Christian Homekeeping

I came across this story today and wondered how such an absurd bill could even be thought up, but then again we have a demoncratic majority in the White House, so shouldn't be such a shock to anyone.  If you say or preach that homosexuals are bad, it might soon be a 'hate-crime' and you could be breaking the law.  You can read the full story here:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/30/social-conservatives-blast-hate-crime-saying-limit-free-speech/

What's next?  A hate-crime law protecting murderers and pedophiles?  Sin is Sin - and it is wrong according to God and God ain't going to shut up for anyone!  His Word condemns sin such as homosexuality and it won't change no matter what the government decides.  It is the sin that God hates, not the people.  It is the sin we preach against.

I wonder how many preachers would compromise and not preach against it?  I guess God would really be sorting the chaff from the wheat - the test just may be ahead. Let the real Stephen's stand up!  I don't think Stephen was worried about who he offended and he sure wasn't like some preacher's today who don't want to preach against sin because they don't want to upset anyone.  Go ahead and try not to offend them right into hell.  Hell is going to be full of people that the preacher didn't want to offend by telling them they were wrong. A real Godly preacher will scream and tell you the road is out ahead!  He will warn you that if you go that way, you will die!  He shows his love for you by telling you the truth!  Read Acts 7 and after his sermon - you see the effect it had on the people because their deeds were evil, let's look at see:

Acts 7:54,57-58

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him:

They couldn't stand the preacher man preaching against their sin. They wanted to shut him up!  Just like the homosexuals want people to shut up across our land because they don't want you calling them out in their sin. It reminds me of a recent sermon that Pastor Davis preached called "Stop the Sermon". It gets uncomfortable when God gets on your sin and its supposed to be that way - its called conviction! God hopes you will repent. You will either repent or get mad and keep on doing your sin.

Now we have these abusers of themselves with mankind getting mad at those who dare speak against their sin and evil hearts. God has something to say about it in His word:

Romans 1:26-28

God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 

They left the NATURAL USE of each other and BURNED IN THEIR LUST one toward another!  It is VILE......it is sickening!  They weren't born that way, they burned in their lust and CHOSE that way!  God gave us an example of what happens when a city is turned over homesexuality - we all know what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah and to this day, it is in ruins:

I've been doing some research lately on what the world's oldest living people throughout the years have in common.  One I have found in almost all is:  being active!  None of them running around their whole life scared to eat this or that for fears of what it may do or cause.  They just lived happily, stayed connected with family and stayed active!

I had developed an unhealthy fear of some things because of things I read, but God convicted me and basically told me what he has BLESSED, not to call unclean!  We pray over our food and I'm going to trust the Lord that he will protect us and keep us safe and that that food is blessed by God!  He is the maker of our bodies and my life is in his hands and NOTHING happens that he doesn't "allow". So from now on, when I pray over my food asking God to bless it - I'm going to start BELIEVING that he has! If you don't and have fears, then why even pray for the Lord to bless the food?? 

One of oldest living people was Gertrude Baines (118), she says she owes her longevity to the Lord.  She said she never did drink, smoke or fool around.  She eats lots of hot dogs and likes to indulge on extra crispy bacon and sweets!  That's my kind of diet hehe.  ; )  I saw another that said recently that Sakhan Dosova (130) was just found from census records to be the new oldest living person.  She credits her longevity to her love for cottage cheese lol.  She has also had a high spirit and sense of humour - she was happy!

2 Timothy 1:7

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

With Christ, you do not live in fear!  God will take care of us.  Enjoy where you are at on the way to where you are going!

Psalm 51: 9-13, 17 - “Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

     I was wondering recently at the prevailing thought of this present time and generation towards salvation in Jesus Christ. It seems that the majority of those that claim Christianity see it to be more of a choice of religion, rather than the saving of their soul from sin. They will say they are a Christian, yet their daily routine is void of prayer, Bible Study or right living. You can talk to them about anything at work, and they will never bring up the ‘topic’ of Christ. You can share with them the story of how you were led to pray for forgiveness of sins by the blood of Jesus, and they show no emotion or utter any words of kindred experience. You can tell that they would rather veer towards another conversation. Many churches today preach the message of hope and mercy, but not that you need God to cleanse you from sin in order to gain those things.
     The psalmist said he needed his iniquities blotted out. He didn’t even want there to be a record of the filth of the past in his life! He said, ‘Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me.’ He wanted to be pure on the inside with the right attitude and way of life. The desire in the writing is to have the joy and happiness in his life to be caused by the salvation of God and nothing else; and he went further than that. He said, ‘THEN will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.’ Then, he could help others to know the love of God, and to CHANGE their lives!
     The apostle Peter understood verse 17. In his early experiences shortly after meeting Jesus got him to think about the condition of his life. He heard Jesus teach the masses from his own ship, and after witnessing the miraculous draught of fish that He caused;

“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Luke 5: 1-11)

     Peter had the broken and contrite heart that God will never despise. Instead of leaving him, Jesus showed him how to live for God.
     Do you consider yourself a Christian? Did you pray for God to forgive you of your sins with a broken spirit and a repentant heart? If not, remember that a prayer for mercy with no intention of living above that which the mercy was asked for is really not seeking forgiveness or a Christ-like life. Christianity is not found in a church membership roll or an inscription at the front of your Bible or even in someone else’s prayer for you. It will only be found in your heart, mind, actions and words.

     Consider your life and the validity of your claim to Christ. Please read these passages:
2nd Corinthians 13: 5
Romans 3: 23; 10: 9-10
Galatians 5: 16-25
John 3: 1-21


- Written by my husband

I've made a lot of pies since Sister Davis taught the class a few years ago.  I'm going to share the pie crust recipe that I use.  I made an apple pie yesterday and then for the filling I used Tammy's recipe here.  Since I do the apple filling, I don't pre-bake my pie crust.  However, when I do other fruits and use the filling recipe below, I do bake the crusts first as the recipe indicates. I also am going to try out the whole wheat pie crusts one day.  I'm not the greatest pie maker just as long as it tastes good!



Pie crust:

1 c Crisco
2 c Flour
1/2 t salt
5 T ice water (keep nearby to add at the end)

Tips:

* Put plastic wrap in measuring cup before adding Crisco for easy cleanup
* When rolling out the pie crust roll it between 2 sheets of plastic wrap or wax paper for easy cleanup

Instructions:

In a bowl combine the Crisco, flour and salt and mix with a pastry cutter.  (I don't have one so I just use a fork and a whisk.)  Mix until it looks like small beads.  Then add the 5T of ice water and mix and form into a ball with your hands.  Now using a rolling pin, roll into a circular pie crust!  That's it, it is that easy!  You will need 2 of these if your pie is going to be covered.  (however, I like thin crust, so I just use this recipe and get the bottom and top out of it!)

Place the crust into a pie plate, then add your filling and cover with your second pie crust.  Press the edges firmly together and form them.  (I use a fork for the edges)  Cut slits in the top for venting.  If you have one, use pie shield so the edges will not burn. Or you can use tin-foil. (I don't use anything)

Bake at 425-450 (I think it is just for 15 minutes? - I have to find my old notes lol)



For filling: just mix in a bowl, 4-5 cups of fruit and add 1t cinnamon, 1 1/2 c sugar and enough cornstarch to make it slightly thick.  I was out of cornstarch so I used a few tablespoons of flour.  But I'm thinking 4t of cornstarch would work for the pie filling.  Heat this in the microwave until warm throughout and then pour into your pie crust that is in the pie plate......cover with the top pie crust and bake at 425-450. 

For cobbler: you will make the pie crust as shown above except use 2/3 c Crisco and 2c flour, 1/2 t salt and the 5T ice water.  Instead of rolling it into a circular shape, you will do a large square and then make 2 of these and bake them at 425-450.  Once baked, cut them up into several square pieces and let cool.  Then in a bowl put 5c fruit, 1 1/2 c sugar, 2t cornstarch and 1t cinnamon and heat in microwave until boiling.  In a casserole dish......place the cooled pie crust square pieces on the bottom and then pour the fruit mixture on the top, saving a little for the end (1/2 c-1c)........now put the rest of the square pie crust pieces on top and cover with the rest of the fruit mixture.  It's done!  No baking required......you have your cobbler.

My friend Michelle sent this to me and I thought it was great! Elle France magazine had celebrities pictured with NO makeup. Basically they are as God made them without paint on their face. I think they look wonderful and wish more women would let go of the 'bondage' of makeup and feel confident in their own natural beauty! Some like to say that women who believe that God doesn't want us to paint our face, are in 'bondage' but I disagree! True bondage is actually the opposite as I have been on BOTH sides. I remember growing up, my Mom wouldn't even go to the mailbox without makeup on and then my Sister couldn't leave the house without it and still can't - now who is in bondage here?

I guess you can figure out that I don't wear makeup and haven't since 1999. I have left my house (and checked the mailbox hehe) for the past 10 years without makeup on! The only examples I read of in the Bible and in history from the past ages, is that women did this to entice and allure, it was never for good.

I could get into the whole Biblical issue of this but maybe another time, let's just enjoy that these celebrities can actually bear being without makeup for a change! Kudos to whoever thought this one up! WHODUTHUNKIT? Women look good without makeup *gasp*. May it inspire women everywhere. You do NOT have to wear makeup to feel pretty or whatever it is that your reason is! Start loving yourself the way God made you......enough of this worldly image! Break free! I dare you! Try showing the world your real face for a change instead of hiding behind the mask.

You can read an article done on the magazine here.


Update: Here are the results from the poll on my blog:

Q. Do you wear makeup?

Yes	26 (66%)
No	13 (33%)

I've always used my Mom's recipe through the years to make peanut butter fudge but I found one that I like better than my Mom's!  (Shhh, don't tell my Mom hehe)  I got it out of my 1989 Tennessee Mountain Home Cooking Cookbook and tried it for the first time tonight and its great. 

Peanut Butter Fudge
Makes 3 pounds

• 3 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup butter
• 2/3 cup evaporated milk
• 10 oz marshmallow creme
• 1t vanilla
• 1 cup crunchy peanut butter

 In large saucepan, combine sugar, butter and evaporated milk.  Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly.  continue boiling over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.  Remove from heat.

Add peanut butter, stirring until melted.  Add marshmallow cream and vanilla and beat until well blended.  Spread in a buttered 13x9x2 pan.  Cool at room temperature, then refrigerate.  Cut into squares when firm.

I was listening to a clip from Dave Ramsey today and it was awesome so had to share!  Here are 2 good definitions that describe the difference between jealousy and envy:

Jealousy - I want what you have

Envy - I want what you have but I don't think I can ever have it, so I don't want you to have it.

WOW!  That just about sums it up!  The mentality of envy goes something like this:

I don't think I can win, so I want you to lose.

He even talked about the "Spirit of Eeyore" that is so prevalent in our society today.  Listen to the mp3 clip here.

This isn't anything fancy but tastes so good and is frugal!  It is so simple to make and you can double it if you have a larger family.  This normally lasts us a week.

• 1 can FF refried beans (or make your own)
• 1/4c shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2c salsa

Combine all and heat to melt cheese; stir; serve with tortilla chips.

I posted a recipe back in 2007 about homemade dishwasher detergent, but can't seem to find the post!  Either I accidentally deleted it or missed it while searching.  Anyway - I had shared the powdered version of dishwasher detergent that has been around for years:

Equal parts of Borax and Baking soda; Combine; Use 1-2 T per load

I used it for a while but I've never been a big fan of powdered detergent, so I just bought some cheap store-bought liquid dishwasher detergent and have been using that.  Until it dawned on me that I could easily make a paste by adding water to the borax/baking soda powder.  (yes, I know that should be common sense, but it seemed to have escaped me until recently lol). 

So, to get homemade liquid dishwasher detergent, simply add water until you get the consistency you want!  I use 2-3 T of the liquid per load.

There is one thing that we all have in common - we all have 24 hours given to us in a day. Some people use that time and do so much in that 24 hours and others do so little and waste their time. What does the Bible say about our time and how we are to use it?

Ephesians 5:16

"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

Redeeming - to make wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good, so that zeal and well doing are as it were the purchase money by which we make the time our own.

We should make WISE use of our time! I hear people all the time tell me they are too busy to do this or that and how much they have to do everyday. Yet, when I ask what they did.......they come up with a blank....why? Because they are doing things that aren't really worthy of their time! So what is worthy of our time?

1. God -time spent with God is wise and useful time!
2. Family - as women we are called to love our husbands and teach our children!
   
3. Others - if you don't have time for others, what kind of life are you living? A selfish one? To build a relationship with someone, you spend TIME with them. If you really love someone, you will not be so upset that you had to spend TIME to help them when they needed you!
   
4. Self - contrary to some, we should spend some time on ourselves. If we are not taking care of our selves, how can we help others and take care of our families? It is when we let self take over completely and don't give time to the above, that our priorities get warped
   

There are some people who are so busy they have no time for God and they have no time for others. They are living a life unto themselves and they don't even realize they are getting no where in their 'busy-ness'.

If you don't have time to read your Bible and pray every day, spending that precious time with God each time then you have your priorities wrong! Let's look at Jesus' visit with Martha and Mary:

Luke 10:38-41

"Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

Martha was just so busy that she didn't have time for Jesus. She even got mad at Mary because Mary was not helping her. Yet, in reality, Mary was using her time wiser then Martha was. Mary was where it was really at - at Jesus' feet! Notice it said that Martha was cumbered about and careful and troubled about many things. Just what do those words mean?

Cumbered - to be driven about mentally, to be distracted; to be over-occupied, too busy, about a thing
Careful and troubled - anxious; troubled in mind; troubled with cares; disturbed

Martha was too busy and didn't realize she was not doing what was "needful", but Mary knew what was needful! How about we become busy with needful and useful things?

Just what is your life really full of and what are you really "busy" with? Stop and think about it and make a list of what you fill your life with each day and does it include God and others or just your own selfish agenda. If God is not first in your life and the top of your priority list then you need to change that. Then on the flip-side, some think they are doing God's will and so busy for the Kingdom of God but they actually forget the King!

You need to have goals and a purpose to your life instead of just running around being busy and not accomplishing anything! Set some goals! Have a purpose to your day and your life! Quit running around spending time accomplishing nothing and doing things that are unfruitful. End your day feeling like you actually redeemed the time and used your 24 hours wisely.

What a service this morning!  The choir sang a song about a psalm and it was wonderful and for those that weren't there, I'm going to share the Psalm where the verses for the song came from:

Psalm 3:1-3

"Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head" 

It was such an uplifting song!  Then Pastor preached a message entitled "Straighten Up" and spoke about the woman with the spirit of infirmity eighteen years.  He explained the "spirit of infirmity" in detail.  It got me to thinking of what I was saying in my last post towards the end about that I don't have time to pity myself.  Yes, it would be easy for anyone when they are sick or struck with a disease or cancer to walk around feeling sorry for themselves but that isn't how it should be!  Someone had told me that they struggled with wanting to be sick and they asked me to pray for them.  It was honorable that this friend had even confessed it and made it known that she knew she struggled with this.  Some people struggle with it, though they never face themselves - they live in denial.  I believe that God is going to deliver this friend from that feeling because she wants deliverance!

Here is the text from which he brought the message:

Luke 13:11-13

"And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God" 

He went into detail about straight and tied in how the road to Heaven is narrow and straight.  He also spoke on how we relate mean men with being crooked.  God's way is very narrow.......it is very straight!  When Jesus comes on the scene, he straightens us out if we let him! 

Then going on with the woman being healed, she was made straight!  She was no longer bent over, but Jesus had loosed her from her infirmity that satan had her bound in!  Let's look at what the ruler of the synagogue said in response to Jesus healing this woman:

Luke 13:14

"And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day."

He got angry at Jesus because he healed on the sabbath day.  How dare he heal someone on the Lord's day is basically what this man was saying to Jesus.  So how did Jesus reply?  Oh I'm sure it was with soft spoken, very gentle and kind words right?  Oh wait......did Jesus respond and label the ruler of the synagogue for what he really was?

Luke 13:15-16

"The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day" 

Jesus called the ruler of the synagogue a hypocrite! That really goes along with what I was saying in the last post about how some people have misconceptions about WWJD.  There are times to be quiet and have mercy but then there are times when you must be bold and tell it like it is!  Jesus wasn't one to back down to even the ruler of the synagogue.

God spoke to my heart about a lot of things in my life this morning that I need to work on and like Pastor said, he isn't perfect and there is a lot he has to work on too!  There has never been a time in my life that I have had it all together and reached perfection, I'm still a work in progress and so thankful that God loves me enough to deal with my heart and show me just where I need to fix something!

I just wanted to share with you all about this morning's service, it was a blessing!

While I was in the hospital, I got so many things and can't wait to write about them, this devotional being one of them! Common misconceptions abound, satan loves confusion and its time to squash some of his confusions with truth from God's Word! What are misconceptions? A misconception is a false or mistaken view, idea, or belief.

A phrase that so many people are familiar with is WWJD or What Would Jesus Do? People have used this simple phrase for many things and one of them being using it in an accusatory fashion as if you were doing something that Jesus wouldn't do. Let me explain.....some say that you should not get angry at anything, or that you should not say anything bad about governmental leaders, such as the President. However, they seem to have forgotten that Jesus himself had some choice words of the leaders of his day! He labeled evil for evil! If a man's works are evil then he is evil. If he does the works of satan, he is of satan! It is that simple......you represent your true Master by your actions. And on being angry.......well, God himself is angry at the wicked EVERY day! (Psalm 7:11) Actually, true Christians HATE sin and even the garment spotted by sin! We are like our Father. Seeing that our laws allow the murder of babies is something that I get angry at and I KNOW God hates it and is angry at the evil people that bring it about.

Would Jesus ever say anything bad about someone or label them in public? Yes he would! Even Paul labeled people that left God and the Bible warns us to stay away from the likes of them! I like this one verse that Jesus told the Pharisees to tell Herod:

Luke 13:32

"......Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected."

WHOA! Did Jesus just call Herod a fox?? Yep, he sure 'nuff did! What did fox mean? Let's look at the word as it was used:

Fox - a fox; a sly and crafty man

Looking even further when we check the definitions of sly and crafty we see it as a whole that a fox is a man who is deceitfully cunning, one that conceals and is full of tricks.

Jesus wasn't someone who refused to label the "haters" or evil men! He told it like it was and didn't back down until it was His time to be quiet. While he carried out his ministry, he was bold and definitely did not resemble this mamby-pamby pious Jesus that some like to paint Him as. He was bold......he was straight to the point! When people say you aren't acting like Jesus because you may call someone out that is evil, just what Jesus are they referring to? Actually you are being like Jesus! There is a time to be bold and time to be quiet and we use the wisdom God gives us to differentiate between the two. When it came Jesus' time, he opened not his mouth and let the Will of God be fulfilled but until then, he boldly proclaimed the truth and called out evil doers and even whipped some people out of the temple and turned over their tables! It was his fierceness of righteous indignation (zeal) that drove them out! He knew what time it was that day......it was not a time to be quiet lol.

John 2:14-16

"And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise."

Just what does it mean to bold? Have you ever really looked it up in its true meaning from the scriptures or do you just think you know what it means? Let's look it up as it was written in several places in the New Testament:

Bold - to use freedom in speaking; free spoken; to speak freely; to grow confident, have boldness, show assurance, assume a bold bearing

Mixing bold with confident we get this meaning from Webster's: standing out in assured and certain conviction

For some they seem to never have that time of boldness but rather are full of shame and embarrassment to even stand up for their God or His Word. What does God think of these type of people? In Mark 8:38 and Luke 9:26, it tells us that whoever is ashamed of God and His Word, He will be ashamed of YOU when he returns! We are rather admonished by Paul to do what?

2 Timothy 1:8

"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God."

Paul tells us to not be ashamed but rather be a partaker of what? The afflictions of the gospel! The gospel comes with afflictions (to suffer hardships). Also we are told that we WILL suffer persecution as well. What is persecution?

Persecution - to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict ; specifically : to cause to suffer because of belief 2: to annoy with persistent or urgent approaches (as attacks, pleas, or importunities)

Have you ever experienced any of the above in the definition of persecution because of Christ? I have! Just having a website of truths from the Bible opens you up to that. But I won't back down or let it shut me up! It just 'comes with the territory' of standing up for God and His Word in a sinful world! Rejoice when others revile you! Get excited when things come your way because God will work it for your good somehow! I found it so odd that the nurses in the hospital wondered why I was so happy, even though I was so sick. My response is I don't have time to pity myself! I force my mind to see ahead and to see just how God is going to work this to my good because God doesn't lie! I look for the positive in the situation - hey I lost some weight! I lost more in 1 week being sick then I did the past year lol.


It's high time that people STOP COMPLAINING about the cross they have to bear! Stop complaining that your cross is too heavy or its too hard! Did you hear Jesus saying this while he carried his cross and went all the way to Calvary? Are you bearing a greater burden then what he did; the sins of the world?? NO! So shut up! Bear your cross, quit being ashamed and trying to be a men pleaser and be bold and stand for something for once in your life!

I know people who claim to be a Christian, yet when they get around family and friends, and start getting asked about their faith and convictions or why they do this and why they do that........they clam up and say "uh I don't know, that's just what the Pastor said to do". When will you find out for YOURSELF what the Bible says? When will you be bold and not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ?

The misconceptions abound and there will never be a lack of them for satan is the author of confusion and his job isn't over yet. Will you listen to the lies of the devil or will you search God's word for the truth? Next time you hear someone ask WWJD......you might just have to tell them straight from God's word just what Jesus would do! Instead of getting down and wondering 'why me' when bad things come your way - why don't you shock satan and started Praising God for the trial? Why don't you rejoice that God counts you able to bear it? Get up and shake off the self pity and bear your cross with joy!

If I were the Devil:

I would gain control of the most powerful nation in the world;

I would delude their minds into thinking that they had come from man's effort, instead of God's blessings;

I would promote an attitude of loving things and using people, instead of the other way around;

I would dupe entire states into relying on gambling for their state revenue;

I would convince people that character is not an issue when it comes to leadership;

I would make it legal to take the life of unborn babies;

I would make it socially acceptable to take one's own life, and invent machines to make it convenient;

I would cheapen human life as much as possible so that the life of animals are valued more than human beings;

I would take God out of the schools, where even the mention of His name was grounds for a law suit;

I would come up with drugs that sedate the mind and target the young, and I would get sports heroes to advertise them;

I would get control of the media, so that every night I could pollute the mind of every family member for my agenda;

I would attack the family, the backbone of any nation.

I would make divorce acceptable and easy, even fashionable. If the family crumbles, so does the nation;

I would compel people to express their most depraved fantasies on canvas and movie screens, and I would call it art;

I would convince the world that people are born homosexuals, and that there lifestyles should be accepted and marveled;

I would convince the people that right and wrong are determined by a few who call themselves authorities and refer to their agenda as politically correct;

I would persuade people that the church is irrelevant and out of date, and the Bible is for the naive;

I would dull the minds of Christians, and make them believe that prayer is not important, and that faithfulness and obedience are good enough to get by;

Hmmm...I guess I would leave things pretty much the way they are."

“Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip.”

The faucet was leaking again! Every time I tried to read or think or sleep, all I could hear was that awful dripping. I always felt a flush of anger, as I had to jump up and attempt to shut up the noise. I would put a washcloth in the sink where the water would land hoping this would quite the noise. I would tighten the faucet handles, but nothing worked. I could always hear it no matter what I did to remedy the problem.

“Drip…Drip…Drip.” If it was quite bothersome to me, I may have even gone to a different room to read where I could not heart it, although I really longed to sit in my chair which I remembered to be my comfortable and peaceful place.

No remedy could be found, until one day we replaced the entire faucet. Now it is silent and I do enjoy it so. Most of the time I forget how irritating it was. But sometimes I stop and remember and am grateful for its silence.

I believe God used that dripping faucet to teach me something very important. God speaks to us all in different ways. Because I am sensitive to noises, God used this sensitivity to teach me.

Proverbs 19:13 tells us:

“….the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping”

When I am quarrelsome or “nag” my husband, I am like a constant dripping! Do I want to be like that old leaky faucet that always stirred bad feeling in me? Just when I wanted to relax in my chair; my safe haven, to read or nap, that dripping invaded my space.

Is it possible that a wife who nags her husband invades his peace everyday? A man’s home is his safe haven from the outside world. It should be a place where he comes after a hard day’s work. He knows he is free to be himself, to kick off his shoes, to relax, to just enjoy the peace of his home. He knows that it is a place of unconditional love and respect, or does he?

“Don’t leave your shoes there!”

“When will you fix this? I’ve asked you five times!”

“Do you think you could help me with the housework? I have to do everything myself!”

“How long are you going to read that paper?”

Does this sound familiar? Even if it does not, there are most likely other words used that seem accusatory or insulting as these do.

Just as I tried to fix that faucet with the washcloth or by tightening the handles, the husband may try his own tactics to remedy the problem. If nothing works and he still hears the “dripping”, he may decide to go somewhere that he can’t hear it.

Not only does the Word of God tell us that a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping, it tells what is better than living with one.

Proverbs 21:9

“It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.”

Proverbs 21:19

“It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.”

The dripping faucet certainly could not fix itself. But when we replaced it, it was made “new” and did not drip any longer. In that same way, Jesus can change the wife and make her “new”. He will change her to see more clearly and have different priorities and give her love in her heart.


by Julie Ryan

I was talking with a Sister tonight about using coconut oil to help prevent breakage. A few people have told me they started to do the treatments and one Sister's hair has improved greatly and even grew! She was telling me about it a week or so ago and I noticed the difference in her hair!!

So with that said, I have been doing this for as long as I've been a Christian (almost 10 years). My first Pastor's wife showed me to use it on my ends before I curl my hair, but my WHOLE head at the time was dry from a perm I got right before I got saved, so I put it all over and since then I still do that!

You don't just dab a little on. You actually COAT the hair in oil - drench it. I normally do it on Sunday night since I normally just clean the house on Monday and I can leave it in a long time. Since tonight it was time for a treatment, I decided it would be helpful to others to show just what I mean by drench it! Hubby took photos for me after I coated my hair (which takes me a good 15 minutes).

I do it in sections and from root to tip I put it on, putting a lot more on my ends because they are double processed from perms. You may ask why I put it on my new hair that is not processed - well, I want it to be in the best condition it can, because it will one day be my ends!

Once I've done all my hair, I use a fine tooth comb and comb through from roots to the ends all over. Then I flip my hair and add more oil on the hair while its flipped over and then I comb it again and wrap in a bun or braid.

I do this twice a month and use the Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo when its time to wash it out and then follow that with Finesse Moisturizing Conditioner. You will notice you will still have some oil left in your hair but that is ok! It will come out in the next wash, 2 or 3 days later and you should still be able to style your hair normally.

Click the photo to enlarge if you need to:



My hair (the permed part) has been really dry lately because of all the heat I've been using. I've been straightening my permed part so it matches my new growth or curling it. So if I keep using the heat on the permed portion, I may increase my coconut oil treatments from twice a month to every week. I used to do it every Monday with my first perm back in 99/2000 and it worked wonders, so I may have to do that again or just not use heat and let my hair be half permed/half straight and wear it back like I do sometimes. When I do this, I use the Garnier Fructis leave-in conditioner on the permed portion and then let it air dry and put the sides back.

Ok hope the photos help you all in some way realize I'm talking about drenching the hair, not just barely putting it on there! If you have permed hair, this will help. If you have un-processed hair - well it might help if you use heat a lot on your hair, but usually un-processed hair looks great already and that is what I'm headed back to as soon as my perm grows out (which will be probably 2 years!).

Here is my update for Week 1:

The permed portion of my hair (since it is twiced permed) will eventually all break off. I've been through this before with my perm back in 1999. It all eventually departed lol. Once you have processed the hair (this time being double processed), I don't care what you may do to it to prevent the breakage, it is inevitable as I have learned! If it wasn't for my new growth, my hair would be around my bra strap right now but right now it rests at a little below my backside.

My hair has improved the past few weeks because of the following:

1. I went a full month without fast food in January and ate healthier
2. The past week I've ate a well rounded diet with correct ratios of proteins, carbs and fat
3. I'm doing more scalp massages (I will be covering this in later posts when I continue on with my Hair Care series)
4. I'm stressing less - yes, stress causes hair loss and slows down the growth rate, not to mention it causes physical illness
5. I'm praying more for my hair - asking God to help me during this time of 'growing out' from my old perms and praying for my hair to be like it used to be naturally - silky and easy to manage
6. I'm rarely using heat and/or product on my "new" growth - I do flat iron JUST the permed part or curl it and put product on it

Growing out a perm is a trying time but I've done this before about 10 years ago and the results in the end were worth it all! I'm treating my new growth very gently and one time I had to blow dry my hair because we had to run somewhere quick and I almost cried because I didn't want heat on my new growth! I prayed and asked God to protect it because I had to get it dry quick and then I had faith he would and went ahead using an Ion blow dryer that is gentle.

I've noticed a lot of breakage this week, mostly because my double processed ends are ready to leave and I have no idea how short my hair is going to get but hopefully my new growth will continue growing at a good rate and make up the difference!

Here is a photo of me this morning (it was early, so hard to smile hehe)  Even though I flat ironed my permed portion, you can tell where it starts because it is lighter and coarser and not as smooth as my new growth, at least I can tell lol. =0

I just read an article that made my jaw drop! Here was a feminist lady who embraced the so-called "freedom" of a woman working and not being 'tied down' by husband or children confesses that:

......loving relationships and children bring more happiness than work ever can.

She is looking back and sharing with the rest of us women that the whole "career woman" mentality is not all its cracked up to be. I knew that already.....been there done that, it wasn't fulfilling like my marriage and daughter are to me, not to mention taking care of my home. Here are some more quotes from the article:

To that end I have spent 20 years ruthlessly pursuing my dreams - to be a successful playwright. I have sacrificed all my womanly duties and laid it all at the altar of a career. And was it worth it? The answer has to be a resounding no.

WOW! The words 'laid it all at the altar of a career' is so visual to me that it just shocked me to hear this lady say that. Her honesty is amazing! Notice, this lady has spent 20 years running after this "freedom" to find that in the end, it was not worth it. It is sad that she had to go through her life without the joy that a child brings or loving relationships but her words echo to women out there what we are made to do.

Notice in the next quote how she tells about this instinct:

Somewhere inside lurks a woman I cannot control and she is in the kitchen with a baby on her hip and dough in her hand, staring me down. She is saying: “This is happiness, this is what it's all about.” It's an instinct that makes me a woman, an instinct that I can't ignore even if I wanted to.

Then she ends with a summation of it all:

I have always felt a huge pressure to be successful to show men that I am their equal. What a waste of time.

May women glean from the experience and lessons learned of this feminist woman. She learned the hard way but you don't have to!

God made us and I think he would know how we were designed: to be keepers at home, bearing children and loving our husbands! It's that simple....that is our purpose.

You can read the article in its entirety here:
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/article5662099.ece

Here is the list of products I use or have used and that I recommend! I will also be doing a post on Hair Tools, which will show the combs, hair dryers, irons, etc.


Shampoo:

• Finesse Volumizing Shampoo - I love this stuff!
  
• Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo - I use this only to remove buildup once every 2 weeks (twice a month usually)

Conditioner:

• Finesse Moisturizing Conditioner

Leave-in Conditoners:

• Garnier Fructis Sleek n' Shine leave in conditioner - this is my miracle product! I've used it for about 2 years now and love it. For the first few months after my perm in 07, this is all I used on my hair! I would wash my hair and then put in the leave-in and let it air dry.

Gels:

• Suave Sculpting Gel - I use level 10, but have tried 8 and 9 in the past. It is alcohol free and inexpensive and works great! It doesn't flake either.

Hairsprays:

• John Freida FrizzEase Moisture Barrier Hairspray - don't use too much, it holds very well but if you use too much there is no going back unless you wash it out lol
• Suave Max hold #8 Hairspray - Light and you don't have to worry about using too much; it works good on taming flyaways

Oil:

I started out using the coconut oil in the ethnic hair care section, called Blue magic. I used this for years and it worked well. I then saw it was not plain coconut oil but also had petrolatum in it, so I stopped using it and started using Louana 100% coconut oil from Wal-mart and it works great and its cheap too!

• Louana Coconut Oil - the kind you buy in the grocery aisle! Take some in your hands and rub together until it emulsifies and turns from a solid to a liquid oil, then apply to hair. I coat my hair once a month and put it in a bun and then wash it out the next day or a few hours later. You can also put it on just the ends lightly before curling your hair.
• Blue Magic Hair Conditioner - works better for ethnic/women of color because it has petrolatum in it along with the coconut oil.
  

Heat Protectant:

• got2b crazy sleek, hot smooth, flat iron and blow dry lotion - you use this after you towel dry your hair if you plan on using heat on your hair. I've only used it a few times and noticed it actually helps hold curl too!
• Tresemme Heat Tamer Spray - I absolutely love this stuff! Not only does it smell so good, it makes my hair softer and protects against heat damage from my flat iron. When I curl my hair with my flat iron, this causes it to hold the curl more then without. I highly recommend it.
  

Hair Serum/Shine Products:

• Citre Shine Colour Prism Glossing Gelle - My Favorite! I love this stuff! It smells like citrus and then gives you a wonderful shine. I mostly use it when I wear my hair curly (what's left of my curly perm). I mix it in the palm of my hand with my Garnier leave-in cream and then apply to my hair from the shoulders down to the ends.
  
• got2b Dazzling Shine Spray - It's light because its a spray, so you can slowly add it on where needed. I like that it gives a more even coverage then if you put shine serum on your hand. I use this when I straighten my hair (sometimes, depending on how dry it looks) and also when I hot roll my hair or use a curling iron to create curls. Get ready for silky hair! ; )

I'm supplying this information to back up with evidence what we believe about the issue. The intent is meant to show the "why" we believe what we do. We hold life sacred, in case you haven't noticed, this is a Christian website!

My husband and I have certain personal convictions that we don't force on anyone else but are things we got from the Holy Spirit leading and guiding us over the years. I'm not entirely sure where my church stands on these issues as I have never heard them addressed in a service but maybe they have been, I don't know? Either way, we practice these things and hold them to be true. With that said......I hope to make this as plain as possible so we don't have to go over this every time I mention these things on this blog and have people jump to conclusions and categorize us into their little box lol.

Issue #1 Birth Control

We are against Birth Control pills. I think they are a device of abortion. Medical Science has shown that they probably do not prevent a pregnancy but rather STOP one from continuing on by not allowing the already conceived embryo to implant on the uterine wall. (60% of women have silent abortions with the pill in a given month! - how many babies do you think you have killed? Will you find out when you stand before God and tell him you didn't know those pills killed those children!?) I've done my research and even without the research......I have no doubts that God guided us against these. This also includes other forms such as IUD's, etc. DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE! It's lack of knowledge that is the enemy here.

The American Society of Reproductive Medicine confirms that the pill causes abortions:
http://www.epm.org/artman2/publish/prolife_birth_control_pill/ASRM_Confirms_Pill_Causes_Abortion.shtml

Here is a free pdf of the book "Does the Birth Control Pill Cause Abortion" and shows the medical science:
http://www.epm.org/media-files/pdf/bcpill.pdf

I highly recommend this one:
http://www.wayoflife.org/otimothy/tl110003.htm

Another great one that lists several other sources at the end:
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-bcpill.html

Don't believe me, listen to the doctors:
http://www.epm.org/artman2/publish/prolife_birth_control_pill/The_Growing_Debate_About_the_Abortifacient_Effect_of_the_Birth_Control_Pill_and_the_Principle_of_the_Double_Effect.shtml

Not a big enough doctor for you? How about the Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at George Washington University Medical Center?
http://www.epm.org/artman2/publish/prolife_birth_control_pill/Birth_Control_Pill_Abortifacient_and_Contraceptive.shtml

I don't want to take the chance that I murdered an already conceived embryo. That is not an area I want to be near, rather I would be far away from it. Can you imagine standing before God seeing all your children that you killed? I can't bear the thought that I had the control over the situation and actually took the pill that killed them.

What about other types of birth control? Yes, we believe you should not have children if it isn't in God's timing. I believe you should seek God's direction for your life. If you are just having babies without using the wisdom of God and then making other people pay for it (welfare) then how can you say you are right before God? Why would God approve of you living off the government, i.e. other people's money? If it is OF GOD, then he will supply ALL your needs.

So what type of birth control do we believe in. You can find them listed here, scroll to the bottom for those. You may say, well I can't get pregnant because of this and this. For starters, we have been married for almost 9 years and have 1 child. HELLO! The other safe methods do work folks lol. ; ) If you have something wrong in your body and medically you shouldn't get pregnant, first off pray......God will guide his children. Then you might have to get sterilized(depending on the severity of the situation) or stop having intercourse for a time (only when both parties are in agreement according to the Bible). But you can't say birth control pills would prevent your pregnancy and it isn't a valid argument to use them.

What about a woman who is on a medication and can not get pregnant during that time? Well, do you know how many babies are born even while a woman is taking birth control? Some babies make it through the pills, so you still have a chance on the pill. The approved methods that I linked to above, if you combine several of those at once, you have a better chance of not conceiving and staying safe, then with the pill! I for a time was on medication and I was advised to not get pregnant and be on birth control. However, I did not go on birth control, I prayed and believed God and kept doing what we have been doing and all was ok!

WHEW! That's a lot to swallow huh? It's a lot for me to write it but I figured its no big secret and you may have personal convictions that me and my husband don't share but I still love you, so hope you return the favor!

BOTTOM LINE: Ask yourself this question and really think about it:

Would God approve of a pill that has a significant chance of killing an already conceived embryo/fetus?

Related Posts:
Inventor of Birth Control Pills Now Calls it a Catastrophe
A Woman's Role

In Part 8, we left off at March 2008 (1 year after the perm) with my hair at 30 inches and 4 inches of new growth that year. From March up until August, I had to work with my hair to try and disguise the fact that part was straight and the other part permed. I continued to have to use gel and a blow dryer to get it to look right, it was still very dry, and I would also straighten it sometimes and then curl it with a curling iron or hot rollers as shown in the photos below:



I did the above for months, until it dawned on me that I could just straighten and/or curl JUST the permed part and leave my new growth untouched! So I started to do that, leaving my new growth and scalp alone and my hair grew rapidly and the condition of my new growth is black, shiny and silky. Also, I started using the leave-in conditioner again and letting my hair air dry more often, even though my curls from the perm aren't as tight, its much easier on my hair that way. If I want all my hair straight, I just straighten the permed part. If I want to curl my hair, I just curl the permed part now.



You can see how much lighter my permed hair is from my new growth (which is black, some dark brown). My new growth is now at 12 inches of new hair since my perm!! Total length right now is 38 inches. In just 9 months, my hair grew 8 inches! I credit it to my supplements, diet, taking better care of my hair, not perming it again and most importantly prayer! I hope to get my "old" hair back that I used to have in 2005 before my 2 perms by taking care of it like I used to from now on.