I am going to Africa

It's starting to sink in... really in... deep.  I am going to Africa.

I am very excited... but it's a quiet excitement.  That's weird for me.

My trip is in July.  I am going with some amazing people who have hearts to help... really help.

I am going to love on some kids.  I am going to love on some single mothers who have amazing odds against them and face horrific challenges daily.

I am going to teach the women how to make things to sell and provide for their families.

I am going to take them fabric and teach them to make fabric pins.

I am going to photograph the trip.

I am going to see God in the eyes and hearts of these precious people.

I am going to stand on the soil, barefoot, and sing praises to my God.

I am going to worship with people who really, really, really rely on God in ways we can not comprehend.

I am going to meet a child we are going to sponsor there... and to hold him or her in my arms and whisper words of love to them.

I am going to give, love, worship, and serve. 

I am going to give hope.

Want to see what hope looks like?

http://family-from-afar.blogspot.com/2010/12/what-does-hope-look-like.html

Want to be involved in my trip?

1. Pray- Pray for Africa. Pray for missionaries who are living there.  Pray for these children to be sponsored. Pray for the mothers to be able to work and make money. Pray for men to stay. Pray for protection over the women, children, and men of Africa. Pray for our team. Pray for our physical safety and health. Pray for our funds (for the trip and for the work we want to do there). Pray for our fundraiser to be a success. Pray for our families who will be left behind. 

2. Donate pillowcases for the dresses we are making.  Actually, get two or three of your friends to give you pillowcases (all sizes) and get them to me.

3. Donate a gift basket for our fundraiser. Ideas- cooking basket with cooking utensils, pastas, sauces and an apron... cosmetics basket... coffee for two basket with matching mugs/coffee/chocolate covered espresso beans... crafting basket with scrapbooking supplies... toy basket for a girl or boy!  These are just a few ideas. These will be auctioned on March 26th!

4. Donate sewing kits. These will be taken and left with the women to make things and mend their clothing.

5. Sponsor a child.  I have 23 of 25 left to get sponsored.  Call me, email me, comment me, facebook me, or ask me to come by and I will share these precious faces with you... and give you the opportunity to change a life...without leaving your home... for just $34 a month.  These children are in Adecar, Uganda.  You can find information at http://www.hopechest.org/

6. Attend our fundraiser, "Screen for some Green", on Saturday, March 26th, at 6:00 p.m. at Southside Church in Peachtree City. We will be showing "The Lion King" on the big screen.  We will also have food, items to sell and auction, and sponsorship opportunities! Entry is minimum donation of $5 per person. Mark your calendars!

7. Donate to our team.  Once everyone has the funds they need, the left over money will be spent for us to serve the community of Adecar while we are there.  We are hoping to have enough to sponsor a meal... a real meal... and feed 400+ very hungry people.  We are also hoping to buy them mosquito nets and at least one hand mower.  You can also donate at http://www.hopechest.org/  Simply click on the "Give" button.  Then click "Choose a fund" option and then click "Trip Payment".  From there PLEASE put #UG110701T as the trip ID number.  If you want it to go to my trip fees, then add my name.  If you want it to go to the team, then don't add my name.  It is tax deductable.

8. Come to Red Door on Saturday, March 26th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and buy something from me for my fundraiser!  I'll have fabric pins and headbands, matted photography prints and notecards, adorable keychains, and other wonderful handmade items! 

Feel free to pick more than one... or all of the above!

THANK YOU.  THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Time to catch up...

I downloaded some pictures today from several camera cards and realized how much life has gone by lately.
Time keeps moving faster and faster.  So here is a small glimpse of some things past... recent and not so recent! HA!

Abby spent some time in the hospital last fall.  Grammy sent her some flowers in the mail.  Very cool.

We are so very thankful she is so much better.  In addition to her seizures being greatly decreased, we have gotten her totally off of Klonapin!  We already see several differences.  For one, she is waking up in the night again to go to the bathroom!  She is back in big girl panties at night and we are thrilled for her.  The drug just knocked her out so badly, she couldn't wake up in the night... this is a great praise! 

She also is learning a little bit better at school.  She has made several 100's on her spelling tests and we are very proud of her, her determination and her hard work!

I love her smile in this picture... it's so her!  Thank you, Grammy, for the thoughtfulness and the very sweet gift!

Marc had a birthday this past weekend!  He is now THREE.  Wow.  Thomas the Train was his pick of "theme" this year.  There wasn't much out there and so luckily I found some whistles to be cupcake toppers.

Our kids have a party every other year.  So this year, Marc's party was low key and just family.  The weather was one of the greatest gifts!  It was over 70 degrees and so the day was spent outside.

You have to love presents!

One-Two-Three--- BLOW!

And dive in!

Booggers, Icing, and Snot... mmmmmm.

It was my dad's birthday too (their days are one day apart) and so he came and spent the weekend with us!

Happy birthday Dad!

At the beginning of winter, Taylor's choir gave a performance that was pretty cute, "The American Dream".

Don and I found it very appropriate for our new little American and were moved by several things in the show.  She did a great job.

When it was over, our little dreamer wouldn't give us a smile.  SOMETHING was wrong.  You know

how mommies figure things out.  I quickly realized our little one was a bit miffed she hadn't had a special part in the production.  We had encouraged her to try out for one, but she wanted none of it.  Well, then seeing the production happen, apparently she had a change of heart... on stage!  Poor thing.  I was so sad.  Daddy kept trying to get her to smile and so we finally did this for the 20th try...

This beautiful moment snapped her out of her pity party and we were able to move on... for a moment until Abster decided she wanted her own beautiful moment captured...

I was forced to flash my beauty once again! HA!

Marc was in a "don't take my picture" mood as usual and so we managed to get this one... although T is toody again here and the stage lighting was horrible!  Oh well.

This is a lovely picture Taylor made in art that was displayed in the hallway that night.  I think it is fabulous!

And lastly, here is my fall mantel.  I loved it so much.  I hated to take it all down and change it to winter.  I think the color orange makes me happy.  Who knew?  It actually might be my hidden favorite color... along with lime green (not together of course).  I have never thought I had a favorite color... I just love color... no... I love combinations of color!  But orange just makes me smile! :0)  I'll show you my winter look later!  

I am way, way, way, way ready for spring, grass, flowers, hummingbirds, buds and leaves, sunshine, gardens, and gentle breezes. 

Reminders of Truth

Yesterday, during some wonderful time sitting outside in the sunshine and reading, "The Miracle of the Scarlet Thread," I was reminded of several things.  I was first reminded of the supernatural power that is available to us as christians.  Now I am not talking about super hero super powers.  I am talking about the power of the Holy Spirit that is made available to us as He resides inside us as Children of God.  God put a piece of Himself in all believers... does that not just blow your mind?  Can you really try to get a grasp on that?  Wrap your heart and head around that?  Believe that?

I was then reminded of where my joy comes from... my joy comes from the Lord.

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  Romans 15:13~

And I was reminded that something is constantly roaming and trying to steal my joy.

"Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world."  1 Peter 5:8,9~

I was shown that I have been trying to do life in my own strength latetly.  I have not been going back to the source of life, the source of joy, the source of strength, the source of love and refilling from Him.  I have been studying and learning, praying for others, but I have not been asking for the refilling of the living water that I need to run on. I have not been taking myself before the throne.

Why? Because the enemy wants me to be distracted and "forget" who resides inside me and who is willing and waiting to live through me, to restore me, to bless me, to radiate through me.  Why? Because if I "forget" about the power of the Holy Spirit, then I am not empowered... and I am more vulnerable to his lies and distractions.

I am flat out told to "resist him" in 1 Peter and in James.

"Therefore submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."  James 4:7~ 

So how do I resist the devil and his attacks and his lies?  Well, God knew we needed to know that and we are given the greatest example in Mark 4.  Jesus has just been filled with the Holy Spirit and the Spirit led him into the wilderness for 40 days and Jesus was tempted by the devil.  He was lied to and attacked.  And what did Jesus do?  It was pretty simple.  He resisted by speaking truth and the devil lost all ground.  That is where our power and ability to resist the devil comes from... in the truth.  In knowing the truth, believing the truth, and using the truth.

"For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is done in truth." Psalm 33:4~

"Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O LORD; Let your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me." Psalm 40:11~

"He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and your buckler." Psalm 91:4~

"For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations."  Psalm 100:5~

"Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And your law is truth."  Psalm 119:142~

"You are near, O LORD, and all your commandments are truth." Psalm 119:150~

"The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of your righteous judgments endures forever." Psalm 119:160~

"For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." John 1:17

"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6~

"Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." Ephesians 6:14-16~

What is truth? 

 Psalm 119 tells us that the truth is God's law, His commandments, His word. (listed above)

John tells us that the Word is Jesus.

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."  John 1:14~

John also tells us the Word is God.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God." John 1;1~

Jesus is God made flesh.  Jesus is the Word made flesh... he spoke it, taught it, lived it... perfectly.  He fulfilled it, perfectly.

God gave the written word to show who He was... HOLY.  It was also given to show us who we are, sinners... UNHOLY.  The word, laws, commandments show us who God is, what we would have to be to approach Him... to be in His presence.  It was His communication with us.  It is something He gave us to see and read and remember... who He is and who we are. 

The sacrifices in the Old Covenant were to "cover" our sins... as there was no way man could keep all the law and be Holy. It was no longer enough to just communicate with us, He came to walk among us... to live as we live... and to die to fulfill what the written word shows us. THE sacrifice in the New Covenant was not to "cover" our sins but to "take away or remove" our sins... so that we would be seen as Holy and could be in the presence of God.  When we accept THE sacrifice made on our behalf... we are healed... we are justified and restored... we are saved... we are made righteous... and Christ comes to reside inside us through the Holy Spirit.  If Christ is God made flesh, God comes to reside in us, through the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8)

The very source, the very word, the very presence of God resides inside believers... inside me!

That fills me with joy. I have to hold onto to that with both hands!

   

I am so thankful for how His word continues to unfold.  I am learning about how blood covenants were made back then among the people and how God made them with Adam and Eve, Noah, and Abraham.  It all is THE picture of God's covenant with us through Christ. It was a ceremony. Christ is there... in all of it.  And so are we.  Everything that was written and happened in the Old Testament (Covenant) is carried out in the person of Jesus in the New Testament (Covenant).  It's mind blowing. 

 Joseph and the coat of many colors, sold by brothers, made King, forgives and blesses brothers AFTER one confesses for what he had done and restores them... picture of Jesus.  Issac whom God asked Abraham to sacrifice (this was part of the covenant God made with Abraham), his only son, who was of a miraculous birth (both parents past child bearing age)... was a picture of Christ. Then God stops Abraham and tells him to get the lamb (caught in thorns...crown of thorns) as a substitute.  The lamb becomes the sacrifice.  It goes on and on... so very cool.  It is simply amazing, beautiful, sovereign and leaves me hungry for more.

The truth brings joy... it is simply too beautiful.

Healing

"Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.  Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.'" Isaiah 58: 8,9~

This is my favorite scripture in the Bible about healing.  It gives me hope and it gives me promise.  It also reminds me that the LORD is the healer and He wants to heal us... it springs forth speedily.

I am in need of healing.  It goes way down and deep and it has stolen the real me, it has stolen my joy.  My wounds came early in life and I have thought that I was healed, that I had forgiven and recovered.  I have forgiven and even have understanding of most of it. 

But I am not who I am supposed to be. I am not healed.  I am not sure exactly what needs to be healed... except for the little girl deep down inside me who walled herself off and found a way to survive by pouring out to others and becoming the over achiever for some self-worth.  By being all this to everyone else, I didn't have to deal with myself... with my own pain and isolation.

Just as the LORD put on my heart that this past winter was going to be a time of rest, He has placed all over my heart that this year is a year of healing.  And I welcome it.  I seek it.  I surrender to it.  I lie in it and await it's warmth and strength... and joy.

Just Us

                                                                         

I went away last week, for one night, with my man... my thoughtful and generous man... husband, friend, and lover.  I realized, more than ever before, how necessary this must become for us.

It was just one day, one night, and part of another day... and it was just us and it was full.

We were just "us"... just a boy and just a girl.  There was no talk of children allowed.

We were not on a time schedule.  We had no place to be at a certain time.  We had nothing to worry about.  We laughed.  We shopped.  We talked.  We loved.  We slept.  And we totally reconnected.  We were who we are... just ourselves.

As we drove home, I realized how consumed our lives become with children when we have them.  Yes.  They are children for just a short while.  And they do need a lot of us... all the time.  But what about the other... the signifigant other?  My mind wondered to when we were dating and everything was about the other.  When we were engaged and everything was about the other.  When we were first married and everything was about the other.  And then... it got lost somewhere.

I often have nothing left for my other.  No energy.  No patience.  No laughter.  No time.  No me. I was convicted to the core, this can not be so any longer.

I went on a get a way with my man... I have made some changes... we are going to do it often.  We are going to be us for each other.  And I want my children to see our love... and want that. 

I am a very lucky girl.  Even when I am pouting and feeling sorry for myself... I am a very lucky girl.

Love.  I get to love... and I have love.  And that loves grows.

"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.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:16,17~

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8~

"He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." 1 John 4:8~ 

The weight of it all... "First Things First"

I love the way the Lord speaks to me.  I crave it.  When it happens so sweetly, so boldly, I smile from ear to ear and just soak it in... deep inside.

M is in school as are the girls today.  This leaves me with the rare "silence" in the house.  The silence I so crave and love.  I wanted to take advantage of the silence and try to sit with the Lord.  I often just jump in with my prayers and agenda.  It is all heart felt.  But I find it VERY hard to just sit and wait... to sit in the quiet and rest and wait for Him.  My mind races to the laundry in the washing machine that needs to go into the dryer so I can start another load.  Then it sneaks off to the other "to do's" on my list like changing the water in the fish bowl, emailing a friend, emptying the dishwasher and cleaning the floor.

So I try to reel my mind back... back to a place of listening.  Sometimes if I start praising Him... just one praise a minute... it can keep my mind in the place it needs to be... and then it happens.  I hear Him.  It's not an audible voice that thunders through my head.  No, it is a quiet thought that comes from the edges of nowhere and is exactly what I need.  It is sometimes very obvious that it is Him... other times not so obvious.

So today, as I reeled my mind back to the quiet, "Look in your devotion," came to my mind. My first thought was "No, I am now trying to DO something and I just need to wait."  Before I could really get through the thought, "Look" came again and so I made a deal with myself.  I'll look at today's devotion and if it has NOTHING to do with what is going on/where I am then I'll put it back on the coffee table and settle back into the quiet.

I reached for my devotion, opened it, laughed, smiled, and read.

"First Things First"

If other people were to calculate how we spend our time, or the allocations in our checkbook, what would that say about our priorities?  Would they say the kingdom of God is our priority?  Would they say we truly know what life is about? The One Year at HIS feet Devotional, by Chris Tiegreen

It goes on to ask why we spend so much time trying to sustain ourselves and not just "being".

Look at what God does with His birds and His lilies.  They spend all their lives just "being" for the glory of God.  We spend all our lives just "doing," usually for the glory of ourselves.

Last night, I posted about my frustration with trying to manage my time with all the things I want and need to do.  All these things have weight in what really matters.  Today, God sweetly directed me, called me to, and confirmed what I know is important. 

I LOVE it when HE does that and I PRAISE HIM for being the LIVING GOD of my life.

  

Time...

This is my biggest complaint.  I don't have enough time.

I feel kinda overwhelmed, every day, because I just can't seem to find or manage the time I have been given.

This is my biggest desire right now, besides one, that is large on my heart.

There seems to be at least two categories... need and want.

I need time to sleep.  I need time to study, learn, pray, worship, serve and grow spiritually.  I need time with my family (quality time, homework time, play time, husband time).  I need time to run the home (this includes the NEVERENDING tasks of laundry, cleaning, shopping for, planning, preparing and cleaning up after meals, organizing, and cleaning... yes, I know I mentioned that twice!).  I need to exercise.  Enough said there.  I need to rest (to just sit, read, listen to music, watch my birds, sit in the sunshine or look at the walls).

And then there is the want category.  I want to do other things around the house (like painting a chalk board strip down T's wall, painting the butcher block island, putting beadboard up in the kitchen and kid's bathroom, painting numerous chest of drawers, organizing my closet, hanging and hemming curtains, and several other things).  I want to make things (like scrapbooks, pillows for the sofa, fabric pins and headbands, pillows for M's room, a corn hole game for the kids, heart banners and flag banners, and other crafty things floating around in my head).  I want time with my friends.  I want to play with my photography. I want time to travel and explore. 

Time.  It is a gift.  It can't be replaced.  It doesn't stop.  It is hard to manage.

The other thing heavy on my heart is A.  It is so hard to remain seperate from her.  She affects me deeply.  Her moods affect me deeply.  Her behavior affects me deeply.  Her heart affects me deeply.  Her life affects me deeply.  And I am tired.  I feel so sad.  I feel so out of control (and I am as there is just ONE in control).

I feel like I am losing time with her.  We are having some major behavior issues that spill over into most of my day.  I feel I am failing.  I feel I am missing something.  I feel it will be soon too late to reach her and be able to mold or guide her in certain skills very much needed for her life.  My heart is broken.  The emotional rollercoaster keeps me emotionally drained. 

Time.  I am praying that God's timing will bring help and answers and guidance soon.  And that I can walk through it surrendered to the ONE who holds it, see Him all in it, and find joy there.

Hey... Hey... it's my Birthday!

Today is my birthday and I am 37 going on 90!  Well, that's the joke... that I am turning 90 since my body has been falling apart!  But I am 37 years old today.

I am so amazed and so thankful when I look at me life.  It's not perfect... and it's not always easy... but God's handprints are all over it and I am so humble and thankful for His presence in my life.

In years past, I have always spent time wondering what I wanted for my birthday or what I was going to get.

I know more now, than ever before, that the best gift is being with the ones you love and who love you.  And THE ONE who loves you.

My morning started with my husband getting up with the girls to take them to school.  Then they gave me cards and beautiful flowers before they left. Lastly I spent the rest of the morning with my girls in moms group (where my husband had sent a cake to share with everyone to surprise me!).  It was a wonderful place to be.

While all this was going on, my facebook has been flooded with birthday wishes, texts have been sent to me, phone calls made to me, a gift left on my porch and cards in the mail.  I am feeling the love. :0)

Marc has the flu, it's way cold and raining outside, and my rib is still trying to poke through my chest wall... but it is a very blessed and wonderful birthday, so far, filled with much love.  There is no better gift!

I am so thankful.  I am so blessed.

It's all in the meaning...

I have been down for months now.  I have been sick for three months.  It really has been ridiculous.  But it has also been much, much more.  God really put on my heart that winter was a time of rest.  I embraced it.  What I didn't know is that the rest would come from being sick for so long.  I had a cold three times in a row until that turned into a sinus infection and that turned into bronchitas for three weeks and that turned into pleurisy for what is now going into the fourth week.

My husband has stepped up in so many ways and I have actually spent days in bed.  Can you imagine?  With three kids and no family here to come and help.  He was just amazing.  And God used that to show me that I didn't have to do it all, that I could rest, that I could trust him, that I could and needed to step back.

And God has and continues to show me so much more.  I remember the days when I spent time blogging about decorating and organizing and stuff like that.  I am sorry if you miss those days.  As my life continues to transform, so is my blog.  It is pretty much focused on what God is doing in my life and sharing it to give Him glory, to encourage and spark interest in others, and to continue to be a missionary tool for me.  Now, I may have the occassional post on what I have done new around the house. I still love to "freshen" things!  But my time is consumed with being in His word, with Him, learning, studying, and worshipping with others.  I am consumed with Him... by Him... and I pray it continues to overflow.

One of the most amazing things to happen to me is to learn who "Israel" is.  This happened by watching the podcast at passionfortruth listed on the right side of my blog.  As scripture after scripture after scripture was unfolded before me... and as I saw the very thread that runs through the entire Bible... connecting it and far from seperating it... I literally sat with my mouth open for 20 minutes as scriptures I have learned, read, and heard for all the years of my life starting connecting and unfolding inside my head!  I was smacked.

Then to see how for God, it was always about Israel AND STILL IS... just blew me away.  Israel is not the nation we have today nor is it the Jews.  Israel is God's chosen people (and always will be) and includes the 12 tribes of Israel that came from the 12 sons of Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel AFTER wrestling with God!)  In that nation... or in those 12 tribes was one tribe of Judah and that is where the Jews come from.  All the tribes were sent into captivity because of disobedience.  Ten tribes were in one place and 2 tribes (including Judah and who are today called Jews) were in Babylon.  Out of the two tribes who were in Babylon, after God freed them from captivity after 70 years... one tribe wanted to stay (they liked the lifestyle of Babylon) and one tribe came back... yes... the tribe of Judah... the Jews.

After the other ten tribes were released from their captivity, God scattered them among the Gentile nations to the ends of the earth.  They took on Gentile culture, traditions, lifestyle, and intermarried with them.  Yes... their children would then be Gentile through the generations.  God said that Israel was as a harlot and He gave her a degree of divorce.

But God loves His chosen people and said He could not be angry with them or seperated from them forever. But His law says there has to be blood shed/sacrifice for their sin... for their "forgetting the law".

So God tells of the Redeemer who will come and redeem His people all throughout the Old Testament... in the Psalms, Isaiah, Ezekial, Jeremiah... it's everywhere.  IT'S ALSO ALL SHOWN IN THE FEASTS.  Not the "Jewish Feasts"... they are "THE LORD'S Feasts"... for His people... all 12 tribes!

So the New Covenant came... Christ, Jesus, the Messiah, the Servant of David, the Chosen One!  And Jesus came to be the perfect, spotless lamb (Passover Feast) and the final sacrifice so that there was bloodshed for Israel's disobedience and SO THEY COULD BE GATHERED BACK TO GOD!  All through both Testaments is scripture of God gathering and restoring His people! There is a feast about this too... The gathering/harvest! 

God says in MANY PLACES the lost tribes are lost sheep.  Jesus says he came to seek and save the lost... the lost sheep... the lost tribes of Israel.  Jesus says he is their Shepherd (God said the same thing ) and they will know him by his voice!  In Matthew 15: 24 Jesus says, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  WOW.  And there is more... much... much... more.

Romans makes sense now.  So many Psalms jump off the page now!  Revelation... making sense.  The last feast is the Feast of Trumpets... that is when Christ returns and will marry His bride.  God's law says if she was given a degree of divorce... she can't remarry... UNLESS her first husband dies.  YEP!  Christ's death also freed Israel from consequence of her divorce and frees her to marry... marry Christ. Scripture says she is getting ready!

I am blown away every day.  I can't get out of scripture.  My notebook is full and I am going to have to move into a second.  It is amazing... beautiful... sovereign... so God!

I have also been shown over and over and over and over where God's law was and is forever and ever and ever... it is everlasting... for all generations.  The part that changed (and if any part of a covenant is changed a new one has to be made) is the sacrifice, high priest, and penalty for sin.  This was all spoken of in the old Testament.  So we don't obey the law out of trying to please God and win favor and salvation... THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE.  I saw today in Isaiah where God said he saw man was just flesh and could not do it.

So Jesus came and we were given the gift of salvation.  Now we obey out of love and overflowing gratitude.  It is an obedience that is beautiful and from the heart... from love... not from fear.  And that obedience pleases God!

This is the kind of stuff I will be sharing.  There are some amazing resources listed on my blog to help you walk through the scriptures.  Learning to read the scriptures from the Hebrew language and perspective has changed everything!  IT IS SIMPLY AMAZING!  I AM SO EXCITED TO SHARE!

Much love,