My Babies



My babies: Cocoa, Jack and Midnight (cat)

 I took a cute pic of all three of them together.. They all had their eyes closed when I snuck up to take a picture... but as you can see... My sneaking didn't work too well on two of them. LOL! Have a great day! A-Z Challenge starts tomorrow. :)
Ang

Baking: Chewies

A messy kitchen is a happy kitchen, and this kitchen is overjoyed !

My moms friend Mrs. Deborah makes these amazing vanilla brownies called chewies. They are absolutely delicious. My husband was complaining of wanting something more to eat at like 10pm last night so I made him some.  I thought I would share the recipe with you. :)

Chewies

Ingredients:

1 stick butter, melted

2 cups brown sugar

2 tsp vanilla

2xL or 3 med-large eggs

2tsp baking powder

3/4tsp salt

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix all ingredients together.

Pour into a greased, floured 9 x13 pan.

Bake for approx 30min (until edges are brown)

Allow to cool 10-15min before cutting.

Now for pictures with the directions. :)

Mix all ingredients together.

Pour into a greased, floured 9 x13 pan.

Bake for approx 30min (until edges are brown)

Allow to cool 10-15min before cutting. 

Don't they just look yummy???

 Yes, I am terrible at cutting cakes, brownies etc. LOL!

Let me know if you try the recipe. I tell you, they are amazing and very BAD for you. LOL!

Ang

Chocolate Muffins

A messy kitchen is a happy kitchen, and this kitchen is overjoyed !

So yesterday, I made these Chocolate Muffins.. I didn't follow the recipe all the way as you will see below.. But I did for the most part. They were yummy!!!

Ingredients list:

2/3 cup of baking cocoa.
2 large eggs.
2 cups of flour.
1 cup of chocolate chips.
1/2 cup of sugar.
2 teaspoons of baking soda.
1 1/3 cups of milk.
1/3 cup of vegetable oil.
1 teaspoon of vanilla.
1/2 teaspoon of salt.

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 400°F.

Coat muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray.

 In a large bowl, combine the cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and vanilla.

 

Stir in half a cup of chocolate chips. 

** I read the directions wrong and actually mixed in all the chocolate chips.**

In a separate bowl, combine the eggs and milk.

Add the egg/milk mixture to the other ingredients until moistened.

** At this point I tasted the batter and it didn't taste sweet enough to me. So I added about two tablespoons more sugar to the mix**

 Scoop the batter evenly into the prepared pan.

Sprinkle with the remaining chocolate chips.

 **I just sprinkled some extra chocolate chips on the top... So I used about 1.5 cups of chocolate chips.**

Bake for about twenty minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Cool on a wire rack before removing from the pan. 

These muffins were sooooo yummy! Let me know if you try the recipe. :)

Ang

Priorities cont: Being an Excellent Wife

Some day's it is so hard to keep our priorities in life straight... This is because we are sinful man... Even though Christ now lives in us, we still tend to not fully rid ourselves of our old self... This for me can be tough sometimes...

As a wife, I know God has called me to put my husband first above everyone else expect God himself... This however, can be hard to do... I have friends and family who I like to spend time with as well... But, I realized recently that sometimes, I am caring more about the feelings and actions of my friends and  family more than those my husband. I am not saying, I should never spend time with family or friends or have a life outside of the house... No, that is not true.. But when my husband needs me.. I should be there for him.

• God created me to be my husbands helpmeet; to love and support him and to bring him joy. 

Genesis 2:18, 23-25 

"Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 

"The man said,
         “This is now bone of my bones,
         And flesh of my flesh;
         She shall be called Woman,
         Because she was taken out of Man."

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed."

• God also commands me to submit and respect my husband. 

Ephesians 5:22-33

Wives and Husbands

"22Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

25Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.^a 28In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30because we are members of his body. 31“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband"" According to this verse, I am not only supposed to submit to my husband, but also respect him... 

What does respect mean? 

Respect. Verb:

1. to hold in esteem or honor.

2. to show regard or consideration for.

3. to refrain from intruding upon or interfering with.

5. to relate or have reference to.

What does submit mean?

Submit

verb (used with object)

1.to give over or yield to the power or authority of another (often used reflexively).

2.to subject to some kind of treatment or influence.

3.to present for the approval, consideration, or decision of another or others: to submit a plan;

4.to state or urge with deference; suggest or propose (usually followed by a clause):

verb (used without object)

5.to yield oneself to the power or authority of another:

6.to allow oneself to be subjected to some kind of treatment:

7.to defer to another's judgment, opinion, decision, etc.:

Looking up both of these words in the dictionary, this means I am supposed, to honor, show consideration and yield to my husband. 

• God has called me to be an excellent wife.

Proverbs 31:10-31

10 ^d An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. 14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. 15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. 16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. 17She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. 19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. 20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.^f 22 She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. 27 She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” 30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates."

The above passage shows me where I am GREATLY lacking as a wife...  I fail so much in comparison to this passage... But this is what God has called me to be, and excellent wife, who does my husband good and not harm all the days of my life. 

This doesn't apply to me, I am not married:

If you are a woman, not married yet... think of verse 12, God wants you to do good to your husband all the days of your life... That means now! Are you doing things that could hurt your future husband? Think about that... If you marry, the above passage is what God has called you to do... You can work on being an excellent wife now before you are married. 

I leave you with this:

Are you doing what God has called you to do as a wife or single woman? 

Do you fear the Lord?

Are you kind and gentle? 

Do your words show wisdom and kindness? 

Do you respect, honor and submit to your husband?

Do you do your husband (or future husband) good every day? 

Are you according to the bible, living the life of an excellent wife?

If you answered no to any of these questions, here is my challenge:
  Join me on the journey of becoming an excellent wife.

1. Look in the bible yourself what God has commanded to wives and woman.

2.  Write down the verses and really study them.

3.Pray about what you learn and ask God for his help!

4. Start small and Do it! (This is the hardest part!) Remember you can do all things through Christ! Don't try to do it on your own.

If you have any questions or would like ideas of how to be an excellent wife, feel free to comment.

Ang

Peanut Butter Muffins

A messy kitchen is a happy kitchen, and this kitchen is overjoyed !

I had fun baking these muffins. However, they failed to pass the taste test... I will explain more below.

 Peanut Butter Muffin Recipe

Ingredients list:

2 medium eggs, beaten.

2 cups of sifted flour.

1 cup of milk.

½ cup of peanut butter.

¼ cup of sugar.

2 tablespoons of butter, melted.

3 teaspoons of baking powder.

1 teaspoon of salt.

Instructions:

Sift together the flour, sugar, baking power and salt.

Add the peanut butter and mix thoroughly.

Combine the eggs and milk, then pour into the mixture.

Add the butter and stir until mixture is moistened.

Fill greased muffin pans about two-thirds full and bake at 400°F (200°C) for 25 minutes.

Now  at this point I tried the muffins and they tasted more like biscuits than muffins. So, I tried to make a frosting to kind of help.
I took some peanut butter.

and some brown sugar

and some milk.

I then put my weird mixture in the microwave for 30 sec to help the peanut butter melt enough to spread. I then put it on the muffins as a frosting.

The frosting tasted good, but the muffins still didn't.... :/

We ended up giving them to our puppies who enjoyed them... If you do try this recipe... let me know how it turns out! I am trying to think of a way to make them better.
Ang

Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday: Priorities 2/26/2012

So last week in Sunday school we talk about obedience to God... If you need a review here is that link. This week in Sunday school, we learned about setting our priorities straight as a christian. Here is my reflection on what we learned:

*** WARNING this is kind of a long post. :)***

• Our First Priority is: To seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness (aka Jesus).

Matthew 6:31-33

English Standard Version (ESV) 

 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

• Our other First Priority (which goes with the other first): Love the LORD with ALL we are!

Matthew 22:35-40

English Standard Version (ESV)

And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”  And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.   

• Our 2nd Priority: To love others! 

Matthew 22:39-40

English Standard Version (ESV)

 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.   On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

• It is hard for us to keep our priorities straight. 

Matthew 9:11-13

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹¹ And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹² But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ¹³ Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

The pharisees wanted Jesus to eat with them rather than the sinners. We need to recognize that we are sinners as well as others. The pharisees missed this. Mercy First.

Matthew 23:23

English Standard Version (ESV)

²³  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

The pharisees were tithing and not showing mercy, justice and faithfulness which are worth more to God than tithe.  The pharisees tended to focus on the little thing that they could do rather than the whole picture. 

Matthew 5:23-24

English Standard Version (ESV)

²³  So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Reconciliation is more important to God and must come first before sacrifice. 

• Jesus Showed that when we think we have our priorities right, we really don't.

Matthew 23:25-26

English Standard Version (ESV)

²⁵  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶ You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

We must be clean inside before we do works. We can only be clean by the Holy Spirit/God cleansing us. 

Mark 7:5-13

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁵ And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” ⁶ And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,

“‘This people honors me with their lips,
    but their heart is far from me;
⁷ in vain do they worship me,    teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

⁸ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

⁹ And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! ¹⁰ For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ ¹¹ But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)^[a]— ¹² then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, ¹³ thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

In this passage we find the pharisees putting their own made up rules in front of the rules God put in place. Their original priority, soon became their own opinions and what they wanted.  
 Luke 9:59-61

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁵⁹ To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” ⁶⁰ And Jesus^[a] said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” ⁶¹ Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”

Here we find two different people not putting what God wants first, first.... instead they were putting others first. 

•  Jesus through his parables showed examples of what our priorities should be. 

Matthew 10:41-42

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴¹  The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. ⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

One of our priorities should be taking care of other believers. 

Mark 10:2-9

English Standard Version (ESV)

² And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” ³ He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” ⁴ They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” ⁵ And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. ⁶ But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ⁷  ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, ⁸ and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. ⁹  What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

If one is married, their priority should be to care for and support their spouse.

Luke 6:35

English Standard Version (ESV)

³⁵ But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

Yet another priority we should have as Christians is to love our enemies.

• Jesus taught us what our priorities should be when dealing with others.

Matthew 7:1-5

English Standard Version (ESV)

7  “Judge not, that you be not judged. ²  For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. ³ Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

James 2:1-13

English Standard Version (ESV)

2 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. ² For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, ³ and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” ⁴ have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? ⁵ Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? ⁶ But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? ⁷ Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

⁸ If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. ⁹ But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. ¹¹ For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. ¹² So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. ¹³ For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

We shouldn't be judging one another.... We need to remember, that we are SINNERS!  Yes, Christ now lives in us, but we were just like those who are lost before Jesus called us and revealed himself to us. Why are we judging others?

So a quick recap:

If we have our priorities straight Jesus/God is Number ONE in our Life. We put him FIRST.

If we have our priorities right, Loving others is Number TWO.

We show that God is number ONE by loving our spouse, showing mercy, loving others, being faithful

Only through the help of the Holy Spirit can we succeed in keeping these our priorities.

To Think ABOUT:

What are you priorities today?

What should you have first instead?

Who should be second after God in your life?

How can you change you priorities?

What would having the priorities God has look like in your life? 

Ang

Muffins

A messy kitchen is a happy kitchen, and this kitchen is overjoyed!

So suddenly I have this idea to make lots of muffins. I found 5 different recipes I want to try... So I will be posting pics and tips on the different recipes as I go. The recipes I have are for: Pumpkin Chocolate Muffins, Peanut Butter Muffins, Chocolate Chip Muffins, Mocha Chocolate Chip Muffins and Cinnamon Muffins. I cant wait to bake them. I am making the first recipe tomorrow.... It will probably be the peanut butter ones, because they sound healthier lol!


Ang

Baking: Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes

A messy kitchen is a happy kitchen, and this kitchen is overjoyed!

I made pumpkin spice muffins from the recipe below that I found on Pinterest. The hubby and I both totally loved them! I posted the recipe below. The only difference I did is that I cooked them in a normal muffin pan and had to bake them for more like 15min... I just cooked them till a tooth pick came back clean. Don't they just look delicious?

Let me know if you try the recipe.  :)

Recipe: Baked Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 36 donut holes

Serving Size: 2 donut holes 

For the donuts:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/8 teaspoons ground cloves
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup canned plain pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 1/2 cup low-fat milk

 For the Coating:

• 1 stick of unsalted butter, melted
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease a 24-cup mini muffin tin with nonstick spray.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cloves. In a separate large bowl, combine the oil, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, pumpkin and milk until smooth. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter. 

Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until passes the toothpick test.

Remove the muffins from the oven and allow to cool for 2 minutes, or until just cool enough to handle. With the melted butter in one bowl and the sugar and cinnamon combined in another, dip each muffin into the butter then roll in the cinnamon sugar to coat. Serve immediately.

Source: The Craving Chronicles

*For a lower sugar version, mix two packets of splenda with one table one table spoon of cinnamon (this is for the COATING).

While I'm Waiting - John Waller

Lyrics to While I'm Waiting :
I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
  Takingevery step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting

Spring Wednesday Hodgepodge 3/21

 

1. The first day of spring is here...do you enjoy working in the yard? Weeding, raking, mowing, planting-your favorite springtime garden chore? How about your least favorite? 

I love planting my own garden... I did it a little too early this year and a cold front came through and killed all the baby plants so I have to start all over again. :( I hate mowing! 

These guys I started last year and finally have peppers now. :D

2. What puts a spring in your step? 

Right now I am excited because my in laws are coming for a visit. We live so far away from everyone and no one has come to visit since we married so its exciting! 

3. Describe a time when you had to spring into action?

I couldnt resist putting this comic here... The chickens are "Springing" into action. LOL!

Right now I am springing into action, trying to get everything unpacked and decorated before my in-laws come for a visit. At least now I have a deadline, so I am motivated to deal with everything.

4. We're having carrots for dinner...would you prefer yours raw or cooked?

Either way! I especially love them in the crock pot with a roast. 

5. Do you take the shampoos and other sundries from your hotel room when its time to check out?

Yes I do. They are free why not? 

6. What's the most enjoyable team or club you've belonged to and what was it that made it so?

I was part of a synchronized swimming team when I was young. I loved the coach and swimming. 

This is a very old picture of me. I am the one on the right next to the girl in blue.

7. Is cloning a sign of progress?

I am undecided on this question.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Does anybody out there know how hard it is to loose weight? I have changed by diet to a more healthy one and workout four days a week  and I didn't loose anything this week. I am hoping that is because of building muscle.

Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday: Obedience to God 3/19

I learned/was reminded of quite a bunch yesterday... In Sunday school we learned about obedience to God's commands and in church we learned about Jonah and how God works all things to good and controls all things. I am going write my reflections from Sunday School.

Obedience to God

1. God  desires obedience over sacrifice. 

1 Samuel 15:22 "And Samuel said,“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams."

Psalm 119:4 "You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently."

God wants us to obey him rather than to do something else. He desires our obedience to Him and what He has commanded. An example in real life: a mom tells her son John to go mow the lawn. Instead, John cleans the porch and paints the fence and then brings his mom an iced lemonade. Did he obey? Will his mom be happy with him? NO!  

2. Gods law is Holy, righteous and good.

Romans 7:12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

God's law is holy righteous and good, we should not just forget about it because we are now saved from sin, on the contrary, we should seek to obey all he has commanded. That should be our desire.  

3. His law reveals our sin. 

Romans 7:7-11 "What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”  But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.  I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.  The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me."

1 John 3:4 " Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness."

God's law reveals what sin is. Makes us acknowledge what we have done wrong, that we are truly sinners. 

4. We can only obey Gods law through the help of the Holy Spirit. 

Ezekiel 37:24  "I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land.  I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.  And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.   And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.^"

God gives Christians His spirit so that we can obey his commands; without it, we cannot obey. 

5. Part of obeying God's law is to train other Christians to obey Gods law as well. 

Matthew 28:18-20 "And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. "

Psalm 78:5-7 "He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;"

Matthew 5:17-20 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." 
  
"teaching them to obey all I have commanded"- This is so important. We as Christians are supposed to be witnesses to others. We are called to disciple others and to teach them ALL God has commanded, not only to teach them what He has commanded but, to OBEY ALL.   
 

6. Obeying God's law does not mean we pressure non Christians to do what we feel convicted to do/ beat them over the head with it; because they do NOT have the Holy Spirit to help them. (How can we expect them to do, what we cannot do on our own?)

Ezekiel 37:24  "I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land.  I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.  And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.   And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.^"


Romans 7:14-25 "For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.  For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.  Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.  So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.  For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.   For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,  but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.  Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin."


The Holy Spirit is what enables us to obey Gods word.. How  then can we then expect unbelievers without the Holy Spirit  to obey God's words?

7. Obeying God's law does not save one, justify them or make them righteous.

Romans 4:3 "For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

Romans 10:4 " For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."

Ephesians 2:8  "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,"

Romans 3:28 " For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law."

Salvation, Justification and Righteousness, all come through FAITH in Jesus Christ. 

 Based upon the above what should we be doing?

We should be ourselves seeking to obey Gods words AND we should be teaching other beleivers to obey Gods word.