God Speaks Through Our Circumstances

God speaks through our circumstances

1 Peter 1:6-7 (New International Version)

⁶In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

I am not speaking today merely as a commentator on Christian life, but one who is in the throws of this whole financial crisis we find ourselves in today. But more than wanting a solution to this financial crisis, I am increasingly aware that there is an aspect to this time that we do not want to overlook, and that is the spiritual aspect. Things do not happen by accident or by coincidence, God is a purposeful God. I do not pretend to have the definitive answer nor the exclusive rights to the voice of God. But living through this, several thoughts have surfaced…

1) God is trying to lead us to repentance…

Romans 2 ⁴ Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

We have come off of a time of unparalleled prosperity. We have seen the stock market grow, home values soar, easy flowing credit… all to allow us to lead a life of prosperity and relative comfort. But where has it brought us to? We have more. We have more toys. We have more of the American dream. While we have truly been blessed, have we returned thanks? I remember these verses from Deuteronomy when the people were being told about the land flowing with “milk and honey”…

Deuteronomy 8 ¹⁰ When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. ¹¹ “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, ¹² lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; ¹³ and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; ¹⁴ when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; ¹⁵ who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery

serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock; ¹⁶ who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end— ¹⁷ then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ ¹⁸ “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

We have been a very blessed nation, but we are also a nation who has forgotten that it is God’s hand that blesses us. A serious question occurs to me at this point, why do we believe that we have been so blessed? Do we believe that we are owed blessing? (that is our national sense of entitlement) Do we believe it is because we are a “Christian” nation? Or is it that we have come to the point that the only thing we want from God is His favor and His blessing without the requirement of worship and love toward Him?

God’s goodness should lead us to repentance, not selfishness. I have been humbled by this thought over the last few months. Have I taken my own prosperity for granted? Have I adequately humbled myself in thanksgiving to the Lord for all the good He has brought my family? For most of us we are firmly entrenched in the most difficult financial time we have ever experienced in quite sometime, but we are reminded that we are still very blessed. Our heavenly Father loves us… and the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, but blessed be the name of the Lord! (Job 1:21)

2) God does allow trials into our lives…

We have been blessed, and I believe it has been a very revealing time for our nation, seeing how we have handled blessing. Now it is interesting to see how we are going to handle adversity. If we have come to believe that there should be no adversity in life, then we need to take another look at the life of Jesus. We are into pain avoidance, and that is a natural response. There are very few people who enjoy pain or difficulty. But there is a difference between trying to avoid difficulty, which most people do, and being spiritually prepared to handle the difficulty that will come. Jesus knew that His life was not going to be one of ease and luxury, and He was spiritually ready to handle the difficulty that came. At His most trying moment, Jesus was found in the garden praying to the Father fervently, drawing in ever closer. (Luke 22:41-44) In America, where the majority of people call themselves Christian but do not participate in their faith, there is still a great interest in Jesus and spirituality.

This was evident after 9/11, people flocked to churches the weeks following 9/11, but as things settled down, they returned to their normal routines. This financial crisis that we find ourselves in will cause some people to begin praying for sure, and maybe even a few showing up to church to find some hope, and plenty calling on the church for benevolent assistance. But are we drawing any closer to God?

The Old Testament is full of stories of God causing national crises in order to get the spiritual attention of the people. In the New Testament Paul suffered a personal physical pain, and God spoke to him and drew him in closer in the midst of his difficulty. James said to count it all joy when we face various trials, knowing that it would draw us in closer to God. In our time of need, when things are not going our way, where is our relationship with God? God is not just a doctor that we run to when we need to be fixed. God is not the mechanic we go to when things break down. God is our Heavenly Father who desires and deserves our love and attention every day. We may look at these troubling times and wonder why now? Why does it have to be this way? Why me? But read the Scripture below and see if you can uncover the answer… Acts 17 ²⁵ … since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. ²⁶ And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, ²⁷ so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

3) Trials develop Godly Character

Trials develop Godly Character, and that enables us to "rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:3-5). Jesus Christ set the perfect example. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). These verses point out aspects of His divine purpose for both Jesus Christ's trials and tribulations and ours. Persevering proves our faith. "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). At the same time, we must be careful never to make excuses for our "trials and tribulations" if they are a result of our own wrongdoing. "By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler" (1 Peter 4:15). God will forgive our sins because the eternal punishment for them has been paid by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

However, we still have to suffer the natural consequences in this life for our sins and bad choices. But God uses even those sufferings to mold and shape us for His purposes and our ultimate good.

Trials and tribulations come with both a purpose and a reward. "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him" (James 1:2-4,12).

Through all of life’s trials and tribulations, we have the victory. "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ." These verses encourage us to see that although we are in a spiritual battle, Satan has no authority over the believer in Christ. God has given us His Word to guide us, His Holy Spirit to enable us, and the privilege of coming to Him anywhere, at any time, to pray about anything. He has also assured us that no trial will test us beyond our ability to bear it, and “he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

We have looked into God’s Word and found why and how God uses trials in our lives (Read 1Peter 1:6-7 again) What did you see? Did you see a God who has called you to this day and this hour, under these conditions… so that you might find Him?

1. He has made every nation of men- it is no accident, God is in control and at work in our world

2. He has determined the times in which they would live- God has chosen these times, whether we determine them to be good times or bad times.

3. He has set the boundaries of their dwellings- God has set the place you are to dwell, the people that you identify with, the nation you are from- no matter whether you agree or don’t agree with the financial policies and politics of that nation.

4. He has done this so that you would seek after Him and find Him- God has made these days, times and places so that men would seek Him out and His promise is that you will find Him. His purpose is to bring you awareness of Him, a desire for Him and a hunger to be close to Him.

So what are you going to do with these days that we find ourselves in crisis? You can choose to whine… but who will listen? You can choose to complain… after all misery loves company. You can say it is unfair, not right, it shouldn’t happen to you…but it will not change what is happening. Or maybe, you and I can look to the Lord and listen for Him to speak, listen for Him to call us and draw us in close. He makes the times, the seasons of blessings and the seasons of trial, so that you will look to Him and look for Him. God is ever present, ever willing to work with you, every hoping for your faith, trust and love. But my concern is, if we have not looked to Him in our prosperity, will we look to Him in our day of trial? If God is trying to capture our attention, He has already tried with great blessing… I wonder what choice we have left Him? What is the Holy Spirit saying to you? What choice will you make?

Kelly's Thrifty Tips

Okay. We are definitely nearing the big back to school countdown. Last week I talked about getting a total inventory of all the kids clothing. If you haven't done it yet, seriously do this. Figuring out what your children need can keep you from over spending. This week I highly recommend doing the same thing with your kids school supplies. In fact this is something to keep in mind for next year. On the last day of school. Separate the pencils, pens, papers and folders and put away what you think is in good enough condition for next year. We do this every year which usually makes going through all the school supplies pretty easy. I like to box them up if possible. It keeps us from looking around the house for things like the special calculator that my son had to have for Algebra. :)

Now for shopping. Shop around because there are deals everywhere. If you have a computer look around online at the online fliers. If you have a good idea of size, check the online clothing sales too. When it comes to clothes, take advantage of thrift stores, yard sales, rummage sales and consignment shops. Now is a great time to pick up some great items at these outlets as people are thinning out closets and making donations in preparation for back-to-school shopping. Hit those clearance racks at the retail stores. I have been continually stunned at the amazing deals I have been finding at retail stores. I went to a GAP outlet about a month ago and was quite literally stunned by the great deals out there in the clearance sections.


School supplies can be purchased all over, but it is important to get going while the sales are in full swing. Shop at the grocery store, office supply stores, drug stores and mass merchandisers like Walmart and Target. The important thing is to know your prices again, and do not be afraid to shop at more than one store for the best sales. If you take the time to plan your route, you can usually take advantage of the sales without wasting gas. When buying school supplies don't forget things that might not be on your child's list now but your child will need in the future like report covers and index cards. You can find these items for a seriously good price now so take advantage while they are inexpensive.


PS I have noticed lots of great deals on hand sanitizer and tissue too. You might want to pick up some of these deals for your child's classroom. I know my son's teachers have appreciated it.


And don't forget whether you are shopping for school clothes or school supplies, bring your lists!

FREEBIES

While supplies last get your hands on a sample of Oxy Skin Care. The sample will arrive in two to three weeks!

LINK: Oxy Skin Care Sample

If you like Estee Lauder, you may want to head to their counter today (July 22nd) between 5:00 pm and 9:00 pm to get a ten day supply of Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye or Face Serum. No purchase necessary!

LINK: Estee Lauder free 10-day supply Advanced Night Repair Eye or Face Serum

For the time being YOU can get a sample of Nexxus Therappe Shampoo, Humectress Conditioner and the new Humectress deep conditioner from Walmart.com. I love this stuff! I have no idea how long this Walmart free sample will last so hurry on this one!

LINK: Walmart Nexxus Samples

Walmart also has a free sample of Schiff Mega Red Omega 3 Krill Oil. Check out the details at the link below.

LINK: Walmart Mega Red Omega 3 Krill Oil

Nature's Bounty is offering a free pedometer again! We got one a little while ago, and my son loves it. If you have wanted an easy way to monitor your steps and walking this is a cheap way to get at it.

LINK: Nature's Bounty Pedometer

Choose You is a movement created by the American Cancer Society that encourages women to put their own health first in the fight against cancer. Choose You challenges women to make healthier choices, and supports them in their commitment to eat right, get active, quit smoking and get regular health checks. Register now and you can get your own Choose You flower pin. A pretty little reminder of how you should do things to improve your health.

LINK: Choose You Pin

FreeCCM has a free download this week of Todd Agnew's "Give Me Jesus." They also still have songs by Chris Rice, Laura Story and Jeremy Horn.

LINK: Free CCM

God's Truth and the Blessing of Following It

God’s Truth and the Blessing of Following It

One of the great failures of modern church communication is how little faith in and understanding we have of the power of God's Word. The Bible is often viewed as an ancient book of ciphers, which "professional ministers" must work to make understandable through clever themes, sermon series, gimmicks and simplistic translations. The reality is that the Bible is understandable, factual, historical, readable, organized and, most of all, truthful. But those are just my adjectives--the Word itself has so many more.

We must know the Word in order to believe that it is complete and capable, in and of itself, of helping man to understand God's nature and plan, and giving him a more thorough understanding of the gospel and our responsibilities as Christ-followers. Often, I see churches flounder around with weak teaching because leaders simply won't wrap their minds and hearts up in the Word and then stand on it confidently.

Psalm 119 is known as the longest chapter in the Bible. But do you know what the Psalm is talking about? It is one of the most beautiful and passionate passages on the power, authority and rewards of God's Word. You might know a key verse, Psalm 119:105--"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." The picture of the Psalmist is one who is deeply devoted to God's Word--depending on it with desperation--trusting it, clinging to it, waiting on it, believing it, looking to it, keeping it, loving it, delighting in it. What a powerful reminder that the core of our beliefs and teaching is God's Word. I wonder if we would only believe more fully that the Bible is what we say it is--and that its words are true--how that would affect our churches and leadership.

Psalm 119:30

I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.

Consider now, these other verses and aspects of God's Word as you read the entirety of Psalm 119:

Those who walk in the way of God's Word:

§ Are blessed (Psalm 119:1)

§ Are blameless (Psalm 119:1, 119:80)

§ Do no unrightousness (Psalm 119:3)

§ Are not ashamed (Psalm 119:4, 119:46, 119:80, 119:116)

§ Give thanks (Psalm 119:7)

§ Are pure (Psalm 119:9)

§ Resist sin (Psalm 119:11, 119:101, 119:133)

§ Rejoice in the Word (Psalm 119:14, 119:162)

§ Are revived (Psalm 119:25)

§ Are strengthened (Psalm 119:28)

§ Walk at liberty (Psalm 119:45)

§ Lift up their hands to the Word (Psalm 119:47)

§ Are comforted (Psalm 119:52, 119:76)

§ Stand in awe of God's Word (Psalm 119:161)

§ Have great peace (Psalm 119:165)

§ Do not stumble (Psalm 119:165)

The Bible Presents many aspects of GOD'S TRUTH. After all Jesus is truth and His Word is God’s way of sharing His Heart with all of us. The most important Truth in all the Bible is how God presents Salvation to ALL; boy and girl, man and woman, young and old, rich and poor! Each one has to accept this FREE Gift of God... or reject it. His Gift is His Son, Jesus Christ. The most important truth in your life is that you know you are ready to meet the King of Kings. This involves that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, and obey His commands. He sacrificed His life for you. Is it too much to surrender your life to Him, in return?

John 14:6 (New International Version)

⁶Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Seek His Truth through His Word(The Bible) and obey, then blessing will surely follow. He is Faithful to all who seek Him with a pure Heart!

Kelly's Thrifty Tips - School Planning

Has anyone else looked at the calendar recently and realized school is just around the corner? It is time to get prepared my friends! Seriously, it just creeps up on you! So let's start working on the back-to-school planning.

First step - Clothes

If you have one child you can do this in one day. If you have more than one, I suggest tackling this project in several days so you don't exhaust yourself and so that nothing gets missed. But focus on one child per day.

Go through everything. Check shoes for fit and wear and tear. Clean out the closets and dressers. Have your child try EVERYTHING on. My son hates this part, but in the long run it saves us money, and can I also add that we have found items we didn't even know we had? As your child is trying on clothes, make three piles.

PILE ONE - This is for everything that fits and is suitable for school. I am talking everything from shirts and bottoms to underclothes and socks.

PILE TWO - This is the pile for everything that fits that your child can wear outside of school. In other words play clothes.

PILE THREE - This is the pile for what simply does not fit. At a later date you can sort this pile and figure out what you can donate, pass along to a sibling or friend, or even sell at a yard sale or consignment shop.

Okay once you have your school pile set aside, go through everything and figure out what you need to buy to supplement this wardrobe. Do not just figure out just the amount of certain clothing items you have but how many outfits you can make out of these pieces.

Now you can make a list and pop that list in your wallet or pocketbook. Keep that list at the ready for those times you are shopping and those unexpected times when you are out and see a great deal. This way you don't have to rely on just memory and buy possibly more than necessary. Saving on back-to-school clothes now, means you can purchase during the extra discounts later.





FREE SAMPLES

Calm facial redness with Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Advanced Facial Serum. Sign up to get a free 1.5 ml sample.

LINK: Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief

Okay since I post these on Thursdays, I am giving you this one now which you should act on next Monday. You can send a friend a greeting (via facebook) which will come with a printable coupon for a Coke while supplies last (and fresh supplies are offered up after 3 pm EST on Mondays). So keep it in mind and send a friend a greeting with a soda treat. Maybe they'll be kind enough to send one back your way!

LINK: Ahh Giver

Okay this one is FREE with rebate. Purchase Neutrogena Clinical SPF 30 Night or Eye between 7/11/2010 and 7/18/2010, mail in the rebate form by 7/31/2010 and you can get the purchase price up to $40 back! So this kind of goes with free and rebates. Either way it is a bargain! Be sure to follow all the directions on your rebate form.

LINK: Neutrogena Rebate

This week's new download from Free CCM is "It is Well With My Soul." You also still have opportunity to download music from Laura Story, Jeremy Horn and Derek Webb.

LINK: Free CCM - Free Music Download

You might also like to join Hear It First. They send a different download to members each week. This week's free download was The Newsboys "One Shot" from the album Born Again. They email you these downloads in their newsletter. Also they have some GREAT contests.

LINK: Hear It First

Walmart.com has a free sample of Huggies Goodnights while supplies last.

LINK: Huggies Goodnights

Free Axe Body Spray Sample is available for Sam's Club members. Membership number is required.

LINK: Axe Body Spray Sample

Sign up for emails from Albertsons and enter the code FREEBREAD, and when you confirm your subscription, you will get a printable coupon for free bakery bread. PS - They ask for a customer number. My Albertsons doesn't use loyalty cards, and I didn't put anything there and still got the coupon.

LINK: Albertsons free Bakery Bread

Grace to You and John MacArthur have a wonderful free offer. You can choose "Cultivating a Godly Child," or "Saved Without a Doubt." Follow the link below for details.

LINK: "Cultivating a Godly Child" or "Saved Without a Doubt"

John Frieda samples of Root Awakening Shampoo and Conditioner. I just got this via email. Follow the link below.

LINK: John Frieda

Okay this is not a buy one get one free deal, but you can buy one Barnes and Noble Smoothie and get one free! Just look at the picture on the coupon, and I think you will be tempted. There are also some other great printable coupons at this link. The coupons expire on July 19th.

LINK: Barnes & Noble Coupon

Our God Is Faithful, So Trust Him!

Our God Is Faithful, So Trust Him!

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.
His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23 RSV)

DEFINITIONS

The dictionary defines "faithful" as "true or trustworthy in the performance of duty, the fulfillment of promises or obligations, etc; constant", and as "worthy of belief or confidence".

GOD DOES NOT CHANGE

"I the Lord do not change." (Malachi 3:6).

Moses prayed, "Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God" (Psalm 90:1-2). He is God "from everlasting to everlasting" (Nehemiah 9:5; see also Psalms 41:13, 106:48, 144:13; Isaiah 40:28; Jeremiah 10:10; Daniel 4:3, 6:26). He sits "enthroned forever" (Psalm 102:12). "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and your dominion endures through all generations" (Psalm 145:13; see Lamentations 5:19). (Unless otherwise indicated, all Scriptures are from the New International Version and any emphasis has been added.)

God is "I am" (Exodus 3:14). He always is. He is before the physical universe was created, he is now, and he is after heaven and earth will have passed away (see Matthew 24:35). He "inhabits eternity" (Isaiah 57:15 NKJV). "I am the Alpha and the Omega... who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8). He is the "everlasting Father" (Isaiah 9:6).

God's character does not change. "I the Lord do not change" (Malachi 3:6). With him "there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17 KJV). Jesus Christ is "the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

God's truth does not change. "The word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8). Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away" (Matthew 24:35).

God's purposes do not change. "The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations" (Psalm 33:11). God "wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised" (Hebrews 6:17).

The Psalmist wrote, "In the beginning you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same and your years will never end" (Psalm 102:25-27).

I find this tremendously reassuring. In a world which is uncertain, and constantly changing, God does not change. He remains the same. In a quicksand, there is one solid rock on which we can stand and to which we can hold. That rock will always be there and it will always be solid. Scripture often speaks of God as a rock. He is "the Rock eternal" in whom we can trust (Isaiah 26:4). "The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer; my God is my rock in whom I take refuge" (Psalm 18:2;

Because God is eternal and does not change, we can build our lives on him and have a sure foundation. The circumstances of our life, human institutions and philosophies, and even the physical universe, are impermanent. If we base our life on them we are not secure. Only God and his truth are eternal and sure. "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18; see also Colossians 3:1-2; Hebrews 12:2).

"I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" (Jeremiah 32:27; see Genesis 18:14). Job said, "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted" (Job 42:2). "Nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37)). "With God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26; see Mark 9:23). God declares "Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand" (Isaiah 14:24;

I believe one of the meanings of God's name, "I Am" is that he is always there, and he always has what we need. Indeed, one of the names for God is Jehovah-Shammah, the God who is there (Ezekiel 48:35).

God is there even in our most difficult times. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4). "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you" (Isaiah 43:2). God is our ever-present help in trouble. When we are in trouble, he is there to help us. A beautiful example of this is found in Daniel chapter 3. The three Hebrew youths were thrown into a fiery furnace because they refused to worship King Nebuchadnezzar's golden image. The King looked into the flames and said , "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God" (Daniel 3:25 KVJ). God did not keep them from the fire, but his Son was with them and protected them from harm. The Book of Lamentations was written at one of the lowest points in the history of the people of Israel. The ten northern tribes had been conquered by the Assyrians and scattered throughout the Assyrian empire; and now Jerusalem had been destroyed by Babylon and many of its people taken into captivity in Babylon. Much of the book is weeping over what had happened, but in the midst of his weeping the prophet could affirm that "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23 RSV).

GOD'S LOVE DOES NOT CHANGE

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." (Psalm 100:5).

"God is love" (1 John 4:16). He is "abounding in love and faithfulness" (Psalm 86:15). On Mt. Sinai he passed in front of Moses and declared that he is "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin" (Exodus 34:6).

God's love is universal. He is "loving toward all he has made" (Psalm 145:13). "He so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son" that we could be saved and have eternal life (John 3:16). He does not want "anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). He "wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). His promise to Abraham was that "all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:3).

God shows his love especially to those who are his people. He chose the nation of Israel to be his special people, "because the Lord loved you" (Deuteronomy 7:8), "because you are precious and honored in my sight and because I love you" (Isaiah 43:4). "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness" (Jeremiah 31:3).

Scripture says over and over that God's love for his people never fails, his love is unfailing. It is very difficult for us to "grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love oChrist, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge" (Ephesians 3:18-19)

GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES

"God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" (Numbers 23:19).

God is a God of covenant. Although he is sovereign and all-powerful, he commits himself to his people in an "everlasting covenant" (Genesis 17:7, 19;

God is truth (John 14:6, 17:17; Romans 1:25). Truth is part of his essential nature. He does not lie, or deceive, or play tricks on us. God does not lie.

God has given us "everything we need for life and godliness". By his "very great and precious promises" he has made it possible for us to "participate in the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:3-4).

I can best summarize all that I have been trying to say, and bring this to a close, with the marvelous words of Paul,

"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:31-39).

Kelly's Thrifty Tips - Saving Money on Road Trips

Since it is summer and more and more people are hitting the road, I thought it would be a good idea to talk about ways to save money in the summer. Summers are often filled with road trips. Nowadays with it being a bit more expensive to take a long trip away, people are often taking shorter trips to local destinations or driving a state away. Here are a few tips to save money on the road.

1 - Gas - First, gas up before you leave town. Gas stations off of highways are notoriously expensive. It is a good idea to look up websites like GasBuddy.com in advance in towns you are going to go through to get an idea of the best place to stop. Watch how you drive as well. If you have it, take advantage of cruise control. Excessive increases and decreases in speeds is not good for your gas mileage. Also check your tire pressure.

2 - Travel tips - Travel when it is cooler. Start your road trip early in the morning and take advantage of the cooler weather. Do your best to avoid traveling during rush hour. If you are on highways with carpool lanes take advantage of them. When you stop at a rest area or gas station, insist on everyone taking a bathroom break. I know it sounds silly but you might eliminate unnecessary stops. Of course if all else fails you still need to stop if a family member needs you to. :) Don't forget to also pack cleaning essentials like wipes, paper towels and some sort of trash bags. Also pack some activities for the kids. You are less likely to have to make unplanned stops if the kids are entertained. I have some ideas at the bottom of this list with some good travel game tips.

3 - Food and Beverages - Buying drinks and snacks on the road can be very costly. Save your money for your destination and pack your drinks and snacks in a cooler. Make sandwiches and wrap them (we usually use baggies and then hold them all in a plastic bag to keep them doubly secure) and store in the cooler as well. Buy snack items at the grocery store in advance. Don't forget to save money on ice for the cooler too. We usually make extra ice in advance to save on buying bagged ice for the cooler. By the way, you do not need a fancy cooler. Walmart has inexpensive styrofoam coolers that are easy to use. We have used the same one for two years to bring things back and forth, and it works great. There are lots of great parks that you can stop at and enjoy your packed lunch in a nice picnic setting. Again, take a little extra time to plan, and you will find that you save money and have a great time. Plus stopping for a picnic lunch can give everyone a chance to stretch on the road.

4 - Visitor Centers - If you are traveling to another state or tourist town, check out the visitor centers. They are almost always chock full of discounts and deals. We have received a lot of great restaurant discounts by availing ourselves of the visitors center. You might also see discounts when shopping at local stores.

5 - Hotel stay - When booking hotels. Try to stay in hotels with kitchenettes. You probably do not want to eat in on your entire vacation, but truly it is wise to save where you can. We usually try to bring snack foods for the hotel. And if it does have a kitchenette, we definitely hit the grocery store. There are two cool things about this for me. One is that I get to compare prices in another area, and shop with the locals. I have even traveled seriously on the cheap by eating cup o noodles with the hot water from the coffee maker. The second is that we can plan a few meals in the hotel which gives us more leisure and less reason to go go go when on vacation.


All in all, a road trip just takes a little planning. A little planning goes a long way into saving money and stress when summer traveling. Now how about those road games?

-- License plate or street sign ABCs - This was my dad's and my standby for our trips to Disneyland back when I lived in California.

-- I spy - For me this always seemed a bit difficult in a moving vehicle, but it appears to be a road trip classic.

-- Mad Libs - You can make up your own, buy them in a book store, or even print some up on line. I like how you can sneak a little learning in with a really fun game.

-- Trivial Pursuit - We bring the questions from old quiz games and quiz each other when on the road.

-- Crossword Puzzles - I started doing this after picking up a Pilot magazine and asking my husband the questions. This is another great way to sneak in a little learning.

-- License Plate United States - Long road trips to popular destinations can be really fun for a US license plate hunt. We print out slips of paper with all the state, and as each person finds a plate, they mark it off on their list. The person with the most completed wins.

-- Photo scavenger hunt - This kind of depends on what you have on hand to take pictures with. If you have a couple cameras on hand, you can make a list of items that the kids need to find and when they see them, they snap a photo. The first person to complete the list wins.

-- Make a CD of songs and play name that tune for the family to see who guesses the song first. Or make a CD of silly songs for the whole family to sing. Another game my son and I play is "Guess the Lyrics." I will play a song and see if he can guess what the artist is singing. This is not as easy as it may sound, and it can be pretty funny.

-- Various Printables - I have found some really cute printables online that I thought I would share.

Family Fun - Printable Road Maze (an awesome Route 66 maze)

Family Fun - Car Bingo (a great bingo game with signs and sites you might see on a road trip)

Game Ideas for Kids - Printable Battleship Game


Now that we have covered saving money on road trips. There is one other cool thing I want to tell you about. There are lots of wonderful National Parks out there, and there is something that I haven't really mentioned which is National Parks Passes. If you are planning on doing lots of road trips or if you are just interested in keeping costs down and checking out some activities closer to hom, you might want to make the investment in a National Park pass. Check out the details:

America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass

The National Park Service is an important participant in the new Interagency Pass Program which was created by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act and authorized by Congress in December 2004. Participating agencies include the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture - Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation. The pass series, collectively known as the America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass

These passes can really be huge money savers IF you actually put them to use. I didn't even know about them until my family came to visit us from California. My dad had an annual pass which we used to get into several parks during their visit. This pass cost $80. This may seem like a lot, but IF you take advantage of it, it will more than pay for itself. The Grand Canyon itself is $25 for a carload. Here is an example of what a pass will get you, a pass will allow the pass holder plus passengers in a noncommercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas and the pass holder plus three adults use of Federal recreation sites that charge a per person entrance or standard amenity fee for a year beginning at the date of sale. Children 16 years and younger are free. There are also senior passes which are really inexpensive at just $10, and it is a lifetime pass. It allows the same admission as the regular pass. There is also a free pass for persons with permanent disabilities. All these details can be found at the link below:

LINK: America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes

Don't forget that August 14th and 15th are free National Park Entrance days.


LASTLY THE FREEBIES:

Ziploc gift pack - The first 10,000 respondents will win a Ziploc gift pack containing one box of 50-count Ziploc Brand Sandwich Bags, one box of 25-count Ziploc® Brand Storage Bags with the Smart Zip Seal, one package of Ziploc® Brand Containers with the Smart Snap™ Seal (small bowl). This is through Right At Home, and if you have received a Right At Home package in the last 180 days, you do not qualify.

LINK - Ziploc Gift Pack

FreeCCM.com has a free download of Laura Story's "Great God Who Saves." You can still get a free download from Jeremy Horn, Derek Webb, and Vicky Beeching.

LINK: FreeCCM

iTickets.com has a free download of Phil Wing's "You Do Great Things."

LINK: iTickets.com

Crown Ministries for a limited time is offering a Free Crown Money Map! This is a very valuable resource that can really help get financial direction (pun not really intended - but I decided to go for it). Limit one money map per household.

LINK: Free Crown Money Map

GREAT MAGAZINE DEALS

Check out Best Deal Magazines for their deal of the day. They have Ready Made (a total do-it-yourself dream magazine that covers more than just building) for $5.39. That is for a year's subscription which is six issues. Great magazine. They also have Family Fun for $4.69. Family Fun is perfect for parents of younger children. I still get it, because it has so many great ideas for crafts and recipes.

The main page will tell you the deals of the day.

LINK: Best Deal Magazines

Have a great day!

Facing Life Unafraid

FACING LIFE UNAFRAID

ISAIAH 41:8-10

⁸ "But you, O Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
you descendants of Abraham my friend,

⁹ I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, 'You are my servant';
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

¹⁰ So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Other verses to read together: RUTH3:1, Heb.4:9, Isa.32:8, Job 3:17, Rev.14:13, Heb.6:20, Matt.11:28-30, Isa30:15 & Psalm 23:1-2

Isaiah 41 was written in tough times, like ours.

--Look at verse 5, "ends of the earth were afraid."

--Some fear the future; their health, job, economy.

--The world situation can make us fearful, indeed.

--Who, but God, knows what life or the future holds.

--Yet our tomorrows with its uncertainty, should hold no fear, to those whose faith is stayed on the Lord.

--God says, "Fear not," hundreds of times in His Word.

--In God, you and I may face life unafraid.

--To live as fully unafraid, is possible only by the supernatural power of God

We need not fear any man. Or, what man can do.

--For those who know the Lord, "What can man do?"

--"Who can be against us, when God is for us" (Romans 8:31). With faith fully in the Lord, God guides.

We need not fear death. It holds fear for some.

--Listen to the Psalmist, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."

--Why this confidence? "For Thou art with me."(23).

--Didn't our Savior Who died for our sins, arise?

--Did He not say, "Because I live, you will also"?

We need not fear the future. Whatever it may hold.

--When our God promises, "I am with you," He is!

--A year ago, many wondered what was ahead, didn't we?

--Yet, trusting the Lord day by day, He saw us through.

We each have trials. The key is how we handle them.

--We can grumble, blame God. Or pray, and trust Him.

--Consider the oyster, it puts up with irritations.

--In time, turns hurtful sand into a lovely pearl.

--God may be working something beautiful in us, too.

--Our attitude to adversity makes us or breaks us.

--God does not send trouble. He helps us in it.

--"Fear not, I am with you." Not against us, for us!

I love the hymn, "How Firm a Foundation," don't you?

--Did you know it is based on Isaiah 41:10?

"Fear not, I am with thee; 0 be not dismayed,

For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid

I'll strengthen, help, and cause thee to stand,

Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand."

There are many man-made gods out there of all kinds.

--People look for one that gives more pleasure, or demands less of them; but what kind of god is that?

--Some try to live without god or be their own god!

--May I say, in the end, the God Jesus revealed is the very best, in every way! He is the Risen, Living God.

He loved us so much He died for us. Arose, alive!

--No other has ever lived sinless, did what Jesus did.

--By His Spirit within, helps us fight dread diseases.

--Helps us face sorrow and loneliness. Be at ease.

--To win, over some evil habit, or temptation.

--To keep sweet to unpleasant persons or conditions.

--To be God, our Guardian and our Guide.

Is this God of the Bible Jesus reveals, your God?

--This God is God. He says, "I am .. God" (v. 10).

--I am so glad that He is mine. Let's hear Peter.

--He said to Jesus, "Lord, to Whom shall we go? You. have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68).

-Again in Acts 4:-12, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Jesus!

WE FEAR NOT BECAUSE GOD WILL STRENGTHEN US.

--"I will strengthen you." Do you need strength?

--Call on Him. God has strength, to share with us.

--God says, "As thy days, so shall thy strength be."

--"God is our refuge and strength" (Psalm 46:1).

May I say, God's promise of strength does not mean we will not get old, or ill, or have no problems.

--We will. These things come to us all, some time.

--In the Lord, we can face them unafraid!

--So many times this verse has comforted me and others.

--"Fear not, for I am with you .. to strengthen you."

--And "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear .. he who fears has not been made perfect in love" (I John 4:18).

IV. GOD SAYS, "FEAR NOT, I WILL HELP YOU."

--These days, who is it that doesn't need help!

--Why go it alone? God says, "I will help you" (10,13).

--He is "able to do .. above all we ask or think."

--To help us physically, financially, mentally, spiritually, maritally - for He is "Almighty, All-rise."

Charles Bingham, M.D., writes, "Worry, fear, anger are the greatest disease causers! If we had perfect faith we would not worry. Faith is a great healer, of body, mind, and spirit." That's good medicine, doctor!

Maybe today you don't need much help. But you will.

--Keep healthy. Eat right. Live right. Be happy.

--Be faithful in worship, Bible study, and prayer.

--Be sure you are saved. Help others to find Christ. --God hasn't promised a "rose garden," only His help. Romans 10:8-13

But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,"^[d] that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: ⁹That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. ¹¹As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."^{[e] 12}For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."^[f]

When the going gets tough, the tough get going to God.

--Decide today!