no matter what

Isn't it hard to be a mom sometimes. It's hard when you feel like you have nothing left to give but you have to go on. When you're sick but you can't just stay in bed and "rest". It's hard not to be bitter and selfish. Then, God send you things to gently bring you back to where you should be. The circumstances don't change, your feelings don't change, just your focus. A couple of days ago, I received a prayer request from a church in Rochester NY, about an unsaved mother of 3 who had a headache so went to bed early. She started to have seizures so she was brought to the hospital. The doctors found a mass of blood on her brain and gave her 2 hours to live. She did die, leaving her husband and 3 children behind. She was 30 years old. My heart goes out to those children. The husband will get back on his feet although he will need the Lord to help those children grow up without mom. This brought me to another thought, perhaps guided by the Lord, what if she wasn't much of a mom? A mother who neglects her children physically, mentally and emotionally. That is even more devastating. A mother should be an righteous influence on her children, giving them hope and a desire for righteous living before a Just and Loving God. She loves them unconditionally, even when she feels neglected herself. How else will these children grow up to be what she so much wants them to be, if she doesn't show them how. How will they have faith in the power of God if she doesn't let it be manifested in her? Then the Lord allowed someone who sends out "thoughts of the day" and it was just what I needed. The warm arms of the Lord stretched out to me to love me and encourage me. I'm so thankful I have God who loves me and knows where I am physically, spiritually but also emotionally. Here is the "thought of the day" that encouraged me so. When the going gets tough, your world seems to crumble around you -- distressed, forsaken, unwanted -- the just man encourages himself in the Lord.

He leans not on his own understanding. He trusts not his feelings and experiences. He remembers Gods's past favors and present benefits. He claims the promises of God -- by faith -- and he keeps on keeping on. He doubts not in the dark, what God has shown him in the light.

1Sam. 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

Heb. 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Prov. 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Rom. 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Coram Deo — Before the face of God — Living life in the presence of God, under His authority, and for His honor and glory.

Have a blessed day!

Fat cat can't reach to scratch it's chubby cheeks

Have you ever had one of these days?...

one of those days...weeks?

It's flu season...what?! You didn't know?! LOL
Well, my husband started the cycle with 2 continuous days of sleeping. I was worried in all honesty since he's not much of a sleeper usually. It was obvious that he didn't feel good.
Then our son Samuel got the cold symptoms with very low grade fever. He did not have much energy either. He played hockey on Saturday but it was not the typical player we usually see. That night, we got home and our daughter Dominique said her throat was sore. I gave her some medicine and she went to bed for the night. She woke up feeling pretty good but as the day progressed, she felt worse. What a trooper though, she still wanted to go to church. By this time, Moe and Samuel were still having mild cold symptoms but feeling much better. Yesterday, Monday, Jacob woke up not feeling very "peppy". He is our child who only has one leg so he tends to experience illnesses a little different than we, you wouldn't think so but he does. Imagine, that much less blood to pump, less white cells etc. He had a fever of 102.3 this afternoon and the motrin takes a bit of time to work but once it kicked in, his fever is gone. Tomorrow, will tell how he's recovering. He had pneumonia once already and his voice was very graspy so I need to watch him closely.
At supper, our youngest, Marielle, tells me that her throat is sore...yikes... here we go for round 5. All this and mama is still standing... I have a slight cough every once in a while and I'm feeling pretty lazy but I'm still standing. The bar of soap is shrinking pretty fast I must say...lol
Anyway, so nothing "inspiring" for today, although I found this video that made me think of me when I feel fat and I'm "having a bad hair day".
Hope you enjoy...

The hiding place trailer

Getting perspective

Putting things into perspective

One of the things we've incorporated in our homeschooling are "life books". Books that have a lot of information about a person, place or thing and time. Our first book was the biography of Corrie Ten Boom. When I was first saved, two VERY important things happened to put me on a path that kept me. Those two things are that my aunt, while answering my questions about God and Christianity, showed me ALL the answers in the bible. That is why my journey is completely guided by it and IT is my authority to life. The second thing is while I was a "babe in Christ", just starting my walk with Him, I saw the film, "The Hiding Place". I cried... It help to give me an understanding of what is asked of a Christian, give it your all, none of this half hearted Christianity stuff. That is why I live the way I do. I still have a looooooonnnnnnng (long) way to go. I have so much to learn.
I would encourage you to read one of her biographies, either from the Heroes of the Faith collection or "The Hiding Place". I am posting the trailer of the movie.
I also wanted to blog last Friday to post some pictures of the kids. We got 2-3 inches of snow last Friday and they got up early to go play. I took pictures but it was still dark and they didn't come up good. I took these ones later. lol
This snow stayed until Sunday when it was +16 degrees Celsius and raining. Needless to say... it melted.
I am so glad to be home with my kids. I love seeing them grow up, learn to read, write, become good citizens. I love looking them into their eyes and seeing who they are. Don't get me wrong, they frustrate me like crazy sometimes but, I can't imagine my life without them, nor do I want to.
Here are the photos and the video clip.
Keep your head up, better times are coming.

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

B-I-B-L-E
I remember hearing so many times that there is no instruction manual to life or to raising children: that is such a lie.
I can't get over how many times God has shown me something in the bible to help me deal with particular people in my life or how to raise my children.
The Lord laid on my heart to share with you just one example of how His word IS an instruction manual to life and child rearing.
I had been praying that God would give me the understanding, the knowledge and wisdom that I needed (that is a key ingredient, pray that God shows you), to deal with a habitual sin that was in my eldest son's life. It wasn't anything destructive, yet. I knew that if it continued, it would have him in bondage for the rest of his life.
When my eldest son was just a baby, I was told by a friend of mine, who's children were in their teens, that she always used scripture to show their child the errors of their way. The Lord confirmed it to me that this is how child rearing should be done, and that is how I've been doing it. Sometimes I get in the flesh and start nagging instead and when I get back into the habit of scripture use for guidance, I always see results.
One day not too long ago, as I was reading in Proverbs 16:6 which says, "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD [men] depart from evil."
It was clear, that a combination of God's word (Truth) and mercy (definition:compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have mercy on the poor sinner) would bring my children to a place of purging sin out of their life also teaching them the fear (respect/honor) of God.
A couple of days ago, I was reminded of it again in Proverbs 20:28, "Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy."
I truly love my children and want to see them grow up to function well in today's corrupt and wicked society but I also love God and want to see Him glorified in not only my life but in the children He has given my charge over.
For example, the other day I told you we got a dog. We don't allow him in the kitchen or dinning room. I told him to get out of the kitchen and he obeyed me right away. I thought of a possible situation where a person who has no compassion for dogs, like I used to, and would witness the dog's obedience. They would be impressed and it would glorify God. How much more our children can glorify God in their life.
All this to say, the B-I-B-L-E, Basic instructions before leaving earth, is just that, an instruction manual to life and child rearing.
Keep reading!

So much to say...

I don't even know where to start since I know time will run out again.
It has been so busy since my grandmother passed away. I had 4 funerals to go to, including my grandmother's, a wedding, started school and training our new 10 month old puppy. All the training is not all up to me but since I'm with him all day, I do the longer run let's say. :/ He and the cat are not quite getting along, hence the expression "fighting like cats and dogs". lol like raising four kids was not enough... lol I must say, he is really cute and is getting more and more obedient. Keeping him out of the kitchen and dinning room are the hardest thing. I've also been teaching my kids that they can't expect to play rough with him and not get jumped on or bite them in play.
I have so much to say but two specific things are of upmost importance.
Where is heaven, and careful of people who try to confuse you.
I realize that I have family members who read this and I mean not to make anyone angry but I can not allow someone to flat out lie to people and stand by without saying anything about it.
At my grandmother's funeral, the priest said, in French, "If you were to ask me where heaven is; whether it is that way (to the right), that way (to the left), up or down, I would have to tell you that it is in your heart, so Maclina is really not further from you rather, she is closer because she is in your heart."
Needless to say, this statement perturbed me greatly!
God is VERY clear as to where heaven is and anyone who takes time to read the bible will know for sure where heaven is and it is NOT in your heart. I will simply give you scripture so you can see for yourself.

1. If heaven is in our heart, why does Jeremiah 17:9 say, "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it?"
2. Look up, wayyyyy up! That's where heaven is. Psalm 103:11 "For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him."

Don't believe me? What about this one?

1. Isaiah 66:1 and Acts 7:49 "Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool"

1. Jeremiah 31:37 "If heaven above.."

This should be enough to clear things up. Ecclesiastes 5:2 " Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few."

Heaven is NOT in our hearts. There are so many more scriptures that continue to show us where heaven is but I think you get the picture. Clearly there is a heaven therefore a hell and those who have rejected Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, will be held accountable. Some people will be going to heaven and some to hell. God does not decide, you do. What have you done with his Son?

The second thing I need to mention is careful to those who are confuse and have not problem in confusing others. It's the blind leading the blind.
What am I referring to? Well, funerals that start with "Mr. or Mrs. So and So is surely in heaven since they became a child of God when they were baptised as an infant.... (later in the funeral service) Lord! Please receive Mr. or Mrs. So and So by your side. (then later again, during the responsive prayers for those who are already dead) Lord we pray for those who have already gone, that they would be received with you in paradise."
Are they or are they not in heaven? Make up your mind!
Being baptised as an infant does not make you a child of God, that's why they sens the need to continue praying for that person but... once they are dead, it is too late to make that decision. What decision? To recognize that they are a sinner and that the payment for sin is death, a spiritual death (hell) but that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross and went to hell for us and rose from the dead. If you believe that sincerely in your HEART and acknowledge that Jesus is God and that has the right to judge us since we are sinners, accept his payment for your sin when He died on the cross and ask for forgiveness of your sins, He will make you God's child.

1. John 1:12 " Bur as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

There is nothing you can do, no good works or baptism, that can make you a child a God, He must do it, you need to receive Him, that's absolutely all you can do.

Bottom line, don't let people confuse you or lead you astray by their lengthy sermons and big words.

Keep reading the word (the bible); keep confident.