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Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Gossip
How to recognize Gossip
Gossip is one of the most dangerous sins because it is so subtle and ambiguous -- many are unable to recognize it. Be on alert against gossip whenever you hear of “secret information” being circulated, or if you hear anyone else’s name is used in a conversation. Gossip exists whenever persons “talk about others” in less than a favorable way. The root of gossip is negativeness, judgementalism, slander, etc. Avoid associating with people who gossip “A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much” (Prov. 20:19). You probably remember the old saying: “If you can’t say something good about others, don’t say anything at all.” Wise advice if you wish to avoid sin.
Gossip often masquerades as “concern” for others. Rumors or gossip will seem more palatable if they first hide behind a pretentious expression of concern. “I hate to say anything about this to you, but I’m ’concerned’ about so and so.” At other times the gossiper will seek you out as their “confidante” to unload their “heavy heart” about their concerns. “I’m very troubled about so and so and I don’t know who else to talk to about it.” In reality, the gossip is not sincerely concerned about solving the problem, only in talking about it -- stirring it up. “A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends” (Prov. 16:28). A gossip thrives on the negative, the controversial, and the sensational. Any person who is genuinely concerned about solving a problem, will go and privately confront the person at the source and express their concern. Or else they should go privately to the pastor so he will do it.
The gossip is like a spider looking for a prey to lure into their trap of gossiping. They may confide to you secrets or their private concerns about other people. Perhaps in consolement, you may express your half-hearted agreement with their concerns, or you may even be enticed to confide your secret concerns to them. Consequently, the gossip will eventually repeat the process with someone else -- but next time, they will add your name as an endorsement of their private “issue,” and will eventually even disclose the secrets you shared to them. And on and on it goes.
There are times when people need to confide their own problems with a friend in the Lord. But avoid revealing anything to a person who gossips -- they can’t be trusted. “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret” (Prov. 11:13).
Taken from here
Monday, June 20, 2011
Science
Today as I was watching a friends boys, Leia and her oldest starting looking up info on birds and butterflies and drew them and put info on them. They were "doing" school without realizing it. What a blessing it is to have them home:)
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Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Motherhood, my mission field
Here is a GREAT and Encouraging blog post written about motherhood click here
For a sweet old friend
This card was super tricky and took me awhile to complete. I made the matching envelope too!
Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless
Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless
Friday, June 17, 2011
Card for Jennifer
I loved this pattern and thought Jennifer would too!
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Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless
Card for Shannon
She loves butterflies and I knew I had to make her this!
Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless
Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Stay
A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside.
"Your son is here," she said to the old man.
She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened.
Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed.
"Your son is here," she said to the old man.
She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened.
Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed.
All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.
He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.
Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.
Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.
"Who was that man?" he asked.
The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.
"No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."
"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"
"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his Son just wasn't here.
When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."
He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.
Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.
Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.
"Who was that man?" he asked.
The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.
"No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."
"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"
"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his Son just wasn't here.
When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."
I came here tonight to
find a Mr. William Grey.
His Son was killed in Iraq
today, and I was sent to
inform him. What was this
gentleman's name?
The Nurse with tears in
her eyes answered,
Mr. William Grey.............
find a Mr. William Grey.
His Son was killed in Iraq
today, and I was sent to
inform him. What was this
gentleman's name?
The Nurse with tears in
her eyes answered,Mr. William Grey.............
The next time someone needs you ... Just be there. Stay
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Miss you
I made this card using kates abcs cartridge and my cuttlebug. I'm super happy with how sweet it looks.
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Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Card
Im loving making cards. Someday I will be as good at this as all the great ones I see online:)
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Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless
Quote from Sally Clarkson
If you are a mother and want encouragment in your high calling I highly suggest Sally Clarksons book Seasons of a Mothers Heart. I was blessed to be able to go to her conference in Dallas this year and it was amazing to meet her in person! Here is a quote from my reading today
"God is pictured numerous times in Scripture expressing emotions. A part of his divine nature is what we call emotion, but it is perfect and without flaw. Since we are made "in his image,"we share that part of God's nature. Emotion- the part of us that experiences happiness, sadness, andger and shame is a natural part of life put there by God. However, like so many other "good" things in our lives that God has created, OUR SIN NATURE MESSES UP OUR EMOTIONS. We are too often tempted to follow our sin distorted feelings, rather than God. To help us, though, God has put the Holy Spirit in our lives to enable us to live by faith rather than by our feelings. Letting God control even our feelings and passions is a sure mark of Christian Maturity. Spirit controlled emotions and passions drive us to love God and serve others, and that's what makes them good." Sally Clarkson
I want God controlling my emotions....
I want God to control how I handle the stresses of Home Educating our children.
I want God to control my reaction to things I can't control.
I want God to control every aspect of my life.
I'm thankful that he has given us his word to help us through this journey....
"God is pictured numerous times in Scripture expressing emotions. A part of his divine nature is what we call emotion, but it is perfect and without flaw. Since we are made "in his image,"we share that part of God's nature. Emotion- the part of us that experiences happiness, sadness, andger and shame is a natural part of life put there by God. However, like so many other "good" things in our lives that God has created, OUR SIN NATURE MESSES UP OUR EMOTIONS. We are too often tempted to follow our sin distorted feelings, rather than God. To help us, though, God has put the Holy Spirit in our lives to enable us to live by faith rather than by our feelings. Letting God control even our feelings and passions is a sure mark of Christian Maturity. Spirit controlled emotions and passions drive us to love God and serve others, and that's what makes them good." Sally Clarkson
I want God controlling my emotions....
I want God to control how I handle the stresses of Home Educating our children.
I want God to control my reaction to things I can't control.
I want God to control every aspect of my life.
I'm thankful that he has given us his word to help us through this journey....
Monday, June 06, 2011
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Love this......Why we homeschool
This was written by another homeschooling family, it was really well written I think and my favorite part is reason 7. Its soo true.....Read it here
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Friday, May 06, 2011
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Yummy goodness
My sister introduced me to this yummy creation while NC and it will become a staple in this house!
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Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Napkin Swap
Was a huge success. We have got some creative and talented ladies. So many different prints and personalities. I would like to do this again in oct-nov time frame. This was our biggest swap yet. Thanks ladies!
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Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless
All of them
Aren't these napkins adorable? I am so excited to use these.
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Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless
Monday, April 11, 2011
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Building Female Friendships
Build Solid Female Friendships
Whitney Von Lake Hopler
Friendships with other women have the potential to either enrich your life greatly or hurt you deeply. But you can navigate the complex dynamics of relationships well if you realize that God wants to use your friendships to help you and your friends grow. Grown-up friendships stretch and encourage both you and your friends to become more mature.
Here’s how you can build grown-up friendships:
Be willing to invest yourself in friendships. Realize that good friendships don’t just happen; they take time and require risks. Invest the time and take the risks necessary to build solid friendships. Don’t settle for just fleeting fun marred by insecurity; pursue relationships that help you connect well with other women and experience deep joy together.
Discover the purpose for each of your friendships. Understand that God has an overarching purpose for all grown-up friendships, which is that they should honor Him by encouraging the people involved to become the people He wants them to be. But ask God to show you the unique purpose for each of your friendships, as well. Ask your friends questions as you explore the potential purpose for your friendships with them, and pray about the information you receive until you discover what God wants to accomplish in each of your lives through your friendship.
Rank your friendships by intimacy level. Recognize that not all of your relationships are meant to be close. Know that, while you’re called to love everyone, you’re not called to share intimately with everyone.
Put your friendships in the proper perspective by ranking them according to whether they’re acquaintances (people you know by name and with whom you usually share facts or clichés, such as a cashier at your favorite grocery store), companions (people you talk with about opinions or concerns, and with whom you share something in common, such as a hobby or children of the same age) or close friends (people you trust enough to share your deep thoughts and feelings together). After taking inventory of your current friendships, ask yourself if you’re experiencing true intimacy in any of your friendships, or if you’re spread too thin by trying to have too many intimate friendships.
Identify those people with whom you sense God is leading you to become close friends, and become intentional about doing so while letting go of unnecessary pressure in your other friendships. Make sure that God is your number one close friend, and rely on the love He gives to love other people.
Open your heart, with God’s help. Don’t close your heart off to people God wants you love. If you’re having trouble acting loving toward a difficult person, ask God – the source of all love – to help you by giving you the love you need for her. Be aware of how people press your fear buttons through their words and actions. Once you identify how they trigger fear in you, talk with them honestly about it, with the goal of sharing a loving conversation that will enlighten you both and draw you closer together. Constantly keep your heart open to receive God’s love so you can love your friends as He intends.
Set and respect healthy boundaries. Pursue healing from any past wounds that are affecting your ability to build current relationships in healthy ways. Reflect on your emotions and what words and actions trigger them so you can understand how to express them at appropriate times and in ways that are most helpful to you and your friends. Make sure that your physical expressions of affection honor God and bless your friends rather than making them uncomfortable. Recognize that God has created you to be unique. Don’t try to become like your friends; embrace your own identity with confidence.
Embrace differences between yourself and your friends. Accept the fact that you and your friends have different personalities and approaches to life. Realize that, instead of causing you to grow apart, your differences can actually improve your friendship if you respond to them wisely. Let go of attempts to change your friends and address frustrations and unmet expectations as they occur. View the differences between you as gifts rather than annoyances. Bring out the best in each other by inviting God to use the differences between you to teach you to love in deeper ways. Ask God what He is trying to accomplish by pulling you and your friends together, and keep His purposes in mind as you work through your differences.
Communicate wisely. Avoid behaviors that erode the trust that must be the foundation of a safe friendship, such as: gossip, criticism, competitiveness, blaming, manipulation, an unwillingness to confront about issues, jealousy, too much emotional intensity, jockeying for position within a group of friends, and talking instead of listening. Create safety in your friendships by allowing each other to open up with each other and share your true thoughts and feelings. Honor each other by recognizing each other’s value. Realize when your fear buttons have been pushed, and learn how to manage your emotions so they don’t control you. Be willing to seek forgiveness when you’ve hurt your friends. Speak encouraging words to your friends.
Avoid screaming, yelling, threats, and other unhealthy behaviors during disagreements. Create ground rules for your friendships that make it clear what constitutes acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. Be willing to confront your friends whenever you believe they have wronged you.
Learn how to listen well (be empathetic, summarize what was said to make sure you heard it correctly, ask open-ended questions that lead to deeper sharing, and validate your friend’s feelings even if you don’t agree with them). Rather than harboring negative beliefs about your friends, acknowledge that your perceptions might be wrong and give your friends the benefit of the doubt until you can visit with them to discuss your concerns. Don’t make negative comments about other people in front of your friends when those people aren’t present to defend themselves; know that if you refrain from doing so, your friends will trust you not to speak critically about them when they’re not present.
Take responsibility for what you choose to believe about your friends and how you choose to communicate with them; don’t blame your friends for your own choices.
Forgive and seek forgiveness. Be willing to forgive your friends after they hurt you, and ask them to forgive you after you hurt them. Know that this is not an option; it’s something you must do to maintain healthy friendships. Remember that God has forgiven you and expects you to take His call to forgive seriously. Rely on God’s help to forgive and seek forgiveness, no matter what your feelings, and know that He will help you do so. Pursue reconciliation as well with those friends who are willing to restore their friendships with you.
Overcome destructive friendships. Try to prevent being mistreated in friendships by depending on Jesus (rather than other people) to meet your deepest needs, asking God to help you become wiser and more discerning, being willing to trust others after someone betrays you, and seeking out healthy friends.
Understand that a healthy friend: brings her own identity to the relationship, supports rather than acts as a caretaker, is honest and truthful but not critical, can make decisions for herself but does not need to make decisions for everyone around her, honors your other friendships while having a clear vision of the purpose God had when He brought you two together, does not try to manipulate you but encourages you instead, believes the best about you, forgives but does not accept recurring destructive behavior from someone who does not repent. Decide to give your heart in close friendship only to women you can trust to hold it well.
Know when to let go. If you have lost a friendship because of another person’s choice, accept that you can’t control another person and don’t try to force a relationship when she doesn’t want one. If you’re dealing with a destructive friendship in which your friend is mistreating you and won’t change, realize that the best choice for you to make may be to let go of that relationship.
After a friendship ends, try to learn from the experience by asking yourself: “How could I have done this relationship better?” and “What can I learn from this painful experience and apply to my other relationships?" Allow yourself to go through the grieving process for a friendship you’ve lost. Ask God to use the loss of a friendship to refine your weaknesses and draw you closer to Him.
Reach out in crisis. When you’re going through a crisis in your life (such as divorce, widowhood, a sick child, a death in the family, or your own illness), don’t hesitate to reach out to your friends for support. When your friends are going through a crisis in their lives, reach out to them to offer them some of the hope and help they need.
Pass on what you know. Become a mentor (either formally or informally) to younger women who could benefit from what you’ve learned about building grown-up friendships. Model love in the midst of hurt, offer support in the midst of trials, pray for their friendships, and occasionally include them in fun activities with you and your own friends.
Press on. Persevere through the challenges of struggles in your friendships, knowing that God will use all of your experiences to help you become more and more like Jesus.
Originally posted April July 2007.
Whitney Von Lake Hopler
Friendships with other women have the potential to either enrich your life greatly or hurt you deeply. But you can navigate the complex dynamics of relationships well if you realize that God wants to use your friendships to help you and your friends grow. Grown-up friendships stretch and encourage both you and your friends to become more mature.
Here’s how you can build grown-up friendships:
Be willing to invest yourself in friendships. Realize that good friendships don’t just happen; they take time and require risks. Invest the time and take the risks necessary to build solid friendships. Don’t settle for just fleeting fun marred by insecurity; pursue relationships that help you connect well with other women and experience deep joy together.
Discover the purpose for each of your friendships. Understand that God has an overarching purpose for all grown-up friendships, which is that they should honor Him by encouraging the people involved to become the people He wants them to be. But ask God to show you the unique purpose for each of your friendships, as well. Ask your friends questions as you explore the potential purpose for your friendships with them, and pray about the information you receive until you discover what God wants to accomplish in each of your lives through your friendship.
Rank your friendships by intimacy level. Recognize that not all of your relationships are meant to be close. Know that, while you’re called to love everyone, you’re not called to share intimately with everyone.
Put your friendships in the proper perspective by ranking them according to whether they’re acquaintances (people you know by name and with whom you usually share facts or clichés, such as a cashier at your favorite grocery store), companions (people you talk with about opinions or concerns, and with whom you share something in common, such as a hobby or children of the same age) or close friends (people you trust enough to share your deep thoughts and feelings together). After taking inventory of your current friendships, ask yourself if you’re experiencing true intimacy in any of your friendships, or if you’re spread too thin by trying to have too many intimate friendships.
Identify those people with whom you sense God is leading you to become close friends, and become intentional about doing so while letting go of unnecessary pressure in your other friendships. Make sure that God is your number one close friend, and rely on the love He gives to love other people.
Open your heart, with God’s help. Don’t close your heart off to people God wants you love. If you’re having trouble acting loving toward a difficult person, ask God – the source of all love – to help you by giving you the love you need for her. Be aware of how people press your fear buttons through their words and actions. Once you identify how they trigger fear in you, talk with them honestly about it, with the goal of sharing a loving conversation that will enlighten you both and draw you closer together. Constantly keep your heart open to receive God’s love so you can love your friends as He intends.
Set and respect healthy boundaries. Pursue healing from any past wounds that are affecting your ability to build current relationships in healthy ways. Reflect on your emotions and what words and actions trigger them so you can understand how to express them at appropriate times and in ways that are most helpful to you and your friends. Make sure that your physical expressions of affection honor God and bless your friends rather than making them uncomfortable. Recognize that God has created you to be unique. Don’t try to become like your friends; embrace your own identity with confidence.
Embrace differences between yourself and your friends. Accept the fact that you and your friends have different personalities and approaches to life. Realize that, instead of causing you to grow apart, your differences can actually improve your friendship if you respond to them wisely. Let go of attempts to change your friends and address frustrations and unmet expectations as they occur. View the differences between you as gifts rather than annoyances. Bring out the best in each other by inviting God to use the differences between you to teach you to love in deeper ways. Ask God what He is trying to accomplish by pulling you and your friends together, and keep His purposes in mind as you work through your differences.
Communicate wisely. Avoid behaviors that erode the trust that must be the foundation of a safe friendship, such as: gossip, criticism, competitiveness, blaming, manipulation, an unwillingness to confront about issues, jealousy, too much emotional intensity, jockeying for position within a group of friends, and talking instead of listening. Create safety in your friendships by allowing each other to open up with each other and share your true thoughts and feelings. Honor each other by recognizing each other’s value. Realize when your fear buttons have been pushed, and learn how to manage your emotions so they don’t control you. Be willing to seek forgiveness when you’ve hurt your friends. Speak encouraging words to your friends.
Avoid screaming, yelling, threats, and other unhealthy behaviors during disagreements. Create ground rules for your friendships that make it clear what constitutes acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. Be willing to confront your friends whenever you believe they have wronged you.
Learn how to listen well (be empathetic, summarize what was said to make sure you heard it correctly, ask open-ended questions that lead to deeper sharing, and validate your friend’s feelings even if you don’t agree with them). Rather than harboring negative beliefs about your friends, acknowledge that your perceptions might be wrong and give your friends the benefit of the doubt until you can visit with them to discuss your concerns. Don’t make negative comments about other people in front of your friends when those people aren’t present to defend themselves; know that if you refrain from doing so, your friends will trust you not to speak critically about them when they’re not present.
Take responsibility for what you choose to believe about your friends and how you choose to communicate with them; don’t blame your friends for your own choices.
Forgive and seek forgiveness. Be willing to forgive your friends after they hurt you, and ask them to forgive you after you hurt them. Know that this is not an option; it’s something you must do to maintain healthy friendships. Remember that God has forgiven you and expects you to take His call to forgive seriously. Rely on God’s help to forgive and seek forgiveness, no matter what your feelings, and know that He will help you do so. Pursue reconciliation as well with those friends who are willing to restore their friendships with you.
Overcome destructive friendships. Try to prevent being mistreated in friendships by depending on Jesus (rather than other people) to meet your deepest needs, asking God to help you become wiser and more discerning, being willing to trust others after someone betrays you, and seeking out healthy friends.
Understand that a healthy friend: brings her own identity to the relationship, supports rather than acts as a caretaker, is honest and truthful but not critical, can make decisions for herself but does not need to make decisions for everyone around her, honors your other friendships while having a clear vision of the purpose God had when He brought you two together, does not try to manipulate you but encourages you instead, believes the best about you, forgives but does not accept recurring destructive behavior from someone who does not repent. Decide to give your heart in close friendship only to women you can trust to hold it well.
Know when to let go. If you have lost a friendship because of another person’s choice, accept that you can’t control another person and don’t try to force a relationship when she doesn’t want one. If you’re dealing with a destructive friendship in which your friend is mistreating you and won’t change, realize that the best choice for you to make may be to let go of that relationship.
After a friendship ends, try to learn from the experience by asking yourself: “How could I have done this relationship better?” and “What can I learn from this painful experience and apply to my other relationships?" Allow yourself to go through the grieving process for a friendship you’ve lost. Ask God to use the loss of a friendship to refine your weaknesses and draw you closer to Him.
Reach out in crisis. When you’re going through a crisis in your life (such as divorce, widowhood, a sick child, a death in the family, or your own illness), don’t hesitate to reach out to your friends for support. When your friends are going through a crisis in their lives, reach out to them to offer them some of the hope and help they need.
Pass on what you know. Become a mentor (either formally or informally) to younger women who could benefit from what you’ve learned about building grown-up friendships. Model love in the midst of hurt, offer support in the midst of trials, pray for their friendships, and occasionally include them in fun activities with you and your own friends.
Press on. Persevere through the challenges of struggles in your friendships, knowing that God will use all of your experiences to help you become more and more like Jesus.
Originally posted April July 2007.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Acting out the four basic human behaviours
Whose what???? Those that know me, know which one I am.....these are soo funny, I was literally LOL while watching and thinking of myself and closest friends........
Survivor: Redemption Island - My Faith Is Everything
Saving his most precious gift for his wife.....love it!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Napkin Swap
Ok its time ladies, Email me at kberryh @ hotmail dot com.........I will send you the address to mail me the napkins at.....
Monday, March 21, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Spring card
I made thus card for my friend Shannon. She finally rec'd it so I can post it. Im glad you liked it.
Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless
Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
New crafting Adventure......
Monday, March 07, 2011
Excerpt from book....
Book by Francine Rivers, Unspoken its about Bathsheba.
If you havent read about it, its good.....True story from the bible......How their secret sin became known and ruined sooooo many lives.....anyway here is an excerpt from the book that was like a wow moment for me. Its is soo true how quickly sin enters our life and spirals out of control.......
"David pressed her head against his heart, unable to speak. How was it possible for two people to know and love the Law and yet sin so abominably?How and when had sin first crept into their lives and spread like a playgue until it killed their consciences? Had the seeds of sin been planted years ago, when he'd realized she was no longer a child and wished he had asked for her before Eliam gave her to another man? Had the seeds planted then been watered with his own fantasies? "
Hebrews 12:1-2 (New International Version, ©2011)
Hebrews 12
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
If you havent read about it, its good.....True story from the bible......How their secret sin became known and ruined sooooo many lives.....anyway here is an excerpt from the book that was like a wow moment for me. Its is soo true how quickly sin enters our life and spirals out of control.......
"David pressed her head against his heart, unable to speak. How was it possible for two people to know and love the Law and yet sin so abominably?How and when had sin first crept into their lives and spread like a playgue until it killed their consciences? Had the seeds of sin been planted years ago, when he'd realized she was no longer a child and wished he had asked for her before Eliam gave her to another man? Had the seeds planted then been watered with his own fantasies? "
Hebrews 12:1-2 (New International Version, ©2011)
Hebrews 12
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
Sally Clarkson
During her conference she made a comment about first time obedience and I agree with what she says here. Jesus gives us second chances, its about their heart.....anyways read this from her blog, long but worth the read......she has links to what others said about conference and the link to courtneys is who I also met while there.....
http://www.itakejoy.com/first-time-obedience-really/
http://www.itakejoy.com/first-time-obedience-really/
Roll call (napkin swap)
1. Me
2. Jennifer
3. Shannon
4. Gabriella
5. Lorrianne
6. Lorriannes friend
7. Stephanie
8. Gloria
Did I get everyone? Please check in.......:)
2. Jennifer
3. Shannon
4. Gabriella
5. Lorrianne
6. Lorriannes friend
7. Stephanie
8. Gloria
Did I get everyone? Please check in.......:)
Thursday, February 24, 2011
God's love........
February 24, 2011
God's Love Changes Everything
Micca Monda Campbell
"Go now and leave your life of sin."
John 8:11b (NIV)
Devotion:
In the story of the adulteress woman found in John 8:1-11, we can see clearly that Christ's love is greater than sin.
It must have been an unruly scene until Jesus stepped into the situation. Caught in the very act by the Pharisees, the woman's fate hung in the balance. I imagine that the adulteress woman felt unbearable loneliness and fear as she lay naked in the streets at the mercy of those whose desire was to stone her to death.
Sin does that. It separates us from God, causing us to experience isolation and fear. This is a sure sign we need to search our souls and confess our sins so that we can have peace and enjoy Christ's sweet presence again.
On the other hand, it's not a sign that God's love is absent.
For years, I held on to my mixed bag of emotions blaming God and others for my troubles. I was alone, afraid, and angry, but not by my choice I reasoned. I was this way because others gave up on me, I insisted. And Christ—well, if He really cared then why didn't He free me from the pain that haunted me day and night?
Over time, I opened my eyes to the real problem. Instead of looking at myself, my eyes were always on someone else. When I finally did take a good long look at myself, I realized I was a child of God who had stomped my foot, crossed my arms, and turned my back on Him for not letting me have my way. Holding the Lord at arm's length only prolonged the healing of my wounds. In that honest moment with myself, I let go of my anger and fear and re-opened my heart to God.
Broken before the Lord, I asked for His forgiveness. I surrendered anew to His plan for my life. What was God's response? It was pure grace. I got up from my knees a new person. I was no longer afraid or angry—just filled with Christ's love and peace.
The adulteress woman also found indescribable love when she came face to face with her sin and her Savior. Publicly caught in the act of adultery, she must have felt shame and brokenness. But feeling broken is actually a good emotional place to be when we need to reach out for Christ's love and forgiveness.
All eyes were on Jesus as the Pharisees waited with rocks in hand to see if Christ would condemn and punish her. Jesus said, "Let any one of you that is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her" (vs. 7b). I picture the woman, hardly believing her ears, staring deep into the Savior's eyes. First with great terror, but then knowing by His gentle eyes that no matter what happened next, she could face it.
She must have felt relief when she heard the rocks drop to the ground and the scattering of feet. Then, "Jesus asked her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' 'No one, sir,' she said. 'Then neither do I condemn you,' Jesus declared. 'Go now and leave your life of sin.'" (vs. 10-11)
Jesus gave this woman what every heart needs—love and forgiveness. Don't misunderstand. The woman was guilty and, according to the laws of the day, should have been put to death. However, instead of condemning her Jesus chose to save her.
He chose to save us all by dying on the cross as payment for our sins. Do you need forgiveness today? The Bible offers this promise: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:9).
God's Love Changes Everything
Micca Monda Campbell
"Go now and leave your life of sin."
John 8:11b (NIV)
Devotion:
In the story of the adulteress woman found in John 8:1-11, we can see clearly that Christ's love is greater than sin.
It must have been an unruly scene until Jesus stepped into the situation. Caught in the very act by the Pharisees, the woman's fate hung in the balance. I imagine that the adulteress woman felt unbearable loneliness and fear as she lay naked in the streets at the mercy of those whose desire was to stone her to death.
Sin does that. It separates us from God, causing us to experience isolation and fear. This is a sure sign we need to search our souls and confess our sins so that we can have peace and enjoy Christ's sweet presence again.
On the other hand, it's not a sign that God's love is absent.
For years, I held on to my mixed bag of emotions blaming God and others for my troubles. I was alone, afraid, and angry, but not by my choice I reasoned. I was this way because others gave up on me, I insisted. And Christ—well, if He really cared then why didn't He free me from the pain that haunted me day and night?
Over time, I opened my eyes to the real problem. Instead of looking at myself, my eyes were always on someone else. When I finally did take a good long look at myself, I realized I was a child of God who had stomped my foot, crossed my arms, and turned my back on Him for not letting me have my way. Holding the Lord at arm's length only prolonged the healing of my wounds. In that honest moment with myself, I let go of my anger and fear and re-opened my heart to God.
Broken before the Lord, I asked for His forgiveness. I surrendered anew to His plan for my life. What was God's response? It was pure grace. I got up from my knees a new person. I was no longer afraid or angry—just filled with Christ's love and peace.
The adulteress woman also found indescribable love when she came face to face with her sin and her Savior. Publicly caught in the act of adultery, she must have felt shame and brokenness. But feeling broken is actually a good emotional place to be when we need to reach out for Christ's love and forgiveness.
All eyes were on Jesus as the Pharisees waited with rocks in hand to see if Christ would condemn and punish her. Jesus said, "Let any one of you that is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her" (vs. 7b). I picture the woman, hardly believing her ears, staring deep into the Savior's eyes. First with great terror, but then knowing by His gentle eyes that no matter what happened next, she could face it.
She must have felt relief when she heard the rocks drop to the ground and the scattering of feet. Then, "Jesus asked her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' 'No one, sir,' she said. 'Then neither do I condemn you,' Jesus declared. 'Go now and leave your life of sin.'" (vs. 10-11)
Jesus gave this woman what every heart needs—love and forgiveness. Don't misunderstand. The woman was guilty and, according to the laws of the day, should have been put to death. However, instead of condemning her Jesus chose to save her.
He chose to save us all by dying on the cross as payment for our sins. Do you need forgiveness today? The Bible offers this promise: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:9).
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Mom Heart Conference part 4 notes/thoughts
What is my marvelous calling?
- You are called to create a biblical family-its Gods design for filling the world with his followers.
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1: 26-28
- We are created to further his kingdom, passing on the purposes of God. We need to teach our children that God made them for a purpose……
- You are called to teach and obey his Word-it is Gods design for not being deceived by the world.
You need to build influence with your children. You can’t do that with stuff, it takes time, attention, loving them, and laughing with them. Its sooooo easy to be tired and so many reasons to be tired. Jesus was a servant king, who lived with, ate with and instructed his diciples. We must be the parent who becomes the flesh of Christ. Invest moments with them, build one brick at a time…….
For me this is hard, I spend so much time educating them that I forget that I also need to do other things with them on a regular basics. I think well I just spent all morning doing school anit that enough? But its not…….
Mom Heart Conference part 3 notes/thoughts
God designed your heart to fulfill a role-your mom heart matters to women who need a model of hope and inspiration.
Hardships are God parenting you……
The world Needs a testimony of Godly womanhood. When you build a Godly home, its not just for your home but for the community.
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Titus 2: 3-5
When a woman grasps her importance, she can influence the world. Who qualifies you? GOD does……
The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands….Proverbs 14:1
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Part 2 conference notes/thoughts
Why does your Mom Heart matter?
Every child hopes they have a mommy that loves them. We are a picture of God to our children.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12: 1-2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world- to the times, cultural, way everyone else does things etc……..SO many women just go with the times instead of the word of GOD. Well so and so does it and that seems ok, or so and so can do this and they are ok. We have to Fix our eyes on Jesus…….not other women……..
When you love your children, you are teaching them God’s love…..Jesus invested his personal life into his diciples and we too need to invest into the lives of our children that we have been blessed to raise…..
My Favorite thing Sally said is this, God made you their mother not anyone else, NO ONE is better qualified to love, teach, discipline, or care for you children than YOU! I love this. When you feel “why Lord” I can’t do this, he says YES YOU can, through ME!
3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 peter 1:3-11
He knows us, and he knows our children and what they needed in a mother. 
~God designed your heart for an eternal purpose-your mom heart matters to God’s heart.
~God designed your heart to influence future generations-your mom heart matters to them and their children.
Thoughts/notes on Sally Clarkson conference Part 1
Being thoroughly alive,
What nurtures YOUR soul?
How can you make your quiet place more beautiful?
Make the Ordinary sacred.
cultivate community/friendships
Traditions: what is special about us, what do WE do?
Keep wonder alive, enjoy the world God created.
Stop trying to be this or that, but just be filled with GOD……Keep your child's Heart if you see your loosing it, do all you can to get it back.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:16
Do not seek righteousness according to your child’s behavior, we are already righteous in God’s eyes. We already have it! (Praise God for that uh?)
So many times we tend to think highly of ourselves if our children do good, and low of ourselves and embarrassed when they misbehave. Yes we need to train them and pray for them, they need to learn to own their own walk with the Lord.
God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that God's righteousness might come about in us. 2 Corinthians 5:21
I serve GOD not man……
Do not struggle with what’s expected on the outside, Expectations can weigh you down……Don’t try to appear a certain way on the outside……
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Sally Clarkson
Anyone going to this Mom Heart ? I have read two of her books, and feel so encouraged by her. I finally get the opportunity to attend one of her conferences.....She encourages me to be a better mom for God. God has called me to be a mother, Praise HIM and I want to be the best he has called me to be. I'm so thankful that I came across her books. I like how she goes to the word to help us parent, as we should. Anyways, if you have been to her conference, tell me about it. If you are going to the one in Dallas this weekend, tell me......
Napkin Swap
I have my fabric. I need to prewash it, then I will start cutting it. I was going to post a pic of my fabric choice then decided that I wanted it to be a surprise in the mail, I love surprises! So even though a few of you went together to get your fabric, my choice will be a surprise and so will Stephanies.:) Just so you know I stayed clear of the usual pinks I usually pick. Im happy with my choice and super excited to get started, now only if I had someone to help me get my responcibilites done.....LOL
Happy Sewing!
Happy Sewing!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Friendships
February 15, 2011
A Recipe for Relationships
Micca Monda Campbell
"... he loved him as he loved himself."
1 Samuel 20:17b (NIV)
Devotion:
My mother use to tell me to count myself lucky if I had just one "close friend." That's because close life-long relationships are hard to come by.
So many people today are looking for meaningful relationships, yet so few actually find them. We are becoming an increasingly private society, and it seems fewer people than ever have life-long intimate friendships. Still, the desire for this kind of relationship is not only sought after, but necessary.
Women are naturally drawn to other women. In fact, a girl's first experience with heartache may have been over a lost "best friend" rather than a "boy friend." Women value friendships. When they are lost, we grieve; not just over the friendship itself, but also for the secrets shared, the trust given and the acceptance enjoyed. If betrayed, the pain runs deep causing us to wonder if intimate friendships are really possible.
When I think of a biblical example of real friendship, the story of David and Jonathan, found in 1 Samuel 19, always comes to mind.
Jonathan, son of King Saul, was David's closest friend. But his father, the king, despised David because he was growing in popularity and because God had anointed David to be king. These facts enraged King Saul, so much that he commanded his aids and Jonathan to assassinate David. But Jonathan loved David, therefore betrayal was impossible.
Love isn't the only fruit of true friendship. A real relationship consists of sacrifice too.
Jonathan stripped himself of the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his armor, his sword, his bow, and his belt. Jonathan was the potential heir to his father's throne, but we see him sacrificing his future for his best friend as he literally gave David his place as king.
You and I can learn from this action that true friendship means a willingness to sacrifice for each other in love. It's the ability to put another's needs, desires, and wishes above our own.
Loyalty is also a mark of true friendship. We're told that Jonathan went to his father and spoke well of David. Jonathan also stood up to his dad and essentially said, "Dad, you're wrong about David. He hasn't done any wrong to you; in fact, everything he's done has helped you." A true friend is a loyal defense before others, one who won't talk about you when you're not around. True friends stick up for each other.
Finally, intimate friends give each other complete freedom to be themselves. In an intimate friendship, you don't have to explain why you do what you do. You're just free to do it.
When Jonathan gave David the news that things were troubled in the palace and that his dad was going to kill him, the two were forced to say goodbye. The text tells us that they wept together.
When your heart is broken, you can bleed all over a friend like this and she'll understand. She won't try to dismiss your misery or tell you to straighten up. Intimate friends let each other hurt and they weep together. If your friend needs to talk it through, you will listen. Intimate friends don't bale; they stay. They allow you to be yourself no matter what "self" looks like in that moment.
If you're looking for a godly recipe for relationships, look no further. Mix together love, sacrifice, loyalty, and freedom and you can create an intimate friendship that lasts a lifetime
A Recipe for Relationships
Micca Monda Campbell
"... he loved him as he loved himself."
1 Samuel 20:17b (NIV)
Devotion:
My mother use to tell me to count myself lucky if I had just one "close friend." That's because close life-long relationships are hard to come by.
So many people today are looking for meaningful relationships, yet so few actually find them. We are becoming an increasingly private society, and it seems fewer people than ever have life-long intimate friendships. Still, the desire for this kind of relationship is not only sought after, but necessary.
Women are naturally drawn to other women. In fact, a girl's first experience with heartache may have been over a lost "best friend" rather than a "boy friend." Women value friendships. When they are lost, we grieve; not just over the friendship itself, but also for the secrets shared, the trust given and the acceptance enjoyed. If betrayed, the pain runs deep causing us to wonder if intimate friendships are really possible.
When I think of a biblical example of real friendship, the story of David and Jonathan, found in 1 Samuel 19, always comes to mind.
Jonathan, son of King Saul, was David's closest friend. But his father, the king, despised David because he was growing in popularity and because God had anointed David to be king. These facts enraged King Saul, so much that he commanded his aids and Jonathan to assassinate David. But Jonathan loved David, therefore betrayal was impossible.
Love isn't the only fruit of true friendship. A real relationship consists of sacrifice too.
Jonathan stripped himself of the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his armor, his sword, his bow, and his belt. Jonathan was the potential heir to his father's throne, but we see him sacrificing his future for his best friend as he literally gave David his place as king.
You and I can learn from this action that true friendship means a willingness to sacrifice for each other in love. It's the ability to put another's needs, desires, and wishes above our own.
Loyalty is also a mark of true friendship. We're told that Jonathan went to his father and spoke well of David. Jonathan also stood up to his dad and essentially said, "Dad, you're wrong about David. He hasn't done any wrong to you; in fact, everything he's done has helped you." A true friend is a loyal defense before others, one who won't talk about you when you're not around. True friends stick up for each other.
Finally, intimate friends give each other complete freedom to be themselves. In an intimate friendship, you don't have to explain why you do what you do. You're just free to do it.
When Jonathan gave David the news that things were troubled in the palace and that his dad was going to kill him, the two were forced to say goodbye. The text tells us that they wept together.
When your heart is broken, you can bleed all over a friend like this and she'll understand. She won't try to dismiss your misery or tell you to straighten up. Intimate friends let each other hurt and they weep together. If your friend needs to talk it through, you will listen. Intimate friends don't bale; they stay. They allow you to be yourself no matter what "self" looks like in that moment.
If you're looking for a godly recipe for relationships, look no further. Mix together love, sacrifice, loyalty, and freedom and you can create an intimate friendship that lasts a lifetime
Monday, February 14, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Just the right words
February 8, 2011
Just the Right Words
BY : Renee Swope
"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver."
Proverbs 25:11 (NIV)
Devotion:
Has someone ever spoken words that helped you see something valuable or unique about yourself that you had never seen before?
That's what happened between Jill and Leanne. They met when Jill was coaching a basketball team and Leanne's 13-year-old daughter, Shelby, was on her team. Years later, when she was in high school, Shelby got seriously injured and Jill reached out to her with encouragement, prayers and notes that spoke just the words Shelby needed to hear.
One day, Leanne sent a letter thanking Jill for the difference she was making in her daughter's life. She described the great qualities she saw in Jill and called her a "bright light" that shined in many lives, including theirs.
Leanne didn't know that months later Jill would go home to an empty apartment one night plagued with doubts, questioning her purpose in life. Battling clinical depression and living under the weight of feeling worthless, Jill contemplated suicide. That night as she pondered her fate, Jill opened her journal to write and a note fell out. As Jill opened the note, she read Leanne's words again.
God used Leanne's words to show Jill she did have a purpose and that life was worth living. Just the right words at just the right time.
When another woman speaks encouragement into our hearts, the course of our lives can be changed forever. And when we believe in someone else, God uses us to build confidence and security in a heart that may have otherwise been paralyzed by doubt and insecurity.
I'll never forget my friend Janet thanking me for words I'd penned from my heart to hers in a thank you card. To me it was only a thank you, but it was more to her. God touched her heart deeply through something I said. And in response, she encouraged me to write more than notes. Her prayers and confidence inspired this insecure young mom to eventually write a Bible study.
God used that tiny Bible study, written over 10 years ago, to uncover His plans and develop the future writer in me. He used a woman who believed in me more than I believed in myself to help me take the first step.
Just the right words at just the right time.
Perhaps you need to hear them today. If so, let God speak them over you through His promises:
· For you are a chosen [woman], you are a royal priest, a holy [daughter]. God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
· "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine....you are precious and honored in my sight, and I love you."
Isaiah 43:1, 4 (NIV)
· For [you] are God's masterpiece. He has created [you] anew in Christ Jesus, so [you] can do the good things he planned for [you] long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
· In all these things [you] are more than conqueror through him who loved [you]. Romans 8:37 (NIV)
Just the right words at just the right time.
Let God's promises settle into those places in your heart that need for encouragement today. And then ask Jesus how you might share them. Perhaps there is someone in your life who needs them now more than ever.
Just the Right Words
BY : Renee Swope
"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver."
Proverbs 25:11 (NIV)
Devotion:
Has someone ever spoken words that helped you see something valuable or unique about yourself that you had never seen before?
That's what happened between Jill and Leanne. They met when Jill was coaching a basketball team and Leanne's 13-year-old daughter, Shelby, was on her team. Years later, when she was in high school, Shelby got seriously injured and Jill reached out to her with encouragement, prayers and notes that spoke just the words Shelby needed to hear.
One day, Leanne sent a letter thanking Jill for the difference she was making in her daughter's life. She described the great qualities she saw in Jill and called her a "bright light" that shined in many lives, including theirs.
Leanne didn't know that months later Jill would go home to an empty apartment one night plagued with doubts, questioning her purpose in life. Battling clinical depression and living under the weight of feeling worthless, Jill contemplated suicide. That night as she pondered her fate, Jill opened her journal to write and a note fell out. As Jill opened the note, she read Leanne's words again.
God used Leanne's words to show Jill she did have a purpose and that life was worth living. Just the right words at just the right time.
When another woman speaks encouragement into our hearts, the course of our lives can be changed forever. And when we believe in someone else, God uses us to build confidence and security in a heart that may have otherwise been paralyzed by doubt and insecurity.
I'll never forget my friend Janet thanking me for words I'd penned from my heart to hers in a thank you card. To me it was only a thank you, but it was more to her. God touched her heart deeply through something I said. And in response, she encouraged me to write more than notes. Her prayers and confidence inspired this insecure young mom to eventually write a Bible study.
God used that tiny Bible study, written over 10 years ago, to uncover His plans and develop the future writer in me. He used a woman who believed in me more than I believed in myself to help me take the first step.
Just the right words at just the right time.
Perhaps you need to hear them today. If so, let God speak them over you through His promises:
· For you are a chosen [woman], you are a royal priest, a holy [daughter]. God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
· "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine....you are precious and honored in my sight, and I love you."
Isaiah 43:1, 4 (NIV)
· For [you] are God's masterpiece. He has created [you] anew in Christ Jesus, so [you] can do the good things he planned for [you] long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
· In all these things [you] are more than conqueror through him who loved [you]. Romans 8:37 (NIV)
Just the right words at just the right time.
Let God's promises settle into those places in your heart that need for encouragement today. And then ask Jesus how you might share them. Perhaps there is someone in your life who needs them now more than ever.
Monday, February 07, 2011
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Psalm 86
Psalm 86 (New International Version, ©2010)
Psalm 86
A prayer of David.
1 Hear me, LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; 3 have mercy on me, Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
for I put my trust in you.
5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, LORD;
listen to my cry for mercy.
7 When I am in distress, I call to you,
because you answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
9 All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, LORD,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.
14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
ruthless people are trying to kill me—
they have no regard for you.
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and have mercy on me;
show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
just as my mother did.
17 Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
Psalm 86
A prayer of David.
1 Hear me, LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; 3 have mercy on me, Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
for I put my trust in you.
5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, LORD;
listen to my cry for mercy.
7 When I am in distress, I call to you,
because you answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
9 All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, LORD,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.
14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
ruthless people are trying to kill me—
they have no regard for you.
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and have mercy on me;
show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
just as my mother did.
17 Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Supplies for napkins
Supplies for the napkins:
broadcloth decorating type fabric 1 yard
thick flannel 1 yard
9 1/2 in ruler
rotary cutter
cutting mat
sewing machine
You will get approx 12 squares out of the fabric 12-flannel 12- broadcloth
you will sew these right sides together and then turn and topstitch. If you wanna tack the middle you can but have found it not neccesary. So you will make 12 napkins. you will mail 4 to me and then I will mail 4 back to you in different colors/designs etc. I say 4 because I believe there is 4 of us doing the swap, if there is more then you swap more. It is so fun to get different styles, things you probably wouldnt have picked out yourself. AND in my house those become the Prized napkin cux there is only one of em. Sometimes I get 2 yards and make two styles and sometimes swap more than one per person and get even more:) So Im sooo excited bout this.....
FYI, our Joanns is having a sale on broadcloth decor fabric 50 % off. I will be making a run soon.....:)
All you veteran swappers, DID I leave anything out?
broadcloth decorating type fabric 1 yard
thick flannel 1 yard
9 1/2 in ruler
rotary cutter
cutting mat
sewing machine
You will get approx 12 squares out of the fabric 12-flannel 12- broadcloth
you will sew these right sides together and then turn and topstitch. If you wanna tack the middle you can but have found it not neccesary. So you will make 12 napkins. you will mail 4 to me and then I will mail 4 back to you in different colors/designs etc. I say 4 because I believe there is 4 of us doing the swap, if there is more then you swap more. It is so fun to get different styles, things you probably wouldnt have picked out yourself. AND in my house those become the Prized napkin cux there is only one of em. Sometimes I get 2 yards and make two styles and sometimes swap more than one per person and get even more:) So Im sooo excited bout this.....
FYI, our Joanns is having a sale on broadcloth decor fabric 50 % off. I will be making a run soon.....:)
All you veteran swappers, DID I leave anything out?
Monday, January 24, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Beautiful, the way God intended
Putting Self on the Shelf: When Marriage Isn’t All About Me
Cindi McMenamin
I remember the day marriage finally made sense to me. I was flying to a speaking engagement and complaining to God in prayer.
God, you knew what I was like and what I would need in a husband. So are You sure You knew what You were doing when You led me to Hugh?
I was convinced God brought the two of us together. I knew He was in it from the day I met Hugh. But certainly God knew that my husband would not be one to express himself verbally in the way I was expecting. Certainly God knew that I would many times need more, emotionally, than my husband appeared able to give. So why did God let it happen? And why wasn't He transforming my husband so he would be the kind of man to meet my needs and expectations?
It was then as if God had pulled me aside and whispered something profound to me:
"Perhaps I was looking at what he needed."
According to the Bible, man was created in the image of God. And woman was created to be man's helper. Woman was created so man would be complete. God didn't create Adam so Eve could be romanced. To the contrary, He created Eve so Adam would have a helper...one suited for him in every way (Genesis 2:18).
In other words, it wasn't all about me. Ouch!
I'm embarrassed to say that for the first 15 or so years of our marriage, I never really thought too much about what my husband needed in a wife...but I thought quite a bit about what I needed in a husband and how he was falling short of my expectations. I hadn't put my own feelings aside long enough to say, "God, show me why you brought me into this man's life and how I can truly help him be all that You created him to be." I hadn't put myself on the shelf long enough to see the bigger, more beautiful picture of what God has in mind when He brings two people, who are very different from each other, together to form a union.
It's tough to leave self on the shelf. Self wants to rule. Self wants its own way. Self suffocates. And self destroys.
The Bible shows us what the opposite of self looks like when it describes love, which is self less:
Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn't selfish or quick tempered. It doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails! First Corinthians 13:4-8a, CEV
Sometimes our marriage looks the opposite of the biblical description of love. We can be unkind, impatient, jealous, boastful, proud and even rude! There are times we are quick-tempered with each other. And God knows there are times we keep records of the wrongs we do to each other. But recognizing what we don't want our relationship to look like is one of the first steps to walking together toward a newer, fresher, lovelier one.
When I got home from that speaking engagement, I had a new perspective on my marriage. Instead of praying for my husband to meet my needs, I began to ask God to show me how I could meet my husband's. Instead of looking at his short-comings, I began to ask God to expose to me my own. Instead of focusing on my desires, I began to pray about how I could meet his. And it not only gave me grace to extend to his weaknesses (as I became more aware of my own) but it changed my heart. And our marriage.
My friend, Rhonda, told me how she was able to leave herself on the shelf in her marriage, when it came to expecting her husband, Steve, to meet all of her needs.
"As I grew more intimate with Christ, I let my husband off the hook. He no longer had to be my everything. I could find joy, rest, security and peace in my relationship with Christ. My husband no longer had to be my god. He could be my husband, my friend, my ministry mate. The intimacy in our relationship has always been healthier when I pursue intimacy with Christ first over trying to squeeze every ounce of life out of my husband to make me feel like we are intimate. As we each work on growing more intimate with Christ we find we are more intimate with each other."
Women are not the only ones who need to take their primary needs to God in the relationship. If a husband is expecting his wife to be his all in all, he, too, will be disappointed. She can only give so much. He must look to God, his Heavenly Father, for his affirmation, sense of worth, and validation as a man. As he becomes certain of who he is in God's eyes, he won't depend on his wife to fill a hole in his soul.
Marriage is tough. It shows us how selfish we tend to be. It shows us how much we need God to mend the brokenness in our lives. It shows us how far we really need to go when it comes to being Christ-like in our individual lives and in our marriage. But when we get a glimpse of what God wants to do in and through each of us to help us become more like Himself, we find we have an awesome privilege and responsibility in front of us in this arena called marriage.
To be part of God's work in our spouse's life is to say "God, not what I need, but what my spouse needs. Use me to build up and encourage my spouse and make him (or her) the person you want them to be." When we say "Not what I need, but what my spouse needs" we are, in a sense, imitating Jesus' prayer shortly before going to the cross, in which He said to His Father: "Not my will, but Yours be done" (Luke 22:39). Jesus was literally giving up His life for ours. So can we, then, be willing to give up our own comforts, needs, and expectations for the other?
There is no more direct way to draw your spouse's heart toward yours than to put yourself on the shelf and say "not my will, but yours."
Not my choice of a restaurant tonight, but yours.
Not my choice of a movie this time, but yours.
Not my night to have uninterrupted sleep, but yours.
Not my story to dominate the conversation, but yours.
Not my feelings to protect today, but yours.
Not my dream to pursue right now, but yours.
As you develop a habit of putting the other person first, you may be surprised to find that the phrase eventually becomes "not my ______, but ours."
Can you leave yourself on the shelf long enough to truly put your husband or wife first? It doesn't come natural. At times, it doesn't come easy. But it does bring priceless - and precious - results. You will end up drawing your hearts closer together.
Cindi McMenamin
I remember the day marriage finally made sense to me. I was flying to a speaking engagement and complaining to God in prayer.
God, you knew what I was like and what I would need in a husband. So are You sure You knew what You were doing when You led me to Hugh?
I was convinced God brought the two of us together. I knew He was in it from the day I met Hugh. But certainly God knew that my husband would not be one to express himself verbally in the way I was expecting. Certainly God knew that I would many times need more, emotionally, than my husband appeared able to give. So why did God let it happen? And why wasn't He transforming my husband so he would be the kind of man to meet my needs and expectations?
It was then as if God had pulled me aside and whispered something profound to me:
"Perhaps I was looking at what he needed."
According to the Bible, man was created in the image of God. And woman was created to be man's helper. Woman was created so man would be complete. God didn't create Adam so Eve could be romanced. To the contrary, He created Eve so Adam would have a helper...one suited for him in every way (Genesis 2:18).
In other words, it wasn't all about me. Ouch!
I'm embarrassed to say that for the first 15 or so years of our marriage, I never really thought too much about what my husband needed in a wife...but I thought quite a bit about what I needed in a husband and how he was falling short of my expectations. I hadn't put my own feelings aside long enough to say, "God, show me why you brought me into this man's life and how I can truly help him be all that You created him to be." I hadn't put myself on the shelf long enough to see the bigger, more beautiful picture of what God has in mind when He brings two people, who are very different from each other, together to form a union.
It's tough to leave self on the shelf. Self wants to rule. Self wants its own way. Self suffocates. And self destroys.
The Bible shows us what the opposite of self looks like when it describes love, which is self less:
Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn't selfish or quick tempered. It doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails! First Corinthians 13:4-8a, CEV
Sometimes our marriage looks the opposite of the biblical description of love. We can be unkind, impatient, jealous, boastful, proud and even rude! There are times we are quick-tempered with each other. And God knows there are times we keep records of the wrongs we do to each other. But recognizing what we don't want our relationship to look like is one of the first steps to walking together toward a newer, fresher, lovelier one.
When I got home from that speaking engagement, I had a new perspective on my marriage. Instead of praying for my husband to meet my needs, I began to ask God to show me how I could meet my husband's. Instead of looking at his short-comings, I began to ask God to expose to me my own. Instead of focusing on my desires, I began to pray about how I could meet his. And it not only gave me grace to extend to his weaknesses (as I became more aware of my own) but it changed my heart. And our marriage.
My friend, Rhonda, told me how she was able to leave herself on the shelf in her marriage, when it came to expecting her husband, Steve, to meet all of her needs.
"As I grew more intimate with Christ, I let my husband off the hook. He no longer had to be my everything. I could find joy, rest, security and peace in my relationship with Christ. My husband no longer had to be my god. He could be my husband, my friend, my ministry mate. The intimacy in our relationship has always been healthier when I pursue intimacy with Christ first over trying to squeeze every ounce of life out of my husband to make me feel like we are intimate. As we each work on growing more intimate with Christ we find we are more intimate with each other."
Women are not the only ones who need to take their primary needs to God in the relationship. If a husband is expecting his wife to be his all in all, he, too, will be disappointed. She can only give so much. He must look to God, his Heavenly Father, for his affirmation, sense of worth, and validation as a man. As he becomes certain of who he is in God's eyes, he won't depend on his wife to fill a hole in his soul.
Marriage is tough. It shows us how selfish we tend to be. It shows us how much we need God to mend the brokenness in our lives. It shows us how far we really need to go when it comes to being Christ-like in our individual lives and in our marriage. But when we get a glimpse of what God wants to do in and through each of us to help us become more like Himself, we find we have an awesome privilege and responsibility in front of us in this arena called marriage.
To be part of God's work in our spouse's life is to say "God, not what I need, but what my spouse needs. Use me to build up and encourage my spouse and make him (or her) the person you want them to be." When we say "Not what I need, but what my spouse needs" we are, in a sense, imitating Jesus' prayer shortly before going to the cross, in which He said to His Father: "Not my will, but Yours be done" (Luke 22:39). Jesus was literally giving up His life for ours. So can we, then, be willing to give up our own comforts, needs, and expectations for the other?
There is no more direct way to draw your spouse's heart toward yours than to put yourself on the shelf and say "not my will, but yours."
Not my choice of a restaurant tonight, but yours.
Not my choice of a movie this time, but yours.
Not my night to have uninterrupted sleep, but yours.
Not my story to dominate the conversation, but yours.
Not my feelings to protect today, but yours.
Not my dream to pursue right now, but yours.
As you develop a habit of putting the other person first, you may be surprised to find that the phrase eventually becomes "not my ______, but ours."
Can you leave yourself on the shelf long enough to truly put your husband or wife first? It doesn't come natural. At times, it doesn't come easy. But it does bring priceless - and precious - results. You will end up drawing your hearts closer together.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Napkin Swap Time
Yep its time to once again do a napkin swap! I will be posting details soon!!!!! :)
good
Someone has written these beautiful words. One must read and try to understand the deep meanings in them. They are like the Ten Commandments to follow in life all the time.
1] Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble; it is a "steering wheel" that directs us in the right path throughout life.
2] Do you know why a car's WINDSHIELD is so large & the rear view mirror is so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, look ahead and move on.
3] Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.
4] All things in life are temporary. If going well enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong don't worry, they can't last long either.
5] Old friends are like Gold! New friends are Diamonds! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a base of Gold!
6] Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!
7] When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.
8] A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision."
9] When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them; and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.
10] WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES; it takes away today's PEACE.
1] Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble; it is a "steering wheel" that directs us in the right path throughout life.
2] Do you know why a car's WINDSHIELD is so large & the rear view mirror is so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, look ahead and move on.
3] Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.
4] All things in life are temporary. If going well enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong don't worry, they can't last long either.
5] Old friends are like Gold! New friends are Diamonds! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a base of Gold!
6] Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!
7] When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.
8] A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision."
9] When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them; and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.
10] WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES; it takes away today's PEACE.
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Friday, January 07, 2011
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
late post.....
Yea my family was super happy yesterday morning, waking up to these.
Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless
Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless
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