The Spiritual Society

The devotion below was written by Oswald Chambers and I found it here.

"Till we all come . . unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." Ephesians 4:13

Rehabilitation means the putting back of the whole human race into the relationship God designed it to be in, and this is what Jesus Christ did in Redemption. The Church ceases to be a spiritual society when it is on the look-out for the development of its own organization. The rehabilitation of the human race on Jesus Christ's plan means the realization of Jesus Christ in corporate life as well as in individual life. Jesus Christ sent apostles and teachers for this purpose - that the corporate Personality might be realized. We are not here to develop a spiritual life of our own, or to enjoy spiritual retirement; we are here so to realize Jesus Christ that the Body of Christ may be built up.

Am I building up the Body of Christ, or am I looking for my own personal development only? The essential thing is my personal relationship to Jesus Christ - "That I may know Him." To fulfil God's design means entire abandonment to Him. Whenever I want things for myself, the relationship is distorted. It will be a big humiliation to realize that I have not been concerned about realizing Jesus Christ, but only about realizing what He has done for me.

"My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace,
Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God."

Am I measuring my life by this standard or by anything less?

Marci's Giveaway

Click on the picture to go enter! They've got some great items in their general store!!!

The Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ

I have heard different preachers talk about the Rapture and Christ's second coming and have read several books and heard many different theories, which have done nothing but confuse me. About 12 years ago I began reading my Bible consistently and tried to read it through from beginning to end within a year. Sometimes I made it, other times it took a little longer. But during these years, I always took special notice of Scriptures that mentioned Christ's second coming. As I mentioned, I've read several books on this subject and though they were all interesting, I would always find a Scripture or more that just didn't add up with someone's theory. I recently finished reading a book by Finis Dake called The Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ. The numerous Scripture references and explanations Mr. Dake gives certainly come pretty close to making sense to me at last. Therefore, I'd like to point out some interesting things here and I certainly recommend anyone to read his book, which can be found at Amazon.com, but be sure to have your Bible with you to check Scriptures. I am not saying his explanation is foolproof, but it certainly comes closer to having all the Scriptures come together and make sense regarding this matter.

Note: I have something in me that always makes me check Scriptures instead of relying on what someone tells me, even if it is a preacher or my own parents. God's Word is the final authority.

Most of my Christian life I thought that the Rapture of Christians would happen when Christ comes to earth again. However, this can't be true because of the following Scriptures:

Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

If we are to escape the horrible tribulations that are to come upon the inhabitants of the earth, we will have to be gone before it starts.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Jesus will return in the clouds to rapture the saints who are dead in Christ and also those who are still living, but at this time He will not set foot on earth. He takes us with Him to Heaven.

The following verse proves that when Jesus comes to earth, He is coming with ALL his saints.

1 Thessalonians 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

I originally intended to write more about this subject, but I am no expert and still have some questions. However, regardless of whether you wish to find out more about this subject or disagree, the main thing you need to do is always be ready for Jesus' return to rapture the saints. This is the next prophecy to be fulfilled so we should be ready and watching for Him.

Mark 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

Happy Fourth of July America!!!!

I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free (for right now anyway).

A Fresh New Look

With the heat of summer, I was ready to change the look of my blog. Really, I just wanted to change it around like I enjoy changing the room arrangements in my house. ;-)

One thing to note is that I'm closing down my separate food blog and have moved all the recipes here in my right side bar.

I'll be changing a few minor things the next few days, but mostly it will all still be the same.

The garden is keeping us busy, but that's okay. We love eating our own homegrown foods!

Hope you all are enjoying your summer!

We the People...

...need to get involved! We need to get the word out to others. Have you checked lately how your representatives and senators are voting in Congress? Do you keep up with it? Do you care? I keep trying to refrain myself from getting into politics on this blog, but with the speed in which this country is going toward communism, how can WE THE PEOPLEbe quiet? This is OUR country, not the government's!!!!!!! I don't care if you are Republican, Independent, or Democrat. The common ground of most Americans is that we DON"T want the government running our lives. We like our freedoms. We want to KEEP our freedoms.

You may think, "What can I, one person, do?" The simplest and most powerful thing you can do is to write or call each of your representatives and senators in your district. You can Google them and even email them. The fact is: If each of us would let them know our concerns and what WE expect them to do FOR US, they would be overwhelmed and realize that they better vote on issues the way WE want or else they will get the message loud and clear that WE will vote them OUT of office at the next election.

We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.~Abraham Lincoln~

When I was 18, I registered to vote as a Republican and still am. However, I am extremely unhappy with the majority of who are in Congress including the Republicans. Maybe it's time we start calling ourselves Constitutionalists? What do you think?

PLEASE get informed and please let your voice be heard while you still have that right! Our Constitution is fast corroding away under this government which is getting bigger. They are wanting to change our way of lives to that which has proven in the past to have failed. No matter what political party you are registered with, I am positive you would not want the government telling you how to run your life...where to work, how many children to have, who educates your children, how to raise your children, which doctor to visit, what medicines to take or not, how much money you are allowed to make and most of it being taken away from you by over-taxing, when you can run your air or lights in your home, and how much land you are allowed to own, if any. These are just a few of the things that are quickly changing.

Okay, I'm stepping down from my soapbox for now. Will you be stepping up on yours?

Please watch the video below.

Knowledge and Wisdom

Knowledge: n. Learning; illumination of mind.

Wisdom: n. The right use or exercise of knowledge.

I want to keep this simple and short, if possible. :)

Knowledge is everything we learn in our lives. Some have more knowledge than others. Why? Maybe because some people make a habit of studying more than others or enjoy learning new things. The Christian should make a habit of studying the Bible. What if a Christian can't read? They can study and learn to read! What if they have a learning handicap? They can be given an audio Bible to listen to. What if they have a learning handicap and can't hear? Ask God for His help. God does not want anyone to be ignorant of His Word.

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

As a Christian, we should know God. We should know Jesus Christ. At the moment you sincerely repented of your sins and gave your life to God, He gave you new desires. The main one being the desire to know Him and have a relationship with Him. As we all know, you can't have friends unless you be a friend. There is an effort on your part as well as your friends. If you continue to try to keep contact with a friend and that friend never responds to you, you eventually will leave them alone. Right? But if that friend suddenly responds to you again years later, you are very excited to hear from them and pick up with them as if you never were apart. God is always there for you, but he may be silent in your life because you haven't done your part in the relationship. You have let it become stagnant. As we all know, stagnant stinks! Within the following verses it tells us we are to be diligent in adding a list of character traits to our lives. As we add one trait, it helps us to attain the next trait. Of course, we must ask the Lord's help in attaining these because we cannot do this on our own. He will allow opportunities for you to make the right choices, thus learning more about Jesus Christ, our Savior.

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If we do not study His Word, we will not become fruitful nor will we get to know Him and become as one in the parable He preached about in Matthew 13. We do not want to be like the seed that fell by the wayside or in stony places or among the thorns. We should want to be the seed that fell on good ground and bring forth good fruit. Read the whole chapter again, please.

2 Peter 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

Now that this little bit of knowledge has come to you, use wisdom and rightly apply it to your life. I am trying, so let's try together.

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

There is so much in the Bible regarding knowledge and wisdom and only the Lord can give wisdom. Those in this world who don't know God and are full of worldly knowledge will never have wisdom until they learn to fear the Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Health Update

Beginning week 8 today and have lost total of 6 lbs. along with losing 1-1/4 inches in chest, 1-1/2 inches in waist, 1/2 inch in hips, and 1/2 inch in arms.

I'm working out with dumbbells (weights) ;-) three days a week and walking 2 miles each three days a week and resting on Sunday.

Trying to get more fruits and veggies in system.

Feel much better AND more energetic!

Back is doing great!

No sodas and don't even crave them now!!!!

Let's keep going!!!! How are you doing?

How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies

If you've ever had a problem with those irritating little gnats/fruit flies that seem to multiply around the fruit you may have sitting in a bowl on your counter, you CAN get rid of them!

I was talking to a friend on the phone about a week ago and she cleans houses for a living and she said a plumber told her to pour about a teaspoon of Pine-Sol in all her drains every day until they are gone. Then about once or twice a week after that. So, I thought, "Why not try it?" I did and it DOES work! Also, I go ahead and wipe my sink with it. Be sure not to run any water for about an hour after pouring it down the drains. Pine-Sol is also a disinfectant.

Did any of you know about this?

Enjoying Summer...Well, Sort Of...

I'm not a summer person. I don't like heat and I'm very thankful for air conditioning. Maybe it's because I was born in the north, however, I grew up in the deep south where it's always HOT. Now, I'm living where we get four equal seasons and love it. By the time you are ready for a change, it's just around the corner.

I've been very consistent (for a change) with my exercise plan and feel SO much better. Walking at least three days a week and working out with weights the other three days. Sunday is my day of rest. I'm up to 2 miles on the walking and have increased the weights gradually as needed. This morning Hubby and I walked down the road a little ways to an old country dirt road that goes on and on. It actually goes up a little mountain and Hubby's walked the whole way before, but that's more than I can do right now, so we enjoyed about a 2 mile walk which took us to the bridge over a creek. We saw one deer, four bunnies, and ten turkeys. Wish I had taken the camera!!!!! Next time I'll try to remember to take it with me.

Enjoying life and not being on the computer so much. Try it! :)