A Look Back on 2018

My phrase for the beginning of 2018 was Defined By God.  I am amazed that every year I've done these phrases and posts - that when I go to look back on them at the end of the year - it truly did define that year!  This WAS the year that I became defined by God and God alone!  I had great personal and spiritual growth, probably more so in one year than I've ever had.



I let God cleanse me of the poison of the past.  I arose above others' definitions and characterizations of me that were untrue.  I broke the spiritual barriers that had been in my life for so long preventing me from reaching the place God wanted me to be.  I became even more aware of our destiny as I received 2 prophesies personally from the Lord through my Pastor.  I can't even hardly begin to tell you what God has done in our lives - I'm amazed and humbled.

I remember the first time I ever got a prophesy about me was from a doctor (of all people right?).  It was when we first came to Ohio at a doctor visit.  I felt the Holy Spirit moving and then the doctor began to speak a prophesy on me about my destiny.  It was one of the most amazing things I've ever experienced and something we NEVER had in the previous 18 years since being saved.  I can tell you now, 2 years after that prophesy, it has proved trueThis year of 2018, I received 2 prophesies - one in April and one actually just last night!  Both of these came through my Pastor by the Holy Spirit.  I've only to date had 3 prophesies to me in my entire life, other than things my mom declared about my life in church growing up that the Lord had showed her that I would marry a preacher.

These 2 prophesies I received this year were major turning points in my life!  I needed to hear them and God knew that!  I think how much better my life would have been, had they been allowed in former times but God knew where to bring us.  According to the most recent prophesy to me last night, something major is coming my way in a good way.  God promised me something years ago and I'm getting ready to step into that, I can feel it!

Our Pastor told the church recently about the vision he had several years ago,  and the interpretation of it from a preacher in another state; that he didn't even tell about the vision but God gave it to him and the meaning - and how when we walked in the church for the first time, the Pastor said God told him, that's them!  God truly sent us to this city for 2 purposes - one was our former Pastor, who I saw go through sad things and who had a heart of gold and was the one who helped me step into my spiritual gift fully and embrace it.  I also watched God set him free in many ways.  God also set us free in many ways.  Then, the 2nd Pastor God led us to and the destiny that we entered in to.  I've seen my husband break off the cloak of barriers that prevented direct access to God and seen him trust the Holy Spirit's leading for himself.  I've seen God promote him and I've seen him step into his call to preach again.  We've seen our daughter stand up and testify, and we've testified!  Something we didn't get to do for 18 years and that, in itself, is a tragedy!  We now enjoy freedom and liberty in Christ and see what church looks like when the Holy Spirit is allowed in all His fullness to orchestrate the service.  I wouldn't trade it for anything.

God defined me this year through the prophesies He sent!  I truly became DEFINED BY GOD - and Him alone!  No more letting others determine my worth, my value and who I am in God - God had had enough and He has chosen to make this past year, a year of defining in truth.

When Your Light Offends


You can try and be the sweetest, nicest person in the world but if you are truly born-again and a light for Jesus, you will offend others by the sheer light in you that invades their darkness.  You don't have to do anything.  You don't have to say anything.  Just the fact that you are light is all that is needed to make others hate you!

John 3:19-20
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 

Matthew Henry's commentary for this scripture really speaks!  You will find people will not want you around because just you being there makes them feel bad!

The true reason why men love darkness rather than light is because their deeds are evil. They love darkness because they think it is an excuse for their evil deeds, and they hate the light because it robs them of the good opinion they had of themselves, by showing them their sinfulness and misery. Their case is sad, and, because they are resolved that they will not mend it, they are resolved that they will not see it.

I've found that you can never be right in some people's eyes, you will never be good enough or say things correctly and even the lack of you saying things will be wrong as well.  See, when you have the light, it is unbearable to those that choose to live in darkness.  Only when you step over to the darkness will you be accepted too.  So quit trying to appease everyone!  You are going to be hated.  You are going to despised.  You are going to have enemies.  You are going to suffer wrong.  You are going to be talked about.  You are going to be falsely accused.  Just stand and endure for Christ!

Quit casting your precious pearls before swine to trample on - that's the message God has for us today.  A lot of times God tries to protect us from hurtful people or situations, yet we constantly run after them seeking their love and approval because we are so needy.  In some situations, we should have had their love and approval, but we are in sad world of sin and robbed of that.  Quit running after them.  Quit chasing their approval.  Quit trying to make them love you!  Accept that you have done all you could, even more than you should have - and let go.

When you get to that place in your life when you truly let go, you will find your healing!  Your recovery will begin and you will be a much better person emotionally.  Jesus told us this would happen, even with those we love and think should never happen with:

Matthew 10:22; 34-36
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.; ... Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 

Christ's light divides from the darkness - you can't mix the two!  Those in darkness will not be able to even stand to be around you, you are making them feel bad - go away they may say!!  If you can comfortably walk with those in darkness, then you may need to question if you really have the light.

2 Corinthians 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Don't be surprised when your light offends, it comes with the territory!  Strive and do your best to keep peace with all men with all that lieth in you, right?  But, realize that you are blinding to those in darkness and you make them feel uncomfortable just by your very presence.  It isn't you - it's Christ they are rejecting and we are called to endure to the end.

Message to Young Women From a Feminist Career Woman

This is great advice for young women from a feminist who, sadly, has learned that feminism is indeed a lie, not so much just a lie... but a spirit that destroys women as it destroys society and the order of God's creation!  You can listen to the Dennis Prager radio call or read the transcript at the link below:


Transcript Link

Spiritual Gifts Don't Prove The Person - Fruit Does!

I have seen people follow individuals just because of the great spiritual gift(s) they have, assuming that they MUST be right to have such a gift and such miracles.  However, that is a dangerous road of assumption.  God gives gifts and callings and they never go away - even when the person walks away from God and sins.  They still have the gift or calling!  (Romans 11:29)  That is why we are told in God's Word to rather, judge a tree by its fruits:



Matthew 7:15-16

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  Ye shall know them by their fruits.

Don't look at the signs and wonders, the gifts, the miracles, great speech, etc. - LOOK at the fruit of that person's life!  Do they show love?  Meekness?  Self-Control?  Gentleness? etc.  It has been said with cults, never look at their beliefs or doctrine, as some can have their doctrine just exactly right - rather, look at their ACTIONS!  What do they do?  Are they full of the fruits of the spirit?  Most of the time cults are not, they are controlling, manipulative and use guilt tactics to have power over people in a lording sort of way, which God forbids!  It is actually the spirit of witchcraft these cults use as witchcraft is making others do what you want them to do.  God doesn't even do that as He made us with a free will!  The Holy Spirit sure doesn't do that.  Yet, some cults, even in the name of Christ, will use witchcraft to make people do what they want.  And usually, they were started by a man who had some great gift or calling at one time yet fell to something - whether it was adultery, pride, etc. and people followed the man because of his great gift or calling, and blindly continued to follow in idolatry.

This is why as you read of many of the miraculous leaders throughout our time, people wonder HOW they could have done those miracles and yet live in sin at the same time.  Think of Jim Jones, he was a very great man in the beginning, as there are people that can attest to that who knew him and followed him.  However, he went out of his mind at some point and was overcome with the spirit of witchcraft to control people.  You may know the rest of the story, how these idolators did everything he said, even drinking the kool-aid and they died.  You can NOT follow a man, you only follow him as he follows God and if he stops following God and starts using Satan's ways of control, etc. - RUN!!  We are commanded by God to watch out for these false prophets by judging them against God's Word and that is why people fall to cults of all kinds - they didn't count God's Word or His Holy Spirit as #1!

Think of what wolves do.  They attack the sheep.  They tear them apart.  They ruin the flock!  They fleece and waste the sheep.  If you really think on that and compare your Pastor to that, you will know if you are truly under a wolf.  I'm thankful that my Pastor does none of that and never has to anyone in his 49 years of preaching the gospel!  He rather has the fruits of the spirit and is a gentle man but don't be fooled - he can preach hard things and rebuke but does it in love and you don't feel attacked by Satan but rather convicted by the Holy Spirit.  Thank God for Godly Pastors that love, care and feed their flock!!  God tells us what a true Pastor will be like:

1 Peter 5:2-3
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 


The Bible clearly warns us about signs and wonders and clearly warns us that even the VERY ELECT could be deceived!  Satan is able, as was shown by the Egyptian magicians in the OT, to operate signs and wonders.


Matthew 24:24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 

Mark 13:22
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 

We already saw that Satan has the ability to do signs and wonders, that is why we must not follow after those things alone!  Come on, read your Bible and don't be deceived! 

On the flip side, we need to respect those with spiritual gifts and allow them to be used in the church, as this is what God created the church to work like!  If you go to a church that doesn't allow anyone in the congregation to exercise spiritual gifts, guess what!?  You are in a cult!  Of course they wouldn't want people to use their spiritual gifts, most especially those with the spirit of discernment - because then, they would be found out for what they are!  They would be exposed to be the false prophets that they are.  Therefore, it makes much sense that those with the spirit of discernment are the hardest hit by Satan.  Satan is well-aware of their gift and knows who has it!  He will do all he can do to discredit that person so their discernments are not allowed or received.  With the other gifts, don't worship that individual for the great things that are done through them, but rather let their gift help the flock.

Find a church that allows the spiritual gifts to operate!  Each church will have all the gifts, as God is the one that gives them out to whom He chooses.  Next, don't follow after some man (or woman), just because of their great spiritual gift or oration abilities!  Measure your Pastor always by God's Word and if he veers off course and doesn't change, find another one.  We are nearing the end, if not there already - and must be watchful and mindful and know God's Word for ourselves because we won't be judged by what so-and-so said, we will be judged by the Word of God, which we had access to.  If you go to church where the Pastor is threatened by your questions or expects you to take his word for it and not search the scriptures - RUN!  You found a false prophet.  A true man of God, will rather encourage you to search the Bible and he won't have a narcissistic-ego that is offended that you would question him.  Think of fruits - it will tell the tree!

Why Wives Work - Unbelief

What is the basis, the real reason why a woman, who has an able-bodied husband to provide for her - would go to work?  You could say greed, covetousness, etc. but the true basis is that of UNBELIEFThey don't believe or have faith in God to follow His Word and live on their husband's income.  They have decided rather to take matters into their hands and make it happen.  Instead of being dependent upon God and His Word, they rather play God and become independent and put themselves under another man's headship besides their husband.

Faith does God's Word and falls into line with the roles we were made to follow.  Faith depends upon God to provide, not ourselves as women.  Faith shows the world that God's Word is true and you can depend upon Him!  No wonder God says women can cause the Word of God to be blasphemed.  By not following His Word - they are encouraging the world, the unsaved, to be independent upon themselves and not dependent upon God.  Titus 2:5


Clark says it well:

That the word of God be not blasphemed - The enemies of the Gospel are quick-eyed to spy out imperfections in its professors; and, if they find women professing Christianity living an irregular life, they will not fail to decry the Christian doctrine on this account: “Behold your boasted religion! it professes to reform all things, and its very professors are no better than others! Our heathenism is as good as your Christianity.” These are cutting reproaches; and much they will have to answer for who give cause for these blasphemies.

When people ask me how we do it without me working and how we've done it for almost 19 years now, the answer is easy - I have FAITH in God.  Sure, I could definitely take things into my hands and get a career but for what end?  To have more stuff?  To have a bigger house to store more stuff?  To be a money lover?  To see my kids tossed on someone else to school and babysit?  To cause the Word of God to be blasphemed by showing I have no faith it can be done God's way?  Why in the world would I want that!?

I trust God and have always trusted God to provide by following His Word and His model for a wife and it has proved blessed.  I would rather have God (and my husband and children) smile on me than have the acclaim of others by what career I had or what awards I had.  I've already been down that road.  I had many awards in my short military career, advanced fast and was set for a successful career in the world's eyes.  I had a choice when I got saved and then got married - I could either continue my selfish desires or I could submit myself to my husband as the head and to God's Word for wives.  I chose God's way!

Pray to God to help your evil heart of unbelief and start believing in faith that God can provide your needs through His master plan for the husband and wife and family!!  Show the world through your life and your faith that there IS something different.  Don't allow your independence and unbelief to blaspheme God's Word to the lost!  Either He is your God or He isn't!  Either His Word works or it doesn't!

Self-Lovers & Money-Lovers

When we look at the end times signs of 2 Timothy 3, we find a long list of what shall become of mankind and it isn't a pretty picture.  How evident these things are today but sadly, they are accepted as the norm!  Notice the first 2 things listed are self-lovers and money-lovers:

2 Timothy 3:2
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous...



If there ever was a time in history when we see self-love, it is now!  Take Facebook for instance, there are those who constantly change their profile pic to yet another pose of themselves constantly.  If having a picture of yourself wasn't enough, changing several times a week is overload.  Sadly, it is here - a culture that is full of itself.

Matthew Henry put it well in his commentary:

Self-love brings in a long train of sins and mischiefs. When men are lovers of themselves, no good can be expected from them, as all good may be expected from those who love God with all their hearts. When covetousness generally prevails, when every man is for what he can get and for keeping what he has, this makes men dangerous to one another, and obliges every man to stand on his guard against his neighbour. 

Self-love is a close relative of money-love, they kind of go hand in hand.  When all you think about is your SELF, you tend to not think of others and their plight.  You will build your bigger barns and look to your own luxury and never consider that you could help someone in need.  You will have 5 coats (or shoes ladies!) and your brother in the Lord barely has 1 with holes in it - instead of buy or give him a coat, you will talk about him behind his back.  This shouldn't be so among those in the faith!

John Gill's commentary states it this way:

...who only love themselves; their love to God, and Christ, and to the saints, being only in pretence, not in reality; and who do all they do in a religious way, from a principle of self-love, and to selfish and mercenary ends; either to gain glory and applause from men, or to merit something for themselves at the hands of God, without any view to the glory of God, the honour and interest of Christ, and the good of others;

You obviously need to love yourself to love others but you don't grossly over-love yourself to the point you are full of yourself.  Let God be first in your life by loving Him and then love your neighbor as yourself and you will never find yourself on the wrong road!

Love, Mercy and Forgiveness


I have many that have lied on me, wronged me, falsely accused me, discredited me, smeared my name and so forth, but I'm reminded that although the flesh would've like to seek vengeance and vindication - the love of God restrained me.  Instead, with each hurt, I grew in mercy and forgiveness for the wrongdoer.  If you do this, you will never become bitter!  It won't matter what they say about you, what they do to you...  you will grow in the perfect love of Christ and share in His sufferings.

I'm reminded of the great love chapter, Corinthians 13, and how it tells us that the first thing we should seek above all is what?  LOVE (charity)!  You can have a lot of things but if you don't have love - you're nothing God says!  The first commandment is to love God and the second is to love thy neighbour as thyself.  It goes on to say in Romans:  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.   Think about that for a while.

Even when someone does wrong to us and never says they are sorry, we are still to have mercy and forgive them.  If they were true Christians, they would follow the Bible and come to you and work it out!  I've always found that those who can't say they are sorry, are not real Christians, they are wolves in sheep's clothing and they will only do more harm to you and others.  We should pray for them as they are truly, our enemies.  They may have the spirit of narcissism, which comes along with a lot of religious leaders unfortunately, supposing that they themselves are God.  They seek their own worship, they are never wrong and they will discredit anyone that threatens their worshipers from idolizing them.  This one is easy - find a Godly Pastor who doesn't humiliate you to correct you, doesn't use his pulpit to slander others and does all things in the spirit of love, and you will stay far from the spirit of narcissism, but most importantly a false prophet!

But what about the friends that believe the lies?  Well, it is a good time that you found out that some people will believe a lie way before they believe the truth!  Or as the adage goes - A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.  Ain't that the truth!?  You will find that true friends will find both sides of the story and pray and seek God before they react.  Anyone that doesn't - count it a blessing from God that they are removed from your life!  God has saved me a lot of trouble in my life by this very thing, He knows how to weed out the tares!

It isn't up to us to seek vengeance.  God sees it all!  Every word, every slander, every false accusation - God sees it all.  It may hurt to be lied on unjustly but we will find our healing in mercy and forgiveness.  We can't allow the root of bitterness to spring up in us and defile us!  That is what Satan would want but we can rather, grin and bear it - stay sweet in our souls and pray that others will repent in time and come to know true Godly love.  Maybe, just maybe, our correct love response will bring them to shame for their evil, we could only hope.

Families Benefit from Tax Plan

I was playing around with some numbers on the new drafted tax forms from the IRS for this coming tax season of 2018.  It is pretty amazing how great Trump's new tax plan from last year is for families.  It is especially great for families with more than 3 kids but those with 2 kids will also find great savings.

For the typical family of 4, that includes 2 children, you actually will pay NO federal tax at all until your household income reaches $60K.  Then, for every $5K after that, you will pay on average $600 or 12% as shown below.  However, if you go into the next tax bracket past $78,950, your tax increases to 22%.

2-dependent child tax credit households making:



$60,000 and below = NO federal income tax owed
$65,000 = $600
$70,000 = $1200
$75,000 = $1800

If you have a 3rd child, you may even qualify for an additional child tax credit, which means the government will actually PAY you for having that child despite you not paying a dime in federal income tax.  Some may say that isn't fair but it is!  By having children, you are helping the government by adding another taxpayer.  It is great the government is finally giving back - oh, thanks to Marco Rubio who added this child tax credit increase at the last minute before the bill passed.

It isn't all roses, even though you may not pay federal income tax, you still must pay about 13% in other taxes:

  • Social Security tax - 6.2% of income
  • Medicare tax - 1.45% of income
  • State Income Tax - Ohio's is 2.6% on most families
  • City Income Tax - if you live in a state that taxes the city you work in, you pay up to 2.5% of income
  • School Tax - again, if you live in a district that taxes you, you pay average of 1% of income tax


So for a family making close to $60K - you may pay upwards of $7,800 in other income taxes.


*Averages are based upon a typical one income earner, married filing jointly, with W2 wages only and no contributions to HSA, retirement, etc.  Calculation short list: Income - $24,000 standard deduction = taxable income; tax - child tax credits of $4,000 for 2 children = 0 tax owed

God is ALWAYS Right on Time!

We had a unexpected situation recently that we had to make an immediate upfront payment for.  It was a large sum money and one we believed was going to be reimbursed to us in the near future.  However, the reimbursement was being denied (which just isn't right for them to do!), and we were left with the lack of funds to cover our monthly expenses.  I was angry and just couldn't believe that such an injustice would be done and then we were left in a situation that could put us into debt temporarily.

In the midst of this anger and fear - I stood up and began declaring the Word of God!  I prayed and petitioned Heaven for help to correct this wrong done to us.  I then did my best to let the situation go and just waited upon God to move.

Nothing happened.  I was getting nervous as the date was drawing nearer and we were going to be short money and be in debt to cover our regular expenses.  This past Sunday I knelt at the altar and asked for financial help.  I didn't think much about it until Monday came and the miracles started flowing in drowning me in blessings!!
 
It started out with a few hundred dollars and I thought, that's it - that's our miracle.  Then, after a phone call, of whom the caller had no idea what I'd been praying about, begin to inform me that they felt LED to give us such an amount of money and they had received a call from another family member who was also giving us some early Christmas money.  By the end of the day Monday - we had MORE than enough to cover the unexpected expense and then some leftover for savings!

God is ALWAYS right on time!  I don't care what we have gone through the past 18 1/2 years, God has ALWAYS provided and ALWAYS met our needs.. sometimes with minutes to spare!  From providing for my son's $400 a month formula to touching a plumber's heart to say NO CHARGE to us when he finished some work for us.  Always, always, always!!  FAITH MOVES MOUNTAINS and I suppose that the landscape of our lives has proven that.  Thanks be unto God - He takes care of His people!

Thinking of Others or Only Ourselves?

You hardly see this mentioned anywhere but we are actually in a housing crisis.  Homes were too inflated for the lower-to-middle class consumer to purchase and rent was too high as well.  All that is coming down as home prices nationwide are falling dramatically.  In NYC alone, it is a buyer's market with people snatching up properties for $20K less than the asking price.  In my area, people started realizing the home prices were going down the past 2 months and are listing like crazy but there are hardly any buyers.  Rents are still very high and inflated and we will see if those come down.

I'm not here to talk about the housing crisis in that regard, I'm here to talk about how we got here.  It is more profitable for a builder to build a large, 2-story home on a lot than a small ranch home that is affordable for the buyer.  That, I believe is a huge problem as we are forced to either buy a home that is too big for what we really need, or we buy an older, smaller, more affordable home that drowns us in repairs.  We need more affordable, smaller homes being built for families!  There isn't a builder that I know that is willing to reduce his profit to do such a thing.

I've envisioned communities with 1000-1200sq ft ranch homes that are $80K, making it affordable for most families.  There just isn't anything like that being built anymore.  It isn't entirely the builder's greed that is the cause, it is American's greed as well, as they seek to live in homes that are much larger than they actually need.  I'm reminded of the scripture in Luke 12 of the man who was doing so good, he thought he would build bigger barns.  Why not, right?  You've earned it, you should have better, right?  That man lost sight of helping others and instead focused on his own luxuries and security.

I suppose you can do whatever you want and live the life you've earned (hopefully by moral means), but I feel that God doesn't just bless us with finances for us to have more.  I believe God hopes we will think of someone other than ourselves!  Again, novel thought I know.  

You can either ensure your own luxury in this world, or you can be the tool of the hand of God to help others in need.  Sometimes God may draw us out of our own financial security to help another - are we willing to obey Him or is our financial security really our God?  It is time to become dependent upon God and not independent on our own.

Garage Clean-Up

The garage seems like it is the place to put everything we don't want in the house.  I now understand why people have so much stuff in their garage, it makes a great storage area!  I had tons of stuff that we no longer needed that I wanted to get rid of or sell that was too good to just throw in the trash but I hadn't took the time to go through all of it and it just kind of piled up.  I finally took about 4 hours yesterday and went through most of it.  I have bins full of things now to sell on eBay or give away.



I had a 30-gallon storage bin for the outside toys but it wasn't working, so I replaced it with a 40-gallon bin:

Out With the Old...

In with the new!  We bought our first home 2 years ago and it is now 14, almost 15 years old.  It seems like it is the time for things to need replacing.  On one hand it was upsetting that the kitchen faucet was leaking and the hose had rips, but on the other hand, I'm glad it did because I love my new faucet LOL!!

Here is our white faucet before, which we found out upon trying to remove that it was severely corroded and installed incorrectly:



This is the new one, which was very easy to install and is way better because I no longer have to reach to get the water stream, it is in the middle of the sink now:




Next thing that went bad was our master bathroom faucet and after finding we couldn't fix it, we replaced it.  The new one has a cool LED light that is really fun to use in the dark - seriously, I never knew faucets would be so exciting.  I don't like chrome, so I opted for the nickel-plated.



Helping the (True) Needy

Why are we supporting legislation to help women with child care costs when they should be raising their own children at home?  We should only be helping women who are single or have husbands that can't work - you know, the ones who actually need it?  How about being content with your husband's wages and raising your children, like everyone else does that makes it on one income?  Put aside greed, your selfish desires, your "success" and follow after God's design for women - being a mother!  Novel thought I know.

Save the food stamps, housing, child care costs, etc. for those who NEED it - the disabled and single.  Quit stealing the working man and his family's money!!

That goes for school too - why do we support a socialism-based schooling system where everyone has to pay for it?  Pay for your own!  Leave the funded-school for those that NEED it.

If you keep milking the system and stealing from others - you will keep saying the same ole' rhetoric that you can't make it on one income.  I've got a newsflash for you - God's way works and He blesses you for obedience!!


*Unfortunately the medical world and insurance companies have made it almost impossible for ANYBODY but a millionaire to afford the medical costs today.  What needs to happen is the costs to go down and bring back affordable premiums and costs.  Until then, we have Christian-sharing ministries to help afford the costs if your employer doesn't provide a low-cost plan.

Preaching, Horses & My 1st Song!

My husband got assurance of his call to preach. He just had to be in the right place, and here we are in the right place, and he is preaching again. It is amazing how God moves and if you just follow Him, you WILL find that place! He preached for 5 years off and on from 2001-2006 but never could remember a place where God called him, he had just been told he was called. I'm glad that he was careful in seeking it out and only doing it when and where God wanted him to and now is the time!

My daughter has put flying planes aside for a while and started horse riding lessons. I can say that I actually preferred the flying over the horses LOL! I'm not an animal person, except for cats and I don't even have those anymore because I can't take the hair and smell. I sure can't stand horses and the smell of the barns. I'm glad that we can give her a chance to explore all of these interests and she's having the time of her life while doing so!

My son is a very precise little fellow. He likes things to be done at certain times, routines and he is gifted as I've mentioned before. He loves to help me cook and be by my side when I work. He is so tall! He made up and played his own song on the piano and amazed us all recently. Every week I'm amazed at something else he does.

I'm doing well and have come a long way. I just recorded my first song in a studio! It is going to be a bluegrass gospel album but the first song is contemporary gospel. It was at the urging of a friend that I did it and I was scared but I did it.  The song was written about me, as the person that wrote it said God gave them the song about me. It was moving to read it earlier this year but even more moving to sing it! I cherish it because it is a comfort and I believe it will also help many others and that is my prayer!

Ohio is still beautiful and wonderful - it is fall now and the leaves are just beginning to change colors because we have been in the 90's up until the past week. Life here is blessed. We've come a long way and its the Lord that's brought us!!

How to Evaluate Health Insurance Plans


As a homemaker you manage your home, and I believe this includes the budgeting and researching for what is needed, such as health insurance.  I wanted to help by showing you how I evaluate which plan overall would not only save the most, but in my opinion, be well worth the "risk."

Let's take 4 plans offered by a large employer.  You have the highest plan known as the PPO generally, which has the highest premium but lowest deductible and offers copays along with coinsurance.  Next, is the step-down plan, which costs a bit less in premiums but the deductible is higher.  Then, there is usually a third plan that is the lowest premium but highest deductible.  However, since Obamacare, a lot of employers have started offering high-deductible plans, which is the 4th one I'm going to share.  This plan has a very low premium but a very high deductible.

  1. PPO Plan - $9,300/yr premium, $775/month; $2,000 deductible with copays ($30 doctor visit, etc.) and 20% coinsurance.  Yearly family maximum is $12,500.
  2. Plan #2 - $6,200/yr premium, $517/month; $4,000 deductible with 20% coinsurance.  Yearly family maximum is $7,000.
  3. Plan #3 - $4600/yr premium, $383/month; $6,000 deductible with 30% coinsurance.  Yearly maximum is $9,000
  4. HDD Plan - $3,000/yr premium, $250/month; $10,000 deductible with 40% coinsurance.  Yearly family maximum is $12,500.

Let's consider a medical emergency happens of $10,000 total for the year for this family.  Here is what they will pay with each plan.  I include the premiums in the total cost but that is exactly HOW you should calculate your costs - what is it really costing you all year?

  1. PPO Plan: $9,300 premium + $3,600 ($2,000 deductible + $1,600 (20% of $8,000)) = $12,900
  2. Plan #2:  $6,200 premium + $6,200 ($4,000 deductible + $1,200 (20% of $6,000)) = $11,400
  3. Plan #3: $4,600 premium + $7,200 ($6,000 deductible + $1,200 (30% of 4,000)) = $11,800
  4. HDD Plan: $3,000 premium + $10K ($10,000 deductible +$0 (Nothing covered))    = $13,000

You can see the cheapest plan for a $10K emergency is Plan #2.  But we aren't done evaluating yet!  Most employers will give you money for medical bills in your HSA and it varies depending upon what plan you go with.  The HDD plan gets the MOST money from your employer of any other plan as you will see here:

  1. PPO Plan: $12,900 yearly cost - NO employer HSA donation = $12,900
  2. Plan #2: $11,400 yearly cost - $400 Employer HSA donation = $11,000
  3. Plan #3: $11,800 yearly cost - $600 Employer HSA donation = $11,200
  4. HDD Plan: $13,000 yearly cost - $1,000 Employer HSA donation = $12,000

Those are your true numbers to compare!  If you expect a $10,000 emergency, then go with the cheapest (Plan #2), however if you don't know what you will spend or if you will spend any at all, go with the HDD Plan as it is by far worth the risk.  It won't cost too much more than the other plans in the event of $10,000 medical emergency and it will save you thousands of dollars if you don't end up having any medical costs because you are paying a low premium!!


Here is another comparison - take the yearly premium plus the family maximum for each to see worst-case scenarios:

  1. PPO Plan - $9,300 premium + $12,500 maximum = $21,800
  2. Plan #2 - $6,200 premium + $7,000 maximum - $400 HSA donation = $12,800
  3. Plan #3 - $4,600 premium + $9,000 maximum - $600 HSA donation = $13,000
  4. HDD Plan - $3,000 premium + $12,500 maximum - $1,000 HSA donation = $14,500

Clearly, the PPO plan is a joke and takes most of your money, yet it is the most commonly chosen plan - go figure!  Plan #2, is your best worst-case scenario plan if you know surgery or something is coming up.


I hope that helped you all understand how health insurance works.  I've found that a lot of homemakers don't even research this or leave it up to their husbands, who have a struggle to even find time to research things like this!  Help him out and do it and save your family money and make sure you are with the right plan for your situation.

Day of Reckoning


Many women are feeling the courage to come forward about their molestation, rapes, sexual assault/abuses today.  Twitter is filled with women naming who did what to them for the first time in their lives, as they have been silent for so long.  There may be those that lie, but I believe most are telling the truth, as I know many in my generation were molested, it was common in our day.  You know the late 70's/early 80's when moms worked and children were left to themselves!?  Yep, the latchkey kids.

It isn't limited to workplaces, we can see with the Catholic church that men in authority even in "God's" House are wicked.  And it isn't just the Catholics!!  The Jehovah Witnesses have covered up sexual abuse of children and have finally been sentenced to pay $35 million dollars to survivors!

There are men that think they are God, who play God and think they are above the law - or better yet, they are the law!  I'm so glad that God is pulling the covers off, the Day of Reckoning has arrived.

I'm rejoicing that the hurting are finding the courage to come forward and stare fear right in the face!  I've always been an advocate for sexually abused women and children and so is God!!  I think the world needs to understand what sexual abuse of any kind does to a woman or child permanently!

Thank God He cares and is setting the captives free in a way by enabling them to finally break the silence!

Our Busy Week Meal Plan

We have developed, what I call, a busy week meal plan.  This is a 7-day menu plan for those weeks when I know it is going to busy or those weeks I just don't want to do much in the way of cooking!  Everyone likes this menu and it is cheap as well and very low prep/cooking times.


Monday - Tacos
Tuesday - Pinto Beans & Rice in Instant Pot
Wednesday - Hamburgers & Fries
Thursday - Creamy Chicken & Noodles
Friday - Pizza
Saturday & Sunday - Mac n' Cheese w/ Hot dog chunks



The tacos are made from organic, grass-fed beef and on flour tortillas with all the toppings.  Beans and rice is so easy in my Instant Pot and we add in toppings.  Hamburgers are frozen from Aldi with frozen fries.  The creamy chicken and noodle is my son's favorite and SOOOO easy and it can feed all of us with just 1 pound chicken breast!  Friday is either frozen pizza or homemade pizza.  I cook a 5-quart dish full of homemade mac n' cheese with hot dog chunks in it on Saturday and we have enough leftovers for Sunday's meal.  No cooking on Sunday!

Take Care of Your 4 Walls

If you have listened to Dave Ramsey for any amount of time, you have heard about the 4 walls.  He recommends you take care of your 4 walls before anything else - always making sure you have your 4 walls!  What are the 4 walls?

  1. Food 
  2. Shelter
  3. Transportation
  4. Clothing

I had always put food and clothing on the back burner in place of other things because those were usually the areas that we could save in.  However, after listening to people's stories and those who didn't tend to these things FIRST, I have changed my thoughts on it.  I wanted to go into detail about each to help you all in case you haven't heard of this before.


1.  Food - this includes enough food for your entire family to live on each month.  I believe it also includes things like toilet paper, soap, etc.  The basics - not extras or luxuries.

2.  Shelter - this includes your housing and utilities.   If you have a mortgage, it also includes your property taxes and homeowner's insurance.  If you don't own a home, it includes rent and renter's insurance.  Then, it also includes electric/gas, water/sewer and garbage and non-luxury phone.

3.  Transportation - This is includes gas, car insurance and maintenance of your vehicle.

4.  Clothing - includes basic clothing needs, such as: clothing, shoes, socks, etc.


Dave Ramsey says to make sure you the 4 walls are funded and paid BEFORE paying anything else, such as credit cards or other debts or non-basic expenses.  Whether you or your husband do the budget, it is a good thing for homekeepers to know these things!

Just Making It Budget for Family of 4

Times are getting hard for a lot of "former" middle class families, now considered lower class, despite the economy going so well.  I've been reading it and hearing it in various places.  I'm talking about families that are living on one income already without luxuries.  Incomes aren't going up for a lot, though the prices of everything is, especially health care.

I decided to do a no-frills, no government assistance, just-make-it budget for a typical family of 4 on one income to see just what the base salary needs to be.  This family has no debt but the mortgage possibly.  They also have no life insurance, though some say you can get it for $10 a month, which could be easily added in.  

Tithe - $260
Offerings - $50
Housing (rent or mortgage/prop taxes/HO insurance) - $1000
Car Maintenance/Repair Fund - $90
Car Insurance - $50
Gasoline - $150
Home phone - FREE (Google Voice with Obihai)
Cell phone - $25 (Google Project Fi)
Additional Cell phone line - $15
Electric/Gas - $175
Water/Sewer - $30
Garbage - $30
Internet - $50
Food - $350
Necessity items - $50
Clothing - $30

Total:  $2,355/mo - Higher to cover taxes, so $15 an hour needed; $31,200/yr, $2,600/mo

A good wage for a family really needs to be at $15 an hour and no less to just live.  I didn't include health insurance because a lot are already going without.  Families that live at this level, would need to get government assistance for medical if they want to be covered, as it has become too outrageous for almost anyone to afford.

This budget includes no entertainment/fun money, eating out or other things that most of us do.  I suppose you could find a very cheap place to live to lower the housing and provide extra money that way but the norm around the US is about $1K for something decent - whether that is mortgage/taxes/insurance for a home or rent costs.

After seeing this written out, you can see what a lot of people are facing right now.  There are those that will cut out the tithe/offering but they will soon find out that you can't rob God and expect good things to come!  God has never failed in the 19 years I've paid tithe and offerings and never withheld!  It is HIS money to begin with - he lets you have 90%, please don't think your thoughts are higher than what God has established with our finances.


*Leave me a comment sharing your budget or thoughts.  I've hopefully fixed the comments, but I have no idea because some still say theirs doesn't show up.

New Life - New Everything!


The new hasn't stopped since we stepped out on faith and followed God's leading for our lives.  As soon as we physically stepped foot on the ground here in this area, we felt the Holy Spirit and a strong feeling inside both of us that we had finally arrived in the place we were meant to be.  It was the oddest thing ever but we sure know we are in God's Will!!  I'm still happy, I still love it here - best place I've ever lived before and the whole family is happy here.  We got a new (first) house, a new (first brand new) car.. a new church, new friends - well you get the idea.

It isn't just all that as we are finding out.  We have even had new adventures from traveling to kayaking and being outdoors more!  I really do feel alive again and healthy.  Our daughter has been flying an airplane, our son is a genius (no really, he is) and taught himself piano, multiplication and the list goes on and on.  People at church quiz him all the time about math equations and he is constantly calculating things - a blessing and a curse I suppose.

After having been stagnant for so long and stuck in what wasn't God's Will for us - it is an amazing feeling when you finally, just really have faith and trust GOD.  There is no better place on this earth than the place that God wants you to be - HE knows what you are put on this earth for!  HE knows WHERE you should be better than anyone, amen!?

If we could have gone back in time and just listened to God, we would have been better off.  We would have went to Nashville when we were 22 but oh well - we will never know what might have been and we got a whole lot of experience and lessons in the process.  Suffering has made me a better person!!  I can relate to SO many different people now, I've been there!

I've stepped into some of the roughest parts of town where my color wasn't welcome and witnessed to people at the Lord's leading.  I've watched God touch people and show me what true love really is.  I've seen a church operating with the gifts and freedom of the Spirit allowed to move!  I've seen miracles in person, seen others and even myself healed on the spot while being anointed and watched the youth get in and seek God and receive and be on fire!  I've watched my daughter come alive and stand up many times testifying about what God has done in her and our lives.  I saw my son healed of his speech delay after our first pastor here prayed on him.  Whew... you all, it doesn't stop there!!

I said all that to say this - JUST GO!!  RUN!!  If you are God's child, you WILL hear His Voice!!  It is time to start listening and obeying HIM - go to that city you know He has called you to!  You won't be sorry.

I Never Lost My Hope, Joy, Faith and Praise!

I loved this song but couldn't say that I've never "lost" my hope, joy, faith and praise but then I began to understand the song as it was meant - never having lost these things completely.  Then, I could sing the song because truly, I never lost my hope, joy, faith and praise no matter what has come my way in life.  God has been faithful and good!

I've lost some good friends
Along life's way
Some loved ones departed
In heaven to stay
But thank God I didn't lose everything
I've lost faith in people
Who said they cared
In the time of my crisis
They were never there
But in my disappointment
In my season of pain
One thing never wavered
One thing never changed

I never lost my hope
I never lost my joy
I never lost my faith
But most of all
I never lost my praise
My praise still here
My praise still here

I've let some blessings
Slip away
And I lost my focus
And went astray
But thank God I didn't lose everything
I lost possessions
That were so dear
I lost some battles
By walking in fear
But in the midst of my struggles
In my season of pain
One thing never wavered
One thing never changed
It never changed

Chorus

When a Married Woman Works...


What does a married woman do, cause, violate.. when she works on a job?

  • Direct disobedience and rebellion to God's Word
  • Usurping husband's role of provider and head
  • Placing herself under the boss; another man's (or woman's) headship instead of just her husband
  • Denies her husband the help he needs from a wife (mothering his children, keeping the home, meals, joyfulness, vitality and needs being met) - she should be all about HIM and helping HIM be successful
  • Defies her role as a woman, domestic and feminine
  • Abandoning children by not being "there" and available to them
  • If she is barren or simply despises having children and chooses barrenness, etc. - then refusing to take in orphans or help the many parent-less children
  • Shucking responsibilities of raising and educating/teaching children to someone else
  • Causes the Word of God to be blasphemed - giving a place for others to speak evil by her rebellion
  • Teaches younger women to rebel and sin against God by her example

Isn't it ironic that the same people that want to say the Old Testament views on women not wearing men's garments doesn't apply today, will be the same people to say women can work based on the Old Testament?  Whatever Fits Me Generation..   It is still an abomination for a woman to wear male garments and there isn't ONE example in the Bible of a woman wearing the male garment of pants!  Proverbs 31 also doesn't say a woman can work on a job outside the home or be the provider - she is a manager of her home and can sell her domestic goods.  It is time to quit believing Satan's lies that you have been listening to and obeying and go back to what is right!  Hell isn't worth wealth, position or your selfishness!

My Daughter's Test Scores

We haven't done a standardized yearly test since 4th grade.  When I tested my daughter then she was several grades ahead and I just never saw the use of testing every year and it wasn't required.  I decided to go ahead and test and see how she was doing as she is starting high school you all!  Well, she did awesome and I don't know why I ever worried it would turn out any other way - God + Education + Love = Success!

Math was her best subject and always has been so I knew she would do well, however, I didn't know she would do THAT well LOL!  She scored 99th percentile in math and college level!  That is the highest possible score.

English has always been her worst subject and I was just hoping she would actually pass.  Again, I was surprised to see she scored well above average and 11th-12th grade level!  She scored at college level in reading!

God makes the difference!  He WILL bless your homeschool!!

When God's People Struggle Financially

I wanted to write this after my last post to make sure my readers know that I'm not saying if you do everything like God said, you will not have financial problems.  The rain falls on the just and the unjust the Bible says, but what is different about the Christian that is doing God's will in all areas of their lives, is that you can rest knowing that God will take care of you.  God WILL work it out as you have FAITH for Him to do so!  Faith is the missing piece today in the Christian world, it is sadly, a rarity.

Pray to God for wisdom and knowledge, do you actually ever pray for that?  I started praying for those 2 things several years ago and let me tell you - God delivered, just not in the way I had thought I would gain more of each.  I had to go through some things but came out the better and the wiser.  If you face a financial problem, pray and ask God for wisdom and knowledge about it.  Pray and believe in faith that God will answer.  Don't fret, worry and let anxiety take hold of you - stop, drop and pray!

A lot of our financial problems are really from our own doing.  From medical bills (due to not taking care of our health by eating right and exercising) to not saving money for life's surprises.  Let's face it, admit it and then ask God for mercy!  I've seen God move in my life when it seemed impossible and the debt, mostly from medical bills, seemed insurmountable.  I've had 9 surgeries and 2 children - it wasn't free!  God did amazing things like completely wiping out $26K from a computer that no one at the hospital billing could seem to figure out who did it or how it was taken off, but they said it was someone with administrator privileges and I didn't ask for financial aid!  God can do that! 

Our purpose in life is NOT to be rich or get money.  Our purpose is to do God's Will and live the life He wants for us. He WILL provide our needs!  He will even fulfill our wants as we ask in accordance to His Will.

Financial Problems or Results of Rebellion?


I keep reading articles and seeing books being written about how bad it is financially right now for Americans.  From the talk of it, it is so bad with the "common family" that they can't help but live on the streets and in vehicles.  They can see why those on drugs, prostitution and other crimes live in these places due to their lifestyle choices, so why can't they see that it is the same for others as well?

Since when do people think they can go against God and His roles for each gender and the family unit and still turn out blessed?  Since when do people think that they can live a life of covetousness and it never come time to pay?  Since when is our mind so skewed that "poor" is when you can't live in a 2500sq ft house with the latest gadgets?

The married woman that works on a job instead of staying home is rebelling against God.  Rebellion IS as the sin of witchcraft!  1 Samuel 15:23  She sold out her place for vain glory and covetousness.  She neglected her husband and children for her own selfishness.  Plain and simple.  Listen ladies - your husband doesn't need a "help meet" who puts on the pants and goes and does the man thing!  He needs a hot meal when he comes from home from work and a clean house and laundry... and children that are actually being raised by their mother!  THAT is a help meet according to the Word of God.  If he needed a man, God would have made him one and sadly today, more and more men are turning to men.  What's the difference?  I mean you dress like a man, work like a man, act and go off at him like a man...  Femininity is far from the modern woman as she roars in dominion over the man and makes him feel like a weakling.

I was looking at a new book about why families can't survive anymore in America.  It talks about the reasons being the high cost of childcare, college being too high cost or the professional struggling after paying so much in college tuition and their jobs not paying enough - to saying it is so dire, they can't even AFFORD to raise children.

Child care isn't needed if the woman does her role.  College is a joke anyway and most college-educated people I know make less than my non-college-educated blue-collar husband.  And as for affording children, sure, people can't afford them that want to be covetous.  Again, plain and simple, their covetousness is their god and their reason for, again, rebelling against His Word of bearing children.

Payday will come - either financially speaking, emotionally, divorce or having children who go into all manner of sin, are on psych drugs or just plain are lazy because they never got what THEY needed - a mother!  Mother-hunger will haunt them their whole lives as they chase after so many things trying to fulfill what they should have gotten growing up from their mother.  Works for fathers too, the father not being there or being there but not being the man and leader - yep, children suffer.  The God-designed family unit is NEEDED and yet so many think they can do it their own way.

America is spoiled.  America needs to live within her means.  America needs to return to God's Word and plan for man, woman and family.  Then, and only then, will we be blessed.


Next Post: When God's People Struggle Financially

New Dinner & Dessert Recipes - Pics & Video

We tried some new recipes and they were all very good!  I've included the links for you all to try them.  These have become staples now for us.




Dinners

Desserts

Fly Baby Fly! ✈

My daughter became interested in being a pilot earlier this year.  I had no idea that you can fly solo at 16 and get a pilot's license at 17!  She has no interest in having a "career" but she wants to fly, so we talked about how useful being a pilot would be for the ministry.  You never know, she may marry a missionary and be the one to fly from village to village.  So, we went ahead and let her pursue her passions.



We had a revival and a preacher from California was preaching a powerful message about trading in your ashes for beauty.  He had a bucket of ashes and said quit carrying around what others did to you and then what you may have done.  He then laid a bunch of roses at the altar and said who's going to trade in their ashes?  I was the first one to go balling like a baby but I didn't care!  I picked up my rose and knelt down and gave it all to God!  It was life-changing to say the least.




The next morning was my daughter's graduation flight, she had took flight lessons and was ready to take the controls.  I presented her with my rose that I got the night before to take with her on this flight.  I was beaming and as she took off, I said, "FLY BABY FLY!" 😀  She flew for an hour to another airport and then came back but got to do some maneuvers in the air.  My husband was videoing from the backseat, I was safe on the ground LOL!!

She has been taking high school courses this past year, so I'm the mom of a high-schooler now.  I can't believe how far we have come - it really does seem like we just started this homeschooling journey not too long ago.  Thanks be unto God for His help through the training of our children!

Children Learn What They Live

Someone told me about this poem yesterday and I had never heard of it. It was very popular many years ago and it really lays out how we should raise and treat our children.  If every mother would love their children as this poem says, we may not have kids killing one another and all the issues we see today in the schools.  God help us love and care for our own children as He does us!


Children Learn What They Live
By Dorothy Law Nolte


If a child lives with criticism,
he learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility,
he learns to fight.

If a child lives with fear,
he learns to be apprehensive.

If a child lives with pity,
he learns to feel sorry for himself.

If a child lives with ridicule,
he learns to be shy.

If a child lives with jealousy,
he learns what envy is.

If a child lives with shame,
he learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with encouragement,
he learns to be confident.

If a child lives with tolerance,
he learns to be patient.

If a child lives with praise,
he learns to be appreciative.

If a child lives with acceptance,
he learns to love.

If a child lives with approval,
he learns to like himself.

If a child lives with recognition,
he learns that it is good to have a goal.

If a child lives with sharing,
he learns about generosity.

If a child lives with honesty and fairness,
he learns what truth and justice are.

If a child lives with security,
he learns to have faith in himself and in those about him.

If a child lives with friendliness,
he learns that the world is a nice place in which to live.

If you live with serenity,
your child will live with peace of mind.

With what is your child living?

When Men Abuse Power & Weaponize Authority


You may have heard about the MeToo movement and how so many women are finally brave enough to come forward and call out their abusers.  The world has been shocked as each story has unfolded and revealed that men, some famous and some in high positions have abused their power and authority to harm the weaker; women.  It isn't limited to one category or group, abuse has infiltrated every place imaginable, including the church.

The Southern Baptists have recently been exposed and found out that one of their top leaders have counseled the abused in such horrible ways as to keep them abused!  It includes such things as telling the victim to stay with the abuser.  It is a tragedy to have a man of God not protecting those who can't protect themselves.  God has heard the cries of the women and children, and His wrath has come to rip the blanket off the hidden things.

Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, of which I have always admired his steadfastness and stand for God's word, has spoken out and declared God's wrath has come.  The Bible tells us that judgment must first begin at the house of God. Here are some of his words that I wanted to share:
There is no excuse whatsoever for abuse of any form, verbal, emotional, physical, spiritual or sexual. The Bible warns so clearly of those who would abuse power and weaponize authority. Every Christian church and every pastor and every church member must be ready to protect any of God’s children threatened by abuse and must hold every abuser fully accountable. The church and any institution or ministry serving the church must be ready to assure safety and support to any woman or child or vulnerable one threatened by abuse.

The church must make every appropriate call to law enforcement and recognize the rightful God-ordained responsibility of civil government to protect, to investigate, and to prosecute.

A church, denomination, or Christian ministry must look outside of itself when confronted with a pattern of mishandling such responsibilities, or merely of being charged with such a pattern. We cannot vindicate ourselves. That is the advice I have given consistently for many years. I now must make this judgment a matter of public commitment. I believe that any public accusation concerning such a pattern requires an independent, third-party investigation. In making this judgment, I make public what I want to be held to do should, God forbid, such a responsibility arise.
In the words of Albert Mohler, God's judgement is here.  We haven't seen the last of all that God is going to expose with those who have abused their authority and power and have harmed so many.  May God set all the captives free!

Read More:
https://albertmohler.com/2018/05/23/wrath-god-poured-humiliation-southern-baptist-convention/

From Tragedy to Destiny


God has given us examples in the Bible to show us things that will help us make sense of life.  One that I can relate to, is that of Joseph.  If you don't know the account, you can find it starting in Genesis 37.  Joseph had a hard road that eventually brought him into his destiny.  God allowed Joseph to go through what he did and we sometimes wonder how could a loving God ALLOW such things!?  Yet, when we see where it brought Joseph to and how it ultimately saved his people from famine, we understand.  In our lives, we can't see the end.  We don't know how things are going to work out.  When tragedy knocks on our door, it can feel like God is against us or that He has forsaken us.  God wants us to trust him and have faith through whatever He is allowing us to go through.

Joseph was a favorite of his father, Jacob, and was the wearer of the coat of many colors.  From the beginning he was clothed with a gift, of which, his brothers despised him for and hated him.  If God has given you a spiritual gift, you can rest assured you WILL be despised and hated by those whose hearts are full of jealousy, envy and bitterness at what God has given you.  Having a spiritual gift is really a lonely thing, as many people who possess such gifts will tell you.  They come with a price and it isn't something that the recipient necessarily even asked for, just like Joseph and his colorful coat.  Rather, you will become a target of the true enemy, Satan, and he is bent on using others and circumstances to discourage you, discredit you and ultimately destroy you and thereby, destroy the gift as well.

We can see this played out among Joseph's family in the next part of the story.  Joseph has dreams of his brothers, and even his parents, bowing to him and he shares them with his brothers and then later another one, which he shares with his father (v.6).  This only makes his brothers despise him even more!  His own father rebukes him!  How dare Joseph dream such things and have the gall to think that his brethren, even his father and mother, would bow down to him.  What a super spiritual nutcase right!?  Who does he think he is they probably surmised among themselves as their hatred and envy only grew worse.

The tragedy begins as we read further.  Joseph's brothers conspired to kill him (v.18).  See, when envy sets in, especially in the spiritual sense, it will eat someone alive until they go so far to even contemplate murder!  Thankfully, one of the brothers protested that they not kill him but rather just throw him into a pit.  Joseph shows up and they immediately strip him of his gift - the coat of many colors.  It must have felt so pleasing to them to tear apart that which represented that Joseph was so special.  There will be those that will want to strip away your gift!  Next, they throw him in a pit that had no water and they sat down to eat.  How could someone eat after doing such a horrific act?  When you allow Satan to come in to your mind and direct your thoughts and actions, you will do the unthinkable.

Along come some merchantmen and they decide to sell Joseph instead of killing him.  They are left with the coat, so they devise a deception and dip the coat in blood to fool their father into thinking Joseph is dead.

Joseph's tragedy doesn't end there.  You would think, my God, that is enough to bear, right?  Be patient Joseph I can hear the Lord saying, your destiny is ahead, I have a plan for your life!!  So, Joseph ends up in Potiphar's house, who is an officer of Pharaoh (v.36).  (Ch. 39) It says the Lord was with Joseph and he was prosperous there, until the wife decides she wants him.  He refuses, she is angry and lies on him and he's thrown into prison!  There will be those that will lie on you when they can't control you!  If they can't keep you under their thumb, they will devise lies to destroy and discredit you.  I've found that a lot of times, if Satan can't get you any other way, he will have others lie on you.

Joseph in prison.  I guess its over now.  Yet, we find that God NEVER left Joseph, He rather reminds us in the passage over and over again that He was with Joseph: "But the LORD was with Joseph (39:31)."  During your darkest times and your tragedies, God is still with you!  When your family forsakes you, you are rejected and despised and lied on and it seems like God must have turned His back on you - just remember, He's doing something in all of this.

Joseph interprets two dreams in the prison, which both come true.  He simply asked the chief butler to remember him when his dream comes true and get him out of this prison, because he has done NOTHING wrong.  The chief butler sadly forgets all about Joseph.  Do you know how it feels to be forgotten?  Do you know how it feels to have others see your gift and know it is God and then when they rise to their place, they forget all about you.  And you wait, patiently, for one day they will remember and you will be delivered.

Pharaoh has two dreams (Ch. 41).  He is so disturbed by these dreams and no one can interpret it!  Is there not a man that can reach God and tell him what his dream means?  Finally it comes - the chief butler remembers Joseph!  Joseph ends up interpreting Pharaoh's dreams and Pharaoh appoints Joseph over all the land of Egypt!  ENTER DESTINY.  We almost all know the story of how in the time of famine, Joseph's brethren come to buy food and they eventually realize his dreams were not only true, but of God to save their OWN souls!  Oh, how wonderful the mercy of God!  He will take that despised and rejected one and use them to save the very ones that despised and rejected him!  Jesus our Lord suffered the same but it was all to bring Him to His destiny - to save OUR souls!

Joseph went from tragedy to destiny.  His family was given their own area to live in, a place called Goshen.  Truly, Joseph didn't regret a thing he went through that brought him to such a place and even restored his family.  I sometimes wonder what his brothers thought of Joseph's mercy and love?  I'm sure it was humbling and I imagine it changed them forever.  It will take a heart like Joseph's to go through tragedy, arrive at your destiny, and still have compassion on those that hated you.  But isn't that the ones that God loves to use for such restoration?  If Jesus bore the shame, guilt and rejection from those He loved, what makes us think that we won't?  We have a destiny to arrive at and we must always keep our eyes upon the eternal goal, and fully trust in faith the one that will always be there by our side in our darkest tragedies.

Home Ownership is More Than a Mortgage!


We have been homeowners for 1 1/2 years now and I'm learning all the time!  Having rented since I was 17 years old (that's 19 years of renting!), I would have to say that it IS far better to have a home than rent.  You look at things differently and you treat things differently because it is YOURS.  No, it isn't necessarily "yours" until you pay the mortgage off but for this post, I will say "owning" a home.  When you own your home, you have to fix things and that is new for us.  We were so used to someone else taking care of all of that when we rented.  I had no idea how much things cost or what goes in to maintaining a home and property.

We had a list of things that we needed to fix when we bought the home and well, we still have that list.  I really hope we can get it all completed this summer and most of it done ourselves.  However, there a few things we're not willing to kill our backs over, so we are going to pay for those to be done.  This is things like pulling up entire hedges - I'm NOT a hedge/plant person!  I like things very simple and clean and low-maintenance.

The other things we need fixed or replaced are things like:  shower re-caulking, new sink faucet in master bathroom, door seals replaced, sliding door track fixed, holes in siding either patched or replaced, french drain installed on side of house that has standing water next to foundation when it rains, repairing patio concrete cracks, power-washing concrete walkways/patio, etc.  You get the idea - a lot of things but not huge expenses, though the french drain might end up costing a bit.  I really would love to do DIY posts on these as we go through our checklist and get them done.

When you plan on buying a home, don't just plan on money for the mortgage.  Plan on money for insurance, property taxes, a home warranty (American Home Shield is best), maintenance and repairs and even saving for big-ticket expenses like a roof.  If you plan for those things, you will find that owning a home is a joy, instead of a nightmare.  Also, keep up on the maintenance and fix things as they happen.  That way you never have a long list of things to do!

Our home value has gone up $25,000 in just 1 1/2 years!  We already got a letter saying they have a buyer for our home if we want to sell.  Our neighbor sold their house before they even listed it.  The price of homes are some of the highest, if not the highest, they have ever been.  One thing a lot of people don't think about when they buy a home, is when the value goes up, so does the property taxes.  Ours have risen dramatically and we didn't plan for that, so make sure you consider that the property tax is variable from year-to-year.

To summarize, here is a list of what to consider when buying a home, besides the mortgage: 

  • Property Taxes - expect they will go up yearly
  • Homeowner's Insurance
  • Home Warranty - covers appliances, HVAC, plumbing, electric, etc.
  • Maintenance costs
  • Repairs
  • Big-ticket Items Savings