What should you do when you feel unfairly treated or wrongly accused?

Good question, right? If you're reading this and you're a Christian, you probably are thinking about things that you shouldn't do. But what happens when you don't have time to prepare? I tend to fight for myself. Is this bad? No. Not really. But how you go about defending yourself might be bad. I try to think, "how would Christ want me to act and what would He want me to say/do?" Well, okay, that is a good start . . . but what happens after the fact? It's all laid out in the open and, to be honest, you feel that you could never be around that person again. All is forgiven, but things will NEVER be the same. 

I was thinking today about Job and his trials. He went through so much. His children died, he had sickness, and maybe worst of all, his friends failed him. If you don't have any friends, what are you going to do, right? Well, Job handled it very well. He didn't give up and die. He didn't curse God . . . even when everyone around him (including his wife) told him to. Even though all of this happened, Job still said, "but he (God) knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold."

I was also thinking about I Peter 2:19-24 which talks about Christ's suffering on the cross. Verse 23 says, "when he (Christ) was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him (God) who judges justly." Christ went through far worse. The trials that I go through aren't so bad in comparison. At least I have Someone who is there to hold me up when I am treated wrongly. I don't go through it alone. And in the end, those who have wrongly accused others, will be held accountable for it. 

The hardest part of this blog post comes right here. The Bible tells us in Luke 6:27-28, "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." This is probably the hardest commandment given. It's certainly one that I struggle with the most. How can you love someone who has treated you so poorly? Sometimes praying for that person is the last thing that I want to do. But it's commanded. Christ showed His love for me by dying on the cross for the wrong things that I have done. He loved me even though there were times when I was younger where I tried to fit in with the "cool kids" at school. He loves me even when I don't talk to Him or when I carelessly forget His Word. Why can't I love those who have wrongly accused me? It's simple, I guess I just forgot to ask for His help. You can be certain that I won't forget Him anymore! He is my life and He is my all! 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." Hebrews 12:1-3

Can't People Read!?

We went to the beach last night. They always have this sign up. I guess they need to put it in different languages.

Garden Update

It won't be long now and we'll be eating a lot of veggies! Keep checking our blog for more updates of our growing garden!

        The red peppers recently just started growing . . .
The beef-steak tomatoes are finally growing! (They're Jeremy's favorite.)
We will have a TON of cherry tomatoes! (They're my favorite!)
            Our cat, Reya, tries to sneak in the garden . . .
       so Jeremy bought her catnip. (She doesn't like it.)

Just a reminder . . .

Colossians 2:13-14- "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;"

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Here is another update of our garden. Soon we should have an over abundance of veggies to eat and (hopefully) share with our friends! 

Good Times

My parents were here visiting this week. It was nice to be able to see them again. It's been almost a year since my dad was here last. Hope you enjoy looking at a few of our pictures from the week:

                One of our days at the beach.

                                 Saying good-bye

The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

by S. Trevor Francis

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!

Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!

Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love

Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore!

How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!

How He watches o'er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;

How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o'er them from the throne!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!

'Tis an ocean full of blessing, 'tis a haven giving rest!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, 'tis a heaven of heavens to me;

And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!

Life update

It's been a while since we last posted. Things are going well for us. Sarah's parents are visiting this week. We are enjoying the weather although it's been a little chilly and windy since Monday. The weather is supposed to warm up later this afternoon. . . we'll see.

Our garden continues to make progress! We were a little worried about some of the plants last night because of the wind but they seemed to be alright this morning. The picture below was taken about a week ago so the plants are a little taller. Nonetheless, we promised a picture and here it is:

We will continue to keep you updated on our gardens progress. Hopefully it will do a lot better than last years. 

We're so excited because on Saturday we will be at our first USF game! Sarah's aunt and uncle attend every home game and invited us to go and tailgate with them. It's not an official college game so it will be free parking and free tickets. You can't get much better than that. We look forward to finally having a Saturday to just relax. Who knows. . . maybe we'll even make it Busch Gardens before the game!