tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85224992409079063952024-03-13T12:51:11.102-07:00Dominion Focused WomanhoodUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-24975029473978811552015-06-01T09:54:00.000-07:002015-06-01T09:54:29.275-07:00Who Has to Obey God's Law<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
So lately I've been thinking a lot about talking with unbelievers, and something struck me as an interesting question. I know that we can't save anyone and that not everyone will be saved. So here's my question; what do we as Christians require of unbelievers?</div>
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Do we require them to obey the word of God?</div>
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Do we require that they not use the LORD's name in vain? Or is it not wrong for them to do it, because they aren't unbelievers? Are Christians the only ones who have to obey the Bible? Or is there absolutely no difference between them?</div>
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My answer is no.</div>
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<strong>Did God require Unbelievers to obey him in the BIBLE?</strong></div>
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"One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and to the stranger that sojourneth with you." Exodus 12:49</div>
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In the old testament law the stranger referred to someone who was not an Israelite but living, or traveling through Israel.</div>
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"Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land." Exodus 12:19</div>
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The punishment is given because of the crime, if there is no requirement, there is no crime and if there is no crime, there is no punishment. So because God is righteous, and knows all we can safely assume that if he punishes (not tests but punishes) someone it is because he required something of them and they failed. Sinner or no, believer or no. Here are some examples...</div>
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"And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.<span class="versenum" style="bottom: 1ex; font-size: 12px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.<span class="versenum" style="bottom: 1ex; font-size: 12px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.<span class="versenum" style="bottom: 1ex; font-size: 12px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>But the word of God grew and multiplied." Acts 12:21-24</div>
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Even though Herod was an unbeliever God still demanded that Herod praise him. Because he didn't he was punished. But Herod isn't the only unbeliever that has been punished throughout scripture for not obeying his word.</div>
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"The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?<span class="versenum" style="bottom: 1ex; font-size: 12px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.<span class="versenum" style="bottom: 1ex; font-size: 12px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.<span class="versenum" style="bottom: 1ex; font-size: 12px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws." Daniel 4:30-33</div>
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Again Nebuchadnezzar was not an Israelite, nor did he believe in God, but he was still required to obey God.</div>
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<strong>So does this mean that all laws apply to Unbelievers?</strong></div>
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Again no,</div>
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"And the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall <strong>no</strong> <em>stranger</em> eat thereof." Exodus 12:43</div>
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There are parts of the law that apply to believers only, such as the LORD's Supper as we're warned again in 1 Corinthians,</div>
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"Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord." 1 Cor 11:27</div>
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Unworthily or sinfully. The only way we can partake of the LORD's Supper is if we are washed in the purity of Christ's blood. So even though it is a command in scripture, it is not given to everyone. But most other laws do apply to everyone; such as murder; stealing; adultery; cursing; and lying.</div>
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So would following these laws convert an unbeliever?</div>
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<strong>One law that Unbelievers will never obey.</strong></div>
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"<strong>Repent</strong>,and <b>be</b> <b>baptized</b> every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, <b>and</b> ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:38</div>
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This is a command that does apply to every single human being, but only the elect will ever obey it. Therefore even though we still have to require this of them they will not obey it.</div>
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"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:18</div>
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So why do we require unbelievers to obey the law when we know they won't even obey the most important commands of them all?</div>
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We don't know who the elect are.</div>
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<strong>How does this effect Salvation?</strong></div>
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If unbelievers where not held to the same standards as Christians than why would they be sinners? What laws have they broken?</div>
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Some unbelievers (a lot actually) have never once broken the law. But they're still sinners, why? Without God's law and the requirement to obey it, they would be perfect.</div>
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<span class="text Rom-7-7" id="en-KJV-28099">"What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.</span><span class="versenum" style="bottom: 1ex; font-size: 12px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.<span class="versenum" style="bottom: 1ex; font-size: 12px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.<span class="versenum" style="bottom: 1ex; font-size: 12px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.<span class="versenum" style="bottom: 1ex; font-size: 12px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me." Romans 7:7-11</div>
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As I said above, there is no sin if there is no requirement and there is no requirement if there is not law. The law opens our eyes to the sinners we really are. Without our sin we would have no need for a savior.</div>
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Some people think that just telling an unbeliever about Christ is enough. But they don't truly understand the gift that he is without first realizing the desperate state of sin they are in.</div>
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<strong>In </strong><b>Closing</b></div>
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I often find many people afraid of offending unbelievers by talking too openly or speaking too bluntly. This is SO silly! The name of Jesus will offend them, we're told that in scripture. But they aren't right, you are. So don't hold you're tongue because you don't want to hurt they're feelings. Be bold, be blunt, change the world.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-61982468296264058942015-04-08T07:55:00.002-07:002015-04-08T07:55:39.233-07:00New fresh year....New fresh look!<div style="text-align: center;">
Announcing my NEW BLOG Stronger than the Sword. </div>
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I've had a lovely time down here at Blogger but I thought it was time to move to a better way of doing things....so hop on over and check it out.</div>
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<a href="https://strongerthanthesword.wordpress.com/">Stronger Than The Sword</a></h2>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-29399940820026311252015-04-08T07:40:00.003-07:002015-04-08T07:41:25.393-07:00Entrepreneurial at Home feat. Lucas Botkin CEO of T-Rex Arms<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;"> Lucas Botkin is the CEO and founder of T-Rex Arms a well known holster manufacturing company that was started only a few years ago. The company exploded and has grown quickly. It is debt free, employs three people full time and two people part time, the company broke six figures in a year, and has 23,000 followers on Instagram. Their equipment has been featured in magazines, on websites, and is widely known in the self defense industry. I’m very excited to bring this interview to you all. It took me a very long time to get it so enjoy!</span></div>
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Why this business?</div>
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I started T-Rex arms because I wanted to help people, and I
was watching the holster market and seeing a lot of holsters out there that
weren’t very effective. I wanted to make a more effective product to make more
effective shooters. I wanted to make a product that was very high quality and
have very good customer service; I wanted to have really good marketing and then
I also wanted to use the company as a platform to teach people and instruct
people in more effective weapon manipulation, how the legal system works with
shooting and carrying a fire arm, and the importance of having a warrior
mindset to protect people. Having a company like that gives me the platform and
gives me some credibility so I can teach on that using my company.</div>
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I started the company a year and a half ago in September of
2013, it’s now a full time job for me and two other people and we’re hiring two
more people. We supply holsters to thousands of people including special operations,
individuals, law enforcement, competition shooters and civilians like me.</div>
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What were your goals in starting this business?</div>
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The primary goal of the business was to help people. The secondary
goal was I needed a job and it’s now my full-time job which is very helpful.
The third goal was I wanted to give people employment in my church, and
creating a manufacturing company allows me to do that, if the company gets big
enough because with manufacturing companies you can hire a lot of people generally
if they get big. But the main goal was
just to help people, so I could establish some credibility to teach on things
and produce effective equipment to help make people better shooters which make
them better protectors. </div>
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What are some things you did to get your business off the
ground?</div>
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The main thing I focused on was marketing because what I
first did was studied all of the different holster companies out there and what
they were doing or what they weren’t doing, the main thing that I found was
that they had low standards for media and promotions, they weren’t marketing
very much if at all. So what I did was I had a very good website, I attacked
marketing very viciously mostly social media, because that’s something they
didn’t do. I had high standards for all my photography, the website, the
writing for the product descriptions, just high standards for everything; essentially
so the company would look extremely professional right off the bat. Most
companies start off very unprofessional and then later they get more
professional as they get bigger, I wanted to be professional right off the bat.
So that’s what I targeted doing, that set me apart from all the other companies
and because of that the company exploded very quickly, and I attribute most of
that to the marketing. Because people aren’t going to buy a product if they can’t
even find the product, because they have to find the product to even know if
they can buy it or if they should buy it, so marketing was the main thing that
I focused on first.</div>
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What are some lessons you’ve learned through this?</div>
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If you start a company you have to work extremely hard, you
don’t really get any perks for being a CEO until the company is off the ground.
I work six days a week from when I wake up to when I go to bed I still do,
although now I have the flexibility to take time off whenever I want … almost.
But when I first started the company it meant skipping parties, skipping
weddings, skipping events, skipping personal things that I wanted to do, and
just working like a mule for the first year. And most people have to understand
that if they want to start a company, you can’t just start a company and expect
to take time off whenever you want, that usually doesn’t happen until quite a
bit later, so you just have to work super hard if you want to if you’re a CEO.
As soon as you start hiring people you’re responsible for them, if you slacken
your job than sales drop and that means you may have to fire people, and firing
people means that they’re out of a job. You’re responsible as a CEO. </div>
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What kept you going?</div>
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What kept me going was my desire to help people; that really
what kept me going over anything else. With all the people that stabbed me in
the back and hated on my company, I was still able to help hundreds of people I’ve
gotten emails from people every week and the encouragement helped a lot but
what really kept me going is knowing that I’m helping people in doing this
business. It’s not just a business that’s making money it’s also a business
that’s actively helping people and that’s what keeps me going.</div>
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What are some tips you have for the readers?</div>
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Work extremely hard and don’t take anything for granted. Probably
the most important thing is to work hard in anything you do. Do it as if you’re
doing it to the LORD, that’s the main thing which means you have to work
extremely hard you can’t really do anything half way you have to go all the way
if you want to do something, like I did for my company and like I’m still
doing. So just work really hard. Most people think if they’re a CEO they get
all the benefits and perks right away, but that doesn’t happen, you have to
work hard, because you’re responsible for the customers, you’re responsible for
whoever you hire, you’re responsible for your time and how you spend it
obviously, so there’s no time to just piddle around.</div>
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How do you measure you’re success?</div>
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Good in a year and a half. The company is debt free, employs
three people full time and two people part time, we broke six figures in a
year, we have 23,000 followers on Instagram within a year and a half. Our
equipment has been featured in magazines, on websites, our company is now widely
known in the self defense industry and that’s only in a year and a half before
anyone even knew who I was or anything. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-32454014589052175852015-03-31T11:17:00.002-07:002015-04-01T06:21:15.422-07:00Entrepreneurial at Home feat. Two Old Beans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Two Old Beans is a vintage clothing shop that was started by two friends. Jack and Charlie (or Jessica Courter and Ellen Vernier) live in TN with their families. Interviewed here is Jessica who lives with her 10 siblings that are still at home. You may remember that I interviewed her father two weeks ago who is also a successful entrepreneur. As to her familiarity with vintage life, her family just finished putting on a WWII reenactment in TN this past September and will be hosting it again this year. I hope you find this interview encouraging and inspiring as I have always found her to be.</div>
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Enjoy!</div>
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1. Why this business?</div>
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Well, I already had an interest and intermediate knowledge base in vintage clothing, so it really made sense for me to try and do something with this desire. I also knew that vintage clothing is a currently expanding market, so with enough business sense it could be turned into a viable business.</div>
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2. What made you start?</div>
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The opportunity came along for me to partner up with Ellen, so I took it. I have always been hesitant about partnerships because of the cautions throughout Proverbs, so I thought about the decision a while before I actually went ahead with it. I think that as long as both partners understand the dangers and potential struggles with partnerships, they can make it work. Honestly, in this case, I feel like partnering with Ellen almost triples our effectiveness and potential because our passions + goals are so similar and our skills mesh up extremely well. </div>
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3. What were your goals in starting this business?</div>
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These goals have morphed for me as the business has grown and progressed. Originally I was hoping for a nice little side job that the two of us could work together and make a little money at, but more recently, I’ve been working to turn this into a full blown operation. Currently this means Ellen and I are involved in every single step of the process, from buying, to sorting, cleaning, mending, photographing, listing, shipping, customer service, paperwork, marketing and a host of other things, but I’m hoping (and believe it’s quite possible) to streamline the process to where it requires minimal work and/or we start hiring out jobs. </div>
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4. What were some things that you did to get your business off the ground?</div>
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Invest time. Lots of time. Ellen and I talked over marketing plans and ideas and then we just dug in. We hadn’t a clue what would work and wouldn’t work so it took a lot of time at first, but by being attentive and persistent, it eventually paid off and we’ve already learned a lot about what works best for our market and have been able to cut our time down considerably. We also researched what other companies were doing and tried to learn from them. However, I think the biggest thing that we’ve done that has helped get the business going is just being there for people — whether its on our etsy store, instagram, or anywhere else, we try to be super fast with responses, as helpful as possible and very relational. Ellen and I are both relational people, so that last one comes fairly natural to us, but I think (at least in our market), that people really appreciate our effort to connect with them as people, not just buying customers. </div>
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5. What are some lessons you've learned from this?</div>
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Strategy is super important. The saying “if you don’t know where you’re going, than any train will get you there” is true. You really need to be forward thinking in starting a business — trying to accurately predict business growth is really hard when beginning, but you need to be thinking about the possibilities of both a boom or bust. Knowing when and how much to invest in new equipment and merchandise is really important. So I guess the best thing I’ve learned is how to think through things, set goals and take the appropriate action. </div>
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6.What kept you going?</div>
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More like what keeps me going, since we’re nowhere close to where we want to be :] To be honest, it’s really the knowledge that I simply <i>need</i> to be making money! But it’s also knowing that by getting this venture running on it’s own, I’ll be able to pursue some of the other dreams I have! I find all this stuff really exciting to me :] Besides, starting and running your own business (when run right) is a very rewarding experience.</div>
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7. What are some tips you have for the readers?</div>
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I guess it would be just do something — find where your interests already lie and see if you can capitalize on that to create a business. By doing this you’ll be making money and doing what you love. Maybe you don’t know for sure if it’s what you want to be doing for years to come, but get some goals and start. In the process of just beginning, you’ll learn a multitude of things that you could never learn by just thinking about it. Your goals can and will change as you grow, but you have to begin somewhere. Something I like to remind myself of is that avoiding failure is to avoid progress. If you want to get somewhere, you have to be willing to take risks. Remember, there is no victory without a battle and there is no elevator to success. Take the stairs and make the most of what you already have!</div>
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<a href="http://www.twooldbeansvintage.com/">Two Old Beans Vintage Clothing </a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-33815032946709429952015-03-26T09:08:00.004-07:002015-03-26T09:08:33.778-07:00Entrepreneurial at Home<br />
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So I thought it was about time that I did an article about entrepreneurs and working from home.</div>
Although I'm not as successful as all of these guests we've had I do understand the freedom that we can have working from home and I thought I'd share the thoughts I've had about all these interviews.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Is4g8sLW2M0/VRQu1fshU5I/AAAAAAAADY0/zfIvACvXvic/s1600/woman-on-computer-on-couch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Is4g8sLW2M0/VRQu1fshU5I/AAAAAAAADY0/zfIvACvXvic/s1600/woman-on-computer-on-couch.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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While the rest of you have been reading, I've gotten to meet, interview and talk to these amazing people...but the biggest thing that I've picked up is they aren't supernatural..<br />
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"The major difference between a big shot and a little shot is that the big shot was a little shot that kept on shooting." Zig Ziglar</div>
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In other words none of these people have something that they were born with, nor did they get it on the first try. Sonya had been in four network marketing businesses before she found Plexus. Thomas has had many investments that didn't return and Anthony didn't jump into the rental business without spending months of preparation.</div>
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Then what's something that they all had in common so far?</div>
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LUCK - Laboring Under Correct Knowledge</div>
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They studied, learned from their mistake, kept running, didn't quit when it got hard, and they stayed focused. </div>
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They are where they are today because of what they did yesterday. They were prepared because they were willing to take the time to learn what they needed to know.</div>
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How many of you have had dreams that never happened because you quit? How many have you have thrown up your hands and said it'll never happen? Or how many of you have quit before you started?</div>
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Success is only achieved through relentless persistence. Those who fail on the first try are most likely going to be more wise than those who never fail at all, IF they learn from their mistakes. </div>
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"Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts."</div>
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Winston Churchill</div>
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The desire for the goal must out way the fear of the obstacle if one is to succeed. You must be willing to put your heart in it if you expect anything to be accomplished.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">Don’t dabble in 25 different things or three or four different things." Anthony Courter</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">As Anthony said focused stands for following one </span></span><span style="line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">course</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"> until successful. You can't run three races and win them all. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">"Sometimes you have to lose a battle to win the war." -Donald Trump</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">If you truly believe that God has called you to a re-sale, or network marketing etc. then do all as unto the LORD. Don't leave a job half finished, complete it, stay focused on one thing.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">To sum up what the others have said...</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">Don't be afraid to chase your dreams, apply yourself, and t</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">rust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. </span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-22225675506558172622015-03-24T06:21:00.002-07:002015-03-24T06:21:21.527-07:00Christ my Secret Formula<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I know you all are going to think I’m crazy, but as a little
girl I was a dreamer (and still am). One of the biggest things I dreamed about
all the time was my own deadly enemy. Yep…I’m crazy. But seriously I wanted to
grow up nice and strong and drive crooks across the world nuts, to be so dangerous
that they would dedicate their lives to destroying mine! I wanted to be one of
those characters that they could never catch (like the White Mouse (WWII) or
Robin Hood). In summary I wanted to be useful by my definition. </div>
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But one
day I woke up to the fact that my dream had already come true! The most
powerful enemy in the world had dedicated his life to destroying mine; he was
determined to make every accomplishment or dream impossible, to make every step
a struggle. He had decided to target me as an individual and would do anything
to stop me from ever becoming dangerous. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bell MT","serif";">NEWS FLASH<br />
</span>when the enemy starts threatening or attacking you it means you’re
already a threat.</div>
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So who
is this deadly enemy? When you claim the name of Christ he is immediately you’re
declared you’re targeted enemy. Satan. </div>
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But just like all "bad guys" he overlooked one aspect. The reason I'm so dangerous...my secret formula Christ. </div>
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My mom
was the one that stated the above news flash and it finally hit me, she was
right! And it made me think about something one of my friends had said years
ago, “If you have enemies, you know you’re on the right path, but if you are at
peace with <u>all</u> men than you should check your motives.”</div>
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So how
hard is life for you? Is it “<i>impossible</i>”?
Or is it easy? Is satan winning or losing? How much of a threat are you to him?
Or are you a threat at all? </div>
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I think
these are questions we should be asking ourselves every day. When we truly
target our lives at serving God we naturally target out lives at fighting
satan. There is no in between. So when you’re not a deadly enemy you’ve become
an enemy to God. “…<span style="background: white;">and he that
gathereth not with me<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>scattereth abroad.” Matt 12:30<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white;"> We are commanded to “Fight<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>good<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>fight<span class="apple-converted-space"> of
faith</span>…” (1 Tim 6:12) “<i>Fight</i>”
is not a soft word, and it’s not a suggestion it’s a command. You don’t have a
choice. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white;"> </span>Keep on fighting, you’ve
got more energy and power than he’ll (satan) ever have so just ware him out. Keep
fighting the good fight, never give up, God’ll always be behind you and he’ll
never leave you. If our God is for us than what can stand against us?</div>
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So what
are we waiting for? Why do we dodge the troubles, work, sacrifice or hardship?
Are we scared? Do we fear men? “<span style="background: white;">For
God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power</span>…” 2 Tim 1:7 Why?
God is stronger!<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Remember
when you’re falling and the rain is clouding your vision there’s a hand on your
shoulder and Someone who can see above the clouds is guiding you through the treacherous
climb to righteousness.” </div>
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How
long are we going to listen to that <b>small</b>
voice inside our head telling us that we’re not strong enough? We should listen
to the <b>huge</b> voice behind who’s
calling us to trust Him! </div>
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So
trust God, follow Him, and fight the good fight with boldness. After all we have a secret formula that they can never steal. </div>
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“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your
body, and in your spirit,
which are God's.” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+6%3A20&version=KJV"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">1 Corinthians
6:20</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-912510188027658042015-03-20T10:36:00.004-07:002015-05-06T07:17:15.155-07:00How much do you love God?<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aiPVgEhcqnQ/VQxd9uN1hII/AAAAAAAADUo/jVdRessv4Bw/s1600/Wedding-dress-shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aiPVgEhcqnQ/VQxd9uN1hII/AAAAAAAADUo/jVdRessv4Bw/s1600/Wedding-dress-shop.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a></div>
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People don’t make decisions because they’re afraid to make
the wrong one, so they sit and do nothing. We're to afraid to move. So then we rush through choices and speed through decisions because at least we're doing something.</div>
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I agree that we shouldn’t sit around and waist the time given to us by God. But how much do you love God? Some
of you may be wondering what your love for God has to do with this.
Let me give an example.</div>
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There are two best friends whose girl-friends are getting married.
Both were asked to pick out the bride’s wedding dress. </div>
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1<sup>st</sup> case scenario</div>
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The best friend walks into the bridal store and looks around
the room, after spending an hour there she realizes that she doesn’t know her
friend as well as she thought. She could not pick a dress that justly portrayed
her friend’s personality and truly represented her the best. All though going
back with <i>nothing</i> will prove to her
friends that she doesn’t know anything she would rather be humiliated or take
up more time than to ruin her friend’s wedding. Ultimately she <i>loves her friend <b>to much</b> to make a mistake</i>. So she goes back to her friend so
they can do it together and she can learn more about the bride. </div>
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2<sup>nd</sup> case scenario</div>
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The best friend walks into the bridal store, although the
bride asked her to be very careful with what she chose, she only specified that
it had to be modest. But the best friend only has a half an hour to spend on
the bride. So she chooses the first <i>modest
</i>one she comes to and leaves the store with <i>something.</i></div>
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Out of these to best friends which one loved the bride more;
1 or 2? Well obviously 1 right? Although number 2 picked a modest dress she did
not take the time to think about how well the dress described or represented
the bride. Was there anything wrong with her <i>choice</i>? No! It was modest just like the bride wanted it. In fact
number 2 saved the bride time by not making her pick. </div>
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Now after reading this story let me ask you the question
again…How much do you love God?</div>
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Do you love him enough to admit that you don’t know Him as
well as you thought? That you don’t know Him well enough to make a quick
decision? Do you love Him enough to “bother” him so that you will know Him
better? </div>
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Here are the four steps to making a decision, but which sound like you care?</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--> 1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>Search out the Scripture 1. Read the Bible</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--> 2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>Cry out to God 2.
Pray</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--> 3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>Seek council and wisdom 3. Ask for council </div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--> 4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>Make the decision 4. Make the decision</div>
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Do you see the difference? One reads like a check list of
responsibilities, while the other reads like a list of choices a Christ loving
person would make.</div>
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I agree that we sometimes are too scared to make a decision
and that is the reason for the time it takes for us to move. But not all of us
take forever for that reason. I’m sure we would all consider ourselves best
friend 1. But why, may I ask you, are we willing to spend hours, humiliate
ourselves, pull the bride from her activities and fail on a mission we were
sent on just to pick out a dress? But yet, we won’t spend three days to consider
something as big and important on our knees before God as marriage and carrier.
</div>
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But why should we haggle over a carrier? If they’re both not morally wrong. Remember the dress that
number 2 picked out? It wasn’t morally wrong, yet the girl that came back with
nothing loved the bride more than the girl that made the <b>morally correct</b> decision. There is nothing wrong with being a
doctor unless it is not the choice that will…what?</div>
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What defines a good choice outside of a moral standard?</div>
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“She could not pick a dress that justly portrayed her
friend’s personality and truly represented her the best.”</div>
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We are in this life to be images of Christ; we are in fact
mirrors reflecting the light of the world. Each career we choose is like a
mirror, colored mirrors will reflect Christ’s light but in a different way.
Shattered mirrors will reflect Christ’s light but in a different way. In fact
every type of reflectent will reflect Christ’s light including a piece of
shining metal, a pool of water, a
window, a dirty mirror, even a rainbow and butterfly wings reflect light. But
they all do in different ways. In other words none but the clear, clean mirror
reflects God as he truly is, without shadow, without tint, without fade and
without blotch. </div>
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So what defines a good choice outside of a moral standard?
How well can you in this career reflect, God? The better you know
Him the better you’ll know the answer. And the truth is none of us will ever
know God inside and out. So we turn around admit that we don’t know Him as well
as we thought, and walk <i>with</i> Him in
understanding to grow in wisdom. </div>
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But do we really have to worry over every little detail?</div>
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Should we? I mean does God <i>really</i> care how we dress? Does He really care what type of house we
live in? Or what car we drive? Or what movies we watch or what songs we listen
to? </div>
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My answer is yes. I hope yours is too. Because guess what?
If He doesn’t care about these things why would he care who we marry, what
church we go to, what school we go to, what sexual relationships we have before
we marry. And the list continues like a snowball effect down the hill. If
something is better than nothing, just leave me be, at least I’m doing
something.</div>
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If I teach that we chose to be Christians, just leave me be,
at least I’m talking about Jesus.</div>
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If I stand on a podium and teach that abortion is not
murder, just let me be, at least I’m preaching.</div>
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If I sin, just leave me be, at least I’m acting.</div>
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If I beat my wife and children, just leave me be, at least
I’m active in my family. </div>
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See where this can go? Not a good thing. </div>
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Related to marriage there’s no perfect person out there for
you. So what are you waiting for; something better; under what standard?”</div>
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I believe that we have a tendency to set a
standard of Prince Charming and Princes Perfect…but they don’t exist. Match
your standards with God’s definition not Disney’s depiction.</div>
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But yes I believe there is
only one <i>right</i> person out there for
you not necessarily the <i>perfect</i>
person. I don’t believe that marriage is something that just happens; I believe
it is preordained by God and he has someone planned for you. Do we over-assadurate
and draw preparation out? Yes I think we often do, but <i>why</i>; because we’ve set our standards to high? Or is it because we “<i>love God and our friend <b>too much</b> to make a mistake</i>?”</div>
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Do we love God enough to spend a lot of time praying before
we make an important decision? </div>
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I’ll leave you with the same question</div>
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How much do you love God? It’s time to ask yourself that
question.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-6353177179371392852015-03-18T07:43:00.000-07:002015-03-24T06:22:20.391-07:00Entrepreneurial at Home feat. Anthony Courter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Anthony Courter - Real estate </h3>
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Anthony Courter lives in Linden, TN with his wife and 11 unmarried children; his married son's family (wife and child) live not to far away. </div>
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He is a successful rental owner and has taught many others what he's learned. </div>
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His love for history took his family on a journey to Europe for the 70th anniversary of D-Day last year, and many other historical places across america. </div>
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As a previous pastor his love for the ministry has taken him and his family to places like Brazil, Australia and New Zealand. </div>
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I'm so glad he took the time for this interview I hope you learn much from his advice. </div>
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<b>Why this Business?</b></h3>
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“I got into the rental business
because I knew it was going to meet my goals for being with my kids, and giving
me freedom from earning a wage by the hour, and giving me freedom to serve
other people. So that was the main
reason, really the only reason I got into rental property.”</div>
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<b>What made you start?</b></h3>
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“It was
my goals, absolutely.”</div>
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<b>What were your goals in starting this business?</b></h3>
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“My
saying was I wanted to grow up with my children, which meant I wanted to be the
main instructor in my children’s lives. So that meant I wanted to be around
them every moment I could be, and so that’s 24 hours a day 7 days a week. So I
was looking for something to have my children with me so I could teach them. </div>
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I was
looking for something that would give me freedom from just being a wage earner
or just working by the hour. I wanted to be paid for my ideas and not just for
my time. And another fraise I was using was a slave to money; I didn’t want to
be a slave to money. </div>
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The
third one was I wanted to be able to serve other people and do it for free, and
I wanted to at least do that for half a year. Give half my year away to other
people. I realized that too many men were working for the hour and by the hour
and because of that it gave them a different mentality. How they viewed money,
what they were doing with it, because what they were doing was trading the most
valuable thing that they had and it’s, there’s no way to put a value on it;
they were trading their time, their health, their future and relationships with
other people for a monetary amount, something that has a little bit of value.
They were trading something that is basically priceless for twenty dollars an
hour, fifteen dollars an hour or hundred dollars an hour or whatever it may be.
But they’re still trading something that has a value beyond description for
something so monetary as just a few dollars an hour. So I wanted to be paid for
my ideas not my time. </div>
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So
those were my three things.”</div>
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<b>What were some things that you did to get your business off
the ground?</b></h3>
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“I was
LUCKY. I “Labored Under Correct Knowledge.” I did lots and lots of homework,
read lots of books. What I mean when I say “homework” and “I labored under
correct knowledge” is, I read every book, real estate book I could find, I went
to every library I could go to, and I would ask every investor I came in
contact with; how’d they get started, what were they learning from the process,
if they would do it again. So I had some people that told me that they didn’t
want to do real estate ever again in their lives, I’d ask them why and I
wouldn’t let them discourage me, I just wanted to find out why they discouraged
it. I found guys that who were doing it was successful at it, so I asked them
what they were doing that was good. </div>
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I got
newspapers and I tried to find rent values, prices of housing, and lots of
things like that. I started going to different banks, trying to find out well
what are the qualifications to borrow money. So that was the first thing that I
did was I tried to education myself as much as possible. So there was about six
months that I was really wanting to do something but all I could do was just,
all I did was just homework, because I didn’t want to make a $40,000 or $50,000
mistake especially since I wasn’t making very much money. That was a lot of
money at that point in my life and so<i> </i>I
was very careful in how I was investing my time, and I wanted to make sure I
was doing something with my time that would education myself.”</div>
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<b>What are some lessons you've learned from doing this?</b></h3>
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“That
if somebody sets their mind to it, anything’s achievable, without question. I
was making $125.00 a week, didn't have any money saved, to speak of I didn't
have any money saved back (I had $1,000.00 I had saved back from a job that I
had had before), Michelle and I had two children at that point in our life, and
I’d never bought a house. I had many people that were trying to discourage me,
by just saying, get a factory job, stay there you’ll be happy, you’ll have two
weeks of paid vacation and everything will be fine and hunky dory and you’ll
get all these benefits. I would just say that if someone sets their mind to
doing something and do the correct homework and don’t let their emotions drive
them but letting wisdom and knowledge drive them I think they can do anything
that they set their heart to.”</div>
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<b>What kept you going?</b></h3>
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“The
sheer fact that I knew I could do it and what the end goal was. Getting my
three goals that I had, which were again; growing up with my kids, not being a
slave to money, and giving my time away to other people for free.”</div>
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<b>What are some things you want the readers to hear?</b></h3>
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“Become
focused, focused stands for “following one course until successful.” Don’t
dabble in 25 different things or three or four different things. When I was
doing real estate I wasn’t doing anything but real estate. I exaggerate when I
say that I was eat, drinking and sleeping real estate, but reality is past my
scripture reading and time I was spending with my family and the job I was
working, (I was working another job) I spent every moment I could think about
real estate I was thinking about it, reading again and then trying to
understand the principles that were there. Asking other men about the things I
had learned. </div>
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Something
else is to just make sure that you’re applying yourself, and then just don’t be
gathering knowledge but actually do something with it I could have done all
that. I have a lot of people that they’ve asked me a lot of real estate
questions, and they’ve asked me a lot of real estate questions, and they’ve
asked me a lot of real estate questions. They have lots of knowledge, and they
have lots of knowledge and they have lots of knowledge but they’ve never acted.
So there’s a time when you need to do your research and you need to act upon it
and not be driven by fear or by greed but by the wisdom of knowing that what
you’re doing is a sound choice and it’s not, again, driven by your external
emotions.”</div>
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<b>How would you describe your success?</b></h3>
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“Well,
I guess I could say after doing this since 1992, (so it’s been 23 years) I was
able to quit my job after four years of doing this and so I started this back
in 92, I started the factory job in 91 and with in September of 95 I quit my
factory job. And I was able to meet all
the goals I desired, because I was now financially independent enough, I only
had $1,000 a month coming in but my wife and I decided we were going to live
off of that. Because we were able to stay within a budget and I was able to
purchase the houses I did in those, basically about three and a half years, I
was able to meet my goals and so I would say that I was very successful at meeting
the goals that I desired to reach and it gave me the freedom to do many other
things in life.”</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-23437917038056701772015-03-12T07:11:00.001-07:002015-03-13T06:34:09.053-07:00Entrepreneurial at Home Featuring Sonya Dudley<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
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<span style="color: red; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Sonya Dudley Diamond Ambassador with Plexus</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Sonya is a Diamond Ambassador with Plexus. She lives in Linden, TN with her husband and two children. She travels around America speaking at conferences and even hosting some. She is one of the most influential people in my life and I'm so happy she made time for us in her SUPER busy schedule. Wildly successful and very humble, I can't think of anyone I would rather host today. </span></div>
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1.Why this business?</div>
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<span style="color: red;">Well I feel it gives me the freedom to create a life and not just make a living. I have the time, money and freedom to do pretty much what is important to me and that is what matters to me most.....</span></div>
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2.What made you start?<br />
<span style="color: red;">My best friend sold me on trying this industry just one more time by saying, "If the products worked for me, then I could help tons of folks get healthy as well" And I knew the investment was so so small, I thought, well WHAT IF this does work, and this could be our financial answer as well as my health answer... and it was...</span></div>
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3.What were your goals in starting this business?<br />
<span style="color: red;">Just to share with every single person I knew and to post on facebook daily to see where it would lead and I was consistent. So after a month, then I really was like, I think I can take this thing all the way, and started focusing on helping many people with the business aspect of this.... and 10 weeks after joining I quit my full time job... </span></div>
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4.What were some things that you did to get your business off the ground?<br />
<span style="color: red;"> I live in the town that I was raised in, I already knew everyone and them me, so really just talking to people every where I was and posting on facebook, that was it.</span></div>
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5.What are some lessons you've learned from this?<br />
<span style="color: red;"> People will disappoint you, THEY have to want this for themselves, you can not want it for them.... People quit too soon, they do not know work ethic anymore.....People are not willing to change old habits so easily when it is more comfortable to stay the same...</span></div>
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6.What kept you going?<br />
<span style="color: red;">Really never thought about quitting....I was always with the people who shared their life changing stories, so if any day got bad, I always thought of them... and what If I had not shared...</span></div>
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7.What are some tips you have for the readers?<br />
<span style="color: red;"> Do not be scared to go after your dreams. If you do not, no one else will and you could potentially regret it for the rest of your life. The pain of regret is the most painful emotion to take to the grave.</span></div>
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8.What is your health testimony?<br />
<span style="color: red;"> I was in bed for 15 months with Fibromyalgia a few years ago. When I finally got well enough, I had to find a job outside the home, which I had never done before. I had always worked for myself in this industry. I went into sales. I did that for 6-7 years and even though I was better, I was not well. I hurt a lot all over, I was tired ALL the time. I had high cholesterol, and I struggled with weight. When I started on Plexus, right away, I felt like a new person. I was sleeping all night, no naps, no pain, and cholesterol dropped 50 points in month one. I lost 12 pounds and felt amazing. After a couple of months I was able to get off all my meds with my doctors approval. I have my health back and that is everything....</span></div>
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Here's Plexus' <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFMR096moos">Diamond Documentary</a> on Sonya.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-60741161273753677862015-02-19T14:18:00.001-08:002015-02-19T14:18:17.364-08:00Unworthily Chosen<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Most of my articles lately have
been about things I’ve been learning in conversations or from sermons, but this
week I wanted to write about something that God’s been teaching me, the hard
way.</div>
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I’m sure most of you have probably
seen me as a girl, striving to serve her King with all her might, and studying
the Bible every day. Well that isn’t true, in fact I’d been serving myself not
my King. I was focused on me, not Him; my glory, not his; the way people
thought about me, not the way He saw me. I was a me-seeker and unfortunately I
still am struggling with it. </div>
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I was using my blog as a place to
fulfill myself and receive that I longed for. When, after three months I still
didn’t have any followers I was dissatisfied and wanted to find ways to get my
work and to receive my glory and my praise. I was literally living the life of
a hypocrite! I was telling my readers to do one thing and living the exact
opposite. </div>
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Romans 2:3 “And
thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest
the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?”</div>
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I felt better if I had published an
article. I felt prouder and more “at peace with God and man.” I felt like it
made me a better person somehow if I had a blog.</div>
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Romans 2:21-23 “Thou
therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that
preachest a man should not steal, doest thou steal? Thou that sayest a man
should not commit adultery, doest thou commit adultery? Thou that abhorrest
idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest they boast of the law,
through breaking the law dishonorest thou God?”</div>
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I talked a lot but never acted.
Everything I was learning was never put to use. I had a lot of knowledge but no
wisdom. My mouth moved by my feet froze. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Romans 2:19-20 “And
art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which
are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast
form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.”</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I was proud of myself for taking “complicated”
subjects and making them “simple.” I thought about all of the people that <b>I</b> was going to save and the problems <b>I</b> was going to fix and the world <b>I</b> was going to change. I was so focused
on me that I missed what I was actually doing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Romans 2:24 “For the
name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you…”</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Luke 6:39a “Can the
blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch?”</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I was leading other people away
from the light instead of towards it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Matthew 15:7-9 “Ye
hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, “This people draweth nigh
to me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far
from me.”</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I was a hearer of the word and not
a doer! (James 1:22)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Luke 11:46 “Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! For ye lade
men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens
with one of your fingers.”</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I spoke about not setting
“extra-biblical” standards for people; but yet I had them for my own siblings
and parents!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
1 John 2:6 “He that
saith he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It doesn’t say to talk like God talks; it says to walk even
as Christ walked. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
But praise the LORD, God didn’t
plan for me to stay on my high horse for long. It was the turning point when I
realized that I had found my life in him, and without him I was nothing. I felt
cold, alone and desperate. The fire that had kept me alive for so long, the
personality that everyone loved, was gone. I didn’t realize how much of my life
actually depended on him, or how much of the “me” I was trying to satisfy
didn’t exist when He wasn’t present.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b>He</b> is my all! <b>He</b> is my
only source of life! <b>He</b> deserves the
glory, <b>He</b> deserves the praise. For a
long time I thought that people that said “Praise the LORD” all the time were
creeps. But now my eyes have finally been able to catch just a glimpse of what
those “creeps” were actually able to see. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
One of the biggest struggles I have
in life is pridefulness. I’m constantly seeking praise for something that <b>I</b> did. But the truth is, it isn’t me
but he who is in me. It isn’t my work but the Creator of the universe. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
My world looked beautiful when I
was blinded but the height of my white steed. But when the veil was removed and
Christ brought me back down, I saw a world that I had created for myself. It
was dark and cold. It was empty and bleak. When I saw what I had become I felt
a fear that I had never had before. A fear of death, a fear of life, and a fear
of God’s almighty wrath. My life went without me seeing, I didn’t realize it
until the path was sinking beneath me. When the world started to close in I
realized that without God I was open prey to the devil.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
But there’s hope!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
My story isn’t over yet and I
praise God that he is the master artist of my life; that he has chosen me as a
parchment. I can’t wait to see what he creates with the beautiful trials and
chapters in this book he has for me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I’m overwhelmed by His mercy and I
now realize that I never deserved him and I never will.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Plan “A” never worked, and most of
the time it never does. It takes a fall to know not to run and it takes a
mistake to grow wiser. It took God bringing me down to earth, to learn that I
didn’t belong in the clouds. It took his mercy in bringing me back to him
before I realized I had ever wandered off.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
What do you do when plan “A” fails?
Well you sit down, you acknowledge your mistake, re-plan, and take action. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
So what’s my plan “B”? The Bible
states several places to “cleave unto God” (Duet 4:4; 11:22; 30:20; Josh 22:5;
23:8; Acts 11:23), and that we are not our own (1 Cor 6:19) but we were
purchased with a price (1 Cor 6:20).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
In other words serve God with all
my heart, mind, soul and strength.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Am I perfect? No. Will I ever be?
No.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
But through <b>Christ’s</b> strength and <b>Christ’s</b>
righteousness I can be made free. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
“Know
ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are
to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye obeyed from the
heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. <span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Being then made free from
sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6:16-18)</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Is there hope for someone who <u>without</u>
Christ is so susceptible to the devil? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Without Christ, no; with Christ
yes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
“With
men this is impossible; but with God <i>all</i>
things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
When you hand yourself over, a
sacrifice to God, and dedicate your life to him, he become the driver and takes
the wheel; he becomes the painter, and takes the brush; he becomes the writer
and takes the pen; he becomes the Savior and takes your life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Does that mean life will be easy?
No. But is life really about easy? It was easy without him in that dark, empty,
life you were living. But it was empty, why do you think it’s estimated suicide
takes the lives of 40,000 Americans every year? (save.org) Life might be
“easier” without him in your definition, but in the <b>long run</b> it won’t be worth it. “Make the <i>tough</i> decisions now, so you can <i>easily</i>
reap later.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
So in closing, realize now the
great treasure and gift you have received from above. Realize now, the amazing
chance you have to be a part of the Kingdom of God. Realize now, you only have
one life to live. Realize now, that you never deserved it, but He gave it to
you anyway.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-48584176951954101182015-02-07T11:13:00.000-08:002015-02-07T11:13:17.526-08:00Gifts from God<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;">We were all created for a purpose, set here in </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;">this</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;"> time, </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;">this</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;"> place for a special reason. The saying "if everybody's special nobody's special" isn't actually true. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;">We are all unique in the way that God had planned. We're each a different part of the body. "But now are they many members, yet but one body." (1 Cor 12:20) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;">When God commands us, through his word, he also gives us the strength and tools to accomplish exactly what he told us to do. Each of us are equipped with God-given unique abilities. "Now there are diversity of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administration, but the same LORD. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God that worketh all in all." (1 Cor 12:4-6) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;">I'm afraid that, from what I see, Christians have a very hard time getting along together or working together unless their standards, rules, lifestyles and minor doctrines match exactly. Which, if that's what you're looking for than you might as well give up.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;">Christ set specific standards follow his, not mans. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;">We were created like a puzzle, our differences are the notches that help us fit together to finish the product. A negative magnet and another negative don't go together. But a negative and positive do. A husband and wife are opposite sex but make the best partnership in life. In a story you have a bad-guy, a hero, good and evil, all are very different but work together to make a perfect story. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;">"For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another diverse kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues; but all these worketh that one and selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." (1 Cor 12:8-11) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;">Some have the gift of speech, some have the gift of silent service, both can work together to extend the Kingdom of God. Some are writers, some singers, some farmers, some business men, some lawyers and some politicians. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;">But in every area of life, in every part of our day we are to take dominion over all. Whether food and drink, or work and play. There is not one area of any life that should not be subject to Christ. In movies, in music and in literature God has commanded that we take dominion. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;">So use your gifts wisely. Use them to the glory of God, don't hide in the crevice of the rock "For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Tim 1:7) So be bold, use your gifts for him. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;">Hands were made to work, minds were made to think, eyes were made to see, ears were made to hear, gifts were made to use.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-16521637969774189822015-01-26T06:39:00.001-08:002015-01-26T06:39:02.519-08:00Dominion-Focused Woman Part 2 - Outside the Home, it's PossibleLast time I talked about what we can do as women to extend the kingdom at home. Now I want to add to that...<br />
<br />
I didn't want my article to get stuck in the "good home-schooled girl" trend so I decided to write a second part.<br />
<br />
What is the "good home-schooled girl" trend? Well it's this old trend among home-schoolers that a good Christian girl is measured by how much she does <u>at home</u>. But the truth is this, we're here on earth to live more like Christ not like the perfect house wife. We're here to conform to the image of Christ not to the standards of the Christians around us.<br />
<br />
Here's what I'm trying to say, it is possible to spread the Kingdom and do the work that a <u>woman</u> should do away from her home. For instance, she could go on a mission trip to Loas, or several sisters could open up a alteration business in the square, or even work at a Chick-fil-a, (your options aren't limited to this they're just examples).<br />
<br />
So many times we're surrounded by these standards and rules that <b>men</b> set, that we seem to forget what we were actually created for. To serve God to the best of our ability. Often times when you surround a person with standards that you expect them to reach you drown that person instead of encouraging them onward.<br />
<br />
To serve God with the best of our ability means we each serve him in a different way. Some young women are called to start businesses at home, while others are called to take dominion of jobs that already exist. Some women are called to work with their fathers while others are called to travel the world.<br />
<br />
"Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers or miracles?" 1 Cor 12:29<br />
<br />
We are all called to serve God in a unique way. Don't despise a woman who works outside home, on the other hand don't despise a woman who works from home. Either choice does not make you more or less woman. "For the body is one, and hath many members..." (Rom 12:1)<br />
<br />
Now I have to write a disclaimer here, if your father wants you to stay at home, than it would be a sin to do otherwise. Why? You know why, because the Bible, God's inspired word tells us to honor and <u>obey</u> our parents. And on the other hand if your father wants you to go out and get a job, (depending on the job) you should go out and get a job.<br />
<br />
The standards we've placed are not only unnecessary but on top of that they confuse new Christians. We tell them that they're supposed to rise to these standards and anything else is practically a sin, but they don't find that in the Bible.<br />
<br />
This is a topic that very few people are willing to address. But it needs to be.<br />
<br />
I'm afraid that the majority of Christians are starting to hang on one hand or the other. They either don't want to stay at home because that's so pathetic and they despise any girl who doesn't have a college degree; or they hate being out and about because that's the men's world and despise anyone who doesn't know how to do laundry or clean the bathroom in five minutes.<br />
<br />
Ok let's just think about this for a minute, how long does it take to learn how to clean a bathroom? Not long. How useful is a college degree? If used correctly very useful. But how much can you do without a college degree? A lot.<br />
<br />
So let me get this straight. Everything that we're focused on, isn't getting us anywhere? Because if those to girls are strong Christians I bet they both have what's really important.<br />
<br />
Yeah, like what?<br />
<br />
Well I bet they both know how precious His word is. I bet they can quote parts not because they memorized it but because they've read it over and over. I bet they understand the power of prayer. I bet they spread his gospel and take dominion wherever they go, whether it's a sibling's temper, the dirty bathroom, or a long list of jobs to complete and a computer to fix.<br />
<br />
If we're both doing what the Bible commands than why are these extra-Biblical standards so important? Why have they grown to be a barrier between people.<br />
<br />
"Oh you wear pants so I can't talk to you." "Oh she's one of those creepy-jean-skirt-wearing-home-schoolers, I'm not going to talk to her."<br />
<br />
Seriously girls? Life is way to short to haggle over silly, unimportant differences like that. The church was meant to be a body it was meant to work like one.<br />
<br />
The reason Christianity has spread so far and gone so long is because we're like a giant army or a nation that covers the globe. We're supposed to be a people that helps one another, a nation set apart to God, people that work together. So why are we haggling over whether leggings are appropriate or jobs for women correct? Come on guys that creates gaps not bridges! It creates enemies not friends! If we're so busy fighting among ourselves how can we fight the true enemy?<br />
<br />
Another disclaimer here, I'm not saying to give up your beliefs and conform, just talk about what you have in common people! Jesus Christ our Savior! If Christ was willing to die for them then don't you thing we can at least be friends? I mean I'm not even asking you to lay your lives down for each other, but yet Christians in the past have done that too.<br />
<br />
The standards kill "...for the letter <i>(of the law)</i> killeth, but the spirit <i>(of the law (Rom 7:6)</i> giveth life." (2 Cor 3:6) but the salvation of Christ gives life!<br />
<br />
We are commanded to shine forth Christ, "...and the salvation of Christ Jesus will do that more than any standards or rules of men will ever do." -Anthony Courter-<br />
<br />
Build relationships not enemies, build cities not walls, fortifications against the enemy and not friends, bind yourself to Christ and the church and you will find strength.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-64713596618785327502015-01-19T14:16:00.000-08:002015-01-19T14:16:58.286-08:00Act; it's the art of true living<div style="text-align: center;">
Many people are thinkers, few are actors. Be among the few.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There are so many times we get caught up in our plans for our lives and forget what makes goals so important is acting upon them. "Most of the problems in life are we act without thinking or we think without acting." (Unknown)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Be great in act as you are in thought" (William Shakespeare). It's time to stop thinking, to start acting, to make a difference in the short life we have. "You only have one life in which to do everything you'll ever do, act accordingly" (Colin Wright) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Those who act are those who will be called the victors when time runs out. We are ambassadors for Christ, the King of the universe; the battle is already won but will we have been the ones that stood when needed, came when called, followed when ordered, loved when hated. Will we be among the few?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
God promises hard not easy, hate not love, pain not comfort, embarrassment not praise and shame not glory. We butter up His promises, and than we act surprised when the road gets rough. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I can promise you one thing, it's going to be hard, it's going to be the hardest thing you ever did. But right doesn't always mean easy; we take this road because it's the right thing to do, and we don't need another reason." (Alice French)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So yeah, speaking out against your best friend, the president or a stranger might be embarrassing, but it's no excuse to keep silent. Speak, for only you have the power to say what God places in your heart. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Heroes are people who overcome evil with good..." (Oliver North) We need heroes today. Be one.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Stand tall, stand strong, stand among the few, stand, without a thought of turning around.</div>
<div>
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"Bravery is not the absence of fear but the presence of faith" (Unknown)</div>
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"...for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of the light." (Luke 16:8b) Often times this is true, Christians are usually the last ones to be politicians, lawyers, business owners, and the last ones to accept a new idea. But there was a time when Christians set the standard for lawyers and business men, they were the ones that were inventing new ideas they were the ones that kept politicians accountable. </div>
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So where are we now? Where are the Christian politicians? Well their at home to afraid to speak. Where are the Christian inventors? Well their at home sure that their ideas have already been taken. Where are the Christian business men? You guessed it, they're at home or working a "steady, safe" job. They are in short TO AFRAID TO SPEAK.</div>
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Now have all the Christians gone into hiding? Well <a href="http://westernconservatory.com/">The Western Conservatory</a>, <a href="https://answersingenesis.org/">Answers in Genesis</a> and <a href="http://www.persecution.com/">The voice of the Martyrs </a> is prof that not all Christians have gone underground, but are you among them? </div>
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Victors are those who create good plans and act upon them. Those who lose are those who bow the knee and nod their heads to everything.</div>
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Which are you? Make the decision now. Tomorrow may never come. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-44972674511210106312015-01-09T07:00:00.000-08:002015-01-09T10:16:23.422-08:00Prayer: Our Greatest Privilege I know I usually start my articles off with a question so this time I'll start with a statement...something profound.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uilzg6twFYg/VK9KqovDgvI/AAAAAAAACdk/F_44lLwFRH4/s1600/dsc_00131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uilzg6twFYg/VK9KqovDgvI/AAAAAAAACdk/F_44lLwFRH4/s1600/dsc_00131.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a>We, as Christians, are given many privileges, out of all of them prayer is the most powerful.</div>
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Now for the question (s): How many times do we pray each day without truly realizing the gift God has given us? How many times do we kneel without taking a moments thought what we are praying for? Do we realized the power that Christ has placed in our hands?</div>
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"And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." 1 John 5:14-15</div>
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The old saying is, "Careful what you wish for." But I'd like to say, "Careful what you pray for." What is more powerful? Wishing on a star that has no ears, or praying to the God of the universe who knows your every thought? </div>
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I think that we Christians have the tendency to forget how personal a friend Christ is, and fall into the trap, thinking of Him as a far away God who has better things to do than listen to my silly requests. </div>
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NEWS FLASH: Not only does God hear your every word, but He answers them too. Does that mean you always get what you pray for? No!</div>
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"...if we ask anything <i><b><u>according to His will</u></b></i>..."</div>
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Christ's timing, plan and purpose is perfect, sometimes (most of the time) our plans don't fit, that's why He's God and we're His people.</div>
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As I said in my last article, we can fight battles in our own, small, dark bedroom with just prayer. God isn't some super-human spirit that created the world and then left us to figure everything out and fight on our own. He's there, with you, right now! And He's always there. </div>
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Prayer is the greatest <i>asset </i>we have as ambassadors, the greatest <i>tool</i> we have as workers, the greatest <i>resource </i>we have as stewards and the greatest <i>weapon </i>we have as soldiers.</div>
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"Is any sick among you? let him call the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the LORD: And the prayer of faith, shall save the sick, and the LORD shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." James 5:14-15</div>
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Some of you might be wondering what brought on this article. I'd say someone's been prodding at my heart to write it this past week. I've had event after event when I prayed for something and he answered my prayer. First our camera stopped working, and we <i>need</i> it to photograph merchandise, and on top of that we're taking a trip this weekend and wanted to take it with us. I thought it was ridiculous to pray over a camera, but I did, and (after trying everything in my power to get it working and failing) it worked, just like that. Right after that I was having trouble with some very stubborn tracks for a race track I was selling. Again I though, "<i>Oh please, it's a toy why in the world should I pray over these?</i>" But I did and guess what? They came a part! Just like that.</div>
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The simple fact is, God rules over all, living and not so living. He commands all, controls all and knows all. Yeah, some of those prayers may be really silly at times (in your eyes) but remember God commands us to pray to him.</div>
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"Watch ye therefore, and pray <i>always</i>, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all things that come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." Luke 21:36</div>
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"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: for the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:21</div>
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I know those little things you really don't think are "big enough" to pray for seem, well, small. But guess what, "...your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." (Matthew 6:8) So whether you chose to ask Him formally or not, he already knows.</div>
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But if I may make a suggestion, take advantage of this great privilege God had given us!</div>
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Prayer can either be the best <i>tool</i> to rule a nation or the best <i>weapon</i> to conquer the world. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-16467343721887608882015-01-05T10:04:00.001-08:002015-01-05T10:04:17.137-08:00A Treasure<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
I know it isn't Mother's Day but I came across this poem I wrote for last years Mother's Day and thought some of you might enjoy it.</div>
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A mother is the heart of the home</div>
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Even if she doesn’t understand Chrome </div>
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A mother is a sweet consoler and friend</div>
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Even if she
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Though best buddies may seem awesome</div>
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It’s a mother that helps you blossom </div>
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Whether stubborn girl or boy</div>
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She knows
she can turn you out as a bundle of joy</div>
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Though she does have her faults in more places than one</div>
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It’s her pride and respect you’ll seek when you’re done</div>
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It’s her joy and her peace her laugh and her smile</div>
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That will
rub off on you better than any new style</div>
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Your friends will head their separate ways</div>
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The ones you thought you’d have for the rest of your days</div>
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When disserted by others in times of distress</div>
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It’s that grey haired old lady in a dress</div>
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That will be by your side with a word of encouragement</div>
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Her love is
the one that is permanent </div>
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So this mother’s days, while others forget the special woman
in their lives</div>
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Weather mothers, sisters, or wives</div>
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Remember that special woman with a word a gift or a prayer</div>
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And don’t be forgetful, instead out of your life give a
little care</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-55971218454186701862015-01-05T09:59:00.000-08:002015-01-05T09:59:00.737-08:00Dominion-focused Woman<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PbSvcl7FwqA/VKrNX-X_smI/AAAAAAAACVk/V9p87Xt3oDI/s1600/6a00d834515bbc69e201676380acca970b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PbSvcl7FwqA/VKrNX-X_smI/AAAAAAAACVk/V9p87Xt3oDI/s1600/6a00d834515bbc69e201676380acca970b.jpg" height="320" width="249" /></a>What is a dominion-focused woman? How can you become one? Should you? Is it Biblical?<br />
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Slow down there, that's a lot to think about! First off let's just define the word dominion:<br />
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"Sovereign or supreme authority; the power of governing and controlling" </div>
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According to Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary. </div>
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Now when I say a "dominion-focused" woman, I'm not referring supreme female authority. What I'm referring to is what is known as the "Dominion Mandate." </div>
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"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holly Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo,I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19-20)</div>
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In short we are to extend the Kingdom of God. But what is the Kingdom of God?</div>
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Well in my opinion all though the whole universe and beyond belongs to God the Kingdom itself is every area in which people bow the knee to Him in obedience. So we are to extend that to the ends of the world, in <u>every area of life</u>. In music, literature, artwork, teaching children, movies, carpentry, construction, finances, etc. At work or on vacation, in church or out.</div>
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But wait, we're women, we're not supposed to preach. (1 Cor 14:34-35)</div>
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Yes, you're right, we are women, but we were created for a special reason. (Gen 2:18) We were created to be a help-meet to men, to follow them, to obey them, and to stand by their side. (Eph 5:22) </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uyOuwEem2NA/VKrNYVsN3PI/AAAAAAAACVw/Xix8EOSlvoc/s1600/woman_writing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uyOuwEem2NA/VKrNYVsN3PI/AAAAAAAACVw/Xix8EOSlvoc/s1600/woman_writing.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>And you still say that a woman can be dominion-focused? </div>
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Yes, why? Because all Christian men, women and children were given that mandate. And following our husbands should never interfere with that. Now before you get the idea that I'm saying it's ok to rebel as long as you're obeying God let me clarify. In the first place it is impossible to rebel against your father and still obey God (unless your father is telling you to sin). In the second place no matter how restrictive your dad is there are always ways to extend the Kingdom of God.</div>
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But how? What if I can't leave the house? What if I'm not allowed on the internet? (In that case I'm wondering how you reading this article.) How can I extend the Kingdom if I can't go where I'm needed? (If I haven't hit your question please list it in the comments below and I'll try to answer it.)</div>
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Here's the answer, it all boils down to one simple fact, you are where you are because you have been placed there by God. No matter how influential, no matter how insignificant, or how boring you were placed there in God's perfect timing. The best thing to do right now is to help where you can. Just like in a big event, in the Kingdom of God every person has their part to play.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ANvhS4XyDvs/VKrNXC_P8MI/AAAAAAAACVY/TDp2sJ8i1C8/s1600/114228480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ANvhS4XyDvs/VKrNXC_P8MI/AAAAAAAACVY/TDp2sJ8i1C8/s1600/114228480.jpg" height="320" width="249" /></a>But I'm still confused didn't you hear all the limitations I have? What is one thing, just one thing I could possibly do?</div>
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Yes I heard you. And I'll give you more than one thing.</div>
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Cooking</div>
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Washing</div>
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Cleaning </div>
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Reading</div>
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Studying </div>
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but most of all Praying.</div>
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What??? How in the world does that extend the Kingdom?</div>
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Well first off it probably frees your mom up (which whether you like it or not she probably has more freedom and ability then you do), second do you see the difference in your dad when he comes home and the house is clean verses when it's dirty? The last three prepare you for when you can go out and disciple. But the last one is the most important, the power of prayer goes beyond any human ability you can acquire through any amount of training. When you get down on your knees you are taking advantage of a great privilege, you are fighting battles right there in that tiny dark room. But the power of prayer is a topic that we could talk about for hours so let's move on.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jd8gD5MLTU0/VKrOGwhi12I/AAAAAAAACWA/QIFjz92IFFA/s1600/mother-holding-baby-in-air-silhouette-222x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jd8gD5MLTU0/VKrOGwhi12I/AAAAAAAACWA/QIFjz92IFFA/s1600/mother-holding-baby-in-air-silhouette-222x300.jpg" /></a>Now your restrictions all included a "what if" so let's just assume right now that some of those restrictions don't actually exist. Seeing that you're reading this article I'm going to start with the internet. There's a whole new separate list of abilities that are unlocked with the amazing creation of the internet. But I'll stick to one of the most effective. The power of the pen. </div>
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You don't have to be a good writer to bad mouth somebody and you also don't have to be a great writer to encourage someone. So just get started. </div>
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We were all put here on earth for a unique purpose, some of us will never be praised as an outstanding Christian, but if that is your motivation you should re-consider. Maybe you'll never travel the world, maybe you'll never fight Muslims. But in a way you can fight them now, in that tiny room on your knees.<br />
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Part 2 coming soon!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-60167956153495368822015-01-02T13:30:00.000-08:002015-01-03T09:33:57.511-08:00Singing<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tirzah (my sister) and I have been singing for almost five years now but I don't think we ever saw this coming. God has blessed us these past two years with the chances to sing at several places. </div>
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Our first chance to sing publicly was at the 2013 WWII event honoring USMC veteran Edgar Harrell in front of about one hundred people. It was a great experience and helped us to "brake out of the shell of shyness" as Tirzah would say.</div>
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WWII Event 2013</div>
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Our next chance to sing publicly was at our Great Grandmother's 100th birthday in November of 2013 in front of several of our relatives. Our dear GG passed away a few weeks after her 101st birthday in 2014.</div>
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(We also had the chance to sing at the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum on the way back from CO in front of just our family).</div>
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GG's 100th Birthday</div>
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Next we sang for our parents at their 27th anniversary party in March of 2014 in front of a small group of people from our church.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DGf5SQ87_rU/VKcFEvQO3AI/AAAAAAAACP8/L78iRf8QR1E/s1600/IMG_1286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DGf5SQ87_rU/VKcFEvQO3AI/AAAAAAAACP8/L78iRf8QR1E/s1600/IMG_1286.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Our Parent's 27th Anniversary</div>
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Our latest chance to sing publicly was at the <a href="http://dominionskills.com/remembering-wwii/">Remembering WWII; Living History, Education and Honor</a> event on September 27th 2014, in front of a huge crowd of people and several vets. We were further honored to sing the Star Spangled Banner acapella.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6uxCd2-2Jj0/VKcEZQwTfcI/AAAAAAAACPk/-n96Eo_QTpE/s1600/1545783_293151747548204_6386302765530802518_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6uxCd2-2Jj0/VKcEZQwTfcI/AAAAAAAACPk/-n96Eo_QTpE/s1600/1545783_293151747548204_6386302765530802518_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Remembering WWII, 2014</div>
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I hope to post some videos soon, but until then I hope you all enjoy the photos.</div>
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God has blessed us so much and we hope to use his gift in the following year a lot. Please pray for us as we seriously consider publishing several CDs. To God be the glory!</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-40755396058608982942014-12-19T09:14:00.000-08:002015-01-02T12:48:44.920-08:00Sneak Peek 2Here's another more sneak peek for you all out there!<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It was long past
sundown, Frank leaned up against the side of the helicopter and glanced at his watch, “</span></span><i style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">10:05 pm</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">” “Where are they?” he asked himself.
He searched the surrounding sand dunes, but they were no where
in sight. “There’s no way Alice lost her way, she knows these deserts more in the dark then in the light. What happened, where are they?” Franklin
called out. “</span></span><i style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Thieves?</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">” the thought
stuck him, “</span></span><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">They </span></span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">didn't</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> have any weapons
that I know of. Could it be that they were, no,</span></span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">” Frank picked up the gun
that was leaning up against the helicopter, swung the strap over his shoulder
and started through the miles of sand. As he went along the more he thought
about what could happen to them the faster he walked, soon his fast walking turned into
a quick run. He climbed over sand dunes, jumped over fallen dead trees and
climbed up rock formations. Before long he heard shots in the far distance, he quickened his steps to as fast as they could go, till he could see
the flashes of rifles going back and forth. He jumped behind a sand dune and
watched them for a moment till he realized that one side only had one gun while
the other side had several. “Unless they got a whole mess of friends and are
picking on one soldier that side is my side,” He waited for a
moment then jumped over the sand dune and ran as fast as he could till he slid
behind the sand dune with the single shooter, as he did someone pointed a gun
at him. “Don’t shoot, don’t shoot! It’s me Frank!” he called out. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Enjoy!!</span></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-43668680070926194772014-12-19T09:02:00.000-08:002014-12-19T09:02:37.590-08:00I'm Fed up with Giving up<div style="text-align: center;">
You can't finish unless you start and you can't complete unless you continue.</div>
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What are you living for? Anything worth living for is worth fighting for and anything worth fighting for is worth dying for. How much are your goals really worth? Are you willing to fight for them? What's most important in your life?<br />
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I believe that relationships are the most important and hardest investment we'll ever make in our lives. From our relationship with Christ to our relationship with complete strangers. A relationship is a two way road, what are you willing to give? <i>How long do you intend on fighting for it?</i><br />
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How many times has it been that you've just given up on a relationship, just shaken your head and given it up as hopeless? Their love is worth more than that! <b>They are worth fighting for!</b><br />
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Are you fed up with giving up? Tired of shaking your head, shrugging your shoulders, tired of hopeless relationships that aren't going anywhere? Well...there's hope!<br />
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"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil 4:13</div>
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Nothing is utterly impossible, Christ has given us the strength to conquer any obstacle. When we shake our head and say, "it can't be done," we're saying that God's strength and might has a limit, which it does not!</div>
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"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13</div>
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Are you giving all that you can? Have you laid down your life for that friend who needs your companionship very much? Or are you sucked up in how you want to feel, and how you want to be treated and how they aren't doing that?</div>
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"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:21</div>
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"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you." Matthew 6:33</div>
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What are you seeking first? Is it your video games, movies, books, letters, jobs, shallow relationships (those that are in the we're-not-going-to-get-to-know-each-other-and-we're-nice-to-each-other-and-we-like-that stage)? Or is it the Kingdom of God, family, dominion work, relationships that matter and are going to stand the tests of time? </div>
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Maybe you are losing strength to fight those battles, maybe you are running out of energy to fight for those relationships. But you want to know why? Because they aren't what you're seeking fist. Something else is coming before them, and trust me they can tell that, so they give up too.</div>
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"You can tell the size of the man by the size of the problem that gets him down." -Unknown-</div>
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When something comes first in your life, you give everything to keep it, to grow it, to earn it's trust. Whether you run out of energy or not, you keep fighting, whether you have to drag yourself across that proverbial floor or not, you keep fighting, whether the way becomes monotonous or the road never seems to end you keep fighting for it! Why? Because it's what you're living for! </div>
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What's the worth of your goal to you? What's the price of the obstetrical that stands in your way? If the worth of the stumbling stone is more than the goal than you can forget it. You'll never accomplish any goal unless it's more important to you than anything in the world. Goals were designed as stepping stones to the ultimate goal, which should always be (Christian or not) Christ.</div>
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If you're not fighting for anything than you're not living. </div>
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I want to get this clear before we move on. I'm not saying that the right road is the easy road, in fact if "easy" were measured by how many of the people in the world liked you or how much money you had, the right road is the last one you want to take. Why? Because, "...he that is not of God hearth not us" (I John 4:6) that also means that they really don't like us "Marvel not my brethren if the world hate you." (1 John 3:13)...but that's another story for a whole different article.</div>
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Christ uses trials to train, correct, and mold us into the ambassadors he wants us to be. Those who are at peace with the <u>world </u>and <u>man</u> meaning no trials, usually are rather weak, in fact when trials do come they are the first ones to go. So praise God for your tough situations, those relationships which seem so hard to win, because the ones that you really fight for are the ones that will stand in the end. So in every trial look for the sunshine. </div>
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I'm sure we all have a child, sibling or parent that drives us nuts. When something happens, stop for a second, breath and look at the sunshine. I assure you there's some in every trial just like there's some in every person. So look, search and dig as if for treasure, in every person, you'll find it. </div>
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Giving up is the easiest road out of every problem, but <b>not</b> in the long run. The real treasure comes at the finish line when endurance pays off. When you decided to stick by that guy you really disliked in the beginning through the battle, and you come out at the end the closest of friends. </div>
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So keep your chin up and keep forward. You can't finish unless you start and you can't complete unless you continue. So find the goal worth having and get to the finish line, you'll find it was all worth it.</div>
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What you can see <u>right now</u> isn't the future, but when you get to the future and look back, those are memories you'll keep with you forever, make sure they're good ones.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-71118844042756589262014-11-21T14:44:00.002-08:002014-12-11T11:44:09.837-08:00Are you a Patriot?<br />
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How many times have you passed by a veteran and never said thank you? How long has it been since you went out of your way to say thanks? When was the last time that you stood up against a tyrant? When was the last time that you stood up for freedom?</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EIRNkwvH2lI/VG-tVKmQcRI/AAAAAAAACLQ/8FrgYIM_SBk/s1600/10603856_279628668900512_6838473872506254421_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EIRNkwvH2lI/VG-tVKmQcRI/AAAAAAAACLQ/8FrgYIM_SBk/s1600/10603856_279628668900512_6838473872506254421_o.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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So many times we forget that someone paid the price and was willing to give his life for our freedom. </div>
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Stand! the ground's your own, my braves!</div>
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Will ye give it up to slaves? </div>
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Will ye look for greener graves?</div>
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Hope ye mercy still?</div>
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What's the mercy depots feel?</div>
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Hear it in that battle peal!</div>
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Read it on yon bristling steel!</div>
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Ask it,- ye who will.</div>
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Fear ye foes who kill for hire?</div>
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Will ye to your homes retire?</div>
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Look behind you! they're a-fire!</div>
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And before you, see</div>
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Who have done it!- From the vale</div>
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On they come!-And will ye quail?- </div>
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Leaden rain and iron hail</div>
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Let their welcome be!</div>
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In the God of battles trust!</div>
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Die we may,-and die we must;</div>
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But, O, where can dust to dust</div>
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Be consigned so well,</div>
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As where Heaven its dews shall shed</div>
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On the martyred patriot's bed,</div>
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And the rocks shall raise their head,</div>
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Of his deeds to tell!</div>
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-- Warren's Address to the American Soldiers --</div>
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There are many times that people will make a statement like, "I'd die for my country without hesitation." But do they really mean it? Do they understand the price that they must pay? Can they look the barrel of the gun in the face, stand tall and say "Die we may and die we must"? Most people that make those statements probably wouldn't be able to do that.</div>
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I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I do understand one fact, freedom isn't free, it never will be. I also understand that when a nation stands by while their freedoms are being taken away the price <u>will</u> have to be payed again. </div>
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So ask yourself this question, are you willing to give what it takes to keep this nation free? We take so many freedoms lightly. Most of the time we're so focused on the freedoms we're losing, and don't seem to recognize the freedoms we still have.</div>
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The freedom to teach our children</div>
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The freedom to say what we please</div>
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The freedom to carry a gun </div>
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The freedom to wave <i>our</i> flag</div>
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The freedom to walk the streets </div>
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The freedom to fight </div>
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and</div>
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The freedom to worship </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xG_ErpsZ7o0/VG-s-PYKMlI/AAAAAAAACKs/1dBhI1exM-I/s1600/americans_will_always_fight_for_liberty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xG_ErpsZ7o0/VG-s-PYKMlI/AAAAAAAACKs/1dBhI1exM-I/s1600/americans_will_always_fight_for_liberty.jpg" height="320" width="252" /></a></div>
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One day we will be asked to make a stand. One day we will be asked to fight back. One day we will be asked what we cherish more, our secure jobs, or our freedom to serve God as he calls us to. One day we may have to say goodbye to more than one person.</div>
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The generation of WWII knew that as Americans it was their job to protect freedom. They excepted that responsibility and carried out their jobs to the best of their ability. </div>
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Farm boys became marines, women became war corespondents and spies. All of them laid aside their own dreams to fight for a dream they all had in common. If our freedom was seriously threatened, how many people do you think would stand up for it? </div>
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Are you willing to give what it takes? Are you willing to sacrifice your dream for a better, bigger dream? Have you truly pledged your life to America? When you take the pledge of allegiance, do you mean it?<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt8y18YFH70">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt8y18YFH70</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">"<b>I</b> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">pledge allegiance</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;"> to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">"...we will never surrender for it, not now nor ever. We are Americans."</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-2222116235584865422014-11-18T14:50:00.001-08:002014-11-18T15:10:52.421-08:00Destroying Prince Charming<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SyaeJlSey8w/VGu5XxHj7II/AAAAAAAACIA/fTSp6DA8Ksc/s1600/Blair_Leighton_God_Speed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SyaeJlSey8w/VGu5XxHj7II/AAAAAAAACIA/fTSp6DA8Ksc/s1600/Blair_Leighton_God_Speed.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
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Wow! That's a little mean isn't it? I mean totally, utterly, and with out mercy destroying Prince Charming? Mean? Yes. Needed? Diffidently.<br />
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When I say Prince Charming I'm talking about the perfect, romantic, handsome, genuine dream man...that doesn't exist. Yes ladies I'm sorry to brake it to you but the guy you've been waiting for and dreaming for your whole entire life (how ever long that is) doesn't exist.<br />
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Now I'm not saying that you'll never find the <u>right</u> man, I'm just saying you'll never find the <u>perfect</u> man. They just don't exist!<br />
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But how would I know? I'm just fifteen and none of my siblings have married so what should I know about topics like this?<br />
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Well first off I have four brothers and a dad, all of them are the most wonderful guys in the world (in my opinion) but...<u style="font-weight: bold;">THEY'RE NOT PERFECT!</u><br />
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Secondly, God says so...<br />
"For <b>all </b>have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom 3:23<br />
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"They are <b>all </b>gone out of the way, they are <b>together </b>become unprofitable; there is <b>none </b>that doeth good, no, not <b>one</b>." Rom 3:12<br />
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Well I think that pretty much makes it clear that <b>no one is perfect</b>. Through the blood of Jesus Christ we can grow to holiness but we will never be perfect.<br />
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Now I'd like to make a few points on the "knight and shining armor" thing.<br />
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First of all if he's an honorable knight, fighting for his king and LORD, his armor should <u>not</u> be dent free. The scars of a battle worn soldier are carried with him wherever he goes, whether to suet a princess of his Majesty or go for a ride alone in the country.<br />
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Secondly, as pointed out by my younger sister, it is the wife's job to clean a knight's armor, so if he is not married and he is busy expanding his King's domain, he does not have the time to clean it and therefore the only reason that it would be spot clean is if he's trying to woo you and has not fully given himself to his King.<br />
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But the saddest thing of all about this topic is that in a lot of ways, the Prince Charmings of today are created by the woman's imagination alone. And after speaking to my brother about it I know how high standards put a burden on men. Now because of the unrealistic, and unpractical expectations of daughters a suiter has to have enough money to live in a big house, pay for a nice car, afford new clothes, and be able to a have a huge wedding.<br />
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"Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, then a stalled ox and hatred therewith." Prov 15:17</div>
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I've heard story after story of marriages being torn apart due to debt. Wouldn't it be better to maybe not have a new car but instead be truly in love with a imperfect but the right husband?</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fbVDypFykiA/VGvAXMe6LkI/AAAAAAAACIs/__0yqR6Q5tk/s1600/MV5BMTMyMzk4MTUzNl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwNjI2NTI2._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fbVDypFykiA/VGvAXMe6LkI/AAAAAAAACIs/__0yqR6Q5tk/s1600/MV5BMTMyMzk4MTUzNl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwNjI2NTI2._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a>So do prince Charmings exist today? Well you might be thinking, of course not! But you're wrong.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">They do exist...everywhere you turn.</span><br />
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There are men out there that are depicted as the perfect man and even attempt to pass themselves off as well qualified for any good looking girl that comes along. We normally refer to them as Cads or Wolves but in a true since they are the Prince Charmings of today.<br />
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What is your definition of a perfect man? What are you looking for? Unfortunately there are a lot of women today that are easily taken by any good looking, "christian" "home schooled graduate" guy that comes along.<br />
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Whether they're animated or human Prince Charmings are everywhere.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FgpqtTM5eJ0/VGvAXlo0ZBI/AAAAAAAACI0/5RXw-HcV3Fg/s1600/errol-flynn-may-1938-everett-640x852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FgpqtTM5eJ0/VGvAXlo0ZBI/AAAAAAAACI0/5RXw-HcV3Fg/s1600/errol-flynn-may-1938-everett-640x852.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>A Prince Charming is any man who is deemed or made to look perfect. And not only in our day, but in every centenary there has always been Prince Charmings. And I'm afraid that there always well be.<br />
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They are given every opportunity to show themselves, they're in the movies (even ones considered safe) they're on social media, in home school groups or at church, and they're on music albums.</div>
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But let me say this...whether they'll always exist or not, there's still hope.<br />
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When you are idle, temptation knocks loudly, but when your hands are busy, your ears will be too.<br />
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"Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall they poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man." Prov 6:10-11<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I1o1IlJMgUQ/VGvH42oXIQI/AAAAAAAACJE/ivxyxYGmwlU/s1600/617994154_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I1o1IlJMgUQ/VGvH42oXIQI/AAAAAAAACJE/ivxyxYGmwlU/s1600/617994154_o.jpg" height="320" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a>Esentially if you're busy with the LORD's work then it will be hard for a man after selfish gain to woo you or capture your heart.<br />
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"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Ps 119:105<br />
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"For the word is quick, and powerful, sharper than any twoedged sword..." Heb 4:12<br />
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Keep his word near<br />
And you have nothing to fear<br />
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One more note on being busy. The constant encouragement to "wait for Prince Charming" is in all forms...wrong. We as women were not meant to sit around all day and wait for a man to come for us. For most, that would mean over twenty wasted years! Each second is worth so much. "And what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." James 4:14.<br />
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Don't waist your life on dreams that have no eternal value. Although I am only fifteen I've learned the hard way how absolutely precious life is, and how priceless heavenly treasures are. "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven..." Matt 6:20 Selfish dreams of a man who will wait on you hand and foot have no place in the mind of a woman of God, they are wasteful and destructive. "And the world passeth away and the lust thereof..." 1 John 1:17<br />
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Even though historically the dominion mandate was given to a group of men...it was meant for women too. We have our part to play and it's time we took our noses out of those romantic novels our heads out of those dreams and our life out of fairy world.<br />
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It's time we stopped waiting for prince Charming and instead started helping the knights of our king who are all around us. It's time we stopped seeing men around us as "candidates" and started treating them as soldiers of the Almighty king. They need our help and we have no excuses to keep it from them.<br />
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"...but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates." Prov 31:30-31<br />
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May we all bring glory to God in everything we say and do. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-49443921030651774692014-11-14T16:51:00.002-08:002014-11-14T16:54:36.285-08:00Sneak PeakOk today marks a very special occasion. For the first time ever I am revealing two clips from my future book, G.S.I. in Danger, to the public... enjoy<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> “I wish the
Christians back in America could see this, it might change their mind about how
peaceful the Muslims can be,” Christopher said shaking his head as he leaned
over the bodies of two Christian Syrians. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">“They sit back in there pews on
Sunday and fold their hands satisfied that they have a place in heaven because
they go to church. I’d say it’s almost blaspheme, claiming His name and then
treating it like a game. I wonder if they’ll ever wake up,” he said his tone
becoming sharper with every word.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Well we can keep praying,” Jason said putting his
hand on Christopher’s shoulder. “And Chris, as long as we’re doing what we’re
supposed to be doing, pleasing God and accomplishing his will, then I’d say
that God is pleased with us and that’s the only opinion we should ever worry
about,” Jason stopped as he saw a tear slide down the young man’s cheek.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"> 2.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">“Brace yourselves,” Alice shouted. “Just
like landing on an aircraft carrier, only there’s no line. I can do this. I can
do this,” she told herself as she bit her lip and added, “God help me.” She let
out the throttle, engaged her landing gear and braced herself for the shock.
Time seemed to stand still as the small strip of rock got closer, perspiration
stood out on Alice’s face as she gripped the yoke harder. For a second Alice
closed her eyes, “<i>It’s Yours, take
control</i>,” she whispered softly. She opened her eyes just in time to watch
the plane hit rock, the nose hit but the wheels leveled it out. They sped
straight for the other side of the strip Alice slammed on the brakes but it
wasn’t enough, on the other side of the strip was a large bolder, the plane ran
straight into it, Alice blacked out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">“Alice, Alice!” Frank called as he shook
her. He got himself out of his straps and pulled her up. Her head had smashed
the dashboard due to her belts snapping at the shock. Blood was streaming from
a huge cut on the front of her head. Frank undid the rest of her straps and
began to pull her out of the cockpit of the plane as Jason came to. He had
banged his head on the window and had lost consciousness for a moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">“How is she?” he asked as he got up to
help Frank.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">“Well she’s alive if that’s what you
mean,” Frank replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">“That’s not good.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">“It isn’t?” Frank asked in surprise. “I
thought you liked each other.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">“No, not her, I mean that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">“What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">“That bolder is lying right on the gas
tank, too much pressure on gas could mean..”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">“Boom, yea I know, let’s get out of here,” Frank
finished as he put Alice’s arm around his shoulder and started dragging her
down the edge of the cliff while Jason grabbed the first aid kit. Frank reached
the end of the cliff as Jason started heading towards him, just then there was
a big explosion, Jason dove and went tumbling down the edge of the cliff while
Frank shoved Alice behind a rock; as he went to jump behind it himself a piece
of shrapnel hit him in the arm surprising him and causing him to lose his
balance and topple over. </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">G.S.I. in Danger</span></span></h2>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-90518858647721583262014-11-13T09:49:00.003-08:002014-11-13T10:43:26.548-08:00Content at HomeWell if you're like me, high spirited, adventurousness, "let's go conquer the world," type, then you probably understand the title of this article. If not then let me explain...<br />
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Sometimes us "go conquer the world" type women, forget that the home needs to be conquered just as much as the rest of the world if not more. The home is a place where ambassadors, presidents, kings and your average day worker that changes the world one step at a time, were all born. The home is where habits are created, characters are developed and where children learn to shape the world.<br />
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The home has, for the most part, been destroyed by social media, by the movie making industry and even by schools. Everywhere you go, everywhere you look, everyone is teaching a simple trend, go to school, graduate high-school, go to collage, get a job, drive a nice car and live in a big house, live a happy life and then retire when you reach the age of sixty. Where in that does it mention the home at all?<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">When you destroy the home you destroy the family, when you destroy the family you destroy the church, and when you destroy the church you destroy (according to men) God's rule on earth. The home is the foundation for the family, and when you have a strong God-centered family, you have a strong God-centered church and government (which by the way go hand in hand). </span></div>
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As women adventurers, I'm almost positive that most girls my age and older find it hard to see life at home as an adventure. Now I'm not going to supe-up life at home and change it around to look awesome because that's not my goal. But I am going to tell you something very simple that I've been learning lately.</div>
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Life is an adventure created by God, your journey is like a puzzle being built by the mastermind. Each puzzle piece is a lesson learned, you can't <i><b>skip</b></i> one or <i><b>leave</b></i> it behind every piece is needed to complete the picture.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"> God uses the home for that purpose. Although doing dishes or rocking a crying baby to sleep doesn't seem like much in the way of changing the world, it does in the end. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">But what if you never married? Or never had kids? How in the world could you effect the world by doing dishes? Well maybe I'm putting the wrong reason to this. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Why should you do the dishes, wash the clothes, clean the house, or put the kids to sleep when you have a beautiful voice or some other talent you could be changing the world with? </span><br />
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Ok, here's the answer nice and simple....but blunt:<br />
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You do it because <b>God says so</b> and therefore it's the <b>right</b> thing to do.</div>
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Now I know that's a really straight forward cruel way to say it but I really don't know any other way to. And this goes for unmarried women as well.</div>
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"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he shall not depart from it." Prov 22:6</div>
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"And you shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine <b>house</b>, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Duet 11:19</div>
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God refers to the woman as a "help meet," (Gen 2) we were created to help the man, either our husbands our fathers our brothers or our brothers in Christ.<br />
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Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies...She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands...She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meet to her household and a portion to her maidens...She perceiveth that her merchandise is good...She layeth her hand to the spindle and her hands to the distaff...She is not afraid of the snow for her household...She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates...Strength and honor are her clothing...She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not of the bread of idleness...She maketh fine linen, and selleth it...She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and on her tongue is the law of kindness...Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates........adapted from Prov 31: 10-31<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Some women have been called in the past to be fighting women, but let me say, the women that have the courage to fight the battles of every day in the home, to persevere their way and pioneer in the world of making the perfect </span><b style="text-align: start;">home</b><span style="text-align: start;">, are truly the strongest women of all.</span><br />
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My prayer for every woman is, that she will live the life of a true christian woman, to fight the fights God has given to her and to glorify God in everything she does.<br />
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What I'd like to end in saying is, thank you to the mothers that have made the choice to stay home and raise their families.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-64986123202400884492014-11-06T17:05:00.002-08:002014-11-06T17:05:56.197-08:00Vote- the DecisionWell if any of you wonderful people were watching the comments you might have already guessed the final verdict...the new pro-file will be.......<br />
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#2</h3>
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So for all of you who voted #2 you win! Thanks for your participation in this. I love you all!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522499240907906395.post-11715803309943195492014-11-06T16:58:00.002-08:002014-11-06T17:00:18.813-08:00Great BooksWell this is the beginning of my 'great books' series. The idea is that every time I get a good book that I'd like to suggest, I'll post it for all you all to see along with links on where to get it.<br />
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For my first book, one that I just received from my all knowing oldest brother...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Save the Cat!"</span></h2>
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Now you might be thinking, "What type of a book would be called that???" Well it's a screen-writing book. The book that has completely transformed my writing skills and gave me the ability to write my very first book (...coming soon!) which if I can say is a great accomplishment. </div>
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All though I would warn that he is not a Christian, I do believe that there are many things we can learn from the pros, Christian or not.</div>
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This book has now been added to my shelf and I hope you writers out there will find time to add it to your's.</div>
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http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.XSave+the+cat&_nkw=Save+the+cat&_sacat=0</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0