Myrtle Beach

Abby and I took a trip to Myrtle Beach last week with my mom.

This bird strutted around hoping for some handouts.

These birds did get a handout.

High tide.

Out looking for seashells.

We found quite a few. She washed all the sand off and laid them out to dry.

Abby has never liked getting in the ocean. She wanted water to build a sand castle but kept running away from the surf.

This was her first sand creation of the week. She had more fun digging a moat than building a castle.

If you look closely, you can see a dolphin.

Beautiful sunrise.

Fishing off the pier in Cherry Grove.

 There were lots of jellyfish swimming around. We also saw a shark but I was not fast enough to get  a picture.

Creation #2. Forget the castle. Just dig a moat and build a wall.

The ultimate sand box.

Swimming in the heated pool. It was hotter than bath water.

Last chance to play in the sand and surf.

I love to watch the sunset over the ocean.

Goodbye ocean.

The Sabbath

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Ex 20:8-11 (NKJV)

According to the Bible, keeping the Sabbath is a very serious command. It was important enough that God made it one of the Ten Commandments.

2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

Gen 2:2-3 (NKJV)

God set the example for us by resting after working for six days. He did this because he knew that it was good for man to rest.

27 And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

Mark 2:26-27 (NKJV)

If we follow God's command of the Bible, then we observe the Sabbath on the 7th day of the week which is Saturday. During this time, we do not do any work but instead spend our time resting and perhaps studying God's word.

So this is my question for you. Do you observe the Sabbath on Saturday or Sunday and why? What do you do to observe the Sabbath. Do you literally rest from all work?

In His Service,

Angela

Believe Well

"Know you, what I love most about the story of David and Goliath? David's victory, came not because he fought well, but because he believed well."

One Night With the King

Every once in a while you find a line in a movie that is truly inspiring.

How many of our daily battles are won because we believe well? I can tell you, God has blessed me in spite of my lack of faith at times.

36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
1 Sam 17:36-37 (NIV)

Wow! Look at the amazing faith David had in God. He is called a man after God's own heart. Was it because of his faith? I believe so. He made plain the reason for his strong belief.


The LORD is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made.
Psalms 145:13 (NIV)

God is faithful to all His promises. And there are so many. The most precious, of course, is His Son, Jesus Christ, whom He promised to send from the beginning when the first sin was committed.

Jesus demonstrates many times over that when we "believe well", God will heal, cast out demons, and calm storms, among other miracles.



21 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Matt 21:21-22 (NIV)


Why then, is it so hard to believe? Why do we have such a lack of faith at times? Do we allow the world to crowd in, doubt to worm it's way into our minds, or sometimes just not ask God for help?

1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
Psalms 24:1 (NIV)

God created the world so he gets to be master of it. Things will happen according to his plan but oh, what joy we must give Him when we show unwavering faith like David's.God wants to bless us when we are living in submission to His will.


7 Submit yourselves, then, to God.
James 4:7 (NIV)

10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

Psalms 25:10 (NIV)


I am amazed at how many ways God shows His love for me and my family.

I hope to be counted among those who believe well.



In His Service,

Angela

I Am Blessed

My name is Angela and I am a recovering feminist. Isn't that how the 12 step programs begin?

I was once a feminist in every sense of the word. I didn't need a man to take care of me, I could do everything on my own, I was never going to get married and have children, etc...

I am so thankful that my Lord and Saviour opened my eyes to the folly of this behavior.

Feminism tells women to rely on themselves when our trust should be put in our Heavenly Father. Feminism focuses on self-esteem instead of finding your value in who you are because of Christ.

Thanksgiving is almost here and as I sit here and reflect on all of the blessings I would have missed out on had I continued on this path, I am overwhelmed.

My husband, who is only the most wonderful man alive(I'm maybe a little biased), treats me like a queen. I get to stay home with my child(another wonderful blessing) and homeschool her(#3).

Unless you teach your own children, you cannot imagine what it is like to see your own child's eyes light up with excitement when they learn to read, add or complete a piece of artwork. And when you read the Bible or a story in history to them and they beg for you to keep reading, it is the most wonderful feeling. I have the privelage of instilling this love of learning in my child.

I would have have missed out on the wonderful church family that we have found, the friends in my neighborhood and the blessing of working with other peoples children within my church and through our Keepers at Home group.

I would have missed out on having such loving in-laws and the wonderful people I have met through homeschooling.

All in all, I would say I am very blessed and most thankful to my Lord for his provision in my life.


In His Service,

Angela