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!