I'm Late

Two and a half weeks late, that is.

Baby #4 is at 6.5 weeks gestation and already has eyes, nose, fingers, toes and a beating heart! Completely human from start to finish! It's amazing!

For You formed my inward parts;

You wove me in my mother’s womb.

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Wonderful are Your works,

And my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139:13-14

Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.

Ecclesiastes 11:5

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb,

"I, the LORD, and the maker of all things,

Stretching out the heavens by Myself

And spreading out the earth all alone . . .

Isaiah 44:24

I'm Not Really Black

Because I don't smoke crack, nor do I think and act like a victim of the oppressive white man, nor do I wear chains.

"Black is a skin color, not a disposition."

Forgive Because You've Been Forgiven

There is no better way to harbor bitterness than to nurse an attitude of unforgiveness.

There is no clearer demonstration of an unrepentant person

than that he or she always bears a grudge.

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other,

just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:30-32

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you,

so also should you.

Colossians 3:12-13

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ So his fellow slave fell to the ground andbegan to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

Matthew 18:21-35

Fast Frugal Fixes

The economy is bad and prices for goods and services are rising, especially for food. Here are some fast ways to cut your budget:

1. Buy in bulk.

Become a member at a wholesale club, like Costco, Sam's, or BJ's. Generally those items will be cheaper, per item, than if you bought the same quantity in the regular grocery or retail store. Meat and cheese are especially cheaper at wholesale retailers.

2. Frequent Shopper cards.

Many stores have free frequent shopper cards that help to save money here and there, like Sally's Beauty Supply, Food Lion, Ingles, etc.

3. Always be on the lookout for deals.

Many stores will have circular flyers at the store entrance, post them online or even sent in weekly mailings and newspapers. Take advantage of this information and shop accordingly.

4. One car.

If you have more than one vehicle, it can consume a lot of money: car payment, maintenance, gas, and insurance. If you're able, sell it to a private seller and pocket that money in your savings account.

5. Efficient planning for your errands.

Make a list, check it twice or even three times. Go through your entire house to make sure that there is nothing your forgetting to pick up before your next errand trip. This saves gas and time.

6. Rice & beans

These and potatoes, carrots, celery, pasta and bananas are always very cheap items. Ten pounds of potatoes at Sam's Club are just $5. Ten pounds of carrots are about $2.50 or $3. Whole grain pasta is only about $1.20 per 13 oz. dry box and bananas usually run about $0.50 per pound at Walmart.

7. Couponing.

It's a verb now. And if you work it just right, you can get tons of free stuff and even store credit! I've heard it done, but haven't practiced myself. This takes a lot of time and organization. I'm always tempted to buy products I don't need or use just because I have a coupon or it's on sale, so coupon wisely.

8. Patience is a frugal virtue.

Wait for clearance sales when purchasing new items. Wait for Black Friday and the After Christmas clearance sales. In Georgia there is a tax-free weekend before public school begins where many school supply items are sold at cheap prices without sales tax applied.

9. Goodwill & second-hand stores, including yard sales.

This is essential when buying clothing. Often you can buy name brand materials (Ralph Lauren, Chico's, Ann Taylor, Express, Land's End, etc.) for unbelievable prices! And oftentimes these items may still have the original store tags still attached!

10. Cook more, eat out less.

If your dying to eat something different, try a new recipe or something you can buy at the grocery store and take home to prepare. It will ALWAYS be cheaper than going to a restaurant, paying a babysitter, buying the meal and tipping your server!

11. Do-it-yourself projects.

We saved a boat load on new, needed, carpet for our home when Jeramy bought it at a wholesale price and installed it himself! We saved thousands of dollars when he professionally painted a faux-finish on many of our walls! You don't always have to hire a professional to do EVERYTHING in your home. There are many resource materials available online, YouTube videos, etc. that guide you in your home projects.

12. Research pays off.

When buying things online, I always try to find retailers that charge minimum to no shipping costs. Sometimes though you have to be careful: they hike up the price and don't charge shipping whereas other sites may charge less for the item and give you shipping options or free shipping with minimum $ purchase (like Amazon). I just bought a cloth diaper cover at Cotton Babies without paying any shipping or being overcharged for my item!

13. Pay with cash.

It's crazy, I know. But when the cash is gone, you will stop buying things! This past grocery shopping trip, Jeramy gave me cash. I wrote this dollar amount at the top of my list. Then as I picked up and crossed off each item I put in my cart I wrote down its price. Then when I got to the register I knew exactly how much I was going to spend. (I rounded the prices of course.) And the outcome? I ended up having $75 left over to rollover into next month's budget, help to pay the principle on our mortgage or use toward Christmas gifts!

The Zero, Zero, Zero Plan

The Zero, Zero, Zero Plan

Click on the link to a funny political cartoon!

Unplanned Pregnancy or Hurting After Abortion?

You can find local, confidential help by calling 1.800.395.HELP

24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Pregnancy Resource Center of Gwinnett

is for women who are facing a crisis pregnancy, or suffering in the aftermath of an abortion. It is a non-profit, licensed medical clinic and pregnancy counseling center offering free pregnancy, STD and ultrasound tests. The professional staff at PRCG will assist you in getting the information you need to think through all of your options. The website is prcg.org and the telephone number is 770.338.1680.

Other Pregnancy Resource Centers & Pregnancy Care Centers

A Beacon of Hope

678.893.5290

2750 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek

Athens Pregnancy Center

678.753.3180

767 Oglethorpe Avenue, Athens

Atlanta Care Center

404.262.2273

1720 Peachtree Street #496, Atlanta

Birthright of Atlanta

404.451.2273

3424 Hardee Avenue, Atlanta

Gainesville Care Center

770.535.1245

434 Green Street Place, Gainesville

Pregnancy Resource Center of Gwinnett

770.338.1680

501 Crown Pointe Way, Lawrenceville

Gwinnett Right to Life

www.abortionfactsstoriespictures.com

The Gwinnett County Chapter of Georgia Right to Life works to restore respect and effective legal protection for all persons from earliest biological beginning to natural death. Our purpose is to educate Gwinnett County residents on right-to-life issues, including abortion, euthanasia, infanticide and embryonic stem cell research. We train citizens to effectively articulate their pro-life beliefs.

Email us at gwinnettrighttolife@gmail.com, or call 770.339.6880, for our schedule of monthly chapter meetings, pro-life apologetics training, and events.

Please support the work of Gwinnett Right to Life by volunteering your time or contributing financially at www.abortionfactsstoriespictures.com or by mail c/o GRTL, 783 Holcomb Bridge Road, Norcross GA 30071.

Georgia Right to Life is a state affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee. GRTL has been organized for legal and peaceful activities in the areas of education, legislation and political action since 1971.

Witchcraft & Abortion

"Whenever pagan sexual immorality is accepted, abortion and child sacrifice become a necessity in covering up the fruit of sin."

Remember reading the Old Testament and Israel is about to cross over the Jordan to dispossess and annihilate the pagan nations in order to inhabit the land God promised to Abraham, Isaac & Jacob? They were to completely obliterate them because of their wicked practices and not show any pity on certain nations because they sacrificed their children, making them pass through the fire, etc. I had always thought of that being infanticide, or child sacrifice (between toddler and teen age). This brief documentary was very enlightening to connect ancient abortion practices with pagan witchcraft and idol worship. Watch both part 1 and 2 for the full account.

Does functionality define our value as persons?

No!

We have inherent human value, whether we are highly functioning or whether we are small, different, or dependent on others. Just because someone is of small size, at an immature level of development, located in a certain environment or dependent on others for life sustenance does not disqualify a human being from being valuable, nor place limitations on our 'unalienable' right to life in the US Constitution. The 'unalienable right to life comes from God by virtue of the fact that we have been created in His image and are thus imbued with a unique worth and dignity not found in the rest of creation.

A 5 Minute Speech

I posted this a while ago, but it's still just as relevant and powerful!

Lessons in Logic

The "Moral Relativism" Fallacy

"If you don't like abortion, don't have one."

This argument employs the "moral relativism" fallacy, which twists a moral belief into a personal preference. The moral relativist says it is wrong for anyone to "force" their moral absolutes on others. They take our moral statement, "abortion is wrong" and make it into just our personal preference. There are two flaws with this argument. First, the moral relativist is himself trying to impose his views on us; and secondly, civilized society is structured around basic moral beliefs, one of which is that killing innocent human beings is wrong. We are not saying we don't like abortion, we are saying it is wrong.

"Personally, I'm against abortion, but I don't think I should impose my views on others so I think it should be legal."

If you believe this, let me ask you a question. Why do you oppose abortion? If your answer is that you oppose abortion because it kills a human baby, are you really sure that you believe that baby killing should be legal? Do you oppose slavery, kidnapping, and genocide? Would you say that you oppose them, but that they should be legal? We hope not! Abortion is in the same category. Abortion ends the life of an innocent human person, and it should be illegal - not a "choice" to be made at the personal discretion of individuals.

The "Ad Hominem" Fallacy

"Men should not have anything to say about abortion . . . it's a woman's issue."

"You don't care that unwanted children will be abused. We believe every child should be a wanted child."

"It is hypocritical for pro-lifers to be against abortion unless they are willing to adopt all the unwanted babies that would be born."

These are examples of rhetorical personal attacks against the pro-life advocate designed to sidetrack the discussion from the central question, "Does abortion kill an innocent human person?" The pro-abortion advocate claims they are against child abuse, but since when is it logical to kill a person in order to prevent the possibility that they might someday be abused?

The "Begging the Question" Fallacy

"Making abortion illegal forces women into dangerous back-alley abortions."

This logical fallacy begs the question by pre-supposing that the unborn baby is not a human person. Before a woman goes to a "back-alley" she first needs to determine if she is committing murder by aborting her baby. Their argument also assumes that abortion is the only option for women in a crisis pregnancy. She could choose parenting or adoption for her baby. Contrary to popular belief, it is now well known that the number of deaths due to "back-alley" abortions was greatly exaggerated during the period prior to Roe v. Wade.

"A woman has the right to choose to do whatever she wants with her own body."

This statements begs the question by assuming there is only one body involved in an abortion - the mother's. But what about the baby's body? The unborn baby's body - although connected to and sustained by the mother - is at the same time unique, with its own brain and central nervous system. The baby's gender and blood type may be different than the mother, and he or she has a unique DNA fingerprint. Historically, civilized societies have rejected the idea that men and women can do whatever they want with their own bodies, especially if their actions will harm them or another person.

"Women shouldn't have to carry a child conceived through rape."

Rape is a terrible crime and its victims deserve our deepest sympathy. But, would it be right to abort a child conceived in rape simply because the child may remind the mother of the painful event? Does the mother, as a victim of a violent crime, have the right to victimize an innocent person - the child in her womb? It is wrong to kill a baby based on the circumstances of the baby's conception.

First, I want to add to the latter that no person has any control over the circumstances of their own conception, are not culpable for it, and it is therefore unjust to make them accountable for that sin. In other words: two wrongs don't make a right. Don't punish the baby because of the sin of the father!

Secondly, although the baby was conceived by a sinful, horrible act, that baby is still half of the mother genetically speaking! It is like killing part of yourself!

Taken from a pamphlet of The Gwinnett County Chapter of GA Right to Life

Dresses Everyday!

Sittin' Pretty

Photogenic Lily

When the camera comes out and she is happy, the smiles are all on!

Not Walking Yet . . .

Two Mondays ago, Shiphrah took two steps unassisted! However when we tried to get her to do it again, she refused and has not attempted another solo since. I can't wait for her to walk. It's so cute when they first walk and it's a real waddle. :-D

Ectopic Pregnancy? Don't panic!

I just recently read an interesting, informative blog post on ectopic pregnancy. Apparently it's more common than people think and it's not a death sentence to both baby and mom in every case! Oftentimes, when trying to balance a biblical worldview on the sanctity of life on this issue we opt to save the mom's life because the baby will die regardless. But that is not always true.

Head on over to Life in a Shoe and read Ectopic Pregnancy & the Sanctity of Life and her follow-up post, Ectopic Pregnancy Clarifications.

Evolution & Abortion

From the answers update magazine, volume 18, issue 10.

Did you know there's a connection between evolution and abortion? The growing influence of evolutionary ideas and an increasing acceptance of abortion have gone hand in hand. Now, some people have unfortunately misunderstood our beliefs as we link evolution with abortion, suggesting that Answers in Genesis is arguing that evolution is the cause of abortion. Not at all. (In an ultimate sense, sin is the cause.)

At the same time, there is a connection between evolution and abortion. If people believe the Bible isn't the absolute authority in all matters--and if they think they're just animals in evolutionary history and are not made in God's image, and are accountable to no one but themselves-- the more they will justify anything they want. That includes killing a baby in its mother's womb.

If a person believes he is just an animal in an evolutionary struggle for survival, then in that person's mind a developing baby is also an animal. Just as some people get rid of stray animals by killing them, people might also say: why not also get rid of spare children through abortion?

While evolution isn't the cause of abortion, the more we see people reject the teaching of God's Word and accept evolution, the more they can justify abortion.

Adapted from the October 10, 2011 broadcast of the Answers . . . with Ken Ham radio program.

Great Video Documentary

The REAL Victimization of Women

Feminism has made women feel like they are victims of a male dominated patriarchal society and cultivated in her heart a sense of discontentment toward her role as the homemaker. Unless she is using her talents and skills outside of the home and making wages of her own, her value is less than that of, a man.

But in order for women to be free from the protection and security of the home, they must first gain a skill set to be used in the marketplace by going away to college. There they learn to gain the glory of man in a worldly definition of success. In college women must be taught to adopt a sense of autonomy apart from God, apart from Biblical submission to their parents & husbands and become their own person, ruling themselves as they see fit. After that, they must have some way of restricting the normative fruit of children through birth control.

Feminists must teach women to become bitter. They become bitter at God for creating them as women, the "weaker sex." Women get bitter at their husbands for caging them in, suppressing their talents and skills by confining them to the four walls of their home. And not only that, but become bitter also for the burden of children. Feminism must also provide a means to "fix" the problem of unplanned, unwanted pregnancy when it is inconvenient for the career goals that feminism thrusts at these women.

Feminism has also made women feel that their husbands and fathers no longer value their interests at the voting booths and pushed women to separate from their family unit to oppose, in the secret of the ballot box, the views of her husband. Women have separated themselves from the order of Creation by leaving her created role of helpmeet & mother in order to share Adam's curse. They have separated themselves physically from the protection of her family under her father and husband by going away to college or away to work. Women have separated themselves emotionally by becoming embittered at their husbands. Women have separated themselves from the future generation by not having many or any children and by not rearing them, i.e. leaving them in the hands of daycare or nannies. And women have separated themselves politically at the voting booths.

While feminism has truly set out to victimize the housewife, making her the target of their attacks. It's really the feminists that themselves have become the victims of attacks by the devil. When these women get old (and some men are feminists too) they are bitter as they look back over their lives and realize that their collection of dolls, stamps, 401K, IRA, etc. does not compare to the joy of grandchildren and children caring for you in your old age, their worldview comes to a head and they die bitter, lonely people. What a tragic existence - your whole life you chase after the glory of man and the idol of autonomy to see that after 50 years, there is nothing of lasting value to show for it. I pity the feminists. But not too much, they brought it upon themselves. Their worldview, for many, will die with them.

Personhood & Life

What Is Personhood?

In the US, the term 'person' refers to an individual who has certain inherent rights, such as the right to life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness. These rights are protected by the US Constitution and are bestowed by God. The intrinsic humanity of unborn children, by definition, means theya re persons and their right to life should therefore be protected under the law. Since 1973, however, this has not been the case.

In America, this group of living human persons possesses personhood, but has no protection under the law. God has bestowed this precious gift of life, yet unborn children are being killed en masse every day.

When Does Human Life Begin?

Embryologists teach that life begins at conception. The unborn is alive, and growing from the moment of conception. Logically, if it must be killed to stop its growth, then it must be alive.

Is an unborn baby a human being? Pasteur's Law of Biogenesis states that two human parents can only produce human offspring. The unborn is a human being with a unique human genetic structure and is the offspring of human parents.

Even though a person begins life at the level of a developing zygote, it is still a complete human being. A zygote will become a fetus, who will become an infant, who will become a teenager, who will become an adult. The form will change, but it will always be a human being.

Taken from a pamphlet of The Gwinnett County Chapter of GA Right to Life

40 Days for Life

Last Tuesday, we attended the kick off rally for the 40 Days for Life Campaign hosted by GA Right to Life, Silent No More Awareness and other pro-life organizations in Gwinnett County & Lawrenceville. This is a time to pray for the closing of abortion clinics in Lawrenceville & Gwinnett County and to pray that this holocaust would come to an end in the United States. The rally began at 6:30 p.m. with prayer, singing hymns, a testimony and a talk/speech/sermon about the evil of abortion. Then it concluded with another hymn and prayer. The woman who gave her testimony had aborted two of her children and spoke of how she could only find hope, forgiveness and peace through Christ. Many of the women who abort their children are crushed under intense guilt, depression & despair. They start taking drugs, begin drinking heavily or attempt suicide.

This issue of abortion, pro-choice vs. pro-life, is not just a political debate, it is a moral injustice in our nation. In the Constitution our fore fathers recognized that people are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights: the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Since 1973 in the US, the right to life for unborn babies has been unprotected and ruled by the liberal mob. Some parents and the legal system have become bullies, throwing around their larger size, physical strength, and medical technology to deny this right to children who are fully persons, created by God in His image for His glory.

Let us pray for the end of this evil, wicked, horrific and bloody massacre of the next generation of human beings. And don't just pray, do what you can to fight it.

Fight by:

• having children
• loving & disciplining your children
• teaching them the doctrines of God
• teaching them that we are created in God's image
• teaching them that babies are just as much human as the rest of us
• teaching them that babies are fully formed in the womb by 7 weeks gestation
• showing them ultrasound pictures
• teaching them the truth about Creation and the deception of evolution
• giving money to pro-life organizations and crisis pregnancy centers
• voting pro-life
• volunteering time to counsel
• going door-to-door with pamphlets
• standing outside clinics with signs
• articulating an educated pro-life position with those who oppose
• write about it on your blog, facebook or twitter

God will not bless the United States if we forsake His laws. I'm not endorsing that we become a theocracy - we should not. But if we don't acknowledge our Creator in repenting of our sin and seeking His will in every area of our lives (I'm specifically speaking to the Church) then we cannot expect this nation to recover economically, morally, civilly, spiritually, etc.

Sister Squeeze