What do you think of religion?

So, I am not good at putting my thoughts into words, but when I read something that I totally agree with that I have never been able to express, I just find it easier to use others words. So I was reading a book, that I gave to my Grandfather for Christmas in 1998, and the author,Girzone, has this to say about religion:

"God never intended that religion become what it is today. Jesus came to earth to try to free people from that kind of regimented religion where people are threatened if they don't obey rules and rituals invented by the clergy. Jesus came to teach people that they are God's children and as God's children, they are free, free to grow as human beings, to become beautiful people as God intended. That can't be legislated. Jesus gave the apostles and the community as a support to provide help and guidance and consolation. Jesus did not envision bosses in the worldly sense. He wanted his apostles to guide and serve, not to dictate and legislate like those who govern this world. Unfortunately, religious leaders model themselves after civil governments and treat people accordingly. In doing this they fall into the same trap that the scribes and Pharisees fell into, making religion a tangible set of measurable religious observances, which is legalistic and superficial. In doing this they become the focus of religious observance rather than God, and it is their endless rules and their ritual rather than love of God and concern for others that occupy the people's attention."

"Customs and practices and traditions then replace true service of God, and these become a serious obstacle to real growth in the love of God. If people take religious leaders too seriously, they become rigid in their thinking and afraid to think for themselves, and must always refer decisions to the clergy. Even as adults they will still cling to the religious practices of their childhood, and when even ceremonies and mere customs change they panic, because they have been lead to believe these things were their faith. With that kind of mentality all growth stops, because growth means change and holiness means an ever-deepening understanding of God and what he expects of each one of us. If a person is not open to the inspiration of the Spirit, because it goes beyond what priests allow him, then even the Holy Spirit cannot work in him and he remains stunted. What is worse, he frustrates the work that God wants to accomplish in him."

"... The function of religious leaders is to set an example, to draw people to God by their own deep faith and by the beauty of their personal lives, not intimidate people into sterile external observance. That is not religion. That mocks true religion."

"True religion comes from the heart. It is a deep relationship with God, and should bring peace and joy and love to people, not fear and guilt and meanness. And worship has meaning only when it is free. God is not honored by worship that is forced under threat of sin or penalty. Nor is God honored by subservient obedience to religious laws devoid of love. God is pleased only by the free expression of the soul that truly loves him. Anything less is counterfeit and serves only the short-term needs of religious institutions."

Well, put in my opinion.

Here it is....

First let me start by saying, I am missing the last 30 seconds of the video. So as you get to the end, remember that Christ knocks them off, and goes back to her.

Secondly, as you watch this, I ask you to pray for this young girl. This video is her testimony. Each day is a battle between her and Satan and she has to allow Christ to fight for her, as each of us do. She told her mother that she "needed" to do this skit, not that she wanted too, but that she "needed" too. Praise God, because only through God could this young girl get in front of a church body and perform this skit with such passion.

Thirdly, when Mr. Goofy gets the whole video converted, I will re-post. Watch it multiple times, keep coming back to it, I do and God moves me every time.

Youth Drama

I have the youth drama in hand to upload, but I am having problems with it. The drama is in VOB format and I am trying to get it converted to .avi or .mpeg. Hopefully, I will be able to get that done soon. I am excited for you all to see it. I just wanted to update you all to let you know that I have not forgotten, it is just taking time. I think one of the computer nuts (Mr. Goofy) from my church is going to try to help get it converted.

Snake????

You Are a Snake

You have extraordinarily sharp senses. You sense what's going on almost before it happens. You connect with the world. People instantly feel close to you. You are a natural protector. You take good care of your friends. You are an ambitious person. Your ambitious drives you. But while you are ambitious, you are also humble. You are thankful for everything you have.

What Reptile Are You?

Remodeling Update Part II

Last night, the hubby helped me get the grout down. Well, let me rephase that, I put the grout down, he kept bring me my buckets of clean water to wipe the floor back down with to get it clean.

As you can tell, we went with a gray grout; some what of a medium shade of gray, we did not want it to be too light. I am going to Lowe's today to get the baseboards so the hubby can start getting those back in so hopefully we (he) can get the toilet and sinks in this weekend. The medicine cabinets will go up after the sinks, then the final touch will be the new lights. The hubby will have to do some electrical work for that to happened. Hopefully it won't take too long to get to that work. I don't know though, he has some work to do at the church.

Burden...

For a while now, I have been in quite a funk as I like to call it, some would say depressed. Saturday night the hubby asked, I would like to know what you are carrying and why you are carrying it. I told him I did not know, if I knew it would be easy to lay it down.

Yesterday evening, I went back to church for a meeting and watched the youth practice a drama they were doing for church service. I had seen this drama before done by others on YouTube. Well watching our kids do this it had a much greater impact on me. I began to cry watching the Christ character fighting off the "worldly things". As I watched depression trying take over, I realized that was me, I want Christ but I was no allowing him to fight for me, I was trying to do it on my own.

Mac Daddy, BB and The singer wanted to go out after church last night. On the way to our eating location, I made the same comment to them "if I knew what it was it would be so easy to lay it down." Well during our conservation at the restaurant, I was talking about one thing which led to another, then another. I immediate stopped and just began to cry. I realized I was carry the weight of all my negativity that is so easy for me to pick up. I pick up that I am stupid, ugly, fat, incapable of doing anything right, a bad mom, a horrible wife, you name it I take it on. Needless to say I came home smiling because, I was able to lay it down.

This morning during my Bible study the scripture of Matthew 11:28-30 came up, scripture I have read numerous times, but this time, it was right when I needed it. It states, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for you souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

I am not back to 100% yet, but man is my burden much lighter. Surrender is always the key, sometimes, we just have to know what the burden is that we are carrying. If you are carry something, I beg of you, hand it over the Christ for His yoke IS easy and His burden IS light.

I am getting a copy of our youths' drama, as soon as I get it I will post it. You will be amazed.

Just whatever...

I just thought that I would share a few photos today. Not much is going on around here; which with three children that is an amazing blessing.

I go scrapbooking once a month with some friends to another friends home. Each month we have a challenge packet. I thought I would share the results from last months challenge. These are two pages from Kid-O's book when her Mona Lisa with to Panopoly.

This is the second page. I just basically attached the Mona Lisa, I thought years down the road she might like to have this stuff. I figure scrapbook form is much better than in a box form.

This is a picture of the Hubby's saltwater aquarium. Well, it used to be his, now it is ours. I am learning the things required to maintain this thing. So now we both work on it and not just him. As you can tell, there are two Oscellaris clown fish and one dominion damsel.

This last picture, not a great one is of the Green Encrusted Gorgonian. It looks pretty cool along with the yellow polyps, star polyps, green tumpets, and green zoos. I did not take pictures of all of them. If you look closely on the first picture behind the fish and grass culupera you might be able to see the yellow polyps.

Remodeling Update

So, I am back at it again. I got my bathroom ripped apart and starting to put it all back together again.

As you can tell, I have repainted, sand and sky. We are going to the beach look. How am I doing? Do you like the blue tile?

I have got the floor pieced in and all my pieces cut that need to be cut. I will spend today getting it glued down. I will keep you informed of how the process is going.

Look at Me

I am not sure why the Hubby took this picture other than Mini-Me looks cute. He looks tired and unkept also, but that is okay, we know he had a bath the night before.

Hubby's New Car

So, the Hubby finally got a new car, well, new to him. It is a 2006 Honda Civic. We bought it from a man, Josh, who is getting ready to be moved by his company and they will give him a company car. This car is in mint condition. He used to do detailing work for Honda, so he knows how to keep a car clean.

Anyway, the point of telling this is because it shows yet again just how faithful God is. About a year or more ago, I started praying, because the hubby has been driving cars without A/C, and quite old, that God provide him with a better vehicle. We looked at cars then, and he decided he really liked the two door Civic, but we just were not ready to buy. Well the conversation came back up a couple weeks ago. So I started praying again, we will know it is okay to buy when you, being God of course, sends someone to buy the Camaro. Well, we put the word out, the same day, a guy wants the Camaro and is willing to give us what we want for it. God!!! Then the Hubby sees a Honda Civic for sale by an individual, so he calls to get the information on the car. We really like the price and it looks good from the outside. So we meet Josh to look at and drive the car. When we get done driving, we are talking to Josh, and we all see the biggest more full rainbow I have ever seen.

On the way, home I was asking God, are you trying to tell me something. When I get home, I proceed to take the sitter to church for youth group. On my way back, I asked God, if you are trying to tell me it is okay to buy this car with that rainbow, have the Hubby say something about it. Well, I proceed to sit down to look up the carfax on the car, when the Hubby says "What did you think of that rainbow?" Most would think, you bought a car based on a rainbow, but to the Hubby and I that is God telling us, yes, it is okay to spend that money, I will provide.

Too Cute

I just thought these pictures were too cute not to share. Little Man got into trouble this evening when the sitter was here. He popped his brother on the hand when he threw his cup down at dinner. So the sitter sent him to his room, when she went to get him this is what she found; Little Man sleeping. He most have been tired to fall asleep in a chair.

The Ten Crazies for Christ

Last night, we had our first reunion group meeting - Walk to Emmaus group. (Which by the way, I forgot to take a picture of my kids.) What a blessing, to listen to how God is working in our lives and growing us up in our faith. What an amazing time of spiritual renewal.

Hubby and myself
Blessed and Beyond
Mrs. Going Goofy
Missinator
Skippy
Mac Daddy
BB and The singer

Remodeling Again

Well, I have started on our bathroom now. I almost forgot to take pictures yesterday. I remembered after I had the quarter round and baseboards up. I also got the vinyl flooring and glue up yesterday. I don't know that I will get anything done today. The hubby has to remove the mirror, the shelf behind the toilet,and the side splash things on the sinks, so I can do all the wall repair work first. We are trying to do it in an order in which the bathroom will be fully functioning for as much as possible.

The plan for this bathroom is to remove the big mirror, add in two really nice medicine cabinets that the hubby pick out, replace the double (cheap) sink thing with two pedestal sinks, replace the one over head light with two, one over each sink, replace the vinyl with ceramic tile, and of course repaint. The entire project was around $700.00. The medicine cabinets were the bulk of the expense ($150.00 each). I will keep you updated as the process continues.

Update...

First off, Little Man's appointment with the neurologist is on July 10th. We are just praying that God provide us with all the information that we need between now and then for a quick diagnosis. We are trusting God, we must walk it.

Secondly, I have been out of today for several days with my newest children. I forgot to take their picture last night. I will try to remember to do it tomorrow night so I can post it for all to see. This beautiful children (youth adults) just came back for their Chrysalis Flight - Walk to Emmaus for Youth. God taught these kids so much. I have Godly pride for them, they stepped out into the unknown on faith, and God changed their lives forever. Their walk with Christ is stronger than it has ever been and I have faith that God is going to continue to build on this wonderful foundation.

Thirdly, Chris is really enjoying to new job that he started four weeks ago. He likes the people that God has placed him around, and he enjoys the work that he is doing as well.

God is keeping us busy, but we are loving it. Chris will be working the upcoming Men's Walk and I will be working the upcoming Women's walk (both in September), the stuff with Jonah, and supporting all our new children (five in all). What blesses God has bestowed on us.

I'm not a Nerd, but the hubby, well...

Mine


His

Surrendered

After much prayer, on my part and that of others, I have surrendered my Little Man to God. I hate that he is in pain, and has been for two years. I hate not knowing what is wrong and how to fix it, but I know that God is in control and trusting that God is in control. I don't want to walk through this, I don't want Little Man to have to walk through this, but I know and trust that whatever is found, by the neurologist that God will fix it. My Little Man was giving to me by God, an answered prayer, but truly Little Man is God's child to do with as he pleases, God just loaned (blessed) him to me. I am thankful for all my children. Thank you for your prayers, and continue to pray for us as we Walk by faith, not by sight.