It's Spring Break Week!

I pray you are having a great week this week! 

My family is enjoying spring break this week - no school and also a week off for my husband.  We had a livestock show for the first few days, but now we're ready to tackle some "home improvement" projects and have some fun together.

I'm taking this week off from blogging, as well.  See you next week!

What Am I Doing?

Yesterday, as I was driving down the highway, this scripture came to mind:

If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

I began to question in my mind, "In what way am I denying myself that will cause me to walk more closely with Jesus today?"  What about you?  In what way are you denying yourself that will cause you to walk more closely with Him?

From time to time, I believe that it's good to closely examine our lives and make sure we are using our time wisely - in order that we may have time to spend getting closer to God and more closely walking with Jesus.  It may mean having to give something up in order to have this time.  Maybe I will have to get up earlier (yuck!) or stay up later.  Maybe I won't stay on the computer as long.  Maybe some of you would have to give up other forms of entertainment (TV, games, shopping, hobbies) or other self-indulgences.  But maybe it would be just getting more active in 'doing' for others....taking the time to help and serve.  Maybe it would be writing a note of encouragement or calling someone to check on them.

There are many, many ways we can deny ourselves.  The problem is that many times we just don't want to.  Our society says that life is all about "me", to do what feels good, to do what is best in my eyes and for me, and that is all that really matters.  It's totally against the norm to take "me" totally out of the picture.

But that's what Jesus did.  And so must I.  And so must you if you have committed your life to following Him.  He commands that from His followers.  As Christians, we are Christ's followers!

It's a simple plan:  Pray to God.  Read His Word.  Meditate on His Word.  Keep a thankful and grateful heart.  Strive to be more like Jesus every day.  Simple?  Yes! 

Little by little, with each passing day, by following this simple, yet profound, plan, we will find ourselves denying our selves and our selfish desires, but walking more closely with Him each day.  The wonderful thing about it is that, by doing so, others will begin to see the light of Jesus more evident in our lives.  We'll be spreading His message more and more all of the time.

GOOD STUFF!

From time to time, I hear/read/see some really good "stuff" that I want to share with you.  This is one of those times!  I hope you'll take the time to listen to or read these things.  They will inspire you!

One note about any video links:  Be sure to scroll to the bottom of my blog home page if you are on there and "click" the little circle with two lines in it like an eleven.  That will turn off the playlist music so that you can hear the videos.

1.  After my Biscuit post yesterday, this was just so sweet of him after school yesterday.  I wanted to share it with you:

Sometimes it's hard to believe Tyler is only 10 years old. He's always thought a lot deeper than most people - even adults! This afternoon he came home upset because his teacher thought he rolled his eyes at her. He said he apologized immediately, but still felt badly about it. I consoled him and told him how much I appreciated his tender heart. And, of course reminded him to make sure he didn't roll his eyes. I figure he did it, but didn't realize it (I've seen that look myself!). Sweet boy who reminds us all if the time why Jesus said we should be more like children.

2.  I've never confessed this on my blog, but I'm not a huge Duck Dynasty fan. However, my three boys and husband like it.  The boys like it A LOT.  My daughter is on my side.  We're not rednecks! :).  But, I am very, very impressed with the way they share Jesus with others, and for that reason, I will post things about them in regards to them spreading the good news on Facebook and here from time to time.  On a side note, Jace Robertson was as OC (Oklahoma Christian) on Monday. He did chapel there.  I had experienced OC chapel myself, the Friday before....then Sunday at worship the President of OC sat in front of us and my brother/sister-in-law introduced my daughter and I to him and shook his hand.  Monday he stood in a pond on the OC campus with Jase, shaking his hand.  They're just down to earth Christian people.  No different than you and I - our modes of spreading the gospel and being shining lights are just in different areas.  Isn't that great to know?! God uses ALL of His children!

Here are the links for two of Phil Robertson's (the dad.....I'm sure he looks kind of like Abraham might have! :) sermons.  They're really worth watching and sharing: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KwrmlTPI8w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DApqTMJYGMU

3.  Another sweet video of a little girl telling all about Jesus!  It's seven minutes long, but the end is so cute....you'll want to watch :).  Notice her daddy, too!

http://www.dimewars.com/Video/This-Little-Girl-Was-PAYING-ATTENTION-AT-CHURCH--She-Sounds-Like-She-Gives-Mommy-A-Sermon-Every-Night.aspx?bcmediaid=45613c24-04c0-4869-a35c-f917d15d67f2

4.  And these great thoughts from a Facebook page called "Parents Raising Godly Children":

Your family will not get heaven on accident! The wordly influence is too strong. There must be deliberate action of training, discipline and love on our part as parents. Faith in Christ must be on purpose, lived out loud in front of the ones we love! We cannot let up or turn it over someone else to 

raise our children to be Spiritual Champions! So:

If you are tired, fight one more day!
If you feel defeated, get on your knees and turn it over to HIM!
If you are distracted, stop, pray and get focused on Jesus!
If you have been lazy, get back on track!
If you need strength, get into HIS BOOK - the Holy Word of God!
Stay in the fight and FINISH STRONG today!
Leave a Legacy!

4.  Finally, a blog post about why many churches aren't growing like they should be.  This is so very true and sad!  Please take the time to read this important message.

http://mattdabbs.wordpress.com/2013/03/11/churches-are-dying-because-christians-arent/

HAVE A GREAT WEDNESDAY, EVERYONE! 

The Chronicles of Biscuit - Part of the Plan

Note: The Chronicles of Biscuit - Stories about our youngest son, Tyler, whose nickname is Biscuit

Recently Biscuit got in trouble for having a bad attitude.  It was while we had company, so I had taken him into his room to talk to him and made him sit on his bed for a while before coming back in and joining the group.  While he was in there, he wrote a sweet letter - acknowledging his bad attitude and the fact that sin is in the lives of both sinners and forgiven sinners.  Here's his letter (his words and punctuation):

Dear church:

If possible I would like prayers from you. I've had problems with attitude towards my family & others. And ever time I hear what a wonderful plan it was to put Jesus on the cross I ask myself, "How could sin be part of the plan." They say that God is amazing but why did he know that sin was gonna come?

(And then his signature.)

What a sweet letter of repentance!  Biscuit knew as soon as I looked at him and asked him to go with me to his room that he was in trouble.  He knew why right then, because he knew how he had just talked to me was a BIG NO NO!  He especially knew that doing it in front of guests was even worse.  But Biscuit also is a Christian, so he knows of God's plan for forgiveness.

Each time one of our children has become a Christian, the first thing I've talked to them about was the fact that they still would do things wrong - that we all do.  I don't ever want them thinking that being a Christian means that one will never sin again.  Obviously that's not true. Only Jesus was totally sin-free!  But, I also made sure that they knew about recognizing sin and repenting of it - that God would forgive them.  The blood of Jesus continues to cleanse!  That is the plan!  God's wonderful plan!

So obviously Biscuit is having a hard time understanding all of the plan, and that's okay.  He's still young.  He is learning to recognize sin....learning to have a repentant heart....and learning about forgiveness.  Sometimes mature Christians even have trouble with that concept.  On this GRATITUESDAY, I am grateful for God's plan!

As I write this post this morning, my head is humming the tune and words to "Thomas Song".  It goes so well with Biscuit's thoughts.  I want to share it with you.  It's sung by Hallal - the group I have playing on my blog - along with The Zoe Group.  It has a beautiful message in the lyrics.

Join us for GRATITUESDAY at Heavenly Homemakers!

Thomas' Song

Ken Young

Verse 1
Jesus, You were all to me,
Why did You die on Calvary?
O Lamb of God I fail to see
How this could be part of the plan.

They say that You're alive again,
But I saw death and ev'ry sin
Reach out to claim their darkest win.
How could this be part of the plan?

Chorus 1
If I could only hold your hand,
And touch the scars
Where nails were driven.
I would need to feel Your side
Where holy flesh by spear was riven
Then I'd believe, only then I'd believe
Your cruel death was part of the heavenly plan.

Verse 2
Holy presence, holy face;
A vision filling time and space.
Your nearness makes my spirit race.
Could this be part of the plan.

I see the wounds that caused the cry,
From heaven, ocean, earth, and sky;
Where people watched their Savior die.
Could this be part of the plan?

Chorus 2
Reaching out to hold Your hand,
And touch the scars where nails were driven;
Coming near I feel Your side
Where holy flesh by spear was riven.
Now I believe. Jesus, now I believe.
Your cruel death was part of a heavenly plan.

Ending
I proudly say with blazon cry.
"You are my Lord and my God."

Copyright © 1993 Hallal! Music Exc., Dayspring Music, LLC, Toddler Tunes Music Exc.

The Aroma of......Onions?

My daughter and I were in Oklahoma City Friday, when we received this text from my husband:

Ate a burger with onion. Onions were strong they were strong on me. I couldn't figure out why it was so strong, even the secretary commented on how strong I smelled. Finally figured out I had dropped an onion down in my shirt pocket it had soaked through to my t-shirt.

We laughed and laughed!  What an unpleasant aroma!

How do you smell today?  What is your aroma?  Hopefully it's not onions!  But is your aroma just as yucky as onions - or is it sweet and pleasant?

Under the old covenant, the Lord required animal sacrifices in order to please Him.  The sacrifices burned on the altar were often described as "an aroma pleasing to the Lord".  But with Jesus dying on the cross, He was the final sacrifice.  God no longer needed an animal sacrifice from His children.  With the new covenant, God wanted and does want,  our aroma to be pleasing.  Our aroma should be the aroma of Christ.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?  Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

2 Corinthians 2:14-17

So, do you smell like Christ?  Are you spreading the aroma of the knowledge of Him?  When we smell like Christ, we will be following Him - walking in His footsteps (serving, loving, obeying).  We will be imitating Him in our own lives.  The aroma we leave behind will be, or should be, pleasant to all who are around us.....not the smell of onions!