Grandparenting joy!

I have always heard people say if they had known how fun grandkids were they would have had them first!  I know what that means now!  By God's grace, I am now proud to call myself, "Mimi"!  Our precious granddaughter was born September 22, 2012 and we couldn't be more thrilled!  She is practically perfect!  Practically you say?  Yes, because we know that she was born a little sinner, just like her mother before her!

The one thing I have always looked forward to about being a grandparent is leaving a wonderful, godly heritage to my grandchildren.  I want to be remembered for my love for Jesus and how I took every opportunity to talk to them about Him.  Walking down the street, playing in the yard, sitting at the kitchen table and snuggling up in bed.  Oh how I long to do that with Ellie!  She is but 11 weeks old at this writing and 2500 miles away so, my interaction with her will be minimal so when I do have the privilege to actually spend time with her, it must count for Christ!

I look forward to sitting at our table with her playing with playdough and talking about how God formed her in her mothers womb and created her to glorify Him.  When we play outside we'll talk about God's beautiful creation that He spoke into existence.  Walking down the street or in a park and being reminded that we are blessed to be able to walk and talk and see everything around us.  Lying in bed snuggling up with a Bible and reading about the wonderful accounts of God's love, grace, justice, wisdom, sovereignty, love, salvation and everything contained in it.

Oh what wonderful opportunities for the Gospel with my little lamb and hopefully lambs plural!  I am blessed to be a Mimi and praying one day all my little lambs will be close so I can do all these things a Mimi should do!  I would not trade this opportunity for having my girls first as that was my greatest joy-motherhood!  I loved being home with my girls and teaching them all the things I will teach my grandkids.  God in His goodness has given me this great opportunity once again and I want to make the most of it, by His grace!

Looking upward,
Bronni

Happy at home!

Well, I have finally reached that point in my life where I have time to do things that I love!  While I was raising my 2 girls my life and time was happily devoted to them and making sure I did all I could to train them to be godly women, wives and moms.  We homeschooled so the only hobby I really did was sewing, because it was beneficial for our family.  I loved making things for them!

Now I am able to sit back and watch God do with them what pleases Him.  Our oldest daughter will have our first grandchild in about 7 weeks, Lord willing!  I am ecstatic and cannot wait to hold that little bundle in my arms!  I love children but I'm especially drawn to babies! I have the pleasure of watching my daughter as she prepares to be a mommy and honor God in that.  My latest passion has been sewing everything  I can think of for this baby, as well as monogramming most all of what I made!  What fun I've had!

I now have a room dedicated to my sewing, which is wonderful!  It used to be our school room so there were bittersweet moments as we transformed it into my sewing nook.  There hasn't been time until now to really get into embroidering so now I have it and am enjoying it so much.  I can't wait to sew some little people clothes again!  I have also acquired a love for vinyl lettering on the walls of our home and am completing my first project with some Scripture in where else, my sewing room!  I plan to put Scripture in other rooms so we can keep our minds renewed and refreshed!

Our youngest daughter is starting her second year of college and is doing so well!  While she is still at home, she really isn't here very much because she is also working so we don't get to see her as much as we'd like.  I think the Lord is slowly preparing me for the empty nest, which we will experience next year as she transfer to The Master's College in California, just like her sister did. I'm not sure I'm going to like the empty nest!  I want to be able to enjoy her for as long as I can!!

I have been happy, fulfilled, sharpened, humbled and taught by being a stay-at-home mom and wife and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!  It's where I am the happiest.  I have never desired to work or have a career, because I saw my home and family as my job, though it was not a "job".  It has been fun and wonderful!  We opened a business while our girls were still young and for a number of years, things were very tight financially and had I gone to work, it might not have been as tight.  We were not willing to give up my time at home with my girls because we realized how important those years were.  We learned to do without and got very creative with lunches some days when the cupboards were a little bare.  My girls remember those days with fondness and laughter!  We made memories you can't replace!

I have had people ask me if I am going to work now that the girls are grown.  Absolutely not!  I am still a homemaker with a husband who needs a nice home to come home to at the end of the day and I am preparing for having my grandchildren in my home, where training in godliness will still continue.  I am happiest in my home!  I praise God for the opportunity to do this for it is by His provision that I have been able to.  He has been ever faithful!  Titus 2 commands us to be "keepers at home" and I happily obey!!

Here are a few of the things I have recently done or am working on.

                                                         Gowns for my grandbaby!

                               A gallery of pictures of my girls (with one of my little dogs looking on!)

My sewing room thread board and current vinyl project along the top!

Happy at home,
Bronni

Without a word from the Word!

"When we leave the sword of God’s Word at the door, we leave behind our sharpest weapon, Scripture. Game over. But perhaps worse than that, when we evangelicals do not support our positions with the Bible, then we are simply a competing interest group. In this case, we are Pharisaical moralists who appear to merely want to impose our archaic values on others." Todd Friel, Wretched Radio


I was struck by this statement and realized this is a huge problem in Christianity today.  We try to defend our ground without using the foundation of Scripture.  How can we help people see their need for a Savior if they don't hear the Gospel?  How can we defend anything without Scripture?


We can't!  


We must stand on the firm foundation of God's Word to do anything!  If not, we are just giving our opinion and who cares about that, frankly?  If I cannot defend a point using Scripture or it's not clearly stated in there, then I cannot shout my point and say it's truth.  There are grey areas in life that you cannot find a specific passage about and in that case, do what most would honor God and bring Him glory but first, search His Word to make sure.  2 Peter says that the Scriptures have all we need for life and godliness!  That's encouraging!  God knew before the foundation of the world what we would need and he inspired great men to write what He inspired them to for our benefit.  Go to the Word before you make choices, try to defend something or teach someone.  In it is Truth for all mankind and it's true whether men choose to believe it or not.  


2 Peter 1:3
seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.


Ephesians 6:14
Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH...............


Go therefore and preach the Gospel to all nations and use the Bible!!


For His glory,
Bronni

Is there a cost to your Christianity?

I was struck by this daily Grace Gem written by J. C. Ryle:

Is there any cross in your Christianity?

There is a common worldly kind of Christianity in this day, which many have--a cheap Christianity . . .
which offends nobody,
which requires no sacrifice,
which costs nothing--and is worth nothing!

But if you really are in earnest about your soul,
if your religion is something more than a mere fashionable Sunday cloak,
if you are determined to live by the Bible,
if you are resolved to be a New Testament Christian--
then you will soon find that you must carry a cross. You must endure hard things; you must suffer in behalf of your soul, as Moses did--or you cannot be saved.

The offense of the cross is not ceased!

God's true people are still a despised little flock.

True evangelical religion still brings with it reproach and scorn.

A real servant of God will still be thought an enthusiast and a fool by many.

If there is no cross--there will be no crown!

I can say with confidence that we, in America, will one day suffer persecution to a degree we have never known yet, Christians in 3d world countries see everyday. When I read the Voice of the Martyrs my heart sinks and I feel helpless to do anything. What I don't realize is that my prayers are heard by our great God who is sovereign in all things and allows all things for a purpose.

I learned something very important when reading last months issue and that is, don't pray for those who suffer to be released from their chains or sufferings, rather pray for God to be glorified and to give endurance and peace to those suffering so that God's Word might go forth in the power of the Holy Spirit. If God allowed them to be where they are, He has a purpose and to pray for it to be removed would be like praying that the Gospel will stop being preached! WOW! I would have never thought of it that way.

Now, back to America where Christianity is only less than tolerated but not truly persecuted. Let's look back at J. C. Ryle's quote:
which offends nobody,
which requires no sacrifice,
which costs nothing--and is worth nothing!
Do you always worry that you will offend someone by telling them you are a Christian or calling out a false teacher or false religion? Why? Because someone may give you a tongue lashing? Others wish they were as fortunate! We must be bold in our faith and proclaim the Gospel wherever and whenever we can by the power of the Holy Spirit that lives within us. We must refute false teachers and false religions and tell the world that Jesus is the only way, not one of many! Thousands are being led astray everyday by those who don't want to offend. The Gospel is offensive, especially to sinners who want nothing to do with it!

If your Christianity costs you nothing, perhaps you never "bought" it! Bear your cross daily for the sake of the Gospel and when you reach Glory you will hear those long awaited words: "well done, good and faithful servant"!! God help me persevere and in love, offend with the Gospel!

For His glory and because of His grace,
Bronni

A lesson in the sovereignty of God

Rarely a day goes by that I don't either tell someone about the sovereignty of God or read about it or think about it. It's what I know and what I proclaim about Him to others. It's what I praise Him for! It's liberating once you understand it because you know and understand that God has everything under control and knows exactly what He's doing. It's why we can go through difficulties in life without falling apart or "freaking out" or losing our minds. Nothing happens that He hasn't already approved for us and will use for His glory and our good. Oh, saint, that should make you shout GLORY!!

Never has the doctrine of God's sovereignty hit so close to home until last week when our daughter and her husband called to say that they had suffered the miscarriage of our first grandbaby. We were beside ourselves with excitement and now crushed with grief. Did we praise God in spite of this incredible hurt? Absolutely! Do we know that God has a purpose for it? Certainly! Do we believe He will use it for His glory and our good! Oh yes!! Are our hearts broken? More than words can say. We already loved him or her and were able to get a glimpse into his or her growth. God's handiwork!

God understands being crushed and hurt and saddened by an event. His Son, who knew no sin and did no wrong bore the sin of all mankind on the cross separating Him from the Father for a time, suffering a cruel death on our behalf. Did God have a plan? You bet! Did He use it for His glory? Undeniably! In His sovereign design, Jesus bridged the gap between sinful man and God by paying our sin debt. We deserved nothing but death and hell yet, God made a way for us to commune with Him for eternity.

God's sovereignty does not mean we won't be sad when things happen but we do not grieve as those who have no hope. We have hope that God may be pleased to grant us a grandbaby in this life and our daughter a child. Whatever He deems best is what we desire and can hope in. If He does not, our greater hope is in seeing Him face to face and we pray, our little Jelly Bean, who we were not privileged to meet in this life. We know that He has things perfectly under control and we can trust His heart to do for His children what is best. Who would want any less than God's best?? Not me, no matter how painful I know He has a purpose and a plan and I will be able to use it to bring Him great glory and honor that He so deserves and is due. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed by the name of the Lord!

Until Christ comes,

Bronni

What's on your mind?

What's on your mind as you go about your day? Are you mindful of opportunities to evangelize? Do you have tracts readily available to you for just the right moment? Do you think about how you can share with the person standing in front of you?

I use the million dollar tracts, available at www.livingwaters.com, and people love them! I hand them out as I check out, go to a drive-thru window or just talking to someone. I try to be always looking for those opportunities to share the Gospel to a lost and dying world. As I look around I see folks who are lost and undone and don't even realize it. How will they hear unless we tell them?

What about opportunities with your children or family members? We must be on the lookout for those teachable moments with our kids in order to train them in godliness. Lost family members need to hear the Gospel just like others. Don't be intimidated by the fact that they are your family. We must see all lost people as lost and in need of the Gospel, no matter who they are. The masses of people in the world are literally sinking down without hope and without a Savior, undone with a load and debt of sin they must account for when they stand before God. Let's be the bearer of news; the bad news first about their sin and then give them the Good News that their debts have been paid by the greatest act of kindness; God sent His Son to pay it in full!

Be on the lookout for those moments to be like the street preachers of old! Anytime will do for anyone who will listen! Yell it from the mountain tops! Preach it on the streets! Tell it to the check-out clerk! "Be ready, in season and out"!

For His glory and the Gospel,
Bronni

Are you a good person?

Are you good person?

If so, are you good enough to go to Heaven?

Perhaps you haven't thought about it but, if you die today you'll face eternity either in heaven or hell. Are you sure about where you will go?
Perhaps you have thought about it and it scares you! It should!

Well, I have good news for you! You can know for sure and you just have to answer a few questions to find out.

Let's see if you are good enough according to God's standards:
1. Have you ever told a lie?
The Ninth Commandment says - "you shall not lie" Telling just one lie, according to God's standards, makes you a liar.
Revelation 21:8 God says, ".......all liars, shall have their part in the lake of fire........"

2. Have you ever stolen anything, no matter how small?
The Eighth of the Ten Commandments is "You shall not steal." Stealing just one thing (regardless of it's size or monetary value), according to God's standards, makes you a "thief."
In 1 Corinthians 6:10, God says, "No thieves... ...shall inherit the kingdom of God."

3. Have you ever looked at someone and had lustful thoughts?
The Seventh Commandment saysm "You shall not commit adultery. According to God's standards just looking at another person with lust makes you an adulterer.
Matthew 5:28 "Jesus said,"You have heard it said, You shall not commit adultery: But I say to you, that whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart."
1 Corinthians 6:9-10, God says, no adulterers "...shall inherit the kingdom of God."

4. Have you ever used "God", "Jesus" or "Christ" as a curse word? ("oh my ....")
The Third Commandement says, "You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain." If you've ever used the name of God as a curse word, you've taken the name of the One who gave you life and used it as a 4-letter word to express disgust. That offense is called blasphemy.
Leviticus 24:16 'Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him. The alien as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death."

Well, the truth is, everyone would fail this test because everyone is born a sinner so, you are not alone!!

What this test showed you is how you would score when judged by just four of God's Ten Commandments. So, if God judges you by that standard would you be innocent or guilty of breaking His Commandments?

If you say guilty you would be right!

Do you think He would send you to Heaven or Hell based on how you did on the test?

If you said hell, you are right again because God is holy and just and cannot allow sinners into heaven.

Does the fact that you're headed for Hell concern you? It should concern you and here's why.

Would you sell one of your eyes for a million dollars? How about both eyes for ten million? No one in their right mind would! Your eyes are precious to you... but they are only a "window" for your soul. Your soul (your inner being, your life, your personality) looks out through those eyes. Consider how precious your eyes are... then realize that Jesus said that Hell is so horrible that you would be better off tearing out your own eyes than ending up there for all eternity

Mark 9:43-48 "If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. "If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. "If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell,where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.

Do you know what God did so that you wouldn't have to spend eternity in Hell?

Because we are all guilty and none of us could ever get to heaven on our own, He did the kindest thing anyone could ever do. He sent His only Son, Jesus, to pay YOUR sin debt by His death on the cross - suffering the punishment that justice demands - so that you wouldn't have to go to Hell. Then He rose from the grave, forever defeating death! The Bible tells us, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

So what does this mean for you? It means God made a way for you and calls you to repentance and faith in Jesus alone for your salvation.
If you will repent of your sins (that means to confess and forsake or turn away from your sins) and put your trust in Jesus Christ alone, God says he will forgive all your sins and grant you the gift of everlasting life. If you do, you will not have to suffer God's justice in Hell because the payment for your crimes was made by Jesus on the cross.

If you're not sure what to pray, read Psalm 51 (pasted at the bottom for you), and make it a model for your prayer. The words are not "magical," what God cares about is the attitude of your heart, of sincere repentance for your sins. When you pray, it should sound something like this, "Dear God, I repent of all my sins, such as (name them). I put my trust in Jesus Christ alone as Lord (to say Jesus is your Lord means you are now making Jesus the master over your life) and Savior. Forgive me and grant me your gift of everlasting life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."

If you have TRULY repented of your sins and placed your faith in Christ, start reading your Bible EVERY DAY, and obey what you read. God will begin immediately to change your heart and give you new desires. Ones that will please and bring glory to Him! Isn't that good news?




What should you read? We suggest that you start in the book named "John," and then read the one named "Romans." Whatever you decide to read, make sure you read every day.

Psalm 51:1-17
King David's Prayer of Repentance

1. Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.

2. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.

3. For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.

4. Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight--
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.

5. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.

6. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8. Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.

9. Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.

10. Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11. Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

12. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

13. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.

14. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

15. O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

16. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.

17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart--
These, O God, You will not despise.

I would love to hear from you! If you placed your faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, I would love to send you some resources to help you grow in your faith.
Have questions? I can help!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Spreading the Good News for the glory of God,

Bronni