Sincerity is an Idol; Prove it with the Bible

  From our pastor's blog.  An Infant in a Cradle: Sincerity is an Idol; Prove it with the Bible: The plain truth is, that "sincerity and earnestness" are becoming the idol of many Christians in these latter days. People seem to think it matters little what opinions a man holds in religion, so long as he is "earnest and sincere", and you are thought uncharitable if you doubt his soundness in the faith! Against this idolatry of mere "earnestness" I enter my solemn protest. I charge every reader to remember that God's written Word is the only rule of faith, and to believe nothing to be true and soul-saving in religion which cannot be proved by plain texts of Scripture. I entreat him to read the Bible and make it his only test of truth and error, right and wrong.


~ J.C. Ryle, The Upper Room, “Our Profession."

Better a brief warfare and eternal rest

“I came not to send peace on earth, but a sword.”

Matthew 10:34

The Christian will be sure to make enemies. It will be one of his objects to make none; but if to do the right, and to believe the true, should cause him to lose every earthly friend, he will count it but a small loss, since his great Friend in heaven will be yet more friendly, and reveal himself to him more graciously than ever. O ye who have taken up his cross, know ye not what your Master said? “I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother; and a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” Christ is the great Peacemaker; but before peace, he brings war. Where the light cometh, the darkness must retire. Where truth is, the lie must flee; or, if it abideth, there must be a stern conflict, for the truth cannot and will not lower its standard, and the lie must be trodden under foot. If you follow Christ, you shall have all the dogs of the world yelping at your heels. If you would live so as to stand the test of the last tribunal, depend upon it the world will not speak well of you. He who has the friendship of the world is an enemy to God; but if you are true and faithful to the Most High, men will resent your unflinching fidelity, since it is a testimony against their iniquities. Fearless of all consequences, you must do the right. You will need the courage of a lion unhesitatingly to pursue a course which shall turn your best friend into your fiercest foe; but for the love of Jesus you must thus be courageous. For the truth’s sake to hazard reputation and affection, is such a deed that to do it constantly you will need a degree of moral principle which only the Spirit of God can work in you; yet turn not your back like a coward, but play the man. Follow right manfully in your Master’s steps, for he has traversed this rough way before you. Better a brief warfare and eternal rest, than false peace and everlasting torment.

~Spurgeon devotion for dec 28

Look What I Can Do



This is what can happen when you give your baby a chance to sit up.. they just might do it.  I used to let the other two kids practice thinking it helped them learn.  I'm thinking it doesn't matter... Aliza spends a lot of time in her saucer, laying on her back on the floor playing or sitting up on our laps.  I will say she's been doing that from a very early age but she always leaned up against our arms.  And did I mention my babies hate bumbos... so she never got that experience.  So this is the newest trick last week and she also started saying " da da da da da"  So cute.  She had her 6 month check last week and she weighs 14 lbs 8 oz (25%) and is 25.5 inches long (50%). more pics on shutterfly 

M.I.A and Baby Update

This is the first day I have felt decent in 2 weeks. I got the second sinus infection of my life and missed out on Thanksgiving. It was nasty. I felt like I did in the 6th grade when I was sick for 3 weeks, minus having a mom take care of me and instead having 3 kids to take care of, one who is nursing and my milk supply went down and I started having to get up in the night again. That's a long sentence but you get me.

Aliza is now 6 months old!! So a recap of her 5 monthness. We started solids! And we jumped in with both feet, the only babyfood she has had has been prunes and rice cereal. Otherwise, it's applesauce, sweet potatoes, mommy's somewhat spicey meatloaf, baked potatoes, homemade chicken and noodles, yogurt, mashed bananas. Suffice it to say, she is well acquainted with texture by now and it's cheaper too. I use Linda's old babyfood grinder. She really liked the meatloaf and I was surprised. :) She has stopped biting me. She started sleeping through the night again with the help of a 10pm nursing after she had been in bed for a couple hrs, but that has all changed since the milk decrease, but I can tell it's back on the increase and she went till 6 am this morning. Almost there. She is a delight of a little baby, I call her a little joy, which is fitting since her name means joy. She is snuggly, smiley, giggly, screamy, drooly, good good baby. I know it's weird but sometimes when I''m holding her I close my eyes and picture myself pregnant with her, which seemed like forever and wondering what she was like and then opening them and here she is in all her snuggly cuteness. Did I mention how cute her legs are?? How can they not be when her thighs are chubby and all of 2 inches long?? So as demanding as a baby and a nursing one at that can be and how I sometimes feel tied down not to be able to just get up and go, I remind myself how time flies and this is my last go around, live it like you got to go back in time for a second chance. No major news on the big motor skills, still only rolls from tummy to back, which is ok with mommy, life gets harder when they mobilize, she picks up and plays with her toys and loves her saucer.

That's it for now ;) oh and I put up new pics on shutterfly