or that there isn't jewels of wisdom that can be gleaned from those passages....it's just that, well.... they're kind of boring. I hate to say that, but unless you are a theologian or a really smart history whiz....it's hard to get through those particular books of the Bible. So, I decided to start reading the book of Luke. In part, because it is the story of Jesus, and also because it is the book of the Bible that our former pastor encouraged Scott to read before Scott became a Christian. I've read Luke before, but it's been a long time since I've read it from beginning to end.

In my reading, there are a couple of verses that literally jumped off the page, and fits a situation that I am in, and has answered my questions and doubts about that situation. The passage is:

Luke 6:22-23
Blessed are you when men hate you,

when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy,
because great is your reward in heaven.
For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.

About a month ago, a couple of people (not Christians) whom I have known for a long time and thought of as friends said something very derogatory, untrue, and mean about me. I could not understand why. I have gone through all of the emotions of being hurt, sad, angry, disappointed, etc. I have searched my heart, and I know that I have done nothing to deserve this treatment. I have been praying for peace in this situation, and that someday these broken relationships will be mended. When I read Luke 6:22-23...it was like God was actually speaking to me through those verses. Those people actually verbalized those things....hate, excluding, insulting, and rejecting me. Then POW....realization struck....it's because they see Christ in me!! Christ in me makes them feel uncomfortable and convicted so they lash out. They insult my intelligence, they call me a hypocrite....all because what they really can't stand, is Christ.

John 3:19-21
"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

They love the darkness and hate the light.

John 6:23 says that I should rejoice and leap for joy because my reward will be great in heaven! It's hard to fathom rejoicing when someone mistreats you, but if they are mistreating me because when they look at me, they see Jesus...then what a blessing! I CAN rejoice!

I still feel sadness over the broken relationships. I feel hurt because words are so powerful and can be so destructive, and once spoken can never be taken back. I feel anger because I was wronged. But mostly I feel pity for them because they are so lost and will spend eternity in hell if God does not call them unto Himself.

Though it is hard, I will continue to pray for those people, and for continued peace in this situation.

Thank you God for your Word, for your promises in Scripture, and for your grace, mercy and peace in every situation.

ABCs of May...OK June now: Y and Z are for...

Y is for...

Yesterday.

Another poem from "Poems for Memorization"

Each Today

We cannot change yesterday--- that is quite clear,
Nor begin on tomorrow until it is here.
So all that remains is for you and for me,
To make each today as worthwhile as can be.

Author Unknown

I heard a saying once, "Today is tomorrow's yesterday."

Live today so that tomorrow you won't regret "yesterday."

Hebrews 13:8
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Z is for...

ZIPPIDY DO DAH!!

I am finally done with the ABCs!! It has taken me longer than I thought it would, but I am glad that I persevered through and completed it.

I have learned a lot from doing this. I have learned to blog or "journal" more often. I have learned that it is therapeutic to write your thoughts down. I think I will make it a point to do more journaling in the future.

Thank you to those who have commented on my posts, and to those who have continued to read my thoughts and opinions on things.

Hebrews 10:35-37
"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For in just a very little while,
He who is coming will come and will not delay."

ABCs of May?...OK June now: X is for...

X is for...

X-tremely X-cellent!

Okay, Okay I know those words don't actually start with X, but since I don't play the xylophone, and I haven't had an x-ray recently...you'll just have to cut me some slack! LOL

Today I pick some eXtremely eXcellent strawberries from my mom's patch! They are totally organic and totally AWESOME! Who says you have to soak produce in chemicals and insecticides in order to get wonderful fruit?!?






























Some of them were the size of golf balls!!















YYYYUUUUUUMMMMMM!!!!!
So, naturally...I made Strawberry Shortcake for dessert!
Homemade whole wheat shortcake topped with freshly picked, homegrown, organic strawberries, followed by a dollop of organic vanilla soy ice cream!! What could be better?!?

James 1:17 & 18
17.Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

ABCs of May?...OK June now: W is for....

W is for...

Wilt Thou Follow Me?

"Wilt thou follow Me?"
The Saviour asked.
The road looked bright and fair;
And filled with youthful hope and zeal
I answered, "Anywhere."

"Wilt thou follow Me?"
Again He asked.
The road looked dim ahead;
But I gave one glance at His glowing face:
"To the end, dear Lord," I said.

"Wilt thou follow Me?"
I almost blanched,
For the road was rough and new.
But I felt the grip of His steady hand
And it thrilled me through and through.

"Still followest thou?"
'Twas a tender tone,
And it thrilled my inmost heart.
I answered not, but He drew me close,
And I knew we would never part.

Author Unknown

A couple of years ago, I bought a book at a homeschool curriculum fair called "Poems For Memorization", I have had the kids memorize a few poems out of this book...not as many as I would like, but I still plan to have them work on it throughout their school days. This poem was in the book.

This poem touched my heart in numerous ways. It is about the heavenly Father begin with His children and never leaving them, no matter how rough the road of life becomes. There is so much comfort knowing that.


W is also for....

Waking up.

Every morning I wake up to the sounds of my birds singing, sometimes I feel like I live in a jungle! LOL

Their aviary light is on a timer and it automatically shuts off at night and turns on in the morning. I don't even need an alarm clock, my birds are my alarm clock.

Even though the aviaries are down in the basement, its surprising how loud 12 parakeets and 6 finches can be! They are especially loud first thing in the morning. It's like the wild birds outside when the sun rises. It's as if they are telling each other "Good morning! How did you sleep?" Sometimes, when I am really not ready to wake up, I wish they would keep their greetings down to a whisper!

Plus there is the jockeying for position, and the "pecking order" comes into play. It's as though they each have their favorite perch, and if someone "lower" in the pecking order sits on someone elses perch...boy does the chatter start!! It is so funny to watch them!

I have learned, by the sounds they make, if they are happy, mad, or scared. I think every species has their own language. If a human happens to own an animal as a pet, I think they should take the time to learn their language. It not only makes for a happier pet, it's really interesting as well!

Deuteronomy 31:6
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

ABCs of May?...OK June now: V is for...

V is for....

Vacation!

Right now, the kids are on "Summer Vacation". It is a vacation from our regular schedule, and a vacation from ordinary school work.

This week, we aren't doing anything school related. It is a total break from all state mandated learning. They are LOVING it!

Next week, we are going to start our summer curriculum. It consists of:
1. Doing something Math related every day.
2. Reading some good books.
3. Doing a Lapbook project on "The Chronicles of Narnia". We are starting with what is actually the last book in the series, but the first book chronologically.."The Magician's Nephew".

We aren't planning any big family vacations, as we have no money...but we are going to go camping at least twice this summer.

In a couple of weeks we are going to go to Mounds State Park for a few days. The kids studied Indiana History this past year, and a big part of our history is the mounds that the Indians built hundreds of years ago. Historians don't really know why the Indians built these mounds, but there are several of them at Mounds State Park (hence the name). It will be a great time of swimming, hiking, staying up late around the campfire, smore's, cooking out, bike rides, etc. It will also be educational and will help reinforce what they learned in Indiana History class.

Then, sometime the beginning of August, we are hoping to go to Springfield, IL with our camping buddies, the Feece family. This trip will depend on finances and whether or not I am working by then. If we go, we will be staying in one of the State Parks near Springfield, and as a day trip, we will go into Springfield and visit the Lincoln Museum. I'm really hoping we can go on this trip. I've been wanting to visit that museum for several years, and it will also be the only chance we have to go camping with the Feece's this year.

I am SO looking forward to these 2 trips.....I really need a vacation! LOL

Psalm 62:1 & 2
My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

ABCs of May?..Ok June now: U is for....

U is for....

Unbelievable.

*Okay...firstly...I was unable to finish the alphabet in May, but as I am not a quitter...I will finish the alphabet in June!!

Now, back to unbelievable....

I am continually amazed at the unbelievable grace and mercy of God. I had a situation this past week that was meant for evil, but God in his awesomeness turned it into good.

I have been under a lot of stress. Things just seemed to continue to mount on my shoulders. I felt the burden of school, of my looming final exam, and the possibility that I would not be able to complete the course before my year ends.

I also had the added stress of the kids final week of homeschool and getting all of those ends tied up.

Plus the thoughts of my husband coming up on a year of being unemployed, and the financial implications of that.

I was dwelling on the "what SHOULD be's" and I lost sight of the FACTS of God's abundant provision. I kept thinking about all the plans that we had made for the next few years, and how those plans are on hold.

In other words....I was very depressed! It was the most depressed I have ever been....verging on hopelessness and despair.

Then, in the midst of my literal dark cloud that was around me, I had a situation where a couple of people tried to cause strife in my marriage.

When I thought I could not take ANOTHER THING....God rescued me!

*I had a talk with my husband about school, and he told me to look into getting an extension so that I can have another month or two and I won't feel so pressured about my deadline.
*The kids final week of school could not have gone smoother.
*God continues to supply our needs...and I was able to pay the bills. Though Scott is out of work, our bills are not behind, and we have plenty to eat.
*I was able to talk with my really good friend and sister in Christ, who helped me to see that this short "diversion" from our plans for the future is just that a diversion, and this difficult time in our life will not last forever.
*And the plan of those to cause Scott and I to become torn apart backfired, and we are closer now than we have ever been. Our marriage is stronger, and our love for each other greater than ever before.

I am so thankful for a God who in my weakness, He is strong. That He continues to uphold me when I can't uphold myself, and He will use what is meant for evil and to hurt and will turn it into good.

Matthew 19:4-6
"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator `made them male and female,' 5 and said, `For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh' ? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."