Friday, August 20, 2010

Happy Birthday to two!

This week we are celebrating... the lives of two our our children!
Happy Birthday !!
As you both continue to grow each day, learning and living... and bringing joy to each day, I consider it a huge privilege to be your mother!

Little man, we all love you so. You are an energetic bundle of cuteness! Those days battling for life in the beginning were so hard and we didn't even yet know all the fun and excitement you would bring to our lives. I am so thankful for you. You light up our lives.
As you grow up, may you continue to grow in the Lord and have a life honoring Him!



Now, my sweet daughter. Happy Birthday to you! You are such a blessing too! I love how you are so insightful and able and helping out comes so easy to you! You are smart and thoughtful and beautiful. We all love you very much and are glad God blessed our family with you!! May you continue to grow in God's love too and always seek Him in life! Watching you grow into a lovely young lady encourages my heart, knowing you are living a life pleasing to the One who created you!

Happy Birthday to you both!
As your parents, your daddy and I both are thankful that we are here to pray with you --and for you; to love, to train, and to walk with you as God's plan unfolds in your lives!
We thank God for you!
We love you!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Hydrangeas

Questions in the Bible


Questions in the Bible
Serman Notes Speaker: Steve Hulshizer (8/15/10)

How we answer life’s questions has a great deal to do with what our lives will be like!

The Bible is filled with questions…… and ANSWERS!

It has the answers to life yet too many don’t go to the Bible for the answers.

Some of the questions few find in the Bible:

Question: At the Fall…

A question asked by Satan:

Genesis 3:1 “ Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God made. And he said to the woman “Has God indeed said, “You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (by asking this, he is undermining the word of God. The serpent (Satan) is trying to get her to the rethink what God clearly said.)

They (Adam and Eve) had the wrong answer.

Because of their wrong answer:

Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.”

Romans 5:19 “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”

Not all men commit all sins and man’s sins are at different levels of severity but…We are ALL sinners.

Genesis 3:9 “The Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where art thou?”

God knew. God didn’t ask because he didn’t know where Adam was- but asked to say…We used to be close (now a distance created by sin.)

Genesis 3:10: So Adam said “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked and hid myself.

…that too was new- Adam was fearful. A fear was created.

With wrongdoing, we also have a conscience (we sense wrong)…and that is because there are consequences.

Later in the Bible, Isaac asked…

Genesis 22:7 Isaac spoke to his father (Abraham) and asked, ……!”…Where is the lamb for a burnt offering? “

Abraham didn’t question God.

Abraham answered…Genesis 22:8 "My son, God will provide for Himself a lamb for burnt offering."

John 1:29 “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.”

New Testament Lamb = Jesus

We are not redeemed with silver and gold. We are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ.

If we don’t know the Lamb of God personally – we are still under the judgment state- we don’t have the closeness. We should be afraid. Hell is real!

To get freed from the judgment we must accept the Lamb of God.

When God asks a question- it is important!

Read Psalm 22: 1-8. The question asked in this passage is in

Vs. 1 (cry) My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Answer (vs. 3) … because you are holy.

Why? 2 Corinthians 5:21 He hath made Him to be sin for us- a perfect lamb (holy)

As the sacrificed lamb- he took on ALL the filth of our sin!

The wrath of God- for all sin- fell on the perfect man to bear it FOR us!

He knew no sin- yet bore ALL ours.

Question: How can man be righteous (just) before God? (Job 9:2)

How can man get back to the original closeness? The Word of God (The Bible) has the answers. God has made it possible that sinners can be made right in His sight.

BY FAITH!

Romans 3:28: “Therefore we conclude that man I justified by faith apart from te deeds of the law.”

Romans: 5:1: “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Galatians 3:11: “But no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”

Philippians 3:9-10: “be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed by His death.

We can NOT work ourselves back into right standing by our works! - it’s ONLY by our faith in the Lord Jesus!

Believers are in the sight of God (made “right” with God)

Grace is a gift- you can’t EARN it! You can’t pay God for it! You must just believe and receive it!

Question: (asked by jailer- desperate man facing death) What must I do to be saved? (Acts 16:30) Was in stocks and chains (and they fell off)

Paul and Silas in answering DIDN’T give a long list to him of what he needed to do! …like Do the best you can. Be good. Save the earth. That would be a FALSE answer. (Yet some will give this answer)

Do? Just believe on the Lord Jesus Christ

Answer: Acts 16:31: “So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Summary: John 3:16




Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Just so I don't forget..those funny things they say (and do!)

Little children say the funniest things... I love when I am going about my work and one of them says something funny and innocent and it just makes me smile - or even laugh out loud.

Since I have a pretty bad memory, I want to record these things to always remember (and tell my grandkids some day! heehee)

This little sweetie is my youngest daughter, she is 4 years old
(Above photo taken by my oldest daughter)
Her most recent sayings are...
She likes to say "I'm seriously!" (instead of I am serious.)

She also started saying "Yes, sir" to me... so I say "no, I'm a girl so it should be Yes, ma'am." Then she says "Yes, man". (Ugh!) :)

In the beginning of the summer, while outside working, she was swinging with her 6 year old brother. I told them a few times to slow down that they were swinging too high. The last time I told them that if they didn't stop they'd have to get off because it is dangerous the way they are swinging.
So they go....... and return ....
My son thought - instead of slowing down, I could just put a helmet on my sister and continue swinging fast! ;) Clever but...NO!

But I can be rest assured because my youngest daughter (4 yrs.old) tells me today....
that SHE is NOT getting married until she is 10!
(Okay! then. I think I need to work on that with her!)