Reasons to Complain:
1. The car is down and out, AGAIN. It could be the thermostat, it could be a head gasket. Either way it is estimated it will take at least 6 hours for Kev to change the thermostat to see if that solves the problem. We've been down to one car since we got back on Tuesday, so no going anywhere for me.
2. It has been awhile since I have had a good night's sleep. Carrying 25 extra lbs does not lead to comfort.
3. We are still relying on the fridge out in the garage, meaning every time we want something out of the fridge, we have to make trips out to the garage. Our other one went out a few weeks ago.
4. We now have TWO 6 x 6 ft entertainment centers in our living room because I did not get the old one listed to be sold before we got the other one from Kevin's parents. Chaos has ensued in the living room-the tractors are out of place, I can't put up my fall decorations, my sewing stuff is everywhere-it's a mess.
5. The pain of trying to recover from traveling: the house is not clean, we came back with more than we left with, adjusting back to the right time zone-not fun.
Reasons to rejoice (of course there's always more reasons to rejoice than complain):
1. Though we may have to give up our date night to work on the car, I'm willing to help if I get to spend time with my hubby, it doesn't really matter what we're doing.
2. The blessings of being a stay at home wife. I can't imagine how exhausted I would be if I couldn't sleep and had to get up to go to work in the morning. I can sneak in a nap if I need to (for the next couple months anyway-we'll see after that!)
3. Praise the Lord we have a second fridge, otherwise, we would have had to go out and buy another one immediately. This way we can look around and find a good deal before having to buy another one.
4. Kevin's mom decided to get a different entertainment center, so we got her old one, which is not only a color I like better, but much easier to move. If we are able to sell our old one, we won't have to worry about trying to move it anymore-just getting it out of here!
5. I did get all the laundry done the day after we got back, so we are recovering slowly but surely and our house wasn't robbed and there were no major appliance disasters or leaks while we were gone, so that is always a praise!
6. I'm almost done with the baby quilt I am making, it is John Deere of course. Pictures to follow!
7. IT'S FINALLY FALL! I GET TO GET MY HARVEST DECORATIONS OUT!!! (Except for that whole entertainment center problem)
8. I've got to open the windows and have the air off for the last couple of days. Love it!
9. I will be 28 weeks along this Saturday-which means I am now in my 3rd trimester!
10. City-wide garage sale this weekend! and Kev is going with me!
Of course, it will make for a much better weekend if the car gets fixed, we find a refrigerator and get an entertainment center sold. Stay tuned.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Not Ashamed
I've been thinking a lot lately about sharing my faith. Being a fairly reserved person, it's not really in my character to just come out and start telling you all about Jesus and what he means to me. I like to think I am not ashamed of my faith, but its not always easy to get into a conversation when you're not really a conversationalist to start with.
Lately I've convicted though about those around me that don't have a relationship with Christ. People are dying all around us every day, and whether we like it or not, the truth is clear: they are either now in heaven or they are in hell. It's easier to try and convince ourselves that if God is love, no one will really go to hell, or they'll at least get a second chance. But that's not what the Bible says. God is love, but God is also just. If he looks at you and sees sin, he has to look away. He cannot tolerate sin. People go to heaven not because there are some of us who have never sinned, or have done enough good that he can look past it so we can go to heaven, but because God provided a way to be cleansed of our sins-that way being through the blood of his son.
I believe Jesus was and is God's only begotten son, sent to this earth to offer himself as a sacrifice, as atonement for our sins. Not only that, but he also died the same death that we as humans are subject to. Unlike us however, he was raised from the dead, overcoming the power of death forever.
Being a "Christian" for me is not about a set of religious traditions or trying to be good enough. It's about having a relationship with the one who saved me from my sins-Jesus Christ. I don't go to church because its what is required of me-I go because I love him for what he has done for me.
But he didn't die just for me. If you are readying this, he died for you too. In fact, he died for us all.
If you are not sure you're going to heaven today-you can be. All it takes is this:
-to recognize your sin and yourself as a sinner-"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:22)
-to realize that the penalty for your sin is death-"for the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23)
-to believe that through the blood of Jesus the penalty has been paid-"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
-to confess that you believe in Christ's sacrifice to save you-"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved" (Romans 10:9-10)
-to be assured of your salvation, knowing "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13)
That's it. That's all it takes. A sinner with a sincere heart is much more pleasing to God than one who is attempting to prove his own righteousness (see the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18). But it all starts with recognizing our sin. We are all sinners, no matter what we've done, and we can all be forgiven, no matter what we've done.
So don't spend another day wondering. Jesus paid the penalty for your sin, once and for all.
So call on him today.
Ask for forgiveness.
Receive him into your heart and life.
Rest assured that you have a home in heaven.
Lately I've convicted though about those around me that don't have a relationship with Christ. People are dying all around us every day, and whether we like it or not, the truth is clear: they are either now in heaven or they are in hell. It's easier to try and convince ourselves that if God is love, no one will really go to hell, or they'll at least get a second chance. But that's not what the Bible says. God is love, but God is also just. If he looks at you and sees sin, he has to look away. He cannot tolerate sin. People go to heaven not because there are some of us who have never sinned, or have done enough good that he can look past it so we can go to heaven, but because God provided a way to be cleansed of our sins-that way being through the blood of his son.
I believe Jesus was and is God's only begotten son, sent to this earth to offer himself as a sacrifice, as atonement for our sins. Not only that, but he also died the same death that we as humans are subject to. Unlike us however, he was raised from the dead, overcoming the power of death forever.
Being a "Christian" for me is not about a set of religious traditions or trying to be good enough. It's about having a relationship with the one who saved me from my sins-Jesus Christ. I don't go to church because its what is required of me-I go because I love him for what he has done for me.
But he didn't die just for me. If you are readying this, he died for you too. In fact, he died for us all.
If you are not sure you're going to heaven today-you can be. All it takes is this:
-to recognize your sin and yourself as a sinner-"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:22)
-to realize that the penalty for your sin is death-"for the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23)
-to believe that through the blood of Jesus the penalty has been paid-"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
-to confess that you believe in Christ's sacrifice to save you-"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved" (Romans 10:9-10)
-to be assured of your salvation, knowing "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13)
That's it. That's all it takes. A sinner with a sincere heart is much more pleasing to God than one who is attempting to prove his own righteousness (see the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18). But it all starts with recognizing our sin. We are all sinners, no matter what we've done, and we can all be forgiven, no matter what we've done.
So don't spend another day wondering. Jesus paid the penalty for your sin, once and for all.
So call on him today.
Ask for forgiveness.
Receive him into your heart and life.
Rest assured that you have a home in heaven.
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