Merry Christ-a-must!
Even when we are tired from working hard against deadlines, we make some time for fun, especially with our volunteer first responders. Clint and I had the crew laughing. Then we heard them radio to the rest about our antics. The reply "Alright! We'll be over there in just a second." :-) A good time was had by all!
Warning: There is a video of Clint and me dancing floating around out there somewhere! There is another one of Emily and Hannah dancing in the street to the Christmas music that was playing the whole time during the jolly visit.
It's no longer enough to teach our children Bible stories;
they need doctrine and apologetics.
-William Lane Craig*
I only half agree with this statement.
It has never been enough and they have always needed doctrine and apologetics along with the stories of the Bible. They need to be able to spot false teaching as soon as they hear it. They also need to make the connection between the heroes in the Bible to engage their hearts.
Dear Reader, Clint and I used ABeka Bible Doctrines for Today with all of our children and with some of our young friends. It can be found used for much less money. It is great for young people and adults and makes a good faith-building refresher course. My love to all!
*Never assume that because Clint and I agree with one thing a person says that we agree with all the things they say. We disagree with Mr. Craig on the earth's age and a few other things. There are other people we have quoted that have good points of wisdom with which we disagree on other things.
Dramatic warning: "The world is on the brink..."
Israel has released the first national intelligence report that says the world is on the brink of a tectonic shift that will change the planet's geopolitics.
The Israeli Ministry of Intelligence has prepared a report warning that the world is on the verge of a transition to a new global order, the Jerusalem Post announced. The document is defined as the first report of the Israeli National Intelligence Service
It's just a matter of time before courageous leaders step out of the shadows and full peace is achieved between all the children of Abraham," said Danon, speaking of the Abrahamic Accords.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHyLM571MjM&ab_channel=Busy4theLord
"out of the shadows" shadows = darkness = evil They tell us exactly what we need to know.
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. Daniel 9:27
Make haste to get yourself right with Christ. Don't delay. You will wake up one day to realize you have run out of opportunities.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23
"There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death." Proverbs 14:12
"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." Isaiah 59:2
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 2:5
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." 1 Peter 3:18
"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12
"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
Dear Reader, I care about you and your loved ones. Please do not put off getting yourself right with God through Jesus. If you have that blessed salvation through grace, then please share the gospel with others.
If the world is on the brink of a leader who will make the Daniel 9:27 peace treaty, then the Church is on the brink of the rapture. I believe we are so very close. There are Christians claiming we have another 10-20 years. I could be wrong, but I just do not see that myself.
Amanda was working on a machine that kept going down. She'd get it running and it would work fine for a while and shut down again. The battle between my girl and the machine went back and forth all day. A co-worker stopped her as she went back to make it start again and asked "Don't you EVER give up?!" As she proceeded walking she looked at him and said, "That's the one thing my parents never taught me."
The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;
13
Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Ezekiel 3:17-19
Dear Reader, While this verse is referring to the nation of Israel, we can understand the principle given and apply it to the time we are living. If we know danger is coming and do not warn others, we will be found with blood on our hands. It is very clear to those who are the Lord's Watchmen that the End Times are fast approaching. We are at the end of the Church age and the period of grace it has given mankind. The Rapture of the Church and the Tribulation is ahead. This is no time to be shy, hesitant, or afraid. It is a time to speak out and be bold. Witness today before your opportunity is gone. If you love them, share the gospel with them. Warn them. Don't let their blood be on your hands.
"Health is a good thing; but sickness is far better, if it leads us to God." ~J.C. Ryle
My golden oak kitchen cabinets are about 10-12 years old. I could find the receipt and calculate the exact date, but I feelin' lazy. They were looking pretty rough the last few years, but I put up with them because we were working on other projects. We are still working on one big project, but I got fed up with the kitchen and started doing something about it.
To faux finish my kitchen would have cost $7500 due to the number of cabinets and the trim work I have and how many steps were involved. That also includes the price for the hardware. I've done without knobs and handles all this time. I can do all of it myself for under $250. So that is what I am doing.
I'd rather leave them white (it really made the kitchen bright and clean looking-which I love) or another light solid color,
BUT,
I have a large family. A large family means things don't stay new looking for long. I know the white would get stains on it in short order, so I gathered ideas and settled on this one. For good or bad, this is what I am doing with my time today.
I truly do not know if I will like it once it is done. The color of the cabinets in the kitchen is not about having my way. It's about what works best for the good of the family.
At least it will hide the grease monkey stains several members of our gang leave all over everything. And, no, that is not a complaint. I am very proud of them for having the skills to do things themselves. Having a family with strong skillsets mean messes left behind, but it is a very rewarding trade-off.
My love to all!
Please pray for a very close and very dear family friend who received very bad news about her father, mother, and son. I am the only person she has told other than her boyfriend who was there when the news came in. She is heavily burdened and heartbroken to the point she is very physically ill. It is like she has been body slammed and her lungs collapsed! She is gasping for air. She needs prayers for a voice, strength, peace, rest, and to keep herself firmly in agreement with God's Word.
Dear Reader, Storms blow hard on this earth. They wreak havoc and try our hearts and minds. I think if we truly understood how hard the enemy is coming at us, we would take prayer so much more seriously. Please know, I consider it a big gift to me and my family and loved ones when you pray earnestly for us. Thank you so very much. Reach out to me through the email in the header or through Facebook to let me know how #TeamAsbell can join you in prayer also. If you ever need to talk, ask me for my phone number. I am here if you need someone to listen and team up with you in prayer. My love to all.
If you are in Hampton Roads or the surrounding area, I have a 17 x 17 tent. An average-height adult can stand up inside the center. It divides into four rooms. The person who gave it to our family said they bought it, put it up in the yard to make sure they could do it, and then never went camping. It is in very good condition.
I also have a smaller 4 man tent (probably more suited for two). Same story as above.
I have not put either of them together myself.
Contact me through the email in the header if interested to arrange a pickup time or place. Pickup can possibly be in Williamsburg, Suffolk, Cobbs Creek, Gloucester, Mathews, or Isle of Wight. It depends on the day and time.
Update 2/11: I should have posted this yesterday, but I was very, very busy and moving between two different locations. As of yesterday, the bleeding from his teeth has stopped. Caleb has a piece of Kevlar glued to the back of several teeth to hold them all in place. He can feel them tugging at the Kevlar. Other than that, he is doing very well. Because so many have asked, the dentist told him to brush as normal and to use mouthwash to prevent infection. Thank you for all of your concern, love, and prayers. We love you too!
Update 12/9:Thank you for the many messages and calls regarding Caleb. He still has some slight bleeding in his mouth, but it is less than it was. Other than that, he is OK. He is back at work. He has come up with a plan to prevent the accident from happening to someone else. The dentist said the teeth may turn grey or blue, but even then they still might survive. He has a good chance they will survive because they were not knocked out just back. We will have to see what happens over the next six weeks.
12/7: Caleb took a very hard blow to the head while at work yesterday afternoon. Please say a prayer that Caleb's head, teeth, and neck heal completely. We will not have answers on his teeth for six weeks. He had to have at least one of them put back into place. He is home today to rest.
Clint and I are very thankful he is still with us and that his injuries were not worse than they are.
"Satan disguises submission to himself under the ruse of personal autonomy. He never asks us to become his servants. Never once did the serpent say to Eve, 'I want to be your Master'. The shift in commitment is never from Christ to evil; it is always from Christ to self. And instead of his will, self-interest now rules, and what I want reigns. And this is the essence of sin." Dennis F. Kinlaw
One of our family members has been injured at work. They took a blow to the face that moved their teeth. They have seen a dentist and had their teeth put back into place. Clint came home to take them to the ER. Right now, they do not want their name published because they want to rest.
Please pray there is no concussion and that the blood supply to the teeth is still healthy.
A gentle person I have learned a great deal from regarding natural medicine is about to pass from life to death. Please pray for their salvation. Thank you.
But I say unto you which hear,
Love your enemies,
do good to them which hate you,
Luke 6:27
Don't allow your WOUNDS to become WALLS. JESUS died to give you FREEDOM.
