A mom of 3 children, we are a family of five including dad. I am a homeschooler and also a mainstream school mom. I like camping, fishing, skiing, watching my kids play sports. I like a cup of coffee (tasters choice preferably). I have been saved for 14 years living a life free from sin and heard the truth at the Church of God in Carmichael. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:33:00 -0600 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:33:00 -0600 Our Tuesday night BST class, Bro. Richard brough about "faith". It helped me alot. When we are going through strange things they seem to throw us,  hard trials etc., it can be hard to have faith. But like brother Richard said, it is natural to take a step back, draw back (not to sin), but probably to be taken back. You question why God, David did the same thing. Job probably felt that way also. We search for answers and understanding, but seem to find none. Seems like God, why aren't you showing me or answering me. But what was brought was "what understanding we need is to have our faith in God". We may not understand, we may be inquisitive,all these are natural, human things, but to keep faith in God as we go through it. That was good! In Heb. 11:1-3 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed. We dont know all the why's, when's etc., but by faith we believe God that, that was the way it is.  Job 28:1 -4 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where was thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou has understanding. We dont have understanding. Just like in our trials, sometimes we dont have understanding, but God knows. Jobs faith was ultimately in God. He trusted in "He knoweth the way that I take". He knows the way, I dont understand, but He knows.  In the end Job handled somethings well and not somethings, which was encouraging. It was brought, we have to excercise our faith or we will loose it. We have to be careful in the midst of the trials, about how, when and why? Our faith ultimately has to be in God. Brother Richard said when he was going through one of his trials, that what he had expected didnt turn out just as he thought it would, but God brought him through. I guess we have to be careful with our expectations also.  Faith is more than your expecation and hope, but when those things are dashed, your faith will carry you through (brought by Bro. Richard). Faith either gets weaker or stronger. How we take things that happen to us in life, how things affect us. Everything around us can increase our faith. Either we're going to increase or decrease. It can cause us to dig in deep or not.  We need to grow in faith no matter what tests our faith. Our faith gets tested, difficulties come, our reaction is to question. He wants us to obtain greater faith. When people wane in faith it can put us in a position to sin. Sometimes our understanding can be wrong. Job believed God that He created the world. He was tested in all that he expected and hoped for, but he still stayed true. David wrote many of his psalms during times of trials and difficulties. I sure appreciate the good messages that God gives to those who are laboring and willing to be used that way. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/645413/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:33:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/645413/ One more entry I wanted to added and it was so good, was when he said "Jesus came in the flesh, that he proved that thru the power within, we can live as He did (overcomers). I was like wow! He overcame in the flesh everything that was brought, said, felt, went through, He overcame. Leaving us that example that if He could, because of the power within us and his help we can too. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/645397/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:22:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/645397/ Had a wonderful revival! Brother Chancellor came and preached. God just blessed him with what was needed and it was so encouraging. One of the things that stood out to me and I kind of got more understanding, was when the choir sang "Lead me Lord".  When I was newly saved, being zealous for the Lord, you want the Lord to lead you and you think in bigs ways. But now as I have grown (praise God) it meant to me being lead in his ways.  Everyday life. Lead me Lord in the direction(s) you want me to go. It was really good. A message on being slow to anger, which was sooo good for me. Being able to control our spirit.  He said " the tongue is a good measure as to how we rule our spirit". James 3:1-10 The message of grace! What a wonderful clear message. Grace being receiving what we didn't deserve, unmerited divine assistance. Wow, praise God! That he gives and does help in every situation.  Mercy, the law helped us to know we deserved punishment because we were sinners. Back in Moses time, mercy, compassion/forbearance, when justice is deserved. Every year they would present their offereing and God would forgive them, but every year they would have to do the same, when now we are under grace, we dont have to do that. Its once and then living free.  Titus 2:11-12 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. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/645394/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:00:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/645394/ Sometimes trials come just like waves at the ocean. They just keep coming and coming, but the Lord who is our captain, keeps us sailing and in the right direction if we let him.  The Lord reminded me this morning of a song "how he healed their dread diseases and He's just the same today". The Lord can and will heal Sierra. When, I dont know, but He is just the same today. Praise God. He sends songs in the midst of the storms, He is sooo good!!! Praise the Lord. We have to just step on the enemies head.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/618755/ Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:27:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/618755/ When reading this morning in 1Chron. 17. David wanted to build God a house.  But the Lord came to Nathan and told him to tell David not to do that. And when David heard it, he said "who am I". "Who am I", that the Lord would give me such a good life. "who am I', that He would give me all that I have. "who am I', puts things in perspective. We don't own anything that is not His, have anything that is not His. From the trials to the joys, its all His. The Lord told Nathan to tell David, "I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel". "I have been with thee whithosoever thou has walked and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the  earth." Thats what He's done for us. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/605091/ Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:02:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/605091/ From "Winning a Crown" Keeping your eyes on the trial: The trouble is that when people get to viewing their trials, they keep looking at their trials and not looking to God.  They do not look at the promises.  They forget all about them.  And so the more they fear, the more troubled they become.  There are a thousand promises that apply to your case, thousands that meet your daily need. Unbelief: We need to believe the promises of God.  They are true for us whether we believe them or not, but they do not become effective for us until we believe them.  Unbelief will cloud your whole sky and shutout the sunlight.  It is Satan's strongest suggestion.  Believe that God is true and that God is true to you. Struggling to escape them: The only safe way is to submit to God and let him bring us through in the way that he sees fit.  He knows the best way.  He knows just what we can endure.  He knows just what is needed.  He sees the end from the beginning.  He knows how we are going to get through it.  He knows what the outcome will be and what a blessing he has in store for us at the end of the trial.  But if we try and get out of it without passing through, we are sure to miss the blessing http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/603999/ Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:13:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/603999/ 1Pet 1:7 "That the trial of our faith much more precious than the gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire." A gold digger gets his eyes on the gold and not on the obstacles that lie ahead of him.  We too need to get our eyes on the gold.  There is gold in every trial.  Get our eyes off the trial, look beyond to the gold.  Keep your mind and your heart set upon the gold, and you will find that you can face the trial a great deal easier than if you saw nothing beyond it.  The gold of Christian character comes only through stress and storm. Results: God always works out something worth while from our trials if we are true in them.  He does not try us merely to by trying us.  He has a definite purpose.  God humbles us and tries us just to do us good later.    http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/603995/ Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:08:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/603995/   "who feed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, to do thee good  at thy latter end". (Deut. 8:16) Job knew the good that was going to come out of his trial, and he said, "He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold". Trials may come (afflictions, men may ride over our heads, we may go through fire and water), but the outcome of it will be that we shall come out into a wealthy place. Then we can say "Oh bless our God". http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/602826/ Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:53:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/602826/ Well the kids went back to school this last week. Things are going well so far thank the Lord. JT had a situation with a teacher and I prayed what the Lord would have here and she is no longer his teacher. Amazing, PRAYER! God is sooo good. JT made the flag football team, he is quarterback.  we are still waiting for today to hear of the last postings for Carina's volleyball. She made the first cut. Sierra started up in auburn monday and will continue going some of the days during the week. Kids are fun, challenging, sometimes tiring, sometimes enjoyable. Bro. Goble celebrated his 50th birthday yesterday at BST. Had cake and ice cream. My children went and so did Devyn. Looking forward to the upcoming Fellowship Meeting. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/580944/ Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:51:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/580944/ Well we are back and it is good to be back. It was nice up there. I hopefully will have some pictures to put up here as soon I know how to do that. Lake Siskyou is very pretty. You can see Mt. Shasta when you are at the lake. Sure is pretty. We kayaked, fished, played Washoes, rode the Polaris, went on a boat that looks like a pontoon. The kids swam, had a scavenger hunt, and drove the Polaris on some logging trails. We are thankful for the prayers and sure appreciate mostly to be able to come home and know that we will soon gather with Gods people. What a blessing, to be with Spirit of God. No place like it!!! In my devotions I read this and it is so sweet! Is. 33:14-24 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burning? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers? Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand. Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and steams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey. And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity. How beautiful Zion is. Where Gods spirit dwells and his people. How sweet to be there. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/573062/ Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:09:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jrfam5/573062/