True happiness...

This is a portion of a writing of JCRyle;

(J.C. Ryle, "HAPPINESS" 1878)

Happiness is what all mankind want to obtain--the desire for it is deeply planted in the human heart. All men naturally dislike pain, sorrow, and discomfort. All men naturally like ease, comfort, and gladness. All men naturally hunger and thirst after happiness. As the sick man longs for health--so does poor mortal man long to be happy.

But, alas, how few consider what they really mean, when they talk of happiness! How vague and indistinct and undefined are the ideas of most people are upon the subject! They think some are happy--who in reality are miserable; they think some are gloomy and sad--who in reality are truly happy. They dream of a happiness which in reality, would never satisfy their nature's needs.

  This makes me think of the people who just assume that stay at home moms are somehow, unhappy. When a woman rejoices in Gods structure of authority and obeys her husband, some call that oppressive. That is exactly what JC Ryle is speaking of here. Many are the people (especially other women) who would call me an unhappy, adult company deprived, oppressed wife and mother with no life...my question to those who think this is; How would you know? Have you ever asked? Me or any other whom you have prematurely judged?
  Although I know of those who speak these things of me and others; I never once have been asked. I will therefore answer to save anyone the trouble. My answer begins with a question too...what is your idea of happiness? My idea of happiness is living a life that is pleasing to the Lord, honoring to those that I love and consistent with the Christian life that I profess to be living. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband, beautiful children, and the freedom to home disciple as we choose. That makes me happy. Am I perfect? NOT a chance. Do I always have good days? NOT a chance...but I am happy and blessed AND I really relish and enjoy the life I live, and the way that the Lord has allowed me to live it. May the Lord grant you such happiness as well! The short answer; YES I am happy:)

Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good ,very bad day...

  What does a little kid know about a day like that I would like to know?

We homeschooling parents know what a day like that is don't we?

Terrible- Is when you get up late and burn breakfast...

Horrible- The kids whine and fight while you're doing morning devotions...

No good- You have no idea how to figure out your teens algebra problem...

Very bad-The kids didn't nap, dinner is late, you've had it and put them to bed without even brushing their teeth!

  Now that is a day for you! The hope??? "His mercies are new every morning"! Praise the Lord!

  So when you have a day like this, , have courage! Remember...

 May the Lord encourage you in your mission today! 

Election....

"For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth." (Romans 9:11)
"What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded." (Romans 11:7)

 "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained (by God - ed.) to eternal life believed." (Acts 13:48)

"Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace." (Romans 11:5)

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:10-11)

What verses can you add to these???????

Jellyfish!!!!

Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
Man acting like a devil!
Horatius Bonar, powerful
Play Audio! Download Audio
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Jellyfish Christianity

(J.C. Ryle)
"The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin!" 1 John 1:7

One plague of our age, is the widespread dislike to sound doctrine. In the place of it, the idol of the day is a kind of jellyfish Christianity--a Christianity without bone, or muscle, or sinew--without any distinct teaching about the atonement, or the work of the Spirit, or justification, or the way of peace with God--a vague, foggy, misty Christianity, of which the only watchwords seem to be, "You must be liberal and kind. You must condemn no man's doctrinal views. You must think everybody is right--and nobody is wrong."

And this spineless kind of religion, we are told, is to give us peace of conscience! And not to be satisfied with it in a sorrowful, dying world--is a proof that we are very narrow-minded! Satisfied, indeed! Such a religion might possibly do for unfallen angels! But to tell sinful, dying men and women to be satisfied with it--is an insult to common sense and a mockery of our distress. We need something far better than this. We need the sin-atoning blood of Christ!

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We have published James Smith's comforting 2 page article, "The Priest on His Throne!"

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Feel free to forward this on to your friends.

God Bless you!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! May you look back with gratefulness to those who came before, may you look with gratefulness to those you have now, and may you look ahead with gratefulness to all the Lord will give you in your days ahead! Blessings and peace! The Adams Clan

Raising Maidens of Virtue

I know a lot of moms and ladies who are really looking forward to this book coming out! You can find it available at Grace and Truth books. Their site is down at the moment but it will be up and running soon! http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/

Wonderful Week!

  What a wonderful week we had! Beginning with a father/daughter  bible study at the Saffas, an evening at the Littmanns, several days in KC with friends and viewing historic Confederate sites....then, as if that weren't enough....fellowship at Covenant Family Church (not fellowship hehehe) with an awesome Christ honoring Thanksgiving celebration!!! We had the absolute privilege of meeting and listening to Dan Ford and Peter Bringe....all of that great activity and we didn't get a single picture!!!!! Sigh! Maybe next time!

  We are looking forward to the upcoming premier of the Sons of Georgia movie in December! (Lord willing!)...so much going on!

  Our prayer for you all is that you would enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving, being truly grateful to our Gracious Lord for all of His provision toward us! 

The blessing of fellowship

• Posted by Brett and Dana Adams on November 16, 2011 at 1:23am

     I like to call it Fellowship Divine! You know, when you spend time with like minded people! Folks who have the same world view and goals as you...true brothers and sisters in the Lord- who love the Lord and know how to pray. Well we are off for a week to spend time with families like that and I am so blessed and excited to be doing so!
No of course we all don't agree on everything, and we don't only sit around and pray when we are together! Though that would be alright! We just 'share life'. Spend time doing 'what we do' and we involve one another while we are doing it. We may do something special, but most likely we don't!
I'll miss all that I could have done being at home with school and projects and the wonderful everyday routine! But I think it is worth the time and effort to maintain these friendships and share in this fellowship divine!
It is a very worthwhile endeavor to build up friendships for all of eternity! He who has friends must show himself friendly! There aren't a whole lot of things you can give to a person that is more important than the sacrifice of yourself and your time. I never feel more blessed than when people do that for me! 
That is what we are doing by homeschooling our children. Giving them of ourselves and our time and building up relationships in their lives...relationships to their family, us their parents and helping them in their relationship to the Lord.What is more valuable than that?
Brett and I pray you all have a wonderful week in your life and in your home with your own Fellowship Divine!
God Bless!

Build them up in their most Holy faith...

  I wonder how we as wives can build up our husbands in their 'most holy faith'? I think it is important first of all to pray for our husbands. If we do not who will? Secondly, I believe strongly that our dear husbands NEED encouragement! The world and the enemy of our souls, battle against our husbands daily and we can be the buffer to their storms! What are some of the ways you encourage your husband? They are all so different and every husband responds best to a certain type of encouragement. Let's make a point of building up our Faith Filled Fathers today!

Happy Baptism!

Michael w/ Nathan Clarke George (and  Sam!)

Michael Patrick Patriot Adams was baptized today! Congratulations son!

Book Recommendation

Hunted and Harried by Ballantyne
We often count ourselves blessed that we have the heritage that we do...yet at the same time, we would be blessed with whatever heritage we had! We have mentioned before that we love to incorporate our own family history in teaching history..well this book has made it possible for us to do it again!
It is all about the Scottish Covenanters and their plight in Scotland! Our kids have a g.g.g grandfather on my side who is notated in church rolls as 'The Great Scottish Covenanter William Kendrick'.
This book also falls in line with our study of the Scottish Covenanters, which is also the theme of the coming CHEF conference next year! So enjoy this great book if you get the chance! You can buy it as Vision Forum or you can read it for free on Epub! Caution; I am reading this book aloud to the children as there are some descriptive parts that are graphic for young ones. Reader discretion advised...

Reader, are you taught of God?

(James Smith, "Manna in the Wilderness" 1863)

"I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you--and leads you along the paths you should follow." Isaiah 48:17

God teaches all of His people the true nature, and awful consequences of sin--and instructs them "to flee from the wrath to come." His teaching makes them wise unto salvation--and holy in heart and life. Under His instructions, they . . .
  withdraw from the world, 
  enjoy private devotion, 
  unite with the saints, and 
  abound in every good work. 

"Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?" Job 36:22. The truth which he unfolds to the understanding--He impresses upon the heart. His scholars learn to imitate Him. 

Untaught by Him, we are . . .
  vain, ignorant, and wicked; 
  estranged from God, and 
  hastening to eternal perdition!

To His divine teaching--we owe all that we know of self, sin, salvation, and eternal felicity.

He teaches freely and variously--but always effectually. 

His children cry, "Teach me to do Your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing!" Psalm 143:10. He graciously answers, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go! I will guide you with My eye." Psalm 32:8

Reader, are you taught of God? Has he taught you . . .
  to hate sin--and flee from it, 
  to know Christ--and love Him, 
  to discover the beauty of holiness--and pant to possess it?

"Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior!" Psalm 25:4-5

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Peace

Isaiah 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee because he trusteth in Thee...
  Are you at peace? Am I at peace? What is peace? A better question is ....Who is our peace? I do not know what your life is like..but this world  does not afford a measure of peace to it's inhabitants. Life and circumstances are always changing like the seasons, nothing ever stays the same. So how can your peace come from that?
  Now, God who changeth not..(Malachi 3:16, James 1:17).now there is a source of peace! The same yesterday today and forever.(Hebrews 13:8) What a comfort those words are to weary pilgims on the earth!
  There are some things that we can do to help attribute to our sense of peace;

Psalm 34:14

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 119:165

Great peace have they who love Your law, and nothing can make them stumble.

Psalm 85:8

I will listen to what God the LORD will say; He promises peace to His people, His saints-- but let them not return to folly.

  But sometimes we just need to be reminded of what our 'mission' is. Our goal...our utimate goal. It is often difficult to remember what is really important when we are struggling in adversity or discouragement, or just overwhelmed with our myriads of responsibilities like..homeschooling, laundry and/or whatever job we may have. So may the Word of God encourage us today, and may you experience and enjoy true PEACE. Not as the world gives....John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid

Isaiah 54:10

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

Matt.11:28-30

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 16:33

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

2 Thess 3:16

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all!

Adoption from Liberia

The following is an email from a dear friend, regarding another dear Christian family. May the Lord impress us to offer our prayers and help to them in their time of need!
The Redmans,  have been waiting to adopt twins
(they're actually triplets, but sadly the little boy died) for some years now.
Due to corruption concerning adoptions in Liberia, the government shut down
their international program as they endeavour to implement a system with better
checks and balances. Unfortunately, this has left a lot of legitimate orphans
without families, and so the Redmans continue to wait to bring those girls home.
In the meantime, they've been supporting the girls financially for all this
time.

More recently, they were made aware of a little girl who was so severely
malnourished that the powers that be relented and released her for adoption,
recognizing that if she isn't given immediate care she will likely die. The
Redmans have decided to adopt this little girl, despite knowing that she may be
developmentally, and is certainly physically, delayed due to the severe
condition of her little body.

Currently the Redman's are fundraising in order to raise sufficient funds to
complete the adoption costs and travel to Liberia to bring this little girl
home. They're hoping to do so as soon as possible.

I know that many are strapped financially right now, and many have or are giving
to various other very worthy causes. I thought I'd just bring this
need to your attention in order for you and your family, or even your church
family, to consider whether or not you might be able to do something to assist
the Redmans in bringing this little girl home to their loving family.

Also, Carrie is pregnant!  So do pray for
her, that if the Lord permits them to adopt the little girl from Liberia, Carrie
will be strengthened to the task of caring for a newborn, as well as a very
needy baby.

The following is an email from The Redman family, and where they can be reached. Thank you!

Baby Survivor was abandoned by her mother and grandmother. Her grandmother brought her to the orphanage when she was a few months old and she weighed less than 5 pounds. She is now up to 14 pounds and growing.

We need to raise $6500 more for the adoption to be complete and then we can travel. Our family would be honored to have your prayer support as we continue to walk this road toward bringing Survivor home.

Please feel free to share our story with others on your blog, email, Facebook or where ever. We do have a several fundraisers lined up in the next month or so. We are also selling one of our vehicles to help raise funds. We have a paypal button for donations on our website....

www.OurFullHouse.com
Thanks again for your encouragement!
Carrie

God desires truth in the inward parts...

  It is my desire to teach my children to be truthful. As adults, because God is truth, we should be truthful as well. Dishonesty comes in so many forms, it is often difficult to detect. What is truth? Here is the 1828 Daniel Webster definition:

TRUTH, n.

1. Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be. The truth of history constitutes its whole value. We rely on the truth of the scriptural prophecies.

My mouth shall speak truth. Prov.8.

Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth. John. 17.

2. True state of facts or things. The duty of a court of justice is to discover the truth. Witnesses are sworn to declare the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

3. Conformity of words to thoughts, which is called moral truth.

Shall truth fail to keep her word?

4. Veracity; purity from falsehood; practice of speaking truth; habitual disposition to speak truth; as when we say, a man is a man of truth.

5. Correct opinion.

6. Fidelity; constancy.

The thoughts of past pleasure and truth.

7. Honesty; virtue.

It must appear

That malice bears down truth.

8. Exactness; conformity to rule.

Plows, to go true, depend much on the truth of the iron work. [Not in use.]

9. Real fact of just principle; real state of things. There are innumerable truths with which we are not acquainted.10. Sincerity.

God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4.11. The truth of God, is his veracity and faithfulness. Ps.71.

Or his revealed will.

I have walked in thy truth. Ps.26.12. Jesus Christ is called the truth. John 14.
13. It is sometimes used by way of concession.

She said, truth, Lord; yet the dogs eat of the crums-- Matt 15.

That is, it is a truth; what you have said, I admit to be true.

In truth, in reality; in fact.

Of a truth, in reality; certainly.

To do truth, is to practice what God commands. John 3.

  We all like to be accepted and approved...of people more than God I am afraid. Are we being accepted and approved because we are walking in truth and being truthful??? Or, because we are putting on a false front? Or are we being accepted because we are not declaring the truth when it needs to be? I certainly do not believe we should judge a person because of where they are or aren't in their walk...yet if the issue of abortion comes us, do we stand there in silence not offering the truth for the sake of acceptance?

  My husband is my ever present encouragement to walk in truth. He will not let me put on false 'airs' nor will he put any on. (Much to peoples displeasure:) What you see is what you get...(Thus people either love him or hate him! I for one love him dearly above all people!) Yet it is tempting to clean your house REALLY good before company comes over and then act like it looks that way all of the time! As well, it is easy to 'make more' of what school your kids are accomplishing, so ladies silently think 'wow she really has it all together'! ( Don't you just sigh when you know someone really thinks you're all that? )You fill in the blank on where you are not walking in truth today, and I will too. May the Lord give us courage to walk in truth, courage to speak the truth...and contentment to walk in the path He has laid out for us today...(even if it doesn't match up to our perfect ideal.)

Eph 5 8-11;

8for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),10and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.