Thank you, Kirk Cameron

Kirk Cameron shared this and it is a great explanation!

YOUR ANGER IS CAPITULATION

A great article from Jay Younts at Shepherd Press
March 16, 2013

Sometimes the deceitfulness of the world, the flesh, and the devil entices us to feel good about our anger. So when a child, a teenager, a spouse, or a friend crosses an arbitrary line we feel totally justified in letting them “have it.” We cover our sin by saying, “I know I shouldn’t be angry, but sometimes you just have to say enough is enough.”

This sort of language and rationalization will receive a hearty “Amen” from the Satanic cheering section. We think we have been strong, when in fact we have taken the coward’s way out and indulged in capitulation. The same plan worked on Eve and it is just as effective with angry parents. We do what seems right at the moment.

Parents, God calls you to be shepherds, not enforcers. You may feel regret at your anger, but until you repent and embrace the role of a servant/shepherd you will be aiding and abetting the enemy.

Read more: http://kirkcameron.com/2013/03/your-anger-is-capitulation/#ixzz2Nva8DkGr

[Read the rest of the article at Shepherd Press.]

Just a few thoughts..

I can't sleep so I made a couple textgram photos of words I feel God laid on my heart.
Remember, you are loved by Jesus!

PARENTS: Oh be careful little fingers what you type...

...FOR THE FATHER UP ABOVE IS LOOKING DOWN WITH LOVE. OH BE CAREFUL LITTLE FINGERS WHAT YOU TYPE.. 

E Bear, 10 weeks!

Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. 

I know I haven't been a parent very long. And right now is just the honeymoon phase. The fun milestones and lots of cuddles. BUT I have been thinking and praying a lot. I want to change and be better and I know that it is a slow process. But a journey I am willing to take. A journey that must be taken! This business of raising children to love Jesus is a serious business. It is the most important thing we will ever do! God has entrusted a human soul that HE LOVES with a passion greater than we can fully comprehend. I understand that love a bit more now that I grasp a few things:: :: ::

MARCH 2, 2013: "I learned something amazing tonight. I have been praying for new revelation and new insight into my faith. Because I have felt like I've been standing still. Part of it is because being a mother is all encompassing. We are all here grieving in our own way. I have been praying for change. I want this experience to change me and bring me closer to Christ. I seriously now understand salvation on a different level because a friend explained this to me.-- God lets us feel what it is to lose a loved one. He lets us feel that feeling because that's how he feels about EVERY single person that doesn't know Him or denies Him. We are separated from God unless we've chosen to accept forgiveness that is offered to us because Jesus died on the cross. And just as we miss and wish we could speak to our deceased loved one, God wishes we would talk to Him because He misses us. I never understood that depth of the sorrow that God feels until this week. There is no turning back to who I was last week. And I pray that whoever reads this thinks long and hard about their future and life. The gravity of death is heavy and it is not a joke." -Jenni Maria Holzhauer {ME}

So that is how much God loves us. He loves us so immensely. And then HE allows us to become parents and entrusts the soul and mind and health of another human being to US! HE gives us our children. They are HIS! How we treat them is critical! I cannot stress how strongly I feel about this!! 

 Now that I am a parent, this is my conclusion about social media in all of its forms:: :: ::

I think it is simply horrifying that things that should be private are blasted all over blogs, Twitter, texting and Facebook. I think back to times before the Internet and what would parents do back then if their child was struggling? Would they have sent out a mass letter to every person they have ever met or publicly posted all the details about their child's short comings on EVERY bulletin their town and sent that letter to every household in the world? By having a public blog essentially, THAT is what we {you} are doing!! Anyone with a means to get onto the Internet could find your blog and read it. Yes, it is unlikely that every person will read your thoughts, but I feel that even if 100 people know about the struggles your child is facing, THAT is FAR too many people!!!

And furthermore, for all of the moms who claim to be following Christs example, is it Biblical to post all sorts of intimate details about your children? God doesn't tell everyone about all of our hard times and all of our issues. Posting positive lovely things is one thing, but writing about things that are extremely personal is another ball game. I refuse to stand by and be silent as the souls of these poor innocent children are being drug out for all to see. Children are vulnerable and need to be protected. And their privacy and their hearts need to be taken seriously. By all means, discuss problems you are facing with a close friend or a doctor or a therapist but is it necessary for all 500 friends on your Facebook to know what your children are facing? It seems ridiculous to me. And frankly, it's Satanic. We are putting too much information out there and then we wonder why the enemy gains strongholds.

Matthew 18:10

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

I cannot express how thankful I am to my mother for keeping my struggles INTIMATE AND PRIVATE!! Now, I am the grown up me and no one knows what I was struggling with through out my youth, except the people who LOVE me and were helping me and praying for me!
My mom didn't even tell the WOMEN AT HER BIBLE STUDY!
She prayed for me in her quiet time and let me find my way and SHE HELPED ME! AND GAVE ME HER INPUT! I know THAT approach is the right approach! The approach the Holy Spirit would want you to take. Now, her and I have been able to mend our relationship and it is because I never lost trust in who she is and I know that my reputation is NOT soiled. No one can look at me and KNOW what my problems were as a child or teen. And any of the sinning that I did and the rebellion that occurred was not because of my mothers actions. That is a beautiful thing. That is how I want to be viewed as a mother, when my child(ren) are older. Because, how we treat our children, expecially FATHERS, is how our children will view God as they grow up. THAT is heavy! 

Luke 17:2 ESV 

It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.

I am sick and tired of seeing negative posts about peoples children. I see them and I spend time praying for those children. For God to guard their hearts. This is serious business, parenting, and just because social media exists now, that doesn't mean we need to be telling our intimate family decisions and struggles to everyone. 

PRAY ABOUT THEM.

KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY.

I post a lot on my Facebook, but I pray about my posts and I stay positive because that is how Jesus lived. He saw the positive in everyone and forgave them for their shortcomings. He made them feel loved despite their sins and struggles. 

We as believers in CHRIST need to be a bit more proactive in how we see Jesus. We need to be his HANDS and FEET. Would Jesus sit at a computer and type out all of your problems and share them to the entire world via a blog post or a Facebook status?? I THINK NOT!

CHEW ON THAT FOR A MOMENT...

Exploiting our children is not funny. It is serious. Because of these social media outlets it is easy to type things out. But, imagine it this way, would you stand up in front of your entire congregation at church and read your blog to everyone? And let everyone know what is happening in your child's heart and soul and world? 

Would you seriously do that? 

I know I sure WOULDN'T!

The Bible holds us to a higher standard once we become parents. Anything we do to cause one of our children to sin or become angry or hurt, is a major offense {{LUKE 17:12}}

. We as parents need to spend time thinking about ways we cause our children to falter and we need to first

DELETE OUR POSTS 

and second

REPENT 

and thirdly

APOLOGIZE 

to them. 

Let them know we acknowledge how we have hurt them. 

And furthermore,

STOP POSTING. 

Psalm 127:3 ESV 

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

The Bible says we hold the power of life and death in our tongues. I believe that also goes for what we type out into cyber space!!

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

Play time!

9 and 10 weeks old

I don't have much time but I just wanted to post a few of the latest photos of my little honeybun baby boy!

9 weeks!!

Baby Giggles!

Life ending. Life beginning.

My Grandfather passed away Saturday February 23, 2013. He was a wonderful man and we will all miss him dearly. I took E (our son) to South Carolina last week to visit everyone and to attend the funeral and memorial service. It was an intense week. I quickly posted things to my Facebook that I wanted to write in this blog entry. So here are those thoughts. This next paragraph is word for word what I said at the memorial service. Each of us grandchildren said something. Well, my two cousins A and N danced a beautiful dance to the song "I can only imagine" by MercyMe. It was beautiful. 
Popop was fun. As children we looked forward to every visit. It meant bumpy chicken, pizza and lots of funny faces! He made us laugh and his lap was always open. He would pretend to be asleep and when we would try to poke his face he'd wake up and be a monster. This went on for hours. In my adult life he gave me advice about houses, politics, the stock market and men. I am glad he was able to meet my husband and see that I took his advice about not waiting around for a man to commit. I loved to see him and Nona and how much they loved one another. Their love has been a great example to me of how a married couple should be. Together they were always laughing and kissing each another. They have a love story written by God that beats any sappy romance movie. It was real and tender and beautiful. He had a kind and warm heart. The Bible says, in 
Romans 8:38-39 "³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." I look forward to seeing Popop again one day in the presence of our Savior.

"We need to be conscious of every choice we make. Each and every decision, word, and action need not be wasted." If I had to wonder where Popop went after his life on earth was over, I would be incredibly devastated right now. Instead, I know he loved Jesus and believed in the beauty of the cross. Popop told Nona that he knew he didn't deserve the forgiveness and salvation but he was grateful for it. And he told her they will see each other again. What a true example of "til death due us part." I know I am always posting things about faith and God and Jesus. And it wasn't until this week that the finality of earthly life truly hit me. I just want to grab people by their shoulders and make them see how precious life is and how we shouldn't waste one single moment being selfish and ignoring God. I spent far too long sleep walking through life. That time is gone now. Every single person needs a Savior and needs forgiveness and healing, including me. Take hold of that love and sacrifice.

"When the heartache hits like a hurricane that can never change who You are. We trust in who You are. Even if the healing doesn't come and life falls apart, dreams are still undone. You are God, You are good forever faithful one. Even if the healing, even if the healing doesn't come. You are God and we will bless You as the good and faithful one.."-- Kutless

I have been praying for new revelation and new insight into my faith. Because I have felt like I've been standing still. Part of it is because being a mother is all encompassing. We are all here grieving in our own way. I have been praying for change. I want this experience to change me and bring me closer to Christ. I seriously now understand salvation on a different level because a friend explained this to me.-- God lets us feel what it is to lose a loved one. He lets us feel that feeling because that's how he feels about EVERY single person that doesn't know Him or denies Him. We are separated from God unless we've chosen to accept forgiveness that is offered to us because Jesus died on the cross. And just as we miss and wish we could speak to our deceased loved one, God wishes we would talk to Him because He misses us. I never understood that depth of the sorrow that God feels until this week. There is no turning back to who I was last week. And I pray that whoever reads this thinks long and hard about their future and life. The gravity of death is heavy and it is not a joke.

Popop looking at a slideshow of his great grandson, Elijah. He saw him and said "he looks like a fighter" "his name is little chubby." I am thankful for technology without it, Popop would not have seen Elijah.

My sister and Popop 1990

We dedicated our son at church February 24, 2013. 2 weeks before that, there was a snowstorm & it was rescheduled. We promised to raise him to love Jesus. On this same day we were mourning the loss of Popop {our Grandpa}. I believe God worked this out to be a joyous thing amidst a sad thing, for that I am grateful. It is/was a comfort and a reminder that God knows best. 
"You give and take away. You give and take away. But my heart will choose to say, Blessed be the name of the Lord! Blessed be Your glorious name!"