31 Days To Clean by Sarah Mae

"Having a Martha House the Mary Way"

I can't tell you how exciting this concept sounds!

From the author's site:

Journey with me for 31 Days as we get our homes and our hearts in order. Give me 31 days and I’ll give you not only a cleaner home, but a vision for one.

I am not a natural when it comes to cleaning. In fact, sometimes I think my DNA is allergic to it! However, I know that if I am to care for my home, and more importantly my family, I need to persevere in creating a clean, peaceful home environment (not a perfect one!).

31 Days to Clean is about the “why” and the vision and the heart for taking care of our domains. Each day I encourage you with some thoughts and ideas, and then we put those ideas to action.

After each days reading, you will be given two challenges:

• The Mary Challenge -Something you do that encourages/engages your heart
• The Martha Challenge – Specific cleaning tasks

Friends, 31 Days to Clean is a faith journey towards ruling, subduing, and loving. We are forgoing perfection; we are choosing life.


GET IT HERE!!!

http://31daystoclean.com/

Grandma and Grandpa

Today is my Grandma Franklin's 79th birthday and Grandma and Grandpa's 61st anniversary.  I called them this morning and had a really nice talk.

I have been blessed to have had 2 sets of wonderful grandparents.  The others, Gma and Gpa B are both gone now, but I have so many wonderful memories.  My Gma and Gpa Franklin are my father's parents.  I spent a lot of time with them as well when I was growing up.  Gma and I went down memory lane a bit this morning.  She asked me what I had been up to lately.  Hmmm, I wonder if anyone reading this might know the answer to that??  ha!  Of course I told her getting my garden going.  She said boy you sure are enjoying that gardening lately aren't you?  I told her that of course I was because grandpa had sort of gotten me into that!  LOL  I remember his HUGE garden and I do mean huge....however, I have a feeling that if I actually saw it now, it probably wouldn't seem so large.  Funny how things get smaller the older we get. :)

So picking strawberries was one of my favorite things to do with grandpa.  Then I told gma I remembered the corn.  It was on the East end of the garden.  She sounded surprised and said why yes it was.  I remember several long rows of corn.  I was always in awe of that corn.  Then green beans, of course.  Gma would can those and yummo!  I can't remember anything tasting better!  Cucumbers for pickling.  OH!  Gma's pickles were to DIE FOR!!  I really miss her pickles.

Other memories I have were cracking pecans and sneaking some out of the freezer when she wasn't looking.  Gma always kept her cracked pecans in ziploc baggies in the freezer.  To this day I still keep pecans in the freezer :)  Then there was homemade ice cream.  Ah!  What a treat!  Hmmm, seems a lot of my memories revolve around food with the Franklin family.  LOL  Cause I was just fixing to say how much I loved her homemade rolls and my favorite breakfast of all time was gma's oatmeal and toast.  Isn't that weird the things we remember?

Gpa and I played Atari games and watched the Flintstones, which is still my all time favorite cartoon.  I can't watch it without thinking of him.  Oh and I used to love wearing my grandma's high heels, but I quickly outgrew her size 7's......darn it.  LOL

Then when I was in middle school, I remember spending the night on a school night and gma would drive me to school in their 60's model Mustang!!  I wish I could remember the exact year.  I need to ask next time I talk to them.  I wish I had known at the time what a REALLY cool car that was :)

I have a lot of memories of my grandparents and I'm really thankful for that.  My own children don't have grandparents in their lives to make those memories with and it makes me sad.

Today I just wanted to celebrate my precious grandparents and share some special memories.  Happy birthday Grandma and happy 61st anniversary to you both. (p.s. this pic was taken earlier this year....does that woman look 79 to you?  I didn't think so......so for all of you who think I look too young to be 40.....that's where I get it ;)  )

Unrest

I realize my thoughts are controversial and I am learning not to care.  What matters is the Holy Spirit speaks to me and causes me to do some searching.  I really think that is what Yahweh wants from ME.


Easter and the Resurrection bothers me on so many levels.  I am struggling big time this year.  I don't know why this year has been harder than the others.  Maybe I am just becoming so much more aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life and recognizing His voice so much stronger.  


I'm tired of traditions and prescribed responses.  I have never wanted to be a "pot stirrer" but apparently that's what I'm becoming....and fast, might I add.  I think I just feel like I have been awakened from a life long slumber.  I have so much unrest in my heart and my spirit regarding worldly matters.  I feel an overwhelming desire to be Christ to others, but I don't think we have to do what the world does to do that!  


Yeshua (Jesus) ate and talked with sinners, yet he didn't partake of their type of lifestyle.  He was among them and showed them love.  He didn't do what they were doing.  


A HUGE thing in my life, as most know, is drinking......and my desire to totally remove myself from anything that even resembles drinking.  Having 2 alcoholic parents wreaks havoc on your spirit.  It bludgeons you from the inside out.  I have found myself literally sick to my stomach when in the presence of those that are drinking, even casually.  I have been wanting to purge those horrible memories from my heart so that I can minister to the very types of people that have wounded me so deeply.  


My mind is set on becoming SO like Christ that one day HE can take me into a place of ministry in that field.  I know there are men, women and children caught up in the alcoholic lifestyle that can benefit from the grace that Yahweh has extended to ME. I know that there are others who might need to know my story of redemption and healing through the power of the blood of Yeshua.


I am setting my mind on the fact that one day, the Lord may ask me to put myself in a situation where people are drinking so that I can be His hands and feet to others.  This thought scares me.  To some that might seem crazy, but it's my reality.  My stomach is in knots just thinking about it now.  Yet, I know that in order to be Christ to someone else, it might have to happen that way.  Will I partake of alcohol myself in order to reach out?  No, I won't.  There is nothing that could make me ever do that again.  


So my thoughts race back to easter and the Resurrection now.....why do we reach out, in the name of Christ and embrace the world's traditions?  Can we not share His good news without partaking of their traditions?  Do we fear being called judgmental if we do not participate in egg hunts, easter bunny pictures and the like?  Do I fear being called judgmental because I don't go along with these things?  I think I used to......I'm not so sure I fear that anymore.


Romans 12:2 from the New Living Translation sums this up for me so perfectly. 
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.


I truly believe that this is His perfect will for ME...not you that are reading this, but ME.  Where He leads me, I will follow.  What He asks me to do and say, I will be obedient in that task. 

Max On Life by Max Lucado

If you could sit down with a good friend and ask any question on your heart, what would it be?  That's exactly what you'll find in Max On Life.  Tough questions, light hearted questions, no question is too dumb or too embarrassing to ask.

This book is written from a Christian perspective with scripture from the Bible dispersed throughout, but could easily be read by someone who considers themselves to be a non-Christian.  It is a series of real life questions asked under the subtitles of Hope, Hurt, Help, Him/Her, Home, Haves/Have-Nots and the Hereafter.  If you've ever thought of a question, Max pretty much covers it here.

Max Lucado has a writing style that has always appealed to me.  He has a smooth flow and you can almost imagine your best friend sitting on the couch having a cup of tea while chatting.  He is authentic, but does not portray himself as the authority to end all.  He shares what's on his heart and throughout lets the reader know that no matter what, they are loved by God.  While I did not agree with every opinion he had, he did give me some things to think about, some challenges to dig deeper into the Word and find the truth for myself.  Max gives the reader the starting point and encourages them to seek God as the final authority.  He helps answer some of those tough questions, with love.  I found no judgement in these pages, only the pure, true love of Christ.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Peace eludes me

Thinking a lot about "peace" this morning since I even most days wake up not feeling at peace.

I have some of the worst dreams.  Many times it is my husband leaving me or one of my children dying.  Sometimes I dream that I am dying.  I hate those dreams.  I have had a fear of dying since I met my husband almost 18 years ago.  His mother died when he was 8 years old and I have seen how it has affected him.  The thought that I would leave my children like that terrifies me on so many levels.  I really thought I was past that when my youngest turned 8 last Summer.  Since she is our youngest and Greg is the youngest in his family, there's always been something about that "magic age".  I got past it and was doing ok.  Apparently not.

I have never really had peace in going to church.  For a follower of Christ that probably seems odd.  I just have never really believed the church was telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.....so help them God.  I have come to realize that "church" as we know it will likely NEVER be a peaceful place, for me anyway and that I can go to enrich my life, but it will never fulfill the role for me that it wants to.  The reason for that is that I don't subscribe to a pat formula for Christianity and I believe that is what many churches/denominations want.  I have to find my OWN way of living with and for Christ that suits ME.  I have to pattern my responses and my action based on HIM and not what a church believes or does.  I can no longer "join" a church membership and align myself with only one church.  I am MEMBER, however, of the Body of Christ.  That being said, we are currently enjoying the fellowship of a particular church in town.  My guard was up and up HIGH at first, but I believe the Holy Spirit has been knocking down walls and I am grateful.

Peace in our home life is something that I'm worried about.  I dreamt last night that we all lived in a one bedroom house and were sharing said bedroom.  It was wall to wall beds.  It reinforced my feelings that the walls are closing in on me here.  Having an adult child living at home on your couch is stressful too.  That could be a whole other post in itself that's for sure.  I adore my girl, but we need her to find her own place soon.  I think some deadlines are about to be set.  That's just one aspect of the peace I'm looking for.  Greg's jobs are another.  I need peace in that situation.  11 months is too long to be crying every day over a job situation.

I have so many other issues weighing heavy on me.  Too many for one blog post really.  I feel so "weird" today and not in a good way either. I feel like no one understands or even cares kind of weird.  I feel alone.  Utterly, absolutely, devastatingly alone.

Weird home educators

Thinking quite a lot this morning about our way of life.  Have you ever taken a good hard look at where you've been and wondered what was I thinking?  That is how I feel about sending my children to public school.  I didn't know any differently at the time.  That's just what you did.

In the last 5 years that we've been doing this, I have always said "I'm not anti-school" and reflecting on that today, I have to admit that I really AM anti-school.  I think I just said that because well,  it's hard for me to hurt people's feelings and I certainly don't like criticism (who does?).  I have some good friends and family members that are or have previously been school teachers.  I love and adore these people and admire what they do and have done.  So it's hard for me to say I'm against the very thing that is their livelihood and calling in life. This is not an anti-teacher rant, because I believe they are amazing people, I just don't personally believe it works.  School, that is.

School taught me mixed messages.  My 4th grade teacher, Mr. Robert Parker, taught me that I was a free thinker and to write those thoughts down.  He taught me the art of creative writing and I will be forever grateful to him for that.  He instilled in me a love for writing.  Anyone who knows me knows that I love to put my feelings down in type/print.  Mr. Parker gave me the freedom to be me and I enjoyed that.

The mixed messages I got came in other areas.  When the bell rings, you have to stop what you're doing and rush to the next class because that's what "they" think is best.  You MUST do reading, writing, math, history and science all in one day's time.  Who cares if you are busy writing and get lost in thought.  It's time to add 2+2 or even worse, it's time to figure some complicated algebraic equation that you will never again use outside of this building.  Maybe someone would, but not me.  I'm not a math girl in any way, shape or form.  I write, I speak, I don't do math.   Well, I balance a check book.  So addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are good things, but that's as far as I go.  Maybe some fractions in the kitchen when I'm cooking, but seriously that's it.

School taught me to be scared of tests and grades and that I would be rewarded for doing exactly what the teacher told me.  If not, you'd be sent to the principal for discipline.  I honestly can't remember EVER going to the principal's office.  You were not allowed to question anything in school.  You did what you were told, period.  They told you what time to play, what time to eat and if you had to go to the bathroom during class time, it took an act of congress or maybe some wet pants to get you there.  Asking for a "hall pass" was humiliating at times. God forbid we should talk with our "neighbor" in class.

School taught me to conform.  Kind of reminds me of "drinking the koolaid".  We all know that sort of mentality. Gosh I drank the koolaid so many times that I didn't realize there was something more refreshing out there.

School also taught me that I'm not as good as everyone else and that I can't possibly ever think I will be.  I clearly remember someone making fun of the outfit I had on in 5th grade.  It was a homemade pant suit that my grandma had made me and I loved it at the time.  I'm not sure I ever wore it after that day.  What a shame.  My grandma was a very good seamstress.  That obsession with clothing haunted me during my entire time of public education.  I never did have name brand clothing and it was painfully obvious that I wasn't going to fit in because of it.

School taught me that I wasn't pretty enough and I sure wasn't rich enough.  Let's not even talk about how thin I was NOT.

School taught me to be ashamed of who I was.

Fast forward to becoming a mother.  I was throwing my children into the same lion's den I had fought for all of those years.  I knew no better.

My first real experience with a homeschooler was my friend Jenny, whom I met online and am still friends with to this day.  I loved her but thought what she did was a little odd.  Why she wanted to be with her children all day long was beyond me.  What were those kids learning anyway?  Little did I know that the years I would watch Jenny through the computer monitor would prove to be the boost I would need to propel me into this new lifestyle that was soon going to overtake me.

Jenny, THANK YOU for being that "weird" home educating mama who loved me even when I wasn't very supportive of what you were doing.  I hope you truly know what a blessing you have been to me and how much the Lord has used you and your life to encourage me.  I pray that you will forgive my ignorance.

I count it great JOY to know you.

More thoughts on becoming a weird home educator will come in future blogs.....I need to put a pause in these things or I could literally write a book.

Weird Week 2

Truly a WEIRD day for me and no coincidence that is our message series right now.  We had to attend church without Greg, which was something I am not used to doing.  Back in the Fall when he was working a lot of Sundays, we just didn't go to church at all if he had to work.  I felt the Lord nudging me to go today, however.  I don't like going anywhere like that without my "covering".  For some people that just sounds strange, ok weird, but it's a hard thing to describe.  When we're here at home, even if he's not here, I still feel that covering, but when I'm out in public, I feel bare.  It's like being in a rainstorm without your umbrella.  Greg is my  umbrella, yet when I'm out in the world, my umbrella is usually absent.  Even though, yes, I do function without my husband, we are such a part of each other that it feels wrong to be without him.


That's weird.  But I think that's good.  Especially when I see so many marriages breaking up and so many husbands and wives that actually love being apart.  I can't imagine.  I don't want to EVER feel that way about my husband. 


Fast forward..... as I turned to our first scripture verse for the message, I came across scripture that at some point had meant enough to me that I highlighted it.  It was 1 Peter 1: 6-7.  My NLT translation says this: So be truly glad.  There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.  These trials will show that your faith is genuine.  


It stopped me in my tracks.  That wasn't even the verse I was looking up, but there for me today was a verse that my Abba chose for me to see.  Something I had highlighted long ago, who knows when.  So I'm stopped in my tracks, tears welling up in my eyes.  Wonderful JOY.  What will that feel like?  Overwhelming?  I'm sure I'll know when I feel it.  I can't wait!


The message goes on and I hear some things that speak directly to my heart.  Like how we tell our kids it's "ok" to be different, but we really should be telling them that it's BETTER to be different.  He said that different is better and normal is BROKEN!!  Wow!  Oh and living out your OWN "weird" too.  Don't copy someone else's weird.....otherwise you're weird normal.  LOL  I have to laugh at Pastor Craig Groeschel.  What a funny guy.  I appreciate his sense of humor so much.


He has recently spoken of some of the "weird" things his family does that mirrors my own life.  They home educate their kids (we're on year 5), they used to but no longer celebrate Halloween (stopped that 11 years ago), their children don't date and don't WANT to.  After a slightly less than desirable time with our oldest, we decided that dating was not going to happen for the other 3 while they were under our roof.  We are praying for their future spouses and really would like to see them go through more of a "courting" type of relationship.  We are praying for the will of Yahweh in all of this.


Oh speaking of Yahweh, yeah that's weird to most too.  It was weird when I started calling him that and honestly I do still speak of him as "God" at times because well...darn it, I think others will think I'm too WEIRD for calling him something that most don't.  Man, that's wrong!  If  I feel led to call Him Yahweh, then by gosh I'm gonna do it!!  Oh and I believe Jesus is actually Yeshua or Yahshua....yeah, the jury is still out on that.  Still studying to find my own truth in that matter. :)


One of my biggest obstacles to overcome in becoming more weird in a Godly way is learning this simple truth that Pastor Craig shared:
Becoming obsessed with what people think about you is the quickest way to forget what God thinks about you!  Don't lie for the opinions of people.  Live for God and get WEIRD!


This week my public declaration is this:  I am going to do what I feel called to do whether people think it's weird or not.  I am not going to back down or puff up when someone offends me.  I am going to consider it joy to be ridiculed and questioned for my beliefs.  That is how I know that I'm doing what my beloved Yahweh has asked me to do.   

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine offer- GET THIS!!

Spring Bouquet of Gifts- TOS Magazine

Click on this link if you are interested in getting, in my opinion, the BEST magazine devoted to home education!  I have been a subscriber for just over a year now and know this is one magazine that I would never want to live without.  In addition to the encouraging and informative magazine, they have a website that has great resources to aid in your home education venture.  They also have a home schooling convention online, which based on the preview session I attended a few weeks ago, looks to be the best!

They are offering 19 free gifts if you sign up for a 2 year subscription for only $39.  It is well worth the money!!

I'm weird, get over it

Today I'm thinking a lot about the easter holiday and how I no longer want or need to celebrate it in the traditional ways.  That makes me weird to the world.  Heck, that makes me weird to Christians.  I don't believe the resurrection happened on a Sunday morning at sunrise after Jesus was crucified on a Friday.  The Bible tells us 3 days.  Friday to Sunday at sunrise isn't even 2 days.  It's up to interpretation, I suppose.  Speaking of Sunday, that's another thing I don't get.  Isn't the Sabbath technically on Saturday if we go by our present day calendar?  Am I understanding this wrong?  The 7th day is the day of Sabbath, right?  When I look on my calendar that means Saturday.  Yeah, just another way the church has changed things.

My heart cries out to feel some change in our world, but I'm still in the changing ME stages, so I'm not even going to attempt to change anything else.

Hey, I did another weird thing today.  I made a dentist appt for our family.  That in itself isn't weird, but making an appt at a dentist that is over 2 hours away is a little odd when there's an abundance of them locally to choose from.  Just looking for someone who might listen to me and our concerns and this one looks like he might fit that bill.  A traditional dentist who eventually went the other way.  Turned his back on the myths of traditional dentistry.  I like him already.  I don't do anything "traditional", now do I?

I think the hardest part about realizing you're weird is knowing that my oldest child isn't going along with me.  She is at the stage in her life where she's making her own decisions.  The other children have no choice but to follow mom at this point.  At least they seem to like it.  I can see it's painful for her to watch me abandon all the things I once thought were "normal".  She doesn't agree with me on much of anything these days.  Not eating, health, spiritual matters, worldly matters.  If I like something, she hates it and vice versa.  It's hard for me as a mom.  This young woman that I adore and love isn't on the same path that I am and she thinks my path is really crazy.  I see her moving away from me a little more each day and I have to find a way to be ok with that.

That's a little of my weirdness today.

Time With God For Mothers by Jack Countryman

A mother is a busy person, but taking time for a devotional can be just the thing she needs to recharge for the day.  This is a gift book that is appropriate for mothers of any age.  The author Jack Countryman must have had an awesome mother or at least some beautiful women in his life to have written such a sweet devotional book although having never been a mother himself.

If you read one a day, this devotional book would last you about 3 months, but I was so engrossed, that I read it through in just a few days!  I doubt the messages of these very short devotionals will ever get old.  Some of the topics are The Joy in Jesus, Serving Others with Joy and Mother's Sacrifice, just to name a few.  Merely "snippets" as far as devotionals are concerned, they carry a powerful punch.  The author gets to the point and uses some powerful scripture to back up his messages.  The scripture is listed in New King James Version.

I especially enjoyed the extras at the back of the book such as, Mother's Prayers in the Bible, scripture relating to the responsibilities of motherhood and the space for note taking.  If you are tired of the same old devotionals, this might be the book for you.  I plan on using it daily in my own moments with Yahweh. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I'm weird, Part 2

The kidlets and I had a long talk about being weird and what that means.  They came up with a lot of the same things I said in my earlier blog post and Macie added one that I really enjoyed hearing her say.  She said we're weird because we dress modestly and wear skirts a lot. :)  Then when I was in the shower, Madilen came in and said oh mommy, I thought of something else we do.  We don't wear swimsuits that show off our bodies and that's weird.  :)  (The girls wear longer shorts and tshirt type shirts to swim in.  I think they're called "rash guards".  Well anyway, that got me to thinking about my conviction for us to wear skirts most of the time.  That happened almost 2 years ago!  I can't believe it's been so long!  At first I got rid of all the pants and capris!  UGH!  How I regretted that decision later on.  LOL  Sometimes it's just not practical or comfortable for me to be in a skirt!  Like gardening, that is one area that just doesn't work out well for me in a skirt.  OR sometimes it's just too blasted cold.  But the majority of the time we wear skirts.  I have since started purchasing jeans and capris for us to wear on occasion. :)  We're not some weird.......oh wait, yes, we are...well anyway, we're not crazy.  I don't know, whatever, doesn't matter.  The fact is, we like it.  I think it makes me feel more feminine and it certainly helps with men staring at your derrière in some tight pants.  LOL

One thing I've noticed quite a lot......I don't think it's a coincidence either, but men seem to hold the door open for me and seem more respectful when I'm in my skirts than when I'm in pants.  I had someone else tell me that happened to them when they started dressing that way too!  I wish I knew what that was all about.

I believe that dressing modestly, whether in pants or skirts is very important in this day and age.  Men are visual creatures and they can and will be tempted VERY easily.  If we cause them to have lustful thoughts, we are causing them to stumble.  I refuse to be a stumbling block to anyone, especially a man that is not my husband!!

NOTICE/WARNING/DISCLAIMER:  These opinions are MINE and MINE ALONE.  I am not implying anything, so please don't read anything into this.  I am not judging you because of what you choose to wear.  We all have to do what we feel led to do.  I am doing just that.

I'm weird and here's why

We have been attending a LifeChurch.tv network church that is local in our area.  The message series we've just started is called Weird, because normal isn't working.


That got me to thinking about "normal" and how I always say I want to get back to normal.  Things have been pretty much everything BUT normal in our household for a long time.  I don't really know that I even WANT anything that resembles normal anymore, because normal is worldly.  As a follower of Christ, I don't want to be worldly.  I've been there/done that and it simply doesn't work for me.


We raised our firstborn child pretty much in the "normal" way.  The 2nd child had a great deal of normal, I'd say maybe about half of his life give or take.  Children number 3 and especially 4 are living the weird lifestyle.


Let me just break down the weird things we do/believe.  This will be a condensed list and I can expand on them at a later time or if anyone is interested, I can expand sooner than later.


1. We don't celebrate or acknowledge Halloween in any way, shape or form.  We stopped celebrating this "holiday" in 2001. 
2.  We no longer celebrate Christmas or Easter as "Christian" holidays either.  Oh, yikes......YES, we ARE fully devoted believers in Jesus Christ and have been "saved" and walk with Him closely and fully.  We just don't believe these are truly "Christian" holidays.   
3. Oh speaking of, I don't call myself a Christian anymore.....I am a disciple and I follow Christ.  I can't call myself a Christian any longer based on what Christianity has become as a whole. I AM a deeply spiritual person who has a very real and personal relationship with her Abba Father, Yahweh. 
4. We home educate our children and lean toward the "unschooling" way of life.  What makes me ultra weird is that I no longer care what people's opinions are on that.  
5. We use essential oils and prayer instead of over the counter or prescription medications.  I believe in miracles and healing and have experienced them firsthand. 
6.  We allowed our firstborn to "date" but our other 3 WON'T be dating.  
7. We are going to encourage our daughters to remain at home until they are married or until GOD moves them from us.  We encourage our children to practice sexual purity. 
8.  We eat a great deal of organic foods and I cook from scratch every single day.  
9.  I believe the body of Christ isn't doing it's job.  
10. I believe that the man is the head of the household, the "covering" of his wife and that he is to be respected and honored and never publicly belittled.  


That's just 10 of the ways I think we're weird.  The message series I spoke of earlier challenges us to be weird in a GOD kind of way.  I have a lot of other weird ways about me and like I said, I'll expand on those another time.  I want to be set apart from the world.  I want others to see Christ in me and say wow, that's weird, but yet at the same time desire to know HIM a little more.  MANY of the things we do that are weird are because we believe Yahweh is leading us to be and do things differently. Unfortunately, I've encountered people who think that because I do things differently, that I will harshly judge them for not being like me.


I literally weep when I hear someone say that to me.  If only you knew how much love I have for others, you wouldn't even think that.  See, that's something about our world that I despise.....we automatically assume that others are judging us just because they are different.  Sometimes our fears are justified and they are indeed placing judgement.  We shouldn't automatically assume that though.


I'm weird.....I wanna be weird.  Yahweh, make me as weird as you want to make me.