You Really Need One of These!

I mentioned a while back that I had a big announcement to make and then didn't make it. But today I will. And, no, I'm not pregnant ;)

Back in May I was contacted by the Econobusters.com team to be a part of all of the wonderful things going on over there. As most of you know by now, I'm a big bargain lover and this was right up my alley, so I was thrilled to take on this role!

I am blogging at www.Econobusters.com and helping to write the articles for the weekly newsletter, and for the Molly's Money Saving Digest. And I have a great deal to tell you all about today related to this anouncement:


Right now, Molly's Money Saving Digest - August 2009 is in the TOS store and already it is selling like hotcakes! The theme this time around is organization. Now, with the school year starting back up and the holidays (believe it or not) already looming ahead, don't you agree that it is time to get our homes re-organized? I know I am working on mine!

Hop on over there and take a look. I promise you will be happy you did. This Digest is chock full of ideas and tips to help you make the most of the time and resources you have on hand to get your home in tip-top shape for the Fall. What a relief: a friend who comes along to help us clearly think through how to take an overwhelmong task and break it down into manageable chunks! What an incredible resource!

Hurry, because they are going fast, really fast, and I don't want my friends to miss out!

By the way, you can see my article at the end of the Digest. I hope it leaves you inspired and ready to tackle the challenge before you, so that you too can have a fabulous Fall with your home ready to welcome guests and bless your family with all the comforts of home.

In our Lord's love and grace to you all,

Learning About Forgiveness From My Preschooler

"Mommy, Sissy took my baby doll and won't give it back!"

"Did you ask her sweetly to give it back to you?"

"Yes, but she won't do it."

"Alright, go tell Sissy to come talk with Mommy."

In comes my three, almost four-year old.

"Did you take Sissy's doll?"

"Yes."

"Did you ask her for it?"

"No"

"Well, honey, if you didn't ask, that's called stealing. Does Jesus want us to steal?"

Bursting into tears, "No!"

"That's right, sweetie, the Bible says: 'Thou shalt not steal', doesn't it?"

"Yes!" she says, crying harder.

"Honey, are you sorry for stealing from your sister?"

"Yes!"

"Well, you need to go tell Sissy you are sorry and ask for her forgiveness, don't you?"

"Yes, I will Mommy. I'm toe torry for doing dat! I'm toe torry for disobeying you! I'm toe torry for disobeying Jesus!"

"Well, I forgive you, and I know Jesus does, too, sweetie. Now go and tell Sissy."

A few moments pass and she comes back to tell me that she talked with Sissy. I asked her if Sissy forgave her and she said "yes," but she is still crying hysterically.

"Honey, you have been forgiven! I am glad you have such a repentant heart over your sin, but do you understand that Jesus, Mommy, and Sissy have all forgiven you totally and completely? It is over and your sin has been cast far, far away from you. Jesus doesn't even remember your sin any more! Isn't that wonderful?"

"Yes, Mommy, but I'm toe, toe torry!"

"I know you are, dear, but you need to forgive yourself now. Jesus doesn't want you to hold onto that guilt... Instead, He wants you to rejoice! He wants you to praise Him and be joyful! When He died on the cross for your sins, He did it for all of your sins! You can be happy now!"

Do you ever do this? I know I do.

Berating ourselves for sin that has already been forgiven is so easy to do. Letting the enemy hang that sin over our heads and remind us of it constantly—succumbing to the guilt—is not an acceptance of forgiveness. It is, rather, a hanging onto the very thing Christ died to eliminate: our debt.

Part of the Christian life is coming to grips with the freedom we have been given in Christ. It is done. He said, "It is finished!" He meant it. When we accept that gift freely, we need to live it freely as well.

Let go of the guilt! Rejoice! Your Saviour has paid it all! Live in the fullness of His joy! It is His gift to you forever, if you are His! And to be His, all you can do is believe that He finished it for you, rest in it, and cease striving to earn it by constantly trying to add to His free gift through wallowing in grief. Godly grief over sin lasts for a little bit, but it does not hang on to us for sin has lost its death-grip on us when Christ uttered the words, "IT IS FINISHED!"

REJOICE in this gift you have been given! Rather than wallow around in grief, turn your mourning into dancing, praise, and adoration of the One Who has done it all. All for you.

"Honey, let's turn on some praise music, get the hymnals, pick a song, and thank Jesus together for dying on the cross for our sins. What song do you want to sing with me to bless Jesus?" This I said while holding her close to my heart.

Your Saviour does the same for you...

Extravagant love. Extravagant grace. It is yours. Revel in it!