What is the Gospel? The word gospel simply means “good news.” The central message of the Bible is the gospel, or good news, about the person and work of Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 15:1–4, Paul provides the most succinct summary of the gospel: the man Jesus is also God, or Christ, and died on a cross in our place, paying the penalty for our sins; three days later He rose to conquer sin and death and give the gift of salvation to all who believe in Him alone for eternal life.The great reformer Martin Luther rightly said that, as sinners, we are prone to pursue a relationship with God in one of two ways. The first is religion/spirituality and the second is the gospel. The two are antithetical in every way. Religion says that if we obey God He will love us. The gospel says that it is because God has loved us through Jesus that we can obey.Religion says that the world is filled with good people and bad people. The gospel says that the world is filled with bad people who are either repentant or unrepentant.Religion says that you should trust in what you do as a good moral person. The gospel says that you should trust in the perfectly sinless life of Jesus because He alone is the only good and truly moral person who will ever live. The goal of religion is to get from God such things as health, wealth, insight, power, and control. The goal of the gospel is not the gifts God gives, but rather God as the gift given to us by grace.Religion is about what I have to do. The gospel is about what I get to do. Religion sees hardship in life as punishment from God. The gospel sees hardship in life as sanctifying affliction that reminds us of Jesus’ sufferings and is used by God in love to make us more like Jesus. Religion is about me. The gospel is about Jesus.Religion leads to an uncertainty about my standing before God because I never know if I have done enough to please God. The gospel leads to a certainty about my standing before God because of the finished work of Jesus on my behalf on the cross.Religion ends in either pride (because I think I am better than other people) or despair (because I continually fall short of God’s commands). The gospel ends in humble and confident joy because of the power of Jesus at work for me, in me, through me, and sometimes in spite of me.

My new collection

Let me preface this post by stating that I really am trying to live a more simple life, like the title of my blog. But sometimes we find things that we would like to collect, and in doing so, that means if I am going to add something to my home, then I need to get rid of something else. So I intend to do just that! :)

Here are my very first pieces of jadite. I will be keeping my eyes open for jadite at yard sales, flea markets, and antique stores. And I will see what I can find on ebay as well. I just love the milky green color of jadite, it goes well in our kitchen. I blame Martha Stewart for my new found collection addiction! LOL!

Uppercase Living letters have found my home!!

I have been wanting to get some vinyl letters for quite some time. Then I met a friend of a friend who sells Uppercase Living. So I bought my first one! And I LOVE IT!!!!!! You can check out Jill's blog here http://livelaughblog.com/ if you would like to order from a consultant.

Devotional for today

Don't Forget Your Honey

Let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Ephesians 5:33

Recommended ReadingEphesians 5:28-33

When mystery writer Agatha Christie married archaeologist Sir Max Mallowan in 1930, she reportedly quipped, "An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have. The older she gets, the more interested he is in her!"
If that's true, we should all be archaeologists!
As we age, we mature; and as we mature, our marriages should improve. Our love for the other should grow stronger, and our respect deeper. We should become more loving and more lovable—more interested in each other, not less.
But there's one way in which we should not be archaeologists. We don't need to keep digging up the past. The secret to a good marriage is leaving faults and failures buried under the grace of Jesus, focusing instead on meeting the needs of the other with joy in our hearts.
Remember those timeless, treasured vows: To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in heath, to love and to cherish, as long as we both shall live.

The trouble in marriage often starts when the man is so busy earning his salt that he forgets his honey. Anonymous

Beach baby

Ronnie really enjoys the beach!!!

Ronnie's travels

So far on this trip, Ronnie has had his first flight on an airplane (and he did very well!), he also got to play in the ocean for the first time. He has been on a beach before, back in June up in Michigan. So he remembered the sand and how much fun it is! More photos to come!

Our first night in Virginia Beach

YUM! That is all I can say about the pizza at this tasty pizza place!

We are having a great time on our first "real" vacation in 6 years! And we've discovered Sangria's, and they are yummy!

Stop and tell God "thank you"

DEAR GOD:

I want to thank You for what you have already done. I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me; I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears ; I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet; I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job; I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed; I am thanking you right now.

I am thanking you because I am alive. I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties. I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles. I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better. I'm thanking you because Father, YOU haven't given up on me.

My family

Here is a really nice photo of my family. Ron and I and Ronnie, my brother Scott, his wife Crystal, and her daughter Shelbie, and my parents.