April 21, 2011

Good Friday: An Earth Day Testimony

Two years ago my birthday fell on Good Friday, and let's just be honest:  it was awkward being happy. How in the world could I fully enjoy celebrating my birthday on the day that my Lord gave his life for mine? This year Earth Day falls on the same day as Good Friday. Signs celebrating Earth Day are everywhere, and every one of them makes me a little sad. As much as I think we should care for our earth, I just wish the giant banners were marking Good Friday.

I wonder if anyone realizes the ultimate Earth Day was the original Good Friday.  Look what happened in Matthew 27:51-54...
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Did you catch that?  When the guards saw the earth quake, rocks split, and tombs break open, they believed!!!  The earth shared a testimony that pointed directly to the glory of God!
May we speak about the Creator as boldly as the earth did that day! 
And may those who hear us believe!

Hearts at Home Bloggers: The Miracle of Miracles

I am excited to be a part of the Hearts at Home blogging community! The third Thursday of each month this community will blog about a pre-selected topic! I can’t wait to read all the diverse and original points of view. So for this initial post, we will get the ball rolling with the following question:

Have you experienced any miracles in your life?

Most definitely! I’ve been very sick, and awakened one morning completely well! I’ve given and received forgiveness for wrongs that could only be possible with the intervention of the Lord. I’ve been on a mission trip to Kenya where an evangelistic conversation that began needing two translators ended in the American and Kenyan understanding each other directly! All very powerful experiences, but by far the most amazing miracle I have experienced is…

being raised from the dead.

You read that correctly. I have been raised from the dead. Romans 5:12 says, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people…” Subsequently, 1 Corinthians 15:21 says, “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.”

Which is what makes Romans 5:6-8 MIRACULOUS:

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us!”

He did that for me! He did that for me? He did that for me!! Miraculous!! While I was still dead in my sinful nature, completely unable to even make the first step towards Him, Philippians 2:8-11 says he took these ENORMOUS, MIRACULOUS, GOD-SIZED steps towards me:

8 And being found in appearance as a man,  
   he humbled himself
   by becoming obedient to death—
   even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
   and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
   in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
   to the glory of God the Father.

And this truth in my life leaves me with no other response but the one Peter expressed in 1 Peter 1:3-5:

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

I hope that no matter what miracles you have experienced in your life, that you also have experienced this one. It will not only change your heart, it will change your eternity! If you don’t think you have experienced this miracle personally, please email me: experiencingeachmoment@gmail.com. I would be more than happy to talk with you about it! The miraculous work has already been done-you just have to choose to receive it!

April 20, 2011

Book Review: Same Life, New Story

"Move from what is to what can be by changing how you think and talk to yourself" is a description of the book found on the book jacket. I would add that Jill Silvious also emphasizes an important step before that: accepting your individual story (not denying it, resenting it, or running from it) so that you can embrace what amazing things God has in store!

Not only would I HIGHLY recommend this book, I actually have already endorsed it in multiple conversations ever since I’ve read it! Somehow Silvious put into words thoughts that have been swirling around in my head for quite some time. Silvious peals away at the lives of women from the Bible and present day women she has come in contact. In doing this, she shows us what a difference our lives can make if we accept our story…not someone else’s, not what we always wanted, not what is easy.

There have been so many things in my “story” that I didn’t want to accept and it was such a good reminder I’m not the only one! The Bible is full of women who were used to fulfill God’s plan, and who wants to be comfortable with their own story when the God of the Universe is writing one for you! This book will inspire you!

Disclaimer:  I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Books for my honest and impartial review.

April 15, 2011

Siesta Verse:Tax Day

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?
Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 
Matthew 5:46 NIV

April 4, 2011

Spring into Storage: Week #2, Coat Closet

I had to pick an "easy" project this weekend because I AM SICK!  Not much is going on around this house these days except trying to get well!  I couldn't get the whole closet in one shot, so I had to take a "top" and "bottom" photo.  Before pics:
Even though the whole thing seems a mess there are 2 main things that I wanted to change:
1. Clothes on the top shelf-those are clothes the kids have grown out of that need to be given away. Once I clean them, I throw them up there, so I need a box for each child so it's neat from here on. On the left is a stack of bags, and I've put them all in the black bag to use them whenever I need.
2. I thought these vertical storage shelves would be perfect for shoes. Well, I liked them, but the rest of my family couldn't quite get on board, so I needed to go back to the shoe rack we had at our last home. Whatever it takes for a 5 & 7 yr old to put up their own shoes!
While I was cleaning up, I put the kids' snow boots up high so they wouldn't get in the way.  The basket on the ground has gloves and scarves, and the walmart sack is a bag that I need to give to someone.  I love opening my coat closet now!

April 1, 2011

Siesta Verse: April Fool's Day

Since I knew I would be posting this verse on April Fool's Day, I couldn't help but post a verse about "fools".  The Bible has much to say on wisdom and foolishness, and I found this verse which is unfamiliar to me:
Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple. 
Job 5:2 NIV