The "Facebook" Friend

I've noticed a shocking trend perhaps enlarged by the massive amount of casual acquaintance that know everything we do everyday, thank you social networking. The funny thing about facebook friends, they don't really love you, at least not all of your facebook friends do. I've noticed comments on "statuses" that say "Don't worry about what other people think." "Do what makes you happy."
These are usually in response to a complaining post. These people think that they're leaving a supportive remark that will help their discontent "friend." There is a flaw in this logic, and exposes this "friend" for what they truly are. Let's look at the difference between a real friend and a "facebook" friend, shall we?
The first difference is this:
A facebook friend doesn't tell you the truth, but a real friend does. A real friend is concerned for your well being above that of your feelings, and tells the truth in love. If they think you're doing something that may bring harm to you or someone you love, a real friend can't stand to see you travel down that path.
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." Galatians 6:1
Another difference is that when you are harming yourself, your friend will feel that pain as well. They won't leave a one sentence remark, but they truly experience your pain, though maybe not as acutely as you do, with you.
"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2
Also, a real friend doesn't attempt to appease your pride, but recognizes that we all must consider others' happiness, and we must do so before our own. You see, we are all concerned when others don't care about our happiness, so let us care about the happiness of others.
"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." - Philippians 2:3 (Emphasis added)
In closing your real friends will: tell the truth which includes things you don't want to hear it, stand beside you, physically and emotionally, carrying your burden with you, and they will encourage you to love others' more than yourself, to treat them better than you would like to be treated! Most importantly, your friend will build you up in your relationship with the Lord. If spending time with someone, in reality or virtually, causes your relationship with Christ to degrade at all that person is no friend to you.
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish." - Psalm 1
"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." - 1 John 4:7 & 8

Sleepover

My little girl is currently at a slumber party with her aunt and cousin. (The same cousin for whom I used to throw slumber parties)
As a teenager I babysat, a lot! I mean, a lot!
My favorite charges were those that belonged to the laid back parents. The ones that said, "There's a pizza cooking in the oven," and left grandma's number, "somewhere in the den." Then, they were out the door. They didn't call to check on the kiddos, and when they arrived home, I didn't feel as if I was being interrogated, they simply asked if their kids "behaved."
And then, there were the other parents. They were the ones who left two sheets of paper, the contact list, composed of at least fifteen numbers of their closest friends and families, and the complete list of everything their child does in a twenty-four hour period. Dinner had a check list for the preparations & a requirement for how much the child/children must consume. I didn't like to work for these ones so much, and I determined that when I grew up, I would be a laid back mom, I would go with the flow, and people would enjoy babysitting for me.
I've failed in that goal!
I've resisted the urge to call my sister at least eighteen times in the last few hours, and I can't help but let little nagging thoughts into my head like... "I hope she's not going to have an accident" "I hope she can sleep for them" "I hope that she doesn't cry for me" "I hope that she cries for me"
You see where I'm going.
So here I am, missing my girl, but understanding that sleepovers with her aunts are just another step in her growing process. As she grows up, she grows independent. It's difficult for me as her mother, because I grew up and I grew independent. But, now, I've willingly given up my singularity. Which is what makes it so difficult for me to watch my kids grow up. But, it is truly bittersweet. I'm saddened as they grow away from me, it also is extremely exciting and fun to watch!

To Know To Do Right!

This post is almost a sequel to my last post having an It's Okay Mentality:
Not only should we fear God so much that we should be searching every thing we do for any hint of sin (Psalm 139:23-24, see below) but we as His followers, His children, need to examine our inactions! You do realize that we can sin in an omission of good in our life?!
"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." - James 4:17
My sister pointed out that this means if we see trash on the ground and don't dispose of it, that is sin, by default.
Omission of good in our lives is sin.
One can claim to know the Lord and indulge in worldly pleasures that pass so quickly, but can that one present himself as a holy sacrifice to the Lord? Let's replace worldliness with Godliness. Let's do good! How do we know if something is good?
"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
Is your life filled with things that do not meet these requirements? Are you striving to make every aspect of your life fulfill Philippians 4:8?
Again, let's fear the Lord and strive to present ourselves holy in his presence!

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." - Psalm 139:23-24

"It's OK" Mentality

Sometimes my sister can say some really wise things like, "We should have such a fear of God that we should have to convince ourselves that everything we do is NOT a sin." Christians want to live their way, and do questionable activities. They move headstrong into an activity insisting they're okay to do even when there are legitimate questions. If their is a question then why would we run the RISK of offending our Lord!!!!
God is a righteous God, and we know that because of His righteousness we were separated from Him. This begins the mysterious, glorious story of grace that is redemption. Jesus shed His righteous blood so that we could have a personal relationship with Him.
I probably won't quote this correctly, but,
"While my sins his death displayed for all the world to view,
Such is the mystery of Grace, it seals my pardon too."
Our Youth/Interim Pastor had a great illustration yesterday. He said, "If you fell down in the parking lot, and all your papers and things were all over. And, I ran out to you, picked you up, and collected everything you lost. Would you get back in your car, and yell to me, 'Pastor, I'll thank you later'?" He was speaking of being able to instantly consult the Lord, and I think it also shows that when someone does something for us, there is a reasonable response.
"For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." When someone shows you kindness you react with gratefulness. When someone gives you injustice you react with indignation. When Jesus gives us unending, all encompassing, unimaginable atonement, there is an equal and opposite reaction:
That reaction should be the gift .of ourselves to Him. How do I know this? Look at this popular verse:
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." -Romans 12:1
You see that it's the reasonable reaction to grace that we present ourselves to the Master as a sacrifice, but notice that our sacrifice should, reasonably, be "holy" and "acceptable." How does this happen? Let's look at the next verse:
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." - Romans 12:2
Do not be "conformed to this world." This is the first step in our reasonable reaction, we need to separate ourselves from this world. We need to be sanctified. If there's no difference between you and someone who is unsaved, it's time to question your sincerity! We need to be renewing our mind in God's Word. This will be the mirror that shows our imperfections. It make us a pure, holy, good, acceptable sacrifice!
Many tell me, "I'm saved by grace, 'all things are lawful to me.'" Yes, that's wonderfully true! I could never deserve God's grace, and am thankful that I don't have to live a certain set of standards to deserve His salvation. However, as I stated, we're talking about our equal and opposite reaction to God's grace. This reaction should be a fear of God, and a desire to be sanctified, or separate from this world, so that we can become a holy and acceptable sacrifice to our Lord!
Don't be like Cain and give your Lord who loved you so much an imperfect sacrifice! Endeavor to make your life holy! Which is only reasonable, I repeat, this is our reasonable reaction to God's grace!
Next time there's a question about whether something is a sin or righteous, I beg you consider these verses! Present yourselves holy and sanctified, not imperfect and tainted by the pleasures of this world!
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." - I John 2:15

Bent Crazy Braid into Messy Bun

Here's another cute curly style. It's a bent crazy braid into a messy bun. I'm still shooting the videos on my webcam so they're not quite as bright as I'd like. I'll have to work on my filming technique, but I'm still a novice! :D Here are some pics to show you the finished product:

Still Difficult to See!

Big Shot of a Bun!

And the video:

And He Saw, and Believed

"Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed" - John 20:8

This is one of my favorite verses in the entire Bible.
This verse is the Apostle John, or the disciple that Jesus loved, referring to himself in third person. He'd just arrived at the empty tomb. He'd run there with Simon Peter. He beat Peter to the sepulchre, but he had not ventured in as Peter immediately did. But when he entered he immediately believed.
I believe that because of his deep love for his Savior he believed.
Later in this chapter is the story of Thomas, Doubting Thomas. Thomas didn't believe that Jesus had risen after he'd heard the account of seeing the resurrected Lord. He required that he see the wounds of his Savoir before he would accept it.The tendency of the modern Christian is to condemn Thomas for his disbelief, but I understand. In fact, in the interest of full disclosure, I think I would have as cynical an attitude, if not worse.
Imagine for a moment Thomas' emotions: He'd given everything to follow the Messiah, he'd believed that the Messiah would bring a Kingdom of peace and justice, as well as salvation. He'd spent three years working day and night with eleven other men to forward the message of the Christ, and in days his hopes and dreams had seemed to be crushed!
Have you ever been betrayed by a friend? I have. And not just little betrayal, life-altering betrayals. I understand that the eleven were hurt deeply by Judas' evil acts. They had trusted him, and learned that he'd lied and had been cheating them.
Poor Thomas had also watched everything he'd believed seemingly fall to shambles. His Savior died, and he'd found himself wanting, running and hiding instead of staying faithfully by His side.
Thomas was a broken man. Experiencing more severe anguish than most of us comfy, modern Christians can even imagine.
But, then the Savior came!
I love the song, "It's Just Like Jesus"
It's just like Jesus
To roll the clouds away.
It's just like Jesus
To keep me day by day.
It's just like Jesus,
All along the way.
It's just like His great Love!
Isn't it just like Jesus to seek that one hurting, doubting soul, and to show that one His compassion. I can't think of how many times I've felt alone in this dark world and called on my Lord to show me He is real and with me. He's never failed! Every time I've asked the Lord to show Himself to me, He has!
After Thomas sees his Lord he wholly believes, without reservation.
Then, Jesus offers a blessing that, I believe, Christians today can only partially claim:
"Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." - John 20:29
No, we haven't touched the risen Savior, but, honestly, haven't we seen? Not only do we have the Bible, which has proven itself true, infallible and relevant throughout the years, we also have archeology, which is continually proven the accuracy of God's written word, we have history, did you know that there were over 500 witnesses to the resurrected Savior? There were less than that to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and we accept that into the truth of history.
John finishes this chapter with one of my favorite verses:
"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." - John 20:31
We have seen the truth of God's word. Christ's resurrection is historical fact, do you believe?

If you have questions about Eternity & how to secure a home in Heaven please check my What I Believe page! Or Contact Me it would be my extreme pleasure to talk to you more about that!!!

Silly Posting Mistake

SO, I wanted to do a modesty post, but that's something that I wanted to take a lot of time and prayer before posting...
I ended up thinking I'd saved it as a draft, but somehow posted it as an empty blog. Which is great because it's not ready at all.
I did however notice that it's gotten quite a few views, so I'll definitely make sure that I post something on this topic soon. I just want to be careful in what I say and how I say it.
Modesty is a touchy issue and something that needs to be handled with care. The post will mostly address the "blame game" that happens in today's heated modesty debates, and that we should be considering this an issue of both the male and female heart more than anything...but more on that later! :D

Homemade Baby Food

I'm not very talented, but I do like to try all kinds of DIY projects. One thing I've done and, I must say, it was successful was baby food making. When my older daughter was born, the only feeding questions that had risen in my mind and had been answered was bottle or breast. For me that was a no-brainer, I was going to breastfeed if at all possible. (I'll have to post about my adventures with her learning to latch...what a headache. Should have known she'd be a troublemaker!) I never even thought about what type of food she would eat when the time to eat solids came around. But, before I knew it she was six months old. Suddenly, I had the idea that I wanted to puree. (I can't figure out how to put the little French punctuation above the "e," by the way!) I did this for a lot of reasons. One being that allergies run in my family, and I wanted to control all the elements of their first foods. Another reason being that making your own baby food is really cheap. Click here to see a great comparison chart! Take note of the cost of making your own banana baby food...shocking!

Baby #2 Eating her first bites of applesauce

At first I thought that pureeing my own baby food would be tedious, but I discovered that I LOVED to do it! It was really fun to do!
I found that my favorite way to make baby food was to steam lots of fruits and veggies at a time. I would usually end up with glass pyrex bowls all over my kitchen filled with goodies. Then, I would use a stick blender and go from bowl to bowl. This method saved me on dishes and on time!
I never did much with ice cube trays, instead I bought 6 oz ball jars, labeled them and froze them. If you do go this method, make sure that you buy jars that are freezer safe! This made my food extremely portable. Of course, you still need to keep the baby food cool. That's when my Awesome Lunch Sack came in handy.
This is a site that I love it helps you with all kinds of infant feeding question: Wholesome Baby Food

Short Hair Curly Bun

I've done my first video hair tutorial. It's a little rough, but you'll get the idea.
This is a short-haired, curly bun. I love messy buns, but my hair is a little short & too layered to do it the conventional twisted and pinned pony tail. So, this is how I do a messy bun.
I will warn you that I recorded this with my webcam, the audio is a bit off. Comment if it's difficult to see or hear. I'll be posting another video tomorrow that varies off of this!
Happy styling:

What I've been up to lately!

It's been a busy couple of months in our little house, and honestly, I'm pooped!
When I've had times to briefly play on the internet I've been looking at hair tutorials, and I've done a few cute ones that I've found online! :D Made me very happy when they've succeeded!
I've begun to venture into trying to "create" my own new styles. My big girl is wearing one today. I would post a tutorial/pic of it, but it's pretty messy. I'll probably try the same style & try to post the pic tomorrow!
Here are a few of the styles I've tried. Happy styling!

This is a braided Crown! Thankfully, there are better pics on the original blog post here!

My sister has the perfect hair for this style! I loved it on the post here, but my little one's hair was just too fine for it to work. Pretty isn't it!

This is our "Andalasia" style. She's worn this a few times, but it doesn't stay well in her hair, she's too active. Find the tutorial on this great site!

Measure of a Man

No doubt you can guess which public figure to which I am referring when I say that over the past eighteen hours or so media outlets have been flooded with stories of one man who passed away. One CEO, one business figure. I've seen headlines saying that this man changed my life by his efforts in his business. I've seen numerous "inspirational" quotes regarding him. But, sadly all that he's been measured by is his success financially, technologically, and in the field of business. Is this the measure of a man?

I'm so saddened that at the close of a life, all we can do is thank him for our toys & our toy stories. Is this the legacy you wish to leave?

I know of a man whom many don't remember twelve years after his death. He was a quiet man, and it was rare to get him to talk to you much about anything. His greatest claim to fame is an 8x10 picture hanging in the halls of his high school commemorating his talent as an athlete.

He spent most of his life in sin and rejecting God, but in May of 1999 he was diagnosed with cancer. This changed everything. This quiet man came to know the Lord, personally, deeply. He spent the next few months going from doctor to doctor seeking treatment. Growing weaker, but always determined and in good spirits. He also spent those months telling those he loved that he had changed. That when he died he would be with the Savior & he wanted them to join him in Eternity!

In December of 1999 he was hospitalized, and informed that he would go soon. He made a list of literally everyone he knew & asked family members to call them to see him that he might have one last opportunity to tell them about his Savior. The cancer choked his vocal chords but he still witnessed threw a strangled whisper. He was taking unimaginable amounts of morphine, and though he was delusional, seeing a dog in his hospital room, he witnessed.

Many of his friends and loved ones stayed near him night and day in his hospital room. In the middle of one night a faint crying was heard. It was an old friend of his, and this crying woke the young man's wife. She told her pastor's wife who came into the room that the friend wanted to be saved. The pastor's wife pulled out a Bible & a gospel tract. She sat with him & showed him how to know that he would see his friend again in Eternity. That man bowed his head at the bed of his dying friend and asked the Lord to save his soul, and to be His king. When the friend said "Amen," the young man gave up his fight, and breathed his last.

If you walked into that hospital room at that moment you could see tears of joy & tears of sorrow mingled together among the family & friends. And, on the bed laid the lifeless body of a man who had once rejected Christ, now with Him. Beside that body lay a Bible & a gospel tract. His old legacy might have been an 8x10 photo of teenage athlete, but his new one was souls forever saved.

I imagine there are not many that still think of that young man very often, it was a long time ago, but I do. I remember his legacy. I understand that he could not be measured in athletic records that would be broken, or technology that will eventually be obsolete, but in the lives he effected for the Savior! In the things that are eternal, souls saved, hearts changed!


"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:" - Matthew 6:19-20

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:14