A Little Affirmation

Nothing lifts me up more like a little affirmation.   A reminder that better days are coming.  And today, I really need this.

Bible 365: Week 39

Before I get into my Bible 365 Week 39 recap, I just want to say Happy Wedding Anniversary to my loving and wonderful husband!!  Today we celebrate 3 years of wedded bliss.  I know that I am truly blessed to have you as my life partner, the father of my children and the person who often talks me off the ledge.  You are simply amazing and I thank you for taking this leap despite all that we had to go through before committing our lives together and making a vow before God to remain as one until death does us part.  I love you more than any words can ever express!

Now, I hope everyone had a blessed and delightful weekend.  This weekend the kiddies and I got out of house and picked up an anniversary present for the Mr.  Then we enjoyed some playtime at the park before it got too windy out.  We even got to have some bonding time with the Mr before he headed off to work.  I'm always grateful for those moments.

Anyways, week 39's readings did retell just about everything we read in Matthews and Mark.  It talked about the gathering of the disciples, told of Jesus' many miracles and of course the crucifixion.  I don't know about you guys but reading about how the people and the supposed 'leaders' of the church turned on Jesus makes me a little mad.   After all the miracles he performed for them, how could they act like such savages finding enjoyment in killing him?  Here are a few lessons I've been mediating on:

1-"Let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.  Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it" (Mark 10:14-15).  We can learn a thing or two from children.  Children can teach us as Christians how to humble ourselves to God and trust Him to do what His word says He will do for those who believe wholeheartedly in Him.

2-"And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slaves of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:44-45).  I hear a lot of people talking about how they want to be leaders or bosses and often times I've seen them get frustrated when they feel like they aren't moving up the leadership pole fast enough or at all.  You see being a leader or a boss isn't just about being the position to give orders.  Its true essence and meaning is to be servant or helper to others.  

Think about it.  Even as powerful and magnificent as Jesus was and still is, He was sent here to earth to die for us!  So, while He was a great leader not only to the disciples but to all those around Him, Jesus ultimately was a servant of God sent here to serve man through healing them, preaching the word to give them wisdom and understanding and dying on the cross to save their souls.

3-"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angel in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is" (Mark 13:32-33).  The signs of the coming of Christ (Mark 13:7-8) couldn't be more evident in our society today.  However, we don't know the specific time or day.  Therefore, you don't want to be caught slipping or caught up in things that are not of God.  So, heed the warnings that God has laid out for us on how we should conduct ourselves, watch for the signs of the coming and pray that God guides your actions so that you may be found holy and righteous.

4-"He took Peter, James and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.  Then He said to them, 'My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch" (Mark 14:33-34).  I think that Jesus handled the knowledge of His upcoming death very well.  But here we see that on the night Judas turned Him over to His enemies that He began to get anxious.  The heaviness of what was going to happen to Him started to weigh on His spirit.  A lot of times, we feel out of touch with Jesus (and God) because the Bible talks about Him as being perfect and without sin.

So, we often question how can He relate to us and how are we suppose to be able to relate to someone who was so great and who set such a high standard?  Well, here we see just how human Jesus was as He awaits His crucifixion.  I don't know anyone who would be at ease knowing first that they were going to be killed, knowing that it would be painful and not knowing how long it would last.  I can imagine that He probably worried about His loved ones and the pain they would feel watching Him die, the people who still rejected God and whether or not His disciples had strong enough faith to continue His work and teachings.

My heart hurts a lot for Jesus knowing the burden He bore because humans couldn't get right.  As a mom, my heart hurts for His parents, especially Mary.  I'm thankful for God's sacrifice, but knowing how much God loves us, I can only imagine how much He loved Jesus and how painful it must have been sacrifice His own son for a bunch of ungrateful people.

5-"He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise" (Luke 3:11).  We know that God loves a cheerful giver.  And we need to strive to be givers not just on Christmas or Thanksgiving but whenever we see another in need.  At the end of day, you can't take your riches, your furs, your diamonds or your fancy cars to Heaven (or Hell).  Therefore, if you can bless a person, do it without hesitation or expecting anything in return.

I'm definitely striving to instill this trait into my children.  I don't want them to see all the problems of the world and keep on walking.  I want them to be moved to do their parts. To be part of the solution.  To be a blessing and a light to those during their troubled or hard times.

When was the last time you helped someone in need? And could you have handled knowing you were going to be crucified?

Week 40 Readings

9/30: Luke 10

10/1: Luke 11

10/2: Luke 12

10/3: Luke 13-14

10/4: Luke 15-16

10/5: Luke 17-19

10/6: Luke 20-21

Bible 365: Week 35

Happy Labor Day!!  Hope everyone had a great weekend.  We stayed inside this weekend due to the rain we got.  Can't believe that we have just over 15 more weeks to go before we will have completed this Bible 365 Challenge!!  I'm very proud of myself for not throwing in the towel and being determined to read the Bible in its entirety. 

Honestly, I didn't expect to make it this far in the challenge.  I'm grateful for those of you who stuck it out with me too.  Continue to hang in there as we get ready to cross the finish line.  In Week 35, we read the books of Obadiah, Jonah, Micah and Nahum.  

Of course, I'm sure that we've heard the story of Jonah and the whale before.  God had commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh and tell them about themselves but Jonah got scared.  So, he thought he's run to Tarshish instead.  However, as this story proved, there is no running away from God.  The ship that Jonah was on got caught up in a terrible storm that God caused and when his shipmates found out that it was Jonah who was causing their ship to almost go down, they threw him into the ocean and he was swallowed up by whale.

After three days and a much needed prayer, the whale deposited Jonah back on dry land.  This time around he didn't chance it and try to run away from God again.  He did as he was instructed.  I just would have did as God had told me from the beginning.  I can imagine that Jonah felt like God was sending him on a suicide mission, but as pointed out in Nahum 1:7 "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble;.."  God never sends us into dangerous situations without protection or having our backs.

He's always with us.  And even though, we don't always know His plans or reasoning, we still need to trust Him.  Micah 6:8 tells us the God "has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"  And part of walking humbly with God is not running away from the responsibilities He gives to us.

Week 36 Readings

9/02:  Habakkuk 1-3

9/03:  Zephaniah 1-3

9/04:  Haggai 1-2

9/05:  Zechariah 1-8

9/06:  Zechariah 9-14

9/07:  Malachi 1-4

9/08:  Matthew 1-4

What would you have done for three days if you were stuck inside a whale like Jonah?

Bible 365: Week 34

Happy Monday!!  How was y'all's weekends?  We did make it out the house and to the park.  Not the one on our block, but a different park with a bigger jungle gym.  Anyways, I got so caught up cooking dinner, cleaning, dealing with the kids and stuff that I almost forgot about my Bible 365 post.

This week we finished up the books of Hosea, Joel and Amos.  As has been the case with most of the Old Testament, these books talk about the Israelites and how they continued to wander from God's grace.  In these books, at times it appears that God is torn between punishing the Israelites and turning a blind eye to them for good or blessing them and giving them the land of milk and honey.  He's tried for many generations to give the Israelites chances to redeem themselves, but for some reason they keep going back to worshiping idols, human sacrifices, adultery and other bad habits. Below are a few scriptures that stood out for me in Week 34.

1-"Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done marvelous things!" (Joel 2:21)  This is exactly why I do my Thankful Thursday posts.  It's so easy for to get like the Israelites and forget that God does and has done marvelous things for us and our loved ones.

2-"And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Joel 2:32)  Often times we're waiting on God to rescue us from our current circumstances.  However, we have yet to call on Him for help.  While He is a mind reader, we still need to call on Him directly and let Him know His help is needed.

3-"They hate the one who rebukes in the gate, and they abhor the one who speaks uprightly." (Amos 5:10)  When you're trying to live right and do the right thing, you'll find that not everyone is going to like you.  You're going to have people who will hate on you for no reason other than you're trying to do the right thing and live positively.  It's just part of the territory that comes with being a good person.

Again thank you to everyone who continues to read, share and comment on my Bible 365 posts!  I have just a little over 500 pages left of reading before I will have read the entire Bible!!  Yes, it's getting close.  I'm sure that if I really wanted to I could knock out these 500 pages in two weeks, but I'm sticking to the plan and stretching it out until the end of December.

Week 35 Readings

8/26: Obadiah 1

8/27:  Jonah 1-2

8/28:  Jonah 3-4

8/29:  Micah 1-2

8/30:  Micah 3-5

8/31:  Micah 6-7

9/01:  Nahum 1-3

Bible 365: Week 33

Happy Monday!  Hope that everyone had a lovely weekend.  It was super rainy here.  So, nothing interesting to report.  We stayed indoors and enjoyed movie nights.  I did spend some time in the kitchen with Moo experimenting on a few recipes.  More about those later.

Anyways, Week 33 is down.  We finished up the books of Ezekiel and Daniel and got started on Hosea.  If you've never read the book of Daniel, I would suggest that you do.  It's a book of reassurance that proves that when you are truly for God, no weapon or trickery from your enemies will prosper.  Trust me.  It seemed like every time Daniel turned around somebody was trying to betray him or frame him for something to cost him his life.  However, God had his hand on Daniel and let no harm come to him.

The perfect example of this can be found in the story about Daniel in the Lion's Den in Daniel 6.  You see Daniel had God's favor and it was definitely visible.  This made a lot of the Chaldean governors and administrators jealous.  They felt more than a bit threatened by Daniel's success and talents. So, they tricked King Darius into signing a decree saying that if anybody in the kingdom prayed or worshipped any other god or man besides King Darius that they would be thrown into the lion's den.

Well, of course they knew Daniel worshipped God.  And they waited outside of his place and when they saw him praying they took him to the king to have him thrown in the lion's den.  King Darius tried his hardest to make an exception to this decree for Daniel but the men had made King Darius promise to not go back on his word.  So, off to the lion's den Daniel went.

King Darius had faith though and told Daniel that "Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you" (Daniel 6:16).  And so, the king didn't sleep well that night worrying about his friend.  He woke up early that next morning and went to see if God had indeed spared Daniel's life.  To his relief and God's credit, Daniel was in fact still alive.  Daniel was lifted up out of the lion's den and King Darius ordered the men who had set Daniel up to be thrown in the lion's den along with their entire families.

Afterwards, King Darius made the decree that "in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel" (Daniel 6:26).  He had seen what God had done for Daniel and knew right then and there that there was only one true God!  So, the next time you feel like your enemies have thrown you under the bus or into the "lion's den" just have faith that God is going to deliver you and protect you.

Week 34 Readings

8/19:  Hosea 6-10

8/20:  Hosea 11-14

8/21:  Joel 1-2

8/22:  Joel 3

8/23:  Amos 1-2

8/24:  Amos 3-6

8/25:  Amos 7-9

Bible 365: Week 32

No late posting this week. LOL.  These last few books of the Bible have been all about God trying to get the Israelites to live right and follow His commandments.  However, they just couldn't seem to get with the program.  So, in the end He kind of has to turn a deaf ear to them and punish them.  Not only that but He punishes those evil nations around them.

If I lived back then and saw some of the miracles and wondrous acts that are documented in the Bible, I don't think I'd have a hard time following God's commands.  I mean He was going to give them a land flowing with milk and honey and make them undefeatable!  They had the ultimate protection.  Can you imagine if we could live a land flowing with milk and honey and we didn't have to want for anything-food, clothing, safety, etc?!  I just don't know how none of the generations of the Israelites couldn't have gotten their acts together, but I wish they had because I can't help but wonder if our world would be a better place in today's society.  I'm almost certain that things would be a lot better over there in the Middle East.  Anyways, here's what I learned in Week 32.

1-"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not." (Lamentations 3:22)  A lot of us are hanging on by a thread because of God's mercy and His compassion.  I feel so blessed to know that God has compassion for us.  It's comforting because it means that when we're going through our rough times, He feels for us.  It reassures me that He's not relishing in our pain, but instead is working to help us get through it and come out wiser and more victorious.

2-"For He does not afflict willingly, not grieve the children of men.  We have transgressed and rebelled; You have not pardoned." (Lamentations 3:33, 42)  God never causes bad things to happen to us just because.  He just doesn't work that way.  After all He created us to be His children so that He could love us and nurture us the way we do our children.  When we step outside of the will of God, we are bringing hard times on ourselves.  It's like the devotional I was reading this weekend said, sometimes instead of asking 'Why God? Why me?,' we need to ask ourselves 'Why not me?'  None of us walks perfectly in our faith and it's only right we get punished or chastised in some way when we do wrong.

3-"...I will judge you according to your ways, and I will repay you for all your abominations." (Ezekiel 7:3) Wasn't it Justin Timberlake who sang "What goes around, goes around, comes all the way back around?"  You reap what you sow people.  Karma is indeed real and you will be repaid for your actions whether they are good or bad.

4-"It (the seedling) took root there and grew into a low spreading vine.  Its branches turned up toward the eagle, and its roots grew down into the ground.  It produced strong branches and put our shoots.  But then another great eagle came with broad wings and full plumage.  So the vine now sent its roots and branches toward him for water, even though it was already planted in good soil and had plenty of water so it could grow into a splendid vine and produce rich leaves and luscious fruit." (Ezekiel 17:6-8) Some of us are like the seedling in this parable.  We already have a winning environment for success in all aspects of our lives, but our eyes get the best of us and trick us into thinking the grass is greener on the other side.  It's not though.  The Israelites couldn't get right because they were always getting caught up in the grass appearing to be greener on the other side.  We have to learn sometimes to just be content and appreciate what we have.  Remember that if He can trust us with a little, He can trust us with a lot but we can't jump ship before we build up that trust.

5-"The soul who sins shall die.  The son shall not bear the guilt of the father; nor the father bear the guilt of the son.  The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself." (Ezekiel 18:20).  As parents we can only do our best to make sure we are putting good morals and ethics into them.  However, just like we had to find our own way and often strayed from the things our parents taught us, so will they.  That doesn't necessarily mean that you are responsible for their bad choices. So, don't always take it personal when they mess up.  If you've done your best then you have not failed them.  Parenting is hard enough without any added mommy or daddy guilt for things we can't control.

Week 33 Readings 

8/12: Ezekiel 33-39

8/13:  Ezekiel 40-48

8/14:  Daniel 1-3

 8/15: Daniel 4-6 

8/16: Daniel 7-12 

8/17: Hosea 1-3 

8/18: Hosea 4-5

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Bible 365: Week 31

I am beyond late with my Bible 365 post this week.  If you've been following the blog, you know that I moved last week and that we've been without Internet until this past Thursday.  And yesterday and today we've been running errands plus dealing with other stuff.  Being without the Internet has just given more time to get my Bible study done, unpack and entertain the kids.  So, here's what I learned in Week 31.

1-"Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?  Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil." (Jeremiah 13:23)  A wolf is still a wolf whether it dresses up like a sheep or not.  A lot of times we get fooled by evil people or our enemies because we see them do a good deed and think they've changed.  So, we allow them into our lives and then we want to act surprised or shocked when we get burned again.  Now, people can change, but people who have evil in their hearts usually continue to be evil.  That one act of kindness is a trick and part of their plan to wiggle their way into our lives.  Stop falling for these tricks.  If you've been burned by someone keep it moving.

2-"I will deliver you from the land of the wicked and I will redeem you from the grip of the terrible." (Jeremiah 15:21)  We have to be patient and suffer through hard times.   To keep our sanity and survive, we need to remember that our rainbow is coming.  God hasn't forgotten about those of us who are faithful and obey His word.  He will deliver us and save us.  Whatever we are going through, He will bring us out of it.

3-"For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity hidden from My eyes." (Jeremiah 16:17)  Some of us are like the Israelites.  We think that God only sees the good deeds we do.  However, He sees it ALL!  Nothing we do is hidden from Him.  So, that lie you told last week, He heard it.  That candy bar you stole, He saw it.  That is why it's important to make doing the right thing a habit all of the time and not some of the time.  It's also important to ask forgiveness immediately after we have messed up.  It's only when we admit our wrongs to God that He will wipe our slates clean and give us another chance.

4-"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it." (Jeremiah 17:9)  Who can know what's truly in our hearts indeed?  Only God can.  If we could look into the hearts of some of the people who we think are good, upright people we'd probably be surprised.  Remember everything that glitters ain't gold.  Some of us are good actors because we have ulterior motives.

5-"And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to The Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace." (Jeremiah 29:7)  Tired of not having peace?  Well, we have to do like God commanded the Israelites and pray for our enemies when we're in their mist.  And I'm not talking about praying for their downfall, but instead pray for God to change their hearts and to give them peace.  They won't become your best friends but at least there will be some level of civility. 

Do you pray for your enemies?

Week 32 Readings

8/05:  Jeremiah 46-52

8/06: Lamentations 1-5

8/07:  Ezekiel 1-3

8/08:  Ezekiel 4-11

8/09:  Ezekiel 12-17

8/10:  Ezekiel 18-24

8/11: Ezekiel 25-32

Bible 365: Week 30

Pardon the late Bible 365 post this week.  If you haven't heard, the YUMMommy family had a recent crisis.  We're actually pulling off the most stressful move of our lives to date.  You can read all about it here.  Tomorrow is moving day and I couldn't be more happy to be free of this place, our landlord and the loud neighbors who rent the other side of the duplex.  I'm going to miss our neighbors across the yard though. They are truly the sweetest elderly couple and welcomed us into the neighborhood with open arms from day one.  Anyways, I'm sharing seven things that I learned from Week 30 below.

1-"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)  I definitely learned about waiting on the on the Lord to move in our lives over the past few days.  Really over the past year.  And tomorrow we're definitely mounting our eagles wings and flying out this situation.  God is an on time God for real because our new rental came through literally at almost the eleventh hour it seems.  Through it all I kept my hand in His hand because at the end of day He knows what's best for us.

2-"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you,.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you." (Isaiah 43:2)  His protection is always with us.  

3-"The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, 'Why, it's just a block of wood!  I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god?  Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?'" (Isaiah 44:19)  The Israelites still haven't learned their lesson several generations later.  Here God points out foolish it is that they worship an idol/god made of the same thing they use to cook their food with. He's trying to get them to see that these idols do nothing for them, but that it is Him who has been blessing them and delivering time and time again.

4-"I create the light and make the darkness.  I send good times and bad times.  I, the Lord, am the one who does these things." (Isaiah 45:7) This scripture came to mind because I while back I overheard someone saying that God never sends bad times upon us.  Of course, I wanted to but in and say yes He does.  Sometimes, it's to punish us when we act like the Israelites and stray from His will and other times it's to help us grow stronger in our faith. 

5-"But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.  He was beaten so we could be whole.  He was whipped so we could be healed." (Isaiah 53:5)  Isaiah tries to tell the people of Jesus' future coming and how he will suffer because our the world's wickedness.  My Bible refers to Jesus as the "sin-bearing servant."  And heaven knows Jesus had a lot of sin to bear from the Israelites and all the nations who were living outside of God's will then and today.  I often wonder why they couldn't get it right back them and why we can't get it right today?  Why is it so hard to be good to each other and live in positivity?

6-"Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time.  But no one seems to care or wonder why.  No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come.  For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die." (Isaiah 57:1-2)  I've loss a lot of people who've meant a lot to me before what I considered was their time to depart this world. However, reading this scripture gives me peace finally.  I never looked at death as a type of protection but more of a curse or unfortunate part of life.  After it sounds like life in Heaven would be way better than living a life down here on Earth if you have to be surrounded but evilness 24/7.  I hope this verse gives others comfort.

7-"Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?  No!  They were not at all ashamed; nor did they know how to blush.  Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time I punish them, they shall be cast down," says the Lord." (Isaiah 60:15)  People who do wrong always justify their actions by saying 'Ain't no shame in my game.'  In their minds if they don't feel shameful then that makes their bad habits and wrongdoing ok somehow.  No, my friends.  If you don't find shame in it, trust me God does!

Week 31 Readings

7/29:  Jeremiah 11-15

7/30:  Jeremiah 16-20

7/31:  Jeremiah 21-24

8/01:  Jeremiah 25-29

8/02:  Jeremiah 30-33

8/03:  Jeremiah 34-38

8/04:  Jeremiah 39-45

Searching For Hope

Last week and this weekend have been very trying.  And that's putting it mildly.  So, we finally had to put our foot down on our landlord because something crawled into one of the walls from underneath the house, got stuck and died.  We woke up to find maggots coming through the baseboards (which aren't flush with the floor at all) and foul smell.  At first I thought the Mr had spilled some rice because I wasn't wearing my glasses.  But when I went to put on my glasses because it seemed like the rice was moving, I threw a fit when I saw they were maggots!

I was ready to go through the roof.  We are clean freaks because who likes living in a dirty house.  Secondly, with my kids' allergies I'm cleaning pretty much three times a day (sweeping, steam mopping, the whole nine).  We called the landlord multiple times and he kept forwarding us to voicemail.  On Thursday, he shows up to attempt to fix our clogged bathroom sink.  We don't get in to with him or anything.  He simply asks if we've seen more bugs and I say no and walk off.

Friday comes and I go to check the mail.  Low and behold what do I find?  I packet with the landlord's handwriting on it.  It's a note saying that he's terminated our month to month lease.  And guess what else?  It's dated for the Thursday!  Like really, he couldn't have told us Thursday that he was terminating our lease because he doesn't want to fix anything and we're filing a code violation complaint?

Y'all my first thought was to do something very un-Christian-ish.  After my anger simmered down a bit, panic set in.  We've been looking to buy a house which is a long process and we only had seven days from the Friday to find a new place to live!!  I was freaking out because all I could think about was that my family was going to be homeless.  I don't know if any of you have ever been homeless, but I almost was as a child and the Mr was homeless (yea like sleeping outside) when he was a child.

So over these past few days we've been calling around and calling around and going to see rental properties.  Up until a few minutes ago we were really wondering if we'd have find a hotel and put our stuff in storage?  Living month to month in a hotel is more expensive than paying a mortgage or rent.  And we still would have needed to buy food and pay for gas.  But God is good!  We have finally found a place.

It's farther from the Mr's job and smaller than the place we're leaving but it will do.  It's bug-free, leak-free, and mold-free!  Plus, it puts us back in city limits.  So, now I can get the hustle and bustle of being in the mist of it all.  Moo gets to be five minutes away from her favorite library and places like the Discovery Place.  I'm two minutes from college dorm.  That's perfect because I'm going back to school.  So, I don't have far to ride in case there's emergency back home.

At the end of the day, we didn't let this defeat us.  I'm wiped away my tears and forced myself to look on the bright side which is that we'll be free of this rental for good.  The 23rd Psalm says the Lord is our shepard and we shall not want for anything. And I trusted in Him and kept searching for hope hat we find something.   And we did.   Keep us in prayer yall!!

Bible 365: Week 29

Happy Monday y'all!!  I hope that everyone had a great weekend.  Our weekend was low key but good nevertheless.  We're enjoying the last few days of having the Mr to ourselves because he's been cleared to return to work this week.  I'm going to miss having him here during the day and getting to just go out as a family and do stuff together.  Anyways, we started the book of Isaiah in Week 28.  And in Week 29, it seems like the children of Israel still haven't gotten their acts together.

You maybe wondering why God didn't just force them to do right since they were His chosen people?  I know I've asked myself that a few times.  Isaiah 7:9 says, "Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm."  At the end of day, they had free will just like we do today.  They chose to stray from God at turn.  Even when things were going well and He was delivering their enemies into their hands, the Israelites turned their backs on Him.  They let their enemies talk them into worshiping their idols and cursing God.

A lot of us are like the Israelites.  We're so quick to waver in our faith.  But then we wonder why we're not getting blessed or our prayers aren't being answered.  The truth of the matter is that when the tough gets going, sometimes we go too.  We're quick to blame our problems on God instead of looking at our role in our dilemmas.  We have free will and often times we bring some our misfortune on ourselves by stepping outside of the commandments that God has appointed for us.

However, at the end of the day we have to remember that God is always with us.  Isaiah 8:10 says, "Call your councils of war, but they will be worthless.  Develop your strategies, but they will not succeed.  For God is with us."  So, you see even in our time of need God is by our sides.  He protects us from those weapons and people meant to harm us or break us down.

And when it comes to leadership, we have to be careful who we follow and allow to preside over us.  "For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and those who are led by them are destroyed." (Isaiah 9:16)  The people of Samaria allowed themselves to be led astray by their leaders.  And for that they paid for their sins with their lives.  When you know better, you do better.  This is reminder that sometimes it's not wise to follow the crowd.

Also, in Week 29, we read about Lucifer being cast out of heaven.  "...But you are cast out of your grave like an abominable branch, like the garment of those who are slain, thrust through with a sword, who go down to the stones of the pit, like a corpse trodden underfoot." (Isaiah 14:19).   Lucifer dared to think that he was God.  In Isaiah 27, we see that God plans to restore the Israelites once He destroys the majority who have erred from His ways. 

And if you think that faithfulness is not rewarded read about Hezekiah in Isaiah 38.  He's on his death bed and the Lord has sent word to him through Isaiah letting him know that he is about to die so that he can make necessary preparations.  But Hezekiah humbly reminds that "I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight." (Isaiah 38:3)  Therefore, God gives him gives him 15 more years to live.  So, you see when we walk the walk that God has called us to walk, we will be rewarded. 

If you were Hezekiah, what you have asked for?  More life, money for your children, world peace?

Week 30 Readings

7/22: Isaiah 40-48

7/23: Isaiah 49-52

7/24: Isaiah 53-55

7/25: Isaiah 56-59

7/26: Isaiah 60-66

7/27: Jeremiah 1-6

7/28: Jeremiah 7-10


Linking up for Mom's Monday Mingle 

Bible 365: Week 28

I was super thrilled about week 28 because we got to read Song of Solomon!!  If you remember, I've mentioned more than once that Song of Solomon is my favorite book of the Bible.  It's a beautiful love letter/poem/love song.  In fact, the Bible dubs it "the song of songs" (Song of Solomon 1:1).  We also finished the book of Proverbs, read Ecclesiastes and got started on the book of Isaiah.  So, here are the seven things I learned in week 28.

1-"Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." (Proverbs 31:30)  The 31st Proverb is about the qualities of virtuous wife.  And it just reminds of the type of qualities I should be putting into my children.  You see the 31st Proverb isn't just for women but for men as well.  It's a guide for our sons so that they will know what to look for in a wife and for our daughters so that they will know the traits that are needed to be a good wife and mother. 

I also look at it as a call to men to show respect to all women.  How can you expect to find a virtuous wife if you're out here treating all or the majority of women like objects?  And women how can you expect to attract a virtuous husband if you don't have any standards yourself?  This Proverb goes both ways for sure.

2-"What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be numbered." (Ecclesiastes 1:15)  I was watching Daddyless Daughters last night and this scripture goes along with what they were saying about how we often times get into relationships with men that are broken and not prepared to meet our needs as husbands and fathers.  So, they run away or we do things to cling to them.  We end up losing them anyway and breaking ourselves in the process.  You can't change people.  That's God's job.  If something is crooked recognize that and keep it moving.

3-"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)  I always try to remember that everything that happens in my life has a purpose.  I may not know what that purpose is at first, but at the end of day it usually reveals itself.

4-"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.  For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.  But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to him up." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10) I know a lot of live by the saying "I can do bad all by myself," but we have to keep in mind that it's smarter to keep a friend that we can do good with.  Someone who will be our shoulder to cry on, a voice of reason or helping hand when we fall.

5-"Also do not take to heart everything people say,.." (Ecclesiastes 7:21) People talked about Jesus like a dog.  He didn't let that deter him from his purpose. So, don't let your nay sayers distract you from your purpose, your dreams, your goals, your family, your marriage, etc.  At the end of day God's say is the only one that matters.

6-"A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; but money answers everything." (Ecclesiastes 10:19)  Money makes the world go around.  Just make sure that you're using your money for good.  All money isn't good money and sometimes we're quick to spend our money in the wrong places.  We turn our head to the fact that some companies do some not-so-good practices and still give them our dollars.  It's easier to turn a blind eye than go out of your way to find another business to fill that need.

7-"Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave; its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame.  Many waters cannot quench love, not can the floods drown it.  If a man would give for love all wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised." (Song of Solomon 8:6-7)  It always baffles me when people who get divorced say they're divorcing because they fell out of love.  It makes me wonder if it was ever really love in the first place?  I'll be the first one to admit that there have been past boyfriends that I thought I loved on the degree you're suppose to love the person you want to marry.  And reflecting back on it now, I can see that I didn't love them to that degree at all.

Lust and butterflies got me caught up.  Clouded my mind.  I definitely believe that there are degrees to love.  Before we say I do we need to make sure that our love for our future spouse is stronger death.  Ask yourself if you're willing to give up your wealth for that other person?

Would have material things or could lose it all and still happy because you have your one true love?

Week 29 Readings

7/15: Isaiah 7-12

7/16: Isaiah 13-18

7/17: Isaiah 19-23

7/18: Isaiah 24-27

7/19: Isaiah 28-31

7/20: Isaiah 32-35

7/21: Isaiah 36-39

Bible 365: Week 26

I did it y'all!  I made it to the halfway mark of this Bible 365 Challenge.  I'm so proud of myself for not throwing in the towel.  I really feel like I've grown in my faith.  On a daily basis, I find myself just doing simple things that are making me a better person.  For example, I'm taking more deep breaths when I get frustrated with the kids or the Mr.  I don't just fly off the handle all the time.

I even find myself speaking and smiling more at strangers when I'm out and about.  You never know what people are going through.  That little smile or hello could be the first good thing that's happened to them in months, weeks or days besides waking up each morning.  Now without further ado, here are the seven things I learned in Week 26 below.

1-  "Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife." (Proverbs 17:1)  The Mr and I hit on this subject the other night.  We talked about how you have to be careful of who you let in your house.  Some times having a house full of people of all the time means you stay knee deep in drama.  Like the saying goes sometimes less is more.

2-  "A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment." (Proverbs 18:1)  I know people say that all we need is Jesus and I agree that ultimately that is true.  However, I often wonder if the reason the person saying it is saying it because they have a hard time getting along with others?  You see being a good Christian is all about being good with and to others.  You can't learn wisdom if you're never around wise people because you always want everything YOUR way.

3-  "Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction." (Proverbs 19:18)  Let's face it, all parents aren't good parents.  Yeah, I said it.  I've been around some ratchetness that were of the mindset that was 'my child is bad and he/she ain't never gonna be nothing.'  That kind of parenting just burns me up.  I want to shake that person and ask him/her why they didn't just give their child up for adoption? Kids don't come out knowing right from wrong.  We have to teach them and encourage them and help them when they stumble.

4-  "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise." (Proverbs 20:1)  I'm not knocking anybody who drinks because I sip a few times a year.  However, I just want to say that everybody doesn't have to be in the club or at home getting tipsy.  Ain't nothing cute about that.  It turns me off when I see person always posting on FB or Twitter about how tipsy or 'turnt up' they get.  Like why is that something to brag about?  I'm proud to say that I've never been drunk or hung over!

5-  "He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness and honor." (Proverbs 21:21)  Being around goody two shoes isn't always a bad thing!

6-  "Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul." (Proverbs 22:24-25)  Let go of those friends who are always behaving like an enemy in disguise.  I apply this to some family members too.  You can never be too careful of the company you keep.

7-  "He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord." (Proverbs 18:22)  Remember in Genesis, God said that it was not good for man to be alone.  So thankful that my husband found me and now has added favor in the sight of God!

Week 27 Readings

7/1: Proverbs 24

7/2: Proverbs 25

7/3: Proverbs 26

7/4: Proverbs 27

7/5: Proverbs 28

7/6: Proverbs 29

7/7: Proverbs 30

Bible 365: Week 25

I'm still chugging along with my Bible 365 Challenge.   I'm very proud of myself for making it this far.  And to those who have taken this journey with me, I'm proud of you too!  It's been nice to have to have the support.  Moving on, I'm sharing 7 things I learned below in Week 25.

1- "A wise makes a glad father, but a foolish son is the grief of his mother." (Proverbs 10:1)  Remember, when your parents warned you about hanging out with the wrong crowd?

2- "He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich." (Proverbs 10:4)  Next time you fix your mouth to complain about not having enough or not living your dream, ask yourself if you're being diligent enough in your efforts to obtain it?

3- "He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known." (Proverbs 10:9)  Bloggers, we definitely know a thing or two about integrity, especially in this age of sponsored posts and reviews.  Don't sell out for a quick buck!

4- "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins." (Proverbs 10:12)  Don't waste your life hating those who wronged you when you could be spreading love.

5- "In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise." (Proverbs 10:19)  Listen first, think, and then speak.  Words hurt just like a hit and can't be taken back!  Trust me I know from experience.

6- "The merciful man does good for his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh." (Proverbs 11:17)  Don't get so caught up worrying about if others are living right that you forget to check yourself.

7- "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise." (Proverbs 12:15)  We often use the excuse that everybody else is doing it to justify our wrongs, especially when it comes to lying, cheating and being rude but disguising it as 'keeping it real.'

What life dos and don'ts do you live by?

Week 26 Readings

6/24: Proverbs 17

6/25:  Proverbs 18

6/26:  Proverbs 19

6/27:  Proverbs 20

6/28:  Proverbs 21

6/29:  Proverbs 22

6/30:  Proverbs 23

Bible 365: Week 24

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).  With the Mr's surgery getting closer and closer, I am definitely putting ALL my trust in Him when it comes to how well things will go.  I'm not afraid to admit that my thoughts have been a bit tortured thinking about all the things that could possibly go wrong.  But because I'm putting my trust in God, I know that everything is going to be okay.  And even more comforting is that fact that my family, friends and you all are praying with us that all goes well and that nothing happens to my husband until he has his surgery.

We were talking the other day and he shared with me that while his condition isn't too serious, the doctor did warn him that lifting the wrong thing or moving the wrong way could land him in some serious trouble.  I think he waited to tell me because he knew I'd worry even more if I knew earlier.  But again I trust God to keep him safe.  Also, this week I've been practicing Proverbs 3:27.  It commands us "Do not withhold good from those to who it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so."

You see while this economy is rebuilding and getting better, there are still those in our communities who need help and support.  And to do my part in helping those families and persons out, I've been donating a lot of stuff over the past week to a local charity.  Some of the things were hard to part with like a few of JJ's first outfits and some of my maternity clothes.  They have great sentimental value for me, especially since my kiddies are no longer babies.  However, to hold on to all of those things when I know another family could benefit from them is a bit selfish and not practical considering we're pretty much out of space in our current rental.

I just made up my mind that once I placed something in the go pile, it stayed there.  And surprisingly when I went to drop off more stuff on Father's Day, I felt detached from it.  I felt happy that I was being a blessing to others.  I even took the kids with me.  Moo asked if we were giving the stuff to charity and I said yes.  "To help little kids like me and JJ?" she asked.  All I could do was nod and smile because she sounded so thrilled and excited at the thought of her being helpful to other kids her and her brother's age.

I'm so proud to know that I'm raising compassionate and caring children.  On a different note, I just want to say in closing be careful of the situations and people you allow and put into your life, especially your marriages and relationships.  Proverbs 6:27-28 says "Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be seared?"   I've said this before but when you let any- and every- thing into your life, you will reap what you sow.  So make sure you're sowing good seeds!

Week 25 Readings

6/17: Proverbs 10

6/18: Proverbs 11

6/19: Proverbs 12

6/20: Proverbs 13

6/21: Proverbs 14

6/22: Proverbs 15

6/23: Proverbs 16

Bible 365: Week 23

So, we officially wrapped up the book of Psalm and have started Proverbs.  I like to refer to Proverbs as the book of wisdom and pro righteous living.  I mean if you break Proverbs up it's a combination of the words pro and verbs.  And we all know that if you're pro something that means you're in favor of it and verbs are things that you can do physically.  Seriously, the book of Proverbs is going to give us pretty much the game plan for how we should be living our lives.

In fact, Proverbs 1:7 tells us that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."  I don't know about you all but I've met a few fools in the Christian community.  They think they know it all and they want to live their lives according to their own terms instead of God's.  They want to pick and choose what's a sin and what's not.  And honestly, I think it's because they don't have a healthy dose of fear of God.

I'm not saying I'm perfect because I'm not. However, I'm smart enough to know that I don't have all the answers.  Therefore, I listen and seek the advice of my elders and church leaders at time.  I also try my hardest to live my life as close to perfect as I can.  There are times that I still get angry and fly off the handle. However, you won't catch me out in these streets stealing, killing, cheating or lusting over what's not mine.

But the point is that I'm trying to perfect my issues that aren't pleasing to God, whereas a fool or foolish person could care less.  They just throw caution to wind and live life without morals or good standards.  And I think that we all know a few people who fit that bill.  

I also like Proverbs because to me it speaks to our youth and young adults.  They're getting on up there in age and getting grown.  Some of them are letting their heads get big and whatnot.  Proverbs 1:8-9 urges them to "...hear the instruction of your father; and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck."

I took these verses to heart.  When I lived under my mother's roof, I definitely obeyed her rules (laws).  And I am proud that I did because I maintained a good reputation.  Guys knew not to approach me with any games because I wasn't interested in sex, drugs or any of that other crazy stuff that can come with guys in high school.  I didn't run with the crowd of fast girls.  I kept my head the in books and went to church religiously.  I was teaching Sunday school and VBS, volunteering at nonprofits and participating in other character building activities.

Proverbs 1:18-19 warns about the side effects of greed saying, "But they lie in wait for their own blood.  They lurk secretly for their own lives.  So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners."  Yep, greed is one of those 7 Deadly Sins!  We hear of all these celebrities dying young and you can often times look back and see that they started going down hill when they started to get greedy and cocky with their fame.  This can happen to anyone.  You get a dose of something good and then you OD on it.

"How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?" asks Proverbs 1:22.  I think the reason being a Christian is so hard is that in all honestly God is not a simple a god.  He's complex.  He could have just created us and not given us any commandments, but He wanted to challenge us to be more.  The fact that He gave us the ability to create life through reproduction is proof that nothing about Him is simple.  If that were so, He would have just kept on creating adults like He did with Adam and Eve.  Instead, we get to watch and experience the different stages of life.

I just really hope that as we make our way through the book of Proverbs that you will seriously open your mind to the wisdom and instruction that is being given.  Don't take the simple way out but rise to God's challenge!

Week 24 Readings

6/10:  Proverbs 3

6/11:  Proverbs 4

6/12:  Proverbs 5

6/13  Proverbs 6

6/14:  Proverbs 7

6/15:  Proverbs 8

6/16:  Proverbs 9

Bible 365: Week 22

"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples! For His merciful kindness is great toward us.  And the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!"  Psalm 117 is the shortest Psalm in the Bible folks. It only has 2 verses.  As many times as I have read the book of Psalm, I never noticed this little fact.  Although short, Psalm 117 reminds us that we should give God thanks for all that He has done.

It reminds us that no matter what lies and foolishness we as men and women put into the word, the truth according to God will always reign supreme!  The longest Psalm is Psalm 119.  It has 176 verses!  When I first read the 119th Psalm as a teenager, I thought it was written by multiple people.  However, that's not the case.

Those strange symbols and words at the top of every 8 verses aren't names but are actually letters from the Hebrew alphabet and the word tells you how to pronounce it.  Learning something new every day with this Bible studying I tell you.  I really like the 119th because it's one big poem about how great God and His word is.  If you've never read the 119th Psalm, I suggest that you do so.

And while you're reading be sure highlight or right down any verses that stand out to you.  Then mediate on those verses daily.  You'll definitely notice that small things won't bother you as much.  You'll be too busy reminding yourself of how wonderful God is and thinking of all the great things He's done for us already!

Week 23 Readings

6/3: Psalms 130-134

6/4: Psalms 135-137

6/5: Psalms 138-140

6/6: Psalms 141-144

6/7: Psalms 145-150

6/8: Proverbs 1

6//9: Proverbs 2

Bible 365: Week 20

Almost to the halfway mark!  We're still in the book of Psalms. In week 20, we read Psalms about fellowship, praise and mercy.  I'm telling you, if you ever need to be lifted up, this is the book in the Bible to come to.  There's a Psalm for almost everything.  

"O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water," says Psalm 63:1.  This couldn't be more true for me.  Lately, I've been making the effort to get up early before the kiddies awake to do my Bible study.  I can focus better on what I'm reading and understand the word better also.

Never forget that God is awesome.  Psalm 66:5 reads, "Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men."   Many times we're so busy dwelling on the negative things that we forget just how wonderful God truly is.  I mean think about it.  He is pretty awesome.  He's the giver and creator of life.

He made the Earth in seven days.  Seriously, we give ourselves as humans too much credit.  The truth of the matter is that without God nothing would be possible.  We wouldn't even be alive!  And if that isn't enough, Psalm 68:5 tells us that "A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation."

And when we are in trouble He know our "foolishness; and my sins are not hidden from You" (Psalm 69:5).  Despite our faults and transgressions, He will still be there for us like He was for the Israelites.

Again, thank you to everyone who continues to support and read these Bible 365 posts!

Week 21 Readings

5/20: Psalms 85-89

5/21: Psalms 90-92

5/22: Psalms 93-95

5/23: Psalms 96-98

5/24: Psalms 99-101

5/25: Psalms 102-104

5/26: Psalms 105-106

Bible 365: Week 14

Well, we're making our way on through this Bible 365 and I'm still loving it.  The scriptures for Week 14 couldn't have come at better time.  As I continue to work my plan for The YUMMommy Project, I'm reminded of 2 Chronicles 19:11b.  It reads, "Behave courageously and the Lord will be with the good."

Starting this project is scary because it's hard to get others to believe in your cause as passionately as you do.  And while you'd think that it would be easy to get people to give, volunteer and more it's not.  We live in a somewhat selfish and self-centered world.  However, I will not be deterred.  I'm going to behave courageously and push forward.  I've seen a need and I don't want to be a bystander any longer.

"[F]or the battle is not yours, but God's" (2 Chronicles 20:15).  I know that I'm not the only who tries to fight battles that are beyond what I am capable of handling alone.  No matter how strong we think we are, there is always going to be an issue that requires a little supernatural help or miracle.  I've had to turn over a battle that I was trying to fight alone to God that has to do with an aspect of my personal life.

Worrying and frustration are not things that I'm convinced God wants us to feel.  If we let Him, He will work out our issues one way or another.  It may not always work out the way we want it to but it will always work out for our good!

When was the last time you did something bold or courageous?

Week 15 Readings

4/8:  Ezra 1-2

4/9:  Ezra 3-6

4/10:  Ezra 7-8

4/11:  Ezra 9-10

4/12:  Nehemiah 1-2

4/13:  Nehemiah 3-5

4/14:  Nehemiah 6-7

Thankful Thursday

This past weekend we celebrated my niece's 7th birthday down at my mom's.  Can't believe she's grown up in such a short amount of time.  She reads chapter books, uses big words correctly, is good at math and is pretty good at domestic stuff around the house.  I know some kids her age who can barely dress themselves. So, I am thankful that God has blessed me to be a part of her life and for making her such an intelligent young girl.

I am also thankful for the time I got to spend with my family.  We got to sort out some major issues and move on from some stuff.  And although there was a sour note towards the end with one of my siblings, I am thankful that I am learning not to let my family walk over me.  I have struggled with this for years because I love my family.  However, I am in a place where I love myself more and demand respect at all times!

I am thankful that God has been sending me signs.

  Lately, we have been stressing out about a few things.  But God reminded me that He is in charge and no mountain is too tall or heavy for Him to move.  I'm trusting and believing Him to help us resolve the situations.

I am thankful for the fact that Moo loves books and has such a great imagination.  That's rare in kids her age now days.  It warms my heart to see that I am doing something right.  I am thankful that JJ took a few steps unassisted yesterday.  I would have loved to have caught it on camera. I do hope it's not much longer until he is fully walking.

And while on the subject of JJ, I'm thankful that we are going 13 months strong with breastfeeding!  More on that later.

What are you thankful for?

Wordless Wednesday: But God

Saw this on the Faith Baby Facebook page and had to share it because God knows I needed this!