You Can Lead a Horse To Water.....

Isaiah 55:1
"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost."

"You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink." How many times have I heard this saying? Yet, I never really gave it a second thought until I started teaching youth and also in the fact that I have three teenagers at home.

In Sunday School and at home God's Word is presented and I know that His Word does not return void, but the blank stares you get when you are wanting them to "GET IT"....ugh! They have been led to the "Water Source", but have decided not to drink the water.....YET! Oh my, I suddenly have the urge to call my youth pastor  and apologize for the times I gave him THE blank stare. He was leading me to the water, but I just wasn't drinking. So I remained thirsty!

In John 7:37-38, Jesus States, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

There are times that we cry out to God and proclaim His promises, yet many times our lives do not reflect what we are saying or what we say we believe. You know the little saying, "Practice what you preach"? James 1:22 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. DO WHAT IT SAYS." Simple, right?

When you get up in the morning, does anyone have to tell you to eat breakfast, brush your teeth and get dressed? Maybe for some of you.....but for the most part; NO! We do not have to be told to do those things, because we were taught at a very young age. Remember when you first started wearing deodorant, if not; your mom sure does! She had to remind you everyday...."Did you put your deodorant on?" And hopefully  asked before you left the house, because if it was after school, she asked because of the foul odor that greeted her in the car when you arrived! God is the same way. He reminds us daily through His Word what we should do. Colossians 3:12-14, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, CLOTHE (GET UP AND GET DRESSED) yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievance you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Just recently it was said, "Either God is Lord of everything, or He is not Lord at all!" God is leading us to the Water....He is the Living Water Source. It is our choice whether we are going to drink or remain thirsty. 

Dazed and Confused

At the end of the school year it never fails, I always feel a little dazed and confused. I am trying to get the End of Year testing completed, which makes me nervous. What if I didn't teach my children everything they need to know? What if they completely bomb the test? Does that mean I didn't do my job? What if we had entirely too many "field trips"? Not to mention that after Spring break, the kids and I have mentally checked out of school!

Homeschooling is one of those tasks that you have to be called into. Although with all of the resources out there, just about anyone can do it...but you have to be disciplined; otherwise your whole school year is like you have just come off of Spring break! When God called us to homeschool, I was a little apprehensive, okay a lot  apprehensive! This is probably the only time that I have put a fleece out for God. You know.... "God if this is what you are telling me, then.......", you fill in the blank. I needed a direct answer, after all a child's future is based on their education.

There are fundamentals that I can teach, like 1 + 1 = 2, or that an action verb is the word in the sentence that is doing the action, or that the Declaration of Independence was signed July 4th, 1776. Then there are life lessons which are taught by observation. YIKES! Our children are imitators, now if that doesn't scare you, I don't know what will!

I remember as a teenager seeing my Mom study God's Word every morning. When we would get up for school, her Bible was always open on the kitchen table where she had been doing her quiet time. Now at the time I didn't think anything of it! It was routine, but now as an adult what an impact that has made on me. I began imitating that same routine as an adult. I can only hope that my children will do the same. Proverbs 22:6, Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

Sin in our life makes us dazed and confused! Here's the catch, do we live as though sin defeats us? If we are new creatures in Christ then we are free! Although children may not know the details of our sin, they see how we react or live according to sin. Do they see me living as if I am defeated or freed from sin? Scripture tells us in Psalms 103:10-12, "He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." If God doesn't remember my sins, why should I? Remember, our children imitate us! We are their examples and encouragers, how can they learn to live being free from sin if we can't? Galatians 5:1, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

Jesus Christ is our ULTIMATE role model and we are to be imitators of him. With the weight of our sin, He did not remain defeated, the grave had no bearing on him. Therefore, our sin should not have any bearing on us! LIVE A LIFE THAT IS FREE, ONE THAT IS ABUNDANT! That is what we want for our children.....right?

Romans 8:34-36

"Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, 

YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED'."

What is in a Name?

Choosing names for our children was a daunting task. We wanted the name to flow with our last name and of course we did not want nicknames. Being the sentimental people that we are,  tradition was a must. Our son Tyler, received his Dad and Papa's middle name (Boyd) and of course the last name would be carried another generation. His twin sister received my middle name (Lynn) and her first name is Sara after Abraham's wife in the Bible. At the ripe age of 27, I felt like I was going to be Sarah's age, somewhere in her 90's before I had children! Our third daughter, Jenny Beth is named after two incredible ladies who are very dear to our hearts. Funny thing is, some of their personalities  come out in her and when they do,  we giggle and say, "Yeah, we named her with the right names!"

I say all of that to say this. When naming our children we put a lot of thought into names and their meanings, but do we ever think about ALL of the names of God and what they mean? He is God, Creator, He is Lord, He is Jesus, Jehovah, Abba, Father, Yahweh, Adonai, Jehovah Jireh, our Comforter, Redeemer, Forgiver, Sustainer, our Protector, He IS THE King of Kings, El Shaddai, El Roi, Elohim, Prince of Peace, Savior, He is the GREAT I AM! The list goes on and on, but do we truly get it...get HIM? A few years back when I had a scare with cancerous cells, those names became real! He is my Refuge, my Rock, my Strong Tower; for in Him I will not be moved. 

As we are coming upon the day that we celebrate Jesus' resurrection and the fact that He is ALIVE, take a moment to remember ALL of who He is and what He has done for you!

Psalms 50:1

"The Mighty One, God, The Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets."

Psalms 62:6-7

"He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge."

Psalms 63:1

"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is not water."

Isaiah 9:6b

"And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 41:4

"Who has done this and carried it through, calling for the generations from the beginning? I, The Lord with the first of them and with the last, I AM HE."

Isaiah 41:13

"For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."

Isaiah 48:17

"This is what the Lord says, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; 'I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go'."

If you need some help with your worship go to UTube and search for:

Kari Jobe - When I Speak Your Name

Daddy's Hands

Psalms 96:1-3

"Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, Praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all people."

Every year at this time, I get an itch to have the Southern Homes and Garden landscape in my yard. I am not exactly sure what seems to transpire from the time I visualize this decadent and colorful garden in spring to the end of the summer. At the end of summer I still have the same weeds, they have just multiplied and I have no sign of that beautiful garden that I dreamt of. I have even tried having a vegetable garden...let's just say if we had to depend on my gardening skills, we would starve.

My Dad on the the other hand loves to garden. Man do I love to watch him! He begins preparing his garden rows early in February and on Good Friday he will plant. With every seed being placed in a small hole and covered, he reminds us of how God produces many vegetables from one seed. He will then proceed to tell us that he needs help when it its time to weed the rows and pick the harvest. He begins with an army while planting, but when the real work begins.....the army dwindles. What an analogy! We as Christians are a lot like the army, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few". 

Dad is also a Timber Producer and has been for almost 60 years. He is the most godly man I know. He uses his garden, the pine trees and all of creation to teach us of God's love for him and for us and he does it so subtly! When I was a little girl Dad always reminded my brothers and I to pay close attention to the pine trees around Easter and he still does to this day. 

Scripture tells us that ALL of creation will praise God, The Creator. Psalms 96: 1-13a, "Say among the nations, 'The Lord reigns.' The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the Lord, for he comes." Even creation recognizes Jesus' death on the cross, His burial and it celebrates His RESURRECTION! You see, the pine trees sing glory to God by producing crosses in the tops of the trees. It is one of the most amazing things to take notice of and yet so humbling.

Those crosses are a reminder of God's grace and His mercy to me as a sinner. A sinner who has been forgiven, redeemed, justified and free of condemnation! Romans 8:1-2, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death." I am so thankful for an earthly Dad who has been so encouraging and who has taught my brothers and I and now our children to stand in awe not only for creation, but the CREATOR....GOD, all by working with his hands. I have watched him through the years rejoice and sing praises to God, I have watched him being a laborer for the harvest of God's Kingdom. He is a simple man and a man of few words, he works with his hands, but I am telling you His love for God SHOUTS! 

I challenge you to pay close attention to creation...especially now with all of the newness! How many tomatoes can you harvest from one seed? How many crosses will you notice in the pine trees? God is is at work all around us, make yourself aware of God's goodness, sing to the Lord....just like Dad!

They Say It's Your Birthday!

OMG! I cannot believe it is Tyler and Sara Lynn's Birthday week.....let me take a moment and cry! What a special gift you both are! You will be 19 Friday, April 4th. Wait......I need another moment...sniff, sniff. 1 Samuel 1: 27-28 says, "I prayed for (these children) and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give (them) to the Lord. For (their) whole life (they) will be given over to the Lord."

I remember the frustration and heartache Dad and I went through when trying to conceive. All I wanted was a baby and I was willing to do just about anything to get one! As I look back, our faith was not strong, but God still chose to bless us with Baby A and Baby B. The "Gift Procedure" that we had in August of 1994 turned out to be two of the BEST GIFTS we ever received! We have not always made the right decisions as parents, nor been the best example for you and  there are things that we would most definitely change, but God has truly BLESSED us, He has been our Refuge and our Rock!

Psalms 127: 3-5

"Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court."

This is your first birthday that we will not be spending with you, but we want you to know as your parents, WE LOVE YOU and could not be more proud of the young people you are becoming. We realize this year has been a huge adjustment. You are learning how to trust God and claim your faith as your own. That's HARD STUFF! Heck, even Dad and I struggle. Even in the times we  have been faithless, God has always been faithful.

If you would allow me to give you some advice, memorize 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." For me, this passage is referring to my daily walk, my testimony. It is our prayer that you both lead a life that pleases God, not one that conforms to this world. It is so easy to be caught in the snare of Satan, all he wants is to see both of you defeated. BUT....you must remember, Ephesians 3:20, (MSG) God can do anything, you know--far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us." Although, we are celebrating your physical birthday this week, your spiritual birthday has given you the "power" that is being spoken of in Ephesians 3:20, YOU HAVE IT, He can do IMMEASURABLY more!

Happy Birthday Tyler and Sara Lynn! We love you as far as the east is to the west.