In the Daily News Record, here in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley there has been many Letters To The Editor about God, creation, belief in God, etc. You can go online and post your comments. And quite frankly there's just been too much of the letters and comments.
As a Christian, I don't have to and will not agree with everyone. I am going to take the "Road less traveled". I read online all the time how you can't force someone to believe in the same thing as someone else does. You're absolutely correct. I can't force you to believe God is our Creator, I can't force you to believe you're only way to Heaven is being saved through the blood of Jesus Christ our Savior. I can't force you to go to a great Bible believing church and participate in different church activities. I really can't force you to do anything.
A few months ago my Pastor had a sermon about "Empty Christianity". My Pastor is very to the point, no tip toeing around the point. He doesn't make everything sound all nice and gooey. He speaks the truth as it does in the Bible. But here's some points to his sermon (from my notes). In I Corinthians 15:14-21, it describes an "empty Christianity". You basically have no hope, no message, no salvation, every ministry offered is empty, every belief we have is empty, we are false witness, we are fools and our faith is wasted. If Jesus wouldn't have died on the cross for us and rose again...we would have an empty Christianity. BUT He did do all that. So we don't have to play the "what if" game. By the way my daughter loves that game. :)
Jesus did do all that. So instead of no hope...we have hope. In I Corinthians 15:58, we are given hope. We can put our faith into accurate scripture, we can proclaim the Gospel and we can have hope in Christianity.
No, I can't force you to do anything, I can't force you to change your views about God.
But I can and will plant that seed. I will witness to you, I will pray for you and pray God softens your heart. I will pray for your salvation.
Romans 10:13 For whosever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Canning Tomatoes.....
My daughter and I did our tomato canning today. I love canning and it's special because I'm teaching my daughter something that will be passed down to her daughters and granddaugthers, etc. Just as my family did. And sometimes one of my nieces helps, but she didn't get to this time.
As we were going through the tomatoes, she threw a few out that looked horrible on the outside. So I picked one up, cut it open and showed her that the inside was perfect. So of course I found this to be a perfect lesson on how to treat others.
Not all people are absolutely beautiful and perfect looking. And even those perfect looking people have flaws. But some people will not have anything to do with "ugly" people. Those people might not be so flattering and beautiful on the outside, but if you get to know that person....their inside is absolutely beautiful. They might be the nicest person you'll ever meet in your life and you will miss out on a special friendship. Because you didn't look on the inside. Just as my daughter may have missed a great tomato because she didn't look on the inside.
As we were going through the tomatoes, she threw a few out that looked horrible on the outside. So I picked one up, cut it open and showed her that the inside was perfect. So of course I found this to be a perfect lesson on how to treat others.
Not all people are absolutely beautiful and perfect looking. And even those perfect looking people have flaws. But some people will not have anything to do with "ugly" people. Those people might not be so flattering and beautiful on the outside, but if you get to know that person....their inside is absolutely beautiful. They might be the nicest person you'll ever meet in your life and you will miss out on a special friendship. Because you didn't look on the inside. Just as my daughter may have missed a great tomato because she didn't look on the inside.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Kindness.....
We live in the Land of the free, because of the Brave! Remember our Troops of Yesterday and Today !
Kindness is the language the blind can see and the deaf can hear.
- Mark Twain
A great example of why we should be kind and patient.
*taken from an email I received
Kindness is the language the blind can see and the deaf can hear.
- Mark Twain
A great example of why we should be kind and patient.
*taken from an email I received
Thursday, July 24, 2008
What's In A Name?
All of us have several names. I'm not just talking about our first, middle and last names...I'm talking about our other names. Like Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt, Uncle, etc. but you get the idea. And in today's world, we even have online names. One of mine is farmerswifederbymom. How does each name define us? I'm Mom the overprotective Lion, I'm also called the "mean" Mom sometimes, LOL. I'm the "cool" Aunt, and wife. I'm Sunday School teacher, Youth Director and my names go on. So do we bend to be the person that name defines? Or does all those titles fit under one person? I think sometimes we do bend to be one person or the other. Sometimes we cant be all those people. Sure maybe I am all those people all of the time. But when I'm with my kids...I just want to be "Mom".
It's kind of like when people say when they go home, they want to seperate their work from their home and personal life. When I'm with my husband, spending quiet time with him...I just want to be his wife.When a person is defined by their title or name, much of the time that title is well deserved. My Pastor said we can call him by his first name, last name or Pastor. He said whatever we're comfortable with. But I call him Pastor, because I feel that title is well earned and deserved. I call my Mom...."Mom" because she has definately earned that title, LOL.
So again I ask....do we bend to be the person that name defines? Or does all those titles fit under one person? I personally think it's different for each person.
It's kind of like when people say when they go home, they want to seperate their work from their home and personal life. When I'm with my husband, spending quiet time with him...I just want to be his wife.When a person is defined by their title or name, much of the time that title is well deserved. My Pastor said we can call him by his first name, last name or Pastor. He said whatever we're comfortable with. But I call him Pastor, because I feel that title is well earned and deserved. I call my Mom...."Mom" because she has definately earned that title, LOL.
So again I ask....do we bend to be the person that name defines? Or does all those titles fit under one person? I personally think it's different for each person.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Growing Too Fast
It struck me today, that my kids are growing too fast. My son turned 15 in June and my daughter will turn 8 on Monday. I don't feel old, because of their ages and how fast they're growing. I just feel panicked. Think about this, in December my son will get his learners license. Soon after that he'll have his driver's license.
My son has always hung around with his friends, but they are always here and still are. And I love having all the kids here because I know they're safe and what they're up to. But now they're starting to go to the mall, ball games and to lawn parties by themselves (without me). We're a very close family and I think that's why it's so hard on me. Now when my son asks if he can go somewhere with his friends, in my heart I want to say "no, stay home with me", but realistically I have to let him go and grow. We pray that our kids do good in life, grow healthy and strong, stay safe. And most important keep God in their lives even when they grow up, move out and have families of their own.
We let our kids grow, instruct them and nourish them....but we also give them their wings. Like my parents, especially my Mom. They were over protective but they gave us wings. They still keep us close to their hearts and under their wings.
My kids are everything to me. I pray they grow up to be good Godly young adults. But most of all, I pray God gives me the grace to help me, "let" them grow up. Hug your kids and tell them how much you love them. Before you know it....they'll be on their own!
My son has always hung around with his friends, but they are always here and still are. And I love having all the kids here because I know they're safe and what they're up to. But now they're starting to go to the mall, ball games and to lawn parties by themselves (without me). We're a very close family and I think that's why it's so hard on me. Now when my son asks if he can go somewhere with his friends, in my heart I want to say "no, stay home with me", but realistically I have to let him go and grow. We pray that our kids do good in life, grow healthy and strong, stay safe. And most important keep God in their lives even when they grow up, move out and have families of their own.
We let our kids grow, instruct them and nourish them....but we also give them their wings. Like my parents, especially my Mom. They were over protective but they gave us wings. They still keep us close to their hearts and under their wings.
My kids are everything to me. I pray they grow up to be good Godly young adults. But most of all, I pray God gives me the grace to help me, "let" them grow up. Hug your kids and tell them how much you love them. Before you know it....they'll be on their own!
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