Merry Mail 4-6-12

It is a Good Friday - Great Friday!  It is heavy and painful for me to think about Jesus suffering at the hands of man and enduring the wrath of God on the cross for me...for my sins....for even my "respectable" sins (are any sins truly respectable?). I am broken at the thought of this painful reality. At the same time, I am thankful. Only God giving His Son as a eternal and perfect sacrifice could pay the payment for the sins I have committed against a perfect, holy, eternal God. I am thankful for Good Friday because I know Resurrection Sunday follows. Jesus paid the penalty for my sins and then conquered death and rose again! Praise the Lord for His victory over sin and death!

Take it seriously, my friend. Your sin is serious, even if you think it is {respectable}. It isn't. Christ died for all sins: murder, envy, adultery, gossiping, complaining, arguing, stealing, pride, disobedience to parents. Have you ever committed any of those sins? Yes, they are sins. They are the reason that Jesus had die. They put the crown of thorns on His perfect head, drove the nails into His wrists and ankles, hung Him on the cross and then worst of all -- endured the wrath of God that we deserve. No amount of religious works (prayer, communion, fasting, asceticism, baptism, confession) can outweigh all the sins you have and will commit. Only true repentance and faith in Jesus as your Savior can save you.

Challies has some great kindle deals listed and some interesting articles listed in his A La Carte for today.

Empty Tomb Cookies: Have you made these with your children before? We are going to attempt these this year (egg and dairy free - so please pray for me) and I can't wait to share the hands on activity and apply it to the Easter Story scriptures.

The Unplugged Family has a great article about the way that Satan has his fingers in the Easter celebration (no surprise, eh?). Just look around your local department store. Do you see crosses to celebrate Easter? Or do you see Easter Eggs and Easter Bunnies? Read this article and then pray for wisdom as you decide how to celebrate our Lord's resurrection from the dead this year (and years to come). Remember, it isn't about rules, it is about true, heartfelt worship and there is grace for the gray areas. This is shared in love and for His glory.

Merry Mail 4-3-12

Giveaway: This is the last week to enter in the drawing for the 180 movie giveaway. This is an excellent resource for you to have and share with your loved ones and friends. It will spark intelligent conversation about one of today's most difficult subjects {abortion}. This film will cause people to think about abortion and question the propaganda fed to us all via the news media and culture. All you have to do to enter {click here} leave a comment on the post. 

IndoctriNation: If you have children, especially if they are enrolled in public schools, I highly recommend watching this movie. Our family has chosen to homeschool our girls for a variety of reasons (most of which I just believe that this is what God wants for our family) and this documentary just reinforced that decision. I have heard many parents say that they know the schools teach evolution, so they will just teach their children the Genesis account of creation at home and to ignore the evolutionary "theory". This documentary shows in great detail how the teaching of evolution is not the only problem in the government schools. There is SO MUCH MORE at stake! As a Christian Sister, I urge you to watch this documentary with your spouse and then have a heart to heart conversation about your children's education.

One powerful statement was made concerning the argument that our children are to be salt and light in the public school (an atheist educational institution). The pastor said (my paraphrase) that if you truly want to be salt and light, why not send them to a Muslim or Hindu School where you know all the other students are unbelievers? If you did that, then people would say you are crazy. What is the difference, really?

Daily Scripture Reading for the Passion Week: I should have gotten this out earlier in the week, but here is a list of the scriptures that correspond to each day of the Passion Week (week between Palm Sunday and Resurrection {Easter} Sunday). Follow along in your Bible to see what Jesus was doing the last week of His life on Earth.

Easter Story Cookies: If you have little kids at home, this would be a wonderful visual representation of the Easter story. I am going to attempt to do these without the eggs {my daughter is egg and dairy free} - wish me luck!

Are you a Christian because you {fill in the blank}: Have you been following along in this series as I try to help debunk some of the popular ways people in our culture are self-deceived into believing they will go to heaven when they die. I'd love to hear from you about any experience you have had with these popular, yet sad, reasons why people believe they are saved. I know some of these hit home for me. There were many years that I believe I was very far from the Lord, but if you would have asked me, I would definitely have said I was a Christian.

Merry Mail 3-8-12

Don't forget to spring forward this weekend!

I am hosting a giveaway. All you have to do to be eligible is leave a comment on this post. I'd love it if you would consider following me on either Facebook or by email (you can do both of these on the sidebar), but it is not a requirement to win the prize. The winner will be announced on April 1st (no foolin').

What is the prize you ask? A DVD of the 180 movie. This movie is thought-provoking look at Hitler and the infanticide that is happening all around us today. It also has a great segment of the Way of the Master street witnessing which is a great way to evangelize. You can watch this video free online and the reason that I am giving one away is to spread the word. I am hoping that you will not only watch the movie, but you will pass it along to your friends and family so they can watch as well. I do not get anything out of this except the joy of hopefully impacting someone's life for God's glory.

Six Sisters has a recipe for Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll Cake. I cannot wait to try this and hope that it will work with our dairy and egg substitutions. If so, it is going to be our new yummy breakfast surprise for Easter and Christmas (and any other non-holiday in between). From the looks of this picture, I think you're gonna want to be at our house this Easter morning. I can almost taste it!

X is for X-ray looks like a super cool (and educational) app for the iPhone or iPad. Thanks Mom for passing this one along.

I recently took an online course through Blogelina and was pleasantly surprised. She has so many helpful ideas for your blog (if you have one). If you are interested in what you may learn over at Blogelina Products & Services has to offer, you should check it out! This skeptic was very surprised!


World Magazine has a great article about Kirk Cameron (remember Growing Pains) and how he is being slandered by many over his interview on Piers Morgan's Show. This is a great article and great reminder that our world is moving farther and farther away from God, which means we are moving closer and closer to the time when Jesus will return.


Roo Magazine is a new online magazine put together by Kirk Cameron's younger sister, Candace Cameron Bure (remember DJ from Full House) and has a great article on how to Wake up Refreshed and Start Your Day Off Right. I liked the friendly reminder not to eat too much the night before so that your stomach isn't working all night long to digest all that crap food (that's in my words, not theirs. Their writers are much more eloquent than I could ever hope to be).

Real Simple has a fantastic tip! Check this out! You can put a mason jar on a blender to make a single serving of your favorite smoothie. Fantastic!!



I love good, thought-provoking quotes. Here are a couple I have enjoyed finding this week:

"And people who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives…and when the bubble has burst they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted."
- Nate Saint

"It's amazing what can be accomplished if you don't worry about who gets the credit."
- Clarence W. Jones

Merry Mail 3-2-12

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Can you even believe we are already into March? Where on Earth did February go? We have been experiencing some wonderful spring weather here in Indiana (and they are forecasting some spring thunderstorms for tonight) and we have tried to enjoy as much of it as possible. We visited a local park and soaked up some much needed Vitamin D in the warm sunshine.

I love how the earth comes alive in the Spring after the cold, gray, barren, (seemingly) dead winter! It reminds me so much of how my own soul came alive when Jesus spoke softly to me and said, "Come and follow Me". I was dead and now am very much alive and living for my Lord!

How about you? Have you decided to follow Jesus? It's a narrow path and you may not meet many along the Way, but it is leading to the Celestial City and to the King of Kings. Any other way is leading you astray.

On a completely different note, I am sad that Downton Abbey is over for the season and I have to wait another year to find out if Lady Mary and Cousin Matthew will in fact get married.

Here is a list of other things I found interesting this week - and I hope you do as well:


Watchman Fellowship has a listing of 1200 different cults, occults and new age groups. Did you know that there are so many different religions (if you want to call them that)? My husband and I are doing a little research into the Jehovah's Witnesses since we have been recently visited and I am amazed at the nonsense that people will decide to believe and follow. It makes my heart very sad for God that people will decide to believe crazy things instead of believing in Him as the Creator of the universe and His Son, the Savior who died as the one and only Sacrifice for our sins.

If you are wondering more about what Jehovah's Witnesses believe and how you can engage them in a conversation about Jesus, check out these youtube videos about the Top Ten Shocking Beliefs of the JW and Three Tips for Reasoning with JW.

“We have a right to believe whatever we want,

but not everything we believe is right.”
― Ravi Zacharias

Joyful Mothering is having a Dayspring giveaway (ends March 6th so hurry and enter).

Cajun Joie de Vivre has been writing a series on natural cleaning - and I really enjoyed the guest post about Essential Oils. I have to say that I love my bleach and other antibacterial cleaners. I love the smell of bleach. It just screams cleanliness (which we know is next to godliness) and germ-free to me! But the more that I read about natural cleaning, the more I am wondering if I am not only killing the harmful bacteria, but maybe I am wiping out some of the good microbes and bacteria from our home. {Oops!} Do you clean naturally? Do you even know what it is (I confess, I didn't). Find out more about why you should clean naturally on Cajun Joie de Vivre.

Merry Mail, 2-24-12

I have been so busy with "life" that I have not been able to blog lately (and I miss it!). Thankfully, I have still had some opportunity to be online. Here is what I have found interesting:


Kevin DeYoung references an article in Christianity Today that explains some of the best ways to practically help the impoverished people of the world. One of the top ten ways to help the poor is to switch the brand of coffee you drink. Wow!

7 Marks of Humility - Do you consider yourself a humble person? You know that by admitting it you might actually be taking pride in your humility. Catch 22, eh?

Green Monster Smoothie - I tried a version of this super yummy (and healthy) drink this week. I used rice milk, banana, pina colada coconut yogurt, 1/2 tsp vanilla and then fresh spinach leaves. It was so yummy that my 2 year old was begging for more. She woke up this morning and wanted to blend up another yummy drink.

The Contraceptive-Abortifacient Mandate: The Gospel Coalition put together a wonderful FAQ regarding the latest piece of legislation that will require hospitals to provide contraceptives, even abortive contraceptives (think morning after pill) against their religious beliefs / conscience. It is a scary world we live in when the government is mandating what a hospital can and cannot provide.

"LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison appeared before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Thursday, Feb. 16., to discuss the recent U. S. Health and Human Services Ruling regarding contraceptives. On behalf of the LCMS, Harrison spoke to the issue violating citizens’ freedom of religion and freedom of conscience." This is an excellent speech regarding the freedom of religion.

Human Implant Chip: I haven't read all of this yet, but it is definitely something to research and pray about. We are definitely living in the last days, my friends.

Quote of the day: "Grace has the power to do what nothing else can do, rescue you from you, and in so doing, restore you to what you were created to be." {Paul Tripp}

Merry Mail #4

Newsweek has an interesting article about a new trend in DIY Education - aka Homeschooling. This article does not necessarily *slam* people for homeschooling (like much of the media), however there are subtle hints as to the intelligence level and social ineptness of those who homeschool for religious convictions. The author also seems to be skeptical about the benefits of *too much* family attachment, even though it is pointed out that homeschoolers thrive when they go (if they choose to go) to college. Anyway, it is definitely worth reading and I am amazed that Newsweek printed it as a cover story in such a positive light.


Six Ways to Keep the "Little" in Your Girl (Secret Keeper Girl) is on sale for the kindle version for $2.99. This is an excellent deal! Dannah Gresh has a new book that went on sale this week...Six Ways to Keep the "Good" in Your Boy: Guiding Your Son from His Tweens to His Teens



Practical Pages has some excellent Art lessons and downloads. I cannot wait to incorporate these into our lessons. It might be some fun *summer school*.


Christian Audio has a FREE audio book - Jerry Bridges "Trusting God"

I read this excellent quote from Paul Tripp and just had to share it:

“When I come to the Lord after I’ve blown it, I’ve only one argument to make. It’s not the argument of the difficulty of the environment that I am in. It’s not the argument of the difficult people that I’m near. It’s not the argument of good intentions that were thwarted in some way.

I come to the Lord with only one appeal; his mercy. I’ve no other defense. I’ve no other standing. I’ve no other hope. I can’t escape the reality of my biggest problem; me! So I appeal to the one thing in my life that’s sure and will never fail. I appeal to the one thing that guaranteed not only my acceptance with God, but the hope of new beginnings and fresh starts. I appeal on the basis of the greatest gift I ever have or ever will be given.

I leave the courtroom of my own defense, I come out of hiding and I admit who I am. But I’m not afraid, because I’ve been personally and eternally blessed. Because of what Jesus has done, God looks on me with mercy. It’s my only appeal, it’s the source of my hope, it’s my life. Mercy, mercy me!”    

                                            ― Paul David Tripp, Whiter Than Snow: Meditations on Sin and Mercy

Merry Mail #2

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I have been listening to two fantastic worship songs that focus on Christ coming to live as a man, dying as a sacrifice and then being raised on the third day. I also love how they speak of His return (which I long for). The first is Christ Is Risen by Matt Maher and the other is Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me) by Casting Crowns.


Butterball Turkeys - Did you know that these are sacrificed as a part of an Islaamic ritual before they appear at the grocery store? Now I do not think we are sinning by having a Butterball turkey for dinner, but do we, as Christians, want to knowingly support this sort of company when there are other brands of turkey available? Hmmm...



The Long Winter - This Ingalls family is quite different than the one you saw on TV, but it is a very faithful adaptation of the book, and is quite entertaining. It is the ONLY “old time radio” adaptation of any of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books, and if you love those stories, you’ll treasure this.




Our Simple Country Life is celebrating 3 years of blogging with a bunch of give-a-ways. You have to be entered by the end of the day on Friday and are announced on Saturday - so hurry up and enter!


The Unplugged Family has an excellent article on gender, phobia and toys. I will probably link to her blog over and over again. I love how she is not afraid to confront hot topics and speak the truth (in love) in a world full of gray areas. 



January 22 is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday and Focus on the Family has created a fantastic video reminding us all that being pro-life is much more than a political issue. Take a few minutes to watch this powerful video.



Seven Lies About Homeschoolers is a must see (hilarious and true) video, so much so that I included it. It is about 4 minutes long and very funny!!

Merry Mail

I read many fascinating things throughout my week and I love to share this with anyone who may be interested. So, I will try to start (hopefully on a weekly basis) writing up what I have found to be super interesting during the past week. This is something I will add to during the week and typically publish at the end of the week.


This may include clips from other blog articles, books, e-books, reviews, quotes, sales, freebies, recipes, fitness and nutritional tips.



*** Please enter your email in the box in the right side panel in order to receive this information right in your inbox. ***



The information for this week is:

Visual Theology - The Order of Salvation - This is a fantastic visual explaining the ordo salutis, which is to say, the order of salvation, which refers to the sequence of conceptual steps involved in the salvation of the Christian. Thank you Tim Challies. I may print this off and hang it in our house in order to spark good conversation with visitors.



Book Review of Real Marriage by the Driscolls - This is a review written by Tim Challies (again, thank you Tim Challies!) discussing the latest book by Pastor Mark Driscoll and his wife. I have a lot of opinions, but since I have not read the book (and do not plan to), I'll just let the review speak for itself. All I have to say is that of course it is going to be at the top of the charts because - sex sells. They put the stuff in the book that they knew would get people talking and have people running to the closest bookstore to purchase a copy.



A wonderful quote from Fanny Crosby, "It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me."


Holy Spirit Led Homeschooling - If you like her page on Facebook, you can download her free e-book, 100 Free Indoor Activities to do with Kids (TV not included).


The Ugly Duckling - Free Kindle Download of the Ugly Duckling (illustrated in color).


50 People Every Christian Should Know - I am super excited to read this book. There are wonderful examples of our faith, such as Fanny Crosby, A.W. Tozer, Charles H. Spurgeon, Amy Carmichael and others. This looks like something I will want to read and pass along to as many people as I can.



If you have something that you would like for me to include, please email it to MerryMarriedMaryMom at gmail dot com.