God is in Control!

Once again God has shown me that only HE knows what is going to happen in my life. As soon as I think I know what is going on and have everything "figured out" (even when it seems to line up with the Bible and past experiences) God proves me wrong. I could get mad and tell God "I dont' want it to be this way!" or "Now I will look foolish because I acted like I had everything under control!" But I know there is no use in doing so. God is in control in my life and the easiest way to be happy is to let God have His way.

So I sit back and say, "Yep, I was wrong again," and enjoy the journey. I wonder what miraculous thing God will do next?

Sword Searcher

Several years ago a friend gave us a copy of a Bible software called Sword Searcher. We quickly learned to love this computer program! It is so easy to find the scripture you need in a flash just by typing in a word in the search or look it up by topic by using the Nave's Topical Bible. But the options don't stop there! You can also read Surgeon's and many other commentary's notes, look up a word in the 1828 Webster's Dictionary, see what words mean in Hebrew using the Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and even find an image or illustration to go with your study. Also included is Charles Surgeon's morning and evening devotions and Fox's Book of Martys. This is a great tool to help any Christian study the Word of God. I have to admit, there are a lot of negative things about today's technology, but this is definitely one of the benefits!

Happy Birthday?

Today has definitely been a Monday. In other words: busy! However, I don't think that is a very good excuse for forgetting a co-workers birthday. It was really bad of us too because we always celebrate each other's birthday on the day. But today we all forgot that the lady who brings us all together in harmony had a birthday. We all felt terrible!

So tomorrow we are going to try to make it up to her by bringing snacks and an ice-cream cake from DQ. Hopefully she will have a great belated birthday! Here's what I'm bringing:

Jennifer's Chicken Salad (I can't come up with a better name this late at night!)

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon of salt
2 cups chopped, cooked chicken meat
1/4 cup dill pickle

3 small green onions and chives

1/2 cup roasted peanuts (optional)

Mix all ingredients together in medium size bowl except for peanuts and chicken. Stir peanuts and chicken in last. Chill.

For more great recipes check out my mom's blog: Keeping it Simple.

Time is Slipping By

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

Last week when I read Psalms 90 this verse really stood out above the rest. For a while it seemed like life was going by so fast in all the excitement of going to college and working.

But now it's not the pace that is making me think (because my life has slowed down to a comfortable rate) but it's the fact that any day something could come into my life and speed things up. What am I doing now while I have the time to apply my mind to anything imaginable? Am I studying God's word enough? Are the fruits of the spirit growing in my life? Am I making a difference in the lives of those around me?

Time is slipping by . . . am I applying my heart unto wisdom?

Sorrow is Better Than Laughter

No one likes to go through hard times and heart ache. Some times I wish life could always be happy with no rough spots, but I'm not expecting that to happen until I go home to Heaven.

Another hard time has come to a family around us and those who care for them. I cannot imagine what it would be like to loose a little baby only 3 weeks old, and I don't ever want to experience it. Our pastor has been very compassionate and helpful during this time, not only to the family but to his church. Tonight he read several scriptures concerning sorrow and how we should take it. It all made so much sense yet I had never thought of it that way before.

"A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the
house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth." ~Ecclesiastes 7:1-4

"Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness." ~James 4:9

"He [Jesus] is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." ~Isaiah 53:3

It is not a bad thing to grieve. We are commanded to weep with those who weep, and rejoice with those who rejoice. But like I told the heartbroken mother tonight, we need to be thankful that we have God to help us bear our burdens. I can't imagine bearing them alone!

Peer Pressure

On a summer day in 2001 my first issue of Hope Chest Magazine came to my house. I didn’t subscribe right away which means that I’ve only had the pleasure of reading 7 issues, but those many articles helped shaped me into who I am today: a Christian writer and home maker in training. A few years later I became a fan of the Young Ladies Christian Fellowship and soaked up everything that came across my computer screen. I must say, there is no doubt in my mind that mama influenced my life (and still is) more than any magazine or blog I ever read, but there were times in my life, just like every other young person, when I would have much rather listened to someone my age then my mother. After all, they knew what I was going through better then my mom, right?

Although I never wrote any articles for either one of these popular Christian sources, I’ve always considered myself “one of them.” I am a firm believer in courtship, I believe women should look and act feminine, I strive to keep myself pure physically and emotionally, and I believe that to do these things well God must be at the forefront of my thoughts every day.

In a sense, this tight knit group of girls I looked up to had formed a peer pressure. When I stopped and considered what peer pressure is I realized there are many types of this social persuasion. Peer pressure is when some one or some group has a strong influence on those around them. There are good peer pressures, but the one more commonly talked about is bad peer pressures. But what about theses "good" influences? And are they good after all?

Preachers are #1

If you've been in church a long time you've probably seen it too. The preachers and deacons form a tight group of friendship not just with preachers from other churches, but sometimes within their own church if there are several. They always go out to eat together after church and sometimes hang out on the weekends. I've seen men be as close as brothers all because of their common love for Christ.

Strong friendships can be very good and pure. In fact the Bible teaches us how to be a friend and says to "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another." (Romans 12:10) But just like in almost every aspect of our life, we tend to take things to far or in different way then God intended. Sometimes these groups start out as good Godly fellowship but can easily become the popular "click" in the church and perhaps set on a high pedestal. Sadly, I've found myself wondering if certain preachers were called by God . . . or their peers.

Courtship Committed, Feminine Fassionist, Bible Believing Girl

Now lets go back to our first topic: us. Is it wrong to talk about and encourage other girls to believe in courtship and wear only dresses? Is it wrong to be friends with those who have the same convictions?

I hope and pray that God will allow me to court in a Godly setting under the protection of my parents because I believe that is the best thing for me. I realize that I will be tempted to sin but hopefully will be able to be spared from making that mistake because of my parents guidance. Yet at the same time I kind of understand what Miss Deb is talking about in her article, "Committed to . . . Whom?" Am I committed to courtship, or am I committed to letting God have his way in my life? Yes, it's good to court instead of date if you are able, but are you doing it because God wants you to, your parents are making you . . . or because it's the popular Christian thing to do? The same questions can be applied to how you dress and why you have a hope chest in your room.

Then I think of the other side of the matter. What if my family was lost and on their way to hell? Would they feel concerned enough about me to be compelled to make me court under their supervision? Most likely not! Girls, there are young women out their like this. These women may have a desire to meet a Christian man and start a relation ship God's way, but find it difficult because their parents wont support them. How do these girls feel when they are around us? Do they feel like they aren't good enough for us? Do they feel condemned for something they have no control over?

I'm afraid we put to much emphasis on courtship and wearing dresses. When you dig real deep into the matter you will find that the desire to pursue a relationship God's way and to dress to please God all stems from the heart. If our heart is right with God and we are continually seeking His will, He will show us what he wants us to do! My mother never read a single article or book on how to dress when God convicted her of wearing pants. He simply told her to dress for Him . . . and she did because she wanted to please God. We need to put more emphasis on keeping our hearts right with our Savior.

My point is this: Don't follow the Christian trends. Don't follow your church's ideas. Don't follow what you read on this blog. Follow CHRIST, and know why you are following Him and his commands!

Family Fun

The past few days we have been living in the great outdoors! We've hiked a mini canyon, viewed a large lake, walked through an 1850's town, visited Plains GA, and drove down many long country roads. After a few days of this everyone but daddy and Ryan were ready to come home. So the rest of us gladly drove home and left them behind to fish a little more. It is so good to be home!

TRUE Country Living

This will be our home for the next few days. I can't wait! Pictures to come . . .

An Old Scribble

Tonight while I was going through the notebook I used during college I came across some thoughts I had scribbled down in the moment of inspiration. I was probably planning on making a poem out of it but I don't know if it's worth the time. I'm not the best at writing poems. But the thoughts were pretty good! So here they are as they were written two years ago:

• If you think your life is hard - think of Job.
• If you think God can never forgive your sins -think of David.
• If you think you have nothing to give - think of the widow who have her only mite.
• If you think you are not able to do God's commandments - think of Moses.
• If you think you are being treated unjustly - think of Paul.