~ Couponing for the Kingdom ~

As some of you may know,the Lord had pressed upon my mother's heart to get back in to couponing,but this time for Kingdom work.What we are planning to do is to purchase various goods,such as,toiletries,food and clothing for as little to no money by using coupons!

Some of you may have seen the new season of the fairly new television series,"Extreme Couponing" on TLC.Ever since my mom and I had started watching the series back during it's premier season,we immediately got hooked on it.About 3 weeks ago we finally made a decision to take couponing seriously, we're now gradually working our way up to reaching the types of purchases the couponers on the series have made.Although we are still far away from the types of savings they have achieved,we have already begun to get a few free and several really cheap items in our shopping trips.

The goal is to first create a stockpile for our household,meaning making sure we have plenty of toiletries and food for our family (personal use) and then expand to larger purchases and purchases at various stores that we may not usually go to in order to create another stockpile of food,toiletries and hopefully clothing,for giving out to church members,families in the community and to the homeless.

It is amazing how you can purchase four hundred dollars of groceries and only pay twenty dollars out of pocket after coupons and taking advantage of store sales! That's where we want to be!

Just today,I was purchased three packs of hotdog buns and one pack of hamburger buns along with a pack of red vines for forty cents at Target! The purchase was actually free because I gained back that forty cents through another purchase at CVS where I made an extra ninety-two cents on top of getting more items free!

I will keep updating periodically about our endeavor....

~ Debt = Sin ~

Did you know that being in debt is a sin?

Until recently I didn't know that being in financial debt is a sin.

It makes sense but I had never really equated debt and sin to be even used in the same sentence.I think because we have gotten use to the fact that most if not all people end up in some kind of debt at some point in their lives,whether it is a debt of five dollars or a hundred thousand dollars.

The way I understand it,God did not mean for us to ever lack anything therefore not lack the monetary needs to live and still have things or opportunities for us to enjoy and help others.This is why I believe that He did not give us quick easy access to "ridiculous" amounts of money,if we live in a world where we all have missed handled money that we have earned or inherited by some means,how can we be mindful over all the riches that God has for us?

I can only imagine if all the riches that God has laid up for us were all of a sudden released unto us in our current condition...I know most Christians want that wealth right now because of debt or wanting to take advantage of a opportunity that requires some monetary funds,but we really need to think about it a little further-what we need is gradual increase-not sudden wealth.Some of us may already be good with budgeting and saving money and tithing,but we are still human and are still susceptible to becoming overwhelmed or overly excited and start spending more than we initially intended to.A perfect example of this happening are all those lottery winners who go from having millions (in installments) to being back in debt and or homeless.

God does not want us to end up like those lottery winners-to much wealth given all at once to an unprepared person.This does not mean that we won't reach this wealth,it's just increase over time.You can't expect increase if you can't handle what you currently have...

~ Submissive ~

For a very long time the word "submissive" was like a four letter word to me.I hated that word,it always created an image of a woman in a peasant dress with children running around the house and her husband sitting in a laz-e boy recliner watching television while she cooks dinner and irons his underwear...

However that's not what I believe God means by being submissive.In terms of being submissive to your husband,isn't to wait on him on your hands and knees and just be a mindless,thoughtless slave like I had always imagined.Of course it as a wife you are to maintain the household and care for your husband,but it shouldn't be a slave and slave master relationship.Both parties are to carry out their duties in the relationship.

In today's society those traditional roles aren't the same as they use to be back a few decades ago.More women are in the work field as well as their spouses and in a lot of cases the husbands are at home because of being laid off.When I first heard of  "house husbands",I instantly thought if the rules still apply,for instance if the wife is the one working long hours and the husband is home,is he not responsible for watching over the children,cooking and cleaning within reason? Or does the wife have to come home after work and be expected to head to the kitchen to make dinner for everyone and get to cleaning the house? 

From a personal perspective I feel that who ever is home is responsible for looking after it-like cooking whenever possible and straightening the house.

Does God still expect those same gender roles in this kind of situation?

Understandably,I believe regardless of who's working,they still have to contribute to household duties like trash being taken out and switching off cooking or picking up dinner for the family or just doing the dishes...

What do you think?

~ "Experimenting" ~

"Have you ever experimented??"

Is a common question amongst most people.It has officially become socially acceptable to "experiment"-whether it be sexual encounters with the same sex,other sexual acts or with drugs including alcohol.If you haven't lived under a rock the past eight or so years,you're familiar with all those jokes or little conversations amongst peers or in television shows or movies about how so and so had a sexual encounter with a same sex roommate or friend in college...Unfortunately,MANY people think it's okay to "experiment" with things of this matter because they are "young" and have plenty of time to "get it together" when they are in the "real world"...

Then there are those who are already in the "real world" and yet feel like it's cool or satisfying to "experiment" yet once more or for the first time..just to satisfy that urge or curiosity to do something.

Do you really think it's okay to "experiment"?

I think what people forget in the moment is that EVERYTHING we do will be attached to us FOREVER.God knows and sees every single thing we do...even all things that goes on in Vegas...What ever is done behind closed doors-in darkness, will be brought to light.

We can not hide ANYTHING from God! I can't imagine all the people who have "experimented" with various drugs and so on will be when they realize that they weren't successful in keeping that secret from all or certain people.

Of course this is not to say that anyone who comes to Christ won't be cleared; when those things are repented for and forgiven,you don't need to worry about the past anymore and instead focus on the future of not repeating or going near what ever enticed them in the first place.

It's really important to advocate not getting into those things in the first place so not to worry about having to repent and or deal with the consequences of those decisions.An "experiment" can forever change who you are or how you live your life forever if not caught early enough or not addressed to the degree it needs to be....

~ " I'm spiritual,not religious " ~

Have you ever heard someone say that they are "spiritual,not religious"?

I feel like my generation has milked that phrase to the very last drop.When ever I hear that being used whenever their asked about religion or their religious beliefs,I feel like it's used as an escape route in order to not address what really needs to be addressed.

Usually the type of people who say that they are just "spiritual" are typically the ones who are lost and don't know whether they believe or disbelieve in a god or the ones that like to float around in different religions and practices.

Although we are not to be religious or caught up in the idea of  religion,but I still find that saying you're spiritual is not enough to say that you're saved and follow Jesus Christ-You would be Christian,not just spiritual.I find that saying you are just "spiritual" makes it easier for people to either accept you or not prejudge you with the stereotypical characteristics of a Christian that people may have.

Too many celebrities have used this phrase and in turn made it popular amongst the younger generations.They perpetuate the confusion and the idea of being okay with drifting and experimenting with other religions,mainly Buddhism and Kabbala.

Be proud to be a Christian and don't think that just because someone else says that they are "spiritual" that they are saved...

~Obedience? Sacrifice?

o·be·di·ence

 [oh-bee-dee-uhns]

noun

1.the state or quality of being obedient.

2.the act or practice of obeying; dutiful or submissive compliance: Military service demands obedience from its members.

3.a sphere of authority or jurisdiction, especially ecclesiastical.

4.Chiefly Ecclesiastical .

a.conformity to a monastic rule or the authority of a religious superior, especially on the part of one who has vowed such conformance.

b.the rule or authority that exacts such conformance.

This past Wednesday in bible study,we discussed the topic of obedience based on our lesson in "Seeking Him" The first question that was asked in this lesson was what do we automatically think of when we think of the word "obedience". Most of our group said it only brought up positive things,except for myself.

I was kind of shocked that it only brought up positive responses from everybody...I also think it has a lot to do with the generation gap between myself and the other members.

My first automatic reaction to the word "obedience" is negative and brings up the thought of having to follow someone's rules regardless of what you think and or feel about anything. Usually the thought of obedience,at least with my generation conjures up ideas of having to be like a puppet and living life with out an identity or more commonly a dog (who has no voice) who has to be obedient.Usually the word "submit" or to be '"submissive" is linked to "obedience"-we ALL know that being submissive is was not at first appealing...Same goes for obedience.

Everyone has to understand that we don't all have the same reaction to certain words or ideas-it's VERY subjective.

sacrifice

sac·ri·fice

 [sak-ruh-fahys]  noun, verb, -ficed, -fic·ing.

noun

1.the offering of animal, plant, or human life or of some material possession to a deity, as in propitiation or homage.

2.the person, animal, or thing so offered.

3.the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.

4.the thing so surrendered or devoted.

5.a loss incurred in selling something below its value.

EXPAND

verb (used with object)

7.to make a sacrifice or offering of.

8.to surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the sake of something else.

9.to dispose of (goods, property, etc.) regardless of profit.

10.Baseball . to cause the advance of (a base runner) by a sacrifice.

One phrase that kept coming up during bible study was "better obedience than sacrifice"...

To be honest,being obedient means you have to sacrifice doing,thinking and saying certain things in order to be obedient...I feel that that phrase isn't a proper one to use today...Once again it is subjective-I do believe that most teens and and those in their early twenties would see giving up a favorite hobby in order to read the bible as a type of sacrifice...Although it should not be one,it still is when you have let yourself become attached to something outside of God.

I understand that obedience is important in order to show God how much love Him and be open for more blessings to pour in...I believe in order to express that idea to others who don't have the same "peachy keen" idea of obedience,we have to understand that everyone has their own unique reaction to certain words and ideas.Even those that agree on a idea don't have the exact same INSTANT reaction....

~ReGifting The Gift Of Grace-UPDATE!

This morning I was watching "The View" and happened to come upon an interview with a African-American mother whose only son was shot and murdered by another young man several years ago and the man who shot him.

This segment of the show really portrayed what grace on earth is.This mother explained how over a period of time she found a poem about two angels who are mothers,in heaven;the gist of the poem was how these two mothers shared about their sons-one mother said she "wished she could have taken her son's place on the cross" and the other fell to her knees in respect and the other mother asked what happened to her son and the women on her knees said "my son is Judas..." and then poem ends there. 

The mother who lost her son several years back,said that what she received from the poem she read was that mothers who's children have been murdered and the mothers and children of those who murdered should come HEAL together.Although reluctant,she obeyed and went to visit her son's murderer in jail to forgive him.She said that naturally when she first forgave him it was just "lip service" because she didn't feel that way,but she knew she had to CHOOSE to forgive him of his actions in order to heal herself and the murderer.

When the murderer was released from prison,the mother and her friends put together a "welcome home" party as well as getting him a apartment right next door to her place.He expressed how grateful and shocked he was when this women who's son he killed was taking the time to nurture him and "adopt" him as her second son.Now they have a strong mother-son relationship and she thanks God for having His hands on the whole situation.She continues to call the man her "spiritual son" and wears a necklace with a picture of her and her son on the front and the picture of the man on the back because they are now family...

Think about it.Could you take in and nurture your son's murderer the way this mother did??

-Lauren

~Opinions-Everyone has one

A while ago I thought about all the different types of teachings all with in the Christian church.Once in a while this thought pops in to my head...It makes it even more obvious as to why many people can't choose a religion let alone choosing to be a Christian.

It makes it difficult for others to know what specific teaching they should follow.Of course we can say only go to churches that follow scripture..but that isn't helpful because there those who follow scripture to the "T",meaning they take every single word literally and try to live in the exact same manner as those who lived in biblical times,which is layered with laws that every member has to follow.Then there are other churches that twist scripture to fit their lifestyles,such as churches that are head by "out" homosexuals...yes,there are and have been closeted homosexual pastors out there that are married and speak out against homosexuality,but even that it is not right.

There are churches,like Spoken Word,that does not believe in rigid tradition and is word based and operates in the gifts of the spirit.

It's up to each person to choose where they want to go.But it is necessary to let the holy Spirit tell you where you need to be,if for a season or permanently.It's harder for those who don't even believe in the infilling of the Holy Spirit....

-Lauren

~Sacre Tactics!~

I felt the need to talk about how much the amount of health scares and terror threats have increased in the past few years.

This morning there was a heated discussion between Dr.Oz and the some journalist regarding the levels of arsenic in apple juice due to the fact that we get most of our apples from China.BUT later to hear Dr.Oz say that there aren't high levels of arsenic in the juice and can't kill you-it's just about long term use of the juice of decades...Really?? 

It's frustrating that we live a world that always wants something fear or want to scare others.Ever since I can remember there has been numerous food warnings on everyday common foods,like when there has been several spinach e coli detections and tainted beef.Yes,we should take every per caution necessary,but we can not live our lives avoiding several different foods because the news keeps scaring us about it...Have you noticed that they never announce when or how the "issue" was resolved?? Instead it just fades away and people either go back to eating it and living normally or others completely ban it from their homes.

Another scare tactic that has been in effect since September 11,2001, has been the threat of another terrorist attack...The president alone receives hundreds of thousands of death threats,regardless of whose in office,yet we don't hear about any new threat towards him.With this terror alert system it allows the media and others manipulate how people feel about certain situations,locations,cultures and patriotism. I noticed whenever a terror alert is issued,most people avoid flying and glue themselves to all the news channels or talking about it to other people,only to distract from more important things like....getting saved,evangelising,ending hunger in our country and so on....

Don't get consumed in in these fear tactics...use wisdom to discern what is real and what is just a ploy to get you off track and in fear.

-Lauren

~Spoken Word Church Retreat

As some of you may know, the Spoken Word Church is gearing up for our first retreat to Prayer & Fasting Mountain in Scotts Valley,California.This will be my first time going to anything like this.The retreat to the mountain is suppose to be a time to pray and fast (hence the name) to seek God and be revived.We are planning to have time for praise with music,corporate prayer and time for personal prayer on our own while we explore the beautiful grounds.The pictures of the location looks very peaceful and safe.The mountain is a 24/hr prayer and fasting destination and is covered with prayer on a regular basis. 

I'm interested to see how we all are after we come back from this mountain.We leave and begin our fast tomorrow evening and stay until Saturday evening.Right now,I'm anxious to actually see the mountain area and the cabins we will be staying in...hopefully there aren't any cliff sides-I have always had a problem with heights....

I will write about my experience sometime after the retreat.

Up until now,I've only fasted a couple times for no longer than about two days.I hope this time even though it's only a 24 hour fast,that I get to experience more clarity than in the past...

-Lauren

~Fine Lines~

How do we know that we have crossed the line from being aware to being involved in something? We are IN the world but not OF the world...The way I understand it,we still need to be aware of what's going on around us and not be ignorant to what is going on in the world...but when does it go from being informed to being involved? In other words,how can you stay informed about a situation,such as the evolution of song lyrics that are in mainstream pop music,that has changed the way young people think, without having listened to it or read the lyrics? And from that,we are told that we have to watch our ear-gate and eye-gate and that everything leaves a seed....

There are many different cases that can be brought up in relation to the initial question,but this has just recently (as of a few hours ago) come to my mind.I understand that the Holy Spirit would convict us if we did,said or thought something inappropriate-would that same "feeling" trigger in us if we had good intentions and were really trying to just stay informed and learn how to help people by knowing where they are coming from....I wonder how other Christians feel about this situation,because even when something is stated in scripture people can usually always manipulate it to make it seem one way rather than what it really is.

to be continued.......................

-Lauren

~What Turns People Off About Church pt.2

Christian celebrities are always put under the spot light whenever the public anticipates a "mess up" brewing...Most of the time I have noticed that they would use the most "unattractive" celebrity,based on the media's standard of beauty,to be the "spokesperson" for Christians.The media makes Christianity appear unappealing. Or they manipulate seemingly "ditzy" Christian females to make everything seem airy and insignificant.These were the types of things I saw as a non Christian.

Most non Christians either have been or feel shunned by the church because they don't fit in the mold of what they have been told/witnessed how a "Christian" should be.The goth girl in middle school is not going to feel accepted by the church when she is already an outcast to her peers and don't look like the kind of girls that go to church.Instead she will lean towards what feels familiar and makes her feel like she is apart of a unit that accepts her and looks like her...The nerd in high school is not going to seek the church because he has been "enlightened" through text books that make him feel more knowledgeable about the world and society in general.Why not dig deeper into knowledge about things rather than dealing with the fact that they don't exactly "fit" in society, let alone anything else?......We have to approach these kind of situations with sensitivity and understand that these people aren't weaklings,these are people who are just simply lost and have been misguided due to past issues....

to be continued......

~What's REALity?

We live in a world that functions of off what the media feeds them.Every television channel airs some sort of reality show-whether it's raunchy or informing.We assume that reality shows only count ridiculous shows on Mtv or Bravo like "Jersey Shore" or "Real Housewives",but shows like "Vanguard" on the Current channel and "Big Brother" are also reality television shows.We can't go around and say "I don't like reality tv.People shouldn't be watching reality tv." When we can't wait to get home to watch "American Idol"...

Recently, you may have heard about the controversy surrounding Taylor from the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" whose husband, Russel Armstrong has recently committed suicide.Now people who loved the television series are outraged by the fact that the television series "could" have been a major contributor to reason why Russel committed suicide.Now all of a sudden former fans of the show feel like what the television network has done since the beginning of the series was wrong....yet they still watched and encouraged the continuation of filming since the beginning by increasing the ratings...

All the headlines in the news and so forth have been clouding the minds of the people,both Christian and non Christian.We get absorbed in these issues so we can't see Satan's trap to get us preoccupied with others' lives,judging them and loosing touch with reality. This suicide could have been prevented-not by the television show network-they were just as helpless as Russel.Clearly, Russel as well as his wife Taylor have opened many "doors" for demons to come in and make themselves comfortable...This is what had to be addressed first...it's not as complicated as the media makes it seem.Psychologist are commenting,after the fact, that they saw the "signs" earlier on in the show before his death....yet they didn't take action based on what knowledge they had...Maybe because it's always more interesting to watch someone else spiral into a deep deep depression rather than focusing on what "doors" we have opened....If any of the people on or near the people on the show were Christians,they would've/should've intervened...

To Be Continued..............................

~BANNED

   I don't know if many of you are aware of some of the new changes in the way live in relation to this new "NO CHILDREN" restriction that some restaurants have in place.I first became aware of this topic a few months ago in a comedic late night talk show.This time the topic of restaurants banning children has come up in the media again via Dr.Phil...It's interesting how heated this issue has become and how the media keeps fanning the fire and furthering the disconnect between families and various businesses.Most of the owners of these various restaurants and even airline attendants have been individuals whom do not have children and or do not have any tolerance for children.

It has come to a point were people have become "bold" and are kicking parents off flights, out of libraries and even out of restaurants in order for certain people to "feel" better about the noise level.

Having children is a blessing,many married couples can not even conceive children.Since when is it okay to "hate" children and be disrespectful to others,but expect respect and accommodations be made for them.

This instead would instead give us the opportunity to exercise patience.

We forget that we are in fact children ourselves...the Lord our God is our heavenly father whom we acting unruly towards,ask ignorant questions repeatedly,nag,cry,shout and throw tantrums when things don't come out the way we want it to or in the manner we expected...........

............................should we be banned from entering the gates of heaven?...........

~ReGifting The Gift Of Grace

After working on our bible study lesson from our "Seeking Him" book, I gained ALOT of insight on what grace really is.

No matter how I look at it,grace is one of the only things that is hardest to give to others as humans.Grace,according to "Seeking Him"(paraphrasing here) is like a father adopting his son's murderer and showing love and mercy in attempt to create a change in the person...Now THAT is grace!

I honestly can't say that I could do the same as of today.It's interesting how we can so easily accept grace,but struggle to give it back to others around us.When ever grace is given an opportunity to be used, we usually choose revenge or justice...In both scenarios we personally receive a certain gratification,but we don't necessarily get what we want.

With 'revenge' we personally commit an act of will to inflict the same amount of pain/frustration on somebody in hopes that they 'suffer' as much as we felt.With revenge,we just perpetuate a cycle of pain and suffering and never feeling satisfied.

'Justice'....this is what society is "all about". Our world loves to see the "bad guys" get what's coming to them by the way of the law...We want to right the wrong,but not in a ruthless way as 'revenge'.

What I have noticed is anything that's hard to do that's positive-is worth ALOT and will make you a better person and influence others....

to be continued.......................

-Lauren

~What Turns People Off About Church~ pt.1

I always hear Christians talk about how they want to reach the youth and everyone else,but they don't seem to realize that it wouldn't take much to reach them if they would just stop placing pressure on people.Their intentions are usually good,but they can not approach someone my age (22 years old) and immediately start talking to them about scripture or Jesus in general.Because we (my generation) have grown up with computers and social networking, we have been exposed to soo many ideas,ways of thinking and other religions,all with out having to travel very far.We tend to have a more "know it all" mentality which shields us from the truth.All it takes is for Christians to just talk to them like "normal" as if you were talking to a girlfriend or guy friend.In other words,don't make it complicated.

Another turn off is how they are approached.We have seen so many people who claim to be Christian going out and protesting outside gay weddings-parades,outside abortion clinics and at military funerals.Christians have to understand that they aren't going to win souls for Christ that way instead they are pushing them even further away...

I was originally turned off from the church because it seemed like I would have to change myself into something I wouldn't be happy with,that I would have to follow rules that would limit me from being able to "live life". Of course it didn't help that at one point it seemed that every other week a new preacher-televangelist was coming "out of the closet" or admitting to having an affair with another woman and so on.These are the images that MOST non Christians have,therefore we have to show them that it isn't that way and that of course people make mistakes,but it doesn't mean that we aren't "good" Christians.

Approach non Christians with LOVE and KINDNESS because those are the biggest factors that are missing in my generation.There are WAY to many people out there that don't know what it means to be loved and how to tell if you are looking in the right places.It also takes patience...you can't assume that every non Christian are going to immediately give their life to God just because you shared some scripture with them and/or told them what they are doing is wrong...Instead you just have to make yourself available to them,allow them to ask questions, and most importantly make sure to tell them that Jesus loves them and is long suffering...

-Lauren

~Society Lowering Standards~ Part 2

There are some exceptions to rules changing in society,such as segregation.But this is not enough to use as a excuse that there isn't anything wrong with legalizing marijuana,gay marriage,prostitution,as well as making it acceptable to show explicit content on television and making it "cool" to be sexually active outside of marriage.

I could go and on about the way this country,let alone the world,has changed it's standards....

I have noticed that all these major changes have been slowly introduced little by little as to not throw people off and create a disturbance.I have to admit,Satan is very cunning-making it easy for you to just go with the flow while wearing blinders.Instead of paying attention to what is really going on all around us, we get caught up in attractive traps, like moths to a flame.Non of us are exempt from being lured into those traps.It takes some training to be able to automatically identify a trap and avoid it.

Because we like to do what ever makes us feel good,Satan will capitalize on it and make certain objects,shows,types of people,activities and ways of thinking makes us feel good on the outside,but leads us further into darkness until we can not differentiate what's right or wrong.

-Lauren

~Side Effects of Divorce~ pt.2

In an effort to avoid "traumatizing" the children,parents need to sit their children down individually in private and explain to them the reason why they are getting a divorce,with out getting into to much detail and with out "bashing" the other spouse.When parents don't explain the divorce or are very vague about the reasons it allows the children to make up their own conclusions as to why this is all happening...which is usually based on any events leading up to the divorce and/or how both spouses act during the course of the proceedings.

Even when parents think they are protecting their children from the ugliness of whatever is going on,they're really not,instead they are harming them by making them think it's okay to live in dysfunction in any form or that it's okay to keep secrets and hide their true feelings or situation from others.All of this just causes confusion overall.I believe that parents don't want their children to exposed to anything negative so they feel that it's best to keep marital issues completely private.The intentions are good on the parent's behalf,but it's not necessarily benefiting the children involved.

_______________

A common issue in most all divorces,is both parties bad mouthing the other behind each others back-to the children or around the children.In some cases it's just one party that's doing the "talking".....

more to come.........

-Lauren