I am posting here at HSB again. Most of the same posts will also be posted at my blogspot blog: Sunydazy Days. The reason I am posting at both is because I will be putting fewer pictures and heavy graphic items at this blog for my family and friends who have dial-up internet or older computers. Hope this helps a little! 
This morning held a special treat for the littles at our house. I heard all kinds of exclaiming! “Mommy! mommy! wook! wook! Mommy come see the CHICKENS! ” I peeked out the curtain and saw 2 guinea hens. (the neighbors birds like to go visiting on occasion) I explained to the children that these are not chickens but guinea hens and I showed them a picture in the encyclopedia. I told them what they like to eat and how people use them like “watch dogs” sometimes.
After a little while, Doodlebug said “chickens!” and her sister announced “NO, no! Chickens all gone…gindedenel sens!” (Which translated means “no those are not chickens they are guinea hens”). It’s amazing how much little ones can learn, even if they seem too young and can barely talk. They learn more than we realize.
This morning made me smile. I love to homeschool!
I have been pondering some thoughts about anger, sin, forgiveness and remorse.
It comes to me that God in His great power still allows us to make choices…knowing that we will often make poor ones. Does that cancel His love for us? No. It gives Him an opportunity to show us His love and His restoration. We will always be battling with this old world and our flesh will pull us toward sin. Our goal then should be to exercise our Spirit man. Become stronger. When we fall we need to get up and dust ourselves off and get back in the game.
I remember when I was about 3 years old and my parents took me to my first football game. It was a high school game…I think!
Anyway, having never seen this game in person I was captivated. I still remember being very concerned about those poor young men who kept falling down, but my parents made it clear to me that was part of the game. So in an effort to make myself part of the cheering crowd I shouted to the players: “It’s okay! Get up boy and brush yourself off!” These words of great wisdom were pulled from my vast knowledge of falling down and having my own mother encourage me to get up and not cry.
Sometimes we do things we regret. Sometimes we sin with our words. Sometimes we sin with our actions. Sometimes we think it our own job to defend ourselves instead of letting God be our shelter and lash out at those who have hurt us in some way. Sometimes we simply do silly, selfish things. The simple fact is, we are humans who must get up and brush ourselves off daily. We WILL fall down. The key to victory is getting back up and playing with the team again.
The Power of God’s Love and Mercy
Due to mankind’s sin man deserves to die. Why? The wages of sin is death. No sacrifice could earn His pardon. So, Mankind was doomed. Because of His love and mercy He makes the sacrifice!A. In God’s Mercy we are rescued from our dilemma, for the Gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
B. We see that Christ died for our sins in 1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
C. When we confess our sins and commit our life to Christ, we are forgiven, cleansed, and renewed in God’s love. 1 John 1:9.
Point 3. Gods Mercy Endures – Romans 11:30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience,31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy.32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.
A. God’s mercy is enduring: not just a day, not just a week, not just a month or year but forever. The future of every relationship is decided by mercy. “Mercy is a seed that is to be sown”
B. No sin is too great, no burden is too heavy, no valley too deep, no suffering too severe, no night to long for God not to reach out to you. God’s mercy offers deliverance, healing and restoration.
C. Jesus bore our sickness and disease at the same time He bore our sins. Matthew 8:16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”
Point 4. God’s Mercy provided salvation – Salvation means to be born again.
A. How? Romans 10: 9-13
B. It’s deliverance from the power and effects of sin and the curse.
C. 1Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ!
God’s Mercy Defeated Satan in the upper room:
In the upper room, Satan witnessed the result of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.Exhibit 1. He had slain Jesus to annihilate him; Instead, He was resurrected and his death gave birth to a new race.
Exhibit 2. He saw men and women rescued and recreated.
Exhibit 3. He saw their sins removed and blotted out.
Exhibit 4. He saw the power that cast him out of heaven enter men by the Holy Spirit.
Exhibit 5. He became aware of the fact that the recreated people would have power over him and his kingdom.
Exhibit 6. He saw that these recreated people would now have the power to lay hands on the sick and they would recover.
Exhibit 7. He saw the slaves shaking of their chains and being made free.
Exhibit 8. He saw God give men the measure of faith so that others would be snatched from his authority.
Exhibit 9. He saw the fear and doubt he had enthroned in men’s hearts being replaced by faith, love and freedom to excel in life.
Exhibit 10. He saw men become Kings.
Today! is your day to receive the goodness and mercy of God that delivers and sets free all who receive it! Regardless of your past or present condition God loves you!
Nehemiah 9:17 (NKJV) They refused to obey, And they were not mindful of Your wonders That You did among them. But they hardened their necks, And in their rebellion They appointed a leader To return to their bondage. But You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness, And did not forsake them. Ps. 136:26 and Pr. 3:3
Most people don’t comprehend the Love and Mercy of God which makes Him stand out from other gods. There is none like Him!
Hebrew uses several words for ‘mercy,’ in Hebrew chesed, which means loving-kindness, mercy, love, loyalty, and faithfulness. Another Hebrew word and the Greek word for mercy in the NT refer to the emotion aroused by contact with undeserved suffering, that is, compassion and a deeply felt love for a fellow human being. In the OT mercy/loving-kindness is associated with the covenant obligation between God and mankind.
David in Psalm 25:6 Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they are from of old.
Point 1. His Mercy Always Motivates – Psalm 103: 1 A Psalm Of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.A. There is a lot of injustice and inequality in the world today and greed and inconsideration has crowded out liberty and justice.
B. God binds himself to fidelity to the covenant by mercy and by grace (another Hebrew word used to mean mercy). So then we have no reason not to be faithful to the Covenant with God.
C. God’s mercy motivated Christ to come to earth to bring a pardon and purpose to all mankind. Galatians 2:20 (NKJV) I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
We must be motivated by God’s mercy to lift up the fallen, love the unloved and introduce to everyone the abundant life through Christ Jesus. Ps. 108:4
Point 2. His Mercy redeems – Titus 3:5-7
Sunday smiles to you!
I am sorry I went AWOL.
I was sick for about a week and then Ladybug and Doodlebug were sick for a few days and then I spent several days getting ready for Osprey to come home on Spring Break!
We cleaned out the extra room for two of Osprey’s friends and Rivergirl and Amanda (my several-times-per-week helper) made cheese cake.
He was able to ride with three friends from college and arrived home Friday evening. His friends spent the night here so they could get a fresh start on Saturday morning. They still had 10 hours to go..bless their hearts!
Friday night we had a fun time eating pizza and talking. They were also kind enough to play music for us! It really was one of the happier times of my life! The three visitors were all polite and charming and played with, held, sang to, and read to my littles. We heard a sweet version of Jesus Loves Me in piano, saxophone and guitar. They have officially earned a place in this mama’s heart!
I probably won’t be posting very much this week since Osprey is here. I’ll be spending a lot of time with him. But I’ll try to tell all about our week eventually.
This afternoon we are scheduled to go get his senior portraits taken in a neighboring town. He’s dreading it a little (too much fussing and ordering about) and I’m really looking forward to it.
have a sunny day!
Here we go…headed into the weekend again!
Since I do my grocery shopping on Thursday’s I am usually ready for hubby’s request for food on Friday mornings. This morning I baked some biscuits and cooked some eggs with cheese on top to make biscuit sandwiches.
His lunch and coffee were ready. The children kissed him and we waved him off to work with smiles.
Ahhh! I love it when a plan comes together!
Yesterday was grocery day. I admit that grocery shopping is not a favorite activity of mine. I have read some blogs where they give the feeling that if they had no other obligations in life they would stand around in the grocery aisles calculating their savings until they were forced to go home and sleep.
I have no such desire. Don’t get me wrong. I love to help my husband save money. l love to feed my family. I love to plan my menus. I just don’t relish the time spent in the grocery store; especially if I have to go to Stuff Mart for some reason. When I emerge from Stuff Mart I feel like a mole coming out of the ground. My eyes hurt in the sunlight and I have to squint and scurry to the car. My brain gets on some sort of short circuit where I can’t hear anything but loud white noise…the mix of unpleasant music, babies crying, registers clicking and hundreds of people talking. I also feel like I’ve been gone from regular society for an unknown amount of time. Like a time traveler that no one knows was gone. The crackling noise in my head has to die down before I can understand normal people talking again. It’s very disconcerting to be on the sidewalk in front of the mammoth store that just stole a large chunk of my life and then have my phone ring….
Ring!
Me: Uh, Uhm…He..He…Heellllooo?
Daughter: Mom, when are you coming home? I mean, I hope you aren’t coming home yet. I’m having fun doing crafts and I don’t want to clean it up yet. The babies took their diapers off and broke some stuff….but it’s fine…” Her voice trails off.
I try to answer with English but my mind is running on some kind of holding pattern and it takes a few words to get into gear.
Me: “Uhhh… I just… coming… out store… I can’t…uhhhmmm… remember where I parked…. How long have I been gone anyway?”
It usually takes me 15 minutes or so to shake the side effects.
I am very pleased to say, however, that yesterday I did not have to visit Stuff Mart! I went to Kroger, which is a notch or 2 better. They were having one of their regularly scheduled 10 for 10 sales. I can do those. I can stock up on essentials and basics while the prices are low. In fact I absolutely love to do that. I have shopped for this family for more than 19 years. So I pretty much know what we need, I use a list to remind me of what is on the menu but for essentials I already know the list in my head. Yesterday, my cart was loaded with bags of onions (3 lbs for a dollar isn’t too bad) and other basics. You gotta watch those sales though! They try to trick you into buying something for a dollar a can -just because it has a bright yellow sticker declaring 10 FOR 10 DOLLARS-!!!…when the brand right next to it is only 75 cents per can at regular price!
I made it out of there with all the groceries for this week plus lots of stuff for the coming month and I spent less than my budgeted grocery amount! Hurray! That means I have a teensy bit of money to use on something else. Like, add to my envelope of savings for a few new school books that I hope to purchase.
Late last night Osprey called. He has to call late because he’s so busy right now that he has no other time slots available….I remember being young…
Anyway, we were up late talking about stuff…you know…plans for life and next year –college? no college? …jobs, classes and grades and also, he’s planning to go on a school organized mission trip to Peru this summer for which he has to raise his own support. I’m just getting used to him being in another state and now he wants to go out of the country for more than a month …somebody help me breathe…my baby isn’t a baby anymore…
La Kooka Rancha