Inconvenient

This was probably one of the most inconvenient weeks to get sick. SO much to do, and I'm stuck on the couch because being vertical is not really an option. blech. hopefully it's a 24 hour thing and is gone by tonight! Here's to hoping!

Checkk check Check Check it ooooouuuutttt.

[[the title is a result of not enough sleep/too much sugar/have you ever met me?]]


Anyways - I have decided to start a second blog with little updates and what nots with my makeup artistry business so check it out----> here!

Moving

     One of the things I love to do is to reflect on where I've been and where God has me now. Where I've been has not been pretty or easy, but it amazes me to see how God has worked in and through me in big ways. We are currently in the process of getting ready to move next week (and by process, I mean we're thinking about packing haha....). Moving and boxes and chaos have never been easy for me to handle. I get overwhelmed and have anxiety attacks (sometimes); I just can't stand the thought of "oh, it's just one more temporary place to live". It floods me with the memory of so many bad decisions and difficult patches of my life - but not this time; and not last time. I admit that when I moved into our first apartment, it took me awhile because I flat out refused to put anything in a box. I had lived out of boxes too long and I just couldn't bring myself to do it. So as the weeks led up to our wedding, I would slowly bring over a backpack full of stuff and put it away before I left for the night. When we moved from CA to AZ, we had to put things in boxes - but it didn't bother me so much. I got overwhelmed towards the end, but probably because I'm type A and there just wasn't any logic to the remaining little nick nacks left to be packed. For the most part, I was peaceful about moving, I was excited about it, and I saw God in it everywhere. He kept me calm; He gave me new eyes to see with; He gave me the ability to see that moving and packing and boxes and all of it, while it was still to a "temporary" home, it's good. It doesn't have to mean that I'll be moving in another few months; it doesn't have to mean it's just another place to get buy. So now, as my husband and I get ready to move for the second time in our marriage - I'm excited because it doesn't have to be the way it was; it's going to be the best we can make it because we're in this together - hand in hand, heart in heart. Moving is no longer something to do just to get by another month or so; this will be my 15th? 16th? (I've lost count) move since I was 17; but it's better, because A is with me.  I will probably get overwhelmed because I'm still learning to handle commotion - but it will still be good. God is with me.

On my mind.

(*This probably didn't come out exactly as I planned; my apologies.)     I've been meaning to write this post for awhile now and since bunny is ignoring me, I should take advantage of that. I recently had a conversation with a person who told me that it doesn't matter what is said or done, because (s)he's a Christian and is going to Heaven regardless. It broke my heart. On the one hand, yes it is true. If you are covered in the blood of Christ, meaning if you have acknowledged your wretchedness and Jesus' holiness and your need for a Savior and have repented of your sins and put your faith in Christ and His sacrifice on the cross for you - then yes, you are going to Heaven regardless of what you do becuase of the radical grace, love and mercy God has shown you. Ephesians 2:8-10 states " For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." There is nothing you or I or anyone else to can do to earn salvation and we can't lose it either. We do not serve a fickle God. He is constant; steadfast; unchanging. (Malachi 3:6 "For I, the Lord, do not change...; Hebrews 13:8 " Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.")
     However, we are called to be holy; to be set apart. We are called to be imitators of Christ. Jesus has given us this beautiful, priceless gift for FREE, so shouldn't we respond in a way that shows our appreciation for that? He has granted us eternal life, shouldn't we at least try to obey what He wants out of a deep love and respect of what He did for our wretchedness? We so despereately deserve Hell, yet He died for us to give us Heaven. Shouldn't there be a seperation from the world, after all - Jesus was not of the world and since His life covers ours then we have been graciously given the same thing. So shouldn't our lives reflect Heaven?  In Matthew 7:16-20, Jesus says " You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits."
    What we do matters. It doesn't matter in regards to us getting into Heaven, but it matters as our witness for Christ to non-believers. How are we supposed to shine light on the world if we're acting in the darkness? How do we show others Christ's love when we're gossiping or slandering or betraying or belittling or or or....? Shouldn't we be different? Shouldn't our lives reflect Christ? Shouldn't they? The radical grace God has given to us as a free gift should not be taken advantage of to sin or be viewed as something we need to work to keep or repay out of feeling guilty. He gave us a radical gift of grace so that we could live FOR Him. How are we living FOR Him if we're going against what He wants for us?
    The default mode of our hearts is self-righteousness. The gospel says that we're free in Christ because of what HE did and not anythign that we did. The gospel is Jesus on the cross - Jesus on the cross for my sins; for your sins - so that I may have a right relationship with God. It's not Jesus + all of the things I do to look good. It's Jesus. It's Jesus alone. The fact that I did nothing should shape how I feel about Jesus. He paid it ALL. I should show Him respect and do my best to obey Him and not purposely do or say something that would show Christ in a negative light. If I am purposely doing something to hurt another person because I'm upset with them; that is NOT Christ in me, but sin in me.
    I'm not saying that we HAVE to follow His commands because He died for us. This is not a works righteousness religion. There's a balance between legalism and antinomianism. (Legalism: excessive adherance to the law; Dependence on moral law rather than on personal faith; doing everything to the letter of the law to earn your place. Antinomianism: the flagrant disregard for God's commands.) We follow God's commands because we LOVE Him; just as I do my best to keep the house clean because I love my husband and it makes him happy. We should rest in God's grace, but not take advantage of it.
 The radical grace God has given to us as a free gift should not be taken advantage of to sin or be viewed as something we need to work to keep or repay out of feeling guilty.



(i didn't proof read this. sorry)

Healing

     Last night I received an unexpected message on facebook. An apology and acknowledgement I have been waiting for for over 4 years. While I forgave this person years ago, I couldn't help but think of how powerful God is. Last I had heard, there was a lot of denial still happening and I had come to the point where I was content with knowing that even if this person continued to deny it, I had forgiven and know that God is bigger, stronger and all-knowing. The ramifications of what happened will always be there, will always be a part of my life, and I think will always be painful to some extent - but I felt a weight lift off my shoulders hearing the apology and asking for forgiveness. It's a huge testimony to how powerful God is and how important reonciliation between brothers and sisters is. I thank God for all that has happened in my life; the good, the bad and the traumatic because He is shaping me into the woman that He has designed me to be. It's always a process, and while today will be hard because memories were dug up of things that I don't think should have taken place - it serves as a reminder of how great my God is. How powerful He is to bring me up from the lowest and bless me abundantly with a husband who loves, cares for and respects me more than anyone I have ever known, a roof over my head, a functioning car, and more grace, mercy and love than I have ever imagined was possible. I am thankful for the bad things - for they make me appreciate what I have so much more than I ever would have before.

Thank  you God for leading this person to the acknowledgement of sin, repentance, and for seeking reconciliation after 4(ish) years, thank you for giving me Anthony, who has been there for me, supported me, helped me, loved me, blessed me and even spoiled me from day 1, and thank You that through it all I can see Your blessings, Your will, You mercy and Your grace regardless of what the world may say to me.

It's gettin' crazy!

Hello Family & Friends!
Just a quick update :)  Things have been going well here, A is building his business and it's going well. He launched a groupon that was very well received so he's been pretty busy in the salon lately. I have started booking make up clients again - took a little hiatus to recover from the craziness of the holidays and to continue recovering from the car accident we were in (my back is still messed up from it, but at least I can now push a stroller at work and go on 40 minute walks... only took a bit over a month to get cleared for that....). I put in an application at MAC for a freelance artist and am waiting to hear back from them, but the manager has pretty much made it sound like I have it. Other than that, we're in the process of looking for a new apartment and am thankful God for the blessings He has graciously given us here in Arizona!

We hope you're all doing well!
All our love,
S

Tucson & blessings!

Hello Family & Friends!!
     This past weekend we were blessed to be able to go to Tucson for a few days with Tony's parents and visit his grandparents where we.....

went to this really yummy lunch place and I ordered this:

and had trouble getting half of it in my mouth -

eh - it seemed like a good idea at the time!

And we went mini golfing! [check off 1 more state on my mini-golf goal list!]

We also stopped on the side of the road and bought raw honey from a lady. It's Raw "Desert" Honey - which means it came from a cactus. It's pretty delicious!

[[not the best photo]]

And then we came home to this:

[[ it's our bunny! ]]

and the aftermath of the Groupon launch for A's business and he now has FULL books for awhile. God has blessed us so much in our short time here and we are so grateful for that! So please, rejoice with us & praise God for the work He is doing! We are excited to see what God has in store for us this year! We know that we will be moving at least 1 more time this year [next month], I have a MAC interview/audition coming up, and that A's business is growing - all amazing things! All glory and praise go to God!

Moral Law vs. Ceremonial Law

Came across this in past writings today. It is by no means entirely extensive; I think there's a lot more that could have been said - but it will have to suffice.

Moral Law vs. Ceremonial Law

This question, although I suspect it was made more as a joke than anything else, popped up.

"I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?"

Exodus 35:2 says, "Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death."

So...I couldn't just let this go.

There are two different types of law in the bible. Moral and Ceremonial. Moral law consists of things such as do not murder, do not commit adultery, etc... all things relating to morals. The moral law is an expression of God’s character; it is the standard of all righteousness, an expression of His will. And since we are created in God's image, it's His will for us.

The ceremonial or provisional law was added because of the transgression of the moral law. The ceremonial law consisted of ordinances, ceremonies and sacrifices in the sanctuary system that pointed to the future redemption through Jesus Christ. After Christ's death, the ceremonial law is no longer to be observed because Christ took on the punishment (God's wrath) for our transgressions when He was crucified. Therefore "by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. 16Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. (Colossians 2:14-17). The laws consisting in ordinances, typifying Christ’s death was the one nailed on the cross, "by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace," (Ephesians 2:15). " 1For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near." (Hebrews 10:1).

"'The day will come,' says the Lord, 'when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. . . . But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,' says the Lord. 'I will put my law in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people'" (Jeremiah 31:31, 33). Jesus Christ came to fulfill the law of Moses (Matthew 5:17) and create a new covenant between God and His people. The old covenant was written in stone, but the new covenant is written on our hearts, made possible only by faith in Christ, who shed His own blood to atone for the sins of the world. Luke 22:20 says, "After supper, [Jesus] took another cup of wine and said, 'This wine is the token of God's new covenant to save you – an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you.'"... See More

Now that we are under the new covenant, we are not under the penalty of the law. We are now given the opportunity to receive salvation as a free gift (Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."). Through the life-giving Holy Spirit who lives in all believers (Romans 8:9-11 "You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you"), we can now share in the inheritance of Christ and enjoy a permanent, unbroken relationship with God. Hebrews 9:15 declares, “Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant."

So, no. The ceremonial laws established in the Old Testament, do not apply today, as Christ has established the New Covenant with His blood that was poured out on the Cross in order to cover the sins of God's children today. 

Heaven

There are times in my life where I have been filled with the most intense, inexpressible joy. It is uncontainable; I overflow. It's as if it pours out of every pore of me, as there is not enough of me to hold it in. And the best part? God blessed me with that joy on earth. Can you imagine finally getting to Heaven; the joy that we will experience? If what I feel now, although only in moments, is indescribable- how much more will it be magnified by my Lord when I am finally there?!

 And if those mere moments of intense, over flowing joy wasn't enough to excite us for Heaven, God has given us a glimpse of Heaven, found in the Bible.

Revelation 4
The Throne in Heaven
After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said,  "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.
   And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:  the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,

    "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
    who was and is and is to come!"
 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
  "Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
   to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
   and by your will they existed and were created."



How wonderful will it be when we give glory and honor to God always. It will never cease and there will be no sin to interfere!

MARANATHA!

Growth

I love the days God reveals more and more wisdom and understanding. I love seeing how He is moving in my life, how He is growing me- to have the confirmation that He is working in my life.  To see how God has been working in my life and revealing His truths. Sometimes quickly, sometimes it's a process. To have wisdom, understanding, and discernment in things--in statements that were spoken to me over the past couple of years since coming to Christ. To have the ability and wisdom to see and know more and more the misleading and unbiblical statements that I at first believed because I was a newborn without the knowledge found in the Word,  and trusting of the people proclaiming to follow Christ without using discernment to see if their lives matched up to His Word. I love days like this, where things click and I can see how God has protected me, guided me, and grown me to be more like Christ. Seeking Truth in His Word, instead of solely trusting others without further investigation.
Scriptures tells us that we should examine the Scriptures, and check them against the teachings of others. We should accept teaching that matches up with the Scripture, and correct the teaching of those whose teaching  does not match up. 

Acts 17:10-11 "The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so." (emphasis mine).

Isaiah 34:16 "Seek and read from the book of the Lord:..."


John 5:39 "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me ,"

Proverbs 9:8 "Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you."

2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be competent, equipped  for every good work." (emphasis mine)