Faith In Action Friday: Love ~ 1

1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love. I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
The woman in Proverbs 9 comes to mind when I read the above verse.....clamorous.

clamorous (adj) - Bing Dictionary

clam·or·ous [ klámmərəss ]

demanding attention: demanding attention loudly and insistently

loud: loud and excited or angry

noisy: making a loud noise

Well, here we are, verse 1.....guilty as charged. Oh I can hear myself prattling on about something. Lecturing on some fact, something that is so insignificant, yet I'm the eloquent expert when it comes to this trifling matter.......

Have I stopped to think what I am saying? Have I stopped to process thoughts and realize who my words will affect? What do I sound like to my husband and children? Am I saying these things in a loving manner? Or have I even realized that my thoughts may not be filled with love?

Being a great speaker means nothing to the Lord if I don't have love filling my heart and my soul. The ugly that is inside of me will spill out and show my true colors. Love speaks the truth and thinks before it opens it mouth.

As women we love to talk as our quiet thoughtful husbands sit and listen, trying to process a thought and we continue to talk and talk and talk. This verse is a much needed reminder to me that I need to stop, think, process, and then talk and many times, I don't really need to say anything. I need to make sure my talk and my walk match. It is easy to SAY one thing and not have any of God's love to back it up.

So stop. And when in doubt, zip it.

"To keep your marriage brimming, With love in the loving cup, Whenever you're wrong, admit it; Whenever you're right, shut up."
-- Ogden Nash

Faith in Action Friday: Our Love Life

If you know me, I cannot stand The Message translation of the Bible. It drives me bonkers, don't get me started.

However, the other day I was studying LOVE. I had read this wonderful post over at Raising Homemakers, and I just needed to dive in and glean more. I looked at many translations online to get a better picture of what it was really saying.

It was about the outward appearance of our homes vs. the inward atmosphere. I truly believe that our homes should be a place of peace and a welcome haven from the world, but that doesn't just mean that I've purged my clutter, have a menu plan, or even have a nightly devotional at the dinner table.

It has to mean that the inward appearance of our hearts need to be filled with God's love in order to really have a peaceful retreat. We can look great to everyone that comes by and look like we have it all together, but if the minute those people leave we go back to screaming and treating each other terribly, we don't really have a home filled with God's love, we are hypocrites and are putting on a fake front.

Our close family members are the people who really know who we are, they know the imperfect, struggling sheep that are desperately trying to follow the Shepherd's guiding. They see the true us and if we are putting on a front for others, they will have a mixed up view of us and our Lord.

It boils down to Love. Love for Christ and love for each other.

In her article, Amy, shows how 1 Corinthians 13 has to be the springboard for everything we do in life. It's caused me to take a step back and really look at my heart and actions. I really want to dig deep into each of the points in this verse. I hope to do a more in depth look as I study through these goals and really see how I can apply them to our home, the way I treat my husband and kids, and what the true atmosphere of our home really is.

The Bible really breaks it down into applicable instructions on how to create a peaceful atmosphere in our homes and lives and The Message makes 1 Corinthians 13 even more simpler, "If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. ²If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. ^3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything, Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

^8-10Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
¹¹When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.
¹²We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
¹³But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

Seed Time and Harvest

“As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease.”

Genesis 8:22

God is truly faithful to fulfill the promises that He makes to His people.

 Every spring we plant a garden. We turn the soil, pull the weeds, and plant tiny seeds. God's intricate plan for His creation is renewed as we place our faith in Him to take those little seeds and grow them into plants that show us His beauty and His foresight to provide food for all.

Our lives are just like those seeds, we need to turn them over to the Lord, put our full faith in Him and see how He grows us....grows us into humble followers, strong disciples, and compassionate servants.

He knows the intricate make up of each of us. He knows the specific path that each of our lives will take. I take comfort in His promise to work everything for my good and the knowledge that He sees the entire picture of my life.

Are you growing in the Lord's will? Are you fertilizing with His word? Are you pruning out the bad and soaking up the good??

Faith in Action Friday: Consider the Cost

In the Matthew 7:13 it says, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." This verse has been in my head and on my heart lately. With the world becoming more blatantly rebellious everyday and the church buckling under the pressure to do the right thing.....it seems like a fitting verse to have at the ready.

There seem to have been many things in the news these last couple of weeks that have had our family rethinking what we buy, what we watch, and where we shop. We've had to consider the TRUE cost of our purchases and choices. We truly believe that everything we have is a gift from above......our money, our children, our home, our bodies.....and that God has entrusted us with those things to be good stewards. 

What I'm basically saying is every dime, moment, and thing that we have is Gods.

When I really start processing that fact, I really have to ask myself, "Would God physically go to the store and buy that product with HIS money?" "Would God physically sit and watch this show?" "Would God purchase this item and put it into His body?"

A few weeks ago, JcPenny announced that Ellen would be their new spokes person. Is Ellen funny? Yes! Is JcPenny my favorite store to shop at? Yes! Will I be shopping there any more? NO! The Bible clearly states that homosexuality is an abomination to the Lord (Lev 18:22) and that means we can not support a company who throws opposing beliefs in our face!

This week I learned that Pepsi, Nestle, Kraft, and Campbell all have been working with a research group, Senomyx, to test their products. Many of these products are being tested on electively aborted babies.
Pepsi even went as far to say that they were only using the "gold standard" in research and that “We hope you are reassured to learn that our collaboration with Senomyx is strictly limited to creating lower-calorie, great-tasting beverages for consumers. This will help us achieve our commitment to reduce added sugar per serving by 25% in key brands in key markets over the next decade and ultimately help people live healthier lives.”

Well, come on people.....lower prices and a funny spokesperson, it's worth it to compromise!! A great tasting beverage in exchange for dumping your beliefs in the trash....that's not too much to ask is it???

I'm happy to report that Campbell listened to the outcry and has stopped using this company for research. But the other companies have made no changes in their research practices.

This news hit our family hard as God has really shown us the blessing that children are, that life is, and the sanctity of young and old. We cannot in good faith take God's money and spend it on companies that support the use of lives in this manner. So we will be boycotting these companies. It won't be easy, it will take extra effort and sacrifice, but isnt' that what being a Christian is all about???

I haven't seen anywhere in the Bible where is states being a Christian will be easy, a party(well wait until we get to those pearly gates) or a popularity contest! Jesus said, "They hated me first!" (John 15:18) "All men will hate you because of Me." (Matt 10:22a)
But the reassuring part that gives us peace in making tough decisions is...."But he who stands firm till the end, will be saved." (Matt 10:22b)

I've listed many of the companies who are using Senomyx and who are included in the boycott on the right side of my blog. Companies won't change their practices until the people demand change....will Christians stand up and be heard?

Treasures.....Earthly or Heavenly?

Last time, I shared how we as a family are on a mission to live a simple life. Not just because it's fun, (sometime it's not fun) but because the Lord has impressed upon us the need to turn to Him to get our satisfaction in life not to this world and the things it offers.

In the Bible, it says in Matthew 6:19-21

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

We constantly feel the pull of the world on us, to keep up with others, buy the newest and greatest, and fulfil our "needs" with things that are really wants. Adult peer pressure is a big distraction from living the way God wants us to.

God knew that these worldly things would be a great temptation to us or He wouldn't have been so clear and direct about how we should live.

So in order to give temptation the boot, we had to start thinking in a different way. When deciding that we wanted our home, our lives, and our hearts to look different than the world, we knew that others might not get it or understand our new focus, but we felt a total peace about what we were about to adventure out into. Our thinking had to change from "I want that!" to "What do I already have?"

We had to make a conscious decision to choose CONTENTMENT.

We needed to start saying "Thank you" to God for what He had blessed our family with, and start saying, "No thank you" to what the world was offering. The world offers temporary excitement, but it will decay and turn to dust, but if we focus our lives on stockpiling heavenly treasures we will have eternal rewards waiting for us.

We think it is so important that any family goal  we have is based in scripture and that we are trying to accomplish it for the correct reasons. Heart issues are of highest importance, because habits wont really stick if they aren't based in true convictions. Those convictions lead us to making decisions with eternal significance.

We've had many hurtle we've had to face on this journey, and one of the biggest has been having how we got  here? No little girls grows up saying,

"I can't wait to just fill my house to the brim with things I don't really need so I can clean, organize, and hoard them!!!"

Yet somehow our house was full of things that we just HAD to have at one point. We didn't stop to ask any questions about the purchases we were making.....they were cool, they were needed, and we wanted them now. Months, weeks, and days later, those same items were stuck in a closet or drawer gathering dust and taking up precious space.

We've had to take a step back to see why some things are in our home and why we bought them. We realized that decluttering and purging is great, but the real way to practice simple living is to be intentional in everything that we do. We realize we can't stop the "stuff cycle" until we start really evaluating what we are bring in to our home. We've introduced a new evaluation technique that we review with any purchase we are thinking  about making. Here are some of the questions we ask ourselves:

• Do I need this?
• Do we have something else that serves a similar purpose?
• Where will this item live?
• Does it fall into our budget?
• Would I enjoy packing this item into a box and transporting it when a move comes?
• Have I talked to my spouse about this?
• Have we prayed about it?
• Have I walked away from it, thought about it, researched it, and still want it?

What are some questions you ask when evaluation a purchase? Have you been convicted about the things your purchase?

Giveaway: The Extraordinary Mother

In honor of Mother's Day, I'm giving away a copy of John MacArthur's The Extraordinary Mother! It is a fabulous little hardcover devotional book with stories of wonderful mother's of the Bible. They are short, yet interested, quick, yet profound! It is something you can read to have a devotional on mornings when you don't feel like the best mom or wife, it is very encouraging!!

Grace to You says,

"John MacArthur offers this insightful, Scripture-based look into what makes mothers truly extraordinary. The book's contemporary design appeals to modern women's sophisticated tastes, while the message of mothers' faith unfolds. Among the extraordinary mothers in this book are Eve, Sarah, Hagar, Jochebed, Hannah, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, Huldah, Mary, the mother of John Mark, and Eunice. None of these mothers is perfect, but their strength is shown in their children and in their own lives."

If you would like to win a copy of this for yourself or to use as a gift for someone else, perhaps a friend, a brand new mom, or maybe your mom, here's how you can get it!

1) Leave a comment here about one of your favorite Bible Moms!

2) FB or Twitter about this giveaway and then come back and leave a comment that you did.

3) Write about this giveaway on your blog and then leave a comment that you did.

4) Extra Bonus: Leave a comment on what you love most about your mom or most about being a mom.

Lent Challenge!

So I found this great blog and I loved her idea of purging for Lent. Her goal, 40 bags in 40 days!! It could be donations, things to sell, or just trash and junk. I have been in a nesting mood for a while now and already have piles of things to donate and give away, not to mention tons of trash!! Lent starts on March 9th, so you have plenty of time to gear up with trash bags and boxes! :)

Every day for 40 days my goal will be to lighten our load in order to have an easier place to clean, a happier place to live, and encourage a heart for giving in our family. We have so many things that we could bless others with and now is a perfect time to focus on Jesus' gift and sacrifice for us. This is a really good hands on way to let go of some things that may be weighting us down, share with others, and focus our attention on not being materialistic!!

I would love for you to join too!! Don't forget to take before and after pictures to share! Check out Clover Lane, she has some great ideas!!!

Merry Christmas!!

Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward man! Luke 2:14

Faith in Action Friday: When Times are Easy

I hate that I forget to lean on God.

I hate that I think I am in control.

I hate that I take these times for granted.

I hate that things and stuff take priority in my life.

I hate that I forget the sacrifice my Lord made for me.

I hate that I become selfish and stop seeing needs around me.

I hate that I stop praying without ceasing, but pray when it fits in.

I hate that I stop living and sharing the good news to those around me.

I hate that I focus on temporal things that mean nothing to the Kingdom.

I hate that God has to bring me to my knees all over again to bring my focus back to His glory.

I am thankful for His PATIENCE, FORGIVENESS, and MERCY!

Psalm 36:5-11
Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast. How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.
May the foot of the proud not come against me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.

Faith in Action Friday: When Hard Times Come

I love that God will never leave me.

I love that things all happen for a reason.

I love that each hard time I experience, grows my faith.

I love that God has a plan for every tiny detail of my life.

I love that my reaction to trials can bring others to the Lord.

I love that down the road I will be able to look back and rejoice in this suffering.

I love that my suffering is so insignificant compared to the sacrifice the Lord made for me.

I love that when I am afraid, God holds me in His hands and covers me with His protection.

I love that someday everything will be revealed and I will see God's magnificent plan for my life!

I love that every hard time I go through, I can rest in God and know that He is using this trial to being me closer to Him.

James 1:2-18

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

I've Been Exchanged, Not Just Changed!

"Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things are passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Isn't in wonderful that we can go to God whenever we want and talk to Him on a personal level. Can you imagine living in Old Testament times where once a year you could go confess your sins at the temple to a guy with a rope tied around his waste, (you know to pull him out just in case God struck him dead!!!) that then presented your sins to God....that's some major red tape. The freedom we have today to directly approach God is so overwhelming! We get to talk directly to the Creator of our universe because Christ bridged the gap for us by dying on the cross.

The even more exciting part is that not only can we talk to God, but that He will speak to us. The Holy Spirit is the primary way God guides His believers and this spirit indwells every believer. When the Holy Spirit indwells us, It begins to change our wants, the way we act, and the way we see things.

Lately, I have been overwhelmed with worldly distractions around me. I've been a Christian for a LONG time, but I'm embarrassed to say that I wasn't always living the lifestyle that God wanted me to. I was looking to stuff, people, and experiences to fulfill me when I should have been leaning on God. It took moving across country for God to show me the plan He had for my life and that I needed to lean on Him, not people or things.

Everyone has a conscience but when the Spirit indwells us, our tastes change and things that seemed so important last week, or even yesterday, don't seem important when we start living in the ways of God. Some examples that have been on my heart lately have been what I've been viewing, hearing, saying, and the way I've been acting.

Viewing: In God's word it says that killing and adultery are wrong, yet I was watching shows that portrayed these terrible things and sometimes even exalted them. I was also paying to see movies that supported actors, directors, and companies that have views, beliefs, and ties to things that I don't believe in.

Hearing: I was also listening to music that was talking about things that are dishonorable to the Lord and had bad language, talk of premarital sex, drinking, partying and other ungodly things.

Talking: I was using words that didn't build up others and was saying things to disrespect my husband and his role in our family. I was also complaining and "venting" about problems instead of counting blessings and thanking the Lord for each "experience" He sent my way.

Actions: I was not treating Tom with respect or acting like a Christian should. The way we act around others, is sometimes our biggest witness and I want people to KNOW without a doubt by my actions that I follow what the Lord teaches.

There are so many temptations out there to distract us from hearing the Lord and following what the Holy Spirit is leading us to do. When we yield and obey the Holy Spirit's leading in our lives, God will conform our souls to the image of Christ and will use our bodies as instruments to carry out His purposes.

Are there any areas in your life that you feel the Lord tugging at you to change or take a new route? Are there things that you struggle with, but know that the Lord is displeased with your actions? I encourage you to take them to the Lord and give them over to Him. When we started our journey, we were overwhelmed with the changes God was putting on our hearts, but once we trusted Him for support, encouragement, and guidance, we were shocked at how easy it was to let go of those things and follow His will.

Faith in Action Friday: My Grown up Christmas List

How often do we as Christians approach God like how as children we approached Santa Clause?

This past week, I started a Bible study at the church I attend MOPs at, titled Discerning the Voice of God. In this first week we talked about how different people believe God speaks to them. Whether you believe He speaks to you through His word, through those around you and opportunities that He opens or closes, through a silent feeling, or with a booming voice from above, God does speak to us.

The real question is, ARE YOU LISTENING? I know that I am totally guilty of going to God in prayer when a hard time arises and I need some help or I go to Him, like Santa, and say I need this, this, & could you give me a little of that. I try to manipulate God ......like we can do that.....to get what I want. I'm always talking, my husband will agree, but if I'm asking all this stuff, why am I not taking time to listen to His answer. Many times I ask for His will and direction, and then immediately go do what I think is best....why did I even consult God if I already knew what I was going to do? Also, I notice, many times, I've already made up my mind long before I even ask, hoping that somehow I'll get God's blessing on my decision, so heaven forbid, I don't get His wrath poured out on me.

It's very hard in our busy lives to truly slow down and just listen to what God's direction is for our lives. We know where WE want to be and what WE want to do, but we are missing out on God's amazing plan for our lives by pushing His will away. I encourage you to listen to God. If you ask Him a question He WILL answer. It may not be the answer you want or in the time you planned it...... but that's another week!

Are there areas in your life that you have made a snap judgment call and then regretted it or realized that you went against God's leading? I know I have, especially when it came to family decisions, it's hard, but we need to ready ourselves like Habakkuk and wait.

Habakkuk 2:1
I will stand at my watch
and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what He will say to me,
and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

Please join me if you like in Discerning the Voice of God!

This post is orginally from my Faith in Action blog, but I will be sharing it with you here on

Faith in Action Fridays!