Does your child ever surprize you Spiritually?

My youngest, Samantha is saved. I know she is not just by her confession, but life style. This week she has been memorizing Ephesians 6:10-18, on her own. It isn't for school, or church, but own personally growth. She has also been reading The Weapon of Prayer by E. M. Bounds. She said "Mom I learned something from this book, if I don't pray, I don't love God. How can I love some one that I ignore and don't talk too?"
She takes notes in Church and studies them. I always have a book for them to help them in their devotions. She asked if next year, if she can just do word/verse studies, like "peace, sword, and satan" for her devotions.

She is concerned with souls, she has witnessed to several neighbors and invited them to church. She has away about her that she can do that, they don't take offense.

Let me tell you my daughter is only 11 years old. What a blessing it is to have her. However, it makes me see my weakness and failure

25 things about me

I am composing a list of 25 things about me, you may or may not know
1. Happily Married to an incredible man
2. I am blessed with the two most awesomest daughters, I want to be like them
3. I have a great church family
4. I have 5 crazy animals, any one want a dog, really?
5. I like to write, although I am bad at it.
6. I am a nurse, and I am starting a knew venture in my life on Monday, really could use some prayers.
7. I have a couple of the greatest best friends, Kim and Michelle
8. I love crisp autumn air, the leaves changing colors, the frost on the ground, everything just feels so clean.
9. My favorite colors are red and green. Red gets me all fired up inside, full of energy. Green shows my love of nature and all of creation that God gave us to take care of.
10. I love the smell, sound and feel of water. It could be a babbling brook, peaceful pond, or crashing of waves. They all be still my heart, and make me appreciate the beauty God has given.
11. I hate clothes, would rather be naked any time.
12. I love potty jokes. Yeah, I know like a 5 year old.
13. Temperment wise I am choleric/sanguine. Poop and blood, go figure
14. My sign is gemini, not that I am into horoscopes, kind of put it on the same ground as temperment labeling. I will say often times people really do think there are two sides of me.
15. The verse that has probably helped me more then any is 2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us
16. My favorite hymn, And Can it be
17. I love birds, especially watching them in the winter.
18. My favorite food, seafood. I love crab, lobster, shrimp, and the works.
19. I am addicted to soda, pop or whatever you call it.
20. I am 40, wow that is old.
21. I love tulips and sunflowers.
22. All time favorite movie "The Outsiders". I know what it is like growing up on the wrong side of the tracks.
23. I hate it when people stereotype, ....ie all mother's pamper their kids, all blacks are thugs, all hispanics are illegals, all muslims hate the US. Okay so maybe I just hate the word "all".
24. I am calm in a chaos. Really I am.
25 I am so thankful that I am a Christian. That Christ came and died for me, and I repented of my sin and accepted Him as my Saviour. I am now not perfect, just forgiven.

Ruth

The Book of Ruth from the Bible is one of the most profound books ever written. This biography is of a young woman, that lost her husband. A man I am sure she dearly loved, with how cordially she treated her mother in law Naomi. Think of the sadness and despair she went through. The mouring of not just her husband, but her barren womb, her future and support, mostly her family.

She eventually lost her family and friends, when she left Moab. She cared for Naomi, and refused to return to her father's home. The worked hard in a strange land. She waited patiently. And finally through toil and tears, through hunger and pain. God blessed her. Her struggles were not for naught. God gave her Boaz, a kind loving weathly man. But even more, she is found in the generational line of King David, and Christ.

God and can use anyone, only if the wait patiently on Him, and while waiting they work.

The meeting, churches in the Terre Haute area

Well I haven't been able to post this because I have been extremely busy with a new job and candy sale.
I had the privilege of seeing a couple of High school friends. I am just so proud of them and their service to the Lord. I think of Laura. I know in high school many just thought she was the rich kid, and never amounted to much. I was so proud of what she has done with her life. She has a raised a handsome young man. She does an excellent job in her Sunday school class, Sami has been in there, she has enjoyed it. And working with the Master club. Seeing all those trophies and ribbons made me proud that I knew her. She has really became an awesome Christian, one I wish I had time to get to know over again.

Then there was Lisa, what a beautiful family she has. She is just getting settled in her new church, but I know she has a heart for souls. You can just see it in her smile. I listened to a sermon her husband preached. And wow, is all I could say. the thing that got me the most is when he was talking about not everyone is in the same spiritual place, That we are growing at different rates.

I so can't wait to met up with Lori. We keep missing each other in passing. I have heard what a wonderful work Her and her husband is doing in Rantoul. I have been candy selling there a few times and the people are so receptive, they have even asked us if we are from their church. That states alot about a church.

When we went to the church in Jasonville, the teens were so friendly. They treated my daughter like she was welcome and apart of their group. It reminded me years ago when I first started going to church. Lisa and Lori always asked me to sit with them. They really welcomed me in. I think that is what helped me to stick.

Their pastor, Jerry Ross preached an awesome message. I am praying for their spring push. I hope they blow the 501 goal out of the water. I admit after leaving there that Sunday, a huge part of me wanted to move back to the Terre Haute area. I would if I didn't already know that I was exactly where God wants me to be.

On Wednesday night we went to Bible Baptist. I don't know what it is about that church but they are so cute. I really like Pastor Parker. He reminds me of a cute little leprechaun. You just want to squeeze him, but I am sure I would get in trouble. You can tell the passion for souls and lives and families are in his heart. Wow!!!
I admire both of these pastors because they both had to deal with the ridicule of John Price from the pulpit, and they both were there to pick up the pieces of many church members lives when Price shattered them. keep on keeping on.

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.