Have We Trampled on Jesus?

You know how we read scriptures many times over & sometimes it really speaks to us? Well, I found this scripture a few weeks ago that really spoke to me. I believe it will also speak to you.

Hebrews 10: 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

Hebrews 10:29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

Wow…what powerful words….have we insulted the Spirit of grace by our willingness to partake in things that are not holy? Have we trampled the Son of God underfoot by the words we speak? The things that we do? What we participate in or allow? Do we excuse things that deep down we know are not God-like and don’t bring about His glory in our lives? When we do, are we honestly realizing that at some point there no longer remains a sacrifice for those sins, & that we’ve trampled Jesus & insulted what He did on the cross? Will we be thought worthy? Or will like verse 27 says that there will be “a certain fearful expectation of judgment & fiery indignation”?

Upon reading that living Word, I prayed God do not allow me to be guilty of that. Let your Holy Spirit convict me & bring me to a life of holiness before You every day. A life that doesn’t insult what You did for me on the cross. One that doesn’t excuse that time-altering event as a common thing to be trampled underfoot like dirt or mud or trash. Lord help me to live a life of holiness that He requires to see Him (Hebrews 12:14).

So I ask you today…..are you pursuing a life of holiness? A life that doesn’t insult Jesus or trample the Spirit of grace? We must do that for ourselves. No one can do it for us. His Spirit will help us but we must make that conscious decision to either be for him or against him.

As Christians no matter if we're new ones or if we've been around a while, our growth in holiness is a daily process. That's why Paul said, "I die daily." (I Cor 15:31). None of us have completely arrived. We all have places in our lives we can work on to be more like Christ. As a Christian we must guard against allowing sinful opportunities in our lives. We must use the benefits of our relationship with Christ, put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) & watch because our enemy seeks to devour & destroy us (1 Peter 5:8-9). Because we have been crucified in & with Christ (Galatians 2:20) & we have been raise up with him (Col 3:1-3) we have a promise that we can live a holy, sanctified life by depending on Jesus. Jesus' grace allows us to live a holy, sanctified life. How can we lose if we are for Him…..but how much can we lose including our lives if we are not?

Father, may your Holy Spirit speak & convict us of the areas in our lives where we are not being all that we can be in You. Help us to live a holy life before you. One that doesn't insult you & one that constantly informs & reforms until it is fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.

Great T-Shirt....SO true....

We saw this t-shirt the other day!
Gotta LOVE it!

Swimming

I wanted to get a picture of the boys with their MEMS tattoos!
Uncle Greg should be proud!
What absolutely adorable advertisement!!

Red Woves Scrimmage

Clay running. He's the one with the long white shirt. Their uniforms aren't in yet!

Clay on the bench with his coach looking at his thumb!

Clay on the line. He's down & ready!

Clay & some of his teammates before the game!

Clay had his first scrimmage games last Saturday. It was extremely hot, the state was under a heat advisory and it was almost unbearable. He had a great time. Learned a lot. He was run over by a huge kid & injured but I guess that's the breaks of playing football. He said, Mom, the first time I was hit, I think I kind of blacked out & when I cam to a few seconds later, I saw stars. He was face-masked a little later & someone clipped him & he jammed his thumb. As he was on the sideline, he told the coach, I'm so hot I can't breath...He said Mom, the coach said, well take your helmet off! LOL. We have another scrimmage this week & his first official game is on Saturday. Can't wait to see how much they've improved since now they know what it feels like to be plowed over!

Meet the Charging Wildcats

Friday night NLR High School had ceremony to introduce all of the fall sports. Chandler is running cross country so his team was announced. It was fun to see all of the kids we know who are playing sports & other activities & a neat way to kick off the year. Chandler doesn't really like running, but is participating to stay conditioned for baseball. One day at practice I heard some of the guys talking about working on their time so they could get a scholarship for college. I was telling Chandler about it & he said, "Mom, I will go to Clown College before I get a scholarship running!" I literally died laughing. I said...Chandler, I'm right there with you! I don't like it either, that's why in track, I ran hurdles. They were a short distance & over quickly! He is my child for sure!!!

Old State House Museum

Now homeschoolers know how to do it right. We plan field trips on the 2nd day of school! A group of about 60 of us went to the Old State House on Friday. We dropped Chandler off at school & headed downtown. The museum was interesting. The guide who did the Civil War presentation was great. Our other tour guide was a little...well a lot...light in the loafers & the only thing on the whole tour he was excited about was the first ladies ball gowns. We were not impressed with him & hopes he finds a career somewhere else b/c we don't think he'll succeed as a tour guide for school groups.

On the first day of 9th & 5th grades.........

August 19 was the first day school for the NLR Schools. Chandler started 9th grade today at "real" school. He's been homeschooled since he was in kindergarten. He decided last year that he really wanted to go to school for various reasons. We've talked, prayed, discussed & discussed it. I've had my reservations, not about his ability but about my role in preparing him. It's a very humbling feeling to know that someone else will be critiquing my role as a parent, teacher, and sole educator of my child. Most people will never face those feelings & thoughts but for those of us homeschooling parents out there who decide to put our children into the school system we can totally relate & know that this is where the rubber meets the road. I've never been one to really care if people agree or disagree with the decisions I make for my children but in this instance I can only pray that I've done well & that I've prepared him.

We've had God's tremendous blessing all along the registration and enrollment process so we are extremely happy about that. Generally 9th graders take Algebra I, but Chandler took that last year. We got permission from the school district by providing my lesson plans, course of study, grades, etc for him to use his Algebra I that he took last year & move on to Geometry. So he's starting high school with a high school credit in math, & he's never attended a public school. I loved Chandler's attitude about it. I told him that we would pray about it, submit the materials, & we would take whatever decision they made. He said, "Mom, it will be ok if they don't, I'll take the class again." God blessed us; so Yeah God!!

So here he is in the car ready to go. He was super excited! When we got out to the car early that morning, there was a small sack on the windshield. It was a sweet note, bag of goodies, & some money for lunch from Jerri, my sister. I was not worried, emotional or anything about him going to school until I read the note. It was such a sweet gesture that I cried....so thanks Jerri...for messing up my mascara! LOL.

Chandler's First Day of 9th Grade!

Chandler reading Jerri's note!

Jerri's Note!

Now not to leave Clay out. He was along for the ride to school. After we dropped Chandler off, our friend, Taylor, missed the bus on the first day. He called me so we headed over to pick him up & take him to East Campus where he & Chandler both go. He as a little anxious that the bus came early & he missed it on the first day, but I think we talked him out of his nervousness on the way to school. He was a little late but it was ok.

After dropping Taylor off, Clay & I went to the home school "Not Back to School Breakfast" at the donut shop. There were so many homeschoolers there that there was hardly room to sit. We visited with some old friends, then headed home to start our school day! All in all....it was a great first day of school!

Clay's First Day of 5th Grade!