Thoughts-A-Muck

   The plane is on fire! Whoosh! They fell out of the plane. Yank! He jerked the release on the unconscious pilot's parachute. Oops, it didn't open. He held on to the pilot with all his might. Crash! They hit the ground. Yes! the pilot is still alive! 

     I sat watching my little brother do a victory dance over the top of his marble-rolling block set... ahem, I mean airplane. "Hooray! I saved the pilot!" 

     Now where did he come up with all of that? And why do I get caught up in his enthusiastic make-belief? I don't know about you all, but my brain runs like my little brother's... it never stops! the problem is, what is it running on, and where is it running to? With mine... that could be anywhere and everywhere. Especially places I do not want it to go. Why? Because I am a born again sinner. The problem is... what can you do with a brain? There is no 'stop' button. How do you control it? And if you can... do you really want to control it?

     This morning in Bible time, my brain phased out to think about it. Thoughts are important. Whatever I let my thoughts do, my mouth and my feet start doing too. "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7 More exasperating than that is that God expects me to keep my thoughts pure! "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8. 

     I came back to Bible time just in time to hear Daddy read Ephesians 5:19-20; "be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." Breath of fresh air! Can we control our thoughts? No. But... If we are filled with the Spirit, then He will help us evaluate and reject those thoughts that we like to dwell on that are not pure! So... we are to walk around all day totally out of it? Actually, if "it" equals thinking those nasty thoughts about someone or doing something we shouldn't, the answer is YES!
     Pure thoughts start with the beginning of our day, taking time to read God's Word and to think His thoughts after Him before I start His day. As I go about making breakfast, I think about what I read, and what that means about God and who He is, and how I can be like Him in that area today. As absurd as this may sound, I ask God questions about what He meant by this or that verse. It is startling how many times He will bring to mind a verse to answer my question. Sometimes, they are verses I don't remember memorizing.
     You can go throughout your day 'thinking to God' about whatever you are doing. Guaranteed, it is 90% easier to be willing to do whatever you are asked when you are singing 'Make Me a Servant' to yourself. With God's help, you can walk in the spirit and spread the joy of the Lord in your home. Does Satan want you to 'walk in the Spirit' ? No with a capital N-O! He will tempt you with everything he can throw at you! It is not a sin to be tempted. Jesus was tempted. It is a sin to give in to the temptation and 'enjoy' that bad thought. Am I filled with the Spirit every day? Or even all day? No. Could we? Is it possible? Yes! That is what I'm striving for today. Are you?


By the way, where do you think daydreaming comes in to all of this?



 

Godly Femininity

This poem I am going to post tonight was written by Beth Marie, on femininity and what it is-

Godly Femininity

What can it be?

What can it mean?

How do you describe it?

How can it be seen?

In a heart that belongs to God alone,

In whom His sustaining presence is felt,

And through whom the Love of God is known,

And is solely Holy Spirit indwelt.

Fem’ninity is a servant at heart,

Willingly submissive to authority,

Always seeking to shoulder her part,

With her spirit singing joyfully

Fem’ninity is seen in her modesty,

Of manner and tongue as well as dress,

In her sensitiveness to propriety,

Not overly proud, or with looks obsessed

Describe it as an inward attitude,

A deep well bub’ling with gentleness,

A soul at peace with God will exude,

Internal quiet and sweet restfulness

She works with her hands, is industrious,

She gives to all her hospitality,

Just looking for ways to be generous,

Not forced or with rigid formality

Fem’ninity asks for wisdom each day,

To know how to always please the Lord,

Pondering God’s Word, not ceasing pray,

One of character, virtue, and her word

Can this a girl upon herself take?

In her flesh and by herself labor?

And she a model of fem’ninty make

Success for herself to praise and savor?

No! I cry it aloud, and again No!

Without the Savior to support, sustain,

She is too weak, incapable to do so,

Only the Power of Christ can Satan chain

The undergirding harmony of her life

Can only be Christ, and Christ alone

He is the focal point of her strife

Against her ‘old man’, who is vilely prone

This is Godly fem’ninity.

This is how it must be.

This is what it must mean.

This is how you describe it.

This is how it is seen.

Crazy Dayz

Hello Everyone, 

I just felt like sharing with you all a poem that my sister BethMarie wrote, several years ago, after trying to conduct an old fashioned spelling bee with my younger sibling and I. (We had fun :) But I'm not so sure she did! 

Well, any way, I though you all might enjoy it. It makes me laugh every time I read it-

Class it is time for a spelling bee!

Who shall be first oh let me see…

The one on the left? The one on the right?

The scholar who is exceptionally bright?

I say let’s start with the one in the center

That way we won’t be right here all winter!

Hush now Suzie! Dan has the floor,

Unless you would like to stand by the door?

Sarah please sit up straight in your chair,

I don’t like the frown that you wear!

Joey! Stop crying! Your turns coming soon!

There now, can you tell me how to spell “moon”

Dan don’t lay on the bench, sit up straight,

And PLEASE be quiet while you wait!

She’s trying to think you little “dears”,

Can’t you see Suzie is almost in tears?

I guess we might…just as well as may;

Leave off the spelling bee for today!

Maybe we’ll try it the week after next?

Or maybe, for this month we’ll just have it x’ed,

Schools over children, go on your way,

Whew! This has been one long crazy day!

The Gospel

If you have never believed in Jesus as your Savior I beg you to please read this post-

Every person who has ever lived and ever will live has broken the laws of God. When we break God's law we "sin" against God, who is holy and perfect.  
Click Here to read from the Bible God's laws and see for your self if you measure up to His standards. Because of your sin you cannot live with a holy God but are condemned to separation from God. The Bible says that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” ( Romans 3:23) and that all are therefore subject to “everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:9).

But the good news is that God has done something about it. “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Jesus Christ, the perfect, sinless, Son of God, chose to take your place and suffer the penalty of your sin, which is death and separation from God. He did this to satisfy the righteous demands of the holiness and justice of God, His Father. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice; He died on a cross, but three days after His body was buried He rose from His grave, conquering death, so that all who truly believe in Him, repent of their sin, and trust in Him are able to come back to God and live for eternity with their Creator.

Therefore: “He who believes on Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).

What a wonderful Savior—and what a wonderful salvation in Christ our Creator!

If you want to know more of what the Bible says about how you can receive eternal life, please don't hesitate to contact us: 

fidelisdeus@gmail.com  

and we will do our very best to answer all of your questions.

The Daughter of Destiny

As a home-schooler I have the opportunity of being able to chose some of my homework. Hurray! 
Last week my teacher (also known as my older sister) gave me the assignment of finding and memorizing a poem- I found this in a book called "Verses of Virtue."  It is rather lengthy but it is also full of beautiful concepts and ideas that are completely worth the work:

Long before the present battle

There was prophesied a day

Tinkling words, impov'rished prattle

Itching ears to hearts would sway.

In that day of broken marriage.

Femininity's demise,

Ladies lost their life and carriage.

All were "smart," but none were wise.

Rose up Mistress Amazonia

Warring women lead with mirth.

Most forgot the Pauline proverb,

"She'll be saved through childbirth."

Off to war went the daughters.

Left behind the men and babes.

Noble womanhood was slaughtered.

Craving freedom, became slaves.

Rise up Hannah - listen, here it!

Maidenhood's the royal throne,

Of those women, true of spirit,

Loving heaven, hearth, and home.

Rise up Hannah - others follow.

You will not proceed alone

And the victory's not hollow

When the truth is set in stone.

From the ashes of a culture

That knew God, but now knows none

Generations rose to prosper,

Forged by light from His true Son.

Taught at home, but raised for warfare,

Not the steel and fleshy kind,

But the battle that is more fair,

When the Spirit girds the mind.

Now there stands a breed of woman

Strong of mind and content of heart.

Cherishing the ancient virtues,

And from them will not depart:

Love of truth, and love of mother;

Purity; the Word of God;

Holiness to one another,

Homes to build, and keep, and laud.

Rise up Hannah - here's God's token,

That your youth has passed the test.

Three-fold strands will not be broken.

In thy sisters' friendship rest.

Rise up Hannah - happy sister.

Sarah's friend, Rebecca's love,

Sisters three, your God has given

Tender hearts knit from above.

Stand they now this generation

Birthed by hearts which turned to home;

Fathers who have changed direction

Mothers who no longer roam.

And the future is a bright one,

If to vision you will cleave

And will not trade God's truth for some

Mess of pottage known as ease.

Prepare to hear the heathen grumble,

Steel yourself to their complaint

Cynics moan and basely mumble

Gnash their teeth, but they will faint.

They will faint, and will not follow

For you tread the narrow road.

And in it's tread will chew and swallow

Selfish seeds unjustly sewn.

In the end, the Lord will vanquish

Vanquish them, but vindicate

All who love Christ's ancient order

And enter in the narrow gate.

Rise up Hannah - faithful daughter.

Onward Maiden to the quest.

You who called your mother blessed,

Someday shall in kind be blessed.

Rise up Hannah - to your station!

Daughter fair of destiny.

Light the path for generations.

Raise the torch of liberty

                                     

                                     Douglas W. Phillips

Our Mission

 Hark the voice of Jesus crying,-

"Who will go and work today?

field are white and harvest waiting!

who will bear the sheaves away?"

Loud and strong the master calleth,

Rich reward he offers thee;

Who will answer gladly saying,

"here am I; send me, send me!"

If you cannot cross the ocean,

And the heathen lands explore;

you can find the heathen nearer,

you can help them at your door.

If you cannot give your thousands,

you can give the Widows mite;

And the least you do for Jesus,

will be precious in His sight.

If you cannot speak like angels;

if you cannot preach like Paul;

you can tell the love of Jesus 

You can say He died for all.

If you cannot rouse the wicked

With the judgment's dread alarm,

you can lead the little children

To the Saviour's waiting arms.

If you cannot be the watchman

Standing high on Zion's wall,

Pointing out the path to heaven,

Offering peace and life to all;

With your prayers and with your bounties

You can do what heaven demands;

you can be like faithful Aaron,

Holding up the prophet's hands.

If among the older people,

you may not be apt to teach;

"Feed my lambs," said Christ, our Shepherd,

"Place the food within their reach,"

And it may be that the children 

You have lead with trembling hand,

Will be found among your jewels

When you reach the better land.

let none hear you idly saying,

"There is nothing I can do,"

While the souls of men are dying,

And the Master calls for you.

take the task He gives you gladly;

let the His work your pleasure be;

Answer quickly when He calleth,

"Hear am I; send me, send me!"

Daniel March, D.D.

Lord Help me to Work!

The wind blows hard, I care not-

My soul is sweetly calm

Christ my Savior is my rock

He holds me in His palm.

Though the world may fall apart

Christ’s love will never fail

He proved that when to the Cross

My sinful deeds He nailed.

Jesus was willing to die,

How can I do any less?

So many have never heard

How can I calmly rest?

Dear Jesus please take me today

And teach my hands to work

May your holy name be praised!

May I not shrink nor shirk!

Let Us Run The Race Before Us-

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud

of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight,

 and sin which clings so closely, 

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter

of our faith, who for the joy that was set 

before him endured the cross, 

despising the shame, and is seated at the 

right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured from sinners such

hostility against himself,

so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted."

-Hebrews 12:1-3