Ahhh.....Sweet Rest!!

As you read this, I am in the mountains with my family on a very much anticipated and needed vacation!!!!!

It has been a little over a year since we've went anywhere for more than overnight as a family and we have all been like little kids on Christmas Eve counting down the seconds until we could open presents!!!

I have went ahead and scheduled posts for this week, so please check back each day and see what I've got going on.

I will be doing Thankful Thursday with Sonya, but since I won't be able to link, please check in and see what my 5 thankfuls are!

If you've noticed in my sidebar, I'm very close to a blogoversary so there will be much more about that when I get home!!!

Meanwhile, please continue to leave your comments. I love getting each and every one of them and I will look forward to hearing from you all when I get home!!!

My blessings to you and your families, that God will keep you and bless you according to His riches in Glory!!!!!

Worship Him

"But I am trusting You, O Lord, saying 'You are my God!' My future is in Your hands."
Psalm 31:14-15a, NLT

Psalm Saturday

Today I join my friend Collette over at Jesus Loves Mums for Psalm Saturday. Why don't you join us in sharing how the book of Psalms spoke to you this week?

Rebellion. Guilt. Disobedience.

So many things can put a wall up between us and God. It doesn't have to be something BIG either...just a "small" little sin can drive a wedge between us and the One Who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Why?

Because in God's eyes sin is sin. No big sins and little sins. God just sees sin.

Many, many times in my life, when God has felt so distant to me, I've realized that it was me that had moved. He is so patient and loves us so much that He would never turn His back and walk away.

I've heard many people say that God is a God of second chances..but my friends, that is not true...not for me anyway.

For me, He is the God of millionth chances!!!!...and I am SO thankful for that!!

Whatever would I do if He walked away from me even after the 10th or 20th chance???

And while He is waiting, all He wants us to do is confess that sin. Confess that rebellion and disobedience. When we do that...

He lifts those burdens and releases us into a freedom that I don't believe words can express.

While reading in Psalm 32 this week, verses 1-5 spoke to my heart and as I read I came across that familiar ink marking of mine. The date read 9/6/07....almost 2 years ago I was reading in this same Bible and God spoke this same Scripture to me.

Isn't it amazing that God's Word is so alive that it can speak to us again and again and again!!!

"Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in completer honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away and I groaned all day long. Day and night Your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.
Finally, I confessed all my sins to You and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, 'I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.' and You forgave me! All my guilt is gone." NLT

How awesome...forgiven, washed and guilt free!!!

Studying...Created to be His Help Meet

We are studying the book by Debi Pearl, Created to be His Help Meet. Through our study of this book, we are going to learn what it means to be a help meet and actually living the role that God created us as women to fill. I've read this book once before and applied many of the things that Mrs. Pearl spoke of, and it has transformed an already good marriage into nothing short of awesome!! I encourage you to purchase this book and follow along or at the very least, check out the Pearl's website at http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/
Any text taken directly from Mrs. Pearl's book will be highlighted in blue.

I realize that in studying Created to be His Help Meet at the rate of one chapter per week, we will be doing this study for approximately 24 weeks. We could go at this at a much faster rate, but I believe that if we truly want to change and fill our God given rolls as help meet to our husbands, then we need to take things slower and put into practice what we are learning. I hope you agree and stay the course with me as we become better help meets together.

Part 1: The Help Meet
Chapter 2: Thanksgiving Produces Joy

Let me ask a question...How does your day go when you are grouchy..complaining about every little thing?
How does your day go when you are thankful, happy and counting your blessings?

For me, at least, if I'm grouching and complaining, I'm miserable and so is everyone around me. I'm not happy and cheerful and neither is anyone in my vicinity. But if I'm happy and counting my blessings...even when I'm in a rotten mood...my countenance begins to change. I begin to stop majoring on the minors and those around me are in a much better mood.

When we find ourselves complaining because DH hasn't' pucked up his dirty clothes, or his wet towel didn't make it in the hamper; when we complain that he didn't clean the sink out after he shaved again or that he tromped mud on our clean kitchen floor...what kind of reaction do we, as wives, think we are going to get?

Our man is going to immediately go into defense mode and protect himself. He is going to hear, "Nag, nag, nag". He is going to shut down or lash out and honestly, none of that sounds very enjoyable to me.

Ladies, we have to change our frame of mind. We are the help meet and we set the tones for our homes.

Please, let's be honest...is it really such a big deal to pick up our man's wet towels or to clean the whiskers out of the sink? How much time does it truly take?

A better question might be, would the nagging and whining be worth the irritated, depressive spirit that would enter our home? No. It's not worth it.

I can understand where some women might worry that their hubby would take advantage and become a total slob, expecting her to pick up and go behind him all of the time. I have found, though, that usually, in just a short amount of time, DH realizes that he's making a mess over what I've already cleaned and that he soon begins to make sure to pick up after himself to eliminate extra work on me. All because I didn't complain or point out his 'messes'.

Mrs. Pearl also points out in this chapter that it's important to be our man's playmate. I couldn't agree more.

My sweet man is notorious for cutting grass or weed eating and bringing all that loose grass and weeds in on his shoes and clothes. Of course, that means I can keep up with him by the trail of grass he leaves behind.

I have two choices: I could get angry and complain and tell him that it would be great if he'd just dust off before he came in. That would only succeed in making him feel like my child instead of my husband, which would make him angry which I would pick up on. Then my already bad attitude would just get worse.

Doesn't sound like a good option to me. Or..

I could get my broom and begin sweeping up the mess and as DH passes by, give him a gentle whack on the behind with my broom. (This is actually the choice I do make)

As he feels the whack, DH sill stop, turn and give me a most wicked grin to which I will return a very sweet 'innocent', "What's the matter?" look.

He turns and as I raise the broom to whack him again, he grabs it and the match is on!!!!! Of course, he's ten times stronger than me and it doesn't take him long to take the broom from em and pull me into his arms.

The point is, no arguments, no bad moods or attitudes and the day rolls merrily along just because I made the choice to be thankful for a man who works hard to keep our yard looking nice.

Joy was produced from thanksgiving.

Mrs. Pearl asks us to do this exercise this week: "...make a written list of ways that you can start showing thankfulness; then start living your list and show a thankful life."


Next week: The Gift of Wisdom

Thankful Thursday

It's time once again, to join Sonya over at Truth 4 the Journey for Thankful Thursday. It's the one day of the week that we purposefully stop and give thanks to the One that blesses us far beyond what we deserve.

It seems as if busy would be an understatement lately and I feel like I've been letting so much fall by the wayside. You see, I have a blessing/curse personality.....things must be organized and in order---I'm not obsessive, but almost---and when they're not, I feel like chaos has walked in and shoved me under and I can't get up enough to catch a breath of air....I've went around for this whole week chanting to myself, "I am where God wants me to be. I am where God wants me to be."

So, since "I am" sitting at this computer, here goes my 5 thankfuls for this week.......

1) I am thankful that my Dad's tests went pretty well yesterday. The blockages that were at 60% two weeks ago are now down to 25%. However he does still have a blockage of 80% in a main artery in his heart, so that means a stint for that artery in September. He did well yesterday however. I do ask you all to continue to pray for his salvation. His health is important, yes, but his eternity is so much more so...

2) I am thankful for the spoken word from God that DD got this past Sunday morning. It was an answer to one of the biggest prayers that DH and I have been praying for quite some time. The change in her thinking has been a total miracle this week. Satan is still trying to prod her and bring up past incidents to confuse her, but she is fighting him back with the Word and prayer. She is a very private person, but took the huge step (for her) this week to include several people outside our family to help keep her accountable.

3) I am thankful for new friends. This past Friday I was able to meet fellow blogger Lori from That's So God, her 2 sweet daughters, Sarah and Hannah, and the newest addition to her family, Anna. A person can never have to many friends or family in Christ and I'm thrilled that my family has gotten bigger!!

4) I am thankful for the relationship that my two children share with each other. I admit that there have been times, even in the last year, that I've wondered if they even liked each other--but I stand in awe when I see that every thing they've been through has just brought them closer together.

5) I am thankful for an awesome husband. I've mentioned before how demanding and high stress his job is. A couple of unplanned hours away from his job can cause him days of work. At a moments notice he dropped everything to go with me to the hospital yesterday and just sit. Even though we leave on vacation in 5 days. Even though this will make his next 2 days at work unbelievably stressed, he dropped it all to support me and my family. I am married to the most amazing man on the planet!!..

Why the Quiet???.....

Hi my bloggy friends!!!

It has been one more week around my house!!!

We are busy getting things prepared for vacation next week and then my Dad, who has some heart problems, is in the hospital and going to have some test ran this morning that could or could not move right on into surgery.

I ask you to pray for my Dad, mainly for salvation, but that the tests are only a nuisance to him...just a bump in the road and not anything major.

God being my helper, I'll have an amazing list for Thankful Thursday tomorrow!!

Thanks so much for reading, following and hanging in there with me even when I don't get to post on a regular basis.

Each one of you is so special and such a blessing to me!!

So Many Blessings....Yes, He Heard Me....

The overnighter with DH was long overdue, much needed and much appreciated.

It was a 2 hour drive in the remake of Noah's flood, back to back traffic during rush hour in one of our states biggest cities. It was nail biting, dash-gripping hit and miss at times...but it was great.

It was great to just get to be with my life-mate. It was great to just be able to talk freely without the fear that teenage ears would overhear. It was a quiet dinner in a nice restaurant and a big soft bed.

It was breakfast with my best friend and a few hours of long overdue, one on one with my Father.

Then there was the added blessing of meeting a fellow blogger.

Lori over at That's So God met me and showed me around her city. I was able to meet her two beautiful daughters, Sarah and Hannah and their newest addition, Anna. (Sarah took our picture)



We went to the Rosa Parks museum and to a beautiful water fountain in the middle of the city...and I was blessed by their unselfishness and love.

Even though we only had a couple of hours together, I met a sister in Christ and made a new friend. Blessings that can never be taken away from me.

Then yesterday morning I came face to face with the very God who I had all but turned my back on earlier in the week.

The music started just like every other service, but you could feel the heaviness and the darkness that had walked in on many shoulders.....mine included.

This did not go unnoticed by our pastor and shortly after the opening prayer he interrupted the choir and the Holy Spirit took over. The evil presence of satan was confronted and removed and the Holy Spirit was allowed to begin the healing process in well over 75 lives....mine included.

About 3 weeks ago, DD received a message straight from God in one of our services. While it got her attention, she soon got past it. This morning though, while in the altar, as I held her hand on one side and her dad had her hand on the other, Pastor walked straight up to her, took her by the face and gave her a direct message from God. By her own admission, if she chooses to turn away..there will be repercussions she is not willing to face. I pray that what she experienced this morning will be forever burned into her very soul.

May I just impress on you that whatever the storm, do not allow satan to take you to places in your soul that you should never be. Do not believe the lies he tries to plant within you. Do not allow him to become bigger than God.

Let me proclaim before all of you that the God I love, the God I serve is more than able.

Period.

Worship Him

"Now all glory to God, Who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.Glory to Him in the Church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21, NLT

Psalm Saturday

It's time for Psalm Saturday again and that means joining my friend Collette over at Jesus Loves Mums to share a Psalm or portion of that has spoken to us this week.

I'm in Psalm 27 this week.

If you've been keeping up with my posts this week, you know that I've been fighting a great battle and, while the wounds were not fatal, they almost were. I've been angry and hurt at so many people but the worst of all was the anger and hurt I shot towards my Father.....

"The Lord is my Light and my Salvation-so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my Fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident." (verses 1-3, NLT)

How I wish that when I was attacked, I would have picked up the Word and fought back!! Lesson learned...I hope..

"Teach me how to live, O Lord."
(verse 11a, NLT)

My prayer...teach me how to live Father so I don't find myself in the place I was earlier this week, ever again.

"Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."
(verse 14, NLT)

This is what I must do, be patient, waiting on God because He is my Fortress, my Protector.

I must remember.....

Created to be His Help Meet

We are studying the book by Debi Pearl, Created to be His Help Meet. Through our study of this book, we are going to learn what it means to be a help meet and actually living the role that God created us as women to fill. I've read this book once before and applied many of the things that Mrs. Pearl spoke of, and it has transformed an already good marriage into nothing short of awesome!! I encourage you to purchase this book and follow along or at the very least, check out the Pearl's website at http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/
Any text taken directly from Mrs. Pearl's book will be highlighted in blue.

I realize that in studying Created to be His Help Meet at the rate of one chapter per week, we will be doing this study for approximately 24 weeks. We could go at this at a much faster rate, but I believe that if we truly want to change and fill our God given rolls as help meet to our husbands, then we need to take things slower and put into practice what we are learning. I hope you agree and stay the course with me as we become better help meets together.

Part 1: The Help Meet
Chapter 2: A Thankful Spirit

Mrs. Pearl begins this chapter with this statement, "A wise woman sets a joyful mood in her home. Through laughter, music and happy times, she creates a positive attitude in her children. She knows that a light hearted home relieves her husband of stress."

I think the title of this chapter says it all...A Thankful Spirit.

Are we thankful for what our husbands have provided or do we complain that we need more, better, newer? Do we look at Mrs. So&So and envy what she has and then pass that emotion on to our husbands?

By complaining, we are conveying the attitude that our husbands are not good enough providers for our families. When we say, " I was over at Sally's today and guess what? They have a new sofa!"...our man hears..."Sally's husband can afford to buy her a new sofa, why can't you afford to buy us a new sofa?"

Maybe you were just sharing a thought, but our man hears that he isn't doing his job as provider good enough.

With today's economy and people losing their jobs, it's more important than ever to have a thankful spirit...a contentment in our soul. If your man is anything like mine, the thought of getting laid off is always on his mind. He knows the lifestyle his family is used to and doesn't want that to change for them His stress level gets higher and higher...that's where we come in.

By looking at how blessed we are, being content with what we have and being happy about it, our man will be encouraged by and thankful for his wife. She becomes his cheerleader..his happy place. the place he can't wait to get home to and peel off the worries and pressures of the day.

Mrs. Pearl asks several questions at the end of this chapter, but I would like us to focus on these three:

1) Have I been discontent about my lot in life? Am I, on occasion, a "poor-me" person?
2) Do I verbally show thanksgiving every day?
3) Do I daily remember to thank God for my husband?

Read these questions and answer them honestly. If you find you've been ungrateful or throwing the world's biggest pity party, then make a change this week.

Incorporate thanksgiving and contentment with a merry heart and you'll find a smiling, grateful husband.


Next week: Thanksgiving Produces Joy

Thankful Thursday

It's Thursday and time to join Sonya over at Truth 4 the Journey for Thankful Thursday.

As I've posted this week, it's been a long, difficult week for me....and it's not over yet. I've found myself tired, frustrated and very angry with the same God who has blessed me beyond belief.

Thankfully He has been patient and listened to my tirades and my silence and with that.........

1) I am thankful that I have a God Who loves me unconditionally. He is such a patient Father....I can learn a lot from His example..if I just would.

2) I am thankful for wonderful, godly friends who have lifted me up in prayer this week when I have refused to call out to the One Who has all the answers.

3) I am thankful that I will be able to go with DH to Montgomery overnight tonight. He has a conference tomorrow and so I will have a few hours that I'll need to kill, but we'll have some much needed and wanted one on one with the drive and the hours that he's not in conference.

4) I am thankful that God answers prayer and this week has said, "No."

5) I am thankful for fun times with DS. Fun times with an almost 17 year old son went this way:

Son: "I'm turning off your fans" (I'm boiling some fresh green beans for supper and it's HOT in the kitchen!!!!!)
Me: (grabbing a bottle of Glade air freshener) "Don't do it!! I'll spray you!!!!!!!"
Son: "You wouldn't!!"
Me: "You know I would...." (So I did!!!!!!!!)

Son disappears and returns with his Tag body spray

Son: "Let's dual..."
Me: "Your on!!!!!!"

And the awful mix of Tag and Glade fills the air.......

Much laughter and gagging smells later, he heads for the shower and I sit at the computer smelling my son's scent in my hair. It's a wonderful thing........

"....And always be thankful." Colossians 3:15b, NLT

Family Favorites

This is a recipe that I made for the first time only recently and it has quickly become a family favorite!!

If you love pecan pie, this is going to twist your socks!!! I was really surprised at how much like pecan pie these bars tasted and a bonus.....they are SO easy to make!!!

As always, if you enjoy these leave a comment and let me know!!!!

Caramel Pecan Bars


1 Cup butter
2¼ Cups packed brown sugar
2 Eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1½ Cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 Cups chopped pecans
Confectioners' sugar, optional


1. In a saucepan, heat butter and brown sugar over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. In a mixing bowl, combine the eggs, vanilla and butter mixture. Combine flour and baking powder, gradually add to the butter mixture. Stir in pecans.

2. Spread into a greased 13x9x2 inch baking pan. Bake at 350º for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with moist crumbs and edges are crisp. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Dust with confectioners' sugar if desired. Cut into bars


I got this recipe out of Taste of Home's, The Ultimate Cookie Collection.

Thank You SO Much..& Your Opinion Needed

Let me first begin by saying thank you, thank you, thank you, for the encouragement and prayers. As yesterday went on, I found myself getting angrier and angrier with God...even telling Him that I blame Him for what is going on. Praying was not going to happen....and it didn't.

This is where you, my bloggy buddies, my best girlfriend, my Mom and my DH came in...you stepped in and interceded on my behalf. I am humbled and unworthy..but oh, so thankful....

I do ask that you continue to pray for my entire family. I'm not up on strong legs yet, and I'm not real sure how long that may take, but I do know that I have to turn my back on and close my ears to the lies that satan is trying to get me to believe.

Moving on........

My best girlfriend has a blog over at Living In the Dash.

I've requested that my bloggy buddies go on over and check out her site and you've been so faithful in doing that. I'm asking you to check out her site again. Why?

She's has posted on a situation that is going on in lives of some friends that are very dear to the both of us. This is a very real situation and the issue between the husband and wife is very real.

The wife, we are certain, has sought godly council on this situation as it has brought their marriage to a point of possible break up.

The husband insists that there is no problem.

Both claim Christianity.

So, R is asking for your opinion.....
Hop on over to her blog, read the post and just leave a comment on your thoughts.

Again my bloggy friends...

I love you all. You are so dear to my heart and I will be forever thankful that God has used this means to put you in my life...won't Heaven be an awesome homecoming!!! :o)

Just Needing to be Real Today........

I always try to be honest and real on this blog. Many of the comments and e-mails that I get, are encouraging and are just "thanks for being real".

Today, I just need to be real.....

I was all geared up to get up this morning and share a post on my weekend. Mainly on what God said and did during both services at church yesterday. It was so incredibly awesome the way the Spirit showed up, spoke and moved. Not only during both services, but Sunday school as well.
I will go ahead and put in a Sunday school plug here......if you're not involved in Sunday school at your church, you are missing a huge blessing!! That one on one with your brothers and sisters in Christ is priceless. I go to the ladies SS class at our church and it's the best time to be real with my sisters in Christ. We pray, cry, rejoice, study..we are obedient to however the Spirit leads and I wouldn't miss it for anything!!

Anyway........

The post I wanted to write just isn't going to happen this morning.

I sit here with a mild headache (thank God it's a mild one) and swollen, burning eyes. At this moment, I'm tired...tired of being a Mom. Seriously. I'm tired of the drama. I'm tired of trying to make someone understand that I've been there, done that and it's a dead end road leading to destruction.

I'm tired of being told that I don't "get it". I'm tired of being treated by my child like someone who needs to be spoon fed because I'm so stupid and pathetic.

I'm tired of someone asking me for my opinion and then when it doesn't line up with what they want to hear, they get angry and tell me what an idiot I am.

Okay....maybe those exact words aren't being verbally said because my two know it would land them a good smack across the mouth (sorry to those of you who don't believe in spanking and aren't parents of teens yet.....) but the implications are there.

I find myself wanting to get in my car and drive. Let them have it all and see what happens. You think you can handle things so well...fine!!....handle it!!!

I am angry, hurt and tired.

I'm tired of being told that they could be doing things that are so much worse. This I agree on. But it doesn't lessen the fact that there are things being thought, said and done that do not please the Father. Wrong is wrong. Period.

In the silence and darkness of the night, I prayed some incredibly stupid things. I find myself thankful for a Savior who looked at my heart, and went to the Father with my true prayers.

During the events of this weekend, DS made a statement that I have to admit was hard for me to grip, but true. He said, "You're going to have to reach the point where you realize that you guys have raised two good kids and trust us to do the right thing."

I agree with him, but when I/we see decisions being made that there is no doubt in the world is the wrong thing.....and we can't make them see, understand, come to the realization that the wrong decision is being made.....what then?? Sit back on our hands and let them go off into a place they don't have to go????

The issue is with DD this weekend. "I'm 18. I don't have the answers. I don't think what I'm doing is wrong. I'm not convicted about it. I can't talk to you anymore. You make it hard to hold a conversation with you. You treat ____________ like a jerk. You have no idea. You don't have a clue. This must be what generation gap means.(with eyes rolled) I don't think God would be displeased. Believe me, it could be much worse. I could be doing what ________________does."

So, while lying in the dark last night pleading, feeling numb, this is the Scripture that God whispered to me....

"I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD,the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2, NLT

I hear You, Father. You are my help. This situation, this time in life that I cannot handle, You can.

Worship Him

"....Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!"
Luke 1:46b-47, NLT

Psalm Saturday

Today I join with my friend Collette over at Jesus Loves Mums for Psalm Saturday. This is a time when we share a Psalm or portion of, that has spoken to us this week.

Why not join us in sharing your Psalm of the week?!

I am an avid writer in my Bible. I underline, date, make notes...when God really shows me something in His Word....I mark it. Over the years I have reread many things that have been underlined or marked in my Bible and many times, that same Scripture will speak to me again.
This week as I was reading in Psalms, I came across some verses that I had underlined. It's a prayer that David prayed and now, if you'll allow me, I'd like to pray a portion of it over my bloggy friends....

"In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm. May He send you help from His sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem. May He remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. May He grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers." Psalm 20:1-5, NLT

Studying...Created to be His Help Meet

We are studying the book by Debi Pearl, Created to be His Help Meet. Through our study of this book, we are going to learn what it means to be a help meet and actually living the role that God created us as women to fill. I've read this book once before and applied many of the things that Mrs. Pearl spoke of, and it has transformed an already good marriage into nothing short of awesome!! I encourage you to purchase this book and follow along or at the very least, check out the Pearl's website at www.nogreaterjoy.org
Any text taken directly from Mrs. Pearl's book will be highlighted in blue.

Part 1: The Help Meet
Chapter 2: A Merry Heart

Go back. Go way back to the time when you met your DH. How did you act around hi? Were you happy? Giggly? Full of smiles?

I remember how I was: Anxious to see him. Full of smiles when he walked in. I was glad to be with him. It didn't matter what we had planned. I was just happy that it involved being with him.

Fast forward to today. When DH walks through the door, who greets him? Is it that happy, smiling woman he met and fell in love with or the polar opposite?

The point of Mrs. Pearl's book is not to change our man or to let our man 'off the hook'. We cannot change them. They must be willing to change of their own free will. the point of this book and this study is to change us and our way of thinking.

Does your hubby seem withdrawn, out of sorts? Take an honest look at yourself. Ask yourself how have you changed--not how has your man changed. We as women tend to think that we are as we have always been. Fact is, like every other human we change with time as well.

Do you still pretty yourself up for your man? Are you encouraging to him? Does he come home to smiles and laughter, hugs and kisses? If you answer no or not often to even one of these...it's time for you to make a change.

If every time your DH is in your presence all you do is complain, whine and nag...he is not going to want to be around you. Do you like being around your children when they act that way?? I don't!! Honestly...when I'm in that kind of bad, depressing mood, I don't even like being around my own self, why would I expect my DH to desire my company?

So ladies, time for some self examination. Ask yourself are you still showing your man the woman he fell in love with or is he living with a stranger?

If he's living with a stranger, then go before the Father and ask Him to forgive your selfish spirit and replace it with the caring, loving spirit you had long ago.

Get into God's Word and memorize Scripture that encourages you to have joy..to be joyful.
Put on a little make up and brush that hair right before he gets home (don't you feel better when you look better....it shows in more than just the physical!!). Have yummy smells of dinner welcoming him home as well as his favorite drink waiting on the counter.

When your man looks at you, let him see your genuine, soft, I love and appreciate you smile. S[end your day reminding yourself of the wonderful things about your hubby and rebuke those ugly, hateful thoughts that try to creep in.

Mrs. Pearl states, "If you have reason to be hurt or discouraged and yet you sing with thanksgiving, this is a true sacrifice of worship to God."

"Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about his glorious acts."
Psalm 107:22, NLT

I hope you've spent the last week finding ways to help your husband. This week's new habit is to now do those things and more to make your husband smile.


Next week: A Thankful Spirit

Thankful Thursday

It is time for Thankful Thursday and linking up with Sonya over at Truth 4 the Journey. I want to thank Sonya for hosting Thankful Thursday and giving all of us the opportunity to list our thankfuls for the week.

How about zipping over to Sonya's site, linking up and listing your thankfuls as well.

Here are my 5 thankfuls for this week.....

1) I am thankful to still have a child to homeschool this year. Yes, I am having a hard time letting go and so still having DS to teach is a great reason to be thankful!!!

2) I am thankful for great bargains at the grocery store. DH and I are trying so hard to become debt free (thanks Dave!!!) and this budget thing isn't always easy!!!

3) I am thankful that my Mom and Dad were able to come over and celebrate my birthday with me!! Their health is not the best and so time spent with them is a great reason to be thankful!

4) I am thankful for a hubby that is obedient to listen to and obey God's calling, even when it takes him out of his comfort zone.

5) I am thankful that even though DD has gotten chastised by the Holy Spirit this week, she is obedient enough to Him to confess and admit she ran ahead of Him and got in His way---and then do an about face and allow Him to straighten out her mess.

For more Thankful Thursday, click here.

Family Favorites

This week's Family Favorite came off my Betty Crocker calendar. I made this for the first time in June, but it has quickly become one of our favorite desserts!! I mean, it has chocolate in it...of course it's great!!!!!!!

It really is simple to make and it's pretty rich so a little will do ya.....unless of course you're an addict like me and then...well..it won't last quite as long.....

Peanut Butter Truffle Brownies

Brownie Base

1 box (1lb 6.5 oz)
Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on brownie mix box

I make my own brownies from scratch and this works just as well!!!

Filling

½ cup butter, softened
½ cup creamy peanut butter
2 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons milk

Topping

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
¼ cup butter


Heat oven to 350º F (or whatever your brownie recipe calls for). Grease bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, stir the brownie mix (or stir your own brownie mix up) until well blended. Spread in pan and bake until done. Let brownies cool completely.
In a medium bowl, beat filling ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spread mixture evenly over brownie base.
In a small microwaveable bowl, microwave topping ingredients uncovered on High for 30-60 seconds. Stir until smooth. Cool 10 minutes, spread over filling. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until set.
Store covered in refrigerator.


As always, if you give this a try, let me know what you think!!
Hope you enjoy!!!!!!!!

It's Not Totally Writers Block........

As you know, I try really hard to have my posts prepared ahead of time. Not so this week. Monday's post didn't get posted till midday and today's is just now going out.

I could mark it up to writer's block...and that would have some truth to it. But quite honestly, I've found myself in a perpetual state of frustration lately.

I know I've mentioned it before, but for some reason, this is just under my skin and I can't shake it....

It's like everyone around me--family, friends, acquaintances, leaders, John Q Public--has lost their mind!!!!!!! Then I think I'm the one who has most likely lost her mind--and that wouldn't be too far from the truth either...

Maybe it's just a burden God has given me for what's going on around me--the immediate and the not so immediate.

Then I wonder, am I suffering from a pride issue??? I sure hope not because believe-you-me..I have nothing to boast about but the Christ Who lives in me........I find myself stumbling along at times as well....

I think what is driving me over the edge is how passive it seems so many have gotten. Not that I'm perfect....please, please, please don't think I'm going there. Matter of fact, if I listed what is wrong with me, what doesn't please God that comes from me, you'd probably quit reading my blog and e-mailing me!! It seems as if the obvious wrongs.....aren't anymore and I just don't get it.

Help me sort this out if you can...or at least tell me you are in the same boat as I am so I at least don't feel like I'm a total crackpot!!

(Let's keep in mind that I'm talking about people who proclaim Christianity)

How can spouses justify wanting to be married and yet wanting to "do their own thing"...alone?

How do teens/young adults claim Jesus, yet be okay listening to this secular garbage called music, watch this garbage on tv and in theaters and read books about glamorized vampires???

How do those in positions of authority yell and demean those who work under them and sing Oh, How I Love Jesus on Sunday??

How do those who claim purity in the name of Jesus, no matter their age, justify heavy petting or making out or whatever it's called now??

This is just a few of the things that is going on around me on an almost daily basis. You know, it doesn't make it right, but I can understand those that don't claim Christ doing these things. I mean..the Spirit doesn't inhabit them so how can they do godly things?...but these are people who won't miss a church service. Who have leadership roles in the churches. Who lead Bible studies. Who claim Christ!!!!!!!

I was fretting and praying about all of this this morning during my quiet time and I was pleading with God to give me some encouragement, some hope, something to hold on to from His Word; and just like Jesus, here's what I got:

"Give all your worries and cares to God for He cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. In His kindness God called you to share in His eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support and strengthen you and He will place you on a firm foundation." 1Peter 5:7-10, NLT

Plain and simple, give it to God. He realizes what's going on and it's breaking His heart as well. Watch out for satan who is going to try to destroy me and my family as well and can use the means of what's going on around me to take my focus off of praying for and lifting up the ones in my household. Remember I'm not alone, my brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering through and discouraged about the same things. But remember after a time, God will restore me and place me on a firm foundation....what a glorious day that will be!!!!!!!!!!

Ch..Ch..Changes...

Have I mentioned before that I'm not a creature who embraces change?? Please give me my rut...I'm actually quite happy there, thankyouverymuch!!!

We begin our school year today. We have always "began" the school year the Monday after my birthday....yes, last Friday was my b'day..the big 45!!! hmmmm.....50 didn't seem so real until last Friday.......

Anyway...the changes....

This year, I only have one 'student'. I'm only sitting at the table or on the couch with one child. I only have one grade level to focus on. Since graduating DD in May....it's just me and DS this year.....and if you think I'm being pitiful this year, just wait till next year when I have NO 'students' !!!!!!!!!

Really...this is the oddest thing for me. We have been homeschooling 11 years now--this year begins our 12th--and it's always been the 3 of us with DH stepping in now and then. It's been field trips and adventures. It's been balancing schedules and schoolwork. It's been crazy!!!! And now...it's like, "What am I suppose to do with only one!!" .........

Ahhhh...I guess when he rolls out of the bed, we'll do like always: he'll groan about bookwork (he's a very hands on guy!!) I'll remind him that I'm the best teacher he could ever have, he'll smile that wicked little smile of his and say, "Then I'm in BIG trouble!!". I'll whack him on the behind and we'll get started.

He only has 3 subjects this year: economics, American Lit and Bible....such a light load and not much help will be needed from dear ole' mom.

Am I having a pity party? Am I feeling sorry for myself? Do I want your sympathy? YES!!!!!!!! A resounding YES!!!!!!!!!!! But then I'd love for you to grab up those babies of yours and wrap them up in big hugs and tickle them and laugh and giggle and enjoy every single minute of their growing up.......all too soon you'll be teaching your last student, or sending your baby off to school for the last year and you'll be the one wiping tears over a keyboard and some green tea, thankful that you were SO blessed and wishing you could do it all over again.............

Worship Him

Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before Him, singing with joy.

Psalm 100:2, NLT

Psalm Saturday

On Saturday's I join my friend Collette over at Jesus Loves Mums for Psalm Saturday.

A Psalm Saturday post will consist of a Psalm or a portion of one that spoke to you at some point throughout the week.

How about joining Collette and sharing your Psalm for this week??

Psalm 13

" O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die. Don't let my enemies gloat, saying, "We have defeated him!" Don't let them rejoice at my downfall. But I trust in Your unfailing love. I will rejoice because You have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because He is good to me." NLT

There are times when I am like David. Everything just seems to be crashing in all around me. I feel like satan is attacking me on every level from every angle. I feel like for every step I take forward, I slide two back.

At those times, I too, cry out to God..wondering if He's forgotten me or left me alone to be devoured by that roaring lion. It seems that no matter what I do..how much I pray, praise, or stay in the Word, satan is victorious over me.

But then I reminded, where is my faith? In Whom do I trust?

In those times I must remember that if He never poured out another blessing, my salvation is blessing enough. He rescued me from the very pit of hell!! How much more do I require???
God has been so faithful, even when things didn't go the way I wanted them to, because His way was better.

I will sing and praise Him. Why??

Because He is good to me......

Studying.."Created to be His Help Meet"

Today begins our study of the book by Debi Pearl, Created to be His Help Meet. Through our study of this book, we are going to learn what it means to be a help meet and actually living the role that God created us as women to fill. I've read this book once before and applied many of the things that Mrs. Pearl spoke of, and it has transformed an already good marriage into nothing short of awesome!! I encourage you to purchase this book and follow along or at the very least, check out the Pearl's website at http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/
Any text taken directly from Mrs. Pearl's book will be highlighted in blue.

Part 1: The Help Meet
Chapter 1: God's Gift

"And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."
Genesis 2:18, KJV

We all know that God created man and woman. From God's statement in Genesis 2:18 we find that woman was created to be a help meet for man. Why did He do this? Because it was not good that man was alone.

What is your definition of a help meet? This is what Webster says:
Help: to contribute to; facilitate or promote
Meet: to come together
By Webster's definition, a help meet is someone who comes together with someone in order to contribute to and promote.

So if woman was created to be a help meet for man, by definition we were created to come together with our husbands to contribute to and promote them.
This doesn't mean that we are to lay as doormats for our man, but it does mean that he is our authority. God gave us His order for marriage in Ephesians 5:23a:

"For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church..." NLT

Can't argue with that!!

Proverbs 18:22 says:

"The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord." NLT

Ask yourself what kind of treasure are you? Are you precious gold or confederate dollars?

Mrs. Pearl asks the question, "If God created a special woman, perfectly suited to be your husband's helper, would you be that woman?"

She also tells us in this first chapter that we are not to covet his role of leadership, since that is his divinely appointed role.
Even if we are better leaders, it is better that our husbands do their jobs poorly, than for us to do it for them. God put them in that leadership position. If we do our job fulfilling our role as help meet, that could encourage a poor leader to do a better job.

As a good help meet, we are going to look for ways to please our husbands.
Am I the woman that makes my husband eager to come home to in the evening or does he walk in with a sense of dread of what is waiting on him?

Do I know what pleases my husband?
Does he like a clean house? Well mannered children? Does he want a good steward of the finances he provides? Am I meeting his sexual needs?

This week we are encouraged to make a new habit. We are to think of ways to be a helper to our husbands. Ladies, we know our men....and if you have some doubt as to what he'd like in you, ask him. Tell him that you desire to be a better help meet to him and you'd like his input.

Don't allow satan to discourage you by making you think that you are setting yourself up to be lorded over. Quite the contrary! Just stick with this study and I'm sure you'll find that being a true help meet to your man is certainly worth the effort!!!

Next week: A Merry Heart

Thankful Thursday

Today's the day I join Sonya over at Truth 4 the Journey for Thankful Thursday.

This is one of the best times of the week because it causes me to pause and reflect and just thank my Father for His blessings instead of always coming to Him with another request.

Here goes my 5 thankfuls for the week.....

1) I am thankful that I don't have to go back to the Dr for 5 months. Since the lump scare in January, I've been going every 2-3 months for a recheck. As of Monday, there has been no change so Doc decided to stretch the time frame a bit farther!!

2) I am thankful for a wonderful hubby!!! Tuesday night I had so much I needed to get done, but I really need to vacuum the pool since DD had a friend coming over to swim. Anyone with a pool knows that maintenance is very time consuming!!!....anyway...my DH (without me knowing) brought my laundry in off the line and broke the beans I had picked earlier. Then he got in the pool with me for a bit. Afterwards, he helped me do the dishes and straighten the kitchen....all after 8½ hours of maintenance at the hospital....He TOTALLY rocks!!!!!!!!!

3) I am thankful that DD got to go to church last night. Her job has kept her away for the last 4 Wednesday nights and since changing churches, she hates to miss.

4) I am thankful for 2 crockpots and a bread machine. I could help but get tickled yesterday. On my kitchen counter sat a 6 quart crockpot with a roast in it. A 4 quart crockpot contained potatoes au grautin and the bread machine was busy baking bread. It was quite a sight but it sure was nice to enjoy a 'real' meal on a Wednesday night!!

5) I am thankful that we are counting down until vacation. Only 3 more weeks!!!!!!!!............(now if we could just decide South Carolina or the Gulf!!..........)

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving, go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name."
Psalm 100:4, NLT

Posting at The Well

Just wanted to pass along that I'm posting over at The Well today, also. We are talking about those awesome teenagers!

Click here and drop by for a chat!

Family Favorites

I love trying to make meals that really stretch our budget.

This recipe is very reasonable to make, easy to double if you have a crowd, and absolutely delicious!!

As always, if you give this a try, let me know what you think!!


Beef Stroganoff

1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
8 ounces sour cream
1 can, Cream of Chicken soup
1 bag Egg noodles
3/4 cup milk
seasoning to taste--I use seasoned salt, garlic powder and cayenne


Brown and drain ground meat. While you are doing this you can boil egg noodles. Drain noodles and add ground meat, sour cream, milk, soup and seasonings. Mix. Cook until heated through.

**Once again, a salad, some green beans and fresh bread make a yummy meal!!!

Light, Deception and Darkness

I've read and re-read this post, trying to decide if it makes any sense or if I'm just chasing myself. I've prayed and tried to sit quietly and hear from the Lord on what He would have me to do. I've decided to go ahead and post it, praying that the Spirit will reveal to you the urgency behind what I'm trying to say.
Thank you so much for continuing to read, comment and follow even when I'm frustrated that the points I'm trying to get across, don't seem to make much sense.
Blessings to all of you, my bloggy buddies.......

As I shared on Saturday, I've been given a real burden for the teens and 20 somethings that my teens know, hang around and work with.

It seems as if Satan is on a rampage everywhere I turn.

He is destroying marriages....3 of which I personally know, and he is destroying young adults.
It breaks my heart, but I find I've went from hurt to anger. The enemy should not be allowed to deceive and destroy as it seems he's been given the ability to do.

I realize that I am not immune to the weapons that the enemy tries to use against me. Almost everyday he tries to use the weapons of guilt, envy, discouragement...the list could literally go on and on some days.

But with the young people, I'm finding that they are getting drunk, having premarital sex, using profane language and then telling others that "God told them to......", "God showed them......"

Here's where I'm getting angry. Has satan so deceived our teens and young adults that they truly believe they can come to church, sing, praise...even "lead" others and then live for the devil the rest of the time?

One young adult has even told my DD that he sees demons on a regular basis...yet claims to be a Christian!! How can that be? What does this person do with the Scripture that states,

"The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it."
John 1:4-5, NLT (emphasis mine)

and the Scripture that states,

" Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbelief?"
2 Corinthians 6:14-15, NLT (emphasis mine)

Darkness and Light simply cannot coexist.

I'm reminded of the time that we visited Ruby Falls in Tennessee. The guide took us down into that cave and the farther down we went, the darker it got. Once the guide got everyone to the bottom and got us circled around, he turned off the lights. It was so dark that you literally couldn't see your hand in front of your face. It only took a matter of seconds before panic began to set in and fear rose at a roaring speed. Then the guide turned on a small flashlight. The tiny light beam from that tiny flashlight immediately removed all fear and panic. You got the feeling of...."I'm safe. It's going to be okay." ...All from a tiny beam of light.

How much more safe are we when Jesus is our Savior?? The Light of the World, living in me destroys any darkness that satan tries to convince me is still there. There is no more darkness in me.

Am I still tempted? Yes.

Do I still give in to that temptation? Occasionally. But it shouldn't be the norm for a child of God and what I'm learning is that with this age group, and even in the before mentioned marriages, it is the norm to give in to the darkness and then be a Christian at the appropriate times.

To me, in my opinion, that is not true Christianity. Open, blatant, daily, repetitive sin does not show others that Jesus living in us.

We are told in the Word,

"Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity."
John 12:25, NLT (emphasis mine)

also,

"And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me."
Acts 26:17-18, NLT (emphasis mine)

As Christians we are set apart, not of this world. Loving the life of this world, enjoying every bit of the sin and temptation that it offers will not gain us Heaven.

May I remind you that I'm talking about men who have proclaimed Christianity for years and years.

I'm talking about teens and young adults that are active in church right now and have also claimed Christianity for years.

I want to use this to remind you to also spend much time in conversation and prayer with your own children. It's so important that you take the time to mold them and shape them. Let them see you pray, read the Word and spend time with our Savior. Make sure the foundation they are standing on is Jesus Christ because once they step out into the battlefield, they will need to draw on every ounce of spiritual training and guidance you have provided for them.

Satan used this confusion to draw my own two precious teens into the wilderness. It was something that my DH and I never saw coming because we were so sure they couldn't be shaken. We were sure their foundation was strong.

We, as Christians, have to come together and stand in the gap for each other's children, each other's marriages.

A prayer partner is awesome, but two prayer partners are even better,

"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."
Ecclesiastes 4:12, NLT

Satan is cunning, for sure, but we must remember that,

".....the Spirit Who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world."
1John 4:4, NLT

Join with me, be part of that triple-braided cord, in refusing to any longer let satan take and keep control, where he has none.

Worship Him

"My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever." Psalm 73:26, NLT

Psalm Saturday

I'm joining up again with my friend Collette over at Jesus Loves Mums for Psalm Saturday.

Each Saturday we share a Psalm or a portion of a Psalm that has spoken to us this week.

This week I found myself in the Psalms quite often and while I was doing my devotions yesterday morning, read Psalm 9.

I have had quite a burden on my heart for some of the co-workers of my teens. Not only these particular teens and young adults, but others that I know of as well.

Satan has waged such a war against them and for some reason, many of them are finding themselves giving in to the lies and temptations that the enemy is feeding them. It truly makes me angry to watch them suffer so much at the hand of their own choices when they don't have to!!

Many profess to know Jesus as Savior and yet, for some reason, cannot seem to turn away from the lure of the devil.

Even those of us that enjoy a close walk with our Father, will still find ourselves from time to time caught up in the web of deceit that satan weaves for us.

If we could just grab hold of these verses and apply them to our memory and to our lives:

"The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for You."
Psalm 9:9-10, NLT

As I've mentioned before, all of God's promises come with a condition that needs to be met on our part.

He is our shelter, our refuge and He will not abandon us IF we trust in His name and search for Him.

God is such a gentleman that He is not going to force Himself on us, but if we will just search for Him and trust Him, we are guaranteed shelter and refuge from the battles that we fight each and every day.

What peace it brings to know that just releasing everything to the One Who can take care of all our worries and burdens is just a trust away.