Month: March 2009

  • “With His stripes we are healed.”  Isaiah 53:5

    “See how the patient Jesus stands,
    Insulted in His lowest case!
    Sinners have bound the Almighty’s hands,
    And spit in their Creator’s face.

    With thorns His temples gor’d and gash’d
    Send streams of blood from every part;
    His back’s with knotted scourges lash’d.
    But sharper scourges tear His heart.”

    We would fain go to our chambers and weep; but since our business calls us away, we will first pray our Beloved to print the image of His bleeding self upon the tablets of our hearts all the day, and at nightfall we will return to commune with Him, and sorrow that our sin should have cost Him so dear.

    Charles Spurgeon

     

  • A woman doesn’t impact the world by getting a briefcase and going downtown–she impacts the world by raising a godly generation of men and women. 

     John MacArthur

  • Frugal Friday

        This is an easy way to earn money by doing something you already do.

                                                                                     

    SWAGBUCKS is a search engine, just like Google, or any of your other search engines. The only difference is that you can earn SWAGBUCKS which accumulate and can be used towards prizes.

    I’ve noticed that I normally will win a Swagbuck somewhere around every 10 tries. I’m working towards buying a  $5.00 gift certificate for Amazon.

    It’s not a lot of money but it’s free money for something I already do. It’s easy to get set up! Just click on the Swagbucks link above. Why not give it a try! Every once in a while I’ll find free codes on other money saving sites which will give me a free Swagbuck.

    Also, be sure to check out Money Saving Mom for other great ideas to save money.

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    I love this song! We sang it in church this morning which made me want to come home and hear it again. I didn’t know there was a ‘story’ behind the song. This video follows Matthew West through his surgery and recover and his season of silence. This is taken from his documentary, Nothing To Say.

  • Frugal Friday

    I’ve been learning a lot the past few months on how to get free items from CVS, Walgreen’s, Rite-Aid, Target and Walmart. This has been instrumental in lowering my grocery bill. One of the most helpful things I’ve learned is that you can use manufacturer coupons and store coupons TOGETHER on one product. This is the main way I’ve been getting free items. I also take advantage of Walgreen’s Easy Saver Rebate catalog’s free items.  You find this little booklet at the front of their stores. Generally, they will offer 3 items a month that will end up being free after you send in the rebate (or apply for it online).

    Yes, it’s a little work but the more I learn the less time it’s taking.

    Here’s my partial list of free items I’ve received:

    - shampoo

    - hairspray

    - razors

    - cat food

    - dog food

    - Ritz crackers

    - mixed nuts

    - dry roasted peanuts

    - body mist

    - Tacos (Del Taco)

    - Toothbrushes

    - cough drops

    - aspirin

    That is only a partial list!  

    So, if today’s economy is effecting your grocery budget you might want to take a little time to learn how to get some of your items FREE.

     One of my favorite websites, Money Saving Mom, has a tutorial to teach you how to shop at CVS or Walgreen’s. Her home page will have a section to the right of the blog called, Start Here. Look for CVS & Walgreen’s 101. It’s crucial that you study her notes otherwise you can end up not getting the items free. I made this mistake in the beginning and spent too much. There are some ‘tricks of the trade’ which teach you which coupons to give first… manufacturer or store coupons, etc.

    Here are a few websites I frequent:

    Money Saving Mom

    Money Saving Method ( I am uncomfortable with one of her methods that does not honor store policies (refund policies) so read with discretion.  Overall, she has a lot of good ideas and her site is easy to read. )

    Refund Cents (I’m currently subscribed to their website. The cost is very minimal and they keep you updated on all the current deals at not only the drug stores but lots of other offers, too!)

    Let me know how you do.

     

     

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    Our God is an awesome God!

     

    “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.  Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:25-26

     

     

  • Be the worst sinner you know

    I’ve been doing a small study on the words ‘gossip’ and ‘slanderer’. Boy, what conviction. I found two articles I really liked on the topic. Here is the first one. I’m not familiar with the pastor’s writings so just a clarification that I’m not endorsing him but I did like what he had to say.

    Flames of Destruction -  Be the worst sinner you know!

    It is amazing to me how righteous we think we are but how un-righteous we say we are. This is what I mean…we adopt the language of humility and verbally affirm that we are not without fault and not without sin and that our lives need work. But when it really comes down to it…we see sin in others way more than in ourselves. And we think other people need to change more than we do.

    Jesus taught about this in MT 6:3-5 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother ‘let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye”

    The point is that I only have the ability to see “specks” of your flaws and sins. No matter how much I get to know you I cannot see the full implications of your sinfulness. But I can see my own. I have the ability to look into my own life and see all my flaws and sins and rebellion against God with incredible clarity. But most of the time we don’t do this. We don’t like to think that we have major flaws and major sin. But we do. All of us. Instead, we attempt to identify flaws and sins in others.

    But this is a reversal of what we should be doing as believers. How do you recognize someone who has been in the presence of God? Do they feel holy and righteous and flawless after being in the presence of a sinless, all-powerful God? Remember Isaiah? What did he say when he was confronted with the presence of God? “Woe is me, I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips.” (notice the verbal implications of his sin).

    A person who has truly been in the presence of God will not feel righteous…they will feel “ruined.” They will see their “planks.” Therefore, I should be the worst sinner I know. If I consider myself to be without a “plank” I am not seeing clearly. I cannot see the “plank” in you…only the speck.

    Isnt it interesting how we do just the opposite. I see my life as only having “specks” but everybody else’s life as having “planks”. When I do this Jesus says that I am a “hypocrite.”

    God forgive me.

    My inability to see my “plank” is a “plank”! One way to recognize this is to hear a sermon and wish “so and so” would have been there to hear it. Read a Scripture text and think “so and so” needs to read this. See a great quote in a book and think “so and so” should read this. Read a blog about being a hypocrite and and having planks in your life and think “so and so” should read this. Get the point?

    There is another interesting reality about having a plank in my eye and not knowing it. I constantly swing it around and hit people with it! And what is worse, I cannot see clearly enough to notice it. The reason I cant see clearly enough to notice the plank is because of the plank! Lord Help me! I am ruined!

    “Lord Jesus, help me to forget about the specks I see in others; their little imperfections and sins and flaws. And help me to deal with the huge plank in my life that I am swinging around and hurting people with. Thank you for your mercy and your grace. Most of all, thank you for Jesus who can help me to see clearly again.” Amen

    Scott Parkinson

  • What is the secret, grandmamma?

    (J. R. Miller, “The Duty of Pleasing Others” 1904)

    “Each one of us must please his neighbor for his good, in order to build him up.” Romans 15:2

    The Duchess of Kent was universally beloved. Once the Princess Alice, herself simple, sweet and unspoiled, asked her: “What makes everyone love to be with you? I am always so sorry to have to leave you—and so are all the others who come here. What is the secret, grandmamma?“

    It was not easy for the noble woman to answer such a personal question. But it was important that it should be answered for the sake of her who had asked it, and who was indeed hungry to know the secret. So the noble lady gave this memorable answer:

    “I was early instructed, that the way to please others—was to be sincerely interested in the things which interested them, namely their own affairs; and that this could be accomplished only by burying one’s own troubles, interests, or joys completely out of sight. Forgetfulness of one’s own concerns, a smiling face, a sincere word of sympathy, or unselfish help, where it is possible to give it—will always please others—and the giver equally so.”

    “I try to please everyone in everything I do.     I don’t just do what I like or what is best for me, but what is best for them—so they may be saved.” 1 Corinthians 10:33

  • It’s the little foxes ….

     My days consist of many new things lately. The old familiar rhythm of working in my home for most of my married life has been replaced with a more frantic pace where half of my day is spent in different surroundings. I am no longer just a ‘keeper at home’ but now I work part-time outside my home. It’s not how I envisioned my ‘middle age years’. I miss being home. But, for the present time it’s a necessity and the best way I can help my husband.

    I would like to be transparent and share something with you in hope that it may help someone avoid the mistakes I have made.

     I am suffering the consequences of previous actions.

    Those of you who have been reading my blog for the past few years know that shortly after our move to the country our trucking business was effected financially by the economy. Our business continued to go in the red so we finally made the decision to downsize and put our home up for sale. We received many offers  over the following 1 1/2 years but each offer fell through. Finally, we received a solid offer with a 30 day escrow. The sale seemed to be going alone just fine. We found a few homes that would fit into our budget but no one would return our calls. Time was ticking away and my husband did not want to move in with anyone so we were feeling a time crunch. We finally found a home that we really liked and put an offer on it which was accepted. We thought we were on our way. How shocked we were to find out that our home appraised for $50,000.00 less than our selling price (which was already half the original listed price). 

    When the appraisal came back for $50,000.00 less my husband said that we needed to pull out of the offer we had on the other home because our house payment would be higher than he wanted. My heart sank. I was tired. I was weary. It had been a long two years and I just wanted to move and have no more problems. I didn’t want to look for another home. When I told our real estate agent that my husband wanted to pull out she came back with the reply that the owners of the house were threatening to sue us for breech of contract.

    This is where I wish I could go back and change my response!

    Instead of trusting that God was leading me through my husband I ended up not fully supporting him in his decision. There was no outward rebellious actions. There were no demands to do it my way. Only a quiet siding with the realtor. I didn’t trust his decision. It was an inward heart attitude that subtly reflected itself in my actions.

    So, we moved into our lovely home and things seemed to be going just fine. Until….

    Four months later when my husband’s work just stopped with no prospect of starting again until possibly April. Thankfully, he found another job shortly afterwards  but the pay was much less and we couldn’t meet all of our expenses.  We looked into selling our home and also refinancing but neither option ended up being a possibility. We were faced with losing our home. So, the only solution seemed to point to me finding a job which I did. The Lord was gracious and blessed me with a good paying part-time job right around the corner from where we live. I’m very thankful for His provision.

    Here is the ironically sad part to this story. If I had trusted my husband’s leadership in this situation and stood with him against the realtor I would not be working outside my home because his new job would have covered all of our expenses. I am working to pay the difference between what he ‘wanted’ in a house payment and what we are actually paying.

    I’ve tried to practice submission as the bible commands my entire marriage. My heart’s desire is to fully obey God’s Word and to encourage my husband’s leadership in our home. Yet, still after all these years, it only takes one moment to tear down something I worked years to preserve… my role as a keeper at home.  There is a good chance that I’m going to be suffering the consequences of my actions for quite some time unless the Lord chooses to deliver us financially.

    Nearly every morning that I leave my home for work I’m reminded that I am suffering the consequences of not submitting to my husband. I pray and hope that I will learn this lesson well so that I will pass it the next time it comes around. And trust me.. there will be a next time!

    I pray that the Lord will use my confession to help one of you escape the consequences I am now reaping.

    May God bless you!

     

     

     

  • Koinonia Fellowship

    I am so far behind in my posting. Well, I guess there is actually no one standing over me with a schedule but I’ve had so many things I’ve wanted to share. My ‘extra’ time is just so limited. I’ll write about that later.

    I did want to post this picture of some of my beloved sisters from church. They came to my home a few Saturdays ago for brunch and a devotional.  I fixed Lemon Curd Scones and Cranberry Scones (recipes on my other website) and I had a few quiches. The rest of the ladies brought yummy stuff and filled my kitchen counters to overflowing.  We always have plenty of food.

    Women's Meeting in my Home 035

    My pastor’s wife, Terri, gave the devotional and it was so encouraging! Here is one of the papers she handed out. It’s taken from John MacArthur’s website. The article says that if you are unsure about the reality of your faith then  take some time to study the two charts.

    How can you know if our faith is real?

    We have a wonderful group of women. I am so blessed to have them as sisters in the Lord. I thank God regularly for our church. The preaching is convicting, edifying and full of practical instruction. I leave church every Sunday encouraged to walk a holier life.