Birthday parties

What an exciting day of giving and receiving. We made a new tradition today for the kick off of the Barton's Christmas day. Before we opened presents, we sat down around the tree and sang happy birthday to Jesus. We opened the Bible and read the Christmas story and then Daddy prayed over his family. Then of course it was a 3 and 7 year old tearing into gifts. Jaden couldn't wait when Jentsen was unable to get the tape off so she would have to rip it for him.

We enjoyed having the family to our house for Christmas brunch. Boy was it hard to stay on the 40 day challenge today. But with Jesus's strenght I was able to resist the swedish coffee bread, home made cinamon rolls, but not the swedish rice pudding. That has been a tradition in our family at my Grandma's since I can remember. Now my niece Melanie makes it. You can't even tell she is not a full blood sweed. However, everything in moderation, so I had a small bowl today and I took some for a small bowl tomorrow. The egg casseroles turned out the best this year in my new oven.

Off for the second party at Jimmy's family. Life is good with family and friends. We are so blessed. God made us as people who like relationship with others. He made us in His image. Have you had relation with Him today? If not, I encourage you to do that. Merry Christmas everyone and HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS. I LOVE YOU.

Temple of God

Sunday night at our Christmas party with rush church, I was sharing with an individual that sin is sin. There is no big or small sin. For example, the Pastor who has lust for women is no worse than the Sunday school teacher who gossips at every change she gets. Sin is ugly and we all have it. What we don't realize is that for years we have listened to messages in church that tell us that our bodies are the temple of God and we are to do nothing to destroy the temple. (examples usually are smoking, drinking, doing drugs). What we do not hear is how over eating can also be included in that list. Obesity can lead to type 2 diabetes, Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), Hypertension ( high blood pressure), heart attacks and strokes due to the above listed problems, joint pain, venous insufficency (poor blood flow to the lower legs), the list could go on and on. We need to take an active rule in our health to obey God's command and take care of the temple of God.

Obedience can be a Challenge

Lately I have been reading in Leviticus and Numbers. Have you ever wondered why sacrifices had to be done exactly like God instructed Moses. This was so important that God inspired man to write books in the bible about it. There are lengthy descriptions that often become tedious to read. There are Chapters describing the Tabernacle (man's place of worship) and what should look like and how they were to make everything even down to the curtains. God created man with such creativity and vision, you would think that God would want man to worship Him in a place of their own expression. I've seen some beautiful churches, so I know that man can be creative.
I believe it boils down to OBEDIENCE. Yes we can do it on our own, but it is harder to submit to authority to be told how. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit was not living inside each man to help discern right from wrong, so we can't relate. God would speak to Moses, because He was a humble man that God chose, and the people would have to obey. There were terrible consequences when they rebelled, like wondering in the wilderness for 40 years, or even the earth opening and swallowing families alive. God looks at our heart while we worship Him. Are we obeying His commands out of religious rituals, or are we obeying His commands because we love Him and have a relationship with our Father above. We have the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us, and we have direct access to God 24/7. God speaks to us directly, if we are listening.

Are you going to be obedient with what God is speaking to your heart or are you going to wonder in your desert for 40 years?