How To Be An Overcomer

There are two things that make children of God overcomers: 1) the blood of the Lamb; and 2) the word of our testimony.

The blood of the Lamb: Jesus Christ was the Lamb slain for the sins of the world, and his blood that was shed at Calvary is the only thing in the Christian’s walk of life that cannot be compromised. Doctrine can be compromised, holiness standards can be compromised, but the work of the cross can never be compromised. If we will forgive those who hurt us, and allow the cross to work in our lives, we will continue to grow in our walk with God. If we do not practice mercy, grace, and forgiveness, but focus instead on our hurt, and the offense, we will instead become bitter – which only hurts ourselves.

The word of our testimony: this is appropriate and proper speech.. saying positive things, rather than negative, and praising Jesus rather than complaining about our problems.

We say "I forgive you, but..." don't let it happen again... and we somehow choose not to forget the offense.

However, God tells us all the time … “I forgive you,”… and His mercy endureth forever.

I’m so thankful that God does not stop his mercy and grace, because he has certainly extended it to us far more than we deserve it. A preacher once stated the following: Grace is getting from God what we don’t deserve and mercy is not getting from God what we do deserve. May we always be thankful for the mercy and grace and unconditional love that we receive from Christ Jesus, and may we present ourselves a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service.

The next time you are hurt or dealing with the offenses and disappointments of life, remember Revelation 12:11, and think of how many times the Lord has been disappointed. Let's allow the cross to work in our lives by forgiving others and extending mercy and grace to them, and let us speak positive words and praises to Jesus, so that He will not be disappointed in us.

Have a blessed day!

Dealing with Disappointment

The mother then sat back to wait and see if she would get her requested gift. Keep in mind that what the mother wanted would cost around $1 and maybe take 20 minutes of this person’s time. The mother felt this was a very reasonable request, especially since she had spent so much money on this person’s present. However, Christmas day came and went, and the mother’s gift request was not fulfilled. She was so disappointed. Well, actually, at first she was angry, but then she just felt hurt.

Then the Lord prompted her … “My child, how do you think I feel when people do not give me my reasonable service? I gave the most perfect gift – I gave my son, who came to live on earth and die for your sins so that you could have eternal life.
I request so very little back… yet so many people do not even want to give me that, and so many of my children won’t even acknowledge me as their Father. My word says in Romans 12:1-3 that I beseech you to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to thing of himself more highly than he ought to think, abut to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

A few days later, the mother went to church, and her pastor preached about forgiveness and how to ensure we stay saved. Revelation 12:11b states that the children of God overcome the work of the devil by “the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony….”

There are two things that make children of God overcomers: 1) the blood of the Lamb; and 2) the word of our testimony. For more on this, see the next blog post.

Official Christmas Day Family Picture ~ This one is especially for the Grandparents & Extended Family

A Little Naughty, but . . . A Lotta Nice

Cute Hallmark wrapping paper

Christmas Decorations

Uncle Nelson & Auntie Cristi Lor

The Newlyweds

Uncle Nelson, Auntie Cristi, Grandma Rozana, Momma Rhonda, Shenghai, Shauna, Staci

Reading THE Christmas Story

Daddy tried reading the Christmas story, but Shauna wanted to read it... so they ended up taking turns. Even when Matthew said, "okay, Shauna, I'll read now," she'd let him read a few verses, and then she'd start reading again! So precious!

For Grandma Parker

A Joyous Day

We all had a great time celebrating the birth of Christ... however, the girls did inform me that I "messed up" because we did not have cake, and you are supposed to have cake for someone's birthday.

It was such a pleasure to not have to cook anything (this is the first Christmas I haven't hosted since we were married in 2000). But, the down side of that is NO LEFTOVERS... not good when Momma Rhonda (that's me) has been lazy for the past two weeks and we have no groceries in the house other than pantry staples!

We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas ... as Pastor Sullivan preached last Sunday morning, "Christmas is for Everyone" ... rich, poor, young, old, stepparents, mixed families, and on and on.

Happy Day After Christmas, Everyone!

Here are a few of my favorite pics from our Christmas 2008

Daddy and his two princesses in front of our fireplace.

Staci: Mommy, how come you haven't put the fire in the fireplace?

Mom: Because we haven't cleaned the chimney, and we don't know how safe it is with all of the trees around the house.

Staci: funny expression on face, something of a cross between a frown and a glare

You can play golf inside the house, Dad ~ we picked it out!

Opening presents from Great Aunt Liz who lives in Kansas ~ she is always very generous... and reminds us of how generous Great Grandma Margaret Cox was ... we sure do miss her ... it was fun having Christmas at her house in Redding when the girls were babies.

the girls finally do a cute smile, after Mommy begs them and takes 6 or 7 not so good pics

We love you Daddy!

in front of Auntie Cristi & Uncle Nelson's "real" tree,

but Shauna just doesn't understand why the tree is perfectly slanted on one side, and then somewhat lopsided on the other... it's barely noticeable....

Mom: Shauna, it's real.. ...

Shauna: but why does it look like that?

Mom: because it's REAL

Special thanks to Grandpa & Grandma Parker (who called "all the way from Malta") for another Build A Bear gift card. Daddy has promised the girls if they get their rooms cleaned on Saturday morning, he'll take them to the mall in the afternoon so they can get another stuffed animal from this really cool store.

Thanks, Grandpa & Grandma!

Shauna: Mommy, you got me a Twister game! Thanks, Mom!

Staci: Jammies! Awesome! Thank you Mommy

then runs over to me and gives me a big hug, and then proceeds to begin removing her Christmas dress.... I told her that as soon as we got back from Christmas dinner at Auntie's house, she could put on her jammies, but that she could not wear them to Christmas dinner.

It All Happened in the Country

It all happened in the country, in a little country town

Country foks and farmers gathered all around

They gave a country "Howdy" to a little country boy

Momma's little angel, Heaven's pride and joy.

Last night was the girls' school Christmas play through Faith Christian Academy. They were asked to dress up country/pioneer/prairie-ish, and Shauna insisted that she I make her a costume. I searched the thrift stores, and came up with several western/countryish shirts, but could not find a dress. I had a simple pattern for a sunbonnet, so I ended up making her (and several other) a sunbonnet and an elastic waist skirt. Her teacher said she looked just like Holly Hobbie. Shauna doesn't know who that is, both girls thought they were dressed like Laura Ingalls.

I lucked out and found Staci's outfit at Mervyn's. Although it came with a hat, it wasn't a bonnet, and Grandma Rozana insisted Staci have a pink bonnet. Since I had no pink cotton fabric in my enormous fabric stash, she went to JoAnn's Wednesday night and bought pink and white cotton fabric. Staci's pink bonnet was adorable, if I say so myself... I was surprised that Staci liked the outfit, as it is really girly, but she was so excited that she looked like Laura.

In the car on the way home last night, I told them how proud I was of my two little princesses, and they both said, at the same time, "not princesses, country girls!"

Here's some pics of my two little country princesses.

Country Princess Shauna
Country Princess Staci

Staci & Mrs. Riddlesperger ~ Awesome Kindergarten Teacher

Mrs. Massey & some 2nd Grade Girls: Shauna, Tayler, Angelina, Kayla

Shauna & Mrs. Massey ~ Awesome Second Grade Teacher

Alaysia, Tayler, & Brianna. Alaysia is wearing one of the bonnets I made

Staci being ornery, she wouldn't smile, so I said "don't smile," which meant she smiled, but she did not want me to get a picture of her smiling. This is Staci's PERSONALITY!

Staci, Tayler, & Shauna, all wearing sunbonnets sewn by yours truly

Shauna had a special singing part at the end of the play. Caleb, did too, but I can't believe it ... I failed to get a picture of Shauna & Caleb together last night.... that's a first.

Also, in this picture, notice the adorable angel Ashlee McDermott.

The Bible Christmas Story ~ what Christmas is all about.

Country princesses Shauna & Kayla in the bonnet of white fabric from Grandma Rozana