Brr, it has been cold out today! It's soo nice to have a warm wood-stove fire in the barn though, to be able to go there and warm up! Gabriel and Sunny are enjoying the heat too, I think. It's a lot better to be in there than to be outside where it's so cold with the wind blowing!

Megan and I were examining my braces / aligners earlier today, checking out the very first set I ever had and comparing them with the set I have in now.. and my, what a difference! It's kind of weird to see what my teeth looked like before, by looking at little plastic molds of them. In cold weather I kind of like having my braces, as it shields my (sensitive) teeth from the cold wind and air!

Oh, I finished reading Worth Dying For.. I thought it was a good book, though I didn't agree with the numerous references to a "sinful nature", otherwise it was a very good book to read. Next book to read on my list is Deliver the Ransom Alone by Verda J. Glick.

I thought ya'll might enjoy getting to see one of my new Scripture wallpapers. Since I've had TWF, I don't seem to post them here as much. I'll try to do that more often. Oh yes, and if anyone wants a custom wallpaper or blog tag done, please do request it. I enjoy doing requests!

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever.

- Hebrews 13:8

I've been thinking a lot lately on simplicity. The simplicity of Christ, the Word of God, and things such like. How truly simple everything is if you step back from the big theological explanations that try to explain away the Word and just read the Scriptures.

In the Scriptures, there is one of two sides that you can be on ~ God's, or Satan's. You cannot serve both at the same time (Matt. 6:24 & Luke 16:13), so you either have to be on one side or the other. Knowing that, it simplifies everything a LOT!

Everything in this life is either on one of these sides or the other. There are no gray areas. If you're not for God, you're against Him and on the side of Satan, as a servant of sin (Romans 6:16). Likewise, if you are for God and obeying His Word and His commands, then you are on His side and against Satan and SIN.

It is so simple; good or bad, light or darkness, righteousness or unrighteousness, God or Satan, bright or dark, right or wrong, on or off. Everything… everything, is either on one side, or the other. You cannot be a Christian (Christ-like) and still be the servant of sin (1 John 3:8-10), nor can you serve the devil and obey God at the same time. The Scriptures are clear; this is NOT possible!

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3)

If we keep everything simple and plain, as it was meant to be, then even a child can understand it (and even Christ said we must become as little children in order to enter into the kingdom…[Matthew 18:3]). Let's not be drawn away from the simplicity of Christ! Let's keep everything simple, plain, and clear.

If something is not supported in the Scriptures, or is spoken against in that precious Bible, then it is obviously of the devil. We must try every spirit.. why? to see if it is of God. How are we to do so? By using the sword of the Lord, the Word of God.

Let us be careful that we are not drawn away (corrupted) by long, lengthy explanations (subtilty) that explain away the clear meaning of Scripture, by using everything else but the simplicity of Christ. Remember, everything in this world is on one of those sides or the other… Christ's or Satan's, good or evil, right or wrong, light or darkness, righteousness or unrighteousness, on or off, black or white, etc.

Let's keep everything in the simplicity of Christ!

The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: [1 Cor. 7:34]

This verse has been on my mind a lot lately. Those of us young women who are unmarried do not have an obligation to please a husband, therefore our focus ought to be on the things of the Lord, pleasing Him and obeying Him in all things.

We should care for the things of our Lord ~ nothing else should be important. Is what we are doing pleasing to God? Is what we are reading pleasing to Him? Are we wearing modest apparel out of love and obedience to Jesus?

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Are we covering our heads in submission to the Lord and His headship order as we pray or prophesy? Is what we are putting before our eyes (movies, television, entertainment, etc) honoring Him and edifying us? Are we denying ungodliness and worldly lusts?

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Are we striving to be holy in both body and spirit? Pure, and blameless? We should not care for the things of this world ~ money (the love of which is the root of all evil), entertainment, fancy or fashionable clothes, things that appease and emphasize "self" or other pleasures this world has to offer. We should be seeking only to please our Lord and Saviour… who came to save His people from their sin.

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

We need to be studying the Word of God, hiding His words in our hearts, that we might not sin against Him. Our focus should be on the things of the Lord, not on the things of this earth, which will pass away.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: [.....] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Though we still must honor, obey, and respect our earthly parents, we have a Higher Authority to which we have to answer to for our obedience to His word. "Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe!"

Let us care for the things of the Lord, as we ought, and strive to be holy in both body and spirit!

I was thinking last week of the many people I've encountered that call themselves Christians yet won't obey the commands that the Lord has given in Scripture, though they know they're there, they come up with tons of excuses as to why they shouldn't have to do it.. Many that say they're not called to obey this or that, or it isn't their conviction to do it, or even the "I'm under Grace, I don't have to obey!" type of responses.

So, with all that in mind, I wrote this poem entitled "What Will You Say?". On Judgment Day, will you say to the Lord that you weren't called to obey this or that or it wasn't your conviction? Will you tell Him that you were under Grace and didn't have to obey?

What Will You Say?

Why is it Christians think today,
that they aren't required to obey?
They say "I'm not called" or "It's not my conviction",
but giving things up would cause too much friction.

There are few who heed the Saviour's call,
to repent, forsake, and surrender all.
Why is that, I ask today,
because 'tis hard ~ that narrow way.

We all are called to bear our cross,
if we would follow Him.
Denying ourselves is part of our cross,
that we must bear for Him.

On Judgment Day, what will you say
to the One who died for you?
Or more importantly, on that day,
what will He say to you?

Will He say,
Depart from me
ye that work iniquity?
(For iniquity is sin.)

Or will He say,
Well done,
thou faithful one:
You may enter in?

Are you striving to be obedient,
to God's Holy Word?
The King James Bible, for 'tis the one
through which God's voice is heard.

So now I urge you to take up your cross,
denying self and sin:
to hearken unto the Lord's call,
so that you may enter in.

Else on Judgment Day, what will you say
to the One who died for you?
Or more importantly, on that day,
what will He say to you?

~ Lacy Self  -  April 2009

Yikes! I kind of forgot to post it this morning, due to the fact that we cleaned the house this morning because Aunt Linda was coming over (she's here now!). So I just now remembered I was supposed to post this!

Who Am I?

1. I was a very rich publican who wished to see Jesus.
2. One day while Jesus was riding to Jerusalem, I made my supreme effort.

Think you can guess it?

Since I didn't post a What Am I today, due to the fact that I wasn't here to post it, I thought I would share the first chapter of Doreen's Jewel Box (from Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories volume 5-8) in it's place. I hope you enjoy it! What do you think Doreen will get for her 10th birthday?

Doreen's Jewel Box

Chapter 1 — Five Minutes To Ten

Just one more week, and it would be Doreen's birthday. To think of it! She would be ten years old. Mamma said she was just "five minutes to ten."

Doreen felt she was now quite grown up, and that it was time she had some grown-up presents. Indeed, she was not at all backward in saying out loud what she was expecting.
"You see, Mamma," she would say, "my tricycle is much to small for me now, and I really ought to have a small lady's bicycle."
Then a little later, "Mamma, when I'm ten I think I should have a doll's house big enough to get inside; you know, the kind you open at the front, with real stairs and fireplaces and electric light."
And then, "Oh, yes, Mamma, and I simply must have a new outfit of clothes for my big doll — all silk this time."

To all of which mamma listened patiently, explaining that she really hadn't any money this year, and that it took all she had to buy food and clothes for the family.
But Doreen didn't seem to hear.

"You know, Mamma," she went on, "when I'm ten I should like a pretty jewel case with some pearls in it."
"Whatever next!" exclaimed mamma, looking up from her knitting. "Whoever put that idea into your little head?"
"Well, Kittie Naylor's got a whole string of pearls she wears at parties, and the big people wear them, and princesses."
"But it isn't the jewels that make people princesses," said mother. "And as for Kittie Naylor's pearls, they are made of paste."
"Then they can't cost very much," said Doreen.
"That may be," said mamma, "but my little girl surely does not want to go about wearing a sham. There's nothing makes a girl look so cheap as imitation jewelry."
"Well, then, can't I have a string of real pearls?"

"My dear Doreen! They would cost more than everything in this house. Pearls are very expensive. But apart from the expense, people who really love Jesus do not wear pearls."
"Why not?"
"Because the Bible tells us not to." 1 Timothy 2:9
"Oh dear!" sighed Doreen. "It seems as if I can't have anything now. I wish I weren't going to have a birthday at all."
"Oh, don't say that," said mamma. "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if something would turn up between now and then."
"My new cycle?" cried Doreen eagerly.
"I don't think it could be that," said mamma. "It would cost too much. But, let me see, if you are very anxious for a jewel box, I might talk with your daddy about that."
"Oh, do!" exclaimed Doreen. "I should love one so much."
"Well, we'll see," said mamma with a smile.