Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Psalm 118

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

2 Let Israel say:
“His love endures forever.”

3 Let the house of Aaron say:
“His love endures forever.”

4 Let those who fear the LORD say:
“His love endures forever.”




5 When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD;
he brought me into a spacious place.

6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?

7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.


8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in humans.

9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.

10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them down.

11 They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them down.

12 They swarmed around me like bees,
but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;

in the name of the LORD I cut them down.
13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the LORD helped me.

14 The LORD is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.




15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!

16 The LORD’s right hand is lifted high;
the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!”

17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

18 The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.

19 Open for me the gates of the righteous;
I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.

20 This is the gate of the LORD
through which the righteous may enter.

21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.


22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;

23 the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 The LORD has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.




25 LORD, save us!
LORD, grant us success!


26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.

27 The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.




28 You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.


29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.


~Psalm 118 (NIV)




Monday, November 29, 2010

The day after thanksgiving...


The day after thanksgiving the boys set to work, they measured and cut, then hammered away. All afternoon they were out in the yard, until they had completed their project with care. A manger they made, in remembrance of our Savior born long ago. A manger to remind us of this special child, the young king, born in a stable. This Christmas our focus will shift from a tree with all the trimmings to the birth of this king. While every Christmas we try to keep Him the center, it's hard when our eyes are distracted with glitter. This year will be different, our eyes will be fixed, not on a tree, but on this special manger.


While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. ~Luke 2:6-7

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Writer's Workshop: Prompt #5

Mama's Losin' ItIt's time for MamaKat's writer's workshop! This week there were so many great prompt's, but I just couldn't resist number 5. I know I have written quite a bit about thanksgiving already, and I will write some more about it later, but for now I will forget thanksgiving, and write about that time I fell down!

It was around 2 years ago on a cool winter morning, I opened my front door to carry my then one year old daughter out to the van. I took the first step down and that was the end... or was it the beginning? My daughter and I fell down the three cement steps in front of our home. I made sure to land so that she wasn't hurt but my elbow was throbbing and I couldn't get up. My oldest son just stood there looking at me as the tears started rolling down my face. I cried for him to go get his dad who was still in our room getting ready...I don't even remember where we were going, but I know we never went.

Paul came out and got Ella and took her in the house before coming to help me up, and back inside. The pain in my elbow was agonizing. We decided that it was best to take a trip to the doctor to make sure nothing was broken. We got a sitter, and headed out. The doctor rudely told me that I was fine, and said that they could give me a sling if I really thought I needed it. I couldn't move my arm without pain, so feeling like a big baby I accepted.

I wore the sling to the baby shower that I was now late for (a 2 hour wait at the doctors will do that to you), but I opted to take it off before going to work that night. I mean after all, it was all in my head right? No. The doctor called my husband that night to tell him that my elbow was cracked and I needed to come back in for further x-ray's to see how bad it really was. When I hung up with my husband I turned to my boss who asked me what my phone call was about. I simply told him I had a broken arm and got back to work. His face was comical, but my arm really did hurt. I never did go back to the doctor, after the way I had been treated earlier, I thought if it wasn't bad enough for them to see on the first x-ray then it must not be too bad, and I would just let it heal.

Later that week was when the real pain started. I woke up unable to move my head. My neck throbbed. I tried to go about my day, but it wasn't easy. At one point in time I went to lay down on the couch and got half way leaned back when the pain over took me and I fell the rest of the way. I was stuck. My neck hurt so bad I couldn't get off the couch. I had two babies sleeping in the other room, and my husband and the boys weren't home. I was terrified. By the grace of God my husband got home before the girls awoke and helped me off of the couch.

This pain lasted several days before it started to subside. I thought I was healing, and someone, somewhere, at sometime told me there was nothing you could do to treat whiplash, so I didn't go to the doctor, after all, I was healing right? Wrong!

The headaches started about a month later. At first I would just get a slight headache that would last for a day and then it would be gone. For someone not prone to headaches I thought this was horrible. Looking back, it would be like comparing a skinned knee to a broken bone. My headaches grew in intensity and severity. They started lasting for weeks at a time. I couldn't focus on anything.

I went to the eye doctor thinking I needed glasses, I didn't. I have never been so crushed to hear that I have amazing eye sight. Something was wrong with me and I wanted to know what. My mother-in-law kept telling me that my headaches started about the same time I had fallen, and I kept not listening to her. My head hurt, and I couldn't figure out how a broken elbow could have caused that.

Then it finally happened. I came down with the flew and when it was over I couldn't stand up without feeling like my head was either going to be ripped in half or explode... or maybe both? It was the most painful thing I have ever experienced. We got me to the doctor who ordered an MRI, this came back with nothing. I mentioned that my mother-in-law thought it had to do with my fall, so they x-rayed my neck. I had severe whiplash. My doctor proscribed me this highly addictive, crazy side effect, insanely horrible pain medicine and said that a trip (as in one or two visits) to the chiropractor would heal me! Woo Hoo!

For any of you who have ever had chiropractor care, you should know that was the biggest line of who ha ever. My husband recommended his old chiropractor to me and I have been seeing him now for close to 3 months. I am off the stupid pills (really, they interfered with my ability to think clearly, and if I forgot to take them they caused insane withdraw headaches so I couldn't think at all). I am doing so much better, and well on my way down the road to recovery. All of this just from a one fatal step. One slip on the ice.

One small step for me, one major change in my body.

WFW





"The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life." ~Proverbs 31:11-12

Coming into this holiday season I am thinking about how much my husband has to trust me to prepare everything while he is at work. Not just during the holidays, but always. He has to trust that he will have clean clothes to wear to work, that there will be food for him to eat when he get's home. He also has to trust that I am taking care of our children, feeding them, and teaching them the things they need to know. I'm not going to tell you that I have never let him down, as that would be a lie, but I am so thankful that he trusts me, even when I make mistakes. I want to be a wife who brings him good and not evil all the days of my life. I love my husband!!

*This picture was proudly taken by our 2 year old daughter.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Enduring Love


This morning as my kids and I were doing a thanksgiving craft, one of the verses I read really stuck with me. In all actuality the whole Psalm stuck with me. The line that it repeats all through out it is "His love endures forever". His love endures. Love isn't necessarily easy, but true love endures. It kind of reminds me of one of my favorite songs from highschool... "You can't hurry love" sung by Phil Collins (I know he isn't the original singer, but his is the version I loved). Not only must love endure, but it doesn't always come easy. Well, it might for God, but it certainly doesn't for those of us that are sinful by nature. I am so thankful that God's love endures forever, and I pray that He can help me to love in that way. I don't want to be known as someone who falls in and out of love, or someone who gets going when the going gets tough. I want to share this quality with God and be known for having His enduring love shown to others through me.

True love endures forever
True love endures heart aches
True love endures pain
True love endures when it would be easier to give up
True love endures hard times
True love endures tears
True love endures when others would turn away
True love endures anger
True love endures mistrust
True love endures when it isn't deserved
True love endures forever



Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.
to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.
to him who divided the Red Sea asunder
His love endures forever.
and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.
to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.
to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.
Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.
an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.
He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

~Psalm 136

Great Resource


I don't know how much time you all spend in devotions, but I have several e-mailed to me, and one of my favorites is by Nancy Leigh Demoss and it is called Seeking Him. Today's devotion was just what I needed to hear (You can read it by clicking here). My situation might not be the same as hers, but the answer is. I need to forgive and focus on the truth instead of on lies.

Monday, November 22, 2010

The Spiritual Battle

I don't know what kind of battles you are facing in your life, but in my life currently there is a lot going on spiritually. I mentioned last week that someone confessed a sin to me that I am now learning to deal with. It is something that they have confessed, but have not necessarily overcome. I'm learning to trust God in a whole new way during this time. I am forced to deal with the fact that I have absolutely no control over their behavior, and no way to know if they will tell me each time they sin against me. I don't know if you have ever faced something like this, but for me it is heart breaking.

During this time I am clinging to Scriptures. God wrote the Bible with the knowledge that we would need it at all the different stages of our lives and I am so thankful that it provides comfort, encouragement and hope. Last night and today I have been focusing on Ephesians 6:12 ~ For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. I have to remember that this battle that is going on doesn't really have anything to do with me. This is between the other person and God, or more importantly Satan and God. My part in this is to pray for healing of the other person, and pray that God soften their heart and helps them to overcome. I don't feel that I can give you details, but could you please pray for them as well? And for me too, I need prayer to trust God and to remember that He loves me and them. He has forgiven us both, even though our sins are different.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

TSA

I want to start upfront by telling you that I don't fly. Meaning that I will be 27 years old in January and I have not once in my entire life been on an airplane. Even though I don't fly it is impossible not to hear everything that is going on at the airports with TSA (you would probably have to live in a cave to miss it). One of my favorite Christian speakers posted a great article on how Christians should respond to all of this. She is planning on posting quite a bit about it in the upcoming months, and even if you choose not to follow her blog and read those posts, I ask you to read this one. The blog is called Gospel Balm, and it is written by Dr. Laura Hendrickson.

NaNoWriMo?

I have been struggling with NaNoWriMo. I have a few issues right now. One of them is with my novel. While it is turning out amazingly great, and I think it's really well written and very interesting, I am struggling with some of the things about it. It's kind of hard to explain, I think the novel itself isn't the issue, but God is teaching me some things right now, and I am having issues writing this particular novel while I am learning them. Part of me thinks that this is such an amazing novel that I really want to finish that I should keep going, and part of me thinks I need to put it down for now, and see if it is something that God wants me to finish later.

I hate not finishing things, so this is really hard for me. However, with everything going on right now, I really can't picture myself finishing it any time soon. So I will probably just put it down and unofficially withdraw from NaNo this year. I thought about switching and writing a different novel that God has put in my head, but there are 9 days left. I would never even get caught up to where the current word count on my other novel is. So I am going to wait and pray.

Giving update

30-Day Giving Challenge
So I haven't been posting daily about the giving challenge, but I have still been giving!

Thursday I let my girls go to a friends house (she was so gracious to take them!), and I gave my undivided attention to my boys at the zoo. This was wonderful, as we rarely (practically never) do anything with just the three of us.

Friday I gave my girls a bath... they needed it.

Saturday we went to a good will store and donated a dollar to the Angel something (I forgot what it was!) and we also donated a box of random things we had been meaning to donate for a while.

Today I gave my time serving in the 2's and 3's classroom at church. I truly missed being in the service, but the kids were so cute! Our lesson was on giving thanks.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Frozen Friday Funnies

It's Friday! This brings the Friday Funnies :) I love the Friday Funnies. As this is the week before Thanksgiving, I thought I would share last years Thanksgiving story. Feel free to laugh at me, I know I do!

Thanksgiving, 2009:
Before we get started let me say that I never cook Thanksgiving dinner. It has always been my mom, or my mother-in-law, NEVER me...

I wake up early to get the turkey started. My ex-husbands parents are driving out to spend the weekend with the boys, and we wanted to have our Thanksgiving dinner around 2pm. So I get the turkey out of the freezer... It said on the little tag thingy to keep frozen, so I had... I put it in the sink full of water and started getting some other stuff together. I go over to check the turkey after an hour and it's still frozen! I cut the outside wrapper off, and find some instructions inside. They say "Thaw 3 to 5 days before use". What happened to the keep frozen that it said on the outside?! I spent the ENTIRE day trying to defrost the turkey. The boy's grandparents got here that evening about the same time that the turkey was finally cooked (Maybe sooner). I should mention that they left their house that morning and it's an 11 hour drive from their house to ours, so I roughly spent 11 hours in a battle with my frozen turkey.

So on the bright side we all got to eat Thanksgiving together? And of course my in experience with turkeys was great amusement for everyone that day, including everyone that called to wish us a happy Thanksgiving (My dear, sweet husband made sure to tell them all...).

I hope your Thanksgivings this year are filled with lots of laugher and good memories, and please, thaw you're turkey in advance.

This has been a Friday Funny. For more Friday Funnies, please visit Homesteader's Heart each Friday by clicking the button below:
Homesteader's Heart

Book Sneeze!!! :)

Woo Hoo!!! Book Sneeze had not one, but 4 books available today! One of them I had already reviewed, so that ruled it out. One didn't look very appealing to me, so I had to choose between the other two... One of them was an informational/spiritual growth book about Israel and it looked really good. But after reading some of the reviews I decided that it probably wasn't the best choice for me. So I went with this one :)

I should mention that my friend, Robin, already reviewed this book on her blog: My Blessings From The Lord, and gave it a great review! :)

Here is the book description that is posted on Book Sneeze about Then Sings My Soul:

Stories of the most favorite and beloved seasonal hymns of faith.

Don't look for a dry recounting of boring historical fact, the devotional-style stories in Then Sings My Soul show the emotion and drama behind the hymns of faith that have changed many lives throughout history. Designed to be personally reflective, these stories speak to the soul and add depth to a meaningful worship time with God through song.

Recounted are stories of the people whose faith led them to write these wonderful seasonal hymns and the people whose faith was affected by reading, hearing, and singing the songs.

Includes words and music to each hymn Special softcover, French flap cover design Ivory paper with brown ink Jagged edged paper, giving it a classic feel Complete with hymn index Use for devotionals, teaching illustrations, introductory remarks for song leaders and music ministers

I review for BookSneeze

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Thankful Thursday, God's Sovereignty, and Thanksgiving


On this thankful Thursday, I am ever so thankful for God's sovereignty. I am thankful that He has a purpose in everything that happens, and that I can trust Him to work it out for His glory. It is such a comfort to know that He is in control. Things might not always go the way that I hoped, but I know that as the heavens are higher than the earth, His ways are higher than my way, and His thoughts than my thoughts (Is. 55:9).

30-Day Giving Challenge

This also happens to be the Thursday before thanksgiving and day 18 of the giving challenge. This months host for Thankful Thursday, Laura over at Women Taking a Stand, posted in her post about Cain and Able. God rejected Cain's offering because Cain gave Him some stuff. It doesn't say that he gave him the best or the first, but just some. I always think about this as giving God our leftovers. But what struck me about this today is that I'm not always giving my best to others. Through out the giving challenge, I have given in some way each day, but I haven't always given my best, I just gave something. I am like Cain. I would much rather give like Able and give God my best by giving my best to others. After all Jesus said that ‘...whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40).

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Giving forgiveness



Today I am faced with the opportunity to forgive something I never thought I would have to. I have to forgive something that others are faced with, but I didn't think it was something I would ever need to be concerned with. I'm not going to tell you what it is, because in truth, it doesn't matter. We all have situations where we are faced with forgiving someone when it's something that surprises us. There are so many verses flooding through my head at this point, but the one that speaks the loudest is James 1:2-3 ~ Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. In the next verse James goes on to say: Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. So while I am sitting here in tears as I write this, I can tell you that I am learning to trust God in a whole new way. I wrote a post last month about afflictions, and this is probably one that I could add to the list. It's something that could tear me apart, if I didn't trust God that He works ALL things together for His glory. All things... Even this? The answer is yes. Not just yes, but an outstanding yes! Why? Because of James 1:2-3. Because I need to consider this joy, because it will produce perseverance in so many ways. Choosing to forgive will help me to trust God in this situation. Instead of holding grudges I can choose to love unconditionally, keeping no record of wrongs. No record of wrongs. That isn't exactly easy, especially in this situation, but if I consider it joy, it will be that much easier. I truly believe that God will use this in my life to strengthen my faith.

What about you? Have you been faced with something surprising that you need to forgive? It's not easy, but God has forgiven us a multitude of sins, who are we to hold on to things that God has chosen to forgive?



30-Day Giving Challenge
The Giving Challenge. The giving challenge is taking on a whole new meaning today for me. Giving is something that we do everyday, but it isn't necessarily a challenge. Today, I am choosing to give forgiveness, and it is a challenge.





This post is also linked with Word Filled Wednesday. To read more Word Filled Wednesday posts click on the button above!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Book Sneeze?

I review for BookSneeze

What happened to Book Sneeze? They have ZERO available books and have had ZERO available books for almost a month! :( Not that I have tons of free time right now, but I would love to be able to request a book...

I am currently reading a wonderful book called Women Counseling Women, and then I'm probably going to read a Christmasy book, but eventually it would be nice to read a book from Book Sneeze!

Oh well, I hope that my fellow book sneezer's all have books to tide them over as well, and that they make something available soon.

Happy Reading! (hopefully)

Giving up?

30-Day Giving Challenge
Yesterday was the halfway point of both the giving challenge and NaNoWriMo. I am not doing as good as I hoped with either, and I am faced with the option of giving up, or continuing on. I could give up knowing that I probably will never make it, but then again, I could give up on a lot of things in life that don't go as planned. But I wont. Even if I don't give something I see as valuable everyday in November, and even if I don't write 1667 words every single day, I can still give it my all, and complete the month doing my best. I can keep my word, my promise to try through out the month, and you can too. Even if we don't make it, we can give our all. I for one wont give up, will you?


Monday, November 15, 2010

Homeschool Scriptures

Homeschool Scriptures:

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ~ Ephesians 5:15-17

Why am I doing this?

Galatians 1:10
For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

Psalm 127:3-5
Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Genesis 33:5
He lifted his eyes and saw the women and the children, and said, "Who are these with you?" So he said, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant."

Hebrews 2:13
And again, “I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM"
And again, "BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME."


Matthew 22:21
Then He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's."

Ezekiel 16:20
"Moreover, you took your sons and daughters whom you had borne to Me and sacrificed them to idols to be devoured. Were your harlotries so small a matter?

Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9
These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. "You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

2 Corinthians 10:5
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

Isaiah 54:13
All your sons will be taught of the LORD; and the well-being of your sons will be great.

Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.

3 John 4
I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

Colossians 1:28-29
We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

Matthew 7:24-25
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.”

Psalm 78:3-4
Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.

Proverbs 4:23
Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.

Proverbs 1:8
Hear, my son, your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching;

Encouragement to continue:

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. ~Hebrews 10:36

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. ~Philippians 4:13

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” ~Matthew 7:7-8

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. ~2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider-- God has made the one as well as the other… ~Ecclesiastes 7:14

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:4-7

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. ~Psalm 51:10

"But in their distress they turned to the LORD God of Israel, and they sought Him, and He let them find Him.” ~2 Chronicles 15:4

The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. ~Lamentations 3:25

"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation." ~Isaiah 12:2

So that we confidently say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?" ~Hebrews 13:6

Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by. ~Psalm 57:1

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. ~Psalm 23:4

And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." ~Matthew 19:26

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ~Psalm 46:1

My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. ~Psalm 62:1-2

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. ~1 Corinthians 15:58

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you; when you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. ~Isaiah 43:2

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven-- ~Ecclesiastes 3:1

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. ~James 3:17

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. ~Galatians 6:9

The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit. Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools. ~Ecclesiastes 7:8-9

"…nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You." ~2 Chronicles 20:12

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." ~Joshua 1:9

'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. ~Jeremiah 29:12-13


'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' ~Isaiah 41:10

"Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am' If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday. And the LORD will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. ~Isaiah 58:9-11

casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. ~1 Peter 5:7

Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. ~Isaiah 40:31

Thus says the LORD, "Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears; for your work will be rewarded," declares the LORD… ~Jeremiah 31:16

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ~James 1:2-3

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. ~Romans 8:28

O LORD, be gracious to us; we have waited for You. Be our strength every morning, our salvation also in the time of distress. ~Isaiah 33:2

Refocus!

But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” ~Job 2:10

He said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. ~Matthew 8:26

Writing! Wait, what?

I got lots of writing done today! I edited one devotion for FindYourTrueBeauty.com and I wrote 2 (well, almost, I have a few finishing touches to put on the last one).

I also was inspired to compile a list of Scriptures for homeschooling. I am about 75% done with this (I will post it when it is complete). I am so thankful that I took the time to do this. It is something that I have needed to do for sometime and I know it will be oh so helpful in the days to come.

NaNoWriMo? Oh, yeah... Nope, not one word! I have thought about it off and on, but these other things have to take priority over it. So for today, the half way point for NaNo I will have a big RED square on my calendar. It won't be something that bothers me though, because I will know that I prioritized my time, and got things done that needed to be. I will see it as knowing that NaNo does not control my life and is not an obsession. My life belongs to God, and the things I did today will help others grow in their relationship with Him and will help me in my own walk with Him as well. The red square will be remind me that I was wise with my time and that is more precious than red rubies (Proverbs 8:11).

Pumpkin oatmeal

30-Day Giving Challenge
It's snowing!!! Which of course makes me think of Christmas. For breakfast this morning I gave my children pumpkin oatmeal. This was my first time making this and it turned out GREAT! I found a recipe... but I didn't follow it. So I thought I would give you my recipe :)

Pumpkin Oatmeal
1 Cup oatmeal
1 3/4 cup water
Dash of salt
1/2 cup fresh pumpkin (although I think canned would work just fine too)
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup of sugar
*I was out of ginger but I think that would have been a nice addition...

Mix first 4 ingredients together in a microwave safe bowl and cook for 2 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients, mix well and enjoy!
*I think it would be perfect to top it off with whipped topping, but we were out of that as well...

It was a huge hit in my house, the kids were asking for seconds! It was the perfect breakfast for a snowy day. Now to share a little Christmas giving music with you:

Sunday, November 14, 2010

NaNoWriMo: Day 14

So each day when I think I have a great start on my novel and I will most certainly hit my word count and even get ahead... I don't. Something happens, and I get side tracked, and I don't make it. That is exactly what happened today. I had over 500 words before 9am this morning, but that is all I have done today. I know it's only 5pm, but the truth is that I'm tired. I can barely keep my eyes open and I just can't imagine typing anything coherently. So that's that. Things may change between now and bed time... or not. Frankly I'm too tired to really care.

Giving God Glory

30-Day Giving Challenge
It's Sunday!
For our family Sunday is a day of rest. We have a nice breakfast together, go to church, and then lounge around all day. Usually. Well that didn't happen this morning. One of my dear daughters made her way into our bed last night, and I didn't sleep at all from that point on. The night was full of her stealing blankets, kicking, hitting, pushing, tossing, turning, and more kicking (there was lots of kicking). So when I finally gave up on sleep at 5am, I was exhausted. I made breakfast and ate with the family, but then decided to take a nap while my husband took his shower. The problem? While my husband got more sleep than me (he was near her head instead of her feet), he didn't get that much either. So after his shower he came and lay down with me. So we both ended up taking naps, and now it is 11am, and church started an hour ago...

While I am not glad that we missed church, I am so thankful that God gave us the opportunity to sleep when we needed it. We would have been snoring away in church distracting others and that wouldn't have done anyone any good. I am thankful that going to church every Sunday isn't a requirement of Salvation. I miss our church family dearly, but God grants sleep to those he loves.

How is this related to giving you ask?
Yes, God gave me sleep, but most importantly, I can give God glory no matter where I am. I don't have to be in a pew to give Him glory, and honor and praises. So even though we didn't make it to His house this Sunday, we are still dedicating today to Him. To giving Him all of the glory.



The giving challenge is a challenge to give something each day in November and keep a record of it (not for bragging purposes, but for accountability). It doesn't have to be tangible giving, just to give in some way each day. If you click the button at the top of the post it will take you to the 30 Day Giving Challenge website.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Giving Challenge: Day 13

30-Day Giving Challenge
I have been so busy today, I didn't realize that I hadn't posted this yet! :( In fact I completely forgot about it! :( :( To top it off, I can't think of a single thing I gave today! :( :( :(

However, we were given much today. We received foam floor puzzles from someone on FreeCycle. There is a plain one, a capital letter alphabet one, a numbers one, and a United States of America one! Jack pot! Then our kind neighbors gave us their leaves to use in the pumpkin patch that we (read my husband) are planting for next year. Our soil is mainly clay and the leaves help soften it up. So what could I possibly have given today? I gave lots of smiles and thank you's!

And a bit of Christmas giving music for you:

NaNoWriMo


I am really far behind... I was hoping to get caught up today (I hope that everyday) but I am further behind. I am to the part of the story where my MC and her betrothed are looking for a new place for her to live. It's the scene where she starts falling in love with him... but my mind is going to fast for me to write down, it's really frustrating. I want to get to the good part of the scene, but it doesn't make since without the details! (I'm not the kind of writer that can fill in the details later, it has to be in order)

It also doesn't help that I am reading a really good book (I know, reading during NaNoWriMo, what was I thinking) and I was caught up in a really good part, so I am now debating on finishing the chapter in the book that I am reading or in the one that I am writing! AHHH, I am so indecisive...

Friday, November 12, 2010

Giving Challenge: Day 12

30-Day Giving Challenge

It's the 12th day of the giving challenge, and we are baking pumpkin cookies! I am giving the boys the pleasure of helping me (I normally prefer to cook by myself) and then we are going to give some to daddy, and probably someone else too... I just don't know who. But, I'll figure it out! In fact, I will give you the recipe as well! (Click the names of the cookies below).

Kainen is going to help me bake Great Pumpkin Cookies (pumpkin cookies with raisens and chocolate) and Ty is going to help me bake Iced Pumpkin Cookies. (We are going to have TONS of cookies!)



Happy Giving!

Blending Friday Funnies!

As it says in Ecclesiastes 3:4 "A time to weep and a time to laugh;A time to mourn and a time to dance." And today happens to be Friday, and that brings the Friday Funnies, which means it is time to laugh! I hope you all had a wonderful week, now let's get going!

This week I am sharing a story with you...
Like most of you, we have a blender. Well, 2 sort of. When my husband and I got married he had one, and I had a sort of blender. I call it a 'sort of' blender because I got it for free as a prize from work, and it is a drink blender that doesn't really blend anything that doesn't contain liquid... Anyway. So my husbands blender. It was pretty nice, you know, compared to my 'sort of' blender. But the first time I met his mom (while we were dating), she was using it and the knob on the front broke off. It still worked just fine mind you. You could turn the little thing that the knob fits over and select any of the settings. It was still better than mine :) This was especially okay with me, because while his mom used it several times when they came, I have probably used it... twice? Maybe? Since we were married.

Well, this week... this week I decided to cook up some pumpkins that were given to us. So I dug out his blender and got it all set up (by the way the maybe 2 times that I have used it were before we moved into this house almost 2 years ago...) So I "think" am a ready to go, get the pumpkin put in it to blend up, I mean, it's already cooked and everything. It just needs blended, how can you screw that up right? WRONG! I didn't do something right... maybe I was suppose to twist the blender into place, or push it down more? I dunno, but anyway I hear this wretched noise, and I quickly turned it off, but of course that wasn't soon enough. I had broken the plastic piece that holds the blades into the pitcher part of the blender... Our 'good' blender was now worthless. :(

So I moved on to the 'sort of' blender... Yeah, the pumpkin neatly sat above the blades while they spun. I tried pushing it down with a rubber spatula, that kind of helped, but I might still be there trying to get it pureed if I hadn't eventually came up with the idea to add milk! It's a drink blender, let's turn it into a drink I thought! Great idea, right? Maybe. I decided to make a recipe I found for coffeeless pumpkin latte's (I don't know how you can call it a latte without coffee... but they did). So I don't know if it was because of the blender, or my lack of cooking skills but they turned out terrible! They were so thick and pulpy it was disgusting! The kids said they liked them... but they didn't drink them.

So I moved onto a pumpkin pie! I make amazing pumpkin pies! (I use the recipe on the back of the can and they always turn out perfect!) However, I have never made one with real pumpkin...(hints the recipe on the back of the can...) So I found a recipe that said "Worlds Best Pumpkin Pie" now I was a little doubtful, because I mean, you can't really beat the recipe that comes on the back of the can. But I gave it a try as I had all the ingredients and it required milk to be mixed with the pumpkin. Yeah, maybe it should have been called the worlds WORST pumpkin pie. It turned out gooey and really rather bland. It didn't even taste like pumpkin! And I used REAL pumpkin! I digress.

That was pumpkin number 1... Now I have pumpkin number 2 sitting on my counter saying "cook me!" and I looked back at it and politely told it "not on your life! At least not until I have a working blender!" So my dear, sweet wonderful husband, whom I love very, very much, bought me a NEW blender yesterday! I'm so happy! I even took it's picture because I was so happy!



I would show you a picture of my old one... but I was so happy about having a new one, that I threw it out and the garbage man came and took it away! I have never been so happy to see the garbage man... (can giving him my blender count as my giving for today? No?) So anyway, you see, I can't show you a picture of it. I did keep the 'sort of' blender. It really does sort of work and would make an okay back up if something happened to my new pretty blender that has a beautiful 3 year warranty. However, I'm not taking it's picture because then it might think it's special. It's not special, if I put the front drink dispenser thingy on it, it leaks. So it doesn't really even work for it's original purpose...

I'm so thankful for my new blender! Now to do something with that other pumpkin. Any ideas?

For more Friday Funnies, visit homesteader's heart by clicking the button below:
Homesteader's Heart

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Writer's workshop / Day 11 of NaNo!



Today is day 11 of National Novel Writing Month, and it also brings the writer's workshop! Today's prompt is to write about "Something you wish you hadn’t put off til the last minute." Being that this is prompt comes in the middle of NaNo, I am really wishing that I would stop putting off my daily writing until bed time! You can tell exactly which days I put it off on by looking at my calendar...



The yellow day's are the ones where I put it off, and then I was too tired to reach my word count goal for the day... Yeah, I really wish I wouldn't have put it off, and all the squares could be green... It's a color thing. Green happens to be my favorite color and the yellow squares are ugly, that and they are a constant reminder that I didn't make it. They tell me that I am not perfect, that I have failed on those days. Why have I failed to reach my goal? Because I procrastinated. I put it off. (Similarly to what I am doing right now actually...)

There are lots of reasons I have put it off. Either I had company, or I was working on something else on the computer, or I might have been busy elsewhere in the house and not even gone near my computer until close to bed time... I guess it really doesn't matter why I put it off. I wish that I wouldn't have and that my calendar was full of perfect little green squares. :)

Mama's Losin' It

Thankful Thursday / Day 11 of the Giving Challenge

30-Day Giving Challenge
It's day #11 of the giving challenge, Thankful Thursday, and it is also Veterans day. I was going to post this video on Tuesday which was the anniversary of the Marine corps being established in 1775, but I decided to save it until today. I am so thankful for the freedoms we have in our country that are protected by our veterans. I am not a fighter, so it is truly a blessing that God made us all so different!



Today for my giving I gave my husband a heads up that it was Veterans day and that the bank would be closed. He always forgets... and that really messes up his day. I also gave him our van. He drives a 4Runner, but he had the top off when it started snowing on Monday. He slid the top on when he got home, but hasn't had the opportunity to fasten it down yet, so he asked to borrow the van the last two days. :) Hope you have a wonderful day of giving, and a very thankful Thursday!

For more thankful Thursday posts, please visit this months host, Laurie, at her blog Women taking a stand.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

NaNoWriMo: Day 10

Today is day 10 of National Novel Writing Month. We are 1/3rd done with the month and I am slightly behind target on my novel. However, the last two scenes that I wrote came out very easily, and my story is sailing right along. I'm excited to write the next scene as well, however it is past my bed time, so I am yet again debating to write, or not to write... I am 373 words away from my daily word count goal and 650 words away from my cumulative word count goal. I was hoping to make that up today, but I just don't see it happening unless I can get through the next scene...

The next scene? Dean is taking Elizabeth house hunting and he has a surprise in store for her. Then they are all going to dinner over at his sisters home...

Giving Challenge: Day 10 / WFW!



Today is our next Women Discipling Women meeting and I have prepared a pasta salad to take with me as we always enjoy a meal first. Not everyone one is required to take something, but I thought this would be a wonderful opportunity to give. I posted last month about the book that we all read, Counsel from the Cross, it was a wonderful book. The next book we are reading is Women Counseling Women, also by Elyse Fitzpatrick. I have already started it and am enjoying it a great deal.

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. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 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

The other thing on my mind today is not what I can give, but what God gave us. He gave us His only begotten Son to die for us, and as we approach this Christmas season it is so wonderful to focus on that.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
-- Isaiah 9:6



I hope you have a wonderful Word Filled Wednesday! Happy giving!

30-Day Giving Challenge