I needed this today

The Lord's Free Men

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14)

Sin will reign if it can: it cannot be satisfied with any place below the throne of the heart. We sometimes fear that it will conquer us, and then we cry unto the Lord, "Let not any iniquity have dominion over me. This is His comforting answer: "Sin shall not have dominion over you. " It may assail you and even wound you, but it shall never establish sovereignty over you.

If we were under the law, our sin would gather strength and hold us under its power; for it is the punishment of sin that a man comes under the power of sin. As we are under the covenant of grace, we are secured against departing from the living God by the sure declaration of the covenant. Grace is promised to us by which we are restored from our wanderings, cleansed from our impurities, and set free from the chains of habit.

We must lie down in despair and be "content to serve the Egyptians" if we were still as slaves working for eternal life; but since we are the Lord's free men, we take courage to fight with our corruptions and temptations, being assured that sin shall never bring us under its sway again. God Himself giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen

CH Spurgeon

Devotions, Tonight sermon

Listened to a good sermon tonight on Devotions



Psalm 19

Verse 7

The law of the Lord coverts the soul

Testimony of the Lord makes wise the simple

verse 8

statues of the Lord, Rejoices the Heart

commandment of the Lord enlightens the eyes

Verse 9

The fear of the Lord endures forever

The Psalm is a cause and effect. I see it now, but never thought of it that way before. It blessed my soul and encourage me. Knowing that the more I am in His Word, the cleaner I will become.

As a person that grew in filth in squawler, that has embraced the thoughts, deeds, actions of the world. How dirty I have become. The soap and water of God's Word, can not just get me clean, but keep me clean. Clean to the point of Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Becomes possible for me.

It cleans me from my past, and keeps me clean in the present, and gives me hope for the future. God's Word, It is like milk. It does a body, mind and soul good.

The questions was posed in tonights sermon

1. Why Don't you read your Bible everyday?

2. Why Don't you have family time?

3. Why doesn't your kids read their Bible everyday?

Good points. Pastor Whitecar made an awesome analogy, we teach or children to brush their teeth, to prevent decay, why not teach our children to read their Bible to prevent decay?

It's Up Again, ugh Arthritis maybe

My CRP is up, 12.5 to think of. No wonder I feel like someone has beat me with a baseball bat, inflammation running rapid throughout my body. The treatment, shots. That is what, shots. I get to give myself weekly shots, to try to rid myself of pain. It isn't the pain I am worried about. It is the early heart disease and death associated with elevated CRP. I am 38 and I fell so old. Oh and Yippee the treatment, the weekly shot. A whopping $1500 a month.

Sad thing is, the doctor told me she doesn't know for sure if this is even arthritis. She doesn't know what it is, signs and symptoms point to arthritis, but well my RA factor is negative, there are false negatives, the test is only so accurate.

I am old, I ache, I am in pain, and I am old at 38. This is my wake call up the I too am dispensable

Life without down syndrome

I was at a doctor's office recently and I was reading a family magazine. I am unsure of the name but an artticle caught my attention. It was about Down syndrome. It stated that there has been a drastic decrease of it, and that one day it can be just a fleeting disorder. I read a horrific statistic. That 90 percent of people that know that they are pregnant with a Downs baby, choose to abort that baby. Ninety percent! WOW!

As a Pediatric Registered Nurse, I have taken care of several downs babies. They are sweetest most loving children. Parents say they love them just the way they are. I think of Lindsey, she is 18 years old and goes to my church. She is a riot. She is pretty mute, but can say a few words, one being "Chubby" the nickname she gave my 14 year old daughter. I helped Lindsey run a 5K this year. we came in dead last, I let her beat me. Her father was trying to get her to take a short cut. She refused. She knew the course. She wanted to run the whole thing. So we did, with her run being more like a slow walk, we ran it in 56 minutes. Her mother died of cancer this year. She was such an encouragement through her mother's illness, She was her mothers pride and joy, her strength. Lindsey got saved a few years back and baptized. Her parents were unsure, but Lindsey through her very limited communication skills kept pressing her parents. Asking and crying during the baptismal service that she needs to be obedient, that she too has trusted Christ and she wants to show the church and be baptisized.

Life without Lindsey, I couldn't imagine. That is what many, many downs families say about their Lindsey, That they wouldn't change their baby for the world.

Life isn't always easy for "normal" people, that doesn't mean we should genetically decide who to live, and who shouldn't.

Healthcare, Welfare and the Independent Fundamental Baptist

Healthcare is a hot topic for debate. Christians are horrified about the thought of government taking over the system. Lack of government control is our motto, our heritage our foundation that made America and made us great. I agree with that. However, when irresponsible citizens don't take care of their responsibilities then the government has this nasty tendency to step in and take charge. It started as relief mainly in the 1930's during the great depression, but has now spiraled down hill to any sad situation.

Universal healthcare is good, is it bad, is it needed? Yes, No, Maybe.

The hardest hit isn't the poor. It isn't the under privilege. It isn't the pregnant teenager, the old widow that only work was that of a faithful house wife. It isn't the military veteran that hit rock the bottom from the effects of post traumatic stress disorder. The hardest hit is our middle income workers. It's the self employed. The "Oh my family will never get sick" people. It's the Christians that have "Faith" God will take care of them crowd.

1Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Many of us old time Bible Thumping Independent Fundamental Baptist would wave a hanky and yelp a hearty Amen to that. We care for our own. If we don't we are a scum bag, slimy bum. We don't accept no welfare. We want no government involvement, we want no government hand outs. We will work to care for our own, right. Right? Is that how it is? How about healthcare? Oh are family is well cared for. They have the nice clothes, the name brand shoes, the fancy home that could be picture perfect from a Midwest Living Magazine. The cars we drive are nice. We go out to eat once a week, or maybe once a month. And of course, the most important, our tithe is in the offering plate every Sunday morning.

We are such good Christians and our family is well cared for. That is until Jenny, sweet little Jenny she gets that belly ache, starts a fever, vomiting. Eyes filled with tears, and can barely walk, doubled over in pain. What to do. she gets weaker, the pain is great, and then then that unexpected Emergency Room visit is needed. First they do the IV, they draw some labs, the urine test came back fine, the CBC elevated, they the CT Scan is ordered. Jenny is showing a sign of relief with some morphine on board and liter of fluids in. It still hurts when she tries to readjust herself. The pain is more bareable now. The results come in the emergency appendectomy is scheduled. Little Jenny must face surgery then a hospital stay. But there is no insurance, who pays? Do we let Jenny die, or do the surgery? Well I tithe, I am a good Christian, I have faith God will take care of us.

Jenny is better she is out playing jumping and skipping rope. The bill comes it $5647. The surgeon bill comes in $546. The astheiologist bill arrives $323. The ER doctor bill arrives $234. Oh my well how will I pay for this? So you say a prayer, ask for God's help, then you go to the hospital and talk with the finance office. You explain you have no insurance, you make so much money, bring in check stubs, you ask for assistance. You don't tell them how much your house is worth, the type of cars you drive, or about the nice vacation you took six months prior. They don't look in your wardrobe, your freezer or even meet you for dinner. But you want assistance. Maybe a sliding scale according to your income, or just a complete forgiveness of your debt. You want time to pay, preferably without interest, knowing when times get tight, this will be the last billed paid. You explain that due to religious convictions you refuse to sign up for public aid. After all Phillipians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

So what is the problem? Isn't this what every good Christian does? I am caring for my family. I am not an infidel? Does your employer offer healthcare? Are you self employed? How is your family insured? Are you independently wealthy and can pay without any difficulty? Do you budget health care in your finances? Health care spending accountants are an awesome way to care for your family. Do you have anything like that? Do you live in a nice house, drive a decent car? Do you realize that not caring for your family and that includes healthcare is just as bad as not tithing in God's eyes?

The problem that our country is experiencing in Healthcare is the middle income families that opt out of healthcare coverage instead of paying premiums to be insured. There is no such thing as free healthcare, no such thing. It isn't free, it has to be paid for by someone. As a nurse I am thankful for that. I didn't go into nursing for my love and compassion of people. I became a nurse solely for the financial benefit of it. I worked my butt to gain that and sacrifice as well. I wasn't born with a silver spoon with advantages. I was born with a rusted spork told how to use it. So why should I have to pay for someone else not doing the same?

Well my employer doesn't pay for healthcare, or I am self employed. No excuse. McDonalds pays for insurance, get a job somewhere that will. "But it pays well" then buy your own insurance, or at least have a health care spending account. I am self employed, either insure your self, or work for someone that will insure you. They are excuses, nothing more, nothing less.

When you refuse public aid, but ask for financial assistance you are still getting welfare. Oh Maybe not government run, but it is still welfare. Your lack of paying, is what is increasing my insurance premiums. You are taking my money without my permission, just like the public aid assistance increases our tax rates. It is just another tax one you don't have to pay, but I do. This why hospital bills are so inflated.

Now the argument can be made that it isn't fair. I am not being rationale because I have never been there, I have good insurance so I don't understand.

HMM a few years ago I finished paying off a $10,000 hospital bill because of lack of insurance. The lack wasn't really on purpose, we were supposed to have Cobra Coverage but it wasn't explained and completed correctly. I ended up not only paid for Samantha's birth, but 7 weeks later, her septic work up, from a seizure status post a breath holding spell that made her stop breathing due to an immature of CNS that didn't stimulate her to breath, caused her to turn blue and limp, and pretty much dead in my arms. Praise God I just renewed my CPR and it was fresh in my mind. Been there done that I understand.

See you have Faith, you trust in God to care for you. The problem is, you really don't have faith, God has taken care of you. You just refused what He offered that was healthcare coverage.

With Love and Honor

George Lawrence "Larry" McNabb, 76, of Terre Haute died at 10:30 p.m. Wed. Sept. 16, 2009 at home. He was born June 16, 1933 in Terre Haute to Patrick W. McNabb and Dortha M. Truttier McNabb.He is survived by wife, Shirley A. Shores McNabb whom he married Oct. 28, 1978; sons, Michael A. McNabb and wife, Debbie of Terre Haute, R. Bradley McNabb and wife Cathy of Porter, Ind., R. Steven Hensley and John L. Hensley; daughters, Patty McClain and husband Michael, Michele Ramey and husband Randy; grandchildren, Lee Ann McNabb, Rachel and Samantha McNabb, Brandy Flowers, Shawn McClain and wife Debi, Melissa Jeffers husband Scott, Ryan McClain, Troy Ramey and wife Angie, Ryan and Eric Bennett all of Terre Haute, Lori Ploessl and husband Craig of San Antonio, Texas; 10 great-grandchildren; brothers, Patrick W. McNabb and wife Mary Ellen, John McNabb and wife Sandy; sister, Sally Johnson.He was preceded in death by his parents.He was a Navy veteran of the Korean War. He joined the Navy on July 11, 1950. He received: Korean War Service Metal, two campaign stars, U.N. service ribbon metal, Asiatic Pacific Metal, and a Combat Action Metal. He was a life member of VFW 972, a member of American Legion Post 346. He was a member of the USS Gunston Hall, LSD-5 Association.He was a life long electrician and member of the IBEW 725 of which he served as business manager for 14 years, during which time the Bloomington jurisdiction was taken over. He served on the council of industrial relations at Washington D.C. He was chairman of the steering committee for the NECA-IBEW Welfare trust fund. He was the originator of the area wide NECA-IBEW personal trust fund.Services are 1 p.m. Saturday at Mattox Wood Funeral Home with the Rev. Brett Wilson officiating. Visitation is from 10 a.m. until service time on Saturday in the funeral home. Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Park.

Winning isn't everything

I know this is funny coming from me. But it is really how I feel. Sure I love a good win. Yesterday, my heart filled up in pride watching Samantha cross that finish line. I was there yelling, cheering her on "Be Stong Sami, Be Strong" she flew bye. It was great. Rachel got third place That was fine, it was her best time all year. But you know what? I am just as proud of Rachel as I Samantha. Why? They both gave their all. They gave their heart. Winning isn't everything. Yes, it maybe easy to say, because my girls get a ribbon or trophy. These same girls can't pass a presidential physical fitness. Oh well. The don't get A, B honor roll, Don't make senior band. Don't get asked to do this that or the other. Oh Well.

See the thing is, it isn't how much you win, but it is how you play. It is where your heart is. Did you do your personal best. That is what matters. Yesterday, I heard kids calling other kids cheaters, getting mad, pouting "It isn't fair". It made me sick, it made me mad. The other yeam may have cheated. Don't worry about the other team, do your best worry about yourself.

My goal in life isn't winning. It isn't for my girls to be the best at everything. My goal is to raise good godly girls that give their own personal best to the Lord. If they lose a race, I don't care. I mean it. as long as they do their best that is all that matters.