The Gift of Suffering

^{THE GIFT OF SUFFERING}

^{PHILIPPIANS 1:29 (Amplified)}

²⁹For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ's sake not only to believe in (adhere to, rely on, and trust in) Him, but also to suffer in His behalf.

Would you believe that suffering, as part of the Christian life, according to the Bible, is a gift from God? There is a Greek word used in Phil 1:29 which has to do with grace or to give graciously. So, with regard to suffering, in a sense it is part of God’s gracious favor towards us, that we suffer for him, whatever that may mean, be it through poverty, illness, disability, persecution, even imprisonment (as in the case of Paul) (the list could go on and on). And to be sure, these things may not all happen here in the States necessarily (not yet at least) but they happen to Christians all over the world on a regular basis, especially in what are called “closed” countries (ie, most of the Middle East, most of Asia, and any other region of the world with a communist or totalitarian government). Here is how one theologian paraphrases this passage: God has granted the high privilege of suffering for Christ; this is the surest sign that he looks upon you with favor. Suffering is the surest sign that God looks upon us with favor? This is hard to believe/hear isn’t it? That a sign of God’s favor is not necessarily or always blessing (mainly in the material or physical sense). One might be lead to ask, if I am not suffering in some fashion for following Jesus, am I really following Jesus? Do I have God’s favor? I find this particularly interesting because the thinking in many Christian circles today seem to suggest the opposite: that suffering is somehow a curse, a sign of God’s punishment or judgment, not his blessing. This seems to be especially true in those circles that promote the prosperity gospel. These folks see health and wealth as signs of God’s favor not suffering. In fact, they refuse to believe that suffering has any spiritual value what so ever. This is contrary to the word of God. We should embrace suffering, for through it, we have God’s favor. How do we know that? Look at Romans 8:17 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁷And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory. Reading this verse and the list of Scripture Passages listed below it is impossible to come to any other conclusion. The Greatest act the Jesus ever did was His suffering! His suffering brought about salvation for all mankind and it pleased God the Father so much that He will forgive anyone who claims repentance through Christ’s shed blood and suffering. It was His purpose in coming to this world and we are to follow in His steps!

IT IS EASY TO CONCLUDE THAT

Suffering for the Lord Jesus is a basic part of discipleship and is to be expected and embraced. It comes with the cost of following Jesus – and so Paul exhorts the believers in Philippi to “live in manner worthy of the gospel,” “as citizens of heaven,” standing firm in the one Spirit, striving together in unity for the sake of the gospel so they won’t have to fear those who oppose them.

Jesus was known as a man of sorrows and suffering. So was Peter, Paul and most all Men of God mentioned in the Bible. They all were persecuted and most died a martyr’s death. But in the end they shared the eternal Joy of Heaven. For those of us who are believers in the Lord Jesus, we are given the great gift of sharing in His sufferings. “For we shall be like Him……”

Romans 8:17 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁷And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.

Philippians 3:10 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁰[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [^[a]which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]

Hebrews 2:10 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁰For it was an act worthy [of God] and fitting [to the divine nature] that He, for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence, in bringing many sons into glory, should make the Pioneer of their salvation perfect [should bring to maturity the human experience necessary to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest] through suffering.

2 Timothy 1:8 (Amplified Bible)

⁸Do not blush or be ashamed then, to testify to and for our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for His sake, but [^[a]with me] take your share of the suffering [to which the preaching] of the Gospel [may expose you, and do it] in the power of God.

2 Timothy 2:3 (Amplified Bible)

³Take [with me] your share of the hardships and suffering [which you are called to endure] as a good (first-class) soldier of Christ Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 1:5 (Amplified Bible)

⁵This is positive proof of the just and right judgment of God to the end that you may be deemed deserving of His kingdom [a plain token of His fair verdict which designs that you should be made and counted worthy of the kingdom of God], for the sake of which you are also suffering.

John 15:20

Remember that I told you, A servant is not greater than his master [is not superior to him]. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word and obeyed My teachings, they will also keep and obey yours.

Romans 5:3 (Amplified Bible)

³Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.

Kelly's Thrifty Tips

This summer my goal is to plant some veggies and maybe save a little money. I love fresh garden vegetables. I live on a hill so this is a little more difficult. Last year I tried a tomato plant in a pot on our deck. It grew a few tomatoes but the blossoms would not stay. I was pretty bummed, but decided to learn more and try again. This year I found this great site with all kinds of wonderful tips, and now I am definitely ready to give it another try. The site is from Kraft Brands and is called Home Farming. It has all kinds of great information that can help almost anyone begin a garden at home! Check out the Growing Vegetables at Home section for lots of great tips! I am thinking seriously about trying a raised garden!

LINK: Home Farming


Let's start with some freebies:

FREE ACTIVITIES:

Bass Pro Shops in Mesa will have free Ester activities and crafts for kids. The activities will include:

Making your own sun catcher on March 27th and 28th beginning at noon while supplies last.

Making Easter decorations on Thursday, April 1st starting at 6 pm and April 3rd and 4th beginning at noon with an egg hunt on the 3rd and 4th for children 8 and under from 2 to 3 pm.

LINK: Bass Pro Shops


Home Depot is signing up ladies for the Martha Stewart Living paint Do-It Herself Workshop on April 15th from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. You need to RSVP for the workshop. Follow the link.

LINK: Do-It Herself

Home Depot has two great activities for kids coming up. Saturday, April 3. The kids can make a Butterfly House, and on Saturday, May 1st they can make a picket fence planner. These workshops are the first Saturday of the month between 9 am to 12 noon for children ages 5 to 12. Call your local Home Depot for details. Follow this link below for a little more information.

LINK: Home Depot Kids Workshops




Lowes Build and Grow Clinics also have some special treats for the kids to make. This Saturday, March 27th the kids can make a kaleidoscope and April 10th the kids can make a mini baseball game. Registration link is below.

LINK: Lowes Build and Grow






REBATE:

Purchase Olay Quench Body Lotion before April 16th (no trial sizes), print out, fill out and mail out the rebate form and in 6 to 8 weeks you will get a rebate for the purchase price of the product. Yes, it will cost you a stamp in the end, but it is totally worth it.

LINK: Olay Quench Rebate


FREE 5 REACT GUM IF YOU'RE CHOSEN

If you have a Facebook account and like gum, you may want to take a chance at winning a pack of 5 React gum. I played, linked up, and was chosen. I also love gum so this was a happy moment for me. Check it out. If you aren't chosen, let me know. I'd like to see if we all get chosen. :) P.S. The link to play is on the left.

LINK: 5 React Gum

LOREAL FREE SAMPLES

Get free samples of Loreal Ever Strong for strong hair or Ever Pure for color treated hair. Just follow the link and click on "Special Offers and Savings" in the lower left corner.

LINK: Loreal


FREE HAIR CARE

Yes more free hair care with an Aveeno New Nourish Hair Care. Follow the link and snag this free sample. Great to have on hand for travel!

LINK: Aveeno New Nourish Hair Care



I talked about getting more bang for your buck by joining the co-op Bountiful Baskets. This is an amazing co-op where you pay $15 plus a service charge for 50% veggies and 50% fruit. They also have organic offerings at some of their pick up locations which cost $25 plus the service charge. In addition, you can order baked goods and other treats for an additional cost. The ordering times are from Tuesday at 10 am to Wednesday (not sure the exact time here so order early) the week of your pick up. It is a bi-weekly thing so check each week to see when you can order for your location. By the way, there are many locations. I did this two weeks ago, and I was just floored by how many fruits and veggies I got for my $15! Follow the link and read the site for how to register.

LINK: Bountiful Baskets Food Co-op


We are going to be out of town this weekend so I will not be partaking in the Angel Food Ministries food offerings, but I plan on getting in on it again next month. Check out their site to see how everything works. You pay $30 plus a service fee and get lots of great food. Enough to feed a family of four dinner for a week. We definitely stretched it beyond that week. Angel Food Ministries has been working to help families with food since 1994! Follow the link and look for a location near you!

LINK: Angel Food Ministries


The Treasure Box is the only food buy that I have not tried. However, I do know that one of their pick up locations is Calvary Chapel in Phoenix. Get more details at their site as well as a listing of their pick up locations. The Treasure Box pick up dates are similar to Angel Food Ministries.

LINK: The Treasure Box


FREE HAIR REPAIR

Get a free sample of Dove Intensive Repair or Daily Moisture. Follow the link below.

LINK: Dove Hair Repair

Lastly don't forget to check out the latest free song downloads at Free CCM and iTickets.com!

Is Jesus Really My Treasured King?

Is Jesus Really My Treasured King

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Mat 6:21

Often times I assess where Jesus is in the big picture of my life. I have been a Christian now for many years and during the years I have seen definite seasons of the extent to which I treasure my King. I often hear how people like to look back over the years to see how their faith has grown and how they have changed for the better and I’m no exception. However it’s a sobering thought to realize that this hasn’t always been my reality. If I am honest with my self, I would admit that over the years, due to various issues in my life, I have had times when there were other things I treasured more then my Savior and King. Intellectually I knew Jesus. I quote Scriptures. I debate and defend attacks on the Christian faith all the time. Intellectually I got Jesus, but my heart was another story. Thank god He is longsuffering and patient with his children like me, always drawing and bidding me to return to Him completely by abandoning my carnal and misled desires.

What staggers me is this abandonment and surrender in the pursuit of desiring God as My only King is all that is needed to return to the greatest joy and pleasure in life. His heart embodies all that my intellect lacks and cries out for when it comes to intimately craving for Jesus. And his words sometimes leave me wondering, “what on earth am I missing when it comes to knowing Jesus?” The answer is just surrender and wanting Him as He is because all that He has completed makes this possible. Nothing else!

It’s a sobering thought when you realized that you have slipped so far away from where you need to be. And so we need to pray that our heart is changed. I need to know exactly how I have replaced the eternal treasure of knowing and pursuing Jesus with the junk I am wasting my life with.

Jesus said..“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Mat 6:21

I love how he nailed human understanding every time He spoke. And right now He knows where my and your treasure is because He senses the absence of my heart. And so I will pray and I will mediate on two of His parables regarding true treasure – Him & His Kingdom.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Mat 13:44-45

He is indeed the Desire of the Ages. Be sure He is you desire and He will give you Life, Life more abundant than ever thought possible. Jesus will be not only our Savior, but our King of Kings and Lord of Lords if we surrender all to Him!

DID WE MISS THE POINT ABOUT HOW TO LIVE FOR GOD?

DID WE MISS THE POINT ABOUT HOW TO LIVE FOR GOD?

⁵I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

It took me a long to time realize that these words Jesus spoke in John 15:5 also applies to all areas of the Christian Life. I used to believe that if a person had a strong enough willpower, they could be successful at whatever they set their mind to accomplish. But the wall I kept banging into was the fact that, while some people seemed well equipped to stick to their decisions, alas, I wasn’t one of them.

The moment I said I was going to do this for the Lord that’s when my energy started to drain. It was just a matter of time before my ability proved to be insufficient.
For years I lamented that I did not have a strong enough self-will. I felt cheated and at a disadvantage. Was I, from the beginning, destined to fail, just because I didn’t have the ability to stick to it? Were other people destined to succeed, all because they had a stronger willpower than I did?

But I realized it was folly to think that. God is not a respecter of persons and He did not give some an edge to succeed while others are destined to be less successful. Through Christ, He has given us the power to be over-comers in every area of our lives, and that power is the Holy Spirit of Christ that lives in each of us as Christians.

Over a period of time, the Lord helped me see that it wasn’t about me trying harder or being stronger-willed; it was about recognizing the absolute truth that there is nothing I can do without Him. It was not a sign of weakness to admit it; rather, admitting it set me free from trying to do this thing by myself. What a relief!

When I’m tempted to revert back to my old thoughts of doing it in my own strength, He’ll remind me. He’s the One that gives me the power to be obedient to all of His commands… every time. Abandon yourself by Faith in Him each day and watch how He will empower you to live this amazing Life known as Christianity!

"We have received . . . the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." 1 Corinthians 2:12

Kelly's Thrifty Tips

I thought it might be nice to focus on some thrifty beauty tips today. There area a lot of thrifty ways to get yourself a little beauty treatment.

TEA - I had often used old tea bags to take the puffiness away from my eyes in the morning, but did you know there are more uses?

Defunk the foot - Boil a quart of water and add to it four to five tea bags. Let them steep for about 10 minutes and then remove from the water. Allow the water to cool enough to put your feet in. Soak your feet in the preparation for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, do not rinse just dry off. The tea has tannins in it which have an antibacterial action. I joked that this is a good beauty tip for guys, but honestly I was a waitress for years, and this would have been amazing for me! Remember to put the left over tea bags in the refrigerator to use to de-puff your eyes.

Cooking burn - If you get a light burn when you are cooking, the used tea bags. The tea bags also can be used to draw the painful heat out of minor burns from sunburns to cooking.

For the mouth - The College of Dentistry at the University of Illinois at Chicago has shown that a black tea rinse can help prevent bad breath. There is also some detail about the rinse preventing some plaque growth as well. Read up on it here: Tea Study
Also green tea has been noted to help with gingivitis.

Face refresher - Dilute brewed tea with water to use as a face splash after shaving for me or as a refresher during the day for women.

That is just the tip of the iceberg of what tea can do. The nice thing is you do not have to buy pricey teas to get the benefits. Any brand will do.

TOOTHPASTE - If you are hit by a bad timing pimple (really is there a good time for a pimple?), treat over night with a dab of toothpaste. Note that is toothpaste in its ordinary form not gels or whitening toothpastes. A few people that I know have said they know people who had a rash from this so you may want to do a patch test like you do with hair color. I have never had a problem and I have very sensitive skin, but again I do not use fancy toothpaste for this remedy. Also toothpaste is wonderful for taking the itch out of a mosquito bites!

HAIR CONDITIONER -

Shaving - This is for the ladies. It may work for men, but I wouldn't know. If you need to shave your legs and do not have shaving cream give conditioner a try. It works really well and softens the skin too. This is definitely better than just using bath s0ap. I have also read that in a pinch you can use Vaseline to shave with (legs or face). The only draw back is the Vaseline is not good for the razors.


RANDOM STUFF

HAIR RECIPE - This is the recipe that I talked about this morning. Seriously, I am hypothyroid and one of the horrible side effects is thinning hair. Anyone with a thyroid condition knows what I am talking about. Being a woman, the last thing I care to lose is my hair. My hair was falling out in clumps every time I showered or even ran my fingers through it. It was really thin on the top and just devastating. I started doing research on essential oils and also aroma therapy and essential oil treatments. Some essential oils should not be used if you are pregnant or may get pregnant so read up on each one before using.

The below recipe is what I have used since the end of October. I cannot guarantee that it will work for you, but I have definitely seen results. I am not a doctor, I'm just a person who had hair issues and wanted to do something about it since nothing was changing. I honestly wasn't sure if I would see results, but I figured why not give it a shot? The first thing I noticed was that my hair was not falling out in clumps like it was before (that was by November). In December it seemed like there was less thinning and by January I definitely noticed new hair growth. This is because previously I had my hair at all one length and I now have little spots with about 2 inches of growth and my parts are not embarrassingly bare anymore.

RECIPE:

4 ounces of jojoba oil (I bought a 4 ounce bottle at the healthfood store)
Lavender essential oil (12 drops per ounce)
Cedar wood essential oil (12 drops per ounce)
Rosemary essential oil (12 drops per ounce)

Drop the essential oils into the jojoba oil and shake it up.


To Use:

Apply about 1/2 teaspoon to the scalp and work through your hair (do not saturate your hair). I use it in the evening because you can look a little grubby, but you smell awesome and it is pretty relaxing. I just keep the oil next to my bed. If you have anything left over on your hand after rubbing it into your scalp you can rub it on your elbows.

This recipe will last a long time because you are only using a small amount each evening.

SNACK RECIPE -

Kale Chips - This is the recipe that we were talking about this morning. I was just looking to make a healthy low cal snack. I did not come up with it. I have seen similar recipes in Good Housekeeping and online.

1 bunch of Kale
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 tablespoon of vinegar
sea salt (couple of shakes)
garlic powder (couple of shakes)

Remove the stems from the kale and wash and dry the leaves thoroughly. Tear the leaves into chip sizes and put in a bowl. Add the vinegar and olive oil to the kale and mix by hand until the kale is covered evenly. Shake on some garlic powder or whatever spices you would like and mix well again by hand. Place kale on a cookie sheet that is lightly greased or covered in parchment paper. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes and stir. If you notice any crisp pieces, remove them (I usually put them in a bowl). Bake about five minutes and check the chips. Remove anythat are crisp and put the rest back in oven and check again in about 2 minutes. Total baking takes about 15 to 20 minutes all together. The leaves that have more stem in them will take longer. When all your chips are done, sprinkle some sea salt or seasoned salt on them.

The chips are crispiest after they are first baked, but I put mine in a sealable container and snack on them the following day as well.

Now onto some free samples and whatnot.


Sweetner:

Ideal Sweetner is offering a free sample of their zero calorie sweetner.

LINK: Ideal

Burt's Bees is known for their lip balms, lotions and oils. Everything is all natural. They now have a toothpaste, and they are offering free samples now. If you want to go more natural, this is a great way to give it a shot. Link up below:

LINK: Burt's Bees Natural Toothpaste Sample


I don't have a dog, but if I did, I would definitely sign up for Walmart's free sample of Beneful IncrediBites. One of the things that is great about a pet food sample is if you ever have one of those days where you realize you are out of pet food, you still have that sample to fall back on while you get off to the store.

LINK: Beneful IncrediBites

Get in on some Emergen-C samples by checking out their Mix-it-Up site where you can get some recipes but more importantly some free samples. I love this stuff!

LINK: Emergen-C


Coupons - If you buy $50 in Proctor and Gamble products you can send in for $100 in coupons. This is a deal that is going on until April 15th so there is plenty of time to pile up the purchases. Truly you do not want to pass up on items like this. You would be surprised at how these coupons can come in handy. Get more details at the link below.

LINK: P&G buy $50 get $100 in coupon savings.


Hallmark Cards for Encouraging Kids - I don't know if you have caught the commercials, but Hallmark has a new line of cards just for kids. You can pick up one of these cards for free (doesn't include tax) while supplies last. Check the link below for details:

LINK: Free Hallmark Card for Kids



ACTIVITIES

This Saturday, March 6th, Home Depot Kids Workshops will be teaching the kids to make a rain gauge! This is an awesome activity that I can't imagine not taking advantage of. Workshops run from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.


Lowe's Build and Grow Clinics have two great activities this month as well.

March 13th, your kids can build a table top basketball game and on March 27th they can build a homemade Kaleidoscope. Check out the link to sign up!






LINK: Loew's Build and Grow Clinics


Sales

Safeway --

Rancher's Reserve boneless beef bottom round roast $1.88 a pound
Boneless skinless chicken breast $1.69 a pound
5 pound bag of russet potatoes 68 cents

Albertons --

Buy 1 get 2 free petite sirloin steaks (about $2.33 a pound)
Huge 10 for $10 sale
--Hunts diced tomatoes
--Wishbone salad dressing
--Oscar Mayer 12 ounce bologna or Cotto salami

Fry's --

Boneless skinless chicken breast frozen $1.49 a pound for 3 pound bags
Quaker Oats 42 ounce 2 for $5.00
Betty Crocker Super Moist cake mix 99 cents

Don't forget to load up your cellfire coupons too, because there are a bunch of coupons that correspond to this week's sales at Frys! Be sure to load up from shortcuts.com too!

Handing Down Our Family Faith To The Next Generation

HANDING DOWN OUR FAMILY FAITH TO THE NEXT GENERATION

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

The best people to lead children to Christ are their parents. And the best time to begin handing down your faith to children is when they are young and in your home. Now, you cannot force faith upon them. Parents cannot make children believe what they believe, but explanation can lead to understanding.

Here are ways to pass down your faith in you family, summarized in six words. As you read them, I encourage you to think of ways you can apply these ideas in the life of your family.

First of all, we hand down our faith by principle.

By that I mean instructing our children in the ways of God. As you go about your daily routine, the teachings of the Word should direct your thought patterns and govern your actions. Try to weave the Word of God into your conversation about whatever subject happens to surface. Follow the advice of Scripture to talk about the things of God when you are seated, when you stand, when you walk, when you arise, and when you lie down (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). You may protest, “I just don’t know how to start.” Here is the way: find out what your children are interested in, and then talk about those things in light of God’s truth. Show how it applies to real life situations.

Second, we hand down our faith by pattern.

Children probably learn more by watching what we do than by listening to what we say. What patterns are your children picking up from you? Have they heard you call their names out to God as you pray for them? Have you asked them to join you in prayer as you sought God’s guidance for a problem? We are not going to be perfect; our loved ones will see our successes and our failures. But you must try to provide the best pattern for your children because it will have a profound effect on them. There is nothing like a mother and a father living out biblical principles.

Third, we hand down our faith by persistence.

We pass it on by doing what needs to be done whether or not it is convenient. Live out the pattern over and over. Think about how your behavior lines up with the Scriptural principles you have taught them. Are there inconsistencies? If we daily exemplify principles in keeping with God’s Word, we impress upon our children what they will carry into adulthood.

Fourth, we hand down our faith by participation.

Something positive happens when we get involved in what concerns or interests our children. We establish a caring relationship which makes communication and instruction easier. Be open enough to listen to their viewpoints, even when you disagree with them. Establish an atmosphere that is not threatening but is conducive to the sharing of ideas. We can only hand down our faith to children who are receptive to it.

The fifth way is the best motivation for learning––praise.

We all like and appreciate praise. We make time to tell our children what they have done wrong, but focusing on what they have done right may be even more important. Praise them for even the smallest things. If you think they could improve in some area, don’t shame them into doing better. Ask if they need help and offer to help them. Rather than telling them what to do, go together to the Word of God to see what He has to say about a situation. When you see them applying what they have learned, praise them.

The last idea is prayer (though ideally prayer should be a part of all six ideas).

God answers the prayers of godly parents who want to raise godly children. Parents who spend time praying for and with their children demonstrate the importance of prayer. Jesus set the example by praying in all kinds of situations, and we can do no less as examples for our children.

Do you have a faith that is worth handing down? Think about the example you set and the legacy you are leaving. Have you loved God and practiced the principles of Scripture? Have you have loved your children and listened to them? Then you will leave them a faith to sustain them through every difficulty, every heartache, and every trial of life.