So Much the More

This our church's "theme" this year. So much the more. I love it!

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:

and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

Hebrews 10:24-25, KJV (emphasis mine)

So many churches today are meeting less and less, cutting out the Wednesday night Bible study, the Sunday evening services, etc... But the Bible here says for us to assemble ourselves together so much the more as ye see the day approaching. The day is certainly approaching!

Have a wonderful Lord's day tomorrow!

Happy New Year 2009!

Happy New Year to my bloggy friends! I love the fresh start that a new year gives. I started my new Bible Reading Plan this morning and am eager to read it through again this year. There are so many plans to choose from, it can be overwhelming! Just remember what the goal is for believers....regularly (daily) reading His Word, communicating (prayer) with Him, and applying what we've read to our lives. For me, it is easiest to have a plan to go by, mainly for accountability, but also because I tend to get sidetracked easily :o).

Here are some links of Bible Reading Plans that I have used:

Sword of the Lord - There are 2 choices on this guide, you can either read straight through or some Old Testament & some New Testament each day.

Wholesome Words - A friend sent this to me, there are 4 guides here to choose from, including one that is a 2 year plan.

New Testament in 90 days - This one is only 90 days and is undated, for the New Testament. It is a wonderful plan and I really enjoyed doing it last year in the spring.

We had a New Years Eve service last night which was great! Our pastor passed out books that had Bible plans in them. They are devotion books that are dated with what you read and then questions that you answer, including a space for jotting down messages that you have heard on that text. I'm probably not describing it quite right. Here is an example of today: Jan 1, reading Genesis 1-3. There are 3 questions to answer and then 3 more spaces (these are on every day's page): What does this passage mean? How does this apply to me? and Messages preached from this text. There is an adult version, teen version, and child version. So far so good! These books are from this ministry (Although I could only find the Spanish version on the site??).

One more thing. I also enjoy reading Proverbs, the "corresponding" chapter for each day of the month. I confess, it is my favorite book in the Bible.

We're Home!

Ahhh...home sweet home!



We had a wonderful time! We had a months' worth (Counting Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night) of sermons in less than 48 hours. And the singing, skits, etc... Just great! We had 4 teens, 2 young adults, 1 college student that goes there (but from our home church) and 3 chaperones that went from our church and it was just a great group. There were 9,000+ teens there altogether! Amazing seeing all those people there for the purpose of youth conference.



I am really glad that I went. Yes, the sermons were geared to teens, but, I think I really benefited from hearing them too. It brought me back to my own teen years and the struggles that come with it. Even though my teen is a pastor's daughter and has grown up in a Christian home, she still deals with the emotions of growing up. I was foolish to think otherwise. Especially being a pastors daughter, more people are watching her and sadly, some people are just waiting for her to mess up.



It is so easy to forget our own teen years (maybe we wanted to forget?!). I definitely have a bit more compassion for her and the other teens represented there. Kayleigh is my first teenager, we lovingly call her the test child :o) I have never had a teenager before but I was one many (many) years ago. I will try my best to be more understanding of her needs, without "loosening up" on my convictions. It is a fine balance, but well worth the effort!

Kayleigh and another teen on the way there

Kayleigh and me outside the hotel we stayed in. We were waiting for the van to get jumped :o(

don't ask...

Outside the front of the church with Kayleigh and some of the teens in our group.

Leaving today

Today, my 14 year old daughter and I are going to Indiana for a youth conference with our church. I am excited to get to spend this time with her, yet I am sad to leave my husband and other children behind.


Whenever something like this come up, (although it's rare!) I always feel torn. On one hand, I think it is good to get away for a little while, sort of "recharging my batteries" type of thing. We will be attending meetings and getting preached at (I love good preaching!).

On the other hand, my heart is here at home-with my husband and other children. What to do? I really feel that at this time in this time of her life, it is important to have a little one-on-one time with her.

I'll let you know how it goes...

* I wrote this before we left but waited to post it until today.

The Lord's Day

Have a blessed Lord's Day tomorrow :o)

O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the

truth of the Lord endureth forever.

Praise ye the Lord.

Psalm 117

It Is Well

The ordination service was tremendous. We give God the glory! We were truly blessed by our church family in all that took place behind the scenes. Jason had to be there to meet with the Ordination Council at 5:45. This is where ordained men of God ask questions to make sure that the one being ordained stands firm on sound doctrine; what his beliefs are on God, the Bible, Jesus, and many more. It was truly a humbling experience for him. There were 4 men on the council. One was the Pastor that he has been preaching for the last 6 weeks. He was not able to stay for the actual service because his wife was not feeling well.

At the beginning of the service, Jason gave his testimony of salvation and his testimony of how/when he was called to the ministry; there was singing, and all of the pastors on the council participating in some way. My daughters and I surprised him by singing a special for him also. He was very surprised! We sang one of his favorite hymns, It is Well with my Soul.

Our pastor preached a sermon directly to him, to exhort and to encourage him in the ministry. It was very powerful. Some of the things preached are things that we should all be doing as Christians. He challenged him to put his family first; there are many pastors that have lost their families due to them always putting the ministry first and in the end, they lose their children to the world. Towards the end of the service, these ordained men of God laid their hands upon Jason to pray for him and to show that they are in agreement with him about his calling.

At the end, our pastor presented him with a KJV Minister's Bible and gave me a dozen roses. We are all laughing at something Pastor Slabaugh said. :o)

Afterwards, there was a reception for us in the fellowship hall. One of the church members made this beautiful cake and they served fruit and cake and ice cream.

We are so blessed and encouraged. We know that this is right. God is so faithful! The difference between his first ordination and this one is night and day. The first time was just not done right. The church said he needs to be ordained and they just did it, no council, no proving time, etc... We have learned much since then and we are glad that we have gone back and made it right by him being ordained again. Thank you for the prayers sent our way :o)

Ordination Service & Updates

The Lord is so faithful! We firmly believe that the door has been closed on Jason pastoring the church that he has been preaching at. The church and the current pastor was saddened, but understands that we need to follow the Lord. He will continue to preach there for 2 more weeks.

As for our new home church; This Thursday evening, my husband will be ordained as an Independent Fundamental Baptist Preacher. Some of you who know us personally, also know that he was already ordained a pastor in a SBC church. Not to cause controversy, but it is/has been his conviction that his family serve in an IFB KJV church. God has confirmed that we did the right thing, even though it hurt for a little while.

This is an exciting time in our life. The Lord has shown us that this is where we are to be now. Our pastor is also looking to help him plant a church on our side of town (we drive about 20 minutes). They will be our sending church.

Thank you for your prayers and I will continue to update.

Lots of stuff

A Happy Birthday, Yellow Roses

Well, it really just seems like another day :o( My daughter turned 12 yesterday and I turn 34 today. Know what we did to celebrate? Had a garage sale. Bad timing! Dh is off on Monday so I will be making a special birthday breakfast for 12 yodd (the request is chocolate chip pancakes) and we are just going to pretend it is our birthdays then!

Church, South Dakota, USA

Life has been so busy in the last few weeks! A good kind of busy. School is going well (except for garage sale week) and we are enjoying our 2 new churches. That sounds weird. Two new churches? Well, my dh is still guest preaching, Hardin Bible Church (IFB) (about 1 hour & 45 minutes from here) on Sunday mornings. They do not have evening services right now due to the pastors health. We have been going to Bible Baptist Church on Sunday nights and Wednesday nights and LOVE it. We joined Bible Baptist Church last Sunday evening. My dh and the pastor have talked extensively in the last month. Basically, no matter where the Lord leads my husband and I (possibly this first church I mentioned), then Bible Baptist Church will be our sending church. It is all very exciting! The Lord is opening doors and gently showing us through :o)

Hardin Bible wants dh to candidate there and he is prayerfully considering it. This of course would have to involve a move. It would be difficult to pastor a church that far away! We have looked into housing and a job transfer and general relocating stuff. Yes, the housing market is down and we may have trouble selling our house, BUT, if the Lord wants us up there, it will sell and I am not worried about it at all.

I just started reading in 1 John today. I am so loving my Bible Reading Plan. It is reading through the New Testament in 90 days. But it is not straight though...you skip around a bit. You may read a gospel and 2 or three epistles, etc... I LOVE it! It is just keeping it so fresh for me. I am pretty sure that I am not going to be done in 90 days. I am taking my time and not feeling "stressed" about not being on the "right" day. Also, I have the Henry Morris Defender's Study Bible and I enjoy reading his commentary, keeping in mind that it is a man's commentary and not God's Word itself. We need to be careful of not placing to high a value on man's words. I have found 2 or 3 instances where he "corrects" the Bible. Other than that I really like it.

I will try not to make it so long between posts next time ;o)

Rapture Video

Are you ready?

Scripture Ponderings

Bible and Roses

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband:But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.Proverbs 12:4The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her,so that he shall have no need of spoil.She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.Proverbs 31:11-12

Can our husbands truly trust in us? Have we ever shared something with someone else, perhaps a friend, that our husband would be embarrassed about? We need to be careful as this is, in all reality, gossip. Gossip is such an ugly word!

The Webster's 1828 says this: Gossip-one who runs from house to house, tattling and telling news; an idle tattler. (def. 3) Gossiping also refers to much talking.

Let's love our husbands, be a crown to him. Let's pray for him. Let's ask God to give him wisdom in leading our families, making decisions, etc... There have been so many times that I am so thankful that I am not the one who makes the final decision!

Bible Reading

Do you read your Bible daily? Have you ever read it all the way through? Have you ever tried to do a Bible Reading Plan, by starting out at the beginning of the year with excitement, only to find yourself weeks later behind on the plan, thus resulting in guilt and discouragement?

As born again Christians, we should strive to know God's Word! We can do this by faithful reading, memorizing Scripture, and prayer. How else will we get to know the Lord in a deep, personal, intimate way?

I have been saved for 11 years and I confess that I have only read my Bible all the way through only once (in 2006). I attempted it again last year by using a Read-Your-Bible-In-A-Year-Plan. I failed (sort-of). I did not get it done in a year because I had gotten behind. BUT, I was faithful to daily reading (with a few exceptions). I did find myself floundering around without being on my plan.

I also want to say that I feel it is VERY important to read through the Old Testament, not just the New Testament! I have heard many people say that the O.T. does not apply to us, so why read it? Well, I respectfully disagree. There are treasures to be found there!

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5 (emphasis mine)

Wow! If we seek God's Word, we will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God!

I am currently doing a plan (I am currently in Leviticus), sent to me from a friend. It is a read your Bible in 90 days plan. The neat thing about this plan is that it is not dated. It just says day 1, day 2, etc... There is no false guilt if you are not reading whatever January 23 says to read. I tweaked it to fit my personal needs. I am not trying to complete it in 90 days, but about 6 months. I have also heard from a friend that by reading large portions of Scripture at a time, you can get the bigger picture and maybe a better understanding of the Lord and His Word.