Don't Flaunt Your Faith

Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. ²¹ It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.^{[c] 22}The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. ²³But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.<sup>[  Rmoan 14

Here I am again,  using you to make sense of what I am reading.  My mom is much better at working out things God is teaching her.  We have had some discussion at our church,  and in past  churches,  about drinking and other things (movies,  food, books, games) and if these are allowable to a Christian.  I really feel this passage sums it up.  It begins by referring to food,  but then in vs 21 says wine or anything.  Don't you think a good summary of vs 22 is "Don't flaunt your faith!" ?  

The whole gist of this passage is encouraging our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  Anytime I see the words "Blessed is the man...",   I want that blessing.  In this case,  scripture is saying blessed is the one who is secure in what he does (eats, drinks, watches, plays)  BECAUSE he has brought it before the Lord and IN FAITH is assured that the Lord has spoken to him about what is good and right for HIMSELF ONLY. 

I began to think about this.  There are areas in my life where I am NOT sure the Lord has spoken about this to me (possibly because I did not bring it before Him for help in discerning?).   I waiver so much on movies,  t.v. shows,  and food.  I have felt great conviction in the past on books  (you KNOW I love to read.  Oh,  and a post coming on the book sale I just went to.)  I was convicted many years ago about books that portray romance in a worldly view.  It undermined God's reality and made things a little distorted.  This extended, for me, into Christian romance.  A couple of years into child rearing I was convicted of reading mostly Christian child rearing books,  and neglecting the ONE TRUE child rearing book,  the Bible.  So I got rid of most of them and started looking to God as my source of understanding. 

All this to say that vs 23b says,  "Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin."  So that means,   that if I watch a movie and I am not FULLY convinced it is ok for me,  it is NOT ok and a sin.  If I eat 15 cupcakes, and am not fully convinced it is ok from the Lord,  it is a sin.  This will require more prayer,  less watching, less eating, and less of other things.  I can only see good come out of this.</sup>  

<sup>I would love to know what you think. 

thanks for reading,

Reb

ps.  I had to throw in a picture of these Orange Dreamsicle Cupcakes we made last week.  I told some friends that came over,  "Please eat as many as you  want,  or I WILL!"   They did and we were all happier in the end.</sup> 

 

God or gods

I am reading through the Bible (mostly! to be honest, and who doesn't when it comes to the Bible), Ok, again, I am reading though the Bible and am in 1 Chronicles . Do you know how often God gave them victory and they turned to the gods of the nations around them? I am astonished! I kept wanting to shout out, "NO, don't do it. Thank and praise God, honor Him, destroy the other gods and get back to that abundant life you have!" They wouldn't have listened anyway, so I kept it to myself. The fish thanked me for not yelling.

Then I went on to read Romans 12 1:2, you know, the part where we are called to be living sacrifices, acceptable and pleasing to the Lord. Also the part about not being conformed to THIS world but being transformed by the renewal of our minds, that by testing  we may discern what is the will of God, what is  good, acceptable, and perfect.


My mind began to think about that sacrifice and not conforming. Hopefully you can see where I am going. Here I am having these great morning devotions, praising and thanking God. Then I turn my focus on school books (the god of education) or a good movie (the god of entertainment), or wonderful cupcakes (the god of food!),   what activity I am taking the kids to (the god of busyness) or what errands have to be run today (the god the urgent) .   Am I seeking God in the morning ,  seeking to renew my mind,  looking for His wisdom, encouragement, instruction and even discipline,  then turning to "other gods"  for the rest of the day?   Is God my God all day or just when I read and have quiet?  
 
 This is one of those mergings I am struggling with right now.  Making God my Boss in all areas.  That He is my wisdom for schooling my kids,  for what is entertaining, for how I should use food, for what activities we do, or how important those errands are.  I find we are not serving in a sacrificial way,  not even each other in the home. 
 
And this post could go on and on.  But these were some thoughts I had and needed to work through a little  before the kids awoke.  In reality,  I began this post yesterday, was unable to finish it because of the BUSYNESS of the day,  and just now got back to it.  I am thinking a quiet retreat in  a little cabin somewhere in ALASKA, with cool breezes,  evening walks where I don't pour sweat,  and NO COMMUNICATION with the outside world (except this computer to send out AMAZING POSTS on what God is teaching me.  Or NO POSTS if there is so much crud He is exposing I couldn't publish it.)  TANGENTS,  sorry.
 
thanks for reading
 
Rebekah

Our God is the God of the Weather

It's hot here like it is in most of the US.   One day a couple of weeks ago the sky became very dark and cloudy and there was this "promise" of rain.  My neighbor was running outside to photograph something with her IPhone, so being the curious neighbor I am, I ran outside to look also.   Then I ran in and got my WONDERFUL  camera.  Here is what the sky looked like. 

Can you see the thread of purple in the center? 

There are so many verses that talk about God and storms.  Some,such as  this one,  talk about his second coming as a storm.



And the LORD will cause his majestic voice to be heard and the descending blow of his arm to be seen, in furious anger and a flame of devouring fire, with a cloudburst and storm and hailstones.  Is 30:30

Behold the storm of the LORD! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked. Jer 30:23

Here the Bible tells us he is the creator of storms and brings the rains.

Ask rain from the LORD in the season of the spring rain, from the LORD who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.  Zec 10:1

He also has power over the storm, to calm it and cause it to cease.

He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Ps 107:29


I am so thankful that the God of the weather, who creates the details in a storm, and decides when and how it is going to come,  also created me, with even greater detail, and decided I am to be one of His children.  Now if only I would obey Him as the storm does. 

thanks for reading,

Reb

Others speak of God being the creator of the storm. 

About the Pie

I realized yesterday after I posted that I was going to give you an easy summer pie recipe.  But google is doing strange things and they are not informing me in the simplest of terms how these new strange  things work....therefore I couldn't figure out how to get back to my blog and repost....and can I just say for the record that TECHNOLOGY IS VERY COMPLICATED!   I need a secretary. 

So here is the pie recipe. 

The ingredients. 

I had only one key lime pie yogurt, so I added 1 cup of regular and 2 Tbsp of key lime juice.  I would actually put more juice  in cause I like it TART!


1 (4 ounce) box lime sugar-free gelatin


1/4 cup boiling water

2 (8 ounce) containers Key lime yogurt

1 (8 ounce) container sugar-free Cool Whip

1 prepared shortbread pie crust

Mix the gelatin in with the boiling water.  Stir to dissolve.  Add the yogurts and key lime juice.

About the key lime juice.  If you have never had a REAL Key Lime Pie made with REAL key lime juice,  you ain't never had a Key Lime Pie.  And if you have never had one in July in Miami with all your loud opinionated family around,  you've never experienced a REAL Key Lime Pie made by REAL Floridians.  (Why do I keep typing REAL in bold?  I actually keep typing REAK and going back and changing it.  Maybe my subconscious is telling me  something.  I need to think about this!)

Anyway,  back to the NOT REAK REAL pie.  Add the cool whip and pour into the crust.  Cool in fridge for an hour or so and EAT IT ALL UP. 

It is a tasty, cool, not heavy, summer dessert.  


thanks for reading and happy eating,

Reb

ps.  I figured out why I kept typing REAK.   My brain was wanting to give you the REAL Key Lime Pie recipe.  Should be coming soon.  I hate to make promises. 

Off the Face of the Earth...and Pie

When I mentioned in another post that we have been busy..I wasn't joking.  I have just a few minutes but a sweet friend FBED me and said,  "Need another post."   That was so kind I had to post SOMETHING.    So now you get some random things going on this summer and a quick pie recipe.

A.  I began going to the gym,  well, when the kids began swimming in May.  I figured since they were in the water,  I could do something while waiting.  I joined and began walking the treadmill.  I didn't know I could sweat inside an air conditioned building. 

B.  After trying the treadmill for awhile,  a friend said I should try Zumba.  I like trying new things, so I did.  Let's just say I alternated between gasping for breathe from exercise,  gasping for breathe from laughing, and gasping for breathe from shock.  Here is a short video NOT OF ME,  just to give you an idea.  This is another friend of mine who teaches this stuff. 

C.  I next tried a morning class while my kid were swimming .  Pilates.  I had a video at home and could do this pretty well so I thought it was a piece of cake.  HUH.   I finally talked my mom into coming with me so I wasn't the only one providing comic relief.

D.  I had a happy/sad situation concerning this new exercise run I am on.  (pun intended!)  I was watching these young girls running on the treadmills next to me and thought,  "I used to run with my dad IN HIGH SCHOOL.  I should try it now and see what happens."  It took me 26 min. of walking to work up the courage.  I ran   lopped along for 4 WHOLE MINUTES and was proud of myself for not falling off or passing out.  I gingerly hopped walked down the stairs to tell Kevin and Haley and whoever else would listen about my new proud self,  and they LAUGHED!   I have never brought Kevin back and I don't talk to Haley anymore.  Stinkin' high schoolers.

That's about all I have time for.  I pray you are staying cool....lots of Popsicles being eatin' around here.

thanks for reading,

Rebekah

Five Question Friday

  Here we go.  A little more about me. 


1. Do you think cursive writing is overrated? (Schools in Indiana have now voted to take teaching cursive writing out of their curriculum.)

 I LOVE a good cursive writing.  We use Italic handwriting in our homeschool and I only have one child that can will actually write that way.  But we press on...


2. Do you still use a pocket calendar or notepad or do you keep your info on your smart phone?

  I LOVE PAPER AND PEN!!  I can't even figure out how to put phone numbers on my very basic cell phone that my parents pay for because I really don't want one but they are afraid for me to drive around  (we could put a period on that statement but let's go on) without connections.


3. What 3 things would you save if your house was burning down? (family & pets are already safe)

 OH MY!!  Pictures of course,  my pillow (it is VERY difficult to get your pillow just right, and I need my sleep!),  and I don't really know.  Everything I own came from a used place like Goodwill or a book sale.  So I guess it could be replaced.  I think the box of notes, letters and pictures the kids have given me over the years.  I keep them in the closet and those WOULD be irreplaceable.  Ok,  that was hard to think through. 


4. Country Mouse or City Mouse, err Person?

 Can I be a Country Mouse wannabe???  I love the idea,  I love playing chicken farmer,  and corn farmer,  BUT,  I grew up City Mouse and love my comforts.  Maybe I could half it.   6 months country 6 months city.  This is SO confusing. 


5. If you could pick ANY reality show to go on, which would you pick? 
 
  Hands down it would be Amazing Race and I would go on it with my sister.  She has the best sense of direction and is pretty practical.  I would be adventuresome (ok,  well,  I DO like to travel and eat new foods!!).  But then again,  she won't get on an air plane and we can't take a train or drive everywhere.  But since we are dreaming..Amazing Race with the greatest sissy sister ever.
 
 
and there you go.  A little more about me.  Really, you should know me pretty well by now.  I would love it if you DO read this,  to answer these and send them back.  That way I could get to know YOU a little more.
 
thanks for reading,
 
Reb

Chinese Lantern Plant

I took a walk tonight, inspecting the garden and letting out the chickens for a run in the cool of the evening.   Here are a few pictures to tease you.

It looks like a jumbled mess.  And I AM beginning to wonder how I will harvest the corn, beans and melons when it is fully in.  But we will take THAT step when/if it gets here.  I am trying the Three Sisters way of gardening.  I'll let you know how it worked out later.  Here is something hiding under all that mess.

I can't begin to tell you how much we like melons around here.  And good thing too.  I think I have around 15 melon plants growing.  Again that's PLANTS, not the melons themselves.  I walked out Wednesday morning to the beautiful sound of many bees buzzing and flitting from flower to flower.  Music to my ears. 

Here is something else growing in that jungle.  I did not know what it was, but with   a little research  came up with....

Japanese/Chinese Lantern plant.  I can't wait to see it through the fall.  I THINK it will change into a deep orange color.   More as time goes by.

Here is another wild flower I found outside.  You can't see it very well, but the fuzzy cone facing the camera is a deep blue.  I think it is a Creeping Eryngium.   I LOVE identifying new wild flowers.  How fun to walk along and be able to name them.  I feel like we are friends, well, in my case since I can't remember their names sometimes it is more like acquaintances, but at least I try!!

Here is my basil which is growing crazily.  I have already made two batches of pesto,  put some on pizza, and plan on eating some for lunch tomorrow.  I have three other plants besides this one.  I think my friend Kelly could use some of this,  can't you ??!!!!

This last picture I thought was so pretty.  I have these planted around my tomatoes.  They seem to keep everything but those nasty tomato horn worms off. 

And that was my walk tonight.  Our days have been so dreadfully hot and humid.  Enough to make you sleep all afternoon.  But the evenings have been pleasant and breezy.  Probably just the STARK difference makes it feel that way.  But I have enjoyed getting out and walking the yard,  puttering.  Puttering...since I used that word and like it,  does that make me old? 


thanks for reading,

Reb

You are doing what...?

We are off to the pool to do this. 

And this...

and this...

It's where we have been all summer.  We love it.  But it is VERY time comsuming.  So between swimming,  keeping up with laundry, cooking, and other essentials,  I can't find the time or energy, (mostly energy)  to blog.  I am taking NAPS almost every day.  Not sure what THAT'S about but the family is thakful.

thanks for reading,

Reb

Five Question Friday

I like participating in 5QF.  I get to delve a little into myself and find out what I am like...I mean you get to..or maybe we both do.  Anyway,   here is myself,  for me, and for you.


1. If you had the opportunity to bungee jump, would you?


I would NEVER bungee jump.  I get very nervous LOOKING at people do that.  We were in Branson a couple of months ago and stopped at a Spend-all-your-money-for-a-few-games place.  While waiting on my husband,  we watched a couple,who were somehow attached to one another and connected to a very long string rope,  count down from 5 and then drop and swing.  One of my normal
younger children gasped along with me and covered her eyes and mine.  The other insane adrenaline rush junkies  children oohed and aahed wanting to know prices and if we would pay for it.  Uhh,  NO!


2. Would you rather go to the movie theater or to the drive-in?

I have never been to a drive-in, unless it was when I was very young and don't remember.  I would LOVE to go to one, and I think there is one about 1 1/2 away.  That may be a great summer adventure.  Only problem is, we don't go see a lot of movies, and almost never, (like once every couple of years) for full price.  So, it would take a LOT of things falling into place to do that.  But hey,  that's what I am here for, right?  Making my children's lives full of magical moments?  NOT!  Although I will look into it for a possible magical moment for me.and my husband.  and we should bring the children along for the ride, huh?


3. Do you have your groceries delivered?
 
This sounds like a great idea,  but  I LOVE the grocery store.  I like looking at the ethnic foods section,  I like seeing how many different kinds peanut butter are on the shelf.  I DON'T like (but wish I were more coordinated and had the time and motivation) to coupon.  I love going to Asian grocery store and seeing all the very strange food on the dusty shelves, food like 1,000 yr old eggs that are black,  dried seaweed snacks,  jellied octopus,  and these tiny fish people just pop into their mouths.  I tried a yogurt drink that was fantastic.  It made my lips and mouth pucker up.  I tried to eat these wafers but couldn't get used to the taste.  If I had ordered regular groceries I would never had these experiences.  Unless I am unable to go to the grocery store,  I will probably be one of the elderly who love to go EVERY morning and get my breakfast and lunch.

4. Eyebrows: Do you wax, thread, pluck, or stay au naturel?

Can I do all four?  I should do all four.  As a BABY I had a uni brow.   When I was 12,  my Mary Kay selling aunt  threw me on her bed,  pulled out tweezers, and changed my looks forever.  She must have plucked for 30 minutes.  I was never the same.  When I taught 5th/6th grade,  my students would ask if I used charcoal to make my eyebrows darker/denser.  I just glared at them,  the little punks.  Recently,  (I am a little slow when is comes to cosmetology)  I started using wax and love it.  Wax strips, not the drippy kind.  I would love to try the thread but am too embarrassed to sit in the chair in the middle of the mall and let some guy try to shape my eye brows.   I think this might have revealed to much of myself.  HMMM..

5. Would the people you went to high school with be surprised by your life today?

 Not a bit.   All 3 of them would say I was exactly like they the girl they knew high school,  with fewer eye brows.  And a little more padding.   I went to a VERY LARGE high school (graduation class about 900) and only attended for 2 yrs.  I made about 3 or 4 friends, and then moved after graduation.  I would love to see those 3 or 4 but have no clue where they are.  I know,  Facebook.  But I have issues with Facebook.

So there you have it,  a little more about me I wanted to know,  I mean, you wanted to know, or didn't but now do. 

thanks for reading,

Reb