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Thursday, February 28, 2013

Thoughtful Thursday....How sweet a gift from a friend can be...

Happy Thursday to ya!

We have been super busy around the house this morning, trying to catch up on dishes and laundry, entertain small hands that are attached to mischevious minds, and me nursing my right leg a little more than usual. It has now been almost three weeks since my tumble, and I am still wearing a wrap and limping. I keep thinking I could still be on crutches, so I am certainly thankful to be mobile, but I am not moving fast enough yet to keep up with my Littles who can go from 0-80 in .1 second.
Also, my left knee is my bad one from a ski accident years ago, and all this limping is really starting to cause a lot of pain on that side as well. The sprain I received on that side is most certainly healed, so I can tell that this is just all the compensation for the right side is really starting to be felt. I would appreciate your prayers.

But one thing that has absolutely brightened my day lately is a precious gift from a casual friend in the blogging world, Laura, over at House of Joyful Noise.

A while ago I linked a sign I just really liked over on the Welcoming House Facebook page, and was very surprised to see a comment from her asking if I was serious about really wanting one. 
Here is a picture of the sign:




I love simple things, old things, black and white photos, and then add in a lot of femininity to it, a splash of color, whatever. My home is an eclectic mix of all sorts of styles, and I am happy with it that way, as long as it is pretty and welcoming.

You can imagine how astonished I was by her messaging me and telling me that she wanted to make me one. I mean, what do you say to things like that? How can you possibly express what a beautiful, and thoughtful, amazing gift something like that could be? I love to give, and often forget that part of giving is also being gracious about being a receiver once in a while, and there is blessing abundantly in both places. This time, I was on the receiving end. And tell everyone who asks. Or doesn't ask. :)

But why that sign?
The sign grabbed my attention because it was clean, open, 
and made a statement that I want people to read when they come in my home.
 I want them to know MY HOME is my Happy Place.

It is where I have devoted my time, my energy, my life...
It is where I have rejoiced, and cried...where my little world revolved around..
and just like my poem says up in the headline of my Welcoming House Blog, 
I want others to feel that way too.

I was deeply disturbed the other day to read some statistics from a prominent and reliable organziation I follow, on a new poll given to women in a large group, from all walks of life.
The question asked was:
"Would you ever want to be a homemaker?"

Folks, less than 40% of the women surveyed said yes. Their reasons cited were desire for a career, accomplishments in that career, and debt, or the "mental inability to handle being a stay at home mom".

Now listen, if you work a job, I am not knocking you, and please don't take it that way. I just really feel like a big part of my calling is being home. And sharing that with a lot of other people who are waking up to that calling. Being a homemaker is a full time, round-the-clock job that is far more challenging than the myriad of jobs I have worked before throughout my life. It has required much painful sacrifice, emotionally, physically, financially, for our family to have me stay at home. It has required resourcefulness in finding things to do from home that help bring in a touch of income to pay for those little extras. If it wasn't for that choice, this blog would simply not exist, and I would not have anything to teach you, or show you. So, as you can see, I am passionate about this for a reason.

I was astonished at those statistics because many of the friends that I have that are unable to be a homemaker would love to be able to stay home with their children and make that their center. For a myriad of reasons they can not. But to not even want to? Those friends are few and far between.



My face is the first one they see in the morning. My hands are the ones that calm them, guide them, hug and encourage them, and tuck them in. My passion for the Word of God is the thing that they hear every day, my voice the one reading them Scripture to help battle the day.

It is a monumental job, but I am happy to do it.
This home IS my happy Place.

And I pray that more moms, or dads, wake up to see the potential in their own homes. 
To see that truly the hand that rocks the cradle, 
or plays jumprope, 
or opens a story book,
 or dishes up dinner, 
or wipes away the tears, 
or administers a geography test, 
or smoothes their hair when they are sick....
rules the world.

Because by it, children who are raised who grow to adults that love the Lord and are willing to do what is needed to invest that in their children too. Its only a few short years, and then it is gone. 
I don't want to miss it.



Many thanks to Laura. It is beautiful. And what it reminds me of is even more beautiful. My love and thankfulness goes out to you for making it possible.

Many blessings to you and yours

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Welcoming Wednesday #7---its a Linky Party!!!

Good morning! Its that wonderful time of the week that 
so many of you look forward to--



I really hope you share with your friends, and get them over here, because everyone that wins "featured Blogger of the Week" will be entered into a Grand Prize drawing for a $50 gift certificate to Amazon that will take place at the end of November---just in time for Christmas shopping! And...I might throw in a few other special little goodies at that time too, just depends on how things are going around here!

This last week was totally amazing,
with so many fabulous links and posts that it was, again,
 really hard to choose.
 However, 
one post stood out above the rest,
and resonated so much with me
(and many of our readers since it was the most "liked" post of the bunch).

It was written by Gretchen of 31 Cups Blog, titled: 
"The Pillow of Selfishness"



Here is a short teaser of her story:

"From somewhere inside me rose up this pure frustration-laced anger. It literally bubbled up inside like an erupting volcano. I wanted to wake him up from his effortless sleep and scream:
Give Me My Pillow!
It is mine. I have almost nothing that is mine. 
Everything is shared. Nothing is truly mine. My time, my creativity, my love. It is all shared. My kitchen is my home school room. My bedroom is the hangout. My pencils are used. My scissors get lost. I share gum, and kleenex, and my lunch. I share the Wii remote, and the chair I am sitting on. I even share the bathroom, almost every time I use it, with my potty training toddler. I can't shower without a little someone needing to brush their teeth. I can not go anywhere without a tribe coming along. My clothes are shared. My shoes are shared. My Bible time is even shared. 
Don't I deserve one little thing that is mine? 
What a Pillow of Selfishness."
What an wonderful, honest, amazing story this post turned out to be, and honestly, how many of us haven't walked that same path over and over again? Thank you for writing something that will impact so many people, and sharing it with us, Gretchen.


and now...


Gretchen,
please feel free to add our Welcoming House button on your post, and the statement that you were featured by us. I will have my Featured Blog button up and running in a couple weeks, and will be sure to contact you with that. You will also be entered in my Featured Blogs Contest that will continue throughout the year, where all the blogs will be entered for a large prize, to be announced in November.
 Due to some issues with our Linky server unexpectedly going to a paid service, we will be using different other providers until we find one that fits.
 ******************
Would you please read the following and link up your posts? 
Each blog is allowed to enter two posts that fit in these categories.
 Entering your link is super easy, just click on the widget, and enter your URL link and thumbnail picture. It may take a little while to appear, but it will, just check back in a little bit! Please remember I moderate things, so it may take a little bit if you leave a comment as well! :)
 The Welcoming Wednesday Link Party is open to anyone who is sharing posts from their blog in the following categories: 
DIY: what crazy creations are you concocting over on your homepage this week?
 Faith-based: Do you have a word of encouragement, life lesson, or heart speak to share with readers? ( please note, this is a Christan faith based blog, and this is the genre I am looking for..)
 Family-based: growing and raising a family is important stuff, and we want you to share your latest! Crafts, fun ideas, recipes, crazy pics? We want to see them all!
Herbs: Are you growing them? using them? Learning about them? Share with us! 
 Gardening: if you love the dirt, then this link up is for you! 
Frugal ideas: We can ALL use more ideas on how to save money, time, and to reuse, recycle, upcycle, or retrain our brains to put more money in our pockets! 
 Canning or preserving: Got a recipe? Want to crow about your latest accomplishment? Dare to share your failures? We are right here waiting for it! 
 Homesteading: We want to live vicariously through your efforts, so please give us updates on your homestead and all its accomplishments: 
 Preparedness: I am a firm believer in being prepared as much as you can be and not relying on someone to swoop in and save you, so posts dealing with this are welcome!

 Please no giveaways or affiliate links without prior permission. 
 Our rules are super simple: PG rated.
 Nothing vulgar or crass will be tolerated. 
 In fact, a single verse comes to mind when I am looking for the heart of posts to be shared on this link up: "Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things!" (Philippians 4:8) 
  Be sure to link back here to the Welcoming House post so your readers can see all the wonderful posts from the Welcoming House community! You can find the code for my button right over there on the right side, just edit your post, go to HTML, add the script at the bottom of your post and click update. Voila! Ready, set, go! 
Many blessings to you and yours, 
Heather

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Old Fashioned Donuts...A Special treat for Tasty Tuesday...

Go ahead.

Drool.

That is exactly what we did as we mixed up this batter, rolled it out,  cut it and then slowly dropped them one by one into the hot oil  
and watched them bubble.

Treats are special things around here, and there is such a peacefulness about working together as a family to achieve something special. The Littles helped me add ingredients. My Big Kid rolled each one in cinnamon sugar....and the Handy Hubby was very willing to be the taste tester from each tidbit that was offered from small-ish hands.



For those of you who want to imagine that something like this is healthy, just know that the end result was just as tasty as the ones purchased in the fancy stores, but were made of whole wheat, healthier sugars, and healthy fats. We changed the recipe we found on Food.com to reflect that, but you will find the link for the original at the bottom of the page.

They were delicious, and I hope you pin this recipe so you have it for a special Saturday morning with your children or grandchildren...or even just for yourself with a good strong cup of joe.



Many blessings to you and yours,
Heather



Dont forget that tomorrow we have our Welcoming Wednesday Link up---LOTS of great entries this last week!!! We will also be covering how to use that leftover whey from making your own Crockpot yogurt and Meal in a Jar recipes on Friday and Saturday, so be sure to head over throughout the week and check things out!

Old Fashioned Cake Donuts 
That Just Might Be Good for You

wet ingredients:

1 cup sucanat/ honey/ dark brown sugar
1/4 unsalted butter or coconut oil
1 cup milk (or 3/4 cup milk if you use honey)
2 eggs
(Blend these together really well, then in a separate bowl whisk the dry ingredients:)



Dry Ingredients:

 4 cups soft white wheat flour (I use fresh ground from my WonderMill)
 (All purpose flour if you don't have a grinder)
1 Tbs baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon

Add the dry ingredients to the wet in parts until the entire batter is well-mixed and complete.
Let chill for about 30 minutes. Add a couple cups of coconut oil to a pan before you begin to roll these out and allow to heat so that you can fry them.

Roll out on a floured surface until the dough is about 1" thick, then use a donut cutter to cut donuts out. I placed ours on a towel and let them sit about ten minutes while I finished the dough.You will know the oil is hot enough to fry when the piece of dough that you drop it immediately begins to bubble and sizzle with an attitude, slowly raising to the top. As always, save the frying part for when small children are NOT underfoot, as their curiosity can be incredibly dangerous at this time.

I do about four donuts at a time, adding in more coconut oil as needed. Lay each on a cookie rack to cool for a minute so you can shake in the sugar combo. We just added one cup white sugar and 2 Tbs cinnamon to a paper bag and would gently shake the donuts one by one,
 then lay back on the cookie rack to continue cooling.

This recipe made about two dozen old fashioned donuts that were crisp on the outside and perfect on the inside. We simply couldn't believe how good they were, and just getting pictures was a challenge. I hope that you will try the recipe and find out how fun it is to make them.

As usual, here are a few links for products that we used for this. Each purchase provides a small amount for my family and allows me to continue blogging frequently...







Linked up on Homestead Barn Hop

Monday, February 25, 2013

Rich and Moisturizing Lotion in three easy steps...Make It Yourself Monday...

Welcome to Make It Yourself Monday here at The Welcoming House. I am already on cup two, and wondering how much more  it is going to take before I actually wake up today!

I am very excited about today's post, and love this recipe, so I hope to hear a lot of good feedback from you as well! Please comment if you can!

We go through a LOT of lotion in this house. Four very dry-skinned females, who love the feel of lotion and need it for the long harsh winters, means that we spend a LOT on lotion that keeps our skin healthy and moisturized during the winter months. And for a limited budget, lotion is one of those make or break a budget type of products.



When we were realizing that we were going through an $8 bottle of lotion every two weeks with the four Welcoming house girls here, we knew there had to be a better and easier way to make our own. With a little digging, and a little looking, we found some easy ways to make a LOT of our own, and our skin is super happy we did. I have been singing the praises of coconut oil an awful lot lately, and that is one of the main ingredients in this lotion. You will find links to use the exact products we did at the bottom of this page, just like always, so if you want to you can make it at home.

I hope you enjoy our simple tutorial and see you back here tomorrow for a special Tasty Tuesday recipe that you just wont want to miss---we are very excited about this one!
Have a wonderful Monday!
Many Blessings to you and yours, 
Heather


Simple Rich and Creamy Lotion
32 oz tub of lotion base
5 1/2 oz of coconut oil (roughly 2/3 cup)
4 1/2 oz of  shea butter (roughly 1/2 cup)
(you can substitute olive oil for the coconut oil, and cacao butter for the shea butter if you have someone with a nut allergy)

In a double boiler, heat the shea butter and coconut oil until completely liquid, then add the lotion base. 



Take an immersion blender and blend until the entire liquid is thick and creamy consistency. At this point add your lavender, or other essential oil (10 drops or more) and then blend briefly until completely incorporated into the mixture. While warm pour into mason jars or lotion bottles, label, cap and store. 



 Makes roughly a quart or more of lotion, which lasts our family around 3 months.

Here are the places where we got our products. Just wanted to remind you that, since I am an Amazon affiliate, a small portion of almost every item that you purchase goes to my family and supports my time and effort blogging. Thanks!



For the lotion base we went to Hobby Lobby.
 Click here to see the lotion base 

and the pictures to see the...

 lotion bottles

 

For the Shea Butter





 Coconut oil




and Lavender Essential Oil



If you are looking for some awesome pump tops for your mason jars, so you can turn them into soap or lotion dispensers, check these out....over at Lehman's. :)

Canning Jar Soap Pump Lids


Rough estimate for a little over a quart of super good, super rich, and super creamy lotion?
Around $13.00. And since we were spending more than that in a single month, and now this lasts us almost three, I think its a pretty good bargain! :)

Linked up at the Barn Hop

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Welcoming Wednesday Link-Up Party!!! And what a gorgeous winning entry!

Good morning everyone, and a hip happy Wednesday to you!
I am bright and chipper this morning because I am starting to finally feel better, I am THRILLED to be back on track here at The Welcoming House, and because I am super excited about the article and blogger that I am featuring for this week's Linky Party on The Welcoming House!

It has been three weeks since our last Link up due to my injury, and  I was excited and encouraged to see so many great blogs linked up and sharing on the last  Welcoming Wednesday



I really hope you share with your friends, and get them over here, because everyone that wins "featured Blogger of the Week" will be entered into a Grand Prize drawing for a $50 gift certificate to Amazon that will take place at the end of November---just in time for Christmas shopping! And...I might throw in a few other special little goodies at that time too, just depends on how things are going around here!


I would like to introduce you to this week's featured Blogger on Welcoming Wednesday:
my GOOD friend, Marty Junker from his Canning, Cooking and Gardening Blog:


Here was his GORGEOUS linkup from last time, White grape Jelly with Hibiscus Flowers


Isn't that absolutely beautiful? I am honored to have Marty come on this blog and enter his posts, because he is one of the guys who encouraged me to get started doing this in the first place, and frankly, he comes up with stuff I have never even thought of! I would encourage you to follow the link to his blog and spend some time browsing over there!

Marty,
please feel free to add our Welcoming House button on your post, and the statement that you were featured by us. I will have my Featured Blog button up and running in a couple weeks, and will be sure to contact you with that. You will also be entered in my Featured Blogs Contest that will continue throughout the year, where all the blogs will be entered for a large prize, to be announced in November.
 There were SO MANY good, encouraging, and meat-for-the-heart posts in last week's link up, that I would encourage you to head over and read them! Visit the blogs that are linking up and encourage them to keep writing! There are a lot of good folks out there who are linking up, and sharing ideas, and we can really support one another! :) Click here for the link to last week's Linky Party... 
 ******************
Would you please read the following and link up your posts? 
Each blog is allowed to enter two posts that fit in these categories.
 Entering your link is super easy, just click on the widget, and enter your URL link and thumbnail picture. It may take a little while to appear, but it will, just check back in a little bit! Please remember I moderate things, so it may take a little bit if you leave a comment as well! :) 
 The Welcoming Wednesday Link Party is open to anyone who is sharing posts from their blog in the following categories: 
DIY: what crazy creations are you concocting over on your homepage this week?
 Faith-based: Do you have a word of encouragement, life lesson, or heart speak to share with readers? ( please note, this is a Christan faith based blog, and this is the genre I am looking for..)
 Family-based: growing and raising a family is important stuff, and we want you to share your latest! Crafts, fun ideas, recipes, crazy pics? We want to see them all!
Herbs: Are you growing them? using them? Learning about them? Share with us! 
 Gardening: if you love the dirt, then this link up is for you! 
Frugal ideas: We can ALL use more ideas on how to save money, time, and to reuse, recycle, upcycle, or retrain our brains to put more money in our pockets! 
 Canning or preserving: Got a recipe? Want to crow about your latest accomplishment? Dare to share your failures? We are right here waiting for it! 
 Homesteading: We want to live vicariously through your efforts, so please give us updates on your homestead and all its accomplishments: 
 Preparedness: I am a firm believer in being prepared as much as you can be and not relying on someone to swoop in and save you, so posts dealing with this are welcome! 
 Please no giveaways or affiliate links without prior permission. 
 Our rules are super simple: PG rated.
 Nothing vulgar or crass will be tolerated. 
 In fact, a single verse comes to mind when I am looking for the heart of posts to be shared on this link up: "Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things!" (Philippians 4:8) 
  Be sure to link back here to the Welcoming House post so your readers can see all the wonderful posts from the Welcoming House community! You can find the code for my button right over there on the right side, just edit your post, go to HTML, add the script at the bottom of your post and click update. Voila! Ready, set, go! 
Many blessings to you and yours, 
Heather

Monday, February 18, 2013

Tantalizing Toffee Bars---a Simple and Satisfying Treat for Tasty Tuesday....

Good morning everyone! It is nice to get back on track and drop right back into the normal routine here on The Welcoming House Blog. Today, if you remember, is Tasty Tuesday
and this is the normal day for me to share recipes.

Today I want to share a simple-to-make, and amazingly filling and rich snack that is a good recipe to have on hand with kids or if someone is coming over.



Only a few ingredients, and yet so delicious, your kids or guests will never figure out how short of a time it took for you to make them. 
Enjoy, and have a wonderful Tasty Tuesday!

Tantalizing Toffee Bars
2 cups fresh ground soft white wheat pastry flour 
(I used my WonderMill)
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 eggs

Blend all these ingredients very well together, and then spread into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350* for around 30 minutes, then take out and put onto a cookie rack to cool. After about two minutes, put on either two cups chocolate chips, or one Hershey's chocolate bar (the normal size ones, not King sized), and allow it to melt, then spread to cover the bars.

Let cool completely (if you can) and then cut into 24 squares for treats.
Word of warning, if you DON'T let them cool, or you have jackals for children who are panting just to have a taste of them (which translates into eating as many as you will let them get away with as fast as they can shove them in) then this is one seriously messy, and glorious treat. :) The pictures were too horrible to share, but let me tell you, the bathtub was needed for cleanup. :)

Here are some good prices on the Amazon products I found to go with it:
and thank you to the many of you who have chosen to try to shop through my link and support my family through my time blogging and teaching.
Blessings to you and yours, 
~Heather



Make-It Yourself Monday--Five Simple` Ingredients and you Have Toothpaste....

In my years of making all my own mixes, and learning how to bake and cook from scratch, I slowly became aware of two things.
Number one: toiletry items are rather expensive, and a large part of any household budget...
and Number Two: surely, if I could replace so many things with homemade alternatives in my house in the cooking and baking department, with a little research and herbal know-how, I could replace our toiletries with ones that had ingredients I could actually pronounce.

So anyhow, with a little simple research, and a whole lot of learning to change my mind about some things (like fluoride) I was able to come up with a simple toothpaste that knocked my socks off.
Mainly because in only a week it removed an enormous amount of stains from my teeth, I didn't have morning breath, and my teeth felt cleaner than even using Crest toothpaste, 
which has been a mainstay of my life since I was about four.


30+ years is a long time to be dedicated to a product that didn't always do the job it promised, but like with anything else, it is hard to let go of things you rely on and start looking in other places for the same product. However, I am convinced that it is one step closer to relying on the knowledge I have learned instead of relying on someone else to provide it for me, and since this recipe is made from ingredients that you can keep stable in a food pantry or cupboard, you can make it in as large or small of an amount as you want.

While I use a half pint jar for my recipe, I have made it in much larger batches for the family use. Different people in my family prefer different tastes, such as my children liking peppermint flavor much more than the clove flavor that my husband and I enjoy. If you want something that it squeeze-able rather than placed in a jar, just simply put this into a inexpensive condiment bottle that you can get at a dollar store. They are simple to clean, and it you get the threaded type, they don't explode with pressure like so many do.

Five Ingredient Toothpaste
3 Tbs Coconut oil, Extra Virgin if possible for the best health benefits
1/4 cup baking soda
2 tsp glycerin
oil of cloves, food grade, no more than 10 drops
peppermint extract, 1 tsp

Mix all in a small bowl, and place in your container.

Coconut oil has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, so it really helps your teeth from collecting plaque throughout the day, and also keeps this formula from gathering bacteria. I have found the baking soda at first seemed abrasive, but was told my teeth are in excellent condition (and he wanted to know what I was using to make them so clean and white, lol), and very quickly removed stains I have been building up for years as a heavy coffee drinker. The glycerin helps the toothpaste retain a smoothness, and for my kids adds just enough of a sweet taste to offset the baking soda when combined with the peppermint. The oil of cloves is also anti-bacterial and helps with mouth health. Use very sparingly, no more than five to ten drops per batch the size of the above one, as it also has pain-deadening effects and too much is definitely TOO MUCH. It is a very good thing to have on hand for other ailments, or for toothaches before you can get to a dentist. You can also use spearmint for kids in place of the clove oil, which they find more appealing.


Just a quick note, if you have someone who suffers from canker sores, a mouth wash made of thyme and hyssop tea really does a good job of deadening the pain and healing the sores.

Amazon has some good deals on a couple of these products, so you can find them linked below. Thanks to all of you who have used my links, as every bit helps and supports my family in the process.



Sunday, February 17, 2013

Warning this post is going to get you thinking, or scoffing.....

Good morning, everyone! I know that it is Sunday morning, and I should be in church. I am very much missing it this morning, as I do not trust my balance enough to negotiate the snowy and slippery stairs outside my home, so instead I am doing church at home with my family, listening to sermons online from our church, and reading up on the latest Christian news. My dear friend, Diana, had linked an article on Facebook that not only intrigued me, but also made me astonished at the comments.

Knowing my readership has changed a lot in the last few months, especially over on Facebook with a great influx from other pages, perhaps not with the same worldview, this post may come as a shock.
Many of you do not know that on my personal wall on Facebook I choose to post many relevant news stories because that area contains my closest friends, people I have met, care deeply about, pray for, and hope are awake and watching. Many of them have approached me in the last few months and thanked me for doing that because they had, previous to this, been pretty much in the same rut as many Americans, soaking in the news stories on the MSM (main stream media) and ignorant of the many things that are happening behind the scenes.

Perhaps many of you do not know, or are simply not aware, that I am a dedicated Christian who filters all things through a Biblical worldview. I would hope that you know. I would hope that you have read many of my other posts like this one, under the Whispered Word, or Strengthening Word, links up on the space bar. 

But as I have already stated, many of you are new, and have not been following me for a long time.
I am greatly concerned with the lack of common knowledge in our country about issues that concern us all. I feel often that part of what makes beautiful as a country is our amazing diversity, and our ability to work through issues with the American dedication to independence and spirit of rising above adversity, or a common enemy. However, it almost seems like we are more divided than we have been in my memory. Everyone is against one another. There is no Common enemy, unless it is within ourselves. We are against one another for our wealth, or our poverty, our race or our lack there-of. We have truly divided ourselves into small camps, which makes us weaker and far more vulnerable.

I do not wish to cause more division, but simply to inform, through my worldview, things that are happening all around us that have already been predicted in the Bible. Things that we will see as common and everyday, but really are not. Consider them the warnings, some given thousands of years in advance, of the times that would come, and the common enemy that all man, every single one of us, would face in those times.
Being informed is being prepared. And when we come to that time (which I already truly believe we are in due to the prophetic books of the Bible and seeing things all around us that were spoken of as "birth pains") then I want you to know that there will come a day when EVERYONE will no longer have the luxury of ignoring the choice that they have before them.
And that is what I want to talk with you about today.

This is not a pitch for Christianity, and I want you to know that. You, dear readers, are adults (most of you) and the thing I pray that comes of this is simply this: that you will begin to question, dig deeper, ask yourself those questions that many of us avoid simply because we are afraid to confront the answers.
I have been there.
And my questions have been answered.
And they have been answered by the God of the Bible, who, I believe, does not want blind followers of a religion, but instead wants people who are passionate about a relationship with Him, and who are willing to ask the questions, dig deeper.
That is the kind of person I am.
So, today I want to talk about the article that my friend linked.
This post, and most likely the future posts I will be doing on Sundays from now on, are going to be addressing some of those things I find interesting that are happening during the week.


 Revelation 13:16-18
New International Version (NIV)
16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the 
mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.
18 This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.[a] That number is 666.



Please read this article to understand the rest of the post:


This claim that the microchip implant that will be available and placed in all Americans, large and small, has been one of the most gripping, passionate, and divisive discussions that I have ever been a part of. I find it amazing that not only did the people we voted into office pass a bill that they did not read that affected ALL Americans in such a way, but that people who have never taken time to read the bill get so worked up about something not being in there that really is.
I am not saying on page 1000 (it is actually closer to page 1003) that the microchip wording is not in there, but instead that the ground work is absolutely laid for it. And any thinking person who is quick to question such a far reaching bill, that was not read by the legislators who passed it, is going to ask what the ramifications and possibilities are of such a passage.

I find it very interesting that the wording is so vague in the original bill, and that they were quick on the national news media to reassure us, parade in front of us, experts who were telling us it was meant for pacemakers and other things like titanium plates. However, those things were not listed, just a general descriptions, with no addendums to check and give us more information. RFID chipping has become commonplace in some countries, such as Spain, where all their diplomats are chipped for security reasons. 

We already have children in Texas who are wearing ID cards around their neck that have RFID chips in them, to tell the staff where that child is at all times. We have RFID chips in our packaging, to tell the manufactures what items are purchased the most, and who buys them. Know all those little "reward cards" that are offered, for free, that give you points or discounts back with every purchase? What do you think they are doing? Like "cookies" on your computer, put there by places that want to see what you are interested in so that they can market the products to you that you will most likely purchase (think Google ads??), those cards are common place throughout our country, and most major retailers offer them now.

Granted, it is a big leap from chips in products to chips in people.
Or I used to think so. 
Now I think we really are on the brink of it.

Many years ago, a brilliant man named Larry Burkett, a Christian financial advisor and prophecy student, made the claim we would go from cash to check, check to card, card to cards with chips, then into implantations. He has been right on track so far, and frankly, as a thinking person, I don't see how people can't see how it will continue to progress to that point. His thoughts on our debt, and increasing choice in society to rely on debt, with its certain end, on this came out when I was between 16 and 18 years old, and at that time, I worked for an active and vibrant Christian radio station. He was laughed out of every Christian TV station, at the time,  called a fear-monger, and worse. So what did he do? He turned around and wrote a fictional series showing how it would work, the implications on the American society, and published it.
It was one of the last things he did, as he died shortly after.

Even as a young person, his reasoning has stuck with me for years. He was a financial man with a rare grasp on how our economy, and the common person works. In his books, he fictionally predicted the financial collapse of our society, the fighting of the different ages of people for jobs, the immense distress that it brought upon our nation, and how quickly a cashless system could be implemented, encouraging people to take an RFID chip (although I dont think he called them that if I remember correctly) for a small credit of money in an account, that you could then return to a normal society.
SO I want you to think about it.
True, it was fiction.
But I consider it an allergorical work.
He had the ability, and I truly believe the blessing and insight from the Holy Spirit, to predict things that are commonplace in our society only 20 years later. And things are quickly, quickly changing.

Think about it.
Who wants to carry a medical card, license, or National ID that contains every scrap of information on you when crime is so rampant and identities are stolen every day? Wouldn't it be safer to simply get an implant and then no one can pretend to be you, steal your money, or identity, access your medical records, etc?
If you dont think you need something like that, try filing taxes, buying a house, taking out a loan for a car, or anything else without using your social security number. It is now becoming even commonplace to ask for that information when you go to the doctor. We are a society that has slowly become used to the restrictions we find around us, all in the name of safety. It is but a short leap to consider this option.

What do most Christians believe against an implant or mark (tattoo) that will be placed on the right hand or forehead, allowing us to buy and sell, or actually, to exist in society as a person? Well really, its very simple, and something that has been prophetically predicted for thousands of years.

Just like the increase in earthquakes, meteors, and signs in the sun, moon, and stars.

Just like that in those times the entire world will be focused on the Middle East, and specifically Israel (which by the way, was also prophetically foretold it would again become a nation and now it is despite horrendous persecution from Hitler and others trying to eradicate the Jewish people from the earth), and we will all be watching and crying "peace, peace, peace".

Sounds familiar, doesn't it? That area doesn't exactly look like it is heading towards peace anytime soon, but seriously, when it does, it will be what we expect, because again, that was prophetically predicted. But of course, according to Biblical prophecy, not before the tiny nation of Israel is attacked by powerful enemies from the north, east and south. Russia, Iran, and a few others will form an alliance, and move to eradicate them from the earth once and for all.
And if that doesn't make you sit up and take notice, considering that information is in our common news stories we hear each week, well, perhaps there is no hope you will begin to think about what I have to say.

Back to the chips, marking each American, and eventually the entire world.

 However, against this article I would like to state, the Bible is crystal clear that it will be a CHOICE, that leaves NO ROOM for question---you will be choosing for or against the Lord when you choose that implant, it will not be shrouded in questionable ethics, or wrapped in a healthcare program, whatever. There will be no question, you can not get duped into it, you will be fully aware and informed of the choice you are making. You choose to rely on the Lord alone, and stand against man and the Anti-Christ, or you accept that the Antichrist is your God and Savior and you accept the chip.
 Will that time come? Absolutely.
 The Bible has been accurate on every count, and even today we are seeing Biblical prophecy
 that ten years ago would have been sneered at. 

Thanks for reading. I welcome your comments and simply ask you to be polite, and considerate. I am very open to healthy, strong conversations about this, but not to disparate and hateful comments. Those will simply not be published as I moderate everything.

Blessings to you and yours,
Heather

Ps--You can find these articles each Sunday under the search term Truth Demands a Choice, and I will be working on putting the others I mentioned  under the same label.
If you are a believer in Christ, I want to encourage you. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. Don't worry about what you will need to say  or do when that time comes. Just stand in your faith, and be willing, because like Paul, and the many other people we are familiar with, the words will be given to us when the time is right, and we need to rest in that. 


Saturday, February 16, 2013

Saturday free Ebooks for the day.........

Hi Everyone!~
Its been a long week of recovery and pain around here, but I am getting better and back up to my normal speed (ha, yeah right).
I have seen this morning that there are a lot of great free ebooks over on Amazon for you, so I thought I would put a bunch of them on here so many of you who are not over on the FB page would see them as well.
I will try to do better this week about getting our posts out on time.
Many blessings to you and yours,
Heather


Free Ebooks for Saturday, Feb 16th, 2013

Children's books/Homeschooling



Cooking/Baking Books





Gardening books




Herbal Medicine or Information books




Survival or Preparedness Books




Frugal Living Books


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