Truth

Update on puzzle...It wasn't that day, but the next day, the boy and I did that puzzle (twice)!  My iPhone has been cooky and wouldn't take pics that day though, so you'll just have to take my word!  :)  The puzzle was a 24 piece puzzle of Mater and Lightning McQueen.  I don't even know if he has seen that movie (maybe?) but he likes the characters so much nonetheless.  I'm not big on tv and here is one reason why...just yesterday we were watching Cupcake Wars (my daughter is going to be a baker, I'm pretty sure), and someone on there kept taking God's name in vain, which we teach the kids is clearly wrong.  My littlest asked why the lady kept saying "God".  (Deut 5:11 You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God....)  Suffice it to say, that's the first Cupcake Wars episode we've seen in at least 6 months, and probably the last.  Seem extreme?  Good!  Every time I try to be moderate with tv, I learn it really isn't possible!  Thank goodness Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry still air!!!  Please tell me there is a wholesome baking show on tv though!?  My daughter doesn't really care to watch tv, but turn on Cake Boss, and she is a student at culinary school.  She has been making cakes since she was 2 years old (out of legos then).  Back to my point:  TV is so beyond-infuriating to me!  There's the language issue...not to mention the horrible sexual "crap" on tv!  I mean...really?  I don't want my two young kids tainted at this age (or ever).  It is highly inappropriate and it is not usually obnoxious.  Whether you're liberal, conservative, whatever...if you are a human being, take heed.  Personally, my very favorite show is a horrible conglomoration of sin disquised by comedy so after a year or more of viewing, I'm DONE with it!  The devil is not always ugly and scary, people.  If so, we would all run away!  But no, satan wants us to be lured to him, not scared away from him.  He wears sheep's clothing!  On a sidenote, God started convicting my hubby about the same show too, so now our once-fave-show is no more.  We don't need trash dumped on us when we're trying to relax and cuddle together!!!  The devil is such a sneaky 'trash thrower'....

The Devil in Sheep's Clothing
"If the devil comes to my door with his horns visible,
I will never let him in; but if he comes with his hat on
as a respectable gentleman, he is at once admitted.
The metaphor may be very strange, but it is quite true--
many a man has taken in an evil thing, because it has been
varnished and glossed over, and not apparently an evil; and he
has thought in his heart, there is not much harm in it; so he has
let in the little thing, and it has been like the breaking forth
of water- the first drop has brought after it a torrent.
The beginning has been but the beginning of a fearful end."

--Spurgeon

And then a scripture that comes to me a lot because my mom quoted it to me when I was going through a tough time a few years ago...

Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 
1 Peter 5:8

de·vour

/diˈvou(ə)r/

Verb Eat (food or prey) hungrily or quickly. (of fire, disease, or other forces) Consume (someone or something) destructively.

Synonyms swallow - gobble - consume - eat up - engulf - gorge Lions prowl QUIETLY. They are smooth and by all standards, kings in the animal world.  They aren't vicious and destructive until the point of attack.  Do NOT be fooled.  The connection between a lion and a sheep is insane!!!  Satan (who is actually more like a lion!) looks like a sheep!  All of us need to wake UP before we get eaten alive, quite literally.  Our shepherd is Jesus.  He will protect us, comfort us, save us!  Don't be mislead by one who looks like the rest!  Be set apart and different! "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 Choose LIFE friends.  Don't look down a path and be so blinded that you willingly choose to be devoured (see definition again).  We have a choice set before us!  This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. Deuteromy 30:19 I'm so burdened lately, and the issues don't fall under any political ties.  So much so that I should have prefaced this post with warnings like, "Intense"  & "Brutally honest" & "Passionate Post"....  These issues fall under matters of the heart.  Jesus is GOOD.  He loves.  He chastises because He loves.  He blesses and GIVES because HE LOVES!  He gives.... You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.  Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.  This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:9-12 He is The Truth.  He welcomes all into His arms, yet we are so haughty and ignorant, even and often especially when we are versed by the world.  We talk and text and post and update... and for what? Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 1:14 We say if we don't accept sin then we judge that sin but that is contrary to the word!!!  For example, I can say Doritos aren't junk food all day long, but they are!  THEY ARE TASTY, DELICIOUS, CRUNCHY, yet JUNKY!  I can KNOW they are tasty yet junky in one.  I can know sin is enticing yet junky at once too.  Jesus ate dinner with the prostitutes and the tax collectors and it didn't change the fact that their sin was slimy, nor did it change HIS LOVE for them.  He loved them before, during, now....just.like.He.loves.us.always. Scales, fall off eyes, start with mine.  Father, give me your full armor because I need it badly!  And thank you for loving sinful, weak ME. Eph 6:10-17 (NIV) ...Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. I'm claiming a standing victory.  Pray for me.  And for you.  We're all in this together.  I know this post has lost heat by now, and I'm pittering and sputtering out as I type but God knows what work needs to be done now, inside me, and outside me.  It is time to stop typing and start doing.  What a horrible spiritual battle that has already ensued.  But it is going to be better than okay because I know how it ends!