!@!@#$^!/?#

I have fought with my 2 teenagers all afternoon. It's like pulling teeth with them sometimes. I try to remember what it was like when I was their age. Atleast they're not doing what I was doing when I was almost 16. For that I am thankful!! Why is it so natural and easy for us to rebel? Why can't they learn from my mistakes? WHY CAN'T THEY TAKE MY WORD FOR IT?!?!? I so want to protect them (over-protect them is more like it) from the evils in this world. Freddy and I have taught and equipped them with what God's Word says, but THEY have to choose to do it. THEY have to want to. I wish I could make them want to. Please, God, make Yourself so real to them that they will want to choose Your way. The narrow road. Not the wide one. Please, God, choose them.

Today...

Today...I woke up feeling lazy and in a bad mood.

Today...so did my kids.

Today...I have rent and bills due, but no $$$ to pay them.

Today...I have laundry out the wazoo.

BUT!!!..."This is the day the LORD has made; let us REJOICE and be GLAD in it." Ps118:24

Faith and Deeds--A Sobering Truth

I am constantly blown away by what I read in God's Word. So much contradicts the feel good, syrupy "truth" I was raised on.

Yes. God is love. But He is to be feared...to be awed.

Yes. He has the power to save. But He also has the power to condemn.

From my earliest Southern Baptist church days I was taught that all I have to do is believe. Faith is enough. They were wrong.

I have parked myself in the book of James. He tells it like it is. Truth. No candy coating. Even some sarcasm. Reminds me of Neil McClendon. I love it!

James 2:14-19
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself , if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.

Wow! Give me the boldness to live for you FULLY, God.

It's all good in the hood...

So far so good without the tv. Right now I am sitting on my porch, laptop in hand, Joe Rico's in the cup holder. My man is playing catch with #2 and #4. #3 is bouncing a tennis ball with a racquet and #1 is sitting by me eating a sandwich. LIFE IS GOOD! I LOVE MY HUSBAND! I LOVE MY KIDS! No on is missing the tv--not even me. And guess what #3 just said---"This is so much better than tv, Mom!" Thank you, Jesus.

What?!? No TV?!?

• That's right! Our family has turned the tv off for one whole week. I can't believe it even as I write it! The kids don't know it yet. I'll drop the bomb on them when they get home from school (he-he-he). Can't wait to see THAT reaction. I even balk at the decision myself--and I'm the one who thought of it. Actually, not I, but the Holy Spirit and my husband confirmed it. It's something that we need to do. I find myself parked on the couch in front of the tv more and more. And listening to my kids less and less. Last night my precious youngest said my name like 5 times before I even realized it. It makes my stomach turn just to think of it. He's having a few troubles at school and I'm sure some of it is b/c he watches too much Cartoon Network and Disney Channel and doesn't get enough quality and QUANTITY time with his family. Yep. We all need a little break. Time for the Hinojosas to get back to the basics. Hang out. Talk. LISTEN. Laugh. Will it be hard? Yes! Will we have to be creative? Yes (oh no--I don't have a creative bone in my body)! Will God honor our obedience in seeing this through? You bet!!!
  

CRY OUT TO HIM!!!

OK. So I've never been much of a Third Day fan. I realize that might be considered blasphemy to some, but they have never really done it for me...until today. Here's the lyrics to their new song that I heard today while driving--I had to pull the car over. If only my sister could have heard this song before she died. If only...

Cry Out To Jesus
Words by Mac Powell / Music by Third Day

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They lost all of their faith in love
They've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough

For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering

When your lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus

To the widow who struggles with being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight

Gosh I miss you, Boo. I'm shocked at how ok I am one minute, then a complete basket case the next.

open mouth, insert foot--story of my life

"Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly."
2Timothy 2:16

"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry..."
James 1:19

"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be."
James 3:9


"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do...For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out."
Romans 7:15,18

...help me, God, to be the new creation that you have made me to be. Help me know when to just shut up.

My first blog ever...

...had fun tonight closing down Starbucks with the girls. What a fun, eclectic group we are!! Looking forward to many more Thursday nights...