Holiness of God

God is Holy!

While reading 'The Attributes of God this morning I was struck by something A.W.Pink said...

"Adam and Eve were punished for their ONE sin of eating the forbidden fruit, for ONE sin Moses was not allowed to enter the promised land, for ONE sin Elisha's servant was struck with leprosy and for ONE sin Annaias and Sapphira were killed!"

When I think of my life and the many sins I commit everyday, when I number them I cannot stand. Rather I must fall before my God in thanks for His wonderful grace and mercy in taking the punishment I deserved and putting it on Christ, then giving me His righteousness. How can words express the thankfulness necessary? My life must show his love, goodness, forgiveness as I live for Him and try by His grace to "Be holy as HE is Holy"

"Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were an offering far too small,

Love so amazing, so Divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all."

Pampered Chef

Elaine Wallace is my good friend in Ireland, (you can read her blog here)and she had mentioned Pampered chef to me several times but I had never seen any of their things and had never been to a party.

So I put that right last night
I had my first Pampered Chef Party. I invited some ladies from the church and we had a great night of fellowship and fun together. I had never seen any of their items before, so it was good to see good kitchen tools and little gadgets to help our lives in the kitchen. I had heard a lot about the stoneware they sell and so I purchased one of their cookie trays. Have a look at their website and its worth it.

What does your God resemble?

Here are a couple of excerpts from a book I am reading at the minute from our Reading Roundabout...

The Attributes of God by Arthur W. Pink

I was truly made to praise God as my Maker and Giver of eternal life as I read this. Man thinks he is so clever, so in control, so in charge of things and yet I must pray that his eyes will be opened to see how small he is and how great God is. How lost he is and how he needs God to reach down in mercy and save him. I can encourage everyone to read this book to get a true perpective on the Great God of heaven and earth.

"Men imagine that the Most High is moved by sentiment, rather than actuated by principle. They suppose that His omnipotency is such an idle fiction that Satan is thwarting His designs on every side. They think that if He has formed any plan or purpose at all, then it must be like theirs, constantly subject to change. They openly declare that whatever power He possesses must be restricted, lest He invade the citadel of man’s "free will" and reduce him to a "machine." They lower the all efficacious Atonement, which has actually redeemed everyone for whom it was made, to a mere "remedy," which sin-sick souls may use if they feel disposed to; and they enervate the invincible work of the Holy Spirit to an "offer" of the Gospel which sinners may accept or reject as they please.... "

How foolish we are to think we know better than Him!

"The "god" of this twentieth century no more resembles the Supreme Sovereign of Holy Writ than does the dim flickering of a candle the glory of the midday sun. The "god" who is now talked about in the average pulpit, spoken of in the ordinary Sunday School, mentioned in much of the religious literature of the day, and preached in most of the so-called Bible Conferences is the figment of human imagination, an invention of maudlin sentimentality. The heathen outside of the pale of Christendom form "gods" out of wood and stone, while the millions of heathen inside Christendom manufacture a "god" out of their own carnal mind. In reality, they are but atheists, for there is no other possible alternative between an absolutely supreme God, and no God at all. A "god" whose will is resisted, whose designs are frustrated, whose purpose is checkmated, possesses no title to Deity, and so far from being a fit object of worship, merits nought but contempt."

Praise God He does know all things and is in control imagine what the alternative would be like!!!

"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory and the majesty: for all in the heaven and all in the earth is Yours; Yours is the Kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as Head above all. . . .And You reign over all" (1 Chron. 29:11, 12)

"O Lord God of our fathers, are You not, God in heaven? and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that none (not even the Devil himself) is able to withstand You?" (2 Chron. 20:6).

Make 'em laugh!....

"A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book. " ~Irish Proverb

So go ahead have a laugh and feel better at the same time!!!



Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, 'Why is the bride dressed in white?'' The mother replied, 'because white is the colour of happiness and today is the happiest day of her life.' The child thought about this for a moment then said, 'So why is the groom wearing black?'

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Three boys are in the school yard bragging about their fathers. The first boy says, 'My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50.' The second boy says, 'That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him $100.' The third boy says, 'I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper; he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the money!'

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An elderly woman died last month. Having never married, she requested no male pallbearers. In her handwritten instructions for her memorial service, she wrote, 'They wouldn't take me out while I was alive, I don't want them to take me out when I'm dead.'

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A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to 'Honour thy father and thy mother,' she asked, 'is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?' Without missing a beat, one little boy answered, 'Thou shall not kill.'

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At Sunday school they were teaching how God created everything including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs. Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he was ill, and she said, 'Johnny, what is the matter?' Little Johnny responded, 'I have pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a wife.'

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You don't stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing! Take heed and pass these along to people who need a laugh.. I thought you would enjoy this....times are tough right now...for all of us...so we need something to make us laugh. "They" haven't found a way to tax you for laughing yet.

Mini Meatloaves

This is a great little recipe for a number of reasons. It is quicker to cook than 1 big loaf. My daughter is allergic to eggs, which are in nearly every meatloaf recipe, so this allows me to make the same recipe that suits the whole family. It is really moist and tasty with the little bit of sauce added to it. You have 3 recipes for the price of one, so with the different add-ins and sauces it allows you to change it up. It is economical and goes a long way. Try it and let me know how you get on.

Mini Meatloaves

Ingredients:

1lb extra lean beef

1 pkg (6oz) Stove Top Stuffing Mix

1 cup water

3/4 cup shredded cheese

Method:

1.Heat oven to 375degrees

2.Mix meat, stuffing mix, mix and add in (see below).

3. Press into 12 muffin cups sprayed with cooking spray.

4. Make an indentation in center of each meatloaf: fill with sauce(see options below)

5. Bake for 30minutes or until cooked.

6. Top with cheese; continue baking for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Option 1. American style: add-in 1tsp garlic powder

sauce, 3/4 cup barbecue sauce

Option 2. Italian Style: add-in 1tsp Italian seasoning

sauce, 3/4 cup spaghetti sauce

Option 3. Mexican Style: add-in 2tsp chili powder

sauce, 3/4 cup thick 'n chunky salsa

I serve it with mash and simple steamed peas, but you could serve them with salad, fries, green beans or your favorite veg.

Spring Break....

We are having a week off school for Spring Break. It has been a most relaxing week being able to spend time with Robert and the children and catch up on some jobs that have been put off until this week.

So what have we done....

Well at the beginning of the week we finished off all the little tasks that were needing to be done in the kids bathroom that was just finished being being remodeled.

Tuesday night was spent out 10-Pin Bowling with the family...who won??

Dad won the first game and Lois won the second...we had pizza, fries and pink lemonade..well that's what you do when you're on holiday!!

Wednesday, Andrew and I tackled the pool.....a big job that will take us another day to get completely ready for Summer. He also helped get rid of the last of the fallen leaves and generally spruce up the back yard. In the evening we headed out for ice cream...well Frozen Yogurt actually.

It's now Saturday and I am gearing up for a week of Star Testing for the kids at school.
I wish Everyone a Happy Easter and please remember...

We serve a risen Saviour,
He's in the world today;
I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy,
I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him
He's always near.

He lives, He lives
Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and He talks with me
Along life's narrow way.
He lives, He live, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives:
He lives within my heart

A Great Weekend...

What a busy but wonderful past few days...

David and Suzanne's Wedding went off without a hitch on Saturday...(sorry no pictures my camera is broken and noone has uploaded any yet that I can copy. Soon as I get some I'll post them)

Then Sunday, we had Missionary/Pastor Wayne Andersen from Mexico City, Mexico speaking at all our services.

The church there has around 17 members with about 40 in attendance on a Sunday....he is a single elder with one deacon.

Wayne has worked in Mexico City since 1989-90. His work involves his pastoral ministry, literature ministy and Conferences to aid and encourage other pastors. He and his wife Marty hope to return in late August to take up the work again after a furlough of several months in the USA. Wayne then hopes to see leaders raised up and to concentrate on training men for ministry with the help of Reformed Baptist Seminary and the 'Marrow of Theology' that is now fully in Spanish. You can see a selection of his work here.

This was a very challenging first-hand presentation of the work of spreading the gospel in a country where Roman Catholiscism is the main religion and seeing the tremendous hold it has on the people there.

It certainly made me a lot more thankfiul for clean, fresh, running water, and clean air to breathe since he and his family live near a volcano and have had showers of ash, rain down them much in the same way we would experience rain showers. "The water that we receive into our home is brown..."

Please pray for this family as they continue in their work for the Lord. For their safety, health, for the salvation of many lost souls and the building up of Christ's church in this dark part of the world.

Looking Forward....

A busy weekend ahead....

A Wedding.....

Suzanne Covert to David Somers, two members of our church who love the Lord and will covenant together on Saturday.

It always reminds me of our wedding day and causes me to rejoice in God's goodness and mercy to me in giving me a good man.

"The most ultimate thing we can say about marriage is that it exists for God’s glory. That is, it exists to display God....Marriage is patterned after Christ’s covenant relationship to the church. And therefore the highest meaning and the most ultimate purpose of marriage is to put the covenant relationship of Christ and his church on display. That is why marriage exists. If you are married, that is why you are married.

Christ Will Never Leave His Wife

Staying married, therefore, is not about staying in love. It is about keeping covenant. “Till death do us part,” or, “As long as we both shall live” is sacred covenant promise—the same kind Jesus made with his bride when he died for her. Christ will never leave his wife. Ever. There may be times of painful distance and tragic backsliding on our part. But Christ keeps his covenant forever. Marriage is a display of that! That is the most ultimate thing we can say about it. "

- John Piper

May God have all the glory in our marriages.

April Fool's Day

Unlike most of the other nonfoolish holidays, the history of April Fool's Day, sometimes called All Fool's Day, is not totally clear. There really wasn't a "first April Fool's Day" that can be pinpointed on the calendar. Some believe it sort of evolved simultaneously in several cultures at the same time, from celebrations involving the first day of spring.

The closest point in time that can be identified as the

beginning of this tradition was in 1582, in France. Prior to

that year, the new year was celebrated for eight days, beginning on March 25. The celebration culminated on April 1.

With the reform of the calendar under Charles IX, the Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved to January 1.

However, communications being what they were in the days when news traveled by foot, many people did not receive the news for several years. Others, the more obstinate crowd, refused to accept the new calendar and continued to celebrate the new year on April 1. These backward folk were labeled as "fools" by the general populace. They were subject to some ridicule, and were often sent on "fools errands" or were made the butt of other practical jokes.

This harassment evolved, over time, into a tradition of prank-playing on the first day of April. The tradition eventually spread to England and Scotland in the eighteenth century. It was later introduced to the American colonies of both the English and French. April Fool's Day thus developed into an international fun fest, so to speak, with different nationalities specializing in their own brand of humor at the expense of their friends and families.

Today in France, people who are fooled on April 1 are called Poisson d'Avril, which literally means the "April Fish." One common joke is to hook a cardboard fish to the back of a person. It is thought that it represents the easiness of catching a young naive fish.

Mexico's counterpart of April Fool's Day is actually observed on December 28. Originally, the day was a sad remembrance of the slaughter of the innocent children by King Herod. It eventually evolved into a lighter commemoration involving pranks and trickery.

April Fool's Day is a "for-fun-only" observance. Nobody is expected to buy gifts or to take their "significant other" out to eat in a fancy restaurant. Nobody gets off work or school. It's simply a fun little holiday, but a holiday on which one must remain forever vigilant, for he may be the next April Fool!

Take it easy on those jokes guys!!