God even cares about the books we long to read.

I was over at a friend's house last night. She showed me a few books she was reading.

and

Being a stay at home, home schooling mom of 5 and wife...surviving on an enlistedman's pay in the US armed forces we don't have a money tree growing in the back yard. Books are pricey. I was hoping to maybe get one of these books as a birthday gift in a few months.

However, this morning I was checking my e-mail and found out that VisionForum.com was having a rather nice sale on homeschooling resources. I was able to purchase Large Family Logistics for 50% off, and Passionate Housewives, Desperate for God for 60% off. What a blessing! Thank you Lord!!!

Righteous has no fellowship with the wicked.

I recently had to sever ties with 2 friends. I had really struggled with it for months before I finally ended the said friendships. I realized, that Biblically, it was wrong to bind myself with unbelievers. A blog I follow had a post just the other day about the same thing. Now, while it deals with being friends with unbelievers involved in sexual sin - the same Biblical principals apply to people living any lifestyle of perpetual sin (including the sin of unbelief). I am linking it to this post - as she has it laid out, better than I could. It is a bit of a long read - but worth it. Enjoy...

A 2nd Generation of Homeschooling: How to BIBLICALLY work with those in sexual sin...

How to BIBLICALLY work with those in sexual sin...

Our family works with women living in sexual sin (at the abortion mills). We have hosted them in our home (and yes, ate with them), but when they choose to reject Christ and to *continue* to willfully live in sin...that's where we cannot yoke with them. That's where the *bond* MUST be broken, according to Scripture. Sound harsh? Look at the Scriptures below and see where Jesus' compassion alligns with His commands and warnings...

2 Corinthians 6:14-17 (NIV): Do not be yoked together [associate; befriend] with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship (associate) can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

Matthew 10:14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.

Acts 13:51-52 So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

..... to shake the dust of any city of Israel from off one's clothes or feet was an emblematical action, signifying a renunciation of all further connection with them, and placing them on a level with the cities of the Heathen. (from Adam Clarke's Commentary)

Ephesians 5:11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them (reprehend severely; rebuke; convict).

James 4:4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred (hostility) toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy (hostile) of God.

[Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world] How strange it is that people professing Christianity can suppose that with a worldly spirit, worldly companions, and their lives governed by worldly maxims, they can be in the favour of God, or ever get to the kingdom of heaven! When the world gets into the church, the church becomes a painted sepulcher; its spiritual vitality being extinct. (from Adam Clarke's Commentary)

Regarding associations with perpetual sinners who call themselves believers....

1 Corinthians 5:9-13 "I have written you in my letter not to associate (keep company or be intimate) with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat (directly translated that we are to not eat, "not even in a continue negation"). What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel (remove) the wicked man from among you.'

It is vitally important to understand that we are not to judge those who are outside the church (non-professing Christians), but we are to remove those who practice homosexuality from our Church body (1 Corinthians 5:9-13). We cannot "police" the homosexuals (that's not our job), but we can remove them from our presence, as stated in the aforementioned verses.

Psalm 1:1 - Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

Psalm 26:4-7 I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, Nor will I go in with hypocrites. I have hated the assembly of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked. I will wash my hands in innocence; So I will go about Your altar, O LORD, That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works.

Proverb 29:27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.

This is crucial........

1 Cor. 15:33 "Do not be deceived (led astray): ‘Bad company (companionship) corrupts good character (habits, customs).'"

There is no difficulty in this saying; he who frequents the company of bad or corrupt men will soon be as they are. He may be sound in the faith, and have the life and power of godliness, and at first frequent their company only for the sake of their pleasing conversation, or their literary accomplishments: and he may think his faith proof against their infidelity; but he will soon find, by means of their glozing speeches, his faith weakened; and when once he gets under the empire of doubt, unbelief will soon prevail; his bad company will corrupt his morals. (from Adam Clarke's Commentary)

When comments have been said to me about how Jesus hung out with and associate with unbelievers and those in sexual sin, I urge them to look at his friendships with them. My friend had an excellent response...

Jesus had dinner with "sinners", but they were not in His circle of "friends". There is a huge difference, IMHO. There is a distinction between interacting with homosexuals (or whichever other "sinner") and "yoking" yourself with them in a friendship that entails regular interaction. We are known by whom we associate with (sad, but true) and we are also influenced by whom we associate with. Do you want your kids hanging out with the kid who smokes and sneaks alcohol from their parents' cabinet? Or do you want your kids hanging out with the kid who - while they aren't perfect (because no one is) - does their best to make good choices? I know which one I want my kids hanging out with. I know that it has become politically correct to be "tolerant" of homosexuals (which is watering down the fact that according to the Bible, it is a sin, an abomination), and I AM "tolerant" of homosexuals (my SIL is a lesbian, and has been in a relationship with the same woman for over 10 years), but I am not going to befriend a homosexual. All of the examples (addiction to porn, lusting, having affairs) are done in secret. It isn't as though people engaging in those things show up at church with a sign around their neck saying "I'm a porn addict". Those examples are red herrings. If a man DID show up at church with a sign that said "I'm addicted to porn", I think that the article Lisa posted [HERE] would apply. But to answer your question about "how do we choose who is moral enough to keep company with", the answer is spelled out very clearly in several places in the Bible. I've already gotten long-winded, so I won't quote the scriptures or even post the references. Don't be deceived into thinking that you have to be "friends with" an immoral person in order to witness to them. You can be friendly, without being "friends". A former pastor of mine used to always say, if you're standing on a chair, it's much easier for someone to pull you off the chair, than it is for you to pull them up on it with you. - Kathy H.

Our family proclaims the truth to those we meet who are living in sexual sin. This can be done while still obeying the Scriptures. We encourage them, in love, to break free from sin (aborting their babies; continuing in sexual sin). We never know when someone will be called into eternity. There is no time to let those that we are supposed to love and care about feel comfortable in their sin. Jesus never made sinners feel comfortable to stay in their sin. He spoke the truth and yoked with those who sought forgiveness and repented from living in sin. When we meet young women at the abortion clinics, we meet their practical needs, present the Gospel, fulfill our promises to them and eventually move on if the Gospel has been rejected. We check in on them now and again and continue to minister to them. BUT...we never yoke together or befriend/hang out with, etc. Quite a difference there...

We *all* sin, but it's what we do to prevent that repetitive sin and Who we've accepted as covering for our sin that makes the difference.

The Word is very clear on this. I cannot debate feelings (we all feel differently about many things...what we prefer to eat, what style home is our favorite, what clothes we prefer to wear, etc.). If you want to show me IN SCRIPTURE where it refutes the Scriptures I listed, I'd love to see it. For me...I take Scripture as it is.

Cha - cha - changes....

A month ago or so, Hubby and I decided we were no longer going to wrestle with the Lord over our family planning. It was a long time coming - and a hard thing for Hubby to let go of. Men, being the big strong providers often fear what more children will do to the economics of the household. That said, we took our hands off the childbearing issue. I freely admit that I would love another baby (or 2). Hubby, however, has said from the get go that he feels 5 is enough for us and that we are complete. Needless to say, it was a leap of faith for Hubby to let go and let God. However, I was so thrilled for Hubby when he, despite his fear, gave control back to the rightful holder, the Lord.

Fast forward to yesterday. Hubby, out of the blue asks me, "So, do you at all feel pregnant?". I was very surprised by this question. My answer was, no. And let me say, that after 5 babies - I usually know when I am pregnant, even before I test +. I raised an eyebrow at him. He continues with, "I don't feel like someone is missing from our family - but I am hoping for another". I was in shock. This is the same man, who just a month or so ago was terrified at the thought that the Lord might bless us with more children. The Lord sure does work in mysterious ways.

When good neighbors do odd things.

There are many things I do not fancy about living here. But I do love our neighbors! We live on a corner, so our only real neighbors are to the left of us. Lovely, God fearing couple are John and Sue (not their real names). Have a great son, we'll call him Danny - just graduating from high school. We all get along well. Their son Danny has taken on an "older brother" role with our oldest son Jack who will be 9 this August. As I was saying, we all get along well. They come over for dinner and board games at our house. We go over to theirs. We chat over fences. We pray together in tough times. Just really, great people. Of all of the times we have thought of moving to another house - it is always the neighbors, and not wanting to move from them, that was the swing vote against.

Tonight left me scratching my head a bit. Maybe it is that we live so far north that it doesn't even begin to get dark until after 9:30pm. Maybe it is that they haven't had small children for a long time. But, after chatting with John and Sue for about 20 minutes this evening, AND mentioning I had to get in and put the littles to bed because they were sooooo tired (at 7:15pm)...John starts up his lawn mower and proceeds to make all kinds of racket at 8:45pm! I don't know what possessed him to do that. I had gotten Pippa and Izzy to bed. I was in the basement doing laundry. You know. Putting wet clothes in the dryer. Starting a new load in the washer. Sorting dirty clothes into the proper hampers. Folding clean clothes. You get the idea. Jack comes down stairs and asks if the babies are in bed and sleeping because, "Mr. John is out in the yard with his lawn mower." Now way, I though. But sure enough - yes. I was a bit irritated to say the least. Especially since he was mowing his lawn until after 9:30pm. I don't want to be one of those dragon lady neighbors. But I also don't think it is ok to be mowing the lawn well after my little ones have been down for the night. I try and respect them by not doing our yard work early in the morning - and keeping the kids inside until a respectable hour in the mornings on weekends and in the summer (they are teachers and are home during the summers). At any rate - I am going to have to have a little chat, in love of course. Do you think bringing some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies will soften their hearts to my words? Or maybe oatmeal-chocolate chips. Oh I am such a wimp when it comes to any kind of confrontation. Even thought it won't really be a "confrontation". I have such a hard time with this type of thing in general....

A Foreshadow of Blessings Being Sewn...

Every night we have devotional time with our kids. Hubby and I take the 2 littles (Pippa -4, and Izzy - 3) upstairs. We read to them from a Bible Story Book, ask them questions about it after, pray with them, and sing them a hymn or 2 while tucking them in. After that, hubby and I come downstairs and have devotional time with the 3 olders (Liv - 16, Esther - 10, and Jack - 8). We read from the Bible, discuss it, and then have family prayer time.

Tonight Hubby has duty - so I was flying solo. I read to the littles about the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21). After reading, we were talking about how everything we have is a gift from God, that we need to be thankful to Him for blessing us with. I asked Pippa what she wants to thank God for. Her answer? "Forgiveness". WOW. Pippa went on to say that the best thing God has given her was that Jesus paid for her sins by dying on the cross. I was utterly speechless. I was expecting to hear that she is thankful for her family, or her favorite lovey - "bunny", that she just can not sleep without.

Tonight I am thankful that the Holy Spirit is touching and filling the heart of my blessings, my children. It is moments like these - that I feel the Lord whispering, "keep going, keep going...this is a taste of the harvest that you are planting". What a great encouragement to my soul. Sometimes, as a mom - I get a bit discouraged. I feel like all I ever do is discipline some times. Time outs. Swats when they are overtly defiant (which is really only the littles now). Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with all that taking care of 5 children entails, keeping the house, cooking, homeschooling. Sometimes I wonder if I am reaching them...really connecting; conveying to them the serious stuff about life. You know? Sure they love me. Sit in my lap. Snuggle in bed with me in the mornings before everyone is up. And of course, I love them intensely. I'd die for them. But still, sometimes I fret over what may become of them in another 5 or 10 years. But then the Lord will allow me to see how he is molding and shaping them, like a master potter. I will get a little glimpse of what He is making them into. And all the worry vanishes. How can I worry when the God who created the heavens and the earth is holding them in His hands. They are His, for He truly does have the whole world in His hands.

I'm baa-aack.

I am back from my visit to my mom's. It was a very nice time, but I missed my children soooo very much! I missed hubby too, but it just isn't the same - rip your heart out of your chest feeling as being separated from your little ones. Everyone survived a week of daddy being in charge. Personally - I think it is good for everyone to have some dad time. Because I homeschool, and hubby is gone with the military a good amount of time...sometimes when hubby is home, the children don't go to him as an authority in the home. Example: if hubby is home and in the living room, but I am in the bathroom - the children will come and knock on the bathroom door and ask for help. They forget or discount that daddy is in the living room and able to help. When I am gone for a week - it really helps strengthened the bonds between hubby and the kids. Helps the kids realize that though daddy does things "differently", it is just "different" and not "wrong". And you know what? Sometimes I need to be reminded of that too. ;)