100 Days Old Today!! ♥♥

♥ ♥ ♥ xoXO ♥!!

sMiLeS,

I'm History.

Yes, I am history.  And so are you.

History is still being made right now.
What will your history tell others?

Quote from the sermon:  "Every blot in my story, I put down.  And every blessing, HE puts down.  And the great struggle in life is this:  Who gets to hold the pen?"

Do we take the pen from God to make our own decisions?

I saw or heard this quote recently:  "Every decision, every undertaking, needs prayer."


Holy History by Bro. Scott Pauley, Vice President of Administration at Crown College of the Bible.



This message is so good, I suggest you get pen and paper ready.  =)

There is no way I can ever recall all the sermons I have heard, or even ones I heard a just few weeks ago! =)  So I love to look back through my notebooks.  I have highlighted key phrases, verses, etc. that really spoke to me during the sermon so that I can easily find them and call them to mind.  In the same notebook, I also write verses and sometimes notes as I read my Bible every day too.

See, this is history.  The devil wants us to get discouraged, so by reading these notes and verses, I can see and remember the times when the Lord lifted me up, the times he helped me see where I needed to change.  A much needed reminder as we humans are so very prone to slip back into old habits.  We need refreshers to keep us on track of decisions we've made to change in a certain area.  It's a good idea to write those out as well.  Sometimes it's hard to actually write it out, but doing that makes it much more final.  (And I think that's also why it's so difficult to write it!)

The best way to keep those decisions is to stay as far away as possible from what causes us to be tempted to slide back into our natural sin nature.

Get rid of, delete, eliminate whatever would allow you to easily access whatever is your temptation.  Put God first in your day, and meditate on His Word all day.  He is right there with you!
Have a to-do list and keep busy.  Plan your day so that you don't have time for whatever tempts you.
If it is something that pertains to the mind, or maybe an attitude, keep at bay those thoughts that allow anger, bitterness, etc. to fester.  Do not dwell on injustices, replaying them in your mind.  Keep your mind filled with other things.  Play Christian radio online and sing along.  (various things to listen to)   Read your Bible aloud and write things down.  Pray aloud as you do chores or shower or drive down the road.
If it a person that you have trouble with, pray for them too.  And read the book of I John.  And this post.  =)

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  Philippians 4:8

sMiLeS,

3 months old

Love her to pieces!! ♥♥♥

As you can see, we get smiles as long as she doesn't notice the camera, lol.

sMiLeS,

Papa and Callie! ♥♥

3 months old tomorrow.  =)

No smile - she noticed the camera, lol

L♥ve her to pieces!!

As Far as Possible...

Here is an excerpt from a book I am reading, Jack Hyles Speaks on Biblical Separation.

Chapter 5.

What About Secondary Separation?

One of the big issues of our day is not only, "Should we separate from the wrong crowd?" but also, "Should we separate from those who run with the wrong crowd?" We could go on and on and ask, " Should we separate from those who run with those who run with the wrong crowd?" and "Should we separate from those who run with those who run with those who run with the wrong crowd?" To enter into such a subject is like tiptoeing through mine fields, but since the issue needs to be faced, we will do so.

Sin is basically that which causes bad consequences to me or to someone else. This is an oversimplification, but to say the least, sin has consequences. The ultimate consequence of sin is death. Because of this, the wise person will find what leads to death and avoid it. The answer to this is in James 1:14,15. "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." The Bible teaches us that sin brings death. We are reminded in the Word of God that the soul that sinneth shall surely die. We are reminded that the wages of sin is death. If we could just find what brings death and avoid it, we could avoid death-death of dreams, death of homes, death of hopes, etc. Since we don't want to die, then we should avoid sin, for sin brings death.

What brings sin? We find in our text verses the answer to this. Temptation brings sin. Hence, the wise person will stay away from death by staying away from sin and will stay away from sin by staying away from temptation, for temptation leads to sin and sin leads to death. To be two steps from death is better than to be one step from death.

We could be even safer if we could find what brings temptation. Again, our text verses tell us that enticement causes temptation. Enticement is someone or something trying to get us to consider wrong. Since enticement leads to temptation and temptation leads to sin and sin leads to death, then a person is farther from death if he stays away from enticement. If one does not want to die, he should avoid sin. If he wants to avoid sin, he should avoid temptation. If he wants to avoid temptation, he should avoid enticement. If this can be done, we are another step farther from death. Far too many of us walk just inside the boundary of sin, and then one stumble sends us across the line! However, if a person can find that temptation brings sin and enticement brings temptation, he can be several steps from death; then if he stumbles, he will not stumble into sin but into enticement.

Recently a young lady in Hyles-Anderson College came to my office in tears and completely broken. I asked her what was the trouble. She said, "Dr. Hyles, I am a fallen woman."

I said, "Oh, my, I'm sorry!"

She said, "I know I have broken your heart. I never thought it would happen to me, but it did. I know my parents will be heartbroken! My pastor will be crushed! I know, Brother Hyles, that I have hurt you deeply."

As she told me this she was weeping uncontrollably. I wept with her. I asked her, "Where did this happen?"

She said, "In the halls of Hyles-Anderson College."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing! I said, "Exactly what did you do?"

She said, "Brother Hyles, I held a boy's hand."

Though I continued to look concerned, I could not help but rejoice inwardly. To her, to become a fallen woman was to hold a boy's hand. She had stayed so far away from sin that when she did stumble, she was far enough away from the edge of sin not to go into sin itself. How tragic it is that many schools have their rules just between temptation and sin! The only rules are those which keep young people from sin. Why not make rules that keep them from temptation? Then why not make rules that keep them from enticement? Then why not make rules to prevent enticement in order to keep the young people even farther from death? If sin brings death, let us stay away from sin. If temptation brings sin, let us stay away from temptation. If enticement brings temptation, let us stay away from enticement.

If we could find what causes enticement, we could take another step away from death. The answer once again is in our text. Lust brings enticement. Lust simply means "desire." We lust, then we are enticed, then we are tempted, then we sin, then we die. We could take a step farther from death if we could find what leads to lust or desire. Again we find in our text that being drawn away leads to lust. God has a plan for each of our lives. Each of us is to be busily engaged in fulfilling that plan. When we are drawn away from that plan and the work that God has called us to do, we then notice what the world has to offer and we desire it. Once we desire it, there is always someone who can entice us. Then we are led to temptation which leads to sin which leads to death!

If we would keep from death, we must keep from sin. If we would keep from sin, we must keep from temptation, which takes us two steps from death. If we would be kept from temptation, we must be kept from enticement, which makes us three steps from death. If we are kept from enticement, we must be kept from lust, which puts us four steps from death. If we are kept from lust, we must be kept from being drawn away, which makes us five steps from death. It just makes sense that the farther one can stay from death the better off he is, and since death is caused by sin and sin brings death, we should stay as far away from sin as possible. Everyone who goes into sin follows the same pathway. He is drawn away from doing the things he is supposed to do. His eyes see something after which he lusts. Then someone entices him to take, whereupon he is tempted. The temptation leads to sin, and sin leads to death.

When I was a boy my mother taught me to come straight home from school. There was a certain route that I was to take every day. One day I did not take that route but joined some other boys in traveling another way. We had taken the first step. I was drawn away!

On this new way home there was a peach orchard which also had a big pecan tree nearby. We came by, looked at the peaches and pecans and desired them or lusted after them. Now we had taken the second step toward death which is lust.

Then one of the fellows suggested that since I was the smallest, I should climb to the top of the fence and the other boys would keep me from falling inside. I could lean over the fence, pick up some pecans and peaches and throw them out until there was enough for all of us. Then they would pull me back over the fence and we could go our way. There was the enticement. I was a step closer to death.

As I looked at the peaches and listened to their plan, I was tempted, and I was a step closer to death.

Then came the sin! I climbed the fence and reached for the pecans and peaches on the other side. One boy was at the top of the fence holding me, another boy was at the bottom of the fence holding him and the other boy was on the ground holding him. I got several pecans and peaches and threw them outside the orchard, and just as I was about to get enough, I noticed that the police had arrived! I was the only boy inside the fence, and as soon as the other boys saw the police coming, they let me go! I fell inside the fence and they scurried home. (This is always the case! Those who lead you into sin always drop you as soon as they are through with you or as soon as trouble comes.) There I was facing the police officers. Being drawn away had brought lust, lust had brought enticement, enticement had brought temptation and temptation had brought sin. Sin brought the police. (My mother had called them and told them to scare me to death.) They took me to the police station and warned me of my plight. I could see life imprisonment or perhaps even the electric chair! My predicament was caused by sin. My sin was caused by temptation, my temptation was caused by enticement, my enticement was caused by lust, and my lust was caused by being drawn away from the straight route home.

How foolish we are to live just outside sin! How foolish we are to make our rules and standards just outside sin! The farther we can walk from sin, the safer is our walk, and the farther from sin that we can keep those young people over whom we have authority, the safer will be their walk. Too many of us have our rules and standards right after temptation or right after enticement or right after lust or right after being drawn away. The wise leader will keep himself and his followers as many steps from death as possible; hence, as many steps from sin as possible.

Now concerning the matter of secondary separation, this is not even the issue. The issue is to be as safe as possible. If it is safe not to run with the wrong crowd, then it is safer not to run with the crowd who runs with the wrong crowd. 

You can finish this chapter or read the book in it's entirety online, or copy/paste into a word document so that it can be printed out.  =)


Also suggested:  Do you REALLY Want to be Like Him?  ♦  Modesty - What Guys Say


sMiLeS,

View from my front door this morning...

Just beautiful!

sMiLeS,

#TestimonyTuesday... started by a friend on facebook =)

I don’t have a spectacular testimony, as in, “I was wicked and the Lord turned me around.” But it is spectacular in that He saved me!! And He did change me! 
I grew up in a Bible-believing church that preached the truth, and I had heard the gospel from a young age. At age 10 I began to feel conviction and knew I wasn't saved. Then one day while standing in the kitchen talking to my Mom, I bowed my head and prayed and asked the Lord to save me!
There was a change in me after that. I remember telling my Mom a lie, then feeling so convicted I had to go back and tell her the truth. When you let God in, there will be a change!! smile emoticon
There was a period later when I doubted my salvation, but since getting back into being faithful in my Bible, there’s never been a doubt that I know when I got saved!! smile emoticon
If you “follow afar off” you may deny Christ. I just read that this morning, and it is so true! Stay in your Bible, stay close to Him.


sMiLeS,

A Young Hawks Trio

Then:

Abigail, Bethany, Rebekah  (I'm guessing ages 9, 7, and 10 -- about 10 years ago)

Now:

Abigail, Bethany, Rebekah  - Bethany is actually the tallest now; just leaning on the fence.

I Love These Girls!!  They are the sweetest! ♥ And more importantly, they love the Lord.

sMiLeS,

I should soon have subdued their enemies...

These verses were a good reminder for me this morning.  We all have that one thing "which doth so easily beset us."  That we can let become a god.  Reading this makes it easier to listen to Him and do what I already know in my heart to be right.  I don't want God to give up working on my heart!
Oh, what might have been...

Psalm 81
9.  There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.
10.  I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11.  But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
12.  So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
13.  Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
14.  I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.

sMiLeS,

She found her thumb!!

10 weeks old

Oh, how I love that little face!! ♥♥♥

Yesterday:

Caleb, Rebekah, and little Callie ♥

sMiLeS,

Psalm 139

This chapter just blessed me this morning!!


HE KNOWS US!

1 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

He cares this much for me:

14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

THIS OVERWHELMS ME!!

16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

21 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

Yes.  

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

sMiLeS,

Callie Anne ♥

Two months old

 

My absolute favorite!!

sMiLeS,

Family ♥

We took Bethany back to college today.  I miss her already!!
Rebekah got married a year ago, and I still miss her being here every day!  I see her as much as I can!  And of course the new grandbaby!!  And we love her husband, Caleb.
JohnDavid started Auto Mechanics class & lab this week, so it's going to be very, very quiet around here, a whole lot more than usual!  This pic shows a tiny glimpse of his true personality.  =) =)

Love my family!!

sMiLeS,

Silver Lining

"How can we find the "sunny side of life" when the storm seems to be parked directly over our house?"

1. Thank God for the good, the bad, and the ugly. "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Knowing a verse is not the same as living it. Just the other day, I was driving down a snowy road and said out loud, "Lord, thank you for good tires on this car." I would rather not drive in snow, but I can thank the Lord for a nice warm car with good, recently rotated tires.

2. Read more...  http://blog.keeptheheart.com/2015/01/silver-linings.html

Point #3 spoke to me today. I discovered something that I just can't even talk about.  But after reading this, just decided to give it to God as it will only discourage me if I dwell on it.  And likely discourage anyone I would tell!
There are malicious people in this world, but when it seems there is nothing that can be done, TURN TO HIM!!  

I had asked God for a verse today, and He gave me this too!!
Job 5:8-9
"I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:
Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number."
--Doesn't He just love us so much?!?!

"Stormy?  Look for the silver lining.  The sun is just behind that cloud temporarily."

Photo Credit:  Mrs. Francie Taylor

Finding Comfort in His Love,

L♥ve my twins!

JohnDavid & Bethany, age 17½

What to do when home from college?  Go hunting with your brother!  =)
I believe they are in the double tree stand in this pic.  No, they didn't get anything but cold.  ;)

sMiLeS,

Callie Anne -- 12 days old

Our grandbaby!! ♥♥♥

♥♥♥,