There are days when giving up even five minutes of our time seems impossible. In fact, some of us would rather give up five bucks rather than give up five minutes. Time is our most precious asset. That, I believe, is why God wants it.
"You shall have no other gods before me.
Deuteronomy 5:7
God will ask for that which is most dear to us. Just ask...
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Can I tell you that disruptive things are continuously happening to me and my family this week? Study guides, anointing oil, and prayer books suddenly disappear, washer, dryer, and computer breaks abruptly, bad news about my son's eye condition and learning problems, constant interruptions, I nearly choked to death (couldn't breathe at all) two weeks ago, schedules getting messed up, depression in my children, and little "foxes" creeping up into my marriage have all played a role in the last couple of weeks of our lives. One thing is obvious. Satan doesn't like us.
That makes me joyful!
Why? Because obviously we are doing something right. Obviously he is afraid of something that God is about to do in our lives. He wants to try and stop it. It ain't gonna happen, folks.
My God is a BIG God and I will serve Him until my last dying breath.
So, last night when the latest interruption came (blackout in our neighborhood) we took the opportunity to pray throughout the house. We anointed it with olive oil because my anointing oil had just disappeared (uh, huh). We also started speaking God's word throughout the house. This is God's house. His Holy Spirit abides here. Satan isn't welcome. So, after we prayed and read scripture we sat down by candlelight to just enjoy the peace. What Satan means for harm God will always use for good (Romans 8:28).
No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.Luke 8:16
I learned something valuable last night. My house should ALWAYS look just like this to us and to others. The light of Christ burning inside of us should always be completely evident. And as we grow... so will the span of our light. I also learned that a group of candles all in one central location can light up a room. I want my family to be like that.
Winners of the autographed book by Joyce Meyer:
Julie D, Shawnee, frugallm, and multitaskingmama.
Winner of the Miserly Moms, Miserly Meals, and Frozen Assets Light & Easy books is:Congratulations!!!
The way we do this is with index cards that have been corner hole punched to fit on a ring. During lessons I have the boys or myself jot down facts, spelling words, or math problems that we need to learn. These all go into a paint can that I purchased from Home Depot. Then during trips each of the boys takes turns quizzing the others. Whoever gets the answer right gets to put the card on their ring. The one with the most cards on their ring gets to sit in the front for the next trip and also earns other special priveleges.
I'm officially Lost!
Netflix has become my new most favorite company. You see, I am way behind on this emotional, roller coaster ride of a TV show. I kept hearing all the hype about it. I read when The Preacher's Wife raved about it. Then my husband admitted that he too faithfully watches this show (talk about secrets.) So, of course, I had to see what all the excitement was about.
I was convinced that no Gilligan's Island rip off show was going to suck me in. I was determined to watch the pilot show, blog my disappointment about it and call it a day. Huh! Good luck with that.
I sat down with a load of clothes to fold and popped in the DVD (thanks Netflix!) Um, yeah, so, an hour and a half later and two episodes in I realized that I had only folded three stinkin' shirts and a pair of underwear - which technically weren't folded because I don't see the point in folding one's undergarments but that is another post for another day.
itsuckedmein.
I'm officially Lost. I just got my second disc in the mail and only have too many more to go. I may never catch up which isn't good because I already think I have it all figured out. Well except for the... um yeah and the....
okay so not all of it. just most of it.
Don't burst my bubble, k?
When I first received my copy of Joyce Meyer’s book, The True Secret To Happiness, my first thoughts were, “I’ve read nearly every book she has written and stood in line for hours to hear her preach, what else could I possibly learn from her?”
Whew…. where do I start?
I found the answers to the following questions in this book:
How can I truly enjoy life given my circumstances?
How can I be completely satisfied with where I am in my life?
How can I be happy with, and most importantly, how can I love me?
Joyce answers these questions by focusing on our relationship with God. This is not a book on how to be happy in the way the world perceives happiness but instead, it is about the pure joy that can only come as a result of our relationship with God. Girl, I got inspired and happy just reading through the chapter titles!
The clear cut principals that are given in this book are so simple that the reader may be shocked that they didn’t think of it themselves. There are also humorous stories spread throughout the book that are sure to make the reader smile and I appreciate that given the subject matter. I learned to enjoy life one day at a time and to soak it up and savor it.
There are 28 short and easy to read chapters in this book. They cover every area from laughing, trusting through trials, and health to simplicity, raising the standard, and creativity. The type is fairly large which makes it easy to read and the layout is pleasing to the eye. It is complete with an appendix of scriptures that you can pray and memorize. This book gives hope and who couldn’t use some of that?
This book is scheduled to be released on April 29, 2008. I highly recommend that you get a copy and while you are at it, bless that friend who could use a bit of happiness!
Today I have a fabulous giveaway and there will be 4 winners! Up for grabs are four autographed copies of the new book by Joyce Meyers, The Secret To True Happiness. Please read my full review of this book here: The Secret To True Happiness - Review.Joyce is an amazing teacher. She is real and relevant and she teaches with biblical principles. This book reflects something that I've held close to my heart for years. That happiness is not an effect, it is a decision.
For your chance to win, just leave a comment on this post. I'll leave the comments open until this Saturday, April 26th. I'll use a random number generator to draw four winners and post it no later than Monday, April 28th. Don't forget to head over to Bloggy Giveaways for the master list of participants. Have fun!This giveaway is opened to the US and Canada. The book will be shipped by the publisher.
"To be intimate with others is to reveal our innermost selves to them, including our emotions, thoughts and desires. For such deep sharing of the soul and spirit to occur, people must respect and trust each other. ... In a world controlled by sin, however, to choose to be intimate is to choose to be hurt. Yet Jesus calls us to this kind of intimacy with Him and with one another."
~ Kenneth A. Schmidt ~
I personally find it very difficult to open up to others, especially women. There have been many times where I was betrayed. I've had women who couldn't wait to go behind my back and repeat everything that I had shared with them. Another incident was that I found out years after the fact that a woman that I ministered to and prayed for fervently because of her situation with her husband had actually had an affair with mine (my former spouse.) Then during my divorce there were friends who gossiped about me to the pastor all in the name of "keeping my best interest at heart."
It hurt.
Yes, I have had a tough time with female friendships but, we have a loving God who established long ago that we were to work in unity with one another and He has repeatedly shown me His heart for these hurting women. I've come to realize just how important these friendships are and I now seek them. Even those who have hurt me so deeply. It is still hard to trust some of them and there are of course those who are now out of my life and all I can do is simply continue to pray for them. There are also many new friendships that God has brought into my life. These women are so caring and wise and I am truly grateful that God has sent them to me. I pray that I never taste the bitter pain of that hurt again but if I do I still know how it must be handled. I also know that I need to rekindle some of those old friendships. Forgiveness is hard but opening up to them again is harder.
Gosh, I can't imagine how God must feel. Don't we do this to Him? Sort of puts it in a new perspective doesn't it?
For more Tuesdays In "other" Words please visit Bonnie at Ink It Blog.
So for my sister's birthday at the end of last year, I gave her a gift card to a local spa for a full day of beauty. She deserves it. She really is the best sister in the world. BUT, I started to get a little upset because she hasn't gone yet. I started thinking, "did I spend all that money and she isn't even going to go?"
Then yesterday, for my birthday, I got a card in the mail that made me cry (yes, I'm a wuss). It was a gift certificate for a day of beauty at the same salon. It was from "tista" and it said, "Now I'll go since we can go together!"
I love that girl.
This is even better than the undergarments. She spoils me.
Stumble it!
