Henna Body Art November 9, 2008

I found this Henna kit at Barnes & Noble for $10.  I thought that since I’m too chicken to go and get a tattoo, (and I doubt my husband would let me get one) I’d try temporary henna.

 

This is the part that turned out well.  Now for the other side.

 

 

Now, this side didn’t necessarily turn out bad, just not how I had planned on it turning out.  Maybe I didn’t do something right although I did follow their directions.  I tried using their pattern but when I went to transfer it to my skin, it just turned into a big blue-ish blob.  That wouldn’t come off.  

Then, when I tried to use the decorator bag that was provided in the kit, the henna mixture wouldn’t come out of the small opening I was supposed to make but when I cut the opening big enough for the henna to come through, my lines were too thick.  I got a sewing needle and dipped it in the mixture to draw on my hand.  It was a little tedious but I was much happier with the results.

 

I proceeded to try and just decorate my hand all by myself.  Then I decided to try and freehand the design that I had originally wanted on my palm.  Much to my surprise, that turned out really well.  Better than I had expected. 

 

I’d be interested to hear if anyone else has tried this kit.  If it worked or not, and what you did to make it work.

Faith – What is it? November 8, 2008

Mirriam-Webster defines faith as “firm belief in something for which there is no proof” and “complete trust”.  There are other definitions as well but these were the ones I was looking for.

 

People want proof that God exists.  While I believe that there is much evidence that points to the existence of God, I cannot take someone’s hand and say “Here, this is where God lives.  I’ll make an appointment for you to see Him.”  This is where faith comes in.  It is so hard for me when I get into these kinds of discussions.  I want so badly to be able to give them faith, to make them believe.  But that is something only God and the Holy Spirit can give.  This post is coming about in part because of conversations that have happened as a result of my last post.  I use the Bible as my guidebook and my final authority.  If you do not accept the Bible as inerrant and inspired then my arguments will appear to be weak and have no basis.

 

Heb. 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Heb. 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Romans 10:14-18  How then shall they call on HIm in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach unless they are sent?  As it is written:  “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 

 

We cannot MAKE people have faith.  There is no question of that.  But we must be obedient to Jesus’ command to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” (Matt. 28:19-20a)  This doesn’t necessarily mean standing on street corners or walking up to strangers to witness to them, some gifted ones are called to that but not everyone.  This means developing friendships with your neighbors, the people that you have regular contact with.  This means offering hospitality to those around us. 

 

I know that as a homeschooling mama it was very easy to put myself in a very protected bubble.  I just recently popped my bubble by going to work part time, and I have been struggling with the culture shock.  But these people need the Lord, and suddenly the Great Commission has so much more meaning and is so much more convicting. 

 

In my last post, I wanted to encourage my brothers and sisters to not lose hope.  We need to be spurred into action by these recent events.  The answer to our societies ills is not to legislate morality or to get the “right” person elected into office.  The answer is for those of us who have accepted God’s gift of grace and eternal life to step up and follow His commands.  When we obey Christ’s command in Matt. 28, we will see the Spirit move and convict the world of its sin.   John 16:8-11  And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  of sin, because they do not believe in Me;  of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;  of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.  Our society will change when its peoples’ hearts’ are changed.

 

These last two posts are very outside of my normal.  But these are things that are being laid on my heart to share with my fellow believers.  We need to spur one another on to good works, to do the work that God has laid out for us.  I don’t know everyone who reads my blog.  But I love every single one of you nevertheless and pray for each one of you as you live out your faith in this world that we visit.

We cannot wallow in despair! November 6, 2008

I have to admit that my initial reaction to learning that Obama won the election was one of despair and fear.  What will this mean for us as a homeschooling family?  What will happen to our freedom of religion?  How soon will we begin to see the ugly face of socialism?  But then my gracious Heavenly Father began to speak to my heart and remind me of His Word.

 

First, Romans 13:1-3 says “Let every soul be subject to governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.  Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil.  Do you want to be unafraid of the authority?  Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.”

Now, when I read this it comforts me, encourages me and confuses me. 

It comforts me to know that it was God’s will for Obama to be elected as President for our country.  Not because I like Obama or agree with his positions in any way but because I know that my God is in control of everything and that I can trust Him.  I believe with all of my heart that He has a plan and I fit into that plan, I just have to figure out where. 

It encourages me to put teeth in my faith.  I fear that we are going to lose alot of freedoms that are precious to me and my family.  Obama being elected has lit a fire under me to be diligent in my walk and in the training and preparing of my children.  I need to be sure that we are rooted in the Word of God so that we will not be swayed when it comes time for our trials.

It confuses me because I know that good people are persecuted by their governments, that Christians obey God and follow His commands and are imprisoned and even martyred for their faith.  I fully expect that under Obama, it will be harder for me to be a Christian and to follow my convictions.  Like homeschooling and sharing my faith.  In Colorado there has already been a law passed that could make distribution of the Bible illegal.  If it is made illegal to witness or share my faith, will I stop?  If it is made illegal for me to homeschool my children will I send them to be brainwashed by the state?  No way!  Then I do have something to fear from my earthly authority but not from my Heavenly Authority.  I believe that it comes down to this, God is the final authority.  We are to respect our earthly authorities up to the point that they ask us to go against our Heavenly Authority.  At that point we have to obey God and not man.

 

Already, good has come out of this election.  I’m not happy with the results.  But it has definitely shaken me and caused me to move closer to God.  Maybe this is what is needed to shake the Church out of its complacency.  We have become so brainwashed to be politically correct.  To not judge and to be tolerant.  What a bunch of garbage!  We have let the world infiltrate our churches, our homes and our lives.  How many of us have a tv show that we faithfully watch?  How many of us spend hours on the internet, reading novels, watching tv but say we can’t find time to spend in the Word?  How many of us don’t speak up for fear of rejection?  I ask these questions of myself as well and I can tell you that my answers fill me with shame.  I had to spend a long time with my Father this morning and ask for His forgiveness.  I have realized that the world has crept into our family little by little until now we don’t have just seedlings to uproot out of our lives but large plants that are starting to bear fruit.

 

I refuse to despair or live my life in fear because 2 Timothy 1:7 says this “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  I will do what God asks me and live my life according to the Bible.  I will live my faith out boldly and I will not fear what man can do to me.  I am not of this world, I am a citizen of heaven.  I will teach my children to not fear and to live their faith out boldly as well. 

 

I pray that this may encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ who may read this.  We need to be holy and set apart.  Do not lose hope, do not lose sight of our goal.  Let us run this race so as to win it.  If you aren’t my brother or sister in Christ and you would be interested in having a beneficial dialogue, please contact me.  I will share the Truth with you but I will not debate.  The Holy Spirit is the one who will convict the world of its sin, not me.  But I have been given the job of sharing God’s Word.

I’m Official! November 4, 2008

Well, it took 76 hours of class time, countless hours of studying, a heart attack scare (which turned out to be just stress)  and multiple panic attacks but I finally did it.  I took my state exams today and passed them with flying colors!  I am a Certified Nurse Aide.  WOO HOO!!!  It feels so good to know that I did something like that.  Words just can’t describe how I’m feeling.  I think euphoric comes the closest. 

 

My husband totally rocks.  He stayed home with the kids 2 nights a week, cooked meals, cleaned house and did an terrific job picking up my slack.  I could never have done it without his love and support!  There were a ton of people praying for me tonight while I tested, so THANKS EVERYONE!!!!!