faith

Bibles – What Do You Think? Are Hard Copies Obsolete?

May 9, 2019 7 Comments

I love reading the Bible. It gives me strength and reading God’s Word brings me peace, too.

I have always brought my Bible with me to church. Everyone in our congregation did. But lately more and more people are coming without one. The key scriptures from the sermon are shared on a big screen and many people read the Bible on their cell phones in church.

Hey, times change so why does this bother me? Maybe it is more a concern for the younger generation. They are so used to doing everything on their phones. It is an essential part of their lives. Their faces are looking into a screen much of their waking hours. So, taking it to the extreme, what would the world be like if everyone only read the Bible online? So, let me share my thoughts and I would love to hear what you think.

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What If We ONLY Read The Bible Online?

PROS

A cell phone is lightweight and compact and Bibles are bulky to carry. A phone is much easier to take with you.
Believe it or not, sometimes people forget and LEAVE their Bible at church [ you should see our lost and found!] It is less likely that you will leave your cell phone there.
When the minister gives you a scripture reference, instead of floundering around to find it in a hand-held Bible you can just do a quick search online and there it will be!

CONS

People who no longer use a “real” Bible will need one if the internet is down. Outages don’t usually last long but many of us have experienced days or even weeks of no internet service. Personally, I want my Bible within reach, especially in times of trouble! Even if I don’t use it like I do on a phone, I want to have a Bible nearby.
Bible study is the way we grow in our faith. Opening your Bible up and flipping back and forth to different passages is so much easier with a hard copy.
For study, many of us like to use more than one version of the Bible. We lay them out on our desk or kitchen table to compare and contrast. At length, this is almost impossible on a cell phone.
If you do not know where the 66 books of the Bible are, you can purchase a set of index tabs and install them for easy reference. Eventually, as you read the Bible more and more, you will know how to find them.
If people rely on digital copies of the Bible exclusively, there is a danger that, over time, the truth of the Word could be tampered with. It is all too easy to change words here or there if it is only read online. I hate the thought that anyone would ever do that but how would anyone know that it isn’t the TRUE Word of God if no one ever uses paper copies?

So, what you do you do? Please let us know in the comments if you read the Bible and, if you do, what method do you prefer?

What do you prefer to use when you read the Bible? A hand-held hard copy or do you like to read it online? #faith #Bible Click To Tweet

By the way, I do love the many Bible reference websites like Bible Hub and Biblegateway. They are handy tools with many great features, such as audio readings. But in my opinion, nothing can replace reading a hand-held Bible of your own!

Blessings!

Teaching Your Children To Believe God

April 18, 2019 Leave a Comment

As parents, there are so many things that we want to instill in our children. We want them to become people of good character, successful in life and happy.

In addition to that, one of my greatest desires was that my children would know and trust God.

Are you wishing you could do this but have no idea where to start? This is for you => How To Find Peace With God

The Lord was always a part of our daily conversation. One day, when my son Josh was just a little boy, I was encouraging him about the Lord’s faithfulness. I explained to him that giving is an important part of being a Christian.

I taught him that “seed-time and harvest” were the rhythm of life and God’s design. You sow a seed, water it and plants grow. We talked about what tithing is – sowing 1/10th of your increase as seed – and that God promises to respond to faithful tithing by “opening the windows of heaven and pouring us out a blessing we cannot contain.” God actually invites us to TEST Him in this to prove that it is true. [Malachi 3:6-12] So we did.

Josh put his little tithe in an offering envelop,. We prayed and he brought it to church with him, giving it in faith.

Of course, as his mom, I couldn’t help but feel a little nervous that the results might be difficult to detect, at first, or take a really long time. I am very accustomed to getting answers to my prayers but some of them have taken a while before the answer arrived.

So, I asked the Lord to please train my son by giving him visible results from his first tithe QUICKLY. And, oh how He did – three times over!

Read how this little boy learned to believe God and received 3 miracles to boost his faith! #faith #kids Click To Tweet

The Three Awesome Blessings From Josh’s First Tithe

These three proofs that tithing works came for Josh in a very short period of time – I think it was less than a week! I call the unfolding blessing “the fish, the baseball and the robot.”

FISH

BASEBALL

ROBOT

Photo Source

The FISH: Josh and I had been going to a nearby canal to fish all summer long. Each time we got a nibble or two but caught no fish. The fishing expeditions before our “tithe test” were very unsuccessful. It was getting discouraging.

Oh, we tried different bait, asked other fishermen what they were doing and we fished quietly – patiently. Others were catching fish in the same area – we saw it all the time – but, personally, we caught nothing. That is, until after the first tithe.

At first, that fishing trip looked just the same. Nothing was going on. But, a short while into it, we saw stirrings on the top of the water right around Josh’s fishing line. The stirrings then became splashes. The line tugged and “Hallelujah!” Josh caught his first fish- a beautiful little sunfish! It was fabulous! We put the fish in a bucket of water so that we could admire him for a while.

But that was not the end. The stirrings started again and, ANOTHER fish was hooked. It was as if those fish were in competition to be the next “Josh Catch!” He caught 7 fabulous little fish that day and our hearts soared. We thanked the Lord as we set them free. It was such a wonderful day. We knew that God had honored the tithe with those fish. What a blessing!

Photo Source

The BASEBALL: Soon after that wonderful fishing event, my husband and I took Josh to a pro baseball game. He brought his baseball mitt and declared that he was going to catch a ball. Now, we didn’t want to crush his spirit but we did prepare him that many times no one catches a ball. He still insisted that this was going to be his day.

We had a great time watching the game, cheering for the home-team. Two or three balls were hit out of the park. One went into the stands, far far away from where we were sitting, and the other two went into the parking lot. The sun went down, the game ended, and no fans caught a ball.

As we were leaving the stadium, on our way to the cars, a man came out of nowhere. He was wearing a team baseball cap and matching windbreaker jacket and he had his hand in his pocket. He stopped Josh and, smiling, said “Here, son, this is for you” handing him a baseball. Then the man disappeared back into the crowd of departing fans. I almost cried; we all knew it was from God. Do you think that guy was an angel? We do!

Photo: Pixabay

The ROBOT – Josh has always loved robots but he never had one of his very own. The really good ones were expensive toys and not in our budget, that was for sure.

Well, the Lord dazzled us once more with His faithfulness. One day Josh and I had been out in the car. When we returned home, there was a big anonymous surprise on the doorstep – a real robot! Josh went crazy with delight, examining it and telling me just how awesome it really was. (Moms don’t always get robot-stuff!)

It took a few days for us to find out that a neighbor had been going through her son’s things and when she saw the robot she thought of Josh. “Josh would love this,” she thought. Her son had long lost interest and she felt it was a shame for such a good toy to go to waste. Josh LOVED it and he will never forget how it showed up in such wonderful way.

Needless to say, the Lord made a real impression on that little boy of ours and his story has encouraged so many who hear it. Many wonderful answers to prayer have come and gone since then. But the fish, the baseball and the robot are the best ever.

Blessings

Want to know Jesus as your personal Savior?

Do it today! How?=>The Prayer

Weather Dreary? Get Ready For Rainy Day Activities

July 7, 2018 1 Comment

Summer is here! So you are all stocked up on sunscreen, have the sunglasses and sandals ready, and the grill is just screaming for you to cook up some barbecue but then, ugh, it rains. Though sunny summer days are always the hope, the weather can let us down. But do not despair. There are still a variety of fun activities your family can enjoy. Get ready for rainy day activities!

Rain or Shine Dining

One thing that the family can do no matter what the weather is to enjoy a delicious meal together. Making food together as a family is a great indoor activity and the kids will love it all the more since they had a hand in making it. Assemble some yummy sandwiches and pack your favorite snacks into a basket. Lay a blanket down in the living room for a fun and unique indoor picnic!

Kids and adults like satisfying that sweet tooth so why not make some cookies? Cut them into fun shapes and let the kids decorate them with whatever frostings and sprinkles they like!

And though it may be raining cats and dogs outside, it is still likely to be warm enough that the kids will be screaming for ice cream (and July is National Ice Cream Month – it must be celebrated!) Homemade Ice Cream in a bag is a simple and fun treat that will make the kids feel like little kitchen-chemists!

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Bust a Move

A fun way to spend time together on a rainy day is to break out the tunes! Move furniture to clear out some space for an indoor dance party. Your kids will love it! If it’s nighttime, turn down the lights and plug in some black lights or strobe lights to really set the dancing mood! If you have a karaoke machine, take turns singing karaoke songs and laugh at each other while trying to be the next star of the house! No karaoke machine? YouTube has a lot of karaoke versions of your favorite songs. With a little searching you still can make a fun karaoke night at no cost!

Summer fun does not have to end just because it is raining! Here are some fun rainy day activities to do with your #kids #familyfun Click To Tweet

Lights, Camera, Action!

Getting together as a family to enjoy a movie or tv show is a great thing to do on a rainy day and the more you make it into a big event, the more fun it will be! Make it a themed movie night. Pick a theme that goes along with a great family-friendly movie. Now, decorate the living room according to that theme and make fun craft that goes along with it . Some great crafts for movie night could be “ticket stubs” from index cards or decorating bags for your popcorn!

Speaking of popcorn, no movie night is complete without a go-to snack. To really shake things up, prepare a variety of fixings and toppings such as flavored seasonings or chocolate drizzle for a real sweet and salty treat!

When choosing what to watch, either break out a classic off the shelf or stream some of your favorite content online. If you are looking for clean content without the need to pre-screen what you are going to watch, Pure Flix offers faithful, inspirational Christian movie and TV options here. They also have a selection of wholesome shows, comedy specials, animated features, educational content and more.

Indoor Camping

Summer and camping go hand in hand but the rain can put a damper on that as well. A fun alternative to camping outside is to set up an indoor camping night with the kids! Pop the tent indoors, set up flameless candles to give the room a campfire glow, and stick glow in the dark stars on the ceiling to bring the summer nighttime atmosphere indoors. If you want to really go all out with setting the stage, move potted plants around your camping space and place some stuffed animals around the room.

Put away the phones and tablets and sit in a circle telling stories as if you were sitting outside in the great outdoors. Play board games and card games under the relaxing sound of the rain outside the window. Of course, camping would be incomplete without some tasty s’mores so be sure to enjoy this camping staple on your rainy camping night! When the fun comes to an end, the kids can get into their sleeping bags and hopefully they awake to a sunny morning to come.

No one looks forward to a gloomy day of rain but family activities such as these can make those days fun and memorable for the whole family!

Do you have any rainy day activities that your family loves?

Enjoy!

Easter Is All About Heaven and Hell

April 1, 2018 Leave a Comment

The news was a buzz about hell this week. Interesting that the question should come up just as much of the world was preparing to celebrate Easter. Bunnies and colored eggs aside, Easter has always been about heaven and hell. The end of the story being, Jesus is alive and because of Jesus, we win!

So what was in the news? It was reported that the Pope had said that there is no hell and that those who died in sin would simply disappear. Sorry but that opinion simply is not true. Jesus taught that there is both a heaven and a hell and that is the end of the story.

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The question about where we go when we die has probably been here since the fall of man (and woman, for those who like to split hairs over an issue.) All humans fell at the fall of man. From there on out, we were all born in sin and destined for hell. {see Romans 3:23)

Whether the Pope actually said it or not, that belief is not new. The Jewish leaders of old were split on their opinion of where we go when we die. The Pharisees held to the heaven and hell scenario. The Sadducees* believed that when a person died, that was it. Nothing. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. You have now been erased.

*There was a little evangelical joke that used to be told to help Bible students remember which sect believed which doctrine. They said that the Sadducees’ belief was why they were “sad, you see.” That would be sad, wouldn’t it? But something inside of all of us says that we can’t be that insignificant. Our hearts cry out, “there must be something more.” And there is.

There would have been no good reason for Jesus to come and die that horrendous, beyond-painful death on the cross if our final outcome was, at worst, to simply no longer exist. Of course, the Lord loves us and wants us to live with Him in heaven but the price that Jesus paid was so huge, there had to be a bigger reason.

That reason was to pay for our sins so we would not have to do it ourselves. The price that a person pays when they die in sin is that they go to hell forever. No bargaining our way out and no do-overs. The fact is that no one (except for Jesus Himself) can ever be “good” enough to pay for our sins and get us out of the penalty of hell.

But God loved us all so much that He sent His perfect Son, Jesus, to die on our behalf for our sins. That way, if we choose to believe in Him, we will be forgiven and will live with Him forever in heaven. (see John 3:16)

So hell is real? Jesus is the only authority on this topic.

Jesus said:

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (see Matthew 10:28). Sounds like there is a hell to me.

And further on in Matthew, hell is described by the Lord as a place of “outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (see Matthew 25:30).

Now, I am no theologian. I am just a Christian mom and a blogger. Billy Graham, on the other hand, was a Bible expert and his explanation, “Hell Is Real But God Doesn’t Want You To Have To Go There” says it so much better than I. For those who prefer video, here is a 4 minute clip of Billy Graham explaining it in simple terms.

So, thank God for Jesus. Thank God that Jesus died and then rose from the dead. He is risen and we don’t have to go to hell. We can live with Him in heaven someday.

Four simple steps to finding Peace With God [Billy Graham ministries]

Easter is all about heaven and hell! #faith #Christianity #HappyEaster Click To Tweet

Happy Easter!

Why Saying “Merry Christmas” Is So Special To Me

December 23, 2017 Leave a Comment

“Merry Christmas!” I am so thrilled that it is OK to say “Merry Christmas” again. Wherever I go – the bank, the grocery store, the gas station – everybody is saying it! It is like they are trying out a new toy. Smiles are big. Joy is in the air. This is what Christmas should be like.

After all, we are celebrating the beginning of the best thing God ever did. He sent His Son to rescue us and bring us into a relationship with Him. And, to add to the good news, He has prepared a “forever-home” for us in heaven. I love that! Celebrating Jesus’ birth is bigger than a big deal and I am going to say “Merry Christmas” more than ever in celebration.

Of all the things that Jesus came to do for us, I value the unexplainable peace He gives. His peace can be in our hearts all of the time, no matter what is going on around us.

Why saying Merry Christmas means so much! #Christmas #faith #peace Click To Tweet

Do you know that it is possible to be saved and still not feel peace in our hearts? That is because of fear. Fear is a thief who steals our peace. People are aggravated, agitated and mouths are going a mile-a-minute with complaints, accusations and more complaints on top of that. I believe that most of that is rooted in fear. But Jesus came with an answer:

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. ” Jesus said “Not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 See? God’s peace is the remedy for fear.

At Christmas, we celebrate the very first day that Jesus came to live here. He was born as a baby in Bethlehem. That baby was sent with a mission to “seek and save that which was lost.” Like little lambs that went astray, He came to gather us up in His arms and bring us safely home. No strings attached, it is a free gift from God. We accept Him as our savior and receive His forgiveness for all of our sins – past, present and future – and then we get loads of fringe benefits from being in His family, too – one of which is peace.

Peace feels really good but how do we get it? We start by thinking about Him – all of the time – and agree with what He says. We must get our eyes off the circumstances and onto the Word of God. As we do, fear leaves and peace floods in. It works for me every time.

All of this has been on my mind because I was feeling anything but peaceful, lately. News junkie that I am, I have discovered that too much “news” is bad news! It had been robbing me of the peace that Jesus came to give. So, I turned off the radio and TV news – for the most-part – and now I think about things that are “good, true, pure, lovely and of a good report.” I am done with listening to the clamor and I have told the newsy scuttlebutt that it has to go. I am tuning in to God’s Word which lifts me up. Try it. It will lift you up, too!

So, “Merry Christmas my friends.” I will be taking a couple of days off to just relax and enjoy. Right now, as I write this, I am looking out the window at the beautiful fluffy white snow coming down. So pretty. Now that is peaceful! I will see you back here in just a few days, Tuesday night to be exact, for our weekly blog hop.

In the meantime, may…

“The Lord bless you and keep you.

May His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

May the Lord lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace!” Numbers 6:24-26

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Enjoy!

….

Merry Christmas!

Get A Lovely Nativity Keepsake Your Family Will Treasure

December 11, 2017 1 Comment

Christmas decorations come and go but Nativity Scenes are “forever!” These collectibles are more than just part of our holiday decor, they are cherished keepsakes to be passed on from generation to generation. If your family does not have a Nativity Scene, or perhaps you know somebody who would love to receive one, here are some special selections for you to consider … and some very cute kids versions for your children, as well!

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Willow Tree 6-piece Nativity Set [Best Seller!]

Evergreen Rustic 7 Piece White Garden Nativity Set

Three Kings Gifts 14 piece Nativity – each piece has a real-to-life look

Willow Tree Holy Family Figurines

Easy Go Large Outdoor Nativity Scene Decoration For The Yard [Best Seller]

Come Let Us Adore Him Precious Moments Nativity Set

Precious Moments Come Let Us Adore Him Camel & Donkey

Nativity Scenes make a lovely family keepsake to be handed down from generation to generation! #Christmas #family #giftideas #collectibles Click To Tweet

Nativity Scenes For Kids

Miniature Kids Nativity Scene with Creche Set of 12 Rearrangeable Figures

Fun Wooden Nativity Scene for kids by Melissa & Doug [Best Seller!]

Nativity Play Set for Kids

Living Nativity Scene & Dress Up Fun

Ever heard of a living nativity scene? Churches and Bible groups dress up like Mary and Joseph, the 3 kings, shepherds, angels and stable animals, surround a hay-filled manger with a baby doll laying in it to act out the story of the Birth of Jesus Christ.

I have heard that once you have tried it, you will want to be an actor in a living nativity again and again. Even if your family does not plan to put on a full production, children do love to play dress up. Let them act out Bible stories!

Another adorable Christmas figurine by Precious Moments with the 3 Kings called “Noel.”

Enjoy!

Be Thankful And Don’t Give Up!

November 22, 2017 2 Comments

“In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I Thessalonians 5:18

Are you looking forward to a happy, healthy holiday or is this one frought with difficulties? Here is a little encouragement to help you to “keep on going on” plus a sweet tweet that helped me to be thankful and not give up.

In all things give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:18

With Thanksgiving just hours away, most American households are all hustle and bustle getting ready for the big feast. We all have our traditions. In our home, we clean the house thoroughly 2 days before and that is also the day that bake the pies. Pumpkin pie is a must. The other will be a fruit pie of some kind.

The day before the Big Day is all about food prep and setting the table for our expected guests. Kitchen cleanup is also important. I hate waking up to a dirty kitchen. Before going to bed I put out the clean serving bowls and our 40 cup coffee maker that will be used the next day.

Thanksgiving Day finally arrives. It starts with a nice breakfast of sweet rolls, egg nog and freshly brewed coffee. The turkey goes into the oven by 11am and our guests arrive late in the afternoon.

This year is so different. It is a tired year. Battle fatigue! All summer long we were in and out of the hospital with serious health issues for my husband. There were a couple of times that I wondered which way things might go. Being thankful is harder at times like that. The list of medical problems was a long one. It still is.

I work 4 parttime jobs while taking care of dear hubby. I love each component of what I do but I sure wish I had my mom right now. I am tired. I feel like there is not enough of me to go around and I could use her help. She always understood me and I could use a big hug.

And then, just last week, a dearly loved couple in our family broke the news that they are ending their marriage. We never saw it coming. We love them both so much and the wife may not be in our lives anymore? It is just not right.

In the midst of this, as I was contemplating what to write to you, I remembered a wonderful tweet that I had seen moments before. I had stopped by my Twitter page and the exact encouragement I needed was waiting for me! Joel Osteen wrote it but the message was really from God to little ole me! Maybe it is for you, too …

Stir your faith up. What you’ve given up on, those promises you’ve let go of, God is still going to bring it to pass.

— Joel Osteen (@JoelOsteen) November 21, 2017

With all of these speed bumps and hurts in our lives, I am still so thankful. Thankful that we are alive. Thankful that we even have a family to love and be concerned for. Just plain THANKFUL!

Thanksgiving is a time where the focus is on being thankful We can be thankful for people or for safety or for provision but, bottom line, it is important to recognize where all these good things come from. God is the One we should above all be thankful for. I love Him so much. I cannot imagine what it would be like to try to do this life without Him. And He is superbly faithful. “Thank You, Lord, for reminding me of that with a sweet tweet!”

How about it? Why don’t you stir up your faith, too. Don’t give up. Beautiful bright days lie ahead! Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Click To Tweet

Many blessings to you and yours this holiday season♥

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