Committed to the Pursuit of Holiness

Holiness, Day by Day by Jerry Bridges is an absolutely fantastic book to read devotionally. I read it alongside of my daily Bible reading. I wanted to share something with you that I read the other day. I pray it convicts your heart as it did mine!

"...When we commit ourselves to the pursuit of holiness, we need to ensure that our commitment is actually to God, not simply to a holy lifestyle or a set of moral values. The people of my parent's generation were generally honest, chaste, sober, and thrifty. They were committed to those values, but they were not necessarily committed to God. Many of them were outstanding moralists and even church people, but they were not committed to God. They were committed to their values, not to God. 

As believers we need to be careful that we don't make a similar mistake. We can be committed to a set of Christian values or to a lifestyle of discipleship without being committed to God Himself. But Paul said to offer yourselves to God, and in doing that commit yourselves to the pursuit of holiness in order to please Him."

~Jerry Bridges p.115 Holiness, Day by Day

(emphasis mine!)

How easy is it to try to live "right" but not being doing it truly for the Lord and His glory? We can be wonderfully moral people but if we aren't pursuing holiness to please Christ....then that "moral living" has done nothing for us. Let's make sure we are living a life pleasing to God...all for Him and not just to be *good*. Because without Him, even all our good deeds are as filthy rags.

Thanks for stopping by friends. I know my readership has gone down a lot because of my lack of posting...but unlike a lot of people...I don't use my blog as a money maker. I don't have ads on my blog and don't earn money when people visit me here. So, it's just a simple online journal that sometimes I just lack the time to address. I always intend to do better....but just don't post as much as I would like. :) I pray you found encouragement here if the Lord brought you by today! I'd love to hear from you if you want to leave a comment! 

I gotta get going! Xavier has a physical in less than an hour (so he can get his driver's permit....but we also have to reapply for a social security card for him...argh...we have all of our family's except his for some reason. It has gotten itself lost. So...trying to get things done so he can take the test asap. He's so excited! He turns 16 next week!). 

Have a lovely rest of your week! 

Cheerfully,

Katy

Linked up at: A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

"Be thankful. Dwell on the good...

...and lovely. Live a life of service to others. Rejoice. Count your blessings. Learn contentment in God's good, and acceptable, and perfect will for you! Never allow discontentment to kill your marriage."

~Lori Alexander

The quote above is from The Transformed Wife. You can find it on THIS post. I encourage you to read it if you are married or plan to be married one day! Such wisdom there. I don't always agree with Lori 100% on things (for instance I am more Reformed in my thinking doctrinally...and she is not ~ although she'll quote Spurgeon, MacArthur and Piper who, like me, are believers in the Doctrines of Grace!)....but for the most part, I do. She is a sister in Christ who loves the Lord and is doing her best to mentor young ladies who read her blog. If you haven't read there before...be warned, she will step on your toes ~ but for the most part she is *right* and women need to hear what she has to say. Be sure to check out past posts too....there's a lot to choose from and much wisdom to be gleaned from her words!

Can I just throw in here....this is two posts this month already! I am on a *roll*! Haha! 

It is a super cold, windy Saturday here in Western PA. There is snow/frost on the ground and it's almost noon. Chris has been working at an auction all morning and I taught a spin class at the Y. Now I am home and showered and have some housework to do. I get to meet my newest niece today (Chris's brother has two boys and just had his first girl!). I am very excited! Her mom says she is the most "angelic, sweetest, content baby ever". *smile* I can't wait to snuggle her all up! I may not be able to give her back! ;)

Tonight, our local Y (where I workout and teach classes) is having an auction to raise money. People have donated items from all over town! There are 92 things to auction off (and some are multiple things put together!). I have been helping prepare for that and will be helping at the auction tonight as well. The theme is "Clue" (remember that board game?). It should be fun...and although I'll be busy ~ I think I'll still have a good time! They do these annually...but I have never been to one before. So, we'll see how it goes! :)

So, I have things to do and places to go...no time to sit here any longer! :o) I hope you have a fantastic weekend....and if you haven't yet (and if you *want* to) check out my post from just a couple days ago!!

Cheerfully,
Katy

...when loneliness settles over

 ...when pain and grief and anxiety conspire to push you over the edge of despair, remember God's mighty deeds in your life. Remember His kindness, His special, tailor-made graces that fell out of the sky like a gentle spring rain."

~Joni Eareckson Tada

Times of difficulty come to each of us in different forms over the years. We all struggle with things we suffer with....whether that be death of a treasured person (as many of us are mourning over the sudden death of Jewels), hurts and wrongs between loved ones, trials, tribulations, uncertainties, depression, physical ailments and more. Tears and feelings of loneliness and heart ache can seem too much...but we have a Lord who understands our hurts.

For surely it is not angels that He helps, but He helps the offspring of Abraham.  Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  For because He himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 2:16-18 

 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16

You are not alone...ever. Children of God never need feel lonely...for He is there. And when sadness, grief, fear, and feelings of despair threaten to consume you ~ He is there. Cry out to Him. When the path before you seems uncertain and the future seems scary ~ you have nothing to fear for you have a great High Priest who goes before you! He is our ever present help in time of trouble (Psalm 46:1)!

Spend much time in prayer. Fancy words aren't needed....He knows the cries of your heart better than you do! Spend time in God's Word! Let Him talk to you! The psalms are full of help for the weary soul!

Isn't it a pure delight to know that the sovereign, most high, Lord of the universe, Creator of *all* loves His children? He adopted us as His very own! May we hold that truth tight and seek to know Him more! May we strive to live in obedience to His Word ~ for Jesus said that if we love Him, we will obey His commandments...

"Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him."

John 14:15

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make Our home with him."

John 14:23

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome...

1 John 5:3

And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.

2 John 1:6

Sunshine-filled days and flowers can always improve my mood...even if just a little (not that I am in a "bad" mood right now...just a little solemn as I continually pray for Jewels' family as well as deal with some things in my own life right now). I'm sharing some photos from around our house recently. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and everything (although just a bit of simple landscaping) was lovely and made me smile.

I think it may rain tonight...which will be such a blessing. We planted in the big garden down on family land (green beans, corn and pumpkins) and it definitely needs the rain! I have planted my raised beds and been keeping them watered daily (as well as all my flowers). I don't mind watering everything...but the big garden is not near a water source so if it doesn't rain soon we may have to tote some water jugs out to give it a good drink! The forecast is calling for rain though....so I am hopeful!

Some of my hosta is getting quite large. I plan on separating some of it when the season winds down and transplanting it to other areas! It's such a great filler! Hardy and pretty!

Our garage is quite old (built in the 40's) and isn't really a lovely building to behold...but we are thankful for it and try our best to keep it looking nice and tidy outside of it!

The sun filled days have made line drying the most economical choice for us lately! Such a gift to help save money in the summer! Plus, I am just so thankful for this porch my husband and our brother-in-love built. It is such a blessing! It is so enjoyable to sit out on it and spend time! The children spend a lot of time sitting out here playing games, drawing or writing!

I need to get supper started (we always eat later in the summer since there are many things to get done in an evening and Chris prefers to eat a little later and then rest after a work-filled day)...but just want to leave you with a couple more photos...

Here is Madelyn with a couple friends before they went to their homeschool co-op formal...Her friend Josiah asked if he could escort her to the dance. He asked permission from her father first. It was sweet! Although she isn't permitted to date or "go out" with anyone yet...we thought this would be just fine. He was a gentleman and opened the car door for her and everything. His parents have taught him to be a thoughtful young man...

Josiah's sister, Hannah, is one of Madelyn's best friends! She rode with them to the formal as well! They look forward to next year's formal when their *other* bestest buddy Renee can join them too and they can be their crazy trio!

I hope you found encouragement here today....and a bit of sweetness with the flowers around the house and innocence of young fun for the children! Thank you for visiting me here today and I pray your days ahead are joy-filled even through times of difficulty!

Warmly,
Katy

Wisdom From Elisabeth Elliot

Sometimes the sweet words of a wise, Godly woman can just speak *volumes*! I really enjoy and glean much from books by Elisabeth Elliot! I thought I would share a few quotes from her here. May you find encouragement in them as I did! 

“The world looks for happiness through self-assertion. The Christian knows that joy is found in self-abandonment. 'If a man will let himself be lost for My sake,' Jesus said, 'he will find his true self.' A Christian woman's true freedom lies on the other side of a very small gate---humble obedience---but that gate leads out into a largeness of life undreamed of by the liberators of the world, to a place where the God-given differentiation between the sexes is not obfuscated but celebrated, where our inequalities are seen as essential to the image of God, for it is in male and female, in male as male and female as female, not as two identical and interchangeable halves, that the image is manifested.” 

“Where does your security lie? Is God your refuge, your hiding place, your stronghold, your shepherd, your counselor, your friend, your redeemer, your saviour, your guide? If He is, you don't need to search any further for security.” 

“The way you keep your house, the way you organize your time, the care you take in your personal appearance, the things you spend your money on, all speak loudly about what you believe. The beauty of thy peace shines forth in an ordered life. A disordered life speaks loudly of disorder in the soul.” 

I hope you are having a lovely week so far! :) We've been busy ~ but it's a *good* busy! I've been deep cleaning the house as well as trying to tackle some projects that need done around here! :) 

Tomorrow is my mom's birthday and my sister and her children are coming to visit then later that evening Madelyn and I are going to watch some children of friends of ours! 

Thanks so much for dropping by! :) 

Until next time, Lord willing...

Katy 

Biblical Womanhood in the Home

Hello friends! I recently finished a couple books and really wanted to share them with you. They are full of great wisdom and truth! I am totally sharing these from my own desire to....this isn't any sort of sponsored post or anything! :)

"Wives, in light of the Lord's instruction to us, we have to ask ourselves the hard questions on a regular basis: Do I care for my home in a way that helps my husband or serves me? Do I manage my time in a manner that assists my husband or serves my own agenda? Does the way I serve others support my husband or promote me? Do I ask for my husband's input before committing myself to a plan? Am I oriented to him and the work to which God has called him? We honor the Lord when we minister to our husbands in ways that enhance our God-given roles as companions and helpers." 

~Carolyn Mahaney

Biblical Womanhood in the Home is edited by Nancy Leigh DeMoss Wolgemuth (although it was made before she was married). It has contributions written in it by her, Susan Hunt, Mary A. Kassian, Carolyn Mahaney, Barbara Hughes, P.Bunny Wilson, and Dorothy Patterson.

It is such a great book and ranks right up there with "Homemaking" by J.R. Miller and "The Excellent Wife" by Martha Peace! It covers having a biblical view of femininity and beauty, being a woman used by God, a wife's responsibilities, the joy of submission, raising feminine daughters, and older women mentoring younger women (and MORE)! It is definitely not a *dry* read...especially if your heart yearns to glorify the Lord in all you do! :)

"God is glorified through thankful, trusting, obedient, compassionate, serving, virtuous, joyful, feminine women who reflect to our world the heart and character of the Lord Jesus Himself. As we are filled with His Spirit, we radiate His beauty and make the Gospel believable."

~Nancy Leigh Demoss

Sometimes, I can get caught up in my appearance (especially as I battle my weight) and wanting to be beautiful...but really...where is my mind focusing then? (which is why I read the second book that I will share in a bit). I think women have the tendency to focus on *self* so much...with a lot of focus being on outward beauty.

"Do our thoughts and actions regarding our appearance reflect a cultural standard or a biblical standard?....God exposes our pursuit of the perfect figure and beauty to be idolatrous...Nowhere in the Bible are women instructed to wish for, ask for, or strive for physical beauty....our beauty 'should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight'....Our culture defines beauty by how we look on the outside. God defines beauty by what we are like on the inside."

~Carolyn Mahaney

You can find this book for *great* prices at amazon: HERE  (It is there for .01 cents...plus 3.99 shipping!) That is not an affiliate link or anything...just a link so you can find the book quickly if you are interested in it! I have so many things underlined, highlighted and circled in this book! One more quote before I talk about the other book I want to share.

"The redeemed helper will be a woman of prayer....The redeemed helper whose convenant sensibilities have been honed understands the importance of the virtue of domesticity [a devotion to home life] and the ministry of hospitality...The redeemed helper is not inward-focused....She knows that submission has nothing to do with status. Submission has to do with function. It is the way God has ordered life in the kingdom, and it is good because He is good."

~Susan Hunt

The second book I want to share is a short, little book by Tim Keller. It's called: "The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness". It has less than 50 pages. It is worth the quick read (and maybe re-read!). I struggle because I don't want to be selfish. I want to be *selfless*...but the more I focus on trying to BE selfless...I end up still focusing on *self*! Ack! It's like an unending, circular struggle! It drives me crazy! I cry out to the Lord in prayer. I am thankful for His Word and also this little book which just gave me some extra things to focus on...to keep my mind *off* myself! Quotes below are from Tim Keller...author of the book. Any emphasis given is mine. :)

"True gospel-humility means I stop connecting every experience, every conversation, with myself. In fact, I stop thinking about myself. The freedom of self-forgetfulness. The blessed rest that only self-forgetfulness brings."

"This is gospel-humility, blessed self-forgetfulness. Not thinking more of myself as in modern cultures, or less of myself as in traditional cultures. Simply thinking of myself less."

"A truly gospel-humble person is not a self-hating person or a self-loving person, but a gospel-humble person. The truly gospel-humble person is a self-forgetful person whose ego is just like his or her toes. It just works. It does not draw attention to itself. The toes just work; the ego just works. Neither draws attention to itself."

You can find this book HERE. It's a quick and easy read and really points you to Christ and serving others and away from self! :) If you read it (or Biblical Womanhood in the Home)...I would love to hear your thoughts on it! If you are looking for good, quality, gospel-centered books...these are for you! Biblically and wisely they point you to Christ and how to reflect Him in our lives! :o)

Thanks for stopping by today friends! Have a great week!
Warmly,
Katy

Linked up at: Strangers & Pilgrims and The Modest Mom blog

“The grandest fact under heaven is this...

—that Christ by His precious blood does actually put away sin, and that God, for Christ’s sake, dealing with men on terms of divine mercy, forgives the guilty and justifies them, not according to anything that He sees in them, or foresees will be in them, but according to the riches of His mercy that lie in His own heart.”

~ Charles Spurgeon, All of Grace

If you sit and truly fathom the truth of this quote by Spurgeon...you will realize how truly miraculous and unfathomable it really is. *The* God of the universe....*The* Creator of all things chooses to cancel our debt, putting His Son in *our* place ~ not because of our goodness...but because of His! His goodness and love is truly incomprehensible. 

Many people do not realize that they are sinners. They don't see their need for a Savior. They consider themselves "good". People assume if they haven't murdered anyone or cheated on their spouse that they aren't "bad". The truth is that one little lie makes you a liar. An ounce of hate in your heart makes you a murderer and one lust-filled thought makes you an adulterer. People use the Lord's name as a cuss word....not even realizing they are blaspheming the God of the universe (or maybe they do realize it and just don't care?). 

I really enjoy watching Ray Comfort evangelizing. He inspires and encourages me! Have you watched his videos from Living Waters? You can see some of them HERE. He is loving, gentle, truthful and always pointing people to Christ! 

Once people realize that they are sinners and separated from God *then* you can share the truth of what Christ did! Christ's perfect life (He was absolutely sinless ~ the God-Man), suffering, death and resurrection in *our* place secured our relationship with Him. We must repent (turn from our sins) and believe! Christ is the *only* answer to our problem...but when people don't realize they have a problem...they don't realize they need an answer. This is why we bring up sin as Christians. I don't say homosexuality is wrong because I am "homophobic" (I am certainly not afraid of homosexuals nor do I hate them!). I say it is wrong because it is biblical. Their behavior is sin against God. I *want* them to be saved and so I want them to see their sin against God....see the answer is Christ...repent (turn away from their sin and live no longer in it) and believe!! :o) 

The same goes when I stand against abortion, false teachers, divorce, abuse and more! I do not stand as a perfect person in judgment. I stand humbled that God would love me and save me despite of my sin. I stand in love desiring others to know the God I serve and desire for them to be saved. Do I still sin? Yes...but I strive not to because I love Him. I no longer make a practice of sinning. I make mistakes and will never be perfect this side of heaven...but He justified me and declares me *not guilty* in front of Him (through Christ). 

I am sad that the sin of this world is being accepted as right and to stand against it because you want people to live righteous, God-glorifying, Christ-exalting lives is labeled "intolerance". People can live as they want...but because I love them I want them to know that there *is* punishment coming one day. God is not just loving. He is full of justice and wrath against those who sin against Him. This is even ingrained in *us*...we have a need for justice. An unjust God wouldn't be a God at all. Isn't it amazing that He would choose *any* of us to be saved from eternal misery? We, undeserving wretches, don't deserve his mercy...and yet, He grants it to us through faith! 

If you don't know Christ as your Savior...please, either watch the videos I linked above or email me. Let's talk. It doesn't matter how sinful you have been...how wretched you are. You can be loved, forgiven and born again through Jesus Christ our Lord! That's what it means to be "born again". All are dead in their sin...but when the Lord saves us He gives us new life in Him! Life doesn't become easy...but getting rid of that burden of sin we carry around daily and communing with the God of the universe is one of the greatest joys in life! Do you have questions...email me and ask! I don't have all the answers but I will be in the Word and prayer and will seek out help from trusted theologians. Do you need prayer? Email me! I can and *will* pray for you! My heart's desire is to see as many people come to the Lord as possible! 

If you *do* know Christ and are saved...how is your walk with Him? Are you in prayer daily? Are you in the Word daily? Is your daily walk glorifying Him? These are not things to weigh you down. They are your lifeline. They are what keep you close to Him...growing in the faith. He must be your *ALL*. 

Sending grace and peace to each of you! May you find love, encouragement and admonition here!

Lovingly,

Katy

Linked up at: Strangers & Pilgrims

~ A Spurgeon Gem ~

"There is the finite and the Infinite, there is the mortal and the Immortal, corruption and Incorruption, the manhood and the Godhead, time married to eternity! There is God linked with a creature, the Infinity of the august Maker come to tabernacle on this speck of earth—the vast unbounded One whom earth could not hold and the heavens cannot contain—lying in His mother’s arms! He who fastened the pillars of the universe and riveted the nails of creation, hanging on a mortal breast, depending on a creature for nourishment! Oh, marvelous birth! Oh, miraculous conception! We stand and gaze and admire. Verily, angels may wish to look into a subject too dark for us to speak of! There we leave it, a virgin has conceived and borne a Son." 

~Charles Spurgeon The Birth of Christ

Although I don't *do* Christmas and don't celebrate that Christ was born on December 25th (and find no scriptural reference to celebrate it as such since it is a man-made tradition)....I still marvel and worship at the thought that Christ was born of a virgin. He humbled Himself to take on the flesh of man and live a life of perfect obedience (Philippians 2:8) in our place. He gave Himself for us...as it is written:

...the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. 

(Romans 3:22b-25)

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 

(Ephesians 2:4-5)

He suffered, gave Himself over to death and rose again three days later. What a God we serve! I recommend this article by John Piper....it is beautiful, beautiful truth friends: He Loved Me and Gave Himself for Me.

 I encourage you to remember the miracle and beauty of His birth all year round....as well as the perfect life He lived and His death in *our* place. These are beautiful truths that we should meditate upon every.single.day. As spectacular as His birth was, without the perfect life of obedience, death in our place, and resurrection...it wouldn't do anything to secure our salvation. 

So enjoy celebrating Christ every day....for ALL that He is and has done for us! 

Warmly,

Katy

Linked up at: Strangers and Pilgrims

Whom Do You Serve?

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 

~2 Timothy 4:3-4

How sad it is to admit that that time is here....and has been for a long time. A time where "Christian" bloggers are saying that homosexual marriage and behavior is okay and even blessed by God! A time where "Christians" support abortion and a woman's *choice* to murder her child in the womb (or support the politicians that endorse it). These fruits come from a much deeper source. A place in the soul where root sins have reared their ugly heads. It's pride, selfishness and unbelief that leads to these wicked fruits. From those root sins, we find the fruit sins apparent in our lives (wisdom gleaned from the Behold Your God study). We must take this into serious account...and truly realize who it is we serve. Is it the God of the Bible or a god of our own making?

If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

~1 Timothy 6:3-5

Jesus didn't just speak love, sprinkles and unicorns. He spoke Truth. His Truth. He spoke of how marriage began and is meant to be. He spoke about the importance of children and His love for them.

The Bible isn't all about our *rights*....it's not about what God owes us or what we want. It's about HIM. It's all about Him. It's all for His glory.

Does aborting a child bring glory to Him? It is murder of a human being He created in His image. It is absolute blasphemy to think God is okay with that!

Marriage was made to show the relationship of Christ with His bride (the church). The woman is *suppose* to be the weaker vessel. We don't have to "man-up" and be equal with men. (Yes, in worth we are most certainly equal...but our roles are most certainly meant to be different!) God did not make men to lie with men or women with women. Our bodies were made to compliment each other. Men are to be the leaders and women the helpers. This is just as Christ is our Head and we are his people. Anyone who says different is *not* lining up with sound doctrine and should be avoided!

However....these two fruit sins I show above come from the root sins of pride and selfishness. People want their own way and they will twist scripture to get it. The Jen Hatmakers of the world will tell people what they want to hear so she stays popular with the world (if you are a follower of Christ who listens to Hatmaker, Joyce Meyer, Christine Caine, Beth Moore, Rachel Held Evans and the like....you need to run (not walk) away from them. They are *not* leading you in Truth and are deceiving you. I have no "personal" beef with any of these women....however, when they are misleading people and claiming that they are teaching the Word of God correctly.....all while reaping in loads of deceived people's money...I take complete offense to that. They are inaccurately teaching things about the God I love. I get so frustrated knowing so many people will blindly follow women such as these and be misled. Plus, you should be so rooted in God's Truth that you can *see* the errors they teach. It's about discernment. If you think I am off...please dig into the Scriptures and seek the Lord in prayer. The Lord will direct you if you are seeking with a pure heart!)

These are just two sins of multitudes...I am addressing these two specific sins as they are being touted as holy and okay with God at this time. People are trying to make evil good and good evil.We could also list the sins of hate, greed, covetousness, arrogance, fornication (sex outside of biblical marriage ~ not only adultery but so many today live together as if they are married....but aren't actually married!) and more!

So, I ask you...Who is it that you serve? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Or is it a god of only love and no justice? All love and tolerance?

“Beware of manufacturing a God of your own: a God who is all mercy, but not just; a God who is all love, but not holy; a God who as a heaven for every body, but a hell for none; a God who can allow good and bad to be side by side in time, but will make no distinction between good and broad in eternity. Such a God is an idol of your own, as truly an idol as any snake or crocodile in an Egyptian temple. The hands of your own fancy and sentimentality have made him. He is not the God of the Bible, and beside the God of the Bible there is no God at all.”  

~ JC Ryle

True Christians love people. We love sinners. We understand that we, too, are great sinners and in need of a Great Savior. He has made us saints because of His perfection, His sacrifice, His death and resurrection. Not because of our own holiness or perfect living. Because He saved us....it is *then* we realize the gross sins we have committed against a most Holy God and we turn from them...and live a life that pleases Him. Because we love people...we want the best for them. The best is not living *in* the muck and mire of their wickedness but being made anew ~ leaving the chains of a sinful life behind!

I know many people struggle with same-sex attraction. It would be so difficult to fight that...but if you are His and He is yours....He will give you the strength to do it (not take the temptation away necessarily....but the strength to fight it). It is no different than my battle with gluttony. I want to eat too much (of good and bad foods). It is a struggle every. single. day. It is no different than the person who struggles with alcoholism. It's a battle. It's a fight to do the right thing. But if you truly love the Lord and desire to please Him....you keep fighting! You do the right thing because He is worth it. It's not about you....it's not about me. It's about Him. You know what is right and what is wrong. God has placed it inside of you.

“Be very sure of this,-people never reject the Bible because they cannot understand it. They understand it only too well; they understand that it condemns their own behavior; they understand that it witnesses against their own sins, and summons them to judgment.” 

~ JC Ryle

The same thing with abortion....I don't even want to *hear* about the woman's right to choose. It's a woman's right to choose to kill a baby inside of her? How is it even possible for us to contemplate that possibility? Flat out...it is *never* okay to kill a baby in the womb. NEVER. You never have the right to murder.
*BUT* ~ here is the beauty of our great God. There *is* forgiveness. If you or someone you know has aborted their child....you are not without hope! God is merciful and full of love. His mercies are new every day! There is forgiveness for each of us....when we turn to the living God, turn away from our sinful lifestyles and behaviors and trust in Christ alone!

Friends, we need to pray. We need to pray for people. We need to pray for revival. We need to pray for our own hearts. Pray that the root sins of selfishness, unbelief and pride are taken from us and that our fruit will show pure and holy lives led to the glory of God! We must have a right view of God to fully comprehend who we are....how terrible our sin is and our *great* need for salvation. Be in the scriptures daily....asking God to reveal Himself to you. Meditate on His attributes (all of them)! May our faith strengthen daily and may He be shown to be great through His people who love Him!

Some home happenings lately...

Early morning devotions and time in the Word with Winnie Cat...

A closer look at my notes...

Winnie left and Stella joined me for a while. You can see the daylight is starting to come up and lighten things up!

A new-to-me wreath from Goodwill...

A science experiment...

Planning...

Winnie-Cat taking a snooze...

I had to share what has been on my heart lately. I hope I have shared in a way that is pleasing to God and that He is magnified. It may not make the world happy to read it....but ~

...the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

~ John 3:19-20

 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.  And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

~1 John 2:15-17

 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 

~John 15:18-19

 So I do not fear the world. I abide in Christ and that is most important. I hope you have found encouragement, admonition, and conviction here. Ponder today Who it is you serve.

Lovingly,
Katy

Linked up at: Strangers & Pilgrims