This time of year, I all most always write a post on Christmas. My family and I do not keep or celebrate Christmas so I love to share about that.
Over the years I have written many posts on Christmas, and they are here on my blog. So you can read them if you like.
This time I want to do something a little different and just share links to sites with information on Christmas, its origins and traditions. Very good info that we should all know.
Jim Staley with Truth or Tradition from Passion for Truth Ministries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEeBzIoQVS0
Christmas -- Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas
The true origin of Christmas -- The Real Truth
https://realtruth.org/articles/169-ttooc.html
You can find many more web-sites with information about Christmas on Goggle. Just put in origins of Christmas. But I will let you do that, this will be enough to get you started.
In Him,
Mae
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Our Rest Day
From time to time I love to post on here about our family's rest day. The day we use for rest and worship is a bit different I know from the day most people use. For that reason, it can come across as different or strange, but it is also very Biblical and very special, and that is why I like to talk about it so much. I should add that though it may be strange in our society, it is certainly not strange in the Bible.
Our rest day is on Saturday, the Seventh Day, which is called the Sabbath in the Bible. So I always just refer to Saturday as Sabbath. I know sometimes people are confused about what day I am talking about when I say Sabbath instead of Saturday, but I feel more comfortable using that word. It helps me keep the right perceptive of what the day really is.
So what makes the Sabbath day so special?
Well the first thing is that it's the day that God set aside for rest at the time of creation. In Genesis 2:1-3 we read, Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Wow, that is pretty awesome isn't?! He not only rested on that day from His work, but He also blessed and sanctified it. No other day do we see that He did that to.
Then later on He gave it as a commandment for His people in the book of Exodus chapter 20. Yes, it is one of the 10 commandments!
Exodus 20: 8-11. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Wow, now He hallowed the Sabbath day too! This day is getting even more special as we go along!! God knew we needed a rest day each week, and He set aside that one certain day, just for that purpose, just for us. Words can't describe how wonderful that makes me feel!
I know that it is often said that the Sabbath day was changed from the Seventh Day to first day of week ( Sunday ) in the New Testament by the disciples. But if you diligently search the New Testament on that, you will see that they did not change the day. There is much evidence that the 10 commandments still stand in the New Testament. For one, Jesus spoke on the commandments in the apostles, also the Sabbath is mentioned in Hebrews chapter 4: 1-11
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 19:17 And he said unto him,Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said unto him,Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it*, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
And if one was to give it much thought I think it would be easy to see that the disciples or any of the future followers of Christ did not have any authority from God to change the one of God's 10 Commandments. Even Jesus was here on earth going only about His Fathers business, and not bringing any of His own agenda or teachings. Jesus did not have his own commandments or separate teachings from God, but only spoke what God the Father gave for Him to say, and He kept His Father's commandments while here on the earth.
God's followers did not change the rest day in the New Testament, but it was changed through the years alright. It is a good thing to check into our history and see just where and when Sunday came in to being as the rest day instead of the day God created and gave to us. At the end of this post I will share some links for you to check out.
I can't imagine how could we possible want to substitute another day for the day that God sanctified, hallowed, blessed, and set aside just for us! Now that is very special!
It is my desire that all of God's followers would experience the joy and privilege of resting and worshiping on the Seventh Day. And it is happening more and more these days. I am happy to say that keeping of the Sabbath is getting a lot more common now.
Praying that this post has been a blessing to you. If you would like to read the other posts of mine that I have written through the years on the Sabbath, please feel free to look them up here on my blog and read them. And don't forget to check out the following links too.
In Him, Mae
These first four links are about the documentary, The Way. We saw this for the first time this fall. It is very good!
http://teshuvaministries.net/the-way-a-documentary/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaRcosUxn0c
https://www.facebook.com/thewaydocumentary/
https://www.thewaydoc.com/the-way-documentary-trailer/
Jim Staley -- Sabbath debate with Chris Rosebrough
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtzNcDU-h3M
Should Christians keep the Sabbath-- Jim Staley from Passion of Truth Ministries
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YJuEMUlYFY
Sabbath Truth
http://www.sabbathtruth.com/sabbath-history/how-the-sabbath-was-changed
I will leave you with a few additional verses.
Luke 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you
Exodus 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Deuteronomy4:40 Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, forever.
Deuteronomy 5:29 O that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!
Sunday, December 4, 2016
My Revised Psalms Book
I have good news! I have revised my Psalms book, Beautiful Psalms, and just today my son up-loaded it to Blurb, and then in a few days it will be available for sale on Amazon, as well as other places books are sold on-line. So that is exciting to me, and should be to you too!
When I first planned the Psalms book I felt it would be a really blessing to others, and would make a great gift for your self or that someone in your life who needs encouragement . But my first edition ended up with some mistakes, and photos that was not quite clear. So I have made the necessary corrections, added different pictures, and now feel satisfied that it truly will be something special. Of course with self publishing and doing all the editing on my own, you will have to bear with me if it still is not 100 percent perfect.
.
Here is the description on the back of the book.
An amazing collection of hand picked verses from the book of Psalms categorized into various topics, Beautiful Psalms, will be sure to inspire, uplift, and encourage you no matter what situation you are in, or what comes your way in life. Beautifully laid out and designed with great photography, as well as color coded sections, it contains topics such as God's Help, God's Mercy, God's Protection, and many more. Discover God's greatness and power, and feel the wondrous love, care, and compassion He has for you.
So in a few days you can browse Amazon.com for, Beautiful Psalms Revised Edition!
In Him, Mae
When I first planned the Psalms book I felt it would be a really blessing to others, and would make a great gift for your self or that someone in your life who needs encouragement . But my first edition ended up with some mistakes, and photos that was not quite clear. So I have made the necessary corrections, added different pictures, and now feel satisfied that it truly will be something special. Of course with self publishing and doing all the editing on my own, you will have to bear with me if it still is not 100 percent perfect.
.
Here is the description on the back of the book.
An amazing collection of hand picked verses from the book of Psalms categorized into various topics, Beautiful Psalms, will be sure to inspire, uplift, and encourage you no matter what situation you are in, or what comes your way in life. Beautifully laid out and designed with great photography, as well as color coded sections, it contains topics such as God's Help, God's Mercy, God's Protection, and many more. Discover God's greatness and power, and feel the wondrous love, care, and compassion He has for you.
So in a few days you can browse Amazon.com for, Beautiful Psalms Revised Edition!
In Him, Mae
Encouraging one another
On of my greatest passions is encouraging others in their walk with God. Whether its through my writings here on my blog, my web-site, my books, or in person, I want to encourage other moms in their walk with God as they raise and parent their children.
Raising a good Godly family in this world today is a tough job! We need all the encouragement we can get as moms. And we are instructed in His Word to encourage one another.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
We need to not only encourage one another spiritually though, but also in parenting, and in day to day issues that arise which we moms must face and deal with. And its a lot we deal with! I often feel like it would have been many times easier to have been a mother back in the days of Little House on the Prairie than it is today.
Sure we would not have all our modern conveniences that we have now, and our physical work would be harder as well as more hardships to contend with. But we wouldn't have issues to deal with like video games, T.V., movies, I-pods, internet, cell phones, and all the other must-have electronics, gadgets, and toys out there the kids these days have to have and almost all their friends have. Along with the immoral society in which we now live and are constantly bombarded with, and our struggle to keep their hearts and minds pure.
2 Corinthians 13:11 NIV Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
2 Timothy 4: 2 NIV Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
Hebrews 3:13 NIV But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
Also with these last days approaching, things will get worse yet, much worse in fact, for us believers and parents. We will be looked down up on, we will be targeted because we stand for the Word of God, and we will be persecuted for His name sake.
So we need to stand strong together as fellow believers and moms, and stand strong for each other. Stand up for what is right, for God's Word and Truth, stand up for families, and stand firmly against anything that is not wholesome and pure, and which goes against God. Hold your light high, and shine your light bright and bold for God that you may be a witness and encouragement to others.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Philippians 2: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Keep strong for God , do not be afraid to stand apart and stand out from the world as you parent your children for God! Make your standards and your rules in your home from the Word of God. You are God's chosen and special people, doing Bible things in Bible ways! You will be different form the world and will be hated by the world, but that is ok, your reward will be great in heaven! Even your own children will more and likely be upset at you from time to time for some of the choices and rules you make in your home, but as they come to love the Lord and desire to live for Him with all their hearts they will understand and be thankful for what you have done.
Keep doing that great and awesome job your doing!
In Him, Mae
P.S.There is nothing that means more to me than to know I have been a blessing and encouragement some how and some way to a fellow mom, even if it is in a small way. That is my passion! If you are reading this an have been encouraged or inspired, I would love to hear from you!
Raising a good Godly family in this world today is a tough job! We need all the encouragement we can get as moms. And we are instructed in His Word to encourage one another.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
We need to not only encourage one another spiritually though, but also in parenting, and in day to day issues that arise which we moms must face and deal with. And its a lot we deal with! I often feel like it would have been many times easier to have been a mother back in the days of Little House on the Prairie than it is today.
Sure we would not have all our modern conveniences that we have now, and our physical work would be harder as well as more hardships to contend with. But we wouldn't have issues to deal with like video games, T.V., movies, I-pods, internet, cell phones, and all the other must-have electronics, gadgets, and toys out there the kids these days have to have and almost all their friends have. Along with the immoral society in which we now live and are constantly bombarded with, and our struggle to keep their hearts and minds pure.
2 Corinthians 13:11 NIV Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
2 Timothy 4: 2 NIV Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
Hebrews 3:13 NIV But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
Also with these last days approaching, things will get worse yet, much worse in fact, for us believers and parents. We will be looked down up on, we will be targeted because we stand for the Word of God, and we will be persecuted for His name sake.
So we need to stand strong together as fellow believers and moms, and stand strong for each other. Stand up for what is right, for God's Word and Truth, stand up for families, and stand firmly against anything that is not wholesome and pure, and which goes against God. Hold your light high, and shine your light bright and bold for God that you may be a witness and encouragement to others.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Philippians 2: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Keep strong for God , do not be afraid to stand apart and stand out from the world as you parent your children for God! Make your standards and your rules in your home from the Word of God. You are God's chosen and special people, doing Bible things in Bible ways! You will be different form the world and will be hated by the world, but that is ok, your reward will be great in heaven! Even your own children will more and likely be upset at you from time to time for some of the choices and rules you make in your home, but as they come to love the Lord and desire to live for Him with all their hearts they will understand and be thankful for what you have done.
Keep doing that great and awesome job your doing!
In Him, Mae
P.S.There is nothing that means more to me than to know I have been a blessing and encouragement some how and some way to a fellow mom, even if it is in a small way. That is my passion! If you are reading this an have been encouraged or inspired, I would love to hear from you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)