because I said so.....

*this post is from a guest post I did on our church website. check it out: http://www.elmgrovechurch.org/

I am sure we have all heard that phrase a time or two! I heard it from my parents on occasion when I would question why they wanted me to do something. I am not yet a parent, but I know how frustrating it can be to ask a kid to do something and in return hear "why do I have to?". Sometimes we just want them to do what we ask without asking questions. There are many things in the Bible God tells us we should do ---often, I catch myself asking why. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:1 that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. In order for us to have true faith, sometimes we must let go of our questions and trust God's plan.




Do you find yourself asking God why? If so, have faith that what He wants for us is what is best.



Let's obey Him and His guidance for our lives and do what He wants.



For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11



~Amanda

just a little laugh for you.....

oh no she didn't!! but wait--what about grace

I can't believe the sight I came home to last night. We pulled into the driveway after church and I noticed the shades on my front window were partially closed. It looked like the love seat had been pushed up against it. We had removed the screens and cleaned the windows on Monday so I assumed that I must have done it when I was working on them.

 So I went inside and walked over to straighted out the blinds and to my horror they.were.destroyed!!! My sweet, innocent, little Macy had literally chewed through two or three of the slats. I could not believe my eyes--I stood there in shock with my mouth wide--Mr. Lane came inside and had the same reaction I did. I took pictures of the damage that I will try to load later.

I just don't know how or why she did it. She NEVER chews on anything but her raw hide toys. I don't know if she was just mad/bored because we had left her or if she was trying to thwart off someone outside.

I was trying to think about what I wanted to blog about and redeeming grace just keep coming to mind.

Romans 5: 1-2 NIV says:

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.

I think about Macy's situation. I was sooo upset about what she had done. We corrected her and then she wanted outside for a while. She came inside and she ran to me immediately--she knew that she had done something bad, she knew that she did something that hurt/upset me and that it was wrong. She looked at me with those big brown eyes and tried to lick me. She knew this would make things right. :)

As Christians, we can be just like Macy. We do things that we know are not right, that are harmful for us, and things that hurt those we love and most importantly our Heavenly Father.  When we do these things, we know it. It may not always hit us right away but that still, small voice is always there and it will show you.  I often do/say things that I know do not please my Heavenly Father. I speak before thinking and as soon as the words leave my lips I think "oh boy,why did I do that". The problem is, you can't suck those words back in, you can't reverse time, and we rarely get do-overs. But, (don't you love the buts of the Bible--they are most often a 360* of the previous statement) we have One that we can go to with our guilt and shame and confess the things we have done and He is there to pick us up and wrap us in His love once again. 

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Proverbs 28:13 KJV

Window washing made easy...

I am really liking this guy:

My MIL gave me a starter set to try it out. I knew if she liked it then it was bound to be good. It was sooo easy to use. Mr. Lane even got in on the window washing action.  You simply wet the pad that sticks on to the pole and your windows and wash away. The pad really suds up and it is easy to rinse off. It really takes the hassle out of cleaning your windows. Try it out!

http://www.rightathome.com/Offers...index.aspx

They are giving away 4000 starter kits to first 4000 people to sign up.

It left my windows looking so sparkling clean that I decided to leave the screens off to let more of the beautiful sunshine in. :)