Who Built That?

    For several years, I worked in new home sales.  It was so much fun to watch as the foundation was laid and the frame went up!  Every day I would look at the progress of my buyer's homes. I was unfamiliar with carpentry and was quickly amazed at how things came together.  What was even more interesting was how exact things needed to be.  The foundation had to be firm and correctly laid. Each stage of the home had to be completed in an appropriate fashion and in order.  The materials used needed to be quality. If poor materials were chosen,  the homes would not pass inspection when the  inspectors come to see if it will pass code; and, the house may not stand the test of time. 

   The apostle Paul spoke of how important it was to build in the precise manner.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 ~ “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.  For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.  If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.  If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames."

Without the proper foundation, your efforts are in vain.  Your work will never stand the test of time. When it is inspected, it will be shown for what it is.  Every trial the structure faces will provide a testament as to the quality of your work.

Shakespeare said it so wisely; we all "play a different part in the grand stage of life."  Some of us lay foundations and some of us build.  At any given point in time, we all could be doing both the laying and the building.  When the foundation is laid, if it is not solid, then the efforts of those coming after will be in vain... 

"Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." 2 Timothy 2:19

     When we lay our foundation with Christ as our cornerstone, we know it is solid.  Christ is our rock! When the storms of life come, they will never shake our foundation. It is firm.

    But I believe the building process is so important.  I have never witnessed a builder use second rate materials on a well-built foundation…  Be careful when you are building to use worthy material. Paul tells us that “each one should build with care.”  Your work will one day be shown for what it is.  When the storms come, if you have built into others using worthy product, then each trial they face will show the quality of your craftsmanship. 

So build in love, and build with CARE

…. like Christ,  be Affirming, Receptive, and Encouraging

“…Therefore encourage one another and build up each
other,” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

(See also Romans 14:19, 1 Corinthians 14:26, and Jude 1:20).

Homecoming!!

Thanks for all the prayers!

My Promise to You, My Husband

     In an age where forever seems like too much of a task for many, I am asking for just that. I want to spend my forever with you.

     I promise that my home will be forever where you are ~ Ruth 1:16-17  (NIV)  “..... Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”
     I promise to be a true and loyal friend to you ~ Proverbs 17:17 (NLT) "A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need."
     I promise to love you, respect you, and bring you good in all things ~ Proverbs 31:12 (NIV) "She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." 
     I will love you, honor you, hold you, and cherish you.  I will encourage you in your dreams, celebrate in your successes, and embrace you in life's failures. 

      You are my one and only. Apart from God, my heart can belong to none other. You are my protector, my teacher, my lover, and my friend. I love doing life with you and pray that we never grow tired of growing old together. 
     

Please Vote!!!!!

If you have a minute, please click on the following link and read the story of the birth of our little one. Then click on the purple heart beside of her picture to vote for her story! Thanks and God bless!


http://graceunpluggedcontest.com/contest-entries/we-are-blessed/

Slipping Through the Cracks

       I was very busy.  I spent countless hours volunteering and trying to reach out to as many groups of women as I could.  I loved doing what I felt was furthering the kingdom of God.  Please don't misinterpret what I am about to say.  It is important to reach out to all people.  A great way to do this is by volunteering or offering groups that appeal to different situations in life.  This post is just about how God recently opened my eyes to a common problem with the church today.  Unfortunately, it was a painful lesson for me.
 
      I love volunteering.  Prior to my marriage, I stayed busy volunteering with the church youth group, working at the church, and keeping up with my women's Bible study (it met every other week and sometimes  we volunteered at the women's shelter in between meetings).  Between work, school, and these activities, I left little time for much else.  It is a miracle that my husband did not give up on me while we were dating! I was a worker! I thought one day I would be able to look back and see the many lives I had touched. Instead, I see visions of the lives I let slip away.  

     Through all my efforts to reach so many, I ignored those who came to me with personal needs of discipleship.  I would let them know I had little time but the church was offering a great class on whatever their need may be. . .they should look into it.  But I never took just a few extra moments to hear them. . . I never really saw them. 
     Recently, out of curiosity, I looked at some of their social media accounts.  I wanted to cry! When did they take that wrong turn?  Why did no one intervene? Why didn't I just take the time? 

    I think it is great that so many faith based organizations do the outreach that they do....We reach out to the community to bring them in; but, what happens to them once they get here?  Please understand I am pointing the finger at myself when I say this = What good are we doing if we are planting seeds in shallow soil where they have no chance to take root (Matthew 13:3-8)?  Why are we not letting the lost know just how important they are by giving them just a few precious moments of time? When will we learn that our busy work is actually costing the Kingdom? If we are not disciplining them, then who is?

    I look at my daughter today (she will be three months in just two more days) and I think about the word written in the book of Titus:

Titus 2:3-5 =  "3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God..."

We are to be counseled by those who came before us; and to make the time to instruct those who come after us.  It takes only a few minutes of my time to answer the questions of those asking. It is an honor to pray for those in need.  It is a privilege to live by example.  If we are not doing these three things, then God knows who we are letting slip through the cracks. 

Dear Holy Spirit, thank you for those that you have put in my life to teach me Your ways.  Help me to help others so that they do not slip away into the darkness.  Help me to show Your love always.  Thank you for reminding me that it is the heart, not the deed, that matters.  

 

   

We Choose to Love

    In our family, we do not watch television or keep up with the days and lives of Holly Woods most famous (or notorious) celebrities.  Instead we spend our time talking with each other and reading together.  My husband is my best friend. We share everything! And, just like any friendship, we can "share" quite a few disagreements. In other words; yes, we do fight.
    We fight about the dogs and where we are going to eat; we fight about clothes and our hobbies. Sometimes, agreeing on a time to go to bed is a task. We are different. We make mistakes. Sure we could spend our time pointing out each other's flaws; or we could choose to love each other despite our differences.

Our marriage works because we choose love. What do you choose?

"What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?" 1 Corinthians 4:21

Today's prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to choose love in all of my dealings with others.  I know those "others" can include family, friends, or complete strangers.  Help me to bestow Your mercy to all I come into contact with. In Jesus name I pray this... AMEN 

Void and Without Form

Genesis 1:2 " Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."

Psalm 139:15, 16 
"My frame was not hidden from You
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in Your book
    before one of them came to be."

    There are times when I feel empty in my soul.  Darkness covers my life and I feel as if my dreams are hidden in the depths of the earth.  I feel invisible. But His Word reminds me that Holy Spirit is always hovering over the surface of my life. He sees me. I am not hidden in the depths of this dark world. He knows me. In me, He sees His image: fearfully and wonderfully made. In my life, He creates the light that illuminates my heart. 

Genesis 1:3 "And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light."

My God, I thank you for lighting up my life and my days. 

PS..... I wanted to thank my wonderful readers and ask that you keep me in your prayers! I am blessed by you all. Above is a picture of a tiny miracle my husband and I have been recently granted. We are expecting!!! My pregnancy is difficult and I have been diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum. It is not a pleasant condition. Please pray that the symptoms ease up and our little one remains happy and healthy. Thanks to you all!