Being Thankful

 I just wanted to share a quick post on a great family devotional for the weeks before Thanksgiving.  This year Mary made a construction paper pumpkin with a pocket.  I had her take note cards and write something she was thankful for on the front and then write a verse from the Bible on the back.  We bought her, her first full Bible for her birthday this year.  So, I am teaching her how to look up verses and read them.  So we look up the verse, she reads it and then she puts it in her pumpkin.  Another fun thing we have been doing is making flash cards of the books of the Bible and she has been scrambling them up and then putting them in order.  She has learned the New Testament books already!  There are so many wonderful things you can do with your kids to teach them about thankfulness and learning about the Bible.  If you have any ideas to share, leave us a comment and I will publish it for others to enjoy.  It is wonderful to share ideas. 

 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving

What Would Jesus Do?

For the last few days we have been seeing on facebook all kinds of comments about Starbucks holiday cups being solid red and not saying Merry Christmas on them. A friend posted an article that was written by a person that was upset at Christians for being upset about the cups.  Here is the link to this article: https://nathanielscottlake.wordpress.com/2015/11/08/why-merrychristmasstarbucks-is-everything-wrong-with-american-christianity/

After reading the article some thoughts came to mind that I wanted to share:

I could count the times on one hand that I have even been in a Starbucks none the less even bought something there. Not that I care what they say about Christmas, it is so very expensive and I just can't see it. What about Jesus saying blessed are the poor in spirit (those who willingly embrace poverty) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. In reading both the  yea and nay of this subject it seems both sides are painting their version of Christ. The guy that was promoting meekness was saying that Jesus would invite the gal (a worker at Starbucks) to church instead of being upset about the cup logos. I thought to myself would Jesus be doing that? I don't think so, when the  organized churches are ignoring Christ's words and not following His words especially in moral issues and materialism. Also he said nothing about the need of repenting to the girl when presenting to her God's plan of salvation. He just talks about God's grace and mercy. The fact that we are able to repent and turn from our sin and Christ forgives us, is his grace and mercy. They seem to leave that part out of their presentation.

Jesus would not care about a holiday or how it is celebrated, he would care more about rescuing this girl, ie Starbuck's employee, from her sin if she were an unbeliever. He would know every detail about her and lay it out to her what she needed to do. Just like the women at the well. Jesus walked in super natural power, just like we should be able to but most cannot because we are ignoring Christ's words and not being true disciples of Christ. Jesus says in Luke 12:29 And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. 33 “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I had a person respond to my statement on facebook saying that it was OK to be wealthy and wasn't a sin because David, Job, Solomon and Abraham were wealthy and had great faith.  They also said that poor in spirit did not mean willingly be poor.  My answer was this:

Well I disagree with you on your interpretation of poor in spirit. Jesus was our highest example that is greater than all those that you listed. When he was born in a stable and born to poor parents without great education and position, it was for our example. The apostle Paul was wealthy, he had to be to be highly educated and on the Sanhedrin and he counted all that as loss. He gave it all up for the gospel. As you know he was persecuting the believers because they were saying to give up having the land and their position (Zionism). That is why the Jews plotted to kill Jesus, because he was telling them that they were to give it up and they didn't want to. Paul told believers to follow him as he followed Christ.




 Solomon said:
"There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; and one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches." Proverbs 13:7

And James says:
"Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?" James 2:5

And John says:
"He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked."
1John 2:6

And the Lord Jesus Himself says:
"So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:33


I did not hear back from this person. It is hard for people to see the truth of what Jesus Christ taught.  It is tough being a missionary here as we live in such an effluent society and culture.  Our family lives on an income that is considered below the poverty line but in no way do we feel poor.  We continue to work at letting go of things, sharing, and enjoying the simple things of life.  We pray each day for the Lord to help us make the right choices and most of all we want to see Him glorified, we want to be a part of His kingdom, we want to follow Him and walk as He walked.  

The Law of the Lord is Perfect

This morning we had Mary get her Bible that she got for her birthday just recently.  She had children's Bibles with collections of stories but this is her first complete Bible.  She was so excited to get it and we have been teaching her how to look up scripture verses in it.  We will also be working with her to memorize the books in the Bible so she can find verses even quicker.  Anyways when we were thinking about what passage to read she opened her Bible and on the title page a verse was posted and it read:

"If you accept my words and store up my commands within you...and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God."  Proverbs 2:1, 4-5

After reading it we had Mary turn to Proverbs chapter 2 and we read the whole chapter.  After talking about that and what it would be like to go mine silver and the patience and work it would be to do that, it gave us a reminder and insight in what it is to search out God's truth and find wisdom.  We then went to the internet and found this wonder scripture song of Psalm 19.  It has great illustrations and we were all lifted up and encouraged as we sang it all together.  We liked it so well that we sang it twice through.  Here is the song if you would like to sing it too.

Here is the link:  https://youtu.be/oHde_AqJHtI

Count Your Blessings

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.  The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.     Philippians 4:7-9

Here is the link: https://youtu.be/IJb-DSKAuMA

Here is the link: https://youtu.be/9fMjgS4vu4o

For our family devotions we felt led to concentrate on remembering the good things that God has done.  For us not to be distracted or to despair over the dark things around us that are happening. Always remember those who obey Christ have a bright future in Him and have wealth beyond anything in this world.