Beyond The Red Door

Welcome to our family's blogging home - where I share life beyond our red door! I hope that you will enjoy your visit with us.

Today's Verse

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Things That Make Me Smile

Seeing the kids reading their Bibles on their own
Hearing the ocean
Smelling a cake baking
Remembering our wedding day
Singing in the church choir
Shopping for my family
Feeling good
Reading in the tub
A quiet house
Watching a funny movie with the kids
Seeing my kids playing a game together
Ron's little finger dance
Hearing my kids being excited about church
Watching Ron play with Faith (our dog)
Hearing Ron snoring beside me after he has been gone on a long trip
Chatting with special friends
Feeling hot sand under my feet on a beach somewhere
Game night with Brian & Kim and kids
Spending one on one time with Kim
Double Dating With Brian and Kim
A clean house
Sitting on my front porch in my new rockers
Walking on a cool evening with my family
Losing weight
Seeing my kids make a great play on the soccer field

About The Hunters

My dear sweet hubby, Ron, and I have been married for 20+ years. We began dating during my freshman year at Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville. He is my college sweetheart. We have ministered together in various ministries during our lives together. We pastored for 10 years in Florida. We moved to TN in 2000 to Co-Pastor with some friends of ours. The Lord has given me a fabulous provider whom I love more than any words I write could ever express. He is now the CEO at our denomination's publishing company, Randall House Publications. I am honored to support him.

Our oldest child is named Michael. He is now officially a teenager, although I don't think I'm old enough to have a teenager. He is a very sweet and considerate young man. He is my thinker and my reader. He absorbs every piece of new information that he comes across. He loves playing soccer, riding his bike, skateboarding, reading, watching the History Channel, the Military Channel, ESPN and any documentary on TV. I am privileged to be his Mother.

Lauren is our youngest child. She is just 15 months behind her brother in age. She is wise beyond her years. She has a sharp-witted tongue (which sometimes has to be tamed), a quick sense of humor and a heart for people and animals. She loves organizing anything and everything. She loves being with her friends, singing, talking on her cell phone and playing soccer. I am blessed to be her Mother.

Just the knowledge that a good book is awaiting one at the end of a long day makes that day happier. - Kathleen Norris

On My Nightstand

When I Lay My Isaac Down by Carol Kent
Esther: It's Tough Being A Woman by Beth Moore
NIV Life Application Study Bible

Back On The Bookshelf 2009

~Beyond The Red Door~

Sep. 14, 2009
How Many Do You Own?

Posted in Studying The Word

A mom. A Bible study leader. A happy person. A mad person. A happily married wife. A Christian. A perfect parent. A best friend. A well-adjusted adult. An authoritarian. A member of a happy and healthy family. A humble wife/mom/child. A good loser. A person in control. A person who cares. A healthy person - physically, mentally and/or emotionally.

What do all of these have in common? They are all masks that we all wear at some point in our lives - sometimes daily. There are times that we feel like we must appear to be something we are not. And, honestly, how many of us really want to know the truth about what someone else is feeling deep in their hearts? It is much easier to lie to those around us as well as to ourselves about who/what we really are. Noone wants to truly believe that our Bible study leader is battling something within themselves or in their home that is not perfect. We all want to appear perfect not only to those around us but also to ourselves. The truth is so much more difficult to deal with than the lies that we attempt to convince everyone else is the truth. I'm convinced that we don't really want to know the truth because then we would have to take a little more time away from ourselves in order to address that other person's need.

Noone is perfect! No matter how much we want to believe it about others. No matter how much we want to believe it about ourselves. The Word tells us to bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6). By pretending that one another is perfect and has no burdens does not get us off the hook. One line that I quote a lot - especially lately in my weight loss journey - is that ignorance is bliss. In all acutality deliberate ignorance is NOT bliss, it is a sin. By pretending those around us do not have any burdens we are refusing to be obedient to the instruction we are given in Galatians 6. James comes down hard in 4:17 when he says "anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins". OUCH! When we know that the mask our friend has on is just that, a mask, we ignore the pain we know they are feeling. When we ignore their pain we not only hurt them but also ourselves.

So, while it may be easier to put on the mask of perfection in the morning we really aren't doing ourselves any favors. And while it may be easier to choose to see the mask of perfection someone else has put on we really aren't doing THEM any favors either. Noone is perfect. Who are we trying to fool into thinking that we are?

So, I wonder, how many masks do you own?

**Share Your Thoughts!**

Sep. 14, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Faith J.