rainbow colors.

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it was friday.

i was scrolling through my twitter feed when i saw it "BREAKING: Supreme Court says same-sex couples have right to marry in all 50 states."

Right there in the middle of the news of the storms that we'd get that day.
Right there in the middle of the news that said one of the wanted escaped convicted killer prisoners from the new york prison had been found and shot in the head by police.
Right there in the middle of the news that 9 people had been murdered in a charleston church the Wednesday night before by a young man who was only 21 years old.

do we live in a messed up world, or what?

i sat there, stunned, as i continued to read on about "couples" standing. in. line. (WHAT?!) to get a piece of paper to signify that they were married. women were kissing women and men kissing men--so sickeningly unnatural.


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God created marriage to be between one MAN and one WOMAN.

some may not agree saying "but Jesus never talked about homosexuality." actually, He did when He defined a God-approved marriage as being between a man and a woman:

and He answered and said unto them,
"have you not read, that he which made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they both shall be one flesh? wherefore, they are no more two, but one flesh. what wherefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." (matthew 19: 4-6)

if God's Son defines marriage as between a male and a female, all other combinations or alterations are implicitly prohibited.

when the apostles and disciples later specifically condemned homosexuality (romans 1:26-27; 1 corinthians 6:9-10; jude 7), they were speaking with Christ's authority. Jesus told His disciples that whatever He did not tell them in His earthly life, His Holy Spirit would tell them later (john 16:12-13). undeniably, "all scripture is given by the inspiration of God" (2 timothy 3:16-17).
Jesus did condemn homosexuality in His New Testament.




man can legalize any sin he wants.
since Satan is deeply involved with the affairs of this world (2 corinthians 4:4), you can expect sin to become increasingly rampant. yet just because some forms of murder (abortion), drug use, drinking and homosexuality are legal does not make them right.

"we ought to obey God rather than men." (acts 5:29)


it is so upsetting to see people who wear the name of Christ and come out in support of so-called "marriage equality." they are basically saying: "it is okay to embrace your homosexual desires. you don't have to fight temptation anymore. don't pay any attention to what the Bible says. it is outdated and irrelevant to today's culture anyways."

one.
the Bible is not a "living document" in that it changes with culture.
it never becomes 'outdated.' Jesus Christ and His New Testament are just as relevant today as they were 2,000 years ago. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (hebrews 13:8). the Bible is God's Word (2 timothy 3:16-17; 2 peter 1:21).
how can our Almighty Creator take a back seat to our petty human culture?

two.
to approve of homosexuality is to be guilty of the sin itself.
"who knowing the judgement of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them" (romans 1:32; 2:1-5).
how can i say i love God while telling people it is okay to disregard His Word?




people wearing Christ's name who disgracefully support and encourage legalized homosexual marriages justify their apostasy under the guise of 'love' or 'tolerance.'

is it really 'love' to encourage someone to live in sin?
i believe tolerance of sin is the true essence of hatred.
how much do you really have to hate someone to say: "i'm okay with the fact your soul is lost"?

there were some Christians in corinth who were formerly practicing homosexuals (1 corinthians 6:9-11). yet when they became Christians, they were told to stop.
brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins (james 5:19-20).




some Christians have been categorized as 'mean' Christians.
some seem bent on antagonizing people who really just need our support and encouragement.
should Christians ever be defined as "hostile" or "mean"?

whenever we meet someone who wrestles with homosexuality, we need to respond to him or her as Jesus would. 
when the crowd came to Jesus, matthew reports that He reacted with "compassion for them" (matthew 9:35-38).
is that how you first respond to people who have a sin problem?
do you feel compassion?
when the rich young ruler came to Him (and Jesus knew the man had a spiritual heart problem), Jesus "looked at him and loved him" (mark 10:21).
do you love people who have a heart problem in relation to homosexuality?

let's treat homosexuality as Jesus did:
-let's hate sin.
-let's be compassionate toward people who are living in sin.
-let's encourage people who are fighting sin.
-let's love people enough to expose sin.
-let's rescue people from the bondage of sin and lead them to the loving arms of Christ.




homosexuality is a sin.
(genesis 19:4-11, 23-29; leviticus 18:22; 20:13; 1 corinthians 6:9-10; jude 7)

yet it is no greater or lesser a sin than any other sin.

all sin will keep a person out of Heaven.
(1 corinthians 6:9-10; galations 5:19-21)

the remedy to sin is the blood of Jesus Christ.
one must initially "repent and be baptized for the remission of sins" (acts 2:38; acts 22:16; romans 6:4) to be cleansed.
to "repent" means to 'change' or turn away from sin.'
one cannot continue in sin and expect God's Grace to save him (romans 6:1-2).
a practicing homosexual cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven so long as he is practicing and embracing homosexuality.


by: ben giselbach
first published march 27, 2013


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WHY are we celebrating this sin?

according to this website's article:
"tonight the white house was lit to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to progress and equality, here in America and around the world" the white house said in a statement. "the pride colors reflect the diversity of the LGBT community, and tonight, these colors celebrate a new chapter in the history of American civil rights."

not only the white house was bathed in the colors of the rainbow, but the one world trade center in new york city, niagara falls, several city halls including those in san francisco and denver, and even cinderella's castle in walt disney world.

and here we are, celebrating with colors of the rainbow.
and if i remember correctly a rainbow was the symbol that was known for GOD promising not to flood the world again after he had destroyed all the evil, sinful people. 



Christians, we need to get on our knees and start doing some serious praying for

the ones who believe the lie that they will find happiness in 'marrying' a person of the same sex.
the leaders of this country.
the mothers and fathers who are trying to raise Godly children in this world.
the children who are fighting to let their Christian light shine and not to succumb to the pleasures of the world.


God hears the prayer of the righteous and there is getting to be fewer and fewer righteous people.

super bowl...glory?

So, yeah.

I have to say that I was one of those people who didn't watch the entire Super Bowl.

*Ahem* 

I did watch the second half of the third quarter and the whole fourth quarter...and LOVED it.

Impressed? Yeah, I thought so.



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Great job Ravens. I really thought the 49ers were going to come back and get ya. 

You pulled it out well: 

Final Score Ravens-34  49ers-31 

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Whew, we have all of that behind us....

now for the tough subject at hand.

The half-time show.

This has been weighing heavily on my heart ever since I saw the big hype about it on Instagram.

I. was. speechless.

Knowing that guys and girls all across the world watched that kind of trash broke my heart--

and people were saying how great it was???

I'm going to share my thoughts and then leave it with you to think about...

Before the super bowl I had never heard of Beyonce. Never.

And the way I'm feeling, I kind of wish I had never seen those pictures on Instagram.

I want to ask: 

"How in the world could a guy watch that and NOT have lustful thoughts?"

"How in the world could a Christian watch that without having feelings of guilt after watching it?"

"Would you have watched that with Jesus sitting beside you?"

You may say: "Awwwh, Marli. Of course I wouldn't have....Jesus isn't even here."

I don't know about you, but Jesus is with me everywhere I go.

To the guys:

I am so sorry that you had to view that kind of trash Sunday night.

I know in today's society it is so hard to keep your heart and mind filled with pure thoughts.

It makes me so sad to know what you guys have to go through in everyday life.

Especially during a harmless football game.

I don't see why they had to hire 3 girls who moved their bodies around, with barely enough clothes on to be considered underwear, to the beat of trashy music-- 

especially for a sport that mainly you guys watch. 

I pray for the guys in my life daily. 

I pray that you'll have the courage to have power over the remote and turn off the TV or computer.

 I pray that you won't click that mouse when the temptation is there.

I pray that you won't fall into that dangerous pit of sin.

I pray that you'll keep your life pure.

I want to thank you ahead of time for the effort you make to maintain the pure thoughts.

The effort you put forth to filling your mind with His Word. 

For walking away.

Keep it up, guys.

To the girls:

We would never dress like Beyonce in public (...right??).

If we only knew how our guy friends view a body like Beyonce and could see her through his eyes.

Young ladies, we have an honor and a privilege of dressing modestly for our guy friends. 

They don't have to lust after our bodies.

Matthew 5:27 and 28 says:

"You have heard that it is was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.'

But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Ladies, do you realize what this is saying?

If a young man looks at a young lady and lusts,

(definition of lust-coveting through the influence of impure desire.)

he has sinned and commits adultery in his heart.

Ladies, to put it plainly, if we dress immodestly and they look at us with lustful longing, 

we have made our brothers in Christ sin.

I don't know about you, but that makes me quake in my boots.

I pray and hope that you'll have the courage and the strength to dress modestly.

Cover up.

Spend more time and money if needs be for that modest shirt.

Believe me, whether they say it or not,

they appreciate it more than you could ever imagine.

Believe me.

I have an older brother and a daddy.

I'm having to shop longer and harder for my clothes too.

You can do it, girl.

"For a man's ways are before the Lord, and He ponders all his paths."

Prov. 5:21

How, after watching a half-time show like that, can we go into church and feel comfortable singing:

 "Create in me a pure heart, O God..."

or

"Closer to Thee, near to Thy side, Closer dear Lord,

I would abide; Hold me in Thy embrace, 'Neath every

smile of grace, Grant me, Thy child, a place closer to Thee..."

Do we really desire pure hearts in worship every Sunday and Wednesday night?

Are we "closer to God" during the week? Or just on church days?

Are we able to partake of the Lord's supper every Sunday or pray to our Heavenly Father with pure thoughts after watching something similar to the Super Bowl?

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As for the commercials...

Don't even get me started--that's another topic for another day.

Although, I am thankful for people who care and would create this one. 

My favorite.

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Also, please go and read L's thoughts on the Super Bowl.

Pretty amazing.

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Note:

I really do say these words in love.

It's just something that I have been thinking about and had to scribble (or should I say type? ;) down on paper (oh no, wait. ...down on the screen...).

Thanks for listening to my heart. <3

me and my girls

It's Sunday morning.

I hurriedly get to my brightly decorated classroom early so that I can greet my charming little girls.

They arrive sweetly dressed in their little Sunday dresses and hair bows.
"Hey Libby!" "Don't you look beautiful this morning!," I say as one of my girls walks through the door.
"Madelyn, I'm so glad you came to Bible class this morning!"
"Austin, I LOVE your dress! Let me see!"
They are beaming in their early morning, little girl radiance.

They help me get out the play dough and the plastic animal cookie cutters. After choosing the play dough color of their choice, we carefully observe each animal shape and say their name. We imitate their animal sounds. Hearing a 2-year-old struggle to say the word "hippopotamus" can be quite comical. Something as simple as considering our plastic animal shapes is a great way to teach that our amazing God has created them.
"Austin, who made the lion?"
Austin: "GOD!!"
Although, sometimes "God" can become the answer to all the questions I ask, I am encouraged to know that their little minds are soaking up Who our wonderful and awesome Creator is...GOD.

After 15 minutes of molding animals out of play dough, it's time for the Bible story.
"Libby, where are your eyes?" (Libby points to her eyes)
"Austin, where are your eyes?" (Austin does the same)
"All eyes need to be looking at me."
I then proceed to narrate the Bible story in the most kid-friendly, mesmerizing way that I can, while trying my capture the attention of my 2 and 3-year old's. In past Bible lessons, we have built the walls of Jericho with building blocks and marched around them seven times. Before allowing them to tumble in a heap, we are sure to leave Rahab's part of the wall standing. We have toyed with a plastic Noah's Ark, while re-telling the story of old man Noah, as he obeyed God, built a big boat to carry all the animals and his family, and sailed for over a 100 days after the rains fell for forty days and forty nights. We have read books on Jonah and Adam and Eve. We have talked about how we must obey mommy and daddy. We have discussed serving and saying kind things to our brothers and sisters.

Austin and the Walls of Jericho

The Walls of Jericho with Rahab's house still standing.

 "Nay one, Nay one..." her quiet, shy voice carries the tune so beautifully.
"Libby, would you like to sing the Seven Days of Creation song?"
"Yeah," she timidly responds.
We all sing in unison of an awesome Creator, Who created everything in six days and then "rested in His heaven."
"Day One, day one, God made light when there was none..."


"Who wants to point to them?"
Hands are raised and my little helpers are eager to lend a little hand.
"Okay, Madelyn, you can take a turn."
She prisses up to the Fruits of the Spirit hanging on the wall. While she randomly points to each one I lead them in saying them in order. =) After a few weeks, it is amazing how well these little ones are able to remember and know the qualities of a Spirit-fillied-life.
"Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control!" (They know the last one quite well and like to say it extra loud. ;)

After class, they clean up their section of the table and we gather their belongings to take home. We open the door and stand at the entrance and eagerly wait for their mommies and daddies to arrive (okay, sometimes it's siblings too ;p) and take them to "big church."

I love my girlies. Maybe one day, we'll have some little guys in class.

As for now, we are content; just me and my little church girls.

(Madelyn was kind of pre-occupied in this video. :/)

Note: All these videos were taken on my iPad..That's why they are so enthralled with watching themselves on the screen. Hehe. ;D

mirror, mirror on the wall.

For the past ten years, the girls have shared a bathroom with our parents, and my brother has had the upstairs bathroom. After my brother got married this past July, my sister and I have joyfully taken over the "western-themed" room. :)

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Soon after moving our toiletries into the small space, we decided to make our mirror special.

We call it....the prayer mirror.

The sis and I have added many names that are on our hearts and minds. Some prayers have been answered, and with thankful hearts, the names have been removed. Others have been lifted up in prayer time and time again.

Some days, it is easy to get tired of praying for the same names over and over and over again. Sometimes, we may think, "Really God? I mean, when are you going to ever answer my prayer?"

"And all things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive." (Matthew 21:22) There you are. Right there, in that verse, it tells us that whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive. Are we believing what we are praying? Are we confident that God will carry through with His end of the deal and answer our pleas?

Acts 6:4 says: "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer...." Sometimes, it is easy just to brush my teeth or take time in the bathroom and not even glance at the "prayer mirror." Shame on me. Even if it may grow to be "boring" taking time to pray for the same people over and over again, this verse tells us to give ourselves continually to prayer. Every day. Multiple times a day.

One of my favorite verses on prayer is Proverbs 15:8b: "....but the prayer of the upright is his delight." If I am living right and doing His will in my life, God not only hears my prayers, they are His delight! What an amazing thought! God, in His wonderful magnificence, hears little me prayers....however insignificant they may be. When I think about all the "upright" people in my life, that is such a honoring and humbling thought...that He would take the time to listen to my pleas and be willing (if it is His will) to fulfill them. Yep, amazing.




"I love you more than..." notes that the sis and I have written to eachother.



So, next time we want to skim over our prayer lists, or maybe skip it for the day because it may not seem like God is answering them in any way, just know that (if you are living an "upright" life) He is answering them....even though it may not be in the way we would like.

May we all be the prayer warriors for God that He has called us to be. Bless you, lovely.

Joyfully at Home: Chapter One

Check it out!

This book is amazing. I highly recommend it.

For the next couple of weeks, please allow me to share some excerpts from the pages of this magnificent book, written by 20-something-year-old Jasmine. 

Becoming a Good Daughter for Your Heavenly Father

Before we can learn about being good daughters or good sisters--before we can talk about becoming good wives or training to be godly mothers--before we can talk about using our gifts, talents, and abilities to bless those in the amazing sphere of the home...

We have to understand that, as believers, the chief end of all of these pursuits--and of every other pursuit we could think to undertake--is the same: Man's primary purpose is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

It doesn't take much searching to realize that, in our post-modern culture, and because of our sin-natures (Psalm 51:5), making decisions for the glory of God and not for the gratification of our flesh is not an easy task. But because we have been redeemed by the blood of Christ (2 Cor. 5:17), and because we have a flawless road map in the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17), we are capable of taking the road less traveled (Matt. 7:13-14) and re-examining our presuppositions based on the wisdom of God's Word.

The book you hold in your hands only has merit insofar as it encourages you to delve deeper into the Word of God as you grow into the young woman that he has called you to be.

However, knowing where to start can be daunting. Knowing which voices to listen to in the din of conflicting opinions can be confusing! If we want to get a solid grasp on biblical womanhood, where do we start?...

your gift.

Guess what?

Everyone is blessed with a gift and God wants you to use it for His Glory.

Sunday night, at church, our minister preached a lesson on the gifts and talents that God has given us. He presented four questions that were thought-provoking:

Question One:
Have I identified the gifts and abilities God has given me?
We all have gifts...whether we know it or not. God was so clever when it came to gifts because he made such an amazing variety of them. :)  Teachers, Evangelists, Prophets, Exhorters, Givers, Leaders, etc. (Ephesians 4:11, Romans 12:4-8)

Question Two:
Am I putting these talents to use in my community and in the Body of Christ to the Glory of God?
When we recognize our gift, are we using it to the Glory of God? Are we "equipping the saints for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ?" (Ephesians 4:12)

Question Three
Am I doing all I can do to make my talents function in a cohesive manner?
Do we use the talents God has given us to help encourage others to draw closer as a Body, "till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God?" (Ephesians 4:13)

Question Four
Am I willing to make changes in myself to help the Body of Christ function better?
Are we willing to take our abilities and use our talents for Christ?
Using my God-given abilities benefit me as well as those I try to influence!
(..speaking the truth in love, may we grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ....according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:15-16)  


I pray that you will be able to recognize your gifts and remain faithful to Him as we strive to work toward the same goal...Heaven.

The just and perfect man.

Genesis 6:9
...Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God.

This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible.

After Adam, and Seth, and Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, and Enoch (who walked with God and then "was not" for God took him. Totally cool.), and the really old man who lived to be exactly 969 years old...the name...Methuselah, and Lamech,....there was Noah.

Noah. The man who was perfect in his generations. The one who walked with God. The man who lived in the midst of a corrupt and evil world. This man was the one who God chose and told to build a big boat out of gopher wood. God gave him precise measurements to build this gigantic, three-story boat with its single window.

Do you know what 600-year old Noah did? He obeyed. No questions asked. He built that big 'ole boat. Even though it took him hundreds of years, he and his family carried out the God-given orders.

After the boat was complete, Noah and his family loaded up that ark with seven of each clean animal and took two of every unclean animal, male and female. God shut the door. Can you believe that? Old Noah nor his wife had to strain to close the door. God did it for them. The rain came and stayed on earth for 150 days! But you know what? Because of their faithfulness and obedience to God, Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives were safe.

Are we obeying the commandments of Christ? Are we obeying all of the commands or just some of them? Are we giving into the worlds standards or are we making a difference for Him?

Are you building your boat or drowning in the flood of the world?