What? Why?

     I'm embarking upon an experiment - a social experiment, to see if a person can truly live as the Bible commands and see God move miraculously on his behalf.  
     Why?  Because I feel the call on my life to live in a way that pleases God and the Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please Him.  But beyond that, God has gifted me to write.  He's called me to use that gift to point others to Him.
 

Inspiration and Advice

     So what prompted me to do this?   How did the idea originate?  In the 5th grade Sunday School class I teach, there are a series of books called, Heroes of the Faith.  I figured if they were there for my kids to read, I should know what they say, so I borrowed one: a biography of a man named George Muller.  This book profoundly changed my life.

Need or Greed

     I  remember the story of the rich young ruler in the Bible.  He asked Jesus what he had to do to inherit eternal life.  Jesus listed the 10 commandments for him.  The young man stated that he'd kept these from his youth.  Jesus told him to sell all he owned, give it to the poor and follow Him.  The ruler went away sad because he had great possessions he was not willing to give up.

My First Challenge

     Ever since I had lasik surgery in 2005, my eyes have been sensitive to light.  I see great, but living in the Arizona desert requires me to wear sunglasses during the day.  I especially need them while driving.  Last week I lost my sunglasses.

Closet Cleaning

     I am your typical girly-girl.  I love clothes, shoes, jewelry, makeup, hair accessories, purses and hats.  This is easily my area of greatest excess.  So I sought God about what He'd have me do in this area of my life.  

Limited Grace

     It was my lunch break and I was driving to the bank, excited to cash my first paycheck since beginning the experiment.  I had already figured how much money I'd need to pay my rent, utilities, insurance, gas, groceries and other obligations.  Now my mind was eagerly contemplating how I'd use the rest of the check to further the kingdom of God.  That's when I heard the familiar still small voice speak.
     That's not your money to spend. 

Fun- Raising

     I'm discovering as I travel through this experiment, that the areas I'm working on are spilling over into other areas.  It's not cut and dried.  One action or activity in one area affects another.
 

Talk the Walk

     It's very important that Christians "walk the walk" and "talk the talk" (act in sincerity, thereby setting a proper example).  But I discovered I can work on two areas of my life at once if I talk the walk.

Louder than Words

     Last night on my way home from work, I stopped at the store to pick up a few things.  I shopped very frugally for only the things I needed and left.  As I was putting the groceries in the car, I was approached by a man asking me if I could spare some change.

Love Story

     Where do I begin?  To tell the story of how great a love can be...  A sweet love story that is older than the sea.  The simple truth about the love He gives to me.  Where do I start?

Smarter than a 5th Grader?

    I had been struggling with a decision for two weeks.  Fretting over the what-ifs, trying to leave it in God's hands, but playing out all the scenarios in my mind.  Then I opened the teacher's guide to the lesson I'd be teaching my 5th grade class on Wednesday night and found the answer to my dilemma had been there all along!
 

The Importance of Friends

     I am a personable, out-going person who never met a stranger.  Even as a child, I was drawn to people and they seemed drawn to me.  Would it surprise you to know that for 30 years of my life I had no friends?  It's true, and it was just the way I wanted it.

Gold Circle Sinners

     Perspective is everything.  How do we view ourselves?  How do we view other people?  How does God view us?  I believe I got some insight into these things last night while standing in the general admission line for a Sandy Patty concert.

The Lord's Day

     Today is Sunday; sometimes called "The Lord's Day".  But is it really?  Today I am going to attempt something I've never done before.  I'm going to see if I can spend the whole day doing only things that develop my relationship with God or in some way furthers His kingdom.

Tell Someone

      Have you ever been afraid to speak something out loud, because once you do, it becomes real to you?  You can't unspeak it; someone can't unhear it; now it's out there for all time and eternity.  Telling someone is a commitment.  Once you do, there's no going back.  That's the reason I'm writing this blog.

Two Puppies

     They call it crucifying the flesh for a reason.  Crucifixion is painful; it's a slow death, little by little.  Our flesh dies painfully, slowly, not going without a fight.  This is what the Apostle Paul meant when he said, "I die daily".  Our flesh wants to live, it wants to live large, it wants to be in control.

Extraordinary Ordinary People

     I called Pastor Scott's radio program, A Reason For Hope, on my way home from work last night.  I asked him for scriptures that state we can live the way the Bible tells us to live in this day and age.  He gave me some encouraging passages, but more than that, he gave me examples.

Charity Begins at Home

     My 12-year-old granddaughter, Sierra, has been front and center for my experiment.  Having recently come to the Lord herself, she is very interested in what I am doing and why.  So she was thrilled when I asked her if she wanted to participate.

Thanksgiving

     Today at work we are having our company Thanksgiving dinner. I'm skipping the walk today to cook.  I'm making cinnamon vanilla sweet potatoes with bacon and deep fried green beans.  So though it's a week early, my thoughts are turning toward Thanksgiving.
     

Yard Sale

     My mom's having a yard sale soon.  That means that today  I am going through my entire apartment marking things for the sale.  It's closet cleaning on a much bigger scale.  I'm only keeping the things that are sentimental and the things I need.