By Grace we have been Saved

By Grace we have been saved:

How many how read in the Bible, “By Grace we have been saved….”? I’m sure all of us have at one time or another…so why is it so hard to believe? I had gotten a book from the library a couple days ago called, “Grace” by Max Lucado. I loved it so much that I read it in 2 days!!! While reading it, I was utterly astounded about how much God gives us Grace  in abundance!!!

 So, what does Grace mean? Maybe there was a time that you can think of that you showed grace to someone...or vice versa, they showed Grace to you!

When us kids were little, and we'd get in trouble from arguing or some other things, we'd have a "Job Jar". You would stick your hand in the job jar and pick out a piece of paper. Sometimes the paper would say, "Clean the Stove top", and sometimes it would say some other things. There was 2 slips of paper in there that said, "Grace", which meant that you didn't have to do a job jar chore, because mom and dad decided to give you grace. I looked up in the Webster's 1828 Dictionary what "Grace" means...here is what I found...

•  The application of Christ's righteousness to the sinner.

          Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Rom.5.

• Favor; mercy; pardon. Privilege.

1. Psalm 45:2
   You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Your lips; Therefore God has blessed You forever.
2. Psalm 84:11
   For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
   
   Ephesians 2:8-9
   
   For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
   
   

Learning Self-Control!

Yesterday, we had some friends over after church. While us older kids were playing games and having fun, I couldn't help but notice how the this family's relationship with each other was loving! It wasn't "pretending" to love each other...it WAS loving each other.

So...why do I have such a hard time loving my siblings? I'm a mess! I'm trying so hard to control my anger in the messy times, or talk in a low tone when I feel like yelling...but...I can't! I try to, but that's the thing...I don't try hard enough. What I'm doing ISN'T enough! It's not enough to say "I'm going to have self-control from now on", but you have to practice it as well. The other day, my brother Elijah was so busy playing
that he "forgot" to go potty....as he puts it, and, well...his pants were soaked! Yes, I have to admit
that I yelled at him for doing such a thing. Thankfully Elijah doesn't hold grudges, so after
 he sat on the potty for a little bit, and got dressed again, I went over
to him and gave him a hug.

I think I have such a hard time with my anger, because I don't ask for help from God! I'm sure that God's probably laughing saying, "Oh, Caitlin! I put your siblings in your life to teach you how to control your anger." I know, I know...we are ALL sinners! But does that mean that we
 shouldn't "try" to be loving?

Yesterday in church, my mom stayed home, so I was in charge of taking care of my 2 younger siblings, and keeping an eye on them.  Elijah has a tendency to play really loud in church with his cars or some other toys...so we have to constantly tell him to "be quiet" in church, and to be respectful. So, I thought this was a good was to practice my "Self-Control" while in church. So, I asked Elijah to come to me, and I whispered in his ear, "Buddy, you have to quiet down a little bit, okay?" With a smile he said, "Okay." ...that could have turned out a lot worse...don't you think? I could have kicked him and put my finger over my mouth to "shh" him...but he probably would have thrown a fit. I felt so calm afterwords. So later last night, I prayed to God. I prayed that he would help me to "control" my temper when it comes; and then when it does come, that God would help me to overcome it, and that there will be peace throughout the house! After all...it starts
with just one person! : )

 ^"...Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor,performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification ^[v]according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor
and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God
in Christ also has forgiven you."
~Ephesians 4:26-32~

Gold

Since my brothers and dad are hunting for the next few days, we girls decided to watch girl movies, and movies that my brother’s don’t like because it’s too low of a quality for them. : )

Yesterday, my sister and I watched, “Hinds Feet on High Places”, put on my Compass International. It’s one of those movies that the acting isn't that great, but the point to the movie is great!!! While watching this, I saw my life in that movie! I saw myself going through the desert of loneliness, and the wilderness of darkness. I was in that same position that “Much-Afraid” was in! And of course, I started to cry! One of the songs, stuck out to me though... When Much Afraid was climbing the steep rock, the Shepherd, and her 2 companions were helping her to keep her footing. While they were climbing this steep rock, a song came on called, “I think I see Gold”…I started to cry as I listened to the words of the song. I thought I’d share it with ya’ll! But please don’t think of it as a song that I like, but as a testimony that God will be with you, and that he is still working on you!!! I think the video presents the verses as well as the lyrics and the song that so easily reminds us that God is with us no matter what!!!

A Day to Remember!

This day 2 years ago, was the day that we adopted our little Elijah! I was thinking about it all a last night, and I cried. I cried because, I don’t know where we would be without him! He has brought so much joy to all of us, that it’s hard to stay mad at him for long! I know I've told this story before, but I want to tell it again! Sorry If the sentence structure isn't correct!

When Elijah was turning 3, he asked for guns for his birthday…and of course, with guns come “good guy-bad guy”…so, I told him that I’d be the bad guy. He started shooting me, so naturally, I fell down with a big thud. He ran over to me and said, “Cait-win, I’m sorry! I didn't mean it!” 

     I then said, “I’m gonna’ die. You killed me.”

      He grabbed my head and said, “But you can’t die!!!” 

     “Why?”

     “Because I love you! You’re my best friend!!!” 

And with that, I got up and gave him a hug.

Many of you may not know his adoption story, but when we were trying to adopt, we originally wanted a girl…when we got the call for Elijah…we couldn't resist saying no!!! We have been so blessed by him, and we hope to encourage others to adopt or look after the Orphan and Widow like the Bible tells us to do in James 1:27.

On this day, not only does our family remember the adoption of our little Elijah; but we remember God’s faithfulness, Sovereignty, and love as we go about our day. God's faithfulness to us as He was faithful to answer our prayers to keep little Elijah! God's Sovereignty  to know that no matter the situation, that God is STILL on the throne! And God's love...the love that He instilled in our hearts and minds. The love that he gave us to love others!
Thank you God for our little Elijah!!!

"Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress..."

~James 1:27~

Yet another death...

Today, as I was sitting in the car before going into Wal*Mart, I was listening to the radio, and the DJ said, "Some days we get so caught up in life with taking our kids places, or doing school, activities, and other various things, that we forget to Thank God for the day. Sometimes we forget to pray, read the Bible, or look at the beauty of the trees/sky/sun around us." Isn't this so true?

Today, I found out that Shannon Sproul (R.C. Sproul Jr.'s daughter) died. They don't know the cause yet. Many of you know that R.C. Sproul Jr. suffered the loss of his wife a few months ago to cancer...and now today, his daughter. Let's all be in prayer for the Sproul family!!!

I was thinking about "death", after I heard this news today...and, I am so blessed! I'm blessed to have my grandparents, family, friends all still alive!!! As I said earlier, we forget to thank God for the blessings that we have. We may not think about it, but look around you...maybe it's a church that you go to, that you have been blessed by; or maybe it's family/friends who helped you through some things in your life. Whatever it may be...thank God for it!!!

Let's be in prayer for the Sproul family as they struggle through this rough time in their life...and yet know, that with death, comes heaven for believers of Jesus Christ!

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

~James 1:2-4~