Bible Study - Creation

This is just for fun.  Pictures taken with my phone.  The top left is of my girls.  Top right is my sweet Kiwi girl!  Bottom left was taken at 10pm the other week!  The alpine glow was awesome!  You could see everything.  And then of course bottom right is the Bison boy!

Today I wanted to write a little about Creation.  I have been thinking long and hard about this.  Even my daughters homeschool curriculum starts with a program called Creation to Christ.  I just thought I would pick your brain about how you feel and believe on Creation.

I am not talking about creating dinners or desserts.  Not even creating a master piece of art work.  Or creating a piece of awesome sheet music.  

I wanted to talk about God's Creation.  The knowing that a bigger power created "Everything".  In our Bible study group we are diving into a book called Starting Point: Find Your Place in the Story.  Starting Point: Find Your Place in the Story

Amazon link for Starting Point book

Now, I have grown up always believe that our God created all things.  Just like we read in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth,"

For me, I believe that God did all these things.  He did create everything, the heavens and earth, light and darkness, waters and sky, plants, trees and fruit, separating the night skies and the day time, all animals, fish, etc., and also man and woman!  He created us so well that He said "it was good"!  

However, many people ask, "How do we know that all this is true?", "We weren't there, so how can I trust the Bibles words?",  "Some of these statements are so Far out there, too supernatural for me.", or "I only believe it, when I see it."  So how do we answer these questions or statements?  

Why are we here on earth?  What's it all for?

One thing that amazes me is that the Bible has held it's own.  It has survived for many years.  Yes, I think that some of the words have been changed for us to understand better.  I don't feel it has been changed in a way that it is "completely" different than it was in 95 A.D. (when Revelation, the last book in the Bible was written).  I believe that the authors of the Bible have preserved it for all generations to know and understand our history.  The purpose for us being here.  It is the only book that has lasted as long as it has. 

It is a true testimony in history of knowledge we can still learn from!

Have you ever climbed a mountain?  Went for a hike?  Watched the sunrise or set?  How about planted a garden and watched it grow?  Or have you or know someone that's pregnant?  Talk about a miracle!  I think the blessings of children is a miracle in its self.  It should make you know that there is a wonderful God that created that beautiful baby that hasn't been born yet.

When you get to the mountain top and see all the gorgeous land out there.  All the wonders and beauty.  Do you stop to think that maybe there is a one true God that made all that?  Just in nature we can find so many reasons to believe that God is real.

I certainly do not have all the answers...I guess what it comes down to is faith!  In Hebrew 11:1 it says:  Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  In Hebrew 11:3 it continues with:  By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
I know that when I have faith, I "feel it" that all is true.  It is hard to believe in crazy things it talks about in Genesis.  If you sit down and really read it, there are some really crazy things going on!  But, when I see all that is around me and when I live by faith alone.  I know all of it is true. 

How it all exactly happened?  Know one knows...but I do believe in what the Bible says.  But are we really suppose to know it all?  Are we really suppose to dissect every little bit in the Bible?  Sometimes...somethings...we are not suppose to know...or understand...but can we live by Faith?

I challenge myself and challenge you to dive into the Bible.  If you are struggling with faith, I ask that maybe you just read the Bible.  Find a group or church that could help you with questions.  Find people that have a good foundation of our Lord.  In believing that through accepting Jesus into your heart you will be saved and live for eternity.  

What will it hurt to read the Bible?  Either nothing will happen.  Or maybe great things will come out of it.  Maybe you will learn some of  HIStory. 

I pray that in doing so, we will grow in His word and grow in our lives to do His will.  The Bible is a book of books, written by real people.  They wrote this knowledge down for generations to read and learn from.  

I am just like everyone else.  I have questions.  I am so not perfect!  I struggle in life.  I get frustrated...and the list goes on.

However, I do know that from reading God's word I find strength.  Every time I turn to Him I feel stronger and more aware of what He wants me to do.

I look forward to more Bible study groups.  My husband and I are doing it together and we are surrounded by a great group of people.  People that have a strong relationship with God, some that have questions, some that have studied the History of it all, and one that just picked up a Bible for the first time 6 months ago.  We are blessed and I pray that you will be too.

Let me know your thoughts.  Maybe add more to all these questions.

GOD BLESS YOU!

Workout-???

 

I have been thinking whether or not to blog about working out!  I struggle in this area.  For one...truthfully I have a very hard time being motivated.  Second, I have very bad knees, shoulders, neck, and back...I am broken!  My knees flare up very easily.  My back gets sore quickly.  I have had surgery on my right should and my left is following!

I don't want to sound like a wimp, but maybe I am.  I used to be able to workout any way I wanted.  Through the years my body has slowly told me that "working out hurts".  However, I do notice that if I do not workout, my body gets worse!  I am confused. 

SO...a friend let me borrow her elliptical machine (super nice, thank you) and I thought I would try getting on that at least four day a week.  To tell the truth I think I have had this machine for a few months now and I've only used it maybe...5 times...(I think?)  SAD!

My goal is to use it four days a week (at least 30 minutes to start) with yoga afterwards.  I feel stretching is super important, especially when my joints get so painful and sore.  I do love yoga, so I'll give it a try.

I also thought, that blogging about it may help me stay motivated!  I need to be motivated!   I do feel like these days are flying by and I haven't made any effort to take care of myself.  I want to run around with my kids.  I want to feel healthy and well.  I want to take care of my body.  Why is this so hard?  I had swam for a couple years and I had to take a break due to homeschooling and the timing of the swim class.  I miss it and maybe someday I will go back, but for now, I need to work something out here!

Maybe talking about it will help.  I don't know.  If I come back and blog about it, you will know something is sticking.  If I never blog about it again...well...who knows.

I know God is there for me and all of you out there!  I know I can draw strength through Him.

God Bless

Rambling...

There are things that must be done, even if we are not wanting to do them... 

Our children have a chore chart they work on every week.  Most of the time, they do not like doing them.  However, we treat it like a "job" and the kids will get paid for the chores they finish.  So they enjoy the cash :)

Here is our daughter on dog "poo" duty!  She wasn't too happy about it, and not because she had to put on her dads jacket, mom's hat and boots, and go out in her PJ's.  It wasn't even because she had to scoop up that awful stuff.  It was because the poo wasn't cooperating with the shovel!  It kept falling off...

So when I saw this beautiful sunset and my girl in a bit of a down mood I had to take photos.  She willingly allowed me to, but she told me, "I don't want to smile today".  Okay honey, no worries, just do what your doing.    
Here she is:

Actually, in these photos she was finished with her job.  She was then just shoveling snow out of frustrations. 

I love the bright colored P.J. bottoms!

What a gorgeous evening!  LOVE sunsets.  Light is a gift from God.

In His Word - Sunday

After wandering for 40 years in the desert, a new generation is ready to enter Canaan.  Over these years these people had fallen; with failing faith.  They refused to obey God.  Finally, the new generation was ready for the promised land.  Joshua was chosen, after Moses, to lead His people across the Jordan River. 

 God prepares both Joshua and the nation by teaching them the importance of courageous and consistent faith.  The nation then miraculously crosses the Jordan River to begin the long awaited conquest of the promised land.  Like Joshua, we too need faith to begin and continue living the Christian life.

Joshua 1:6-9

"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.  Be strong and very courageous.  Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful.  Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

This was the study we heard at church today!  I really enjoyed it.  I believe it speaks volumes to us today.  We are Gods people still; we are His chosen people!  All of us!  If we believe...be strong and courageous!  Notice how many times Joshua says this...be strong and very courageous.  I think we need these words in today's world, just as much as the people needed them then.  "Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go!"  

God is with us wherever we go!  If we follow His word and trust in Him, we will be successful.  He loves us so much.  He wants to bring us to His new promised land...heaven.  

I hope that these words from Joshua will speak to you as it has done for me today.  Sometimes I feel weak and courage-less, just as the Israelites were.  However, when I turn to Him and also read His word, I find much strength and I know I can continue on with much success and happiness.

Are you strong and courageous?  When you read God's word, do you find strength?  If you've never opened the Bible, would you like to?  Be strong and courageous...  I think it takes practice.  Let go and let God guide us.

I wanted to share with you my daughter during her art lesson.  Actually, this lesson comes from her Girl Scout book.  She is working on her Drawing badge.  I am encouraging her to work on a few thing she likes in her Girl Scout book and this is the first one she wanted to do.

Here she is concentrating on her "still life" drawing!

She drew with three different types of medium:  Pastels, Marker, and Colored Pencils.

She takes her art very seriously!  Very proud if her.

God Bless!

Food Friday

I am not sure, if I have ever blogged about any sort of food!  I am not sure what has gotten into me.  It started today during my daughter Olline's science experiment.  We were learning about anteaters and how their tongues are sticky and can stick in and out 150 times per minute!  Well, we took a 2 foot string to represent the anteaters tongue and dipped it into honey (so it would be sticky) and then tried to pick up "ants" like an anteater would.  Well our "ants" were raisins and white chocolate chips!  The kids also enjoyed trying to use their own tongues to get the yummy "ants".  So I had left over white chocolate chips and decided to make a batch of cookies from the recipe on the back of the bag.

YUMMY! Take a bite!

So glad I never made a New Years Resolution to loose weight or get super healthy!

However, after eating a few of these babies I think I will have to make that Resolution.

These are very sweet and super good.  Really, I could only handle about two cookies!   The family said they are delicious!  So go buy a bag of Hershey's Premier White Chocolate Chips and follow the so easy recipe on the back!  

Question:  Why is white chocolate called "chocolate", when I don't think it is truly chocolate? 

God Bless