Who Knew Bartering Was Taxable?

I have to thank the anonymous contributor for letting me know that if we barter services, we must file taxes on that bartering. I honestly did not know that, but someone out there knows way more about the tax laws than I do.

So, I guess I need to state if you are going to barter, file your taxes on it.

We definitely do not want to get into trouble in this area.

Sorry, I didn't realize bartering would cause a clandestine underground economy.

Why Isn't Barter Popular?

I have a friend whose husband is a contractor. They purchased a run down home and he and his boss would work on it when their construction business slowed down (not as slow as you think it might be). For over a year, while this house was being worked on, they lived in a suite hotel here in our area.

Now, I do not know what they paid, but I am sure they paid by the month. Even in a suite, she didn't have to wash towels, sheets or blankets, they had a fully stocked kitchen, utilities, cable and internet were included.

What helped them, was her husband tiled the bathrooms for a reduction in their rents. In other words, he bartered his skills for something they needed and it worked out great.

My husband recently helped someone hook up the cable to his new television. The man couldn't figure it out all my husband did was hook the connectors to the back of his new television and the man came over a few days later and cut and trimmed our lawn for free.

I need a hair cut and would love to exchange home made pumpkin bread, housekeeping, pet sitting or house sitting for that service.

But bartering is not tangible to people. They have no money to place in their hands and so they don't want to do it. Others are afraid of being ripped off. My brother-in-law once bartered very expensive dental work for repairs on the dentists vintage car. Both took time, but were willing to trust each other.

School pictures are expensive every year. There are so many wonderful photographers out there, I would love to barter with them for a family photo sessions.

I can't afford to pay someone to quilt a quilt I make, but I could maybe barter with them in other ways.

Yes, I think bartering is a pretty cool thing!

My Faithful Devotions Post

My post on how to study the Bible was accepted over at Faithful Devotions and published here:
http://faithfuldevotions.com/bible-study/how-to-study-your-bible-or-how-not-to-be-force-fed

I love how they published it and wrote my bio.

I am always so happy to share the word of God and love reading about how all of you do as well!

The Book of James

So, the more I am reading the book of James, the more I am understanding the way God works. First of all, I read through the book about three times and then I began taking each verse and really reading it and translating the words into Greek to see what they meant and then God opened my mind and eyes.

The first book of James has taught me that the trials we are going through are to refine us and make us stronger so we can do God's work.

Do you know that the greek word for Joy is Euphrosune which means good cheer or Agalliassis which means with exultation and extreme joy? Asmenos means with joy and gladness .

So, God wants us to turn to Him with great joy and exultation when we are going through our trials. This is where it gets good. The Greek word for trials is Purosis which is the burning of metals by fire to be refined. When I read the meaning of this in Greek, I was beginning to see why God wants me to have patience.

Then there is Suntrupto and that is Greek for to break ones heart, deprive of strength and courage or incapacitate for enduring trials. Now, I feel God opening my eyes here and whispering...do you get it? Do you understand now? Suntrupto in my mind is what the devil tosses at us because he wants to deprive us of strength and courage and he will incapacitate us if we allow him to.

The devil will cause Astheneia...sapping our strength, causing us to be frail and sick in our soul.

The Lord allows this to happen so He can refine us. He isn't punishing us like I believed in the past, He is allowing us to endure trials because He understands we are being strengthened. James tells us we are to be patient and let patience do its work.

Do you know me? Some of you do and telling me to be patient is like telling the sun not to shine.

But there are many types of patience as well. Makrothumia which is enduring patience, constantcy, steadfastness, perserverance and slow in avenging wrongs. Okay, so I am working on many of these traits!

But I do have Dunatos patience which is strong in soul, to bear with calamaties and trials with fortitude. I have been through the fire many times in my life and while none of them have been pleasant, they do help to make me strong and a fighter.

Further, James is telling us that we must be true believers. If we ask for something, to expect it not doubt or waffle or sit on the fence believers, but the no matter how much I am being refined I will keep my eyes and heart on God! If we waffle in our beliefs, we are not believers and we are untrusting!

We are to stand strong in our trials and not revel in our circumstances, but allow the testing to refine us so we can received Gods maximum blessing from the teaching we have gone through.

Are you going through some difficult trials today? God wants you to ask for wisdom and understand the big picture He is drawing for you. Today, ask Him to remove your blindness and allow you to see through His eyes.

Remember, no matter how much we fight against it, feel angst in our hearts, feel we are battling a bigger battle than we can handle. God is with us and Jesus has already won our battle when He hung on the cross. Our battles were won and the victory is ours because of the blood.

Now all we have to do is to mature in Him to understand that. I am learning!

New Blogger Interface...Anyone

Just wondering if anyone has tried the updated blogger interface? I am always a bit skeptical on things like this and find out they are usually not improved, but disappointing! If you are using it, please send me your blog address so I can take a look!

Thanks!!

I Am Sooooooooooooo Sorry, Who Are My Latest Followers?

I have been in a constant state of quilting, cleaning, studying this week and never even noticed that I have 2 new followers and I am sooooooooooooooooooooo sorry, I didn't see you join me and follow me.

I unfortunately have never been able to figure out who was my first or two hundred and fiftieth, but you know if you have come to follow me in the last week, so please, speak up, let me know as I have a special welcome gift for you.

Wow! I can't believe I have 251 followers and I am so happy to have you all.

So, if you are new, let me know and please let me know if you are a quilter, crafter, Christian so I can choose a special just for you item!