Science Experiment #4

Which came first? the chicken or the egg? Oh wait, that's a different experiment! :) So, our scientist set out to see what it takes to make an egg float.

Hypothesis (to be proved) first.

Scientific tools (cup, egg, salt, water).

Measuring and stirring salt into cup.

It didn't float. :(

Four tries later (and much more added salt) our egg floats
and our scientist is happy! :)

This experiment made me think of Israel, the Holy Land, home to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is so salty, a person can actually float in it without trying, just like this egg. Isn't God so cool in what He has imagined for our pleasure on earth? A mighty, mighty God we serve!

We're Here ... and a Giggle!

Yes folks! We are back in the great state of Texas! Praise Jesus! We are anticipating great things in this season, in this promised land. We are thrilled to pieces to be closer to our friends and family, to be sure. There are many things we have been waiting on the Lord for and we are anticipating with great excitement how He will roll out, and work out, those things on our behalf. Looking forward to sharing those God stories. Now, back to your regularly scheduled blogging! :)

P.S. The above photo is true, and hilarious! The most important thing parents can do for their kiddo's is love one another ... out loud and in public. Speaking of, love my Mighty Man of God to pieces and so proud of him. Carry on.

Never, Never Forget ...

I almost let yesterday slip by without remembering. Almost. God reminded me, however, and I'm so thankful He did. Yesterday marked 5 years that God worked His miraculous in our life. He reached down and rescued our family and without Him it never would have happened. Of that I am convinced. Without Him ... well, I won't even entertain that idea. Satan would have me forget that miraculous. He would have me believe differently. But, I know. We know. Our God, He is HUGE! And, He still does the miraculous EVERY DAY! And, so thank You, God, for Your literal miracle in our life, our family, our marriage, in our every day still today. Thank You for You unending love and faithfulness. I will shout it from the roof tops and I will choose to remember it!

She's A Dancing Machine!

When your 2.75 year-old wants to dance, you dance! And, sister dances. And, "Grandie" dances. And, Paw-Paw dances. And, it doesn't matter if the whole RV shakes and there isn't much room. You dance! And, there is much giggling and joy!

Baby Curls ...

Bible in 90 Days: Redeeming Love

There is a truth that unbelievers and probably believers, too, don’t want to grasp and that is that God is a loving, redeeming God … no matter how “bad” you are, no matter what “bad” things you’ve done, no matter your past, no matter what anyone else on this earth has said or thought about you. No matter what. You cannot out-bad God’s love.

There are many who would use the story of Saul, whose name was changed to Paul later, as an example of this crazy redemption. And, people, it is a great example. You can find it in the New Testament. However, I discovered another one as we read through the Kings and Chronicles. And, his name is Manasseh, King of Judah.

The story of Manasseh is found in 2 Kings 21:1-18 and 2 Chronicles 33:1-20 . 

I would like to say, Manasseh was beyond what I would call an unsavory character. He was someone you would not want to meet anywhere, much less in a dark alley. Seriously, this fellow put the “b” in bad and even the “w” in worse! He worshipped everything but God and even went so far as to sacrifice “his own son on the fire, practice sorcery and divination and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking him to anger.” 2 Kings 21:5. During Manasseh’s rule, he and the people did not listen to God and Manasseh led the people "astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.” 2 Kings 21:9 and 2 Chron. 33:9b. You know the things, all those evil things God spoke against in Leviticus, and then some. Oh.my.disgusting! To put it mildly. And, to make matters worse, “Moreover, Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end – besides the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the Lord.” 2 Kings 21:18. I won't even go there.

The Lord even sent prophets to speak to the people and Manasseh “but they paid no attention.” 2 Chron. 33:10b. Heart. Breaking. So, the Lord sent an army against them and hauled them all off. Manasseh was taken prisoner. The Assyrians “put a hook in his nose, bound him with shackles and took him to Babylon.” 2 Chron. 33:11b.

And here is what I love …

"12. In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 13. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. THEN MANASSEH KNEW THAT THE LORD IS GOD."

Redeeming love.

The rest of the story of Manasseh’s life can be read in 2 Chronicles 33:14-20. The short version is he got rid of all the foreign gods (idols) and foreign altars he had built and rebuilt the outer wall of Jerusalem.

He humbled himself and God had mercy and Manasseh lived the rest of his life a changed man who followed God.

And, guess what? That amazing, grace-filled, completely undeserved redeeming love is available to all who are willing to receive it and give their life over to Christ. Isn’t He just amazing!!

Talk About Him DAILY

Yes, this is a picture of rocks. I took this picture because it reminded me of a project I undertook, long abandoned. I had decided I was going to write things God had done for us on rocks and keep them in a jar(s) as visual reminders of God's goodness. Just FYI, that was at least 7 years ago and I would have a "rock garden" in my backyard by now if I had continued. Actually, and more accurately, we live about 6 blocks from the beach and if I could write on sand crystals, I'd have a beachfront property. Such are the blessings of the Lord. Really. I'm thinking you would, too, if we all just stopped to look and count.

We read through Deuteronomy a bit ago in our 90 Day journey and then I saw these rocks and it reminded me of this ...

4. Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7.Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.             Deut. 6:4-9

Think how life-changing that is! I rehearse. In fact, we wrote a thousand gifts on this blog, but I do know that I don't do this every.every.every.day. Oh the blessings and oh the joy and oh the peace that comes from this command and the command to be thankful in everything. Wouldn't all our lives just shine Jesus ALL.THE.TIME if we were doing this? Wouldn't this change everything? Imagine the fruit for the Kingdom is we were rehearsing His commands and promises and gifts as a family every day! Wow! I know people whose lives do. I am planning to be one of them more consistently, with God's help. How about you?