Are you? This has been brewing around in my mind for a very long time.  What is a hypocrite? The dictionary says it is:  "a person who pretends to be what he is not; one who pretends to be better than he really is, or pious, virtuous, etc. without really being so."  The question again is: am I a hypocrite and are you?  A hypocrite will "sound a trumpet" when he gives money or goods to gain attention for himself.  A hypocrite will make himself obvious when he prays.  When he fasts, he will make sure that people will notice. He will use himself as the standard of judgment for which he judges others.  A hypocrite will draw near unto God with his mouth, and honor Him with his lips, but his heart will be far from God.  He puts stumbling blocks in the way of the sinner who is repenting and being converted by being a false leader.  He makes a show of religion while extorting money from the poor and widowed.  With his mouth, he destroys his neighbor.  His outward appearance seems righteous to men, but he is full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.  He is very careful to keep all the "regulations", such as tithing 10% etc., but overlook mercy and faith.  Just go to Matthew and you will find all these references and more.  It is so easy to become a hypocrite.  We want to fit in, to be accepted, to be looked up to by others.  Isn't it heady when people compliment you on your spiritual insights, your wonderful Godly family, your educated children, your delightful marriage relationship, your ability to pray in front of people,  your ability to teach the Gospel and lead people to repentance, etc?  But, is it really as it appears?  Is your family really Godly?  Are you really praying publicly for God's approval, or is it to impress people?  Is your marriage really as delightful as it appears to others?   Are your posts on Facebook, or on your blogs truthful?  Or are we "beefing up" our words to make people think we are something? (I am asking myself these questions too and not meaning to target just "you").  Do we cave into all the peer pressures around us to find acceptance?  Am I a hypocrite and are you?  God has made each one of us exactly how HE wanted us, but for some reason we want to be the person who everyone else thinks we should be.  When we surrender to this temptation, we will find that after awhile we have no idea who we are and we have become a hypocrite.   We only need to look at the scriptures and God tells us what we should believe, how we are to speak and act, and how we are to present ourselves outwardly.  The only person we are to compare ourselves with and gain approval from is JESUS CHRIST and when that is done we will realize that we fall way short in all our accomplishments and have nothing to boast about except that He gave His life for us, out of His love for us.  He knows whether we are being genuine or not and He despises fakiness!  "Woe unto you......hypocrites".  Woe means: "great sorrow; grief; misery".  So, the question is once again:  am I a hypocrite?  The verdict is.... quilty!    I am VERY genuine when I say I HATE it in myself and am uncomfortable around others who are not "real" or genuine either.  The rest of the question is:  Are you?  And if your verdict is "quilty" also, join me in a journey to becoming a TOTALLY genuine and truthful servant before God and everyone we come into contact with.  May our lives mirror the life of Jesus. 

Until next time.........

Solomon is now 16 and is chomping at the bit to get on the road.  He is waiting to go for his permit and then, if he passes, clear the road.   No, really, he is a good driver.  He has had alot of experience with equipment and seems to have a real knack and talent for handling anything with wheels and a steering wheel.  I am always teasing him that he is going to have to drive this dump truck, because I know that it does not go very fast.

He does not agree with me, of course!  He was able to find a 96 dodge pickup that he got extremely reasonable.  It needs some work, but nothing that he cannot handle and it will keep him busy over the winter.  We had a birthday party for him last Saturday evening and we had a really fun time playing games with friends.

We also had a cake for a friend who was also celebrating a birthday

2 of the girls that were Kelsey's bridemaids were here, also, so I couldn't resist this picture.

Until next time.........

 Yesterday we went to Hornings Market and I noticed that they still had grapes.  I realized that time was running out, if I wanted to do juice this year.   We ended up coming home with a banana box full of concord grapes.  I always choose to do the easiest method of putting food away, even grape juice.  Start by washing and removing the stems of the grapes.  Then measure 1 cup of grapes into clean quart jars and 1/2 to 1 cup sugar (I used 3/4 c.).  Fill the jars with hot water (remember to stir the sugar into the hot water or it will crystalize at bottom of jars.  I use evaporated cane sugar).  Then water bath for 10 minutes for quarts. This recipe makes a concentrate, so when ready to serve, you would mix 1 part of juice to 3 parts water.   Just remember to strain the concentrate through sieve to remove grapes.   We discovered that we can make our own grape soda using the juice.  For a part of the water, we use seltzer water.  If you want to add ice, maybe leave out some of the water so it don't get too watered down.  This makes a special treat, especially with pizza!

Until next time......