One Life, Not Much Time

Today is the Sabbath and I was just thinking of the way a Sabbath should be spent. Going to Church, (granted we aren't able to go to Church every week and I'm sure other people aren't either) spending time in God's Word, praying (though those things should be done everyday), doing all things that would keep the Sabbath day Holy.
Now, how often do I do that? Unfortunately, not often at all. Instead, this stupid computer takes up my time, or we'll be watching some kind of movie or something together. While it is nice to have a day of rest and time spent with family (meaning, just here, because we don't do things with extended family like some people do on the Sabbath, hopefully we will someday) and we do have fun together, whatever we're doing, still there is no reason why we can't give time to God. We have only one life, and such a short amount of time on this earth, we must spend this time wisely and in a way that is pleasing to God, that is giving our lives to and for God. I pray everyday that I might be a living sacrifice to Him, no matter what. How am I going to do that by wasting time with things that are so terribly unimportant? Now, spending time with family is important, but it is better to do it in a way that actually means something. Sure, we can sit down every once in a while and watch a show or a movie, but why do we keep sitting there, even when there's nothing on? It is not a sin to rest, God tells us to, it is, however, a sin to use that precious time doing nothing.
So often, I say that I need to make to time to read and continue improving my homemaking skills, but I don't because my time is wasted doing things that, well, waste time and are in no way helpful to my homemaking or reading, or whatever needs to be done around here. The funny thing is, if I do the things that need to be done then I will have time to do other things, but I don't always follow through.
So what happens? I sit here for a while (most of the time wasting the time on the computer and not using it wisely at all) and think, "oh, I'll get started later", then a "little" while later I'll look at the clock and sometimes even a few hours have gone by and I wonder how that time went so fast and why I wasn't doing anything. So, later, I get angry at myself because of things I didn't do and regret wasting that time. The next day I decide everything is going to be different, but it isn't always that way, sometimes I will do the exact same thing and I hate it.
God gave me this life and looking down at a clock to see what time it is or whatever is just a reminder that I used this time in a way that was pleasurable to me, but in no way honoring my God and King. This life is to be lived to Him and for Him, He didn't put me here for me, but for Him. I know I disappoint Him with this, so why is it so hard for me to stop? Satan doesn't want me to use my time for God, so I fall into this temptation and later feel so bad for doing so, but know I could never take it back, so I need to start anew the next day, but I fall into it again. I do not spend enough time in God's Word, or enough time with Him and that makes Satan very happy, that is such a disgusting and terrible thought, especially knowing the God is disappointed in me, how could I disappoint the One Who made me, Who gave His Son for my life that I may live and live to Him, but instead do what pleases me?
God is not angry with me when I do it, He can't be mad at me, for Christ intercedes for me and has made me righteous by His Holy shed Blood on the cross so that I would not face God's wrath. Because Jesus died for me, God cannot be angry with me.
What a Loving God we serve, that He would give me life through His Son Jesus Christ. I pray that my life my be lived to bring Him glory and that there be none left over for myself.
Using my time wisely is something I really struggle with, so I would very much appreciate prayer for this.
It is so easy to just sit down for a few hours and do nothing, though I could be reading or working on crocheting or something like that and hopefully my life will change for God. It is especially easy on days that are soooo extremely hot like they have been for weeks now. But, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength, now if only I constantly remember that and remember to pray for that strength
May God be glorified in all of my life!
Alive because of His Blood,
Bekah

My Thoughts

Last Sabbath, at Church, our Pastor was preaching and he said that there are more Christians in China than the USA. As wonderful as it is that there are so many Christians there, it is quite sad that a Country that was built on Biblical principles has fewer Christians.
As my brother, Chris, said "people over in China are being persecuted every day for their Christian beliefs while we sit here in our nice little houses......". I know that's not true for every Christian, but I know there are some (including myself) that could and should do so much more.
God sent us to be His emissaries and how are we spreading His Gospel if we are not living it or spreading it?

For Jesus said:
6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Matthew 10:6-7

I am not saying that you must leave your home and all of your loved ones and everything behind you and go to foreign countries (unless God calls you to), but rather live the Gospel, love the Gospel, and spread the Gospel, even in your own home, whether your whole family are Christians or not. I know, I myself, need to work on this, as I do not do a good job of it, if any at all.......
There is Mission Work that needs to be done right here in this Country, no matter where you go or where you are, God's Word must be spread and lived.

Lately, I must confess, some of the things going on in this Country are simply sickening, gay marriages, abortions, girls getting pregnant before marriage or even before the marrying age. A Country that was built on Biblical principles has now become a pit of sin, and what are we doing about it? What are some of these parents doing about it? Letting their children run free while their jewelry and diamonds are all locked up to keep them safe. Perhaps if more parents took care of their children, better than they might be doing, there would be fewer of all of the terrible things that are going on now.
Perhaps if these "celebrities" weren't so full of themselves and selfish and whiny, fewer children would be that way (yet another reason for parents to watch their children more closely).
All of these (forgive me), idiots that are wanting to take the 10 Commandments out of certain places, wanting to take "In GOD we trust" out of the Pledge Of Allegiance, it is simply stupid and downright disgusting!
No matter what, the 10 Commandments still stand, God is still in Control and always will be, no one will ever be able to stop that. No one could even attempt to, and if they did, wow, I would feel sorry for that person.
God is in Control, the Universe and all that lies therein are God's and His Alone, whether you people like it or not! You can't stop God, so don't even attempt to take Him out of this Country, 'cause it's just not gonna happen. May we ALL be thankful for that!!
Satan will not win, he cannot win, he fears God, why don't you?

Jesus said:
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:28

God be praised, He reigns forever!
Alive because of His Blood,
Bekah

May He Be Praised!!

Awhile ago, it seemed like everything was just caving in around me and nothing was going to get back to normal. All 5 of us were feeling stress and it's almost like knowing that everyone else was feeling stress put even more stress on us.
I think things are getting better now, hopefully.
About last Sabbath, I was feeling really low and depressed (I suppose from all of the stress), and the whole week I was like that, but tried not to show it. Well, a few days ago, I cannot really say when or how it happened, but that Joy that I had a few weeks ago just started flowing right through me again. I felt like nothing was gonna get better, but it was like the Lord showed me somehow that it's all going to be ok. Like I said, I don't know how to describe it.
A little while ago I was sent a questionnaire in an e-mail and one of the questions was something like "what have you learned in '08?" My answer was that I don't really know how to describe this.....I always knew that God was in control of everything and everything that happens is a part of His plan, but I never really grasped that. This year has been different, I am learning more and more to hand things over to Him and trust Him in all things. I don't think I worded it exactly like that, but it doesn't matter.
This past year has been hard on all of us going through this and that. I believe I have finally learned, though, that no matter what happens it is all according to God's Perfect Plan and I must trust Him. It is definitely difficult sometimes, but still, He is with me through everything and I know that.
Not only does everything happen according to His will, but everything that has happened and is yet to happen He has ordained since before there was time.
We don't always know why, but we should always trust that He has a reason for it and though it may be difficult because we don't understand, we must give Him praise. God has promised in His Word that He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6-31:8, Joshua 1:5, 1 Kings 8:57, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Hebrews 13:5) and I must remember to hold fast to that. God never breaks the promises He made to us, if any of us were to believe that He doesn't keep His promises then that person makes Him a liar. God does not lie, He does not fail, He does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, He does not change neither can He. He is Perfect and Holy. Too Holy to look upon me in my sin, but because Jesus Christ shed His Precious, Holy Blood on the cross for me, He can look upon me because I have been washed in the Blood of the Holy, Spotless, Lamb. Not by my own doing, God ordained me to be His child. I did not choose Him, He chose me, as it is with all of His elect, we didn't choose Him, He chose us.
To think, that Jesus Christ was thinking about me when He was on the cross is almost too much to bear. I put Him on that cross, I crucified Him by my sins....He died because of me. I am the worst of sinners and deserving of nothing, but Hell and God's wrath, yet in God's Love and Grace He sent His Son, Holy and Sinless, to this cold world as a man to die. He lived a Perfect, Holy, Sinless life and then at 33 died on the cross as a sinner, but was NOT one, He died the death that I deserved.....that the Father's elect deserved.

Matthew 24:22
And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

Matthew 24:24
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

Matthew 24:31
And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Mark 13:20
And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.

Mark 13:22
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.

Mark 13:27
And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

Luke 18:7
And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?

Romans 8:33
Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

Romans 9:11
though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—

Romans 11:7
What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,

Romans 11:28
As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.

1 Timothy 5:21
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.

2 Timothy 2:10
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Titus 1:1
Greeting
Paul, a servant[1] of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness,

By the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ I am alive and alive in Him.
I bid you all farewell for now!
Alive because of His Blood,
Bekah
Praise Him at all times!