Feeling Old!!

Well my first born turned 17 yesterday. Today I feel very old. :) I am also thankful for the mercies God has had in my life. To be a young mother, unwed, in sin and to have a son turn out the way Peyton has I am forever thankful. Now, this road has been bumpy and had a few hairpin turns as well, but through it all God has been there and we've learned so much. He is now a young man so close to adulthood. We aren't done yet as parents and continue to guide him and impart in him the words of the Lord. I pray they go deep so when he is out on his own it will speak when needed and he will respond in obedience. He knows how much we love him and what we've gone through to walk with the Lord. He knows the times we've fallen, but got back up because Christ is WORTH IT! He see's the realities and yet Christ is put in the center of them all. His boundaries are secure and set in place from times of personal death to self, humility when wrong and a life set apart for Christ. I know that the Lord will do what His Word say's and when Peyton is old he won't depart from Him. I know that Christ will call him, just as He called us. God is Faithful!! So Happy Birthday my sweet son. I am not sad, but so very happy for what is ahead for you. If you will just be obedient to HIS WILL for your life. We love you sooooo much!

Father's Day Weekend!!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!! Scott is the Dad of the Year! I am so thankful for the man God gave me over 11 years ago. He was an instant dad since I had a 5 yr old. For someone that was in his twenty's he did a great job. He has grown into a dad that is giving, supporting and loving. We have three beautiful kids and each one loves their dad for all that does for them. Scott is truly a dad that is training his kids up in the Lord. He not only speaks the Word into their lives, but he teaches them Godly character. He wants them to be responsible and be able to make wise decisions. He works hard every day in the heat to provide a roof over our heads and food for our mouths. He doesn't complain "much" when I know it is super hard work. He is up every morning reading his Word and praying for his steps to be lead of the Lord. He handles the pressures of life so as to be an example to his kids. He is honest and forthright when he struggles, but is faithful to get up every time. Honey, you are a wonderful father and I pray this day is one of joy and memories for you. Your family: Kellie, Peyton, Grace and Haven!

Visting at Parents house!

Well Mom and Dad got back early this morning from their trip to Dominican Republic. Me and the kids waited for their call, (since they went to bed late)then packed up and headed to see them. I made some homemade cinnamon rolls and she made a pot of coffee. That visit lasted all day. My big brother stopped by for lunch and stayed most of the afternoon. Scott and Peyton joined us after work and all had a great visit. It is good to have them home. Seems they had a great trip. God really moved on the hearts of those that went and those that were there. Many great testimonies from the trip. A great day with the folks!!!

"The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to
make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the
cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are
simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose."
-C.S. Lewis

Great day!

Well we had our assembly here at the house today. Scott had a great word on "sanctification". Maybe he will type it up and post it. We all had something to share and testify of. We did miss Teryl and Diane as they are still out of the country. After we worshiped and shared the Word we ate a great communion feast. I cooked a craw fish and corn soup. YUM! The kids had seconds. Guess it was a favorite. Now we are outside cleaning up the yard. Love these times as a family....! :) Oh and people keep posting to my blog that are anonymous. I said in a previous blog that unless you can identify yourself it will not be posted. If I don't know you then how can you say things about me if you don't know me. Therefore, I won't post those either. Thank you for your interest though. :) God bless you all...!

Happy Anniversary!! 11 years today!

Well it has been 11 yrs. today. I love Scott more today then I did when I excepted his proposal. God has been faithful. He has tried us through and through. He has broken us and molded us again to be ONE. We have learned so much in the last 5 years then the 6 prior. Those 6 years were full of immaturity and thinking we knew it all. We were unteachable. The last 5 years have been one of growth and loving the wisdom shared with us in order TOO grow. I would much rather be teachable than full of pride thinking I can handle this on my own. I am thankful for the loving hand of God that makes the two become One. Now, may our love be a light to those that sit in darkness, that they too may see the LIGHT and be free. As the marriage is a picture of the Church (bride) and Christ (bridegroom), may our marriage testify of His will for His Body. Thank you honey for loving God more than me and staying in the fire so that Christ is living in our home. I love you more than words can say. I look forward to the many years to come walking in the Light together, seeing our kids safe in the arms of the Lord and one day going into eternity to be with our Savior. Forever your bride, Kellie

Conditions......

IF

I was behind in reading the New Testament from our daily reading. I started in Hebrews chapter 1. As I was reading through something stood out to me in chapter 3 that I would like to take a minute to share.

Hebrews 3:6 say’s….but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.

It repeats in Hebrews 3:14….For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.

That word IF stood out to me and UNTIL THE END. I did a word study on it and here is what I found.

The word house in verse 6 is talking about us being the temple where Christ is supposed to dwell (1 Corinthians 3:16) as well as house of God which is the church and the word church is not a building but a people/called out ones “Ekklesia” (1 Timothy 3:15).

Here are the If’s:

1. IF…..We Hold Fast

2. IF…..We’re Confident and Rejoice or Boast

3. IF…..We Hope Until the End

I broke it down even more and looked at each one.

1. We Hold Fast

a. Romans 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shall be cut off. We need to hold fast to His goodness. If you read the context of that scripture it talks about His goodness and how we were grafted in. It is His kindness that leads us to repentance.

b. Hebrews 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end. We need to hold fast to the beginning of our assurance where we became partakers of Christ.

c. Hebrews 4:14 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. We need to hold fast our confession of Christ and to Christ. Christ being the Chief Priest of our confession.

2. Confidence (trust) and Boast (rejoicing)

a. Ephesians 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by faith in Him. Our faith in Him should give us confidence to have boldness and access.

b. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need. We should have confidence to draw near to the throne of grace.

c. Hebrews 10:35-39 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. Don’t throw your confidence away. Put it this way…Don’t throw your Trust in Christ away, because there is a great reward.

3. Of our hope firm (true, faithful, sure, trustworthy) until the end.

a. Hebrews 6:11 And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end. We are to actively and effectively (not slothful) minister to the saints through faith and patience.

b. Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but it was the bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw near unto God. A better hope (the redemptive blood of Christ) where we can draw near to God.

c. Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised. We should hold onto the hope of the promises of God, for He is faithful that promised.

d. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is NOW! What we hope for in Christ we can have now, even though we can not see it.

e. 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Say’s it all! We have a hope through the new birth where we die to self and resurrect a new creature in Christ.

Finishing the race set before us.

There were a couple of verses that I was thinking on during worship Sunday morning. Ron went on to talk about Hebrews 12:2 later that morning, but I didn't feel led to interject because he had a good word and was going in a different direction. I want to take a minute and share with you what the Lord was showing me this morning. Also, if you notice anyone that didn't get it, please forward because these were the only email addresses that I had of the attendees from Sunday.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the Author (beginning) and Finisher (end) of our Faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Picture a runner before a race, many have on some type of clothing (windsuits, sweatsuits, etc.) over their running shorts and shirts. This other clothing is heavy and bulky. It isn't good running cloths for racing because it is restrictive. It keeps you from reaching your potential. Also, many runners put their running shoes on just minutes before the race because they are lighter and easier to run with, but they aren't always as comfortable as other shoes. Other shoes are built for comfort, but they are often heavier and bulkier.

This is the picture of the first verse, but our problem is that we get consumed with the besetting sin (clothes) and the weights and burdens of life (shoes). We then forget to run the race, or we try to run and tire out because we are dragging to much with us. Then when we try to run, we run it like it is a 100 yard dash instead of a marathon. If we take our eyes off of the finish line we will not make it. A few weeks ago, Peyton and I raced a cross country motorbike race. It was a 1 1/2 hour grueling race in the hills of Sicily Island. My first lap took 23 plus minutes. I was so tired after the first lap that I wanted to quit, but I couldn't quit because I was in third place. I kept telling myself to go just one more lap. Keep pushing and ride one lap at a time. I stayed in third place until the end of the third lap which was over 1 hour into the race. I had told myself that if I was no longer in third (top 3 get a trophy) that I would then quit, but when I came to the finish line, Haven was waving the white flag (which means one more lap). Now I couldn't quit because that would be a horrible example for my son. So I dug deep and finished. I did finish fourth, and I didn't get a trophy. What I did get was the confidence to know that I overcame. Although I lost the race, and some battles, I finished it. I pushed myself farther than I thought I could. Many times in Christ, we give up before we should. We quit right before the breakthrough happens in our lives. We have to look to finish this race no matter what it cost us or how bad it hurts. We need to readjust our sights and focus. We look at the pain when the race gets hard and we want to quit. It does no good to only run 25 of 26 miles in a marathon. You could lead the whole race up to that point, but if you don't finish then you lose all of the reward and prizes. Many grow weary, lose their focus and quit. God will not congratulate us for 25 great miles run in Christ, but will condemn us for not finishing the race in Christ.

Look to Jesus, his last mile was Horrific, but he finished. Why? Quitting or disobedience wasn't an option for him, and his focus was on his Father and His Will for Him. He knew the rewards of finishing the race, and He knew He had to focus on his Goal, God's glory. Through the Cross, God was glorified because sin was defeated, and Jesus took the keys to Hell and Death from Satan.

Now, let's look at another man who had a tough last mile to run, Stephen the Martyr (Acts 7). If Stephen would have backed off his preaching of Truth, this probably wouldn't have been his last mile, but God had greater things planned (Apostle Paul). Stephen had his eyes on the finish line and he saw the reward: (vs. 55-56) - But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the Glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said Behold, I see the Heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.

Because of Stephens focus on the reward, Christ himself, he was able to push past all the obstacles, even death itself. Even in his death, with the heart of Christ, he cried out, Lord lay not this sin to their charge. I want that Spirit to richly dwell within me, but it takes obedience, focus, and throwing aside the things that hold us back. Jesus is well worth it.

One more thing that I noticed is that Hebrews 12:2 says ...Jesus is set down (seated) at the right hand of the Throne of God, but Acts 7:55-56 says... Jesus is standing on the right Hand of God. I believe Stephens Obedience and Faith brought Jesus to His feet as He watched what took place with His child. Just as a loved one or coach is standing close to the finish line of a race screaming, "Your almost there!!!" Encouraging that person to finish the race. God also revealed Himself to Stephen to carry him through his persecution and death. The more we obey and walk by Faith, the more the Father will reveal himself to us. The world and the love of the world and its treasures is what blinds us from really seeing God. What in our lives (yours and mine) robs us from seeing God. Every time in Scripture that a man sets himself apart to God for his use, God revealed himself to this man. May we be the people that set themselves apart to see His Holiness.

In Christ,

Scott