Month: December 2015

"When the House is Built"

Published on by Amanda Tero4 Comments
Some of you probably laughed when you read this title–or maybe you rolled your eyes. Yes, this is the #1 Tero phrase going around right now.
“When the house is built, we’ll have to have you over.”

“When the house is built, maybe we can meet up for coffee.”

“When the house is built, we’ll plan on that.”

“When the house is built, we’ll have some free time!”

“When the house is built…” 
You name it. Almost everything has been tagged onto that one phrase.
It is best to accept the long house-building process with good humor, so we laugh at ourselves about it (yes, as one of our church friends suggested, we’ll probably be having Jessica make us a sign that says “When THE HOUSE IS BUILT!!!!!”).
One thing I have begun to notice, though, is that this attitude of “When the house is built” started to seep into my spiritual walk. “Ah! I’m behind on memory verses. Oh well. When the house is built, I’ll do them more faithfully.” Now, instead of being faithful to do what I could, I was tempted to just do enough to “get by.” Yes, there have been (and will be) seriously busy days in which I will only be able to spend a few minutes in God’s Word, but because I started waiting for “when the house is built,” I missed those less-busy days in which I could have done more.
Thankfully, the Lord brought my attention to this attitude and has helped me to be more faithful untilthe house is built. This is not the first time something like this has happened in my life. We all have those times of thinking, “When ____ is over…” You may not be waiting for a house to be built, but is there something that has tempted you to pause in your spiritual walk instead of continually climbing forward? I encourage you to take a moment and ponder your spiritual walk.

Word Wednesday #85

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.  Hosea 1:7

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.  Psalms 20:7

I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.  Psalms 71:16
Reminder after reminder of having the Lord as our strength, the Lord as our “weapon.”
~*~*~

Share a verse that God has given you today or copy the button if you’d like to join in Word Wednesdays with your blog! Did you post on your blog? I’d love to see — share your link in a comment!

 
 

Biblially Speaking – adultery (whoredom, remarriage after defilement)

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
Part 6 in my study on what is abomination in the sight of God.
Recap:
Many believers have fallen into accepting that which is abomination in the sight of God. Unless we study God’s Word to learn His Mind on what is abominable, how will we know to purge ourselves from abomination? Lord willing, I will be posting the fruits of my study on the word “abomination,” but feel free to leap ahead of me and study it for yourself. What is an abomination to God?

The Hire of a Whore
Deuteronomy 23:18 Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the Lord thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the Lord thy God.
God will not accept a monetary offering from funds gained by adultery.
Remarriage after Defilement
Deuteronomy 24:1-4 – When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the Lord: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

For a woman to be divorced, remarried, divorced again, then come back to her first husband, is abomination in God’s eyes.

Word Wednesday #84

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.  Daniel 6:10
The laws of the land did naught to diminish Daniel’s faithfulness to God. We are seeing the days where the U.S. may change laws for believers’ freedom–will it dampen our open service to God?
~*~*~

Share a verse that God has given you today or copy the button if you’d like to join in Word Wednesdays with your blog! Did you post on your blog? I’d love to see — share your link in a comment!

 
 

Biblically Speaking – Mixing Garments

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments
Part 5 in my study on what is abomination in the sight of God.
Recap:
Many believers have fallen into accepting that which is abomination in the sight of God. Unless we study God’s Word to learn His Mind on what is abominable, how will we know to purge ourselves from abomination? Lord willing, I will be posting the fruits of my study on the word “abomination,” but feel free to leap ahead of me and study it for yourself. What is an abomination to God?

Mixing Garments
Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.
There has been a big debate about this verse. What, for a woman, “pertaineth unto a man?” Should a woman not wear pants? Button-up shirts? T-shirts made for men? Denim? Or does this verse mean that a man is not to try to look like a woman and a woman try to look like a man?
The keyword is “pertaineth unto” which in the Hebrew means, “something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon):”
I find it very interesting that the woman is not to wear what pertains to a man (that which, from the Hebrew definition, seems prepared for a man) but the man is simply not to put on (clothe himself with) a woman’s garment.

I do not want to be guilty of “reinterpreting Scripture”–especially to narrow down to “THIS is what God meant He sees is an abomination” as my own interpretation, but I personally believe that this verse lines up with another abomination in God’s eyes–sodomy. He created man to be man and woman to be woman. In the world of clothing, there is a dividing line (which is becoming more faint) of masculine and feminine. For us to try to “mix things up” in appearance is to try to “borrow” the appearance of the opposite gender. This is my personal belief and you can believe differently–that’s fine.

Books for Christian Girls blog | Interview

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments
A few months ago, I stumbled across a blog that has become one of my favorites to look at for book reviews. The blog is “Books for Christian Girls” run by Lindsey. Today, Lindsey has graciously joined me in an interview.

Books for Christian Girls

Me: What inspired you to start “Books for Christian Girls?”
Lindsey: It was definitely a God thing! About three years ago, I had first searched “Christian books for teen girls” on Google trying to find books that I could read! I had already read all of Melody Carlson’s teen books and was hunting for more. The first search resulted in me reading the Christy Miller series by Robin Jones Gunn, a classic in my mind for teen girls. The Bible was of course mentioned, but the rest of those suggested on Yahoo! Answers were not Christian. Fast forward a couple months later, when trying to search again, wishing that there was a blog with reviews for Christian girls, a peaceful Voice came over me and whispered “You can do it, Lindsey.” I felt at peace with the idea, so, I prayed and did! (I won’t admit how long it took me to come up with the name ‘Books for Christian Girls’) BFCG has been a fantastic blessing from the Lord and I’m so glad He told me to do it! 🙂

Me: I noticed that you have a very detailed rating system. What were some deciding factors in creating this rating system?
Lindsey: I’ve always been a detailed person, so it just came natural to have a detailed scale for content in books. A not-detailed kiss (Basically: “He kissed her.” that’s it.) might be okay with some, but they might not want to read a detailed or even a semi-detailed kiss. BFCG lists everything that someone might find offensive. So when you read a BFCG review, ignore the things that don’t bother you, but take notice of the things that do.  
Me: I have definitely found that super helpful when I’m looking at your reviews. 🙂 Thanks for including those details!

Me: What do you find as one of the biggest rewards, doing BFCG?
Ooh, that’s a tough one! You mean besides the free books I get? Hahaha! While that’s a fun bonus, I would say the biggest reward is when girls near my age (or moms) comment saying that BFCG helped them find their new favorite book! It’s a pretty neat thing to hear back from girls who loved a book I recommended. 🙂

Me: I noticed you have 365 books on your goal to read for Goodreads. You must be a fast reader. 🙂 About how long does it take you to read a book? (obviously, depending on its length) 
I’m so excited about that! It’s been a goal of mine for years to do a book a day, and I’m finally doing it! Most 300 paged books take about 2 hours, depending on how much I have to write down while reading. 🙂

Me: What is your reaction when you get a new book in the mail?
Excitement! Especially if it’s a book I’ve really been looking forward to reading! I’m a book smeller (which is not *technically* a word. 😉 ), so as soon as it’s out of it’s packaging, I fan the pages, sniffing the book. Silly, but Bethany House books smell the best! Hahaha!

Me: Who are some of your favorite authors that you love recommending?
I have certain criteria an author has to meet to be considered a favorite author of mine, and an even tougher one for me to recommend her. Krista McGee, Janice Hanna Thompson, Robin Jones Gunn, and Amy Clipston are a few I recommend the most. 🙂

Me: What is your ideal location to read? (i.e. curled up in wintertime, outside on a porch swing, etc.)
Fun question! 🙂 I have a loft bed, so I normally climb up there to curl up there with my reviewing clipboard and read. I read the best late at night when my house is quite, no distractions! Sometimes I lay on my stomach on my bedroom floor, but that’s not the most comfortable reading spot! 😉

And some extra not-exactly-related-to-BFCG questions if you’d like to answer.
~What are some of your favorite verses?
Philippians 4:8 is for sure a top favorite of mine. I also love Galatians 1:10 {“For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”},Psalm 46:10 {“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”} and Philippians 3:7-8 {“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.”}

~What is one of your dreams?
To go to China! Which actually may be happening next summer with a mission trip with Show Hope. I’m currently fundraising for it, which I am beyond excited about! The Lord put orphans–especially China’s orphans–on my heart before BFCG even was a thought, I started following many adoption blogs (I’m up to over 300 now) and that seed blossomed. 🙂

~Besides reading, 😉 what are some of you top favorite things to do?
I’m a photographer (#teamcanon!) so definitely photography, blogging, working on BFCG, playing with my beagle, and learning Chinese. I’ve recently started writing/drawing on mugs, which has been fun. 🙂

~Okay…do you like snacking while you read?
Hmm…I have to be really hungry to have food next to a real book. I don’t want to get my book dirty, so not very often. I sometimes eat goldfish when reading on the Kindle due to only needing one hand to “touch” the book…no salt on the pages! 😉

You can find out more about Lindsey by checking out her blog.

Trim Healthy Mama Plan | Book Review

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
This book is not meant to be read straight through, but little-by-little as the reader experiments with what they are learning. Since I was already familiar with how THM works, I did read it straight through. Pearl and Serene have a very easy-going style that doesn’t make one feel pressured to follow their plan to a “T” however the book feels very educational, with learning how your body processes different food types. 

The main gist behind THM is eating fats and carbs separately, giving your body focused energy to burn what it is receiving without storing it in fat cells. They explain what foods are acceptable for what food group, and warn against starving your body trying to diet.

In reading this book, I did not feel the sudden urge to jump into their meal plans…but it did give me a better knowledge and awareness of the food and food types I eat on a daily basis.

IMPORTANT NOTE: this is NOT the cookbook. The cookbook is sold separately and is referred to frequently in the Plan book.

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for my review.*

Visit THM’s FaceBook, Twitter, 


Word Wednesday #83

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves.  Ezekiel 43:26

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9
So thankful that, because of Christ’s blood, cleansing is no longer a process but a simple moment of confessing sings.

~*~*~

Share a verse that God has given you today or copy the button if you’d like to join in Word Wednesdays with your blog! Did you post on your blog? I’d love to see — share your link in a comment!

 
 

The Golden Braid | Book Review

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments

This was my first Melanie Dickerson book to try, after having heard of several friends reading her. The story leaned towards your typical beautiful girl/handsome guy duo who started out despising each other then discovered they loved each other.

What I liked – this was probably the first Rapunzel story I have read. I knew the basic plot line but it was neat to see how Dickerson made it her own story. I greatly appreciated that there was no magic in the book, though there was one part when Gerek was praying and the crucifix glowed as he sensed his answer. It was briefly mentioned. The medieval flare and descriptions were well done. I think one of my favorite parts was the description of the castle life. It was definitely a book in which the characters prayed to God and sought His direction. Though the denomination was Roman Catholic (which is historically accurate), I did like the Christian emphasis and lessons discussed.

What I didn’t care for – the main thing that bothered me was towards the end, when a man and woman spent days and nights traveling alone together. This put them in situations that could have been sinful but instead, they both had the strong will to abstain. While it was honorable to read about, I personally think it could be dangerous for girls to read about it then excuse their behavior and be led into temptation.

What younger readers may need to know – I would say that one of the strongest themes in the book was a distrust for men, the fear that they would use a woman then leave her. Nothing was vulgar, but it is discussed throughout almost the entire book.

A quote that stood out to me –
“And if I loved my husband as I said I did, then I needed to comfort him. That is when I began to understand that he was only a man—a very good man who loved me, but a man nevertheless. He was not God. So I stopped trying to make him the god of my life, expecting him to bring me healing, and started expecting perfect love and satisfaction from God alone.”

*I received this book for my honest review from BookLook Bloggers*

What is your favorite medieval story?