"Judge Not"

For those who know me, it is no secret that I am a fan of the Duggar Family. For that reason, I follow some of their social media and because of that I am aware and read this post by Jessa (Duggar) Seewald. She does an awesome job of laying it out about Biblical judgment and God actually means. I tell ya, this girl got at it!

I'm proud of her. So many Christians sugar coat and tip-toe around this and other not so popular topics. They preach love and tolerance. I agree we should love everything as Christ does, but when you love someone don't you want them to know about how to be saved from an eternal torment???

Kudos to Jessa for speaking up and not backing down from what the Bible has to say even when it causes backlash and shouts of hates. She gets a big Amen from me!!!

Embracing Womanhood

I heard a piece of Patricia Arquett's Oscar acceptance speech shouting for women equality and rights and of course it got cheers and "you go girl" responses from the audience. I understand women want the same opportunities as men. Want the same pay as men. Want to be treated with the same respect and I'm all for that, but I am worried that women will start embracing the workforce role more and more and neglect or do away with altogether the role of a wife and mother.

To me, it is saying that being a homemaker, being the nurturer and energy of the home isn't something to desire. That keeping the home welcoming and warm, having dinner ready when your husband gets home, making sure there are clean socks... they are worthless duties. They make you less of a woman.

I have been married for just over 6 years and not once have I felt trampled on or beneath my husband because I "just" cook and clean. Yes, I work outside the home, but my desire is to be a stay at home mother when that time comes. Nothing makes me feel more like a woman than when my home is cozy, when I make my husband's dinner plate and bring it to him (although he doesn't expect or demand it), when I have a clean kitchen, when I stand at the stove cooking. I find my identity in what my husband thinks of me not how high I've climbed on the corporate ladder.

Let me clear this up... I don't think any less of any woman who strives for the best in her career. I just wish that it wouldn't appear that you have to be "Woman Hear Me Roar" in order to be something important. I want woman to know that one role is not better or more valuable than the other. Whether you sit at a desk with stacks of paperwork or in a rocking chair holding your napping baby, you have value and you are a powerful woman! Whatever stage you are in, embrace being a woman in it. Be strong, be gentle, be a force to be reckoned with at work, be a boo-boo kisser at home, be a powerhouse, be feminine. Be what God has called you to be and nothing less!

Let Me Tell You What God Says...

   I have been thinking and praying on this for over two weeks now. I have debated on whether to even approach this topic because it is a cause of borderline arguments among denominations. God has continued to deal with me about it and I feel compelled to explain to you and show you scripture what God says about "losing" your salvation.
   No one has ever asked me personally "show me scriptures to back up your doctrine. Tell me what God says". Honestly, I don't think anyone would let me get it all out without arguing. I know, I was one of those people. This is a chance for God to speak through me without interruption. An opportunity for God to get HIS Word in without pause. I want to come at this from a Q&A angle. I grew up believing once saved always saved and now from studying the Word I believe Truth and I'm secure in that.


First let me say this... we don't actually believe you can loose it as in misplace it, the better word is forfeit it.

So then you believe that you are saved through works?
   No. The Bible is very clear that we aren't save through works but by the grace of God through faith in the Work that only Jesus could do. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8 & 9.

   There is a difference between obtaining salvation and maintaining salvation. Neither of these can we do apart from God. I can not live the life of a sold-out Christian completely devoted to God and His Kingdom without HIM. The Bible does says over and over again that we must "continue" "maintain" or "abound" in good works and "endure" to enter Heaven (Mark 13:13, John 8:31-35, Romans 11:21-23, Titus 3:3-11). The Bible also says, how can we escape hell if we "neglect" our salvation (Hebrews 2:2-3) and that if we overcome (you can't overcome something until that something is over, and in this case... human life) that we will be rewarded with Heaven (Revelation 2:7 & 3:5).

Hypothetically, you have a bout of road rage and curse the other drivers and then get in an accident and die... you are saying you'll go to hell?

   Nope. There is a difference between committing a sin and sinning (living in sin). Sinners can not enter heaven (Revelation 27:21, Matthew 7:21, II Peter 1:1-11) and a sinner by definition is "one that sins" (merriam-webster.com). That is in a present continuous sense. Sinning comes from an unrepentant heart. If I were to smoke a cigarette, that won't "send me to hell" but if I do not repent of that sin and turn away from it, it could (not necessarily will) lead me to start drinking which could lead to fornication and presently/continuously doing that is living in sin and will merit hell.

But the Bible says "no man can pluck me from the Father's hand" (John 10:28-29)

   That is truth. No man can remove us from God and likewise God can not/will not remove us. He will never forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5). BUT, God is a gentle God and He holds us in His hand, not a clenched fist. Just like God didn't snatch us up in the first place, we freely walked into His open hand and we can freely walk out of it. Free will works both ways. If we have free will to come to Him, we also have free will to leave Him. Why any would want to is beyond me, but if once we are saved we are always saved then that does away with free will and that makes God a liar and a liar He is not.

Aren't you scared you won't make it to heaven?

   Are you? I'm secure in my salvation that if I obey what the Bible says about continuing in the faith, maintaining my salvation and abounding in "good works" I'm promised Heaven. I am aware that if I were to fall back into sin there is nothing God can do for me except offer forgiveness and restoration just like someone coming to Him for the first time. Again, God is not unfair. He will take me back any time I ask Him.

   There are so many misconceptions about exactly HOW we believe and after hearing the comment made " I don't want to be living scared 'If I die right now will I go to heaven or hell. Oh I just don't know' " God started working on me to not keep quiet. I felt it was said in a mocking way and it saddened me that this person and so many others actually don't know "we" don't live with that fear. I pray this is met with an open mind and not shouts of "you're wrong" without actually looking into the Bible. This change that I made was not instant. God started bringing people into my life at the age of 16 to share with me this truth and it wasn't until I was 23 that I finally allowed GOD to show me what He says not what man says He says.

   I'm not saying if you believe "once saved always saved" you are going to hell, I'm saying if you believe that and still live as worldly as the worst sinner than you might want to check with God on that point. If you are saved by grace believing in what Jesus did on the cross than you are saved! 

   The moment ANYONE asks for forgiveness and repents they are immediately saved. 
 Romans 10:9&10 says "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." It's how you live after that that matters just as much as believing. 

Marriage Musing

As I sit here on the couch typing, my husband is stretched across the couch with his feet in my lap. He literally fell asleep within mere seconds of laying down and saying "do you mind if I put my feet there?".

Oh how I love this man!

He has quirks that make me roll my eyes at times and I'm sure I have quirks that merit the same response. The thing is, I love my Mr. quirks included. He is truly more than I prayed for.

I think about what the Bible says a husband is to be...
    He is to love his wife to the point of sacrifice (as Christ loved the church) - Ephesians 5:25
    He is to treat his wife like a priceless heirloom - I Peter 3:7
    He is to be pleasant with her - Colossians 3:19
    He is to lead his family - Ephesians 5:23
    He is to come to her and be her family - Genesis 2:24
    He is to give his body to her - I Corinthians 7:3-6

Then I think about what the Bible says the wife is to be...
    She is to submit to her own husband - Ephesians 5:22-23
    She is to come to him and be his family - Genesis 2:24
    She is to work for her family (no matter the size), care for her home, give honor to
       her husband, be wise in finances of the home, etc - Proverbs 31:10-31
    She is to be pleasant with him - Proverbs 21: 9 & Proverbs 25:24
    She is to give her body to him - I Corinthians 7:3-6

I am not this awesome Biblical wife all of the time. Most days I may only nail one of these traits, if that! But at the end of the day I know I've done well because my husband is pleased with me, and I with him. He tells me I'm a good wife not because of my housekeeping (it could use some work), not because I make tons of money, but because I love him, I honor him and I'm faithful to him and our marriage.

I pray my marriage is one people can look to and think "I want a marriage like that". I know 6 years seems like a drop in the bucket for some but for me 6 years is most of my adult life. In this day 6 years is an accomplishment and I'm proud of that. After 6 years of marriage we still hate being apart, we hold hands even sitting on the couch watching TV, when he winks at me I get butterflies. He is my love, my protector and my best friend.