Once Saved Always Saved?

I was talking with a friend and she said, "You don't believe once saved always saved?" I said no, which was totally in haste. I am realizing that I have a problem letting things fall out of my mouth sometimes, and that I am thinking that I am more mature in Christ than I am.
Back to the question I don't know how to respond to that. So I am going through some thoughts and I need some help. I am still growing in the Lord so any scriptural references you guys have, please throw them at me to back up any comments. I want more than just opinions or thoughts, I want God's word. I am not sure where to go.

What does it mean to be saved? To me, it means believing that Jesus is the son of God and that He died on the cross for us to save us from our sins and being baptized for the remission of my sins ALSO following a life for Jesus and living by God's will. We all know where those things are located in the Word. The Gospels tell us of Jesus's life and death, and the Gospels and Romans are great places for me to see how to live my life. I will refer to this as "SAVED".

Hopefully I have enough collected thoughts to get this out AND make some sense.

I know that I will never fully understand God. I am merely human and my brain just is not capable of holding and processing all that He is.

What do I believe. I believe what God's Word says. I believe every single word in that book. Hence the request for scriptural back up.

Will I go to heaven if I am "SAVED" and continually sin? I know God is a forgiving God. He will forgive any sin if you sincerely ask. Will you go to heaven? I don't know cause I am not the judge who will decide. But God's Word says that we must leave or die in our old ways our old selves, and live a new life in Christ according to his Word.

So what does it mean once saved always saved? I don't believe that you can be "SAVED" and continue sinning knowingly. How do those ways fit together? No one is perfect, yes we all sin everyday, but we are aware of most of those sins and are actively working on trying not to sin. To live in your old self after you died to your old self makes being "SAVED" mean nothing. right?

Once saved always saved? If this is so why is it we say "They fell away from Christ"? Is it because they died to the new self and starting reliving the old self? If so, does this take away the saved in the statement, once saved always saved? Or does this mean they went back to the old self yet are still "SAVED" but not repentful?

Maybe none of the thoughts above matter. Here is what does matter

"So do you think we should continue sinning so that God will give us even more grace? NO! We died to our old sinful lives, so how can we continue living in sin? Did you forget that all of us became part of Christ when we were baptized? We shared in his death in our baptism...Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the powerful Father, we too can have a new life." Romans 6:1-4

"We know that the law's commands are for those who have the law. This stops all excuses and brings the whole world under God's judgement, because no one can be made right with God by following the law. The law only shows us our sin." Romans 3:19-20

"All have sinned and are not good enough for God's glory, and all need to be made right with God by his grace, which is a free gift." Romans 3:23

"When people work, their pay is not given as a gift, but as something earned. But people can not do any work that will make them right with God. So they must trust in Him, who makes even evil people right in His sight. Then God accepts their faith, and that makes them right with Him.....People are truly blessed when God without paying attention to good deeds, makes people right with himself." Romans 4:4-6

So, I still don't know what "once saved always saved" means. I think I am going to sum it up as I am "SAVED" and I will always be saved cause I am going to try my hardest and my best to live my life according to God's will and His Word and pray that God's grace will cover the rest.

So friend, I hope this helps show you what I believe. I also hope that you let God's Word guide you and be your sole guide to living a life in Christ. I also hope that my fellow believers, that are also friends, chime in and help encourage and elaborate on this topic.

We all know we can all use more knowledge when it comes to God. What better way? Let's discuss!

ARGH!

My favorite lip balm slipped out of my hand last night and flew straight into the toilet. The little container it comes in was open cause I was putting it on. So, in my sadness I had to toss a 75% full pot of lip balm in the trash. Great.

Sheer jealousy

Go lurk my friends blogs and you will see on several of them that Keith Lancaster was at our church in South Carolina. I am so jealous. Why did we have to move??!! They are all writing about how great it was how awesome to hear our congregation worship through song.
Well, I just want all of you to know that I am so jealous right now. It is the sinful jealous too.

However, I am glad you got to experience that. AND I really MEAN it.

There may be a little bit of "missing ya" in there too.

What a wonderful start

KJ is on a trip so you guys get to hear me gush!

I got up early and shoveled the driveway. New personal best 23min!!!! with at least 6-8 more inches of fresh snow. I could not believe it! I had some drive this morning! I know you are sick of hearing about the shoveling, but this is a new fun way to motivate myself. I can challenge my shoveling time with each snow I get to shovel while KJ is gone. Everyone needs a little drive about something, mine just happens to be shoveling snow right now. LOL!

While I was out shoveling the snow, Noah got up. We are in the throws of potty training and going potty first thing is always good praise time cause everyone has to go 1st thing in the morning. He is a little cranky when he gets up so I usually have to coax him with the thought of getting to wear his big boy underwear if he goes. Well, he gets up I am not inside to help coax him to the potty, so I expected a wet pull-up when I came in. Oh no folks, my big boy is starting to get it. He woke up, came downstairs, went potty and put his big boy underwear on ALL BY HIMSELF!!! I came into the house, he runs to the door to tell me of his HUGE accomplishment. I was so astonished at his excitement and the fact that he thought about it, and took the time to do it! After he tells me he says, "Yeah, you are proud of me aren't cha?" You bet I am, you bet I am (with emphasis and a heart full of joy!)

Not to mention how full of the Lord's spirit I am today. Last night doing my Bible study, I just fell apart before God and boy did it feel good. Feeling God's spirit late last night with the wonderful blessings this morning was such a wonderful way to start my day! I feel as though I am ready for any "accidents" we may have today with our continuing potty training. I feel as though they will not be just things to clean up. My frustration with this whole matter seems so invisible right now. Shoveling this morning in the dark and quiet is so peaceful and I can meditate on God. How wonderful He is to give us the snow. Even though it may be a pain to shovel! How if we believe Him and not just believe in Him, He stretches our faith and our walk with Him is so much more wonderful.

I could just go on and on. I hope God fills you with His spirit today too.

Lots of Info

Ok let's start.

I put new pics on my photography blog. Go check them out and tell me what you think.

I am a blog reader. I check ppl's blogs randomly throughout the day for updates. I leave comments regularly on some, not so much on others, and none on some others. So, I am reading this one blog that talks about being a lurker. Sounds so sneaky doesn't it. A lurker is a person who reads other people blogs but NEVER leaves a comment. Well, I read this on a blog where I have never left a comment. I felt like a peeping tom! I was dubbed a lurker! So be forewarned, I lurk and I am sure some of you do too! I am going to accept my lurkiness (who knows if that is a word) and wear my banner with pride! Sooner or later I may leave a comment, but if I don't just know that someone is lurking.

Pathetic. That is another term I used on myself on Tuesday night. I love the biggest loser. It so motivates me to get on the elliptical and sweat till I die. However, not so much this week. I look at my elliptical and say, "Ehh, maybe another day". Well, not only did I say "not today" to the elliptical on Tuesday, I ended the night with not one, but TWO pieces of chocolate cake WHILE I am watching the Biggest Loser. Oh I enjoyed that cake all right. Every single little crumb. Pathetic.
Not to mention the sliver I then decided to have the next morning with my coffee!!! I am so out of control!!!!

Today, I am redeeming myself. No cake, cause it is gone :) But I did shovel the driveway. Removed the 4-6 inches of powder we got last night. It took me 48minutes. New personal best. That will serve as my exercise today since I could not feel my legs when I came in. I did break a nice sweat though. Snow is heavy! Not to mention the ice I had to break through underneath the snow. A direct result from the crazy 45degree weather we had on Tuesday that melted the snow we had, then froze into ice, and now we have more snow coming. Woo Hoo! Please feel my sarcasm, cause the ice stinks since the ice melt stuff is in Kevin's car - who is on a trip w/car parked at squadron on roads I dare not drive right now - and the bag of this stuff weighs 50LBS!!! You would think it would be smarter and more efficient to pack this stuff in smaller 20lb bags. It would take up less room in the garage and be easier to handle.

Ok, enough for today!

Well one more thing, I added all the blogs I lurk........indulge yourself!

POTW - Words

I was going to attempt my last name, but I did this during "nap time"

Pics of:

The leg of my dining room table chair

The dress me up plate on my baker's rack

The stem of a candlestick

The partial top of a metal napkin holder turned upside down

I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Enjoy!

1 Year Update & Birthday details

Today we took Caleb in for his one yr check up. He weighs 20lbs (10th percentile) and is 28in in height (5th percentile). This is about normal considering the size of his parents! The awesome thing is he gets to now sit forward facing. We barely made 20lbs, but we made it. I had prayed that we would! He also has all of his 1yr molars coming in at once, so life is very much like a roller coaster right now. Poor guy has a blood blister where one of his molars is pushing through so hard. It will go away with some time.
Caleb had a party on Sat for his birthday. He had a few friends over and LOVED IT! He loved the whole day! It was so much fun to see his excitement all day long. Below are just a few the we wanted to share.

Helping Mommy make my birthday breakfast - chocolate chip pancakes. I have a sad face cause mommy put a clip on the bag of choco chips and now I can't sneak them in my mouth while she is not looking!

After my pancakes, they were YUMMY! - Today I am ONE!

I love playing with the balloons for my party!

Cool hat, huh?!

I love my birthday cake cone!

Maybe one more, for good measure.

My birthday cake cone! Yum!

POTW - Before/After - Pencil Sketch Technique

Thought this was fitting since it is little man's birthday!

Happy Birthday Caleb!

Happy Birthday Caleb!

I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. You are such a joy and a blessing! I love you more than you will ever know. Watching you grow brings more joy to my heart. I hope you have a wonderful year and many more birthdays!

Crisis Cleaning

I am in the midst of crisis cleaning. Caleb is having his 1st birthday party in our still semi-moved in house. I use the Flylady's method for crisis cleaning b/c it works in breaks, so my children are not completely ignored all day. I hope I can pull this off in time. I am a little sad that Caleb's 1st party will not be as big as Noah's. I think 1st's should be big! Maybe next year we will do the BIG party. Anyway - I have got to stay focused on cleaning. Thank you flylady.

Noah has started to ask the hard questions. Question 1 - where did this world come from? Try explaining that to a 3 yr old in terms they can understand. Question 2 - Why is it so hard to understand God? I am still asking myself this question somedays! I am trying my best to help him get it and be honest about it, again in terms that he can understand. I am going to die if the questions get any harder! I think this is coming from us studying the Bible. I just hope God will provide the right answers, He knew this was coming.

Caleb said MAMA!!! Now it was not directly at me, but he said it nonetheless! Can you believe he is one tomorrow?

2 Things

It was -16 degrees when I woke yesterday at 7am. So don't talk to me about being cold in 20 degree weather.

Noah used dreamt in a sentence and used it correctly. The only verb in the English language that ends in "t" and my son at age 3 uses it correctly in a sentence. I am just amazed!

I am a very aavid blogger

pics of the snow and a couple others

Noah and Caleb watching the snow fall

Caleb pointing at the snow

Caleb the chicken and Noah's blue bin is his chicken coup

Caleb pointing to a banana - happens every meal time, just before the screech for the banana

Post Titan game meal

In the backyard this morning

Wanna have a seat?

Can you even tell that I spent 1.5hrs shoveling?

Our house - Unit A

Noah on his snow throne!

Maybe not up to his ears, just his waist!

POTW - Pic of the week challenge

My fellow blogger is hosting a POTW challenge for the year. If you are interested go onto "Ann's blog" under my blog listing and check out the challenges. This week is "Focus into 2008"

Here is my best based on quickness..........

Do you really want to know?

***Stole this off of a fellow blogger's blog - it was too funny not to post***

On the t-shirt of a customer last night:

Silence is golden. Duct tape is silver.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We got so much snow yesterday and last night that:

there were 90 crashes in 4 hours
***5 were critical

it took me an 1.5hrs to shovel the drive - no need to run on the elliptical today I got a workout shoveling!

If I ask Noah to stand in the snow it would go up to his ears and you would only see the top of his head - and yes we are going to do this today!

Despite my shoveling, it is snowing again. ARGH!

Feeling like home!

I am a person who thrives when on a schedule. With a schedule I know what to expect and when to expect it. Just a part of my "control freak" personality. I have been w/o a schedule since we left Charleston. This has been nice doing the "go with the flow" thing. However, now I am finding I get nothing done. So, I am in great need of my schedule back. Oddly enough my schedule is falling right into place w/o much pulling and pushing from me.

Started a Bible Study group this morning. It was awesome. So much energy and it was so nice being around so many Christian women. It felt like home. Added bonus is, it is on the same day and time as my group I had in SC. I am so excited to watch us all grow together in Christ.

In SC I was a loyal goer to Dream Dinners. It saved my life in so many ways. The number one thing was b/c KJ was gone so much in SC I hated spending 1-1.5hrs cooking dinner and not spending time with him, and Dream Dinners made it possible for me to spend more time with him after work. Now that we are getting somewhat settled in the house I was really starting to miss the ease of Dream Dinners. KJ is working until 6pm or later and then coming home and we do our nightly routines with the kids and then we have little time together in the evenings. Well, today I visited Super Suppers. The Alaska version of Dream Dinners. I am so excited. I love spending time with my husband and want to take advantage of the time he has at home right now. Thank you Super Suppers.

At bible study this morning I ran into one of the ladies in my squadron. Very nice. She and I chatted away. We have a lot in common. We both scrapbook, we have children the same ages born in the same months (that was very weird!), love trying eat and live more naturally, and were actually in the same squadron in Charleston, but she moved away soon after we moved in. So we are talking about doing a babysitting swap once a month so we can have some date nights with the hubbys. I am so excited! It has been so hard to find a trustworthy babysitter. It took me a long time to feel comfortable with Sara - the awesome sitter we had in SC. Also, Caleb is still a little young to be out in the snow and cold for 2 or 3 hours which puts the nix on him skiing, for now. I really look forward to having more date nights with KJ.

KJ is working like mad right now. He is working the desk scheduling for the squadron. So he has long days and carries a squadron cell phone. I should not complain cause he is not gone 3wks/month. He is itching to get on a trip though, cause it has been since July that he has flown overseas. I want him to go, strangely enough, cause he is missing his 2nd love. He and Mike are getting in some snowboarding when they can. Which is really good since I stink so bad at it right now.

Noah and Caleb are doing really good. Noah is growing. He is now going into 3T clothes. Which is weird cause when we left SC he was still wearing some 18mos shirts!!! Everything that was in his dresser drawers went straight into Caleb's room when we got here. He had outgrown everything! He is still on the short side - big surprise, look at his parents! - so he is still in 2T pants, but who cares!! He is actually wearing big boy clothes!
Caleb is working on standing w/o holding onto anything. His confidence is getting greater and greater. He gets around pretty good crawling and that is fine with him and me. He is talking up a storm and his pointy finger is now is primary means of communication. We get a point and then a "buh", "bah", or "da".

Alright that catches you all up and meets my blogging quota for a bit!

The Last 50

51 I hate mushrooms

52 I do not like my loaf of bread to be smashed - it has to go on top of the bag or alone in the bag in the seat with me or next to me. period.

53 I am a hands-on learner

54 I like to be the driver in the car when I am with anyone except my family

55 Clutter seriously frustrates me

56 I do not lie, ever

57 Sometimes I wish I still had a 40hr/wk job

58 I love being in the mountains

59 I have personal boundaries that demand respect

60 I watch scary shows late at night and then can't sleep, then get mad cause I watched it in the first place

61 I welcome change but miss the things I leave behind from that change

62 I say "I know" a lot

63 I am scared of a 3rd c-section

64 I love to paint

65 I love to run, but can't b/c of my knees

66 I am a do-it-right-the-first-time, kind of gal

67 I am a believer of spas and pampering

68 I know prayer works

69 I spank my children

70 My fav vacation was Colorado in 05

71 I am a scrapbook-aholic

72 I love chocolate too much, I eat some almost everyday

73 I watch Friends re-runs almost everyday

74 I am completely debt free

75 I don't believe in credit or a credit score

76 I am a Dave Ramsey follower

77 Listening to Joyce Meyer pumps me up

78 I am becoming like my mother with a "Mary" spin on it

79 I like going barefoot

80 My fav flower is the tulip

81 I dont mind confrontation, it clears the air

82 I am a star gazer

83 I am an astronomer wanna be

84 I have a strong work ethic

85 I admire and tremendously repect my husband - he is a big part of my heaven on earth

86 I am a do-er not a follower

87 I would give my life for my husband and children

88 I was in a sorority in college

89 I think breastfeeding is the best

90 I am usually in my pjs until noon on a daily basis, somedays I don't get dressed at all

91 I am a Republican

92 I am a fan of foreign cars, I think domestic cars are not as good

93 I am a fan of the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide, and the Oklahoma Sooners (when they are not playing the SEC)

94 I listen to Colin Cowherd in the mornings on ESPN radio

95 I like Bill O'Reilly and the way he thinks. He is a no-nonsense type of person

96 I think Dr Phil has become a conservative Jerry Springer

97 I don't believe in divorce

98 I am a person who thinks a lot of problems can be solved through self-discipline

99 I don't have a problem telling someone "no"

100. I am glad I finished this list!

Exchange

***The Exchange between Noah and Me

looking at his mommy while she is standing in middle of the living room
Noah: "Mommy what are you doing?"
Mary: "I think I am going to leave and I think I might not come back" - obvious frustrations of the day
Noah: "MOMMY! YOU CAN'T LEAVE I NEED YOU IN MY LIFE!"

Mary then feels bad bad bad for the comment she made and proceeds to give big hugs and kisses. Love that little boy of mine!

My new favorites

Just a couple of things that have now become a new favorite in my home.....

1 - Mrs Meyers hand soap. I bought this at Christmas and have now found an awesome replacement for the bath and body works kitchen soap I was so addicted to.

2 - Mrs Meyers counter top cleaner. I had originally bought this b/c it's organic and safe for kids and bought the hand soap later. Anyway, this stuff smells GOOD and it cleans well. I use it all over my kitchen. I have since bought the all-over surface cleaner. I will be trying it very soon. So far Mrs Meyers is making a good showing.

3 - Intense XXL Volume & Length Washable Micro Fiber Mascara - lots of reasons. it does not smudge, it takes ALOT to make it smudge. It has two ends a primer and the mascara. It actually takes less time putting on the primer and mascara than it did doing 2 coats of my old stuff. It dries fast which prevents the little dots under and over the eye. I could go on and on, but this is my new fav

4 - Bare Minerals makeup. When I find a makeup that works I will become loyal like a dog to its master. I have oily sensitive skin and this stuff prevents the shine has nice coverage and is not thick, heavy, and it does not feel like I am even wearing makeup. It LASTS and the "well rested" for eyes is magnificent. I am now a believer in mineral makeup. It works.

5 - Organic Smart Balance butter with Omega 3 and 6. No trans fats, cooks and bakes very well, tastes very yummy and it actually somewhat healthy with the added omegas. Oh and the sodium is under control and the cholesterol too which is a big problem in dairy products.

Ok, so there are a few of my new favorite things.

I Am Deceiving My Family

I am as my title states and I do not feel bad about it at all. I am so happy! I am even giddy over it.
I have been so interested in this cookbook, Deceptively Delicious. So my deception is sneaking veggies into my family's meals. Most of you make think, WHOA stop the presses! However, please realize that I live with the pickiest eater (aka my hubby), the 3year old veggie striker (Noah), and the copycat (Caleb, who sees Noah not eating veggies so he joins the strike!). No amount of ranch dressing, ketchup, cheese, or any other dressing can get the veggies down them. So after 2 days of using this cookbook I have been able to put cauliflower, sweet potato, carrots, and oats in them! They even ate the turkey burgers I made last night. They were darn tasty, if you ask me.
Although I am being so sneaky, the hubby bought me this cookbook for Christmas. So what, right? Nope. Now I have him asking me more than usual, "what's in this?" He should be prepared for my deception. He gave himself the warning when he bought the book.
The rewards for them are not only are they getting the vitamins and good stuff from the veggies, they are getting a wife and mother who does not stress over every meal wondering how I am going to get the necessary nutrients in them. Which in turn makes me a happier person to be around. I don't have to spend hours working on a grocery list! YAY!

On to another subject. Noah is my little adult. Seriously this kid is like hanging out with myself all day - which can be frustrating since we are both VERY strong willed individuals. I have been trying to sneak in soy milk to the kids. It is WAY better than regular milk. Well, Noah does not dig the vanilla flavored soy that is advertised "Kids love it!" So, I thought I would give the plain soy milk a try with him. I gave him a cup and he drank about 1/4 of the cup. He then sets the cup down and says, very straight faced, "If I keep drinking this I am going to get sick to my stomach." The look on his face was enough for me to take the cup to the sink.

Yesterday me and the boys were just hanging out and I looked up and saw snow coming down. I stopped for a moment and admired how pretty it was. Then I hear Caleb, "buh buh buh" with emphasis. I look over at him and he is POINTING out the window at the snow. He has seen the snow, but this time he acknowledged it. It was awesome. He started after this moment pointing at everything and going "buh" or "uh". My little man is starting to communicate with more than a scream!

Well this morning I am making breakfast and Noah comes in the kitchen and says, "Mom, I want a chick." Uh, a baby chicken? Yes this is what he wanted. So I tell him we have no where to keep a chicken and chickens don't like the cold and snow. He seems to accept this and wanders back into the other room. A few minutes later he comes back with a bin from the toy shelf and says, "Mom we can keep the chick in this." This statement was made with all the seriousness a 3yr old can muster. I tell him I want to take a pic of him with his chicken coup. So as we take the picture Caleb crawls over and Noah says, "Mom, Caleb can be my chicken cause he doesn't mind the cold and snow." So we put Caleb in the bin and take more pictures. (I will post later) Caleb loved being a chicken. Noah was happy to have a pretend pet chicken. I hope we do not have to get a real chicken in the future!