Cost of Obedience

"My obedience has cost me nothing when I compare it to the cost God incurred to buy me back."

~ Cindy McClamma~

Read that again, please.

We sponsor a missionary in Namibia, Africa.  She's a widow with 3 grown children and 5 young grandchildren.  She felt God leading her out of her comfort zone a few years ago and obeyed herself all the way across the Atlantic Ocean.

We get monthly e-newsletters which I read word for word.  Love her wisdom.  The quote above is hers.

Have you ever thought, "If I give God complete control and surrender every single part of my life, will he send me overseas somewhere to be a missionary?" 

Have you cringed at the thought of the cost to you personally? 

Does it scare you to think what God would do with you if you really did give it all to Him?

"My obedience has cost me nothing when I compare it to the cost God incurred to buy me back."

Could there really be any place better than where God wants you?

It might not be overseas.  It might be walking next door to invite a neighbor to dinner. 

Or going downtown to feed the homeless and praying with them.

Or speaking to the greeter at the grocery store and inviting him/her to church.

It might just be being willing.  Being open.  Listening for that still, small voice to prompt you. And not ignoring it. 

I pray I hear loud and clear and am willing to obey, whatever the cost.

Giving

I've always been cheap.  And in the last few years have really been conscious of my spending.

Never so much as I have in the last 6 months, however.  And not because of the $26,000 (minimum) needed to bring our girls home, of which we had almost none. 

And not just because people have been so kind and generous to donate money toward the adoption and items for our upcoming Yard Sale with a Cause (although that has pretty much halted extracurricular spending because how can I accept such gifts and go about buying something not on our needs list.)

In the last 6 months I have just really come to the realization of how wasteful we (those of us in affluent countries) are.  Ask yourself:

Do I really need a new pair of shoes? Or another purse? 

Do I need another dress for church?

Couldn't I make it one more winter with the jeans I wore last year?

How many accessories do I really need?

Is it necessary to eat out every week?  or several times a week?

Is there a better use of my God's money?  It is He who gave it to us!  What are we doing with it to honor and glorify Him?  What are we using it for that has eternal purpose.

Are we giving till it hurts?

One night as we were reading and discussing Radical with the kids, one of them said, "I think we do a lot."

And he's probably right.  We do give to and sponsor those in need.  Probably more than people making twice what we do with half as many kids.  But my answer for all the children was,

"But we still aren't giving till it hurts."

Oh sure I gave up having my house cleaned from top to bottom every month so we could sponsor kids in Haiti.  Big deal! 

To obey is better than sacrifice! 

I Samuel 15:22

 I'm starting to think that's in the Bible because what we consider to be sacrifice really isn't.

One dinner out each month = a month's worth of meals, education and medical care for a child in a impoverished community.

One new shirt = hope for a child without Jesus.

A family vacation getaway = a year's worth of the above.

Or better yet, why not be hope for one orphan for a lifetime.  There are millions who need a home and family of their own!!! 

I loved Jessica's posts (a 5-part series) on their journey to adopt again (they just brought 2 girls home in January).  Something that gave me goosebumps was when she said:

"Yet I could not shake the feeling that someone was missing. Our empty chair at our table and empty seat in our car were a constant reminder to me that we had room for one more...

Our house is not huge, less than 1800 square feet...And some might question how we could possibly add another person to the mix...

But the more I got away from society's ideals, the more I realized we had everything that we needed and more..."

Think about it.  How much excess is in your home that you call necessary but really isn't? 

Could you lower your standard of living to make room for one more?  I used to think we couldn't lower ours any more but obviously I wasn't looking at our current "standard" properly.

I watched a documentary once and the subject of it, who grew up very poor, said his widowed mama always told him, "Son, never eat the last biscuit." 

He always wondered why she wouldn't let one of the 7 kids eat that biscuit.  One day, he heard a knock at the back door.  His mama opened it and handed out that last biscuit to a homeless man.  She told him, "There's always someone worse off than you."

Jesus says that one day when He sits on His glorious throne with all the nations at His feet, He will separate those who were true followers from those who only hoped or acted like His sheep.  He will say to the righteous,

Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.

To the rest, he will say,

Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.

Matthew 25

Join the Club

Did you know we're part of the same club?

Yep.  All of us. Every single person on this planet. From the serial killer in jail to the orphan baby in Russia.

We're all a part of the sinners club.  We all desperately need a Savior.

And for those who have decided to give their lives to Jesus, we all desperately need Him help us day in and day out to overcome the sin in our lives.

Your kids are a part of the club, too. 

For those of us who are diligently trying to train our children, rather than ignoring and neglecting their sin, it can really start to wear on you at times.  You might get annoyed, aggravated or down-right mad.  But remember, you're members of the same club. 

Never say to your child, "What is wrong with you?"  Because what's wrong with him is what's wrong with you!

Even asking, "Why did you do that?" or "Why do you keep doing that?" is unnecessary.  The answer is easy.  Because they're sinners!

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,

but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12

You may feel like your battling your kids, but in reality you are in a battle FOR your kids.

You're on the same team - whether they know it or not. 

So when correction or discipline time comes, try to remember:

1. to restore your child in a spirit of gentleness. Soften your voice rather than raising it. Check your tone.

2. to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. Find out what really happened first - even if you think you already know.

3. that you are in the same boat with this child.  Remind them of what a gracious Savior we have -forgiving freely and ready to provide a way of escaping temptation.  We all need Jesus to overcome the sin in our lives.

4. and speaking of forgiveness, forgive your child.  Truly forgive as Christ has forgiven you.  Give him/her a fresh start each and every time.  Try your best to treat each act as if it's the first time you've ever seen them do it.

5. when you don't have the words, pray for wisdom knowing God is ready to give it generously.

Crappy Foods

You should have heard the conversation around our lunch table today. 

Some non-moral issues are more important to some people than to others.  For example, food.

Food can be a moral issue if someone is gluttonous or greedy.  If food controls them more than they control it.  If they eat so much junk they aren't healthy enough to be of service to anyone, especially God.  In which case, to me, it becomes a moral issue.  If we can think of food and excercise as a tool rather than a rule, I think it changes our outlook.  I happen to like eating healthy food.  I don't like exercising anymore (I used to)but I see the benefit, so I do it.

Anyway, in our house, on a certain level, I see eating healthy as a moral obligation.  After all, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  And so what comes into this house and into our bodies...especially my children's bodies...is important to me.

At lunch today we were talking about all the foods that are crap.  Crap is not really a bad word in our house.  Although I prefer the kids not to use it around other kids so I don't get in trouble by other parents.  But when the shoe fits, wear it.  And so we had a great time talking about all the crappy foods.

Someone told me once if I made my kids eat so much good-for-them food, they would grow up and eat all the junk food they could get their hands on.  I disagree.  If my children understand the why of eating the things God has given us and of being good stewards of the bodies He has given them, they will hopefully be wise when they they are grown and on their own. 

Oops!  A whole bowl of fresh watermelon.

Does that mean we never eat crap around here.  No.  We do. And in the last couple weeks it feels like it's more than usual.  Which is why we had the conversation at lunch.  My list of foods to avoid is pretty long so I'll tell you what I consider healthy:

Food that God gives us...preferably processed as little as possible. 
We eat meat once or twice a week and try to make it free range, no hormones added, no antibiotics, etc.

I would prefer organic everything but unfortunately we're probably not even halfway there.

I often hear that eating healthy is too expensive.  Here's how I look at it.  You can pay more to eat healthy now or pay later for the drugs to counter all the cheap junk you think is saving you money.

And for the record, our grocery budget for our family of 7 is only $700 a month.  And that is without buying cheap processed dinners, etc.  But, again, we also don't eat meat every night.

Now what do we do when we go to someone else's house?  We eat the gift they have prepared for us.  Just as we teach the children that food at home is a gift to be eaten in gratitude without complaint, we are thankful for whatever someone has taken the time to prepare for us.  We do not expect a special "healthy" meal on our behalf.

I have no intention of being legalistic about it.  And although some people think I'm crazy (mostly family members), I'm okay with it.  I'm obligated to do what I consider to be in the best interest of the family God has given me.  What anyone else does is between them and God...that is, as long as it doesn't interfere with what I'm teaching my kids.

Truth

The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
Jeremiah 17:9

How often do we hear today,

Follow your heart!

or

Listen to your heart!

I've got two words for you WORLDLY WISDOM.

We cannot trust our feelings to guide us.  We have to be grounded in Truth.  God's truth.  Not whatever-is-true-for-you truth. 

Feelings come and go.  What is True is always true!

Where do you find Truth? I've got two words for you...THE BIBLE!

Will You Follow Him?

What does this song mean to you?  Will you follow Him into the homes of the hopeless?

How will you meet the needs of the poor and the needy?

As much as He's done for you, what will you give away freely?

FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD!

First Day of School and A New Schedule

Today was our first day of school which means a new daily schedule has begun.  Here is what it looks like:

MWF 5:15 am - I get up to get ready for the gym, includes make-up for the day because I don't need to wash my hair and face when I get home.
6:00 - Arrive at gym
7:00 - Arrive home, shower if necessary, morning chores for kids and me (read Bibles, make beds, clean rooms, get dressed, eat breakfast, me-sort and put in a load of laundry, brush teeth)

T, TH 6:30am - Read Bible
7:00 - Morning chores for the kids and me

Everyday 8:00 - Bible time with the kids (review memory verses, books of the Bible, teach about character qualities)
8:30 - Emma, Gray and Jackson start Math while I work with Charlie and Iris on Phonics and Handwriting
9:00 - I work with E, G, and J on their Math while C and I have free time
9:30 - Emma works on Science, Gray and Jackson do English, I work with Charlie and Iris on Math
10:00 - Smoothie time while I read Biography, Autobiography or Historical Fiction (currently it's The Story of Harriet Tubman - Freedom Train)
10:30 - Emma works on English, Gray does Science, Jackson does his Handwriting/Spelling & Vocabulary/Latin (*see below), Charlie and Iris are free to play while I assist the older three in any area they need help with)
11:00 - Emma and Gray do Handwriting*, Jackson does Science while Charlie and Iris have Quiet Play (picked out by me and easy to clean up)
11:30 - Lunch, Put in another load of laundry, I read Oral Exercises by Abeka and if time more of history or go over memory verses
12:00 - I read our literature book (currently it's Great Illustrated Classics' Around the World in 80 Days)
12:30 - Iris and I nap while the other kids read quietly in school room
1:00 - TV/Snack time, My computer/snack time
2:00 - Afternoon chores; depending on the day it consists of cleaning the house, putting away laundry, or going to the grocery store(Friday)
2:30 - One-on-one time with Mommy; each child is assigned a day of the week and on that day they get to pick whatever they want to play with me while the others have free time
3:00 - Computer time for child whose day of the week it is while rest are free
3:30 - Free time
4:00 - I start to get dinner ready, Put in another load of laundry
5:00 - Dinner, Roddy reads the Bible (currently in 2 Samuel) to us or from the book Radical
6:00 - Clean up dinner - everyone helps/Free/Family time
7:30 - Clean up rooms, Get ready for bed
8:00 - Iris' bed time, Other kids quiet play, Mommy and Daddy time
8:30 - Older kids go to bed
9:30/10:00 Our bed time

*Depending on the day Handwriting can be combined with the kids' Spelling/Vocabulary words or Latin.  Spelling and Vocabulary words are taken from the books we are reading.  We usually have 10-11 and take 2 weeks to learn them well.

Some Time is Finite

Last night I got to listen to my friend present:  An Evening of Ordered Steps

She shared with a roomful of moms how she has simplified, organized and ordered her home in order to be more efficient with the time she has been given with her loved ones. 

There were many things that stood out but the one I wanted to share with you all was this:

We have a finite amount of time with our loved ones.

We have a finite number of visits with our parents.

We have a finite number of dates we can take our children on.

Her point was, what are we missing out on because we're doing so many other things?  We may be doing a whole lot of great things but are we choosing what is BEST?

We need to evaluate how we are spending our time.  What are our priorities and are they lining up with God's Word?  Ministry is a great example.  Of course God wants us to minister to others, but not at the expense of the little ones we have at home. 

There is a season when we may have more time than we know what to do with.  We must really think about what we're investing in.

Our children were given to us to love, train, instruct, disciple and discipline.  We will be the ones who stand before God and give account for every careless word.

It is a responsibility not to be taken lightly.

The Enemy

Be self-controlled and alert.

Your enemy the devil prowls around

like a roaring lion

looking for someone to devour.

I Peter 5:8

If you don't know it yet, let me assure you, YOU HAVE AN ENEMY.  And that enemy wants to destroy you and your family! 

He is a LIAR.  He is the father of lies.  He will deceive you, mislead you, discourage you, and wear you down with lies to make you ineffective for the Kingdom!

Roddy and I have been on a journey lately ~ actually we're just at the beginning of it ~ but already the devil is trying to discourage us and lead us away from God's desire to radically change our lives. 

I wish I could share more specifically what God is doing but since we're not really sure where we're headed, I don't think this is the time. 

What I can say is we are completely trusting God for doors to be opened and closed as He sees fit.

One Day

One day, my children will understand what I do for them.

One day, they will appreciate my 7 years straight of being pregnant and/or nursing.

One day, they will thank me for not sending them off to school and preschool so that I can have "me" time or so I can go to the gym or out for coffee with my girlfriends in the middle of the day. 

One day, they will realize how much laundry they made for me.

One day, they will understand why I don't let them eat junk food or watch tv whenever they want to.

One day, they will understand the struggle not to show my frustration or lose my temper.

One day, they will understand and appreciate why I correct and discipline them.

One day, they will thank me.

Today, I'm hanging by a thread on that one day.

~~~~~~~

Most days, I do what I do because it's the right thing to do.  Not because I need praise or accolades.  Not even because I need that one day in the future when they are parents themselves and truly understand this undertaking.  I do it because it's what I believe I should do.

But today, I guess I'm feeling selfish.  Today, I want to be the "Best Mom in the World!" because they know what  it takes to do this job.  That's where I am today.  But as Scarlett says, "Tomorrow's another day!" And I'm sure it will be better tomorrow.

Radical

One morning after discussing what Emma had read for her Bible-time, I told her, "If we really understood how awesome heaven is, we would sell everything we have and live in our car just so we could spend all our time telling others about Jesus."

She said, "Why don't we then?"

There are approximately 6.8 billion people in this world.

At least 4.5 billion don't know Jesus!

26,000 children will die today from starvation or preventable diseases.

David Platt shared these statistics at our church this morning.  He also talked about the radical changes made in their church after studying the book of James. 

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:

to visit orphans and widows in their affliction,

and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James 1:27

He said after going over this verse, he called their county's family services department and found out that if 150 families adopted or fostered 1 child, they would take care of all the children in their system.  His church held an informational meeting and 160 families showed up.

Then they went through chapter 2 of James and covered these verses:

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?"

James 2:15-16

So what did his church do next?  Cut the budget.  Some areas as much as 80%.  And are using that money to reach the billions who don't know Jesus.

He shared the story of the man in Matthew 13 who stumbled across a treasure in a field.  He hid the treasure and then "in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."  The treasure in that field is the Kingdom of Heaven.  And we should be willing  joyfulling willing to sell all that we have for that Kingdom.

We bought his book, Radical, and plan to read it as a family this week.  Pick yourself up a copy at your local Christian bookstore or here.

The Two Esses

Pop quiz!  Can you name the #1 question received by homeschool families or those thinking of homeschooling?

If you've homeschooled for even 6 months, you've heard it.  "What about Socialization?"  I have to say that even typing it gets me a little riled up.

The next time someone asks you that, will you ask them exactly what they mean?  Then write it down and send it to me, please.

Because I don't really think they know.  I don't think they've thought about what they are asking. 

Do they think because we stay home for school that we stay home for everything, secluded from everyone? They wouldn't be talking to you if you were.

The reality is there is a stigma, which is hopefully falling by the wayside, of what homeschoolers are like. I'm not even sure what that is, but apparently it has something to do with being socially awkard.  Have you ever met a public or Christian schooled kid who was socially awkard?  Of course, you have.  'Nuff said.

There are so many people making the move to homeschooling that there can be a never-ending list of social activities.  You actually have to be careful to keep yourself at home.  There are co-ops and fieldtrips and one-day-a-week homeschooler schools! 

Here we are on a field trip to a worm farm.  This is maybe a third of the homeschooling families we get to do things like this with.

According to Wikipedia, socialization is this:

...the process of inheriting norms, customs and ideologies.  It may provide the individual with the skills and habits necessary for participating within their own society.

Who do you want teaching your kids what normal should be? Who do you want teaching your kids their ideologies 35 hours a week?

When you keep them home, YOU get to teach them this.  When you send them to school for hours on end, their peers teach them.  Their teachers, who don't love them nearly as much as you do (I don't care how sweet they are), teach them this.  I don't want my kids acting like their peers.  Or probably like their teachers either.

A wise, seasoned homeschooling mama told me that the character issues you want to work on in your children can be addressed quicker and more often when you have them home with you.  You are able to see growth in those areas much sooner than when they are away from you.  When you send them to school, you're constantly retraining what gets undone while they're gone all day.

Just something to think about.

The second "S" question on a lot of people's tongues is, "What about Sports?" 

Really?  I've made it almost 36 years without playing a sport.  I went to public school and wanted to cheer.  But my parents didn't want to spend the money on the uniforms.  I'm pretty sure I'm not scarred for life!  Although I bet there are a bunch of psychologists who'd love to try to prove otherwise.  Worldly wisdom, people! Worldly wisdom.

What is the big push about getting kids into sports these days anyways?  I'm not saying there's anything wrong with sports, but what does it have to do with life?

I had a dad tell me he wanted his sons to play sports because he learned so much from playing when he was a teen.  His coach really taught him a lot.  That's great but that wasn't the coach's job.  It was his parents' job!  And it's not that other adults can never teach our children anything, but we shouldn't relegate the responsibility of teaching sportsmanship, team work, or anything else to anyone else.

God has called us to train up our children. To teach them to love God and love others.  To teach them about God and all that He created.  He created language, math, science, geography.  Who better to relate all of that back to this awesome God than us?

We had a hallelujah service in math class one day!  It was awesome.

But again, there are so many opportunities if you want your kids to play sports.  That question is not even practical any more.  By the way, Upward Sports is a great program if you are interested.

I've got a busy week but hope to get at least one more post in about homeschooling.  I have plenty rolling around in my head.  If you have questions or are just curious about homeschooling, leave me a comment.  I'll be glad to answer them.

Would you? Do You?

Would you expect to find only fit, buff, healthy people in a gym?

I hope not.

Do you expect to find only healthy people at a doctor's office?

Of course not.

Would you expect everyone in the grocery store to know how to cook?

Do you expect everyone in a sewing class to know how to sew?

Then why would we expect everyone who goes to church with us to be fit, buff and healthy spiritually? 

Why do we expect fellow believers to know how to overcome all temptations when we know that we, ourselves, struggle with sin daily, hourly!?

I think it's easy when we don't struggle in an area to wonder why someone else does?  It's easy look down on someone who is financially illiterate and we consider to be poor stewards of God's money just because we don't struggle in that area. 

It's easy to condemn someone who can't seem to get their house in order and it's always a mess just because we don't struggle in that area.

It's also easy, in our insecurity, to look at someone who appears to have a perfect marriage and, with jealously, find fault with them for something else.

Or to look at someone who can actually make it out of the house without looking frazzled and disheveled because her children are obedient and helpful, and, with jealousy, pick apart another area in her life.

We each live in our own little bubbles. We have no idea what others struggle with physically, spiritually or emotionally. 

I find the need often to remind myself to take the beam out of my own eye before I look at someone else with disdain for the speck in theirs.  I'm thankful God is doing a work in my life to help me understand that everyone of us is at a different point in our spiritual walks. 

Just as God has created each of us unique, He has a unique plan for each of us to know Him, trust Him, love Him.  I want to be a follower of Christ who is willing to pray for, understand and encourage those around me.  I don't want to be critical and tear others down.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 4:29 (NIV and ESV)

True Joy is Not Found in Self

selfish

self-centered

self-absorbed

self-esteem

self-indulgent

self-righteous

self-conscious

self-assured

All of these words point to one thing ~ SELF.  And when self takes center stage, God is not in His proper place in our lives.

Can you think of one sin that is not all about self?

When we sin, we're saying, "I want what I want when I want it, and I don't care what anyone else wants - including God."

Whether we're depending on self, worried about self or insisting on our own selfish way, when we take our eyes off God and focus on ourselves, sin is crouching at the door.

And if you think about it, no matter what the world tells you, when you are focused on yourself, you are NOT happy!  At least not for very long.

True happiness, true joy is only found in Jesus.  And as our perfect Example, Jesus put others first. He gave everything He had even to the point of death. 

He tells us that His joy is ours when we love others.  This is exactly the opposite of what the world tells us.  The world says we have to love ourselves before we can love others.  WRONG!  Everyone loves themselves.  As Reb Bradley puts it, "Even the person who hate themselves, can't get themselves off their mind."

So if you are miserable, depressed or unhappy, get your eyes off yourself and start loving and serving others...starting in your home.

If Jesus Came to Your House

Found this taped inside one of the Jackson's Bibles:

~If Jesus Came to Your House~

If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two~

If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do.

Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room to such an honored Guest,

And all the food you'd serve to Him would be the very best,

And you would keep assuring Him you're glad to have Him there~

That serving Him in your own home is joy beyond compare.

But ~ when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door

With arms outstretched in welcome to your Heav'nly Visitor?

Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in,

Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they'd been?

Would you turn off the radio and hope He hadn't heard

And wish you hadn't uttered that last loud, hasty word?

Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out?

Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about?

And I wonder if the Savior spent a day or two with you,

Would you go right on doing the things you always do?

Would you keep right on saying the things you always say?

Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?

Would your family conversation keep up its usual pace,

And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?

Would you sing the songs you always sing and read the books you read

And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed?

Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you'd planned to go,

Or would you maybe change your plans for just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends,

Or would you hope they'd stay away until His visit ends?

Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on,

Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?

It might be interesting to know the things that you would do

If Jesus Christ in person came to spend some time with you.

~Lois Blanchard~

Saving Money

We are stewards of all things given to us by God. 

Every good and perfect gift is from above.

Everything is God's and we just manage what He chooses to give us ~ time, talents, home, children and money.

Since we're talking finances this week, I thought I'd share a few ways we can manage our money wisely.

• Use a Cash Budget

Set up a budget.  Then for the areas you can (groceries, clothing, eating out, etc.) use cash.  This keeps you more accountable than a credit card ~ even if you normally pay it off every month.

We thought that since we always paid ours off and earned 1% cash back that it was a good thing.  But we didn't actually keep track of our spending.  With cash, we have to be more aware and careful and disciplined.  Once the cash is gone, it's gone.

• Stay Home More

I had a coupon for free mascara from JCPenney.  So yesterday before we went to the grocery store, we stopped by the mall. That particular store didn't have the department to get the mascara so it ended up being a wasted trip. But I noticed as I was walking around looking for it, I found all these cute things that I would just love to have. 

The more you're out, the more you will see things you think you need. Things that before you were perfectly content to do without.  My advice: when you go to the store, stick to your list!

I would say the same about sales flyers and internet browsing.  I find when I browse through them, I start wanting things I had no desire for a few minutes earlier.

Also, the more you're out, the more likely you are to spend money grabbing a quick meal at a restaurant which would cost much more than what you have at home to eat.  Not to mention the gas used. 

Okay, I'll move on now.

• Be Thankful

Godliness with contentment is great gain. 

There are so many things we can find that we think we just can't live without.  But when you're trying to be a good steward of your finances, sometimes the best thing you can do is be content with what you have.  Even more, be thankful for what you have.

Be careful of comparing what you have or don't have with what others have.  Covetousness is equal to idolatry.

Victoria Botkin suggests that if we want to compare ourselves with others, instead of comparing ourselves with those that have more, we should think of those who have so much less ~ the orphans in Haiti, the mother of a stillborn baby, the young widow with even younger children to raise alone.

We do have much to be thankful for!  And if we have Jesus, He's all we need anyway!

Exposed

I read a lot of blogs. Not all of them daily, but some - my favorites. I have often wondered of those writers whom I don't actually know what they are really like.

I'm an analyzer. I like to know why people are the way they are. If I know more about a person's temperamant, life experiences, even birth order, it helps me understand them better and I like to know what makes people tick!

So I thought maybe if you read this blog and don't know me, you might wonder the same things I have wondered about others. From time to time, I will share with you some things about me that might help you understand who I really am, why I write what I write and why I write how I write. These posts will all be titled: Exposed.

Expose means to make known, reveal or unmask. Which is something I need to do more of.

I'll start by saying I fear rejection and criticism. I'm sure after each of these posts I will completely doubt whether I should have exposed myself. I don't like vulnerability. And while some of you may read the posts and think that's what you consider being vulnerable? Trust me, for me it will be.

I am bold and confident in some ways. I don't mind what anyone thinks of my beliefs, convictions or the way I live my life (which is a result of my beliefs and convictions). What I fear is personal rejection. Not being liked for who I am. Not being accepted because of my imperfections. Even being rejected based on perceptions of who people think I am.

I would love to uncover all my sins and weaknesses, quirks, failures and ugliness and not care about what someone thinks of me, but at this point in my life that feels impossible!

I have just learned in the last couple years that God accepts and loves me unconditionally. That I don't have to be perfect for Him to see me as lovable. And that has been extremely freeing. One day I hope that I can care only about what He thinks of me. I think that would be ultimate freedom.

Until then, perhaps this will be my therapy. My own personal counseling group, consisting of me and a bunch of faces I can't see.

And just maybe exposing one piece at a time won't be so frightening.

Mediocrity - A Word Picture

I heard this story once in a sermon on the radio...

A couple of teenagers came to their dad and said, "Dad, can you sit down? We need to talk to you.

"There's this movie we really want to see. It's rated R and I know we aren't allowed to see R rated movies but we asked around about it. There are only a few bad words, no big deal. And one sex scene ~ but it's more implied, off to the side.

"It's got fantastic special effects, though, and some great actors. Come on, Dad. Let us go. We don't want to be nerds! Can we go, please?"

Dad thought and said, "Let me think it over for a day."

The next day arrives and the teens ask, "Dad, did you decide about the movie?"

"I did," he says. "And you can see it."

Just then he brings out a batch of fresh baked brownies and says, "But first I want you to eat these brownies I made for you. I chose the finest ingredients ~ the best chocolate, freshest walnuts. And they are so moist!

"I should tell you, though, I put a tablespoon of dog poo in them. It not much and I baked them perfectly at 350 degrees so I'm sure it killed any bacteria."

Do you think the teens ate the brownies? There wasn't that much dog poo compared to all the good stuff that was in them ~ just like the movie they wanted to see.

So if we saw the sin in the things we digest mentally and spiritually literally as dog poo, we might be less apt to partake. Don't you think?

Fear Factor

Several weekends ago I went to a seminar called Refuse to Be a Victim. The purpose of the seminar is to make people more aware of their surroundings in order to avoid becoming a victim of some kind of violence.

I consider myself pretty careful. I lock my doors as soon as I get in the car. I don't run errands by myself at night. Things like that. I think God gives us common sense and we need to use it. But as careful as I am, I don't consider myself fearful.

I trust God to take care of us. If I ever do have a twinge of fear, I immediately say a prayer and trust that God is going to control the situation.

Well after this little 4-hour seminar, I left fearful. And I didn't like it. I said to myself, "I need to go home and read my Bible." It's my security blanket.

And it was the one thing that was left out of the seminar. Expectedly so, since it is a program of the NRA. I don't have issue with that. But it was a fellow Christian teaching it. So while I appreciated the information, I can not get away from the fact that although I certainly think we should be careful and aware, etc., we should NOT live our lives in fear. As followers of Christ, we know Who is in control!

An opportunity arose last year for the men in our Sunday School class to take some men from the Coalition bowling. These were men going through one of their programs. Our guys were going to pick them up and return them at the end of the evening. One of the men was so worried about "something" happening. If people didn't serve because something might happen, we'd have no missionaries overseas or downtown!

Please hear me...I am not a careless person who will stop on the side of the road to help any and every stranger. I wouldn't go to the Coalition and pick up a homeless man by myself to bring him to church. I don't let my kids play outside unsupervised. We don't run with scissors or lollipops in our mouths!

But there has got to be a point when we, exercising appropriate caution and listening to the Holy Spirit, put our lives completely in God's hands and trust Him to take care of us in any circumstance.

I think my sister-in-law put it best when my brother was in Papua New Guinea last month. She said, "Being in the ministry is the safest place for us to be in."

Well said, Kara!

(My handsome brother with the natives. He bought the bow and arrows from that gentleman after it was used to kill dinner!)

Monday's Motto

The measure of your love for God

is equal to your obedience to Him.