Friendship

Every so often you run into someone who is slightly opposite of you but gets you.  I mean gets you absolutely.  Will walk life with you and choose to correct you in love but also be there through out life changing times.  David and Jonathan had that; they met in a random moment when two opposite life's collided.  The cool thing is that even in times of separation they still maintained a friendship that lasted.

Do you have a friendship like that?  Do you have a friend who can call you out when your acting like a crazy person, or to laugh with you when you have a funny story?  Last night I called my mom complaining (yes complaining). That so and so really didn't like me, and she pointed out "not everyone is going to be your best friend Breanna". And you no know what, she's right,  I don't need a million best friends all I need is one.  So to my friend who gets me, in all my weirdness, and moods, in the place where our souls were knit together because God knew we needed each other, thank you.  Thank you for letting me be me and walking this life together.  

My prayer for you dear readers is that God gives you a friend, that when you see each other God knits your soul to theirs and a deep friendship is formed that crosses through time.  

Sin

I read in Romans 7 today.  It's a hard chapter to swallow and pretty devestating on this millennial' self esteem ;-). But I will say this, I feel as a body we have looked at sin as a negative thing.  Hold up!  Before the arguments and disgust start let me explain myself.  Sin is not a feeling, it is not an emotion; the definition of sin is "an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law."  Now I'm going to speak to my Christian brothers and sisters first, how many times have we looked at someone sinning and felt an emotion whether disgust, or sadness, or any other emotion?  Why? Sin is something that takes us away from God not an emotion.  

So I ask you dear brothers and sisters in Christ, How close to God do you want to be?  Our sin is covered by Jesus Christ, the moment you acknowledged that Jesus Christ is Lord, the moment you said in your heart that He died for you and was raised from the dead was the moment He covered for you and you became a Holy blameless child of God.  You are saved, but if you long for an intimate relationship, a friendship like no other, a Father who speaks to you daily, a Holy Spirit who guides you and gives you counsel I would suggest you get rid of sin.  God can't be near sin He is too Holy and too perfect to be near it, so cast it away and see how intimate and loving that relationship is.   

Now for my friends who don't think there is a God or that Jesus Christ is God.  Friends, I'm going to be blunt.  Why are you worrying about sin when it doesn't pertain to you?  If you don't believe in Jesus Christ it would be like comparing sports to music. Two completely different things.  You need to believe Christ Jesus died for you to even think about sin.  I would love for you to believe in our Savior believe it or not He loves you and sincerely wants the best for you, but if you choose not to then that's your choice.  I choose to follow Jesus Christ and I choose to follow the Bible, that's on me, not you.  

I'm finishing up now, and please don't be hurt by my ramblings whether Christian or not I'm just a person living life one day at a time trying to do my best with the choices I made.   If you're ever curious about those choices I made I would love to talk to you about them :-)

Love you all, and that's the truth

The Lacemaker

Hi Everyone,
So in the last 24 hours I may have read this book a total of two times and I'm on my third read.  This may be one of my favorite books by Laura Frantz.  It's the perfect revolutionary historic novel, with romance, an amazing woman of God for the leading lady, and the perfect mix of slow burn.  What is slow burn?  It's a book who's character don't immediately fall in love at first sight but a relationship is built.  I love those types of books because let's be honest how many of us had an insta love relationship that worked?  Don't get me wrong I looked at my husband for the first time and fell for his baby blues and his smile, but it took us years to build a friendship and then a relationship.

In the Lacemaker, Lady Elizabeth "Liberty" Lawson has been met with an arranged marriage by her Tory Father.  On the cusp of the revolution she is forced to decide which side she's on.  Soon Liberty is left destitute with only the faith of a Heavenly Father guiding her path.  These are troubled times in Williamsburg, Virginia and it's not safe to be a Tory let alone a woman.

If you love an amazing historic novel that breathes the Word of God effortlessly.  Friends, you need to read this book.  So please go buy it and enjoy this phenomenal author who glorifies God with the talent she has been given.

Hope

Did you know the definition of hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen and for faith it's a complete trust or confidence in someone or something.  I always thought these words were kind of the same but they're really not.

Hope is more of a feeling where faith is complete assurance.  We live in a world where complete assurance can be destroyed in moments; where more and more often we lean towards hope because in the back of our head we're waiting for the other shoe to drop.  A couple of years ago it seemed that if it could happen to our family it did.   House refusing to sell, me getting sick and the hospital bills piling up, cars breaking down,  double mortgage, my husband's job getting cut and my part time job closing.    I clung to this verse, because I had no hope left.  I only had the assurance that God was able to do what he promised.   Where are you at today?

Eventually, the house sold.  Todd's hours were given back to him.  I received the surgery that was needed to make me better.  This my friends is God's glory because if you read the final statement in the picture "It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification."

So friends I'm praying for you, I'm praying that you stop hoping in the world, but put your faith in Jesus Christ.  He really was raised from the dead so that our trespasses are forgiven and we can have faith to give glory to Him in times of goodness and times of need.  And in doing that we are fully convinced that God is able to do what He promises.

Serve

Serving can be tough, because let's be honest, let's stop talking all that Christian language and be blunt.  Serving has no glory in it for the person who's doing it.  For the most part there is no recognition of the job you're doing.  I'm really terrible at serving, I don't know why but I long for the recognition of a job well done and I like people knowing how great I am (I know it's cocky, but just trying to honest).  You don't get that serving.  These people who quietly go about working for God very rarely will be recognized for their effort by anyone.

Take for instance my husband.  He's someone I see serving the needs of people around him and our family faithfully and diligently.  He's a soccer coach, he could very likely coach in a university, he's been recruited by universities but won't go because our family is in a safe and secure area and our kids are in a great school.  He's bypassing the recognition to serve our family.

When you serve the recognition and glory go to God.  So I want to ask you something,  who is getting the glory?  Are the hardest of challenges to the simplest task honoring Jesus Christ, you were created for this very time.  To serve, to follow, and guess what Christ will be with you, and will honor you.

So, today as I look at my house,

I'm going to put the dishes away, and fold the clothes in an act of glorifying the Lord.  Because friends, I desire following Jesus Christ over my desire of recognition and I would rather have His honor then the worlds.   Love you all and know that I'm praying for you today.

Convicted

Hi Everyone,
Today I read Romans 2 and I was convicted.  I know why too.  Sometimes my actions are different then my words.  All too often I teach my kids something but do something else entirely.  For instance my oldest saying a snarky remark to her siblings and me realizing that I say those exact same words.  How can I tell her not to say them when they have past my mouth?  

Lord Jesus I pray that my thoughts, words, and actions glorify you today.  That I honor you in all that I do, and please Lord Jesus forgive me for those times that I've stumbled, forgive me for those that my words have hurt.  Holy Spirit be my friend and guide today as you lead me down the path of your will.  May your grace flow deep in the ones who are reading this and if they are convicted they realize how deep Your ( Father God) love is for them.  May we understand that in your kindness you correct us.

Sick

Hi Everyone,
Over the last month our kids have had Flu A, Strep, AND Flu B.  To say that we are worn out from the gauntlet of sickness, it's true, we are so worn out.  If you have a moment to pray for our kids I would so appreciate it.

I wanted to show you what I make for a comfort drink for my family.  I call it sick tea because it's full of mint and chamomile tea (click Here for the tea) and Néem Honey.  We like the neem honey because it's raw organic and basically has a lot more health benefits then regular honey.  We got that from Natural Grocers.  I boil my water to about 199 degrees and then let it seep in my tea pot for 5 minutes.  After that I take about a spoonful of honey and pour my tea into my Mary and Martha cup (click Here) and then stir in the honey.

The tea is warm and comforting bringing a perfect twist of minty freshness and calm from the chamomile.  I hope you make it and enjoy it yourself and if you can pray Psalms 41:3 over my sweet family I would really appreciate it.  Thanks so much friends!