My pastor's wife often shares a quote that she attributes to Ronald Reagan. I hope I don't butcher it, but at least the gist of it is this..." We teach what we know, but we reproduce who we are.". I've been thinking on that a lot lately.
As my daughters get older, I think on this so much more often. The recently got email accounts and in February when they have their birthday, they plan to get Facebook accounts. Facebook is a funny little thing. I often call it a blessing and a curse. I definitely see some value in it, but I also see some very negative qualites that it has. Recently I've been trying to figure out where my balance is with it. The question I'm currently asking myself (not just about FB) is how can I make sure that I'm using/doing this more for His glory than my own. I think in regard to FB, I'm finding that balance. What I haven't found is balance in the amount of time that I'm on the computer. Frankly, that is something I do not want to reproduce. So, I'm going to be doing something about that. What exactly I'm not sure of yet, but I'll figure it out and soon. The bottom line will be much less time on the computer and much more time focussed on the things that are important (My home, family, etc.).
I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm gonna be working toward being more like the woman that I want my daughter's to become.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Living on the Edge
Wearin' white pants.......Drinkin' red kool-aid.....Just call me your resident risk taker....
On a less silly note....My back is TONS better today. Hallelujah!
On a less silly note....My back is TONS better today. Hallelujah!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Of Back Aches and Chicken Bakes
My back ache has gotten out of control. I finally gave in and headed to the chiropractor today. It was my very first chiropractic visit ever.... I think it helped. He seems to think we will easily be able to get it under control. Guess I shouldn't have waited so long. He did say the dreaded A-word.....Arthritis....Said that's pretty much what the pain after sleeping and the sitting means and I need to get moving if I want it to stay better.....BLAH, BLAH, BLAH....Drs. answer to everything is excercise.....JUST KIDDING! I do know I need to excercise and I have a plan to get started, so here I go....
As far as Chicken Bakes are concerned. I haven't posted a menu for a while so I thought I'd share.
Chicken thighs baked in Hot Wing Sauce (My family loves this)
Mustard and Apple Cider Vinegar Slaw
Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Rolls
and BIG glasses of something to put out the fire!!!! ;o)
As far as Chicken Bakes are concerned. I haven't posted a menu for a while so I thought I'd share.
Chicken thighs baked in Hot Wing Sauce (My family loves this)
Mustard and Apple Cider Vinegar Slaw
Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Rolls
and BIG glasses of something to put out the fire!!!! ;o)
Birthday Week Day 7
The final day of my birthday week was Sunday.
Sunday we got up and went to church, then we went to my Mom's for lunch. I got to choose the menu, but I really only chose 2 of the items. I'm really not very picky. I decided several weeks ago that I wanted carrot cake, so my Mom made one from scratch. It was YUMMY! It took me much longer to decide on the main course. I finally decided on Buffalo Chicken Casserole. There is a Buffalo Chicken Dip that I really LOVE. I even posted a recipe for it. You can find it HERE. I didn't think it was very practical to have dip for lunch, so I asked my Mom to combine the dip recipe with her hashbrown casserole recipe and it turned out SO yummy. It will definitely be something that we repeat around here. We also had broccoli, corn, mashed potatoes and rolls. She also had a little bit of smoked chicken available for those that didn't like the spicy stuff. I got a few cards and some money and an Arbonne travel set w/some extras. It's always funny when my older brother gives me money for my birthday. His birthday is 8 days after mine and it seems our monetary gifts always cancel each other out. The guest list included my Mom, older brother, younger brother, SIL, niece and nephew, my bunch and my best friend and her two
boys. It was a LOVELy day.
I had such a great birthday week. I promise what I received this week was not the norm. I can't ever recall having such an eventful birthday week and it was certainly very undeserved, but so very appreciated. I am so very blessed.
Sunday we got up and went to church, then we went to my Mom's for lunch. I got to choose the menu, but I really only chose 2 of the items. I'm really not very picky. I decided several weeks ago that I wanted carrot cake, so my Mom made one from scratch. It was YUMMY! It took me much longer to decide on the main course. I finally decided on Buffalo Chicken Casserole. There is a Buffalo Chicken Dip that I really LOVE. I even posted a recipe for it. You can find it HERE. I didn't think it was very practical to have dip for lunch, so I asked my Mom to combine the dip recipe with her hashbrown casserole recipe and it turned out SO yummy. It will definitely be something that we repeat around here. We also had broccoli, corn, mashed potatoes and rolls. She also had a little bit of smoked chicken available for those that didn't like the spicy stuff. I got a few cards and some money and an Arbonne travel set w/some extras. It's always funny when my older brother gives me money for my birthday. His birthday is 8 days after mine and it seems our monetary gifts always cancel each other out. The guest list included my Mom, older brother, younger brother, SIL, niece and nephew, my bunch and my best friend and her two
boys. It was a LOVELy day.
I had such a great birthday week. I promise what I received this week was not the norm. I can't ever recall having such an eventful birthday week and it was certainly very undeserved, but so very appreciated. I am so very blessed.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Birthday Week Day 6
I'll go back and add this to day 5, but in case you didn't scroll down to see the change wanted to tell you that in addition to everything else that went on yesterday, my best friend ended up coming over to hang out for supper. My hubby made BLTs at my request (YUM!). Afterward we walked over to the nearby football field to watch a local high school football team. My cousin is the coach and my best friend teaches math at the school that was playing. So, I also got to sit next to my Aunt and catch up and see a few of my cousins. It was wonderful weather for football and I truly enjoyed my day.
Today, I woke up to another gift from my mom. This time it is a black and clear beaded necklace and earring set. It's very pretty.
Now we are all going to head out to watch the trail of tears motorcycle ride come through our area and then we are headed to a big Craft Show in town. Then tonight my hubby and I are going to dinner with my cousin and her husband to celebrate our birthdays (her's is the day before mine). It's gonna be such a great day.
I'm am sooooo very blessed!
Today, I woke up to another gift from my mom. This time it is a black and clear beaded necklace and earring set. It's very pretty.
Now we are all going to head out to watch the trail of tears motorcycle ride come through our area and then we are headed to a big Craft Show in town. Then tonight my hubby and I are going to dinner with my cousin and her husband to celebrate our birthdays (her's is the day before mine). It's gonna be such a great day.
I'm am sooooo very blessed!
Friday, September 17, 2010
It's the Little Things....
Update: Right after I finished posting this I went out to the mailbox and there was a very sweet card from my very sweet husband. What a lovely surprise....
It's not even 9:00 and I've gotten a TON of FB Birthday wishes, but the best Happy Birthdays have come from those closest to me. My hubby was first then, I opened the gift and hat the letter from my Mom, my kiddos at home, my step-son, my soon to be daughter-in-law, my sister-in-law (and niece and nephew), my brother.....The list goes on and on, but it's truly my Mother's heart that feels like it's full to overflowing. To have even my step-son who is now in the Army in another state and my daughter-in-law that is in college (getting her masters degree) in another state with her college's volleyball team, in the middle of recruiting season (she's a graduate assistant for the team and does a good bit of the recruiting) take time out to make sure they've wished me a Happy Birthday first thing in the morning. It just means more to me than I could have ever imagined. It's a good thing we have friends coming home today or I might just cry tears of joy all day long.
Lord, I am so very undeserving, so very unworthy.......but you've still chosen to bless me more than I could have ever dreamed of......Your plans are so much better than any I could have come up with ........and I'm just so very humbled.....and THANKFUL!
It's not even 9:00 and I've gotten a TON of FB Birthday wishes, but the best Happy Birthdays have come from those closest to me. My hubby was first then, I opened the gift and hat the letter from my Mom, my kiddos at home, my step-son, my soon to be daughter-in-law, my sister-in-law (and niece and nephew), my brother.....The list goes on and on, but it's truly my Mother's heart that feels like it's full to overflowing. To have even my step-son who is now in the Army in another state and my daughter-in-law that is in college (getting her masters degree) in another state with her college's volleyball team, in the middle of recruiting season (she's a graduate assistant for the team and does a good bit of the recruiting) take time out to make sure they've wished me a Happy Birthday first thing in the morning. It just means more to me than I could have ever imagined. It's a good thing we have friends coming home today or I might just cry tears of joy all day long.
Lord, I am so very undeserving, so very unworthy.......but you've still chosen to bless me more than I could have ever dreamed of......Your plans are so much better than any I could have come up with ........and I'm just so very humbled.....and THANKFUL!
Birthday Week Day 5
Today is my actual birthday!!!!!......LOL.....I woke up this morning to my husband telling me Happy Birthday. Then I found a sweet letter from my daughter and another gift from my Mom. This gift contained two journals and a very sweet letter from my Mom (I had to fight back tears). The birthday wishes on FB have also begun. I'm going to make biscuits and chocolate gravy for breakfast then we have some friends coming over for lunch. We'll be having taco salad and brownies. I think I'll have my shower and then have some iced coffee and maybe I'll spend a little time on my porch before the kiddos get up. What a great day to reflect on all the Lord has done in my life over the last year. He has surely grown me and blessed me!
Updated: We had a GREAT time with our friends! Then my best friend ended up getting to come over for supper and we went to a football game that my cousin was coaching so I got to see my Aunt and Uncle and some of my cousins. It was a FABULOUS evening!
Updated: We had a GREAT time with our friends! Then my best friend ended up getting to come over for supper and we went to a football game that my cousin was coaching so I got to see my Aunt and Uncle and some of my cousins. It was a FABULOUS evening!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Birthday Week Day 4
I received another necklace and earring set from my Mom (It's kind of a redish-orange and orange together). I also had a homemade card from my son. I had to take the girls to dance and then we went to Hobby Lobby. We got some fabric for a fall project and I bought (with my 40% off coupon) another quilt stencil. This one is the stipling effect. We came home and did a lot of cleaning. Overall it was a pretty good day!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Reminder
I'm posting about my birthday week and my to-do list everyday. Also, I'm pulling some notes from FB and adding them hear until I get those caught up, so make sure to scroll down and see if there are posts you haven't read yet.
To-Do Today
Today's have to list is a little lighter as my day is a little shorter because I'm going to lunch with my Dad and I have a staff meeting and church this evening.
Have tos:
~School with the kids
~Pay Bills
~Cook supper (I have to do this early because I leave at 4)
~Make one key wristlet and a checkbook cover
~At least two loads of laundry
~Order more checkbook covers
~Bottle laundry detergent that was made yesterday (It has to sit overnight before bottling)
Want tos:
~Clean off my desk
~Clean off my dresser
~Straighten sewing area
Update : I've removed all of the extra sewing off of my want to list for the day. I'm having a lot of trouble with mylower back and as of yesterday my right shoulder and neck and I just cannot sit and bend over sewing right now. I'll have to leave those off until I'm feeling much better. Guess I'll keep busy with things that keep me moving. (I am on my 3rd load of laundry for the day.)
Have tos:
~School with the kids
~Pay Bills
~Cook supper (I have to do this early because I leave at 4)
~Make one key wristlet and a checkbook cover
~At least two loads of laundry
~Order more checkbook covers
~Bottle laundry detergent that was made yesterday (It has to sit overnight before bottling)
Want tos:
~Clean off my desk
~Clean off my dresser
~Straighten sewing area
Update : I've removed all of the extra sewing off of my want to list for the day. I'm having a lot of trouble with mylower back and as of yesterday my right shoulder and neck and I just cannot sit and bend over sewing right now. I'll have to leave those off until I'm feeling much better. Guess I'll keep busy with things that keep me moving. (I am on my 3rd load of laundry for the day.)
Knowledge
2 Peter 1:5-8
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Original Word: γνῶσις
Transliteration: gnósis
Phonetic Spelling: (gno'-sis)
Short Definition: knowledge
Word Origin from ginóskó
Definitiona knowing, knowledge
NASB Word Usage knowing (1), knowledge (27), understanding way (1).
Knowledge ~
2. Learning; illumination of mind.
6. Information; power of knowing.
My Notes: On the surface this word sort of speaks for itself. However, I loved some things that I found in my study of it. Knowledge is more than knowing, it's also understanding. How many things do I know because I've read them in the Word, but I don't really understand? It's also an illumination of mind. A light illuminates. There are several references to the Lord being light:
Then Jesus spoke to them again saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12
"I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me, should not abide in darkness.” John 12:46
God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 1John 1:5
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? Psalm 27:1
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
For the Lord will be your everlasting light…. Isaiah 60:20
For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. Psalm 18:28
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
“While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” John 12:36
Through these verses it becomes very clear to us Who the light is, but what I also find very interesting is that if we follow Him, believe in Him, read is Word then He will enlighten our darkness, we will becom sons of light and that light shining through us will bring Him glory. If we are furthuring our knowledge of Him His light will shine brighter and brighter in our lives.
I also loved the part of the definition that said "power of knowing". Matthew 22:29 say, "Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God." If we want to have the power to do things that the Lord says we can do, then we must have knowledge and understanding of those things. We need to know the scriptures and the power of God. If we also receive power from the Holy Spirit ("But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8), then we need knowledge of the Holy Spirit.
I think a couple of great places to start would be Psalms and Proverbs. Proverbs will help you see the value of knowledge and understanding and will help you gain wisdom and understanding. Psalms is a great place to learn about the character of God. Just last night I was going through some of Psalms with my daughter and in the first four chapters we found at least 8 statements of who God is/what He does.
The solution to gaining knowledge is simple.....ask Him to open His word to you, to help you understand it....read it....start somewhere...It doesn't have to be some perfect Bible study. Just start somewhere.... :)
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Original Word: γνῶσις
Transliteration: gnósis
Phonetic Spelling: (gno'-sis)
Short Definition: knowledge
Word Origin from ginóskó
Definitiona knowing, knowledge
NASB Word Usage knowing (1), knowledge (27), understanding way (1).
Knowledge ~
2. Learning; illumination of mind.
6. Information; power of knowing.
My Notes: On the surface this word sort of speaks for itself. However, I loved some things that I found in my study of it. Knowledge is more than knowing, it's also understanding. How many things do I know because I've read them in the Word, but I don't really understand? It's also an illumination of mind. A light illuminates. There are several references to the Lord being light:
Then Jesus spoke to them again saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12
"I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me, should not abide in darkness.” John 12:46
God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 1John 1:5
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? Psalm 27:1
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
For the Lord will be your everlasting light…. Isaiah 60:20
For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. Psalm 18:28
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
“While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” John 12:36
Through these verses it becomes very clear to us Who the light is, but what I also find very interesting is that if we follow Him, believe in Him, read is Word then He will enlighten our darkness, we will becom sons of light and that light shining through us will bring Him glory. If we are furthuring our knowledge of Him His light will shine brighter and brighter in our lives.
I also loved the part of the definition that said "power of knowing". Matthew 22:29 say, "Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God." If we want to have the power to do things that the Lord says we can do, then we must have knowledge and understanding of those things. We need to know the scriptures and the power of God. If we also receive power from the Holy Spirit ("But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8), then we need knowledge of the Holy Spirit.
I think a couple of great places to start would be Psalms and Proverbs. Proverbs will help you see the value of knowledge and understanding and will help you gain wisdom and understanding. Psalms is a great place to learn about the character of God. Just last night I was going through some of Psalms with my daughter and in the first four chapters we found at least 8 statements of who God is/what He does.
The solution to gaining knowledge is simple.....ask Him to open His word to you, to help you understand it....read it....start somewhere...It doesn't have to be some perfect Bible study. Just start somewhere.... :)
Virtue
2 Peter 1:5-8
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Original Word: ἀρέτη
Transliteration: areté
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-et'-ay)
Short Definition: praise
Word Origin of uncertain origin
Definitio nmoral goodness, i.e. virtue
NASB Word Usageexcellence (2), excellencies (1), moral excellence (2).
Virtue ~ Moral goodness; the practice of moral duties and the abstaining from vice, or a conformity of life and conversation to the moral law. In this sense, virtue may be, and in many instances must be, distinguished from religion. The practice of moral duties merely from motives of convenience, or from compulsion, or from regard to reputation, is virtue, as distinct from religion. The practice of moral duties from sincere love to God and his laws, is virtue and religion. In this sense it is true,
That virtue only makes our bliss below.
Virtue is nothing but voluntary obedience to truth.
My Notes: I think these definitions make it plain to us what virtue is. I love the part of the definition that is careful to seperate religion from virtue. Good people that do not know the Lord can have virtue. They can have good morals and try to do good things, as the definition says, from motives of convenience, or from compulsion, or from regard to reputation. We need to make sure the roots of our virtue are in the Lord, coming from our relationship with Him and what we have learned from His word. I also love the idea that virtue is more than "good morals" it is moral excellence. There is no room for mediocrity. Seems that this definition would make a good measuring stick for us. Is this movie, book, song, conversation, etc. morally excellent? Proverbs 31 tells us that a virtuous (or morally excellent woman) is hard to find. Kind of made me think of a diamond in the rough....so that's my challenge for you today...From this moment on allow the Lord and His Word to begin the polishing and grinding and chipping away needed to make you that diamond.
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Original Word: ἀρέτη
Transliteration: areté
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-et'-ay)
Short Definition: praise
Word Origin of uncertain origin
Definitio nmoral goodness, i.e. virtue
NASB Word Usageexcellence (2), excellencies (1), moral excellence (2).
Virtue ~ Moral goodness; the practice of moral duties and the abstaining from vice, or a conformity of life and conversation to the moral law. In this sense, virtue may be, and in many instances must be, distinguished from religion. The practice of moral duties merely from motives of convenience, or from compulsion, or from regard to reputation, is virtue, as distinct from religion. The practice of moral duties from sincere love to God and his laws, is virtue and religion. In this sense it is true,
That virtue only makes our bliss below.
Virtue is nothing but voluntary obedience to truth.
My Notes: I think these definitions make it plain to us what virtue is. I love the part of the definition that is careful to seperate religion from virtue. Good people that do not know the Lord can have virtue. They can have good morals and try to do good things, as the definition says, from motives of convenience, or from compulsion, or from regard to reputation. We need to make sure the roots of our virtue are in the Lord, coming from our relationship with Him and what we have learned from His word. I also love the idea that virtue is more than "good morals" it is moral excellence. There is no room for mediocrity. Seems that this definition would make a good measuring stick for us. Is this movie, book, song, conversation, etc. morally excellent? Proverbs 31 tells us that a virtuous (or morally excellent woman) is hard to find. Kind of made me think of a diamond in the rough....so that's my challenge for you today...From this moment on allow the Lord and His Word to begin the polishing and grinding and chipping away needed to make you that diamond.
Birthday Week Day 3
I woke up this morning to another homemade card from one of my girls a few bangle bracelets from my Mom and my dad will be taking me out to lunch today. He will be out of town for my actual birthday and birthday dinner, so I get a lunch instead. We're going to go to a Mexican restaraunt that is very near my house and I LOVE their food.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Birthday Week Day 2
You may already know from reading a previous post that it's my birthday week. Yesterday my daughter Kelsi wrote me an amazing letter and I had a lime green and brown wooden necklace and earring set from my Mom. Today my other daughter Keeli made me a homemade card and I had another necklace and earring set from my Mom today, this time it's turquoise. Tonight we will also be heading to my cousins house for dinner we do this a lot of Tuesday nights. There is always a pretty big crowd. The day before my birthday is my cousin's birthday, so the crowd will sing Happy Birthday to us tonight. I'm sure we'll have a great time and eat lots of yummy food. I've heard there may be some kind of peanut butter pie with an oreo crust. In my book you can't go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate. YUM!
To-Do Today
(The ones in yellow are ones I have completed)
I have got to be busy, busy today. Maybe if I share my list here I'll be more motivated to accomplish the things that are on it:
~School with the kids
~Make laundry detergent
~Make dishwasher detergent
~Make 4 checkbook covers
~Pay bills
Edited to add :
~Wash the shower curtain and bathroom rugs
~Bleach the grout around the tub
~Clean the tub and tub walls (I bleached them and wiped them and rinsed them off, but my back was hurting to bad to give them the scrubbing they needed.)
~Run oven through self-clean
~Do two loads of laundry
Those are the MUSTS.
Here are the other things I hope to accomplish:
~Make an additional checkbook cover and 2 key wristlets
~Clean off my dresser and finish cleaning my sewing area
~ Attach the border to my quilt
~Prepare my quilt for quilting
~Practice Free motion quilting
It is a lot, but the detergents take very little of my time, I can do other things while my machine is embroidering, including sewing. So, if I stay on task today I should be able to accomplish most of what is on this list.
Update : I got a LOT done. Not everything I wanted to, but a LOT. Maybe I need to post my to-do list here everyday.....
I have got to be busy, busy today. Maybe if I share my list here I'll be more motivated to accomplish the things that are on it:
~School with the kids
~Make laundry detergent
~Make dishwasher detergent
~Make 4 checkbook covers
~Pay bills
Edited to add :
~Wash the shower curtain and bathroom rugs
~Bleach the grout around the tub
~Clean the tub and tub walls (I bleached them and wiped them and rinsed them off, but my back was hurting to bad to give them the scrubbing they needed.)
~Run oven through self-clean
~Do two loads of laundry
Those are the MUSTS.
Here are the other things I hope to accomplish:
~Make an additional checkbook cover and 2 key wristlets
~Clean off my dresser and finish cleaning my sewing area
~ Attach the border to my quilt
~Prepare my quilt for quilting
~Practice Free motion quilting
It is a lot, but the detergents take very little of my time, I can do other things while my machine is embroidering, including sewing. So, if I stay on task today I should be able to accomplish most of what is on this list.
Update : I got a LOT done. Not everything I wanted to, but a LOT. Maybe I need to post my to-do list here everyday.....
Diligence
2 Peter 1:5-8
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Original Word: σπουδή
Transliteration: spoudé
Phonetic Spelling: (spoo-day')Short Definition: haste
Word Origin from speudó
Definition haste, diligence
NASB Word Usage diligence (4), earnestness (5), effort (1), hurry (2).
haste, diligence, forwardness
From speudo; "speed", i.e. (by implication) despatch, eagerness, earnestness -- business, (earnest) care(-fulness), diligence, forwardness, haste.
DILIGENCE, n. [L., to love earnestly; to choose.]
1. Steady application in business of any kind; constant effort to accomplish what is undertaken; exertion of body or mind without unnecessary delay or sloth; due attention; industry; assiduity.
My Notes : I've attached the meaning of the original Greek word and the definition. I think the thing that struck me the most is that diligence is not merely staying constant in working toward something, but rather doing it with haste. When we are truly diligent we are giving something due attention, with a sense of eagerness, we're in hurry! I think in our walks that diligence usually comes when we are especially hungry for Him or when we are walking through trying times. We need to be disciplined enough to stay in a state of "diligence" as it pertains to going after the things of the Lord.
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Original Word: σπουδή
Transliteration: spoudé
Phonetic Spelling: (spoo-day')Short Definition: haste
Word Origin from speudó
Definition haste, diligence
NASB Word Usage diligence (4), earnestness (5), effort (1), hurry (2).
haste, diligence, forwardness
From speudo; "speed", i.e. (by implication) despatch, eagerness, earnestness -- business, (earnest) care(-fulness), diligence, forwardness, haste.
DILIGENCE, n. [L., to love earnestly; to choose.]
1. Steady application in business of any kind; constant effort to accomplish what is undertaken; exertion of body or mind without unnecessary delay or sloth; due attention; industry; assiduity.
My Notes : I've attached the meaning of the original Greek word and the definition. I think the thing that struck me the most is that diligence is not merely staying constant in working toward something, but rather doing it with haste. When we are truly diligent we are giving something due attention, with a sense of eagerness, we're in hurry! I think in our walks that diligence usually comes when we are especially hungry for Him or when we are walking through trying times. We need to be disciplined enough to stay in a state of "diligence" as it pertains to going after the things of the Lord.
The Wife's Role #7
Intercessor, Discerner - Your intercession for your husband and family brings you assurance of God's hand in their lives. Exercise authority over the enemy in the name of Jesus. Do not fear the work of the enemy; be alert to his attacks. Ask the Holy Spirit to develop discernment within you and to clothe you with wisdom.
a. Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
b. 1 Thesselonians 5:17
pray continually
My Notes - "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." James 4:3 This verse greatly convicted me several years ago. The things I was praying for my husband were rooted in selfishness. I wanted him to be the Spirtual Leader, I wanted him to make more decisions, etc., but my motives were wrong. I wanted those things because I thought they would make life easier. We should be praying for them, for their benefit. If they are walking with the Lord those other things will fall into place in God's timing. Pray for his relationship with the Lord, pray that God's Word is opened up and relevant to him, that He will hear God's voice, that God will give him the confidence, strength, wisdom, discernment, understanding, compassion, etc. Pray the fruits of the Spirit over him. The Power of a Praying Wife is a VERY good book and will open your eyes to things you haven't thought of and as walking out that knowledge will strengthen your prayer life it will also strengthen your marriage. Also, understand how beneficial discernment can be in your own life and your relationship with your husband. It is very helpful to be able to discern motives. If your husband comes in for a long days work (Mine often sits on the hot pavement in 100* weather wiring gate operators.) and is short with you or doesn't respond the way you think he should, it's very helpful to be able to realize that he's exhausted and had a rough days work. Often as women we don't search the motives, we automatically take everything personally. They don't communicate in the same ways that we do , so discernement is very important. Think of things today that you need to start praying
over your husband, also, ask the Lord to reaval any selfish motives you may have had in your prayers for him.
a. Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
b. 1 Thesselonians 5:17
pray continually
My Notes - "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." James 4:3 This verse greatly convicted me several years ago. The things I was praying for my husband were rooted in selfishness. I wanted him to be the Spirtual Leader, I wanted him to make more decisions, etc., but my motives were wrong. I wanted those things because I thought they would make life easier. We should be praying for them, for their benefit. If they are walking with the Lord those other things will fall into place in God's timing. Pray for his relationship with the Lord, pray that God's Word is opened up and relevant to him, that He will hear God's voice, that God will give him the confidence, strength, wisdom, discernment, understanding, compassion, etc. Pray the fruits of the Spirit over him. The Power of a Praying Wife is a VERY good book and will open your eyes to things you haven't thought of and as walking out that knowledge will strengthen your prayer life it will also strengthen your marriage. Also, understand how beneficial discernment can be in your own life and your relationship with your husband. It is very helpful to be able to discern motives. If your husband comes in for a long days work (Mine often sits on the hot pavement in 100* weather wiring gate operators.) and is short with you or doesn't respond the way you think he should, it's very helpful to be able to realize that he's exhausted and had a rough days work. Often as women we don't search the motives, we automatically take everything personally. They don't communicate in the same ways that we do , so discernement is very important. Think of things today that you need to start praying
over your husband, also, ask the Lord to reaval any selfish motives you may have had in your prayers for him.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Submitting with a Right-Heart
I just read a good blogpost on submitting with a right-heart and thought it be good to share.
Learning as They Grow : Defiant Submission isn't Really Submission
Learning as They Grow : Defiant Submission isn't Really Submission
Amazing Morning...Amazing Daughter...Amazing Mom...AMAZING LIFE
I am so blessed!
My birthday is on Friday and we've been sort of joking around here about my birthday week. My Mom used to do little things that sometimes made it feel like we had a birthday week. Nothing major or expensive just little things. I told my husband I didn't have any needs or specific wants for my birthday, but I would love for my kitchen to be finished. It only needs a few small things and it will be completely finished. On Saturday he spent his morning putting the hardware on the rest of our cabinets. I was joking with him about that being the start of my birthday week. He said weeks begin on Monday, so if I even got to have a birthday week it wouldn't start until then. So that's the preface of the story.
Well this morning I woke up and laying on the bathroom vanity I had a note from my daughter. Here's what it said:
You are an amazing mom and I hope to be a mom like you are. Thank you for everything, thank you for cooking and cleaning, listening and understanding, disciplining and loving, buying and making, rocking and feeding, worrying and praying, reorganizing and redoing, driving and walking, teaching and preparing, reading and searching, being joyful and being kind, putting up with and paying attention to, forgiving and forgetting, weeping and smiling, being there for and getting ready, giving us a roof over our head and a bed to sleep in. Your children that you love so much, you can't even put it into words (and anyone else you com in contact with) all say thank you. But most importantly thank you for following God and having a relationship with Him (we wouldn't be here if you hadn't). Happy Birthday Week!
Ummmm.....WOW!!!!! I really don't even have words....that my 12 year old daughter would sit down and come up with those words for me....seriously.....I am so unworthy of that, but so very thankful for this Amazing life He has given me!
Then to top that off I walked into my kitchen and there was a little gift bag on the counter. The card said Happy Birthday Week, Monday and it was in my Mom's handwriting. There was a really cute necklace and earring set inside.
Needless to say, I plan to spend this week, thanking Him for another year. Asking Him what He wants me to do in the next one and reflecting on and praising Him for all that He has blessed me with!
My birthday is on Friday and we've been sort of joking around here about my birthday week. My Mom used to do little things that sometimes made it feel like we had a birthday week. Nothing major or expensive just little things. I told my husband I didn't have any needs or specific wants for my birthday, but I would love for my kitchen to be finished. It only needs a few small things and it will be completely finished. On Saturday he spent his morning putting the hardware on the rest of our cabinets. I was joking with him about that being the start of my birthday week. He said weeks begin on Monday, so if I even got to have a birthday week it wouldn't start until then. So that's the preface of the story.
Well this morning I woke up and laying on the bathroom vanity I had a note from my daughter. Here's what it said:
You are an amazing mom and I hope to be a mom like you are. Thank you for everything, thank you for cooking and cleaning, listening and understanding, disciplining and loving, buying and making, rocking and feeding, worrying and praying, reorganizing and redoing, driving and walking, teaching and preparing, reading and searching, being joyful and being kind, putting up with and paying attention to, forgiving and forgetting, weeping and smiling, being there for and getting ready, giving us a roof over our head and a bed to sleep in. Your children that you love so much, you can't even put it into words (and anyone else you com in contact with) all say thank you. But most importantly thank you for following God and having a relationship with Him (we wouldn't be here if you hadn't). Happy Birthday Week!
Ummmm.....WOW!!!!! I really don't even have words....that my 12 year old daughter would sit down and come up with those words for me....seriously.....I am so unworthy of that, but so very thankful for this Amazing life He has given me!
Then to top that off I walked into my kitchen and there was a little gift bag on the counter. The card said Happy Birthday Week, Monday and it was in my Mom's handwriting. There was a really cute necklace and earring set inside.
Needless to say, I plan to spend this week, thanking Him for another year. Asking Him what He wants me to do in the next one and reflecting on and praising Him for all that He has blessed me with!
The Wife's Role #6
Reflection of Gods Creativity - Each woman has unique talents and gifts. Don't compare yourself with others, but allow God to develop what is uniquely you. You reflect a specific aspect of God's personality, and ministry flowing from you will reflect that to others. Your gifts and talents should complement those of your husband; likewise , his gifts should complement yours. Couples should flow in harmony even if you are ministering or working separately.
a. 1 Corinthians 12:7
7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
b. Titus 2:3-5
My Notes: God is so very creative. He did not make us all alike. We are all very different. We see those differences the most when we look at women and men. Your husband is not like you. He doesn't think the same way you do. He's very visual, you are more emotional/relational. In most cases you probably talk more than he does. You want someone to just listen to your frustrations, he is a fixer, so he wants to do something about them. His idea of clean and yours are probably a bit different. He probably parents a little differently than you. You have a choice to make.....stay constantly frustrated about your differences or be thankful for them. The outcome of your marriage depends largely on that choice. Choose to embrace that you are different, that God made two sepearte different parts that would one day join to make a whole. Your differences do complement each other, but you must choose to see the good in that. In our ministry I have seen time and time again how helpful it is that we are good at different things. Sunday's and Wednesday's are very fast paced for us. I don't have time to accomplish it all alone and it began to flow so much more smoothly when we realized what we were each naturally good at and allowed each other to operate in our own unique giftings. Ask the Lord to help you see your husbands uniqueness today, thank Him for making your husband different than you and strive each day to appreciate those differences.
a. 1 Corinthians 12:7
7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
b. Titus 2:3-5
My Notes: God is so very creative. He did not make us all alike. We are all very different. We see those differences the most when we look at women and men. Your husband is not like you. He doesn't think the same way you do. He's very visual, you are more emotional/relational. In most cases you probably talk more than he does. You want someone to just listen to your frustrations, he is a fixer, so he wants to do something about them. His idea of clean and yours are probably a bit different. He probably parents a little differently than you. You have a choice to make.....stay constantly frustrated about your differences or be thankful for them. The outcome of your marriage depends largely on that choice. Choose to embrace that you are different, that God made two sepearte different parts that would one day join to make a whole. Your differences do complement each other, but you must choose to see the good in that. In our ministry I have seen time and time again how helpful it is that we are good at different things. Sunday's and Wednesday's are very fast paced for us. I don't have time to accomplish it all alone and it began to flow so much more smoothly when we realized what we were each naturally good at and allowed each other to operate in our own unique giftings. Ask the Lord to help you see your husbands uniqueness today, thank Him for making your husband different than you and strive each day to appreciate those differences.
The Wife's Role #5
Lover, Companion - Your first ministry is to your husband. Do not neglect him. Remain well kept and pleasing in appearance as an honor to him. Submit your flesh and emotions to the control of the Holy Spirit. Honor and respect him, compliment him. Be the physical lover he needs.
a. 1 Corinthians 7:3-5
3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
b. Titus 2:3-5
3Likewise, 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. 4Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5to 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.
My Notes: Guess I'll address these in the order in which they are posted.
~ For YEARS I put many, many things before my husband, including my children, my extended family and my church. Thank the Lord a VERY wise woman in our church corrected me and became a mentor to me and it CHANGED my life. If you're not putting him first now.....do it! It will change your marriage.
~I've been a stay at home Mom for 12 1/2 year and like most people my body changed after I had my babies, so none of my pre-baby clothes fit. That made it very easy to fall into the sweats, jeans, t-shirts rut. When I had to go somewhere nice I would dress nice, but around the house I was frumpy. A few years ago the Lord really convicted me of that. Men are VERY visual and I could not complain about my husband not being as affectionate as I would like, not telling my I was beautiful, not desiring me (he really was doing those things, but I was very insecure) if I wasn't trying to be attractive to him. We cannot expect to woo them before we are married then stop when we get married. So, I began to really work on being attractive to him and it made a huge difference! I try to wear more feminine clothes when I'm home. Nothing fancy, but shirts and pants with a more feminine cut. I dress nicer when we are going anywhere together. Anybody wonder why I'm almost 34 and have long blonde hair??? He LOVES it! Make the effort, it's well worth it!
~The last one is rather personal, so I'll try to be discreet. 1st - Pray about ALL aspects of your marriage, including the physical ones. If he desires more than you do, then pray for that desire, etc. 2nd - Don't say no. Meet his physical needs. You may be tired, you may not want too, but in the end will you really regret it? He wants to feel desired by you, too. Turning him down is a blow to his ego. You can do it...
a. 1 Corinthians 7:3-5
3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
b. Titus 2:3-5
3Likewise, 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. 4Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5to 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.
My Notes: Guess I'll address these in the order in which they are posted.
~ For YEARS I put many, many things before my husband, including my children, my extended family and my church. Thank the Lord a VERY wise woman in our church corrected me and became a mentor to me and it CHANGED my life. If you're not putting him first now.....do it! It will change your marriage.
~I've been a stay at home Mom for 12 1/2 year and like most people my body changed after I had my babies, so none of my pre-baby clothes fit. That made it very easy to fall into the sweats, jeans, t-shirts rut. When I had to go somewhere nice I would dress nice, but around the house I was frumpy. A few years ago the Lord really convicted me of that. Men are VERY visual and I could not complain about my husband not being as affectionate as I would like, not telling my I was beautiful, not desiring me (he really was doing those things, but I was very insecure) if I wasn't trying to be attractive to him. We cannot expect to woo them before we are married then stop when we get married. So, I began to really work on being attractive to him and it made a huge difference! I try to wear more feminine clothes when I'm home. Nothing fancy, but shirts and pants with a more feminine cut. I dress nicer when we are going anywhere together. Anybody wonder why I'm almost 34 and have long blonde hair??? He LOVES it! Make the effort, it's well worth it!
~The last one is rather personal, so I'll try to be discreet. 1st - Pray about ALL aspects of your marriage, including the physical ones. If he desires more than you do, then pray for that desire, etc. 2nd - Don't say no. Meet his physical needs. You may be tired, you may not want too, but in the end will you really regret it? He wants to feel desired by you, too. Turning him down is a blow to his ego. You can do it...
Friday, September 10, 2010
The Wife's Role #4
Reflection of God's Love - Caring for your husband and family should be a joy and reflect the heart of a servant. Forgive quickly, not keeping a record of wrongs. Draw strength from the Word (ability to weather circumstances and minister healing and wholeness). Use words and actions toward your husband and family to nurture, never destroy.
a. 1 John 4:19-21
19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
b. John 13:35
35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
My Notes : I think the best way to walk this out is to truly understand what love is. Ephesians 5:2 Says, "and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
So we must remember that Christ's love was sacrificial. We have got to die to ourselves daily. We cannot walk around with a Me attitude thinking about what we "deserve", etc. That's not godliness. Christ was selfless and we are to imitate Him. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Tells us what love is: "4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails." We need to all take a personal assessment and see what of those things we are not, and ask the Lord to help us fix our weak areas.
Also, I think it is VERY important to learn you husband's love language. It has helped me TREMENDOUSLY. Mine is Words of Affirmation and Patrick's is Acts of Service. Which means he doesn't receive or give love the same way that I do, so if I want to show that I love him I'll get a lot farther by doing something nice for him, than by saying something nice to him. It also helped me realize that when he's doing all the things for me that he does, he's showing his love for me.
Here is a brief synopsis of what each love language is: http://www.5lovelanguages.com/learn-the-languages/the-five-love-languages/
and Here are some quizes and assessments you can take to figure out what your languages are: http://www.5lovelanguages.com/assessments/love/
Finally, 1 Peter 4:8 says, "8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." We should not be pointing out all of their faults to them or anyone else. We need to show love to them regardless of their faults and we need to make sure to focus on the things that we love about them.
a. 1 John 4:19-21
19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
b. John 13:35
35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
My Notes : I think the best way to walk this out is to truly understand what love is. Ephesians 5:2 Says, "and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
So we must remember that Christ's love was sacrificial. We have got to die to ourselves daily. We cannot walk around with a Me attitude thinking about what we "deserve", etc. That's not godliness. Christ was selfless and we are to imitate Him. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Tells us what love is: "4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails." We need to all take a personal assessment and see what of those things we are not, and ask the Lord to help us fix our weak areas.
Also, I think it is VERY important to learn you husband's love language. It has helped me TREMENDOUSLY. Mine is Words of Affirmation and Patrick's is Acts of Service. Which means he doesn't receive or give love the same way that I do, so if I want to show that I love him I'll get a lot farther by doing something nice for him, than by saying something nice to him. It also helped me realize that when he's doing all the things for me that he does, he's showing his love for me.
Here is a brief synopsis of what each love language is: http://www.5lovelanguages.com/learn-the-languages/the-five-love-languages/
and Here are some quizes and assessments you can take to figure out what your languages are: http://www.5lovelanguages.com/assessments/love/
Finally, 1 Peter 4:8 says, "8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." We should not be pointing out all of their faults to them or anyone else. We need to show love to them regardless of their faults and we need to make sure to focus on the things that we love about them.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
New Posts
I've been posting some notes of Facebook for a couple of weeks now. I began because the Lord laid it on my heart to share some notes that I had received at a Bible Study on marriage some time ago. I shared those points on the wife's role along with my own notes. When I came to the end I felt called to continue these notes in some capacity. I have decided to also post those here. I'm behind in doing that, so I will post a few a day until I have them caught up.
The Wife's role #3
Administrator - Skillful and godly administration will increase and multiply that which the husband has provided. As the Spirit leads, wisley invest that which is saved to produce even more. Know God's plan for you; spend time daily in the Word and prayer with Him. Prosperity comes from seeking the face of the Lord and knowing Him.
a. Proverbs 31:13-27 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
b. Luke 19:13-26
My Notes: I think this one probably looks a little different in every home. In ours I handle all of the finances, scheduling, etc. My husband jokingly calls me his secretary. Do I invest our money? No, but I do work very hard to make it go farther. I'm very frugal. I do lots of research before a big purchase and look all over until I've found the best deal possible. I'm very cautious even about our food, trying to make sure that we eat healthy, but frugally. Administrating a household requires creativity. I wouldn't call myself creative, but I serve an amazingly creative God and He will supply all of my needs, so when I need some creative influence all I have to do is ask Him.
What ways can you be more creative or more efficient in as administrator over your home?
a. Proverbs 31:13-27 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
b. Luke 19:13-26
My Notes: I think this one probably looks a little different in every home. In ours I handle all of the finances, scheduling, etc. My husband jokingly calls me his secretary. Do I invest our money? No, but I do work very hard to make it go farther. I'm very frugal. I do lots of research before a big purchase and look all over until I've found the best deal possible. I'm very cautious even about our food, trying to make sure that we eat healthy, but frugally. Administrating a household requires creativity. I wouldn't call myself creative, but I serve an amazingly creative God and He will supply all of my needs, so when I need some creative influence all I have to do is ask Him.
What ways can you be more creative or more efficient in as administrator over your home?
The Wife's Role #2
Helper - Comes from Hebrew word "to surround". Not a secondary role; vital. Surround your husband with: Support, Exhortation and Comfort. Make available to him all the godly qualities within you to help him develop into the man God has called him to be.
a. Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
b. Proverbs 31:10-12 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
My Notes: I think we all pretty much know what a helper is....but what strikes me right now is that being helpful is the opposite of being harmful, so if we are meant to be a helper to him then we are also meant not to be harmful to him. The most commonly harmful thing that I can think of a wife doing to her husband is to make him feel as if she doesn't respect him. Do you question his decisions? Do you trust his opinion or do you ask it of him and then go seek the opinions of others? Are you insulting, even in small ways? Do you listen to his ideas? Again, those things that I mentioned yesterday work here : Ask him how you can help him today, what you can do for him? Think of ways to show that you respect him; listen to him, tell him that his idea was a good one, or that you appreciate his hard work, etc. Step outside your comfort zone today, say something encouraging to him even if it's uncomfortable. Maybe he'll be taken off guard, maybe it will be uncomfortable to him too, maybe he won't know how to receive the help, or the compliment.....but he'll never forget it....
a. Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
b. Proverbs 31:10-12 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
My Notes: I think we all pretty much know what a helper is....but what strikes me right now is that being helpful is the opposite of being harmful, so if we are meant to be a helper to him then we are also meant not to be harmful to him. The most commonly harmful thing that I can think of a wife doing to her husband is to make him feel as if she doesn't respect him. Do you question his decisions? Do you trust his opinion or do you ask it of him and then go seek the opinions of others? Are you insulting, even in small ways? Do you listen to his ideas? Again, those things that I mentioned yesterday work here : Ask him how you can help him today, what you can do for him? Think of ways to show that you respect him; listen to him, tell him that his idea was a good one, or that you appreciate his hard work, etc. Step outside your comfort zone today, say something encouraging to him even if it's uncomfortable. Maybe he'll be taken off guard, maybe it will be uncomfortable to him too, maybe he won't know how to receive the help, or the compliment.....but he'll never forget it....
The Wife's Role #1
At some point during a Bible study I recieved a list of 7 points in a wife's role to her husband/family. I'm not sure who to give credit for the list, but I thought it would be neat to share a point each day for the next week.
#1
Supporter - Respect and honor your husband, God has given men the desire to conquer. When a wife is supportive, a husband is more willing to step out. Criticism keeps him from going forth boldly. Respect the authority God has placed in him. Work together in decision-making. Don't side with the children against him.
a. Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
b. 1 Peter 3:1,2 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
My Notes: Be his biggest fan and let him know it! Encourage him in all that he does...from the little things to the big. It's just not that hard to take him a cold glass of tea while he mows the yard. It's also not hard to say thank you, though if you are not used to saying it, it could be uncomfortable at first, but it easily can become the norm. I often call Patrick at work and ask "Is there anything you need me to do for you today?" or "I'm going to be in town. Do you need anything while I'm here?". 9 times out of 10 is answer is no, but he knows I'm thinking of him and trying to make his life easier. Let him hear you commending him to others. Seriously, if you are just beginning to walk a journey of becoming a godly wife, this is such an easy step to start with. I promise it will become more and more natural to you. I challenge you to think of a creative way to support him today and follow through with it.
#1
Supporter - Respect and honor your husband, God has given men the desire to conquer. When a wife is supportive, a husband is more willing to step out. Criticism keeps him from going forth boldly. Respect the authority God has placed in him. Work together in decision-making. Don't side with the children against him.
a. Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
b. 1 Peter 3:1,2 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
My Notes: Be his biggest fan and let him know it! Encourage him in all that he does...from the little things to the big. It's just not that hard to take him a cold glass of tea while he mows the yard. It's also not hard to say thank you, though if you are not used to saying it, it could be uncomfortable at first, but it easily can become the norm. I often call Patrick at work and ask "Is there anything you need me to do for you today?" or "I'm going to be in town. Do you need anything while I'm here?". 9 times out of 10 is answer is no, but he knows I'm thinking of him and trying to make his life easier. Let him hear you commending him to others. Seriously, if you are just beginning to walk a journey of becoming a godly wife, this is such an easy step to start with. I promise it will become more and more natural to you. I challenge you to think of a creative way to support him today and follow through with it.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Weekend Getaway
I just spent a few days in the mountains with my husband. We were celebrating our 15th anniversary and we had a glorious weekend. We could not have asked for more beautiful weather. We spent time doing what each of us enjoy doing. It was amazing! We drove up on Friday night. We've started reading books out loud as we travel and we've decided that it makes the car ride go by so much more quickly. This trip we read "Sweetbrier Autumn", which is a story of the history of Seattle. We really enjoyed it, but didn't get finished. I imagine I'll be devouring the rest of that one this week. The drive up into the mountain to get to the cabin was a bit scary in the dark. It was very rural, so the roads were not maintained well, they were steep and very curvy. I was thankful to have my very capable hubby at the wheel. We got in in time to veg on the couch for a bit before bed. Saturday we slept in a little, had breakfast then headed to Gatlinburg. We stopped at the Welcome center for brochures to help us decide what to do. Our first stop was the Arts and Crafts village. I of course enjoyed that part more than Patrick did. We bought a small watercolor painting for my mother-in-law for her birthday, bought mason a wooden toy axe, but my most favorite place was the quilt shop. I've always wanted to quilt, but felt a little intimidated by it and wasn't sure I could do it with a basic machine, and sure don't want to have to pay someone to do the quilting. The sweet owner of the shop talked to me for a while and convinced me that I can do it. She owns a very expensive long arm machine, but still chooses to do most of her quilting on her sewing machine. She recommended a good beginner pattern (which I love!) and I can't wait to get started. I loved being in that store. I'm pretty sure I'm now hooked! We left there and went to eat at The Old Mill, the food was really good and reasonable (we shared and it was plenty) and the atmosphere was lovely, we stopped by a candy shop there and I got some homemade toffee, a bear claw and some Zots for my kiddos (anyone remember those?). We also went into the pottery shop and got to see pottery being made. It was VERY neat. We then went to the national park and decided on a trail to walk. We walked to Laurel Falls. It was said to be easy, but I had forgotten my knee brace at the cabin and found it fairly difficult. We had to park quite a ways away, so the round trip for us was around 3 miles, a good portion of it uphill. Thankfully it was paved an my sweet husband was patient. The falls were pretty, but much too crowded and I think DeSoto has just as much to offer. We drove back through downtown Gatlinburg on the way back to the cabin. It was fun to people watch as we drove the strip. Once at the cabin we ate a quick supper and headed to bed earlier so we could get an earlier star the next morning. Saturday we headed out pretty early to get to Cades Cove. We spent most of the morning there and would have stayed longer if we had not forgotten the cooler bag with our snacks and drinks in it. We walked at least a couple or more miles while in the park. One of the trails we walked took us past a big red barn and up to an old home place. When we headed back to the van we saw two bucks in the big red barn. We were able to watch them for a few minutes before they moved on (some other people came noisily down the trail and scared them away). We turned and just across the path saw a doe and her fawn. We stood 10 - 15 feet away from them and were able to watch them for a while. Then as we continued on we saw one more doe. It was so neat. I've sat in my van and seen them many times or watched them through a window, but never have I stood so near to one in the wild. Breathtaking! We left and had lunch at a nearby cafe then headed to the outlet malls. I only went to a hand full of stores (I tried to be merciful to my sweet, patient man), but had great success in those stores. I was able to find replacement lids and hot/cold packs for my pyrex portables for a VERY reasonable price. I also found 6" mini loaf pans for a reasonable price and picked some up for myself and my Mom for our holiday baking. My last stop was the Old Navy outlet. I ended up with 7 items for $28 dollars. We headed back to the cabin early for a restful night in. We watched a movie (The Cross, which I HIGHLY recommend), then we spent a while in the hot tub. We spent that time really talking (the movie had us in a very thoughtful, reflective place) about where we were going as a family, what God had called us to and where He is taking us and what we need to be doing to prepare. A couple of notes from that: My favorite quote from the movie was "My unworthiness does not disqualify me from the call of God." ~ Arthur Blessit The movie really made us think about something we've heard our pastor talk about many times. If we cannot be faithful in the little things, how can we ever expect God to trust us with the big things. We know God is calling us to something bigger and that we need to be living in a state of preparation for that, but it convicted us that we needed to get a handle on the little things, to set our priorities and hold fast to them, to make time for the most important things. So, I'm working on a schedule that will help us make sure that we aren't letting important things slip through the cracks. Monday we headed back with a stop at a very disappointing Flea Market (when did they become an avenue for people to sell imported merchandise?) and at Bass Pro Shops and finally at lunch at Cracker Barrel. We tried to stop at a quilt shop in Chattanooga, but it was closed. We missed our children terribly, but were so thankful to have the time away. It was so good for us physically, emotionally and spiritually. I'll try to post some pictures soon.
P.S. All this lovely fallish weather, the time in the mountains, the antiques and the quilt shop, led to my latest background change. I'm loving it!
P.S. All this lovely fallish weather, the time in the mountains, the antiques and the quilt shop, led to my latest background change. I'm loving it!
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