If I could have God fulfill one prayer of mine it would be that He’d make my life an altar to Him. If He did that then there would be nothing I couldn’t do, give, or be for Him. Paul, Peter, John, and the Apostles as well as all those who have been martyred for Him have given their lives has altars for Him, and I want my life to be just that. Whatever needs to be placed on my shoulders or given up I want to do it for Him. When you’re able to give up everything you desire you’re not showing weakness. You’re showing that no matter what your will is you can yield it to Him, which takes a strong will to do, just as our Saviour did when he died a sinner’s death on that cross.

Make my life an altar

Let me give all I am for the purpose of You
This is all I can offer
I give all that I can with a heart that is true
Lord, I know what You do is right by me
And not a single thing in this world is gonna take Your place

I’m building my life unto You
Knowing Your love will see me through

Make my life an altar
Let Your will be my own in whatever I do
This is all I can offer
Let my heart be Your home, Lord, I give it to You
‘Cause I know what You do is right by me
And not a single thing in this world is gonna take Your place

CHORUS:
Lord, I’m building my life unto You
Knowing Your love will see me through
You know I’m building my life unto You
Knowing Your love will see me through ’til the end of time

I will build it on solid ground
Make a place for this love I’ve found
Let Your glory and grace resound, for Your Spirit is coming down

CHORUS:
Lord, I’m building my life unto You
Knowing Your love will see me through ’til the end of time
You know I’m building my life unto You
Knowing Your love will see me through

I’m building my life unto You, Lord
I’m building my life unto You, Lord

Christians, make THIS your heart’s desire too. God wants our lives to be completely devoted to Him. We were placed on this earth to bring our Creator glory.

Blessings!

Tonight the girls went to a friend play at church.  They love it.  After the play all the kids went out to Denny's for a bite to eat.   They will be home at 11.30 pm.

What is nice is that Shayna who is 18 years old and Kristi who is 16 years old are so trustworthy.  Shayna and Kristi went and picked up their friend Jessie (girl) before the play.  What is nice is they just like to hang out with friends do, church events and have clean fun like riding ice block down hill in parks.  What is neat about that is they called the police to make sure it was legal first.  It was.  They got some girls and boys and have gone ice blocking a few times.

The girls like boys , but neither are ready to date.   Kristi was asked out about a month or so ago.  She told the boy that she is not ready to date yet.  I did not tell her to say that nor was I any where near her when she said it.

God bless, mj

Coming soon:  Pictures of Marty and his life.  

I posted about his going home to God on my other blog thunderwolf ranch.  But I am will start a scrap book on him and his life.  So I will share the pictures.

God Bless, mj

Marty was born on 1-17-1995.  He went home on 11-07-08.   Marty was almost 14 years old.   He has lived a full life and life full of love.   Marty came into our lives in March of 1995 as a 6 week old puppy.  At the young age of 7 weeks old Marty started telling me before I went into anaphylaxis shock.  It took me a few weeks to put two and two together.  When it clicked I began his service dog training.   Marty passed his service dog test at the young age of 11 months old.   Marty kept warning me before I would go into shock and he also warned me that the baby's (Kristi's) breathing was off.   Marty has saved both of our lives numberses times.  Marty gave me the courage to get out in the world again.  I was in the hospital 2-5 times a month and was afraid to go any where.  Marty fixed that, he was my warning to my shock and a warm body with caring eyes saying it is ok mom I am here for you, I wont let you down, he never did. The way he would stop in front of me because he smelled a chemical that I was allergic to, so I would not go further.  I never trained him for that, he just knew. Marty was also a big part of my healing with the loss of my grandfather Bubba.  I never got over his death even today almost 14 years later, I just learned to live with out him here until God calls me home.  We trained Marty to do tricks but not your normal ones.  He would bring you a soda get the phone, get one of his sisters when we asked him too.  You could tell him their name and he would go get that sister.   At the young age of 13-14 months old Marty yet again saved Kristi life when a neighbors dog jumped our fence attacked Kristi by biting her neck, making the front page of our paper.   Marty love to go to Disneyland.  He loved to go on the rides.  Marty was on the news for Disneyland as the first dog to go on the new haunted mansion decorated for the Nightmare Before Christmas the first time they did it.   Marty was Shayna favorite ride partner.  Marty has also been on other news programs and other news papers as well as magazines.  My favorite one is of him at Pismo beach buried up to his head in the sand with his human sisters laughing at what they did. He always enjoyed swimming with us all, even in the ocean.  Marty has always paid extra special attention to Kristi.  He would have her hold on to his tail when ever we went any where.  If she dropped his tail he would stop and turn and look at her until she grabbed his tail again.  Marty was married to Cheyenne for 12 years.  They had many children, how have been excellent pets for families and as well as service dogs.  Marty has always loved puppies and babies, he saw them all as his.  Marty has been the best babysitter for our children and grandchildren.  Marty has loved his human sisters.  They have tortured him.  They have dressed him up, painted his nails,  Michelle used him to keep the other dogs quite so she can sneak out.  Marty has touched so many hearts with his love and friendship.  Many people have come over the last few days to say good bye to him.  We decide to stop Marty's bloodline.  There will be no more puppies from his line, other than as a grandfather to great-great-great grandfather.  Our lives will be less full with out him, but we will see him in heaven one day.    We are happy to know he will be with Jesus and his wife Cheyenne playing in the wonderful garden Jesus has made.

P.s. We just got home from the vet office.  I get there people are waiting and they ask what is wrong with him?  I had to carry him in.  I said nothing just is old and it is his time to go to heaven.  I call out to Linda (his office woman) say he is heavy and go into a room.  The people are shocked that I could do that.   My vet has been my vet for 25 years.   He comes in and I ask him, Robert(vets name) is it time he looks him over and says yes.  I ask him if it is the right choice, he says yes. Kristi gets down to say her good byes and she hurts her eye and Marty in his last moments is still trying to care for his sister by moving to her and try to help her.  The love he has for that baby is amazing.  Kristi leaves the room.  Shayna and I stay.  Robert gets ready I say wait please.  I move to his other side and put his head in my lap and hold his other hand as Robert sends our son home to God his creator.  I stayed and told him over and over how much we all love him and we will see him soon, I stay until I was sure he arrived in heaven.   As I got up to go , I see him laying down and I say " ok, Marty lets go" like I always have when we are going some where.  I am so used to saying that.  It took me a second to remember he is not here with us anymore then I cried even more.  I took me forever to leave him, I just couldn't.   I told Shayna I need go or I never will.  I gave him one more kiss and told him how much I love him and walked out.  Marty is in heaven and his body will be coming home in a few days.  It is verry odd to come home with out him.  We now have 6 dogs on earth with us.

God Bless you all thank you for your prayers.  Could you please keep them going for us for awhile.  We all need to heal from this.             God bless, mj

You may not agree with me that animals do not go to heaven, if so please keep that to yourself.

We had our first "it stuck" snow. We had snow a week or so ago but it didnt' stick at all. It won't last because the ground is still to warm.

As many of you know, I attend the Thomas Bilney Theological Seminary, where I just received my Assoiciate's Degree in Biblical Studies in September (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Buckeyeblog/589967/ the series I just posted - The Biblical Basis for Homeschooling Christian Children - is actually my Associate's thesis!).  If you live in the Dayton, Ohio/Miami Valley area of Ohio, I urge you look into the up-coming classes.  The BEST PART is that since the Dean is my pastor (Rev. Joe Getts), I have arranged for Senior High level homeschoolers to be able to take these INTENSIVE courses, too!!   For the homeschool students, once a course is completed and graded they will receive a Seminarian Certificate WHICH WILL BE TRANFERRED INTO CREDITS ONCE THEY HAVE GRADUATED FROM THEIR HOMESCHOOL!!  Awesome!!  So you and your high schooler can take courses together!

These are INTENSIVE courses. What INTENSIVE means is that, depending on the class, you will basically get one quarter's-worth of infomation in anywhere from 1 to 3 days - depending upon the subject/class.  It's basically the same as what some of the college-at-home schools call "fast track."  I have listed up-coming classes in the past, but it's been a while since I've explained how this particular Seminary works, so I thought I would do it again...

There are 4 Degree Programs:  1) Seminarian Certificates, 2) Associate Degrees, 3) Baccaaureate Degrees (Bachelor), & 4) Master's Degrees.  There are 5 Degree Disciplines:  1) Biblical Studies (CSS), 2)Theological Studies (TDS), 3) Interdisciplinary Sudies (IDS), 4) Christian History (CHS) & 5) Pastoral Ministries (PMS).  The classes or numerous and can take a look at some of those on the website (www.thomasbilney.org).  All classes are available in person (for which you earn more credits), in book/CD form and SOME may be completed on-line.  Also, no matter which Discipline you choose, you may take ANY course in ANY Discipline!  

Now to the meat of this post...Here are some up-coming courses you may be interested in - I'll be there!  ... 

Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008

Philosophers and the Christian Faith (IDS108)

Professor Richard Barker

3 Credits

8:00a.m. @ New Hope Commuity Church; Miamisburg, Ohio

(Tuition: $30.00)

Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008

Comparing Religions in Grief (IDS110)

Joe Getts

3 Credits

7:00p.m. @ New Hope Community Church; Miamisburg, Ohio

(Tuition: $20.00)

CERTIFICATE OF STUDIES IN

Early Church History   

~Roman Civilization (CH112)

~Early Empire Religions (IDS110)

~Early Church History (CHS102)

~History of the New Testament (CHS106)

~Post Nicene Deveolpment (CHS114)

15 Credits toward your degree!!

Instructors:

Richard Barker

George C. Carpenter

Joe L. Getts

Michael P. Lorey

January 16 & 17, 2009

New Hope Community Church

1999 Belvo Rd.

Miamisburg, Ohio  45342

If you have any questions, just let me know.  OR go to the website and contact Rev. Joe Getts on the e-mail given.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

It was so neat this year with all the voting.  Shayna was old enough to vote and did.  She was pleased to see some of the things she voted for pass and upset that some did not.  She really wanted the no more gay marriage to pass and it did.  She really wanted the ban on schools being able to take young girls to have abortions to pass, but it did not.  She does not understand how they can not give an aspirin with out a parents ok, but they can take them to have abortions???

Her dad and I also voted to stop those both.  Kristi had to pick a proposition to give a speech on in Friday school and she did.  But what is neat is her eyes were opened to so much.  She paid very close attention to the whole event.   This was a great time to be a homeschooling parent.

God Bless, mj

Tomorrow is the day.  We will be sending Marty home  tomorrow afternoon.   I am asking for prayer for this.   It is verrry hard on us all to say " I will see you latter" to him.  We are not saying good bye because we believe that animals go to heaven.  They are Gods creation too.  Besides I can not imagine heaven with out hearing the buzzing of the bees , the birds song and seeing all the other wonderful critters God has made for us.

Marty is a 13.5  year old golden.  Marty has saved my life a few times as well as Kristi's life a few times. Marty is a great service dog, the first anaphylaxis dog.   He has put up with his sister dressing him up, painting his nails, to riding him and burring him in the sand with just his head showing.  He has babysat the grand-babies.  Marty taught Maddie not to climb the stairs by every time she would climb past her step he would put her down to her butt and lay across her lap keeping her down.   As for Jeffie he has roughed house with him and was  Jeffie's first pony.

God Bless, mj

From The Old Farmer's Almanc...I thought this was interesting and something we can use for our homeschools or just for our own interest...KW<><

Signs of Winter

Few things concern the gardener more than the first warning signs of winter. At The Old Farmer’s Almanac, we employ scientific disciplines to predict the weather but also believe in keeping a close eye on nature. The following are all considered traditional signs of a severe winter ahead: 

• Geese fly south at a high altitude.
• Oak trees bear many acorns.
• Chipmunks are abundant.
• Lakes and rivers freeze later than usual.
• Onions grow thicker skins than usual.
• Squirrels are gathering a large supply of nuts.
• Woodpeckers appear early.
• Lots of berries.
• Corn husks are thicker and stronger.

What’s in store for your winter? For our Web site visitors, we have provided two months of free weather forecasts.

I think the biggest problem with Christianity today is that people think if they become a Christian their life will be enriched. God will bless them. They will love their neighbors. They will go to church every Sunday and praise the Lord, and everything will be wonderful. Unfortunately I think many have been led astray to what Christianity is really about. While all the above is true it doesn’t mean you will have no hardships and no worries. As a Christian your life’s purpose is not to enrich your life, though if it will if you follow the Word, but it is to further the Kingdom of God.

Paul explains this very well in Romans 12. He starts off the chapter by, basically, begging Christians to understand that we are suppose to be a “living sacrifice” to God, for His will. This is a very important piece of Scripture and I don’t think many truly understand what he saying. He’s trying to make us understand that being a Christian is not about us and what we want. It’s about Christ. We’re suppose to lay down our lives as a living sacrifice. The significance of those two words is so powerful.

SAC’RIFICE, v.t. sac’rifize.
To destroy, surrender or suffer to be lost for the sake of obtaining something; as, to sacrifice the peace of the church to a little vain curiosity. We should never sacrifice health to pleasure, nor integrity to fame.

The meaning of sacrifice is to destroy or suffer, and that is why it’s important to understand that when you become a Christian you are giving your life to Christ as a living sacrifice. Christ never said that the life of a Christian would be easy. Just looking at His life we can see that. He was persecuted, hated, and crucified for what He taught, and whether it’s Spiritually, emotionally, or physically, at times we will be persecuted and we will have times that we are suffering for Christ.

However, we have His assurance that He will always be there with us. He knows our sufferings and our pains. He has already suffered them for us.

The reason so many people fall away from Christ and the life of a Christian is because Christianity is misrepresented. When the realization that being a Christian means your life will not always be easy and you will have to give up your fleshly desires to be holy people tend to turn a deaf ear or a blind eye.

The second verse in Romans, chapter 12, Paul goes onto say that we should not be conformed to this world. Instead, we must be transformed, everyday, by the renewing of our minds with the Word. This means we need to strengthen, not only our minds, but our spirits with the Word so we may prove what is “good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God“.

We’re not here to prove anything to the world or to ourselves, only to Him. Everyday we should be renewing our minds and transforming into the person God wants us to be by reading His Word and through prayer. Jesus spent many hours a day in prayer, renewing his spirit for the times to come, and he knew how important it is.

Satan is roaming about like a lion seeking those who he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). He is looking for ways to cause you to stumble, for you to shake your fist angrily at God, and to turn away from the faith. He is deceiving the world into thinking that Christianity is all about you, instead of Christ, and that is why so many Christians no longer have a Biblical-worldview or fall away.

The next verse, verse three, in Romans 12 Paul encourages us not to think highly of ourselves, but to think “soberly”, and assures us that God deals with each and every man according to his measure of Faith. We must hold strong to Christ, who is our rock, and offer our bodies as living sacrifices to him. Our earthly bodies shall pass away, but our souls will live on forever. I don’t know about you, but I’m willing to enrich and further the Kingdom of God on this earth to earn the crown of Righteous in heaven. What is your measure and span of your faith? Are you willing to truly lay down your body as a living sacrifice to God?

Blessings!

Originally posted in the GGM column Thorns & Roses