Vinegar.

  Recently I've been working on making my own homemade cleaners.  One ingredient I've gotten to use a lot of is white vinegar.  Super awesome little cleaning tool, indeed.

The smell of vinegar is quite... distinct.  And as memories often come flooding back from smells, the smell of vinegar brings back a memory for me.  A not-so-pleasant memory.  

When I was a little girl, I of course adored my older brother.  I also adored coffee (hey, a girl can't help herself;) ).  One night after church, I went out to hunt down my big bro and found him with his youth group friends.  They had done a little game during youth group where they had to be blindfold and taste different things to see if they could figure out what it was.  The remnants of the game where still there, and I spotted the coffee pretty quickly. I asked my brother to please please pleeease let me try the game and give me coffee.  Yes, I know now the game didn't really fit with such specific requests, but I was desperate for coffee;)  I mean, it's not like mom would let me have it at home, being that I was like 8 years old, so I was pretty desperate for a fix!  My brother agreed to give me some coffee, and he and his friends wrapped the blindfold around my eyes.  I opened my mouth and got ready to gulp in the glory.

Only glory soon became pretty un-glorious as vinegar filled my mouth instead. 

I was SO shocked and horrified (not to mention sick to my stomach) especially since they all thought it was the funniest thing ever.  Especially because my big bro, who was supposed to be my protector, was laughing too, and had helped the whole event come to pass.

I look back now and wish I had kicked him where it would sting just as badly.  Instead I went bawling to mommy;)  

I wouldn't tell my mom what happened.  Didn't want to get my bro in trouble.  Just cried and received her sweet comfort.

So yeah, the smell of vinegar still gives me shivers.

And maybe that's why I especially cringe at the cruelty of this part of the crucifixion:

~" After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said, 'I thirst'. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth." ~John 19:28, 29

I know this vinegar wasn't the same that I clean with today.  But the cruelty stands.  I mean, no part of the crucifixion wasn't cruel.  But to smack vinegar in Jesus' mouth when He's dying and thirsty?  So very cruel.

And He did that, and all of it.... for us.

So when I smell vinegar and remember my sad little memory, it is so minuscule when I then remind myself of the cross.  And the vinegar Jesus tasted that day.

Oh, how He loves us.

No Fear, Part 1

"Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? ...

  Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.

Neither DEATH nor life,

neither angels nor demons,

neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow

not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 


No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, NOTHING in all creation will EVER be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."


Romans 8:35-39, NLT



The Power of the Cross

My sister-in-law and amazing friend shared this song with me, and I'm so glad she did! The lyrics are SUCH a powerful message and a great reminder....

The Power of the Cross
Oh to see the dawn of the darkest day,
Christ on the road to calvary,
Tried by sinful men, torn and beaten then,
Nailed to a cross of wood.

This the power of the cross,
Christ became sin for us,
Took the blame, bore the wrath,
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh to see the pain written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin,
Every bitter thought, every evil deed,
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

This the power of the cross,
Christ became sin for us,
Took the blame, bore the wrath,
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Now the daylight flees, now the ground beneath,
Quakes as its Maker bows His head,
Curtain torn in two, dead are raised to life,
‘Finished!’ the vict’ry cry.

This the power of the cross,
Christ became sin for us,
Took the blame, bore the wrath,
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh to see my name written in the wound,
For through Your suf‘fring I am free ,
Death is crushed to death, life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

This the power of the cross,
Son of God slain for us,
What a life, what a cost,
We stand forgiven at the cross.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope YOUR name is "written in the wound"...


"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16

Oh, Oprah.

I know this video has been out for a while now, but I wanted to post it on here.





I find this clip very disturbing. Here's why:

1. Debate for Jesus? Risky: You can try, but I can't think of the last time someone was debated into faith. It just isn't in the nature of debating. Debating is in itself argumentative and closed-minded. The goals of debating are to manipulate words, make your points, and in essence, win. Debating is generally all about winning, not about seeking the truth together. And it tends to be hostile. So even if you're debating for truth, the nature of debating in itself tends to take away from the focus of truth and seeks instead a competition. While I appreciate that the women in this stuck up for Jesus, I find the one at the microphone to have a much better spirit about it than the one sitting down. I am not picking on that woman, and I TOTALLY understand her frustration; but I'm just saying that the debating nature made me cringe.

2. Oprah's philosophy is not uncommon: The powers of "evil and good" or"light and darkness" are then renamed "fear and love". Oprah says, "One of the mistakes human beings make is that there is only one way." "There are many paths to what you call God..." "There couldn't possibly be one way!" This philosophy is not uncommon. Actually, it is very much common. And scary. So, the people that plowed into the World Trade Towers... did they serve the same God I do? Maybe Oprah thinks so. But they definitely did not.

3. We won't get to the same point, Oprah: "Her loving and her kindness and her generosity, if it brings her to the same point that it brings you, it doesn't matter if she calls it God." Hate to tell ya Oprah, but we won't end up at the same point.

4. She can't get into a religious argument? She sure thought she could until she didn't have an answer back. Oprah's claim that she can't get into a religious argument at the end is poor timing, since she was on board for that argument until she couldn't think of an answer. This is what people around us do every day.... as soon as the questions get tough enough, they turn off the thinking process and give up on seeking answers.


Some truth:

John 3:18- "He that believes on Him is not condemned: but He that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

John 14:6- "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. "

John 3:16- "16"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."


Hillsong says it well in their song No Reason to Hide:

"We've got nothing to lose,
We've got no reason to hide.
We've got the answer inside of us,
Its time we took the disguises off.
We'll see Your glory revealed,
And see Your Name lifted high.
There's nobody else for us,
Jesus, You are the only One!
There's not a minute to waste,
Not a second to lose!"


To Oprah: If you're gonna deny my God, do it; but do not claim that He is one of "millions" of ways to "the light". If Jesus wasn't Who HE SAID He was, then He was a lying lunatic. So pick one or the other.

To those who personally know the Jesus of the Bible and have a relationship with Him: People are dying and going to hell every day. Oprah asks the question of what about those who never hear of Him? Do we ask that question? Are we taking EVERY OPPORTUNITY to preach the truth of Christ? Do you realize there are many misconceptions about Jesus today? So many claim to believe in Him.... but they do not believe in the "Jesus" we do. Let's not give ourselves a big pat on the back for just claiming Jesus as our friend. JESUS IS OUR SAVIOUR. We need to share the message of His Salvation! There's not a second to lose!

Motivation to Proselytize

The video I'll put at the end of this blog hit me hard. And I'm not being dramatic when I tell you it changed me deeply.

I'll admit often when the opportunity comes to tell someone about Jesus, I choke. And many other times, the opportunity would be there if I would make it but I don't put forth the effort.

It's funny (strange funny, not ha ha) to me when I stop to think about it, how I can't wait to tell people about the most truly meaningless things in my life, but get nervous at telling them about the most important aspect of it.

I know I need to witness for Christ more. I know I should get off my lazy and self-conscious can and tell people about my Saviour. And I know that it is a command from God Himself to do so.

I'm sick of giving myself brownie points for the handful of times I feel like I really took advantage of the full opportunity to talk to someone. I'm tired of wasting my tongue and enthusiasm on pointless conversations with people who are going to hell. I'm fed-up with hiding behind invitations to church as cop-outs to directly talk to someone about my faith.

I'm done. It's time for me to get serious about this.

Watch this video, and look within yourself. See if you feel the same kick-in-the-pants I did. Commit with me to take complete advantage of the opportunities we're given; to steer the conversations in more meaningful ways; to sincerely show our love for Christ and others; to proselytize.

Look at What We Did

Look at what we did with Him! Do you see?

He came as our Prince, our Saviour, our Rescuer. He was our Healer, Provider, and Counselor. He fed us, loved us, helped us, taught us. Humble and gentle, He ministered. Day after day, we followed Him. He never ceased. Miracle after miracle amazed our eyes, minds, and souls.

We yearned for advice, He gave it. We thirsted, He quenched it. We hurt, He healed it. We hungered, He satisfied it.

Our heart issues were guided, our physical needs met, our minds dazzled. He patiently, caringly, strongly was.... our Hero.

Look at what we did...

We scorned Him, beat Him, mocked Him, begrudged Him.

We crucified Him.

"Crucify Him!!! Crucify Him!!!!" Our lips of praise and thanks turned to lips of hate and vengeance. We had gotten what we wanted and needed and now we wanted something else. We wanted to destroy, obliterate, and kill.

And so we turned on Him. He had helped us, loved us, served us. And we spat on Him, abused Him, cursed Him, and cruelly killed Him for all to see. Crucifixion. What a dark, crushing, humiliating, and excruciating way to kill Him. Kill Him. We killed Him. That is what we did with our Holy and loving and giving Jesus.

He cried out "Father forgive them" as He hung by the nails in His hands and feet on a cross of blood and sweat and death. And He died.

But He did not stay dead. No, oh no He did not. You see we didn't just kill a benevolent and amazing man. This man was God! God in human form! And He could not stay dead. He arose! He arose!!! He conquered death, once and for all. And because of His sacrifice, we may be forgiven and we may have a personal relationship with God. Oh, thank you Jesus!

Here we are now, and it's Easter season. The day to celebrate this amazing sacrifice and powerful resurrection two thousand years ago. So what's similar today?

We are still given beautiful and godly things that were intended to be holy but we have instead defiled, despised, and destroyed. From our bodies, to $ex, to our families, we take things of beauty and we crucify and ruin them for our own sin and pleasure.

We are also still given a choice of what do with Christ. Are we going to admit our sin and accept His forgiveness? And then what... what are we going to do with Him on a day to day basis? Do we keep reveling in the sin that He was crucified for? Or do we strive towards sanctification and seek to bring HIM glory, and not our own.

What are we doing with Jesus? Do you see?

He IS our Prince, our Saviour, our Rescuer. He IS our Healer, Provider, and Counselor. He feeds us, loves us, helps us, teaches us. Humble and gentle, He ministers. Day after day, we should follow Him. He never ceases. Miracle after miracle amazes our eyes, minds, and souls still.

We yearn for advice, He can give it. We thirst, He can quench it. We hurt, He can heal it. We hunger, He can satisfy it.

Our heart issues can be guided, our physical needs met, our minds dazzled. He patiently, caringly, strongly IS.... our Hero.