The Fourth Commandment

Old Testament:
Exodus 20:8 - Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy (KJV)

New Testament:
Mark 2:27-28 - And he said unto them, "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath; 28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. (KJV)

This is the one commandment that some Christian "scholars" say today's Christian's do not keep. In reading their reasoning, I understand. The sabbath is the Jewish term for the 7th day, if we think about it, the 7th day of the week (as most commonly recognized by people today) is Saturday. However, we should look at it as keeping the Lord's day holy. Most Christians now-a-days have service on Sunday and would consider that the Lord's day. This practice fell into place (from what I understand) based off the principle that Jesus rose on the 3rd day and we know that He was crucified on a Friday so the 3rd day would put it to Sunday.

We know that Jesus healed on the Sabbath saying Is it lawful to do good ont he sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? (Mark 3:4 KJV). The Pharisees later plotted against Jesus trying to figure out how to destroy Him because of His actions (Mark 3:6), but Jesus kept on healing those who needed to be healed whether it was the Sabbath or not.

How does one go about keeping the Lord's day holy? Most likely that would include fellowship with like minded believers. But what kind of work is prohibited on Sundays? I know some groups where cooking is not allowed so the women will prepare Sundays meals on Saturday. Most people would agree doing laundry would be considered work, but some go as far as not allowing wash to be hanging out on the line on a Sunday. I was told by someone that anything we could do on another day of the week, we should refrain from doing on Sundays. I believe the gentleman who told me this was meaning to not fuel up cars, not do house chores, not work at a job, and other things like that, but he had no objections to a woman cooking on a Sunday.

What types of activities would be allowed? A lot of churches near where I live would go with fellowship and napping :) I myself am not one for naps, although I have found myself enjoying one every couple weeks, so I will often sew, read a book, play a game or work on a puzzle. Things that I do not generally have time for during the week...however, as I mentioned before, if I begin to feel frustrated with anything, I will stop because I do not feel that an activity in which I become frustrated is one to be done on Sundays. With the spring and summer months coming upon us rather quickly now, I may also take a walk and just enjoy God's creations :)

How do you keep the Lord's day holy? Is there any work that you would believe to be okay and allowable on the Lord's day?

Blessings in Christ,

Fajita Seasoning

Fajitas are considered a staple food in our apartment :) So instead of buying seasoning mix, we got a recipe (from a friend) and have used it ever since.

1 1/2 teaspoon Oregano leaves
1 1/2 teaspoon Seasoning salt (we use lawry's)
1 1/2 teaspoon Cumin
1/2 teaspoon Paprika
1/2 teaspoon Chili powder

Combine all the ingredients together. We "coat" the chicken chunks in the pan with this seasoning and then add some water and just guess on how much to use. If I had to estimate, I would say we probably use 1/2 of this recipe per chicken breast. Just a guess though! So un-scientific we are...I am beginning to think I sound like my grandpa. As my sister said, he is one of the worst people to get a recipe off because it's "a little bit of this" and "a little bit of that" :)

Enjoy!

Blessings in Christ,

If there really was a God...

...why would he let this happen to me? Some people may find this statement rather disturbing... saying if the person really believed in God, then they would have no doubts no matter what happened to them. But really, if someone never questions why God allowed something to happen then either they do not believe in God or they believe questioning is wrong. I do not believe God is against us questioning why something happened, I believe it is in our human nature to, but He does not like when we try to take over the situation and "clean" it up ourselves rather than relying on Him. There is a difference...

The God of the Old Testament was a punishing God, but Jesus in the New Testament is a loving God. How is an innocent child dying in a horrible way a loving thing? How is a woman being violated a loving act? How is an act of terrorism which kills many many people a loving act? I understand that death is a part of the cycle of life and that for Christians, death is not the end, but I still question the timeliness of death in certain situations.

From what I understood while reading, the New Testament does not really speak on tragedies that we experience today. Rather it speaks on the acts of Jesus and His teachings. I have a friend who was violated and unfortunatley because the Bible does not discuss these tragedies very much, she now thinks she will go to hell no matter how she lives her life because she is no longer pure. I try to explain that it is different when it is taken from you rather than when you give it away, but with no scripture to support that, she does not believe it. In time, the question will go from "why did this happen to me", to "is there even a God".

This is another thing besides non-resistance which I struggle with. As the question goes... "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Is it punishment for something a person might have done or is it because of something else?

P.S. I do plan to continue my posts about the 10 Commandments, I have to gather my thoughts on the next few first :)

Blessings in Christ,

Latest sewing project :)

I have been wanting a "card" holder (for gift cards and those annoying "rewards" cards you have to have for nearly every store now), but not like a wallet (I already have one of those which is too full!!)... So I made one. I think it turned out pretty good.

Here's a few pictures.







I had this fabric left over from a sewing project that I am working on for my sister's very late birthday present. I had the batting as well and "quilted" the two fabrics and batting together with the machine. I just went from there, I know, a horrible explanation, but if anyone is interested, I will give a better one :)


Blessings in Christ,

Skirt Tutorial

I found this skirt tutorial on the Seven Sisters blog. I think it's cute and yet very modest!

Check it out here :)

Happy sewing!

Blessings in Christ,

The Third Commandment

Old Testament:
Exodus 20:7 - Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. (KJV)

New Testament:
1 Timothy 6:1 - Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worth of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. (KJV)
AND
Matthew 5:33-34 - Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths. 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: (KJV)

As with all scripture, this part definitely deserves mediation in order to find what God is directing you to do. Is He simply saying do not use my name except in prayer or prophesying? Or is He saying do not say "common" phrases that include "God" or "Lord" in them? I guess maybe these two are the same? Because if you are using His name in vain then you are not using it to promote Him and His wonderful Word that He left us with.

Then what about the swearing of oaths that is discussed in the New Testament? In following verses it is stated to let our "yays" be "yays" and "nays" be "nays"... I think it means that instead of saying "I swear" that we say "yes" or "no" depending on what is being asked of us. The most common example that I can think of this is if anyone has had to testify in a court of law, rememer the oath that they have you take before heading up to the witness stand? That is it :) But, in many places they have an "affirmation" that they will give you instead of the "oath" if you say something beforehand about it being for religious reasons why you will not take the "oath". This may not be offered in all places yet, but as far as I know, it is offered in many.

Blessings in Christ,

Housework :)

A bit of an odd topic for a Sunday, but one question I get a lot is "how do you split the housework?" and it usually comes during noon meal after church on Sundays so it's on my mind...

I find it kind of humorous, but I guess it would be a question on quite a few (usually women's) minds when they learn that two single women share an apartment. It's kind of similar to how a wife and her daughters would share the housework I suppose, but instead of rotating, we typically keep our same jobs.

I usually do the dishes, the laundry (including putting it away for the both of us), take the trash out and the sewing, but my roommate is beginning to sew some of her dresses now so that is helping me out a bit.

She usually does the cleaning (she's a bit of an OCD clean freak -- I say this with the most loving smile on my face :)! and she usually does the cooking.

I say if there is one chore I could get rid of it would be cooking! The one thing I will cook are crock-pot meals or things that I throw in a pot and let simmer all day like chili or pulled pork :) I am not very good with things that have exact times to them... just seems like I don't do a good job judging whether something is done or needs a little bit more time.

We each take care of our own bedrooms so when I say she cleans, it is typically the kitchen, living room and bathroom that she takes care of. Right now, the apartment needs a desparate cleaning, but a bit part of the mess in our living room is we have 24 tomato plants growing!! Yes, that's right, 24 :) In an apartment! Lol. Guess I have a bit more of a "green thumb" than I thought I did! But I also have some fabric out that I have been working on cutting out and so that spreads out a bit :( I am almost done with that and the the cutting board can be put away.

If you have daughters, or other women sharing a house, how do you split the housework? Does everyone rotate jobs or do you keep the same jobs?

Blessings in Christ,