So what do we do?

So apparently 20/20 did a big episode on the IFB church, sex cover up. Does this surprise anyone? Well let's see. There is the Catholic church, the Mormons, the Jehovah Witness, the Methodist, the Presbyterian church, The church of God, Southern Baptist and now the IFB. What do they all have in common? Sinners.
 As a recovering victim of this I am not so happy about the publicity. Why? Well this is brought about by the wicked media that would like to do nothing but hurt the church. To hurt God. That doesn't make me happy. It hurts me because parents are too stupid to believe their children. It hurts me because people still put pastors on a pedestal. It hurts me because sinners will use this as an excuse not to come to Christ. It hurts me because another child has been hurt.

So what do we do? Do we stop going to church? Do we stop trusting in God? Do we stop having faith? What we do as Christians, members and parents is protect our children, our church our Christ. When an accusation has been made. We investigate, we question, we love, we punish, we protect. We teach our children that not everyone is a predator, but we don't be surprise either. All men are sinners, thus can and will be tempted to do horrible things.

Just because we go to church with someone. They are our daughter's and sons best friends parents, doesn't exclude them from sin or from harming us. People it is just plain common sense. We choose, do we let Satan have the victory, or do we let Christ.

Many know my circumstances, I am not going to repeat it. I will say that when I left the church my life was destroyed. But when I returned, God my Father patched me up and repaired the mess. I look at my daughters and my marriage. I see how they were then, and now. I would not change it for the world. My family has a heart for the bus ministry. My husband and I has a lead on a family interested in church. All I can think of is maybe a few more souls added to God's family. What a blessing.

I am thankful that when I did return, I was listened too and believed. You know, that is how a church should function. Unfortunately it doesn't, people are hurt. Lives are wrecked. Then the media boasts of the horror of religion. That my friend is not right. The infallibility of a pastor is not biblical and should never be construed as that. What we must realize is the same thing we accepted when we got saved.

Romans 3:23

For ALL HAVE sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Once we get saved, it doesn't take that away. We must all be aware of this in our dealings with everyone we meet, associate with, go to church with, and sit under. That is what we must do.

Rachel

I so thank God for this young lady. She is a true blessing. Tonight after church she came home and started cleaning house. Her only request is we didn't interrupt her.
Through the last year I have seen so much spiritual growth. She is regularly having devotions and good ones from her conversation about them. She is initiating spiritual subjects. She tells me what she is getting out of the sermons. She is trying to challenge herself to be a better person, a better Christian. She is learning to truly trust in God.
She isn't perfect, but she is a good girl. I don't deserve her. She is turning into the lady I have prayed for. That makes me very thankful to a merciful Father. Thank you God.
Yours truly, Cathy

Attitude

Meet Miss lil' tude. Have you ever heard the phrase she is her mother's daughter. Well Sami is.

Sami was telling me about a situation in school actually a few. The first happened today. Sami was holding a door for a group of much younger girls, as they passed by, boys in the same class also went through the door.
Samantha approached the boys and asked them if she was a boy or a girl? She stated they had a dumbfounded look and answered "girl". She immediately scolded them and informed them that they are suppose to hold doors for girls and that even means her.

As mom I am proud of my daughter for being independent and standing up for herself, but also shocked that she is so forward. Wow that mirror hurts.

Sometimes when we dig for treasure we get dirt, other times a diamond pops out, or that shiny prize of gold. But the key is to continue digging.

They other problem she has been there are a few macho boys in her class that diddles, and the girls, well they are hungry. As a mother of two girls, food don't last long in my house. Girls will eat and hurt anyone that stands in the way of their food. It is normal.
The boys seem to be slow according to Sami when it comes to lunch. Therefore the girls march to the lunchroom and even open the doors for themselves. That isn't the problem. Girls ought to be able to open a door, otherwise they could be stuck out in the rain.

The problem is that the boys get mad because the girls hold the door for themselves. When I am saying mad I am saying pushing the girl holding the girl out of the way, flipping their head away and evil eye stare, as Sami would say.
The thing is, these boys don't get that nothing is going to stand in the way of girls and food.




All silliness aside, when did we stop teaching our boys to be gentlemen and our girls to be ladies. Ouch, I think I broke my own toe on that one.
I am wondering if in IFB Christianity it isn't the pant wearing ladies or the long hair men that is going to crumple our gender distinction. I predict it will be the lack of teaching about gender roles. Things as opening doors, or how a lady should walk. We are going to destroy our own foundation by ignoring the building blocks. That is my prediction.

Party Time

I am hosting a celebrating home party. I have done anything like this. I am rather freaked out about it. I am not creative, and my house isn't immaculate and perfect, it is comfy and homey. Then planning snacks and appetizers oh my. Just not my ball park. I am not a creative being. I have zero creativity in my body. Which I laugh because if you read my zodiac, which i don't read anymore, nor believe and practice. It states that Gemini's are creative people. I scoff at the weirdo's that come up with it.

Well I did do one thing creative, or at least I think it is. I made some cute invites. Here they are.

Calvary's Promise

This is a poem My 11 year old Samantha wrote, it really touched me and thought I would share with you.
Calvary's Tree
At calvary's tree I stood
Not aware of the man that was there.
But His look made me feel
That I nailed Him up there.
That my sin nailed Him up there.

As I started to cry,
He asked why?
and with a cry I replied,
"It was I who nailed you up on the tree."

And He said "Come unto me,
And I will set thy spirit free.
I'll carry thy burden,
Thru shallow and deep.
I'll be by thy side
thru easy and hard.
I promise, I'll never forsake thee."

Samantha McNabb

Who is king over your domain?

This is my fat cat Gizmo. He truly believes he is the king of his domain. He jumped 5 feet and pushed over my flowers to rule. This work was really unnecessary, for you see he can lay anywhere, and rarely be disturbed. So what all the work then?
This so reminds me of our sin nature. The payment was made, all we need to do is trust in Jesus. The problem is, we want to do it ourself, find our own way . Rule our own domain. We forget about how we screwed things up yo begin with. We trusted in our way, not His. See we are given a freewill, God isn't going yo force us yo lie quietly on the sofa. We can choose to jump the great gulf for a better view, of course at the risk of not making it. Just because we succeed it the crossing, doesn't promise we will be happy. After all we have to return sooner or later. The jump back isn't the easiest. There are often bumps, bruises, and broken bones along the way.
So the question remains, "who will be king of your domain".

Thankfulness

1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. Thanksgiving is this week. There re so many wants and needs in this world. But wants and needs are often really not contentment. We get contentment from God, not from goods. Some of us think we need a brand new construction home, what we should be content with is basic shelter. Food is great, but it doesn't have to be a medium rare prime rib, with baked potato, salad, and steamed vegetables. Truly, a PB&J sandwich is suffice. The one thing we all need is Christ. Many will not take Him. Instead they will cleave to Buddha, Mohammad, and even worse Self. The later three may seem beneficial, but it is only the first that will give contentment. For you see, it is nothing we or mortal man and idols can do, the can offer true thankfulness. It is Christ alone and His glory He shed for us. The reason we celebrate thanksgiving isn't to gorge ourselves in Turkey and dressing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, apple pie, and pecan pie. the reason we celebrate Thanksgiving is to feast in the prosperity of how God supplied our predecessor's needs. It started off at Plymouth, but it is still celebrated today. Oh we may not have to bare a harsh winter ahead or grueling harvest. we don't worry too much about sickness, or never seeing or hearing from family again. We have the best amenities heat, bountiful refrigerator, antibiotics and skype. We don't NEED God...... or do we? God, my Heavenly Father gives us air to breathe. He gives us the health to work. The coal to heat us, the trees to shelter us. You see He even gave His Son to save us. John 3:

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. I am most thankful for my Salvation this holiday season. For without God, my Father, and His love for me, I couldn't be content with just mere food or raiment, shelter and health.