is what happens when...
your little sister makes you an amazing birthday cake, from scratch...you can't help but eat a lot of it!
This....
is where you go when...
the temps are amazing, and you can't help but be outside.
This....
is what happens when....
your vacuum cleaner doesn't have any suction, and you don't even notice. Gross. I mean that is really gross. {Who know how long it hasn't been doing it's job. I promise I'm not this untidy... I do vacuum a couple of times a week, but I had no idea it was this bad. This kinda makes me want to get rid of carpet altogether!}
This....
is what happens when...
you don't pay attention to the giant Sams-size container of lemon pepper that you are holding, and you open the side with the spoon slot, and no the side meant to shake from. {yes, that is a piece or two of chicken underneath all of that probably 2 cups of lemon pepper.} {I was making this lemon chicken recipe}
... live and learn ...
"Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
we must be careful not to brush certain things off as "popular culture" and ignore the fact that ...
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
"But I do want you to be discerning when it comes to culture because I believe one of the ways that Satan works in our day, is he will take things out of the category of religion and spirituality, put them into the category of entertainment, and we completely fail to be discerning. We just think, "Oh, that's not demonic. That's a movie." A movie is a sermon with pictures. "That's not demonic, that's a song." Satan can write music. He can inspire story-telling and filmmaking, music. He sets ideology, and worldview, and he's at work in the world." --Pastor Mark Driscoll
In my book, weekends are the perfect excuse to cheat on the diet... it gives me something to look forward to!
Friday night (after sweating off at least two pounds trying to paint new life on old trailor D. is working on) we relaxed with our new air conditioning unit and I made this: Brownie in a mug.
It was surprisingly easy and really good... (I forgot to take pictures so I swiped these from someone)
You need:
a mug
2 tbs flour
4 tbs sugar
1 tbs cocoa
2 tbs. whisked egg (one large egg whisked will make about 3 mugs of brownies)
1 tbs. milk
2 tbs. softened butter
splash of vanilla
2 tbs. chocolate chips or candy bar
How To:
Mix all dry ingredients in mug
Add softened butter (NOT melted)
Add milk
Add egg last
Mix well
Microwave for about 1 min. and 30 seconds... maybe a little more depending on your mug size (wide or narrow)
*And in my opinion, topping with ice cream is necessary!
I'm considering renaming my blog something about being a blog slacker... However, I have learned how to transfer your blog into a bound book (for a small fee, : ) ), and because I am not a good scrap booker, this may be a good thing for me. So I am going to try to do better, mainly for the sake of being able to remember our life 40 years from now!
What we've been up to...
a little bit of:
I've really gotten into the idea of re-purposing old furniture. This desk I found on my first garage sale-ing morning a few weeks ago. I was coached to always talk the seller down from the price listed... so I did! I got this cute desk for $12, and re-painted/glazed it. I'm still waiting to find handles for the drawers... so all-in-all, it was a fun project.
a lot of:
I was beyond excited about my latest cvs trip! I got all of this for just about a $1.50! (it is just over a $40 value)
And a whole lot of this, this Fourth of July weekend!:
I love celebrating the Fourth!! It was little bit different this year, because half of my family has left the country (see: havedietcokewilltravel.blogspot.com), but we still managed to eat a lot : ) My bro and D. have quite a thing for HOT wings. I mean HOt Hot hot wings. So the boys were in charge of the grilling yesterday, and had to make some for me that I could actually swallow. I should have gotten a pic of my bro dripping with sweat while eating these... I don't know what is pleasant about this. I like to enjoy my food.
And watermelon...For D. it would not be the fourth without it. He enjoyed his watermelon this weekend! He probably ate half of it all by himself. For me, it would not be the fourth without homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream. Which, I enjoyed all 3 bowls of it : )
And more than food, and hanging with the family, and being thankful for living in this country, I loved this quote from David Platt yesterday: "Let's live for the gospel to spread to all nations more than we long to be safe, secure, & satisfied in our own nation."
Due to the fact that I'm not that on top of keeping this updated... here is a catch up shot from Memorial Day weekend. D and I spent a good bit of time with my family. Here is my seester and I....
... and speaking of my seester (which is aka sister) she has started a blog too : ) Before we know it, we're just going to be a blogging family.
I have to give props to her. She is more creative than I am, thus her little blog is more creative. For example, I'm going to prepare you that she discusses fashion on her blog. You'll rarely find me doing that here. Because everything I know about fashion I copy from my seester anyway. Haven't you heard imitation is the highest form of flattery? At least, that's what I tell her.
We've got a busy weekend. How often do you have a wedding and a funeral in the same 2 days? Kinda a crazy thing. Two dramatically different stages of life.
Friday night a fun celebration of the Lord uniting two believers.
Sunday, a funeral service for a woman for whom life ended, as far as we know, without trusting the blood of Jesus that saves. That will be a very sobering place to be.
Life is never at a standstill... no matter how much we would like for it to be. I am one day closer to eternity right now than I was when I put my feet on the floor this morning.
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.For God will bring every deed into judgment, withevery secret thing, whether good or evil.
What if I say the Bible is God's holy Word, complete, inspired without a flaw?
But let its pages stay unread from day to day and fail to learn there from God's law.
What if I go not there to seek the truth of which I glibly speak for guidance in this earthly way?
Does it matter what I say?
(M. Jackson)
For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 10:12
I saw something on the news last night about how tv will never be the same after all the "big endings" this week. While most people this week have been mourning the loss of Simon on American Idol, the end of the show Lost, and other tv names/shows that I could care less about, I have been mourning the loss of something else.
Yes, this little dude has been my faithful companion for at least 3 and 1/2 years. And in today's cell phone world, that's a long time.
Though, recently it has been told to me that it was time to retire him. Certain friends thought it was time to move up in the technology world. But... since I'm not big on change, I held on to it for as long as possible.
So... my v3: you've been a great phone. We've been through a lot together. But, it's time I move up in the cell phone world. Don't take this personally... but I've decided to go with a new touch screen model. We can still be friends though.
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:36
Time for "Cookin' with cook"-- and this time it was a successful time in the kitchen.
I really do enjoy trying new things, and get tired of cooking the same old, same old. So I'm always on the lookout for new things to try. And I'm definitely no Pioneer Woman... so if/when I share things, I can't take credit for them. But I figure some of you are like me, and would like to know that someone actually tried the recipe and enjoyed it before I go
to the trouble : )
Last week, I tried out this recipe for a Mother's Day dessert... because my sweet mom requested cheesecake. And I figure since it's her day, I probably should do the real thing, instead of just buying the pre-made filling that I usually do.
Let me just say... this is sooooo good, not too hard, and by no means low calorie :)
This one comes from http://www.melskitchencafe.com
The Ultimate Cheesecake from Mel's Kitchen Cafe adapted from Tyler Florence
Crust:
3 cups finely ground graham crackers (about 40 squares)
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
To prepare crumb crust: In a mixing bowl, combine the crust ingredients together with a fork until evenly moistened. Lightly coat the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan (I use a 10-inch springform pan b/c it is all I have and it works great) with non-stick cooking spray. Firmly press the mixture over the bottom and 1-inch up the sides on the pan, use your fingers or the smooth bottom of a glass. Refrigerate the crust while preparing the filling.
To prepare filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese on low speed for 1 minute just until smooth and free of any lumps. Gradually add the sugar and beat until creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Periodically scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beaters. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue to slowly beat until combined. Stir in the vanilla and lemon zest. Blend in the sour cream. The batter should be well mixed but not overbeaten. Overbeating incorporates too much air and will cause the cake to puff when baking, then fall and crack when cooling. Pour filling into the crust-lined pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 50-55 minutes. The cheesecake should still jiggle slightly, it will firm up after chilling. Be careful not to overcook! Do not do a toothpick test in the cake’s center, this will make a crack. Loosen the cheesecake from the sides of the pan by running a thin metal spatula around the inside rim. Let cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Chill in the refrigerator, loosely covered, for at least 4 hours to set up. Demold and transfer to a cake plate. Slice the cheesecake with a thin, nonserrated knife that has been dipped in hot water and wiped dry after each cut.
Ok. And after we enjoyed this we needed to go on a diet : )
But seriously, D. and I have started watching our numbers... I'm trying (emphasis on trying) to figure out all the carbs, fats, proteins, etc. in each meal. I've been told to focus more on these numbers than calories.
So... I tried these out last weekend. And I will say, I was very skeptical... I mean, a whole wheat pancake doesn't sound very good. But, after D's first bite, he smiled and said he was suprised at how good these were. I topped mine with freshly cut strawberries, yum : )
These whole wheat pancakes come from http://www.ourbestbites.com
Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes
From ourbestbites.com adapted from Cooking Light
3/4 C whole wheat flour 3/4 C all-purpose flour 3 Tbs sugar 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 1/2 C low-fat buttermilk * 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 Tbs canola oil 1 large egg 1 large egg white Cooking Spray or butter for pan
*As a substitute for 1 C buttermilk, place 1 Tbs lemon juice (or vinegar but I prefer lemon juice) in a 1 C measuring cup and then fill the remainder with milk. This recipe calls for 1 1/2 C buttermilk, so do the same thing with 1/2 Tbs lemon juice and remaining 1/2 C milk.
Combine flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl and whisk together. In a separate bowl combine buttermilk, eggs, oil, and vanilla and whisk well. Add the wet ingredients into the dry and mix just until moistened and combined.
Heat a nonstick griddle or skillet to medium heat. Coat pan with non-stick spray or a little butter and then pour on pancake batter. Use about 1/4 C batter for large pancakes (5-6") and 2 T for kid-sized ones (2 /2-3"). Wait until bubbles form and edges are set and then flip.
Makes 12 large or 24 small pancakes.
Enjoy!
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." John 6:35
I've been labeled a blog slacker yet again... sorry mom. By the way, you are probably the only person who reads this anyway : ) just kidding... I know of 3 others... grandma included : )
I debated on posting this... but I feel bad for keeping it all to myself. So, for those of my friends not yet into what I call "robbing the drug store," just wait... you'll catch the bug. This has become my favorite hobby. I study, create a game plan, and then conquer. The reason I debated on posting this... I've learned this week that there are a lot more of you doing this than I once thought. I had one item to purchase at a drug store that was going to be a good buy. And Sunday night, they were out already! (the deals reset Sunday morning). Crazy. I have a feeling there are some other women wayyy more into this than me, that wait for the doors to open Sunday morning so that they can beat me. Oh well. I still came out really good this week.
Catching up... this is last week's plunder:
And... grand out of pocket total for this- $5.08! Value - $30
And here's this week's plunder:
And my grand total was just about $2 out of pocket. I just had to pay tax! Value - $40 (yes!)
Because I know you are thinking it- no I don't need pull-up diapers... but I have friends with babies who can use them. And no, I don't need this much body wash, and no I don't want to smell like mens body wash... but I'm already working on an idea of making care baskets with all the basic stuff that I'm getting every week to give away.
I'm telling you... you'll get hooked.
Knowing that that kind of money can be saved, I'm starting to really hate going to my beloved Walmart and pay full price for anything. It's affecting all areas of my shopping habits... I went to Target this morning and grabbed a cute $3 skirt on clearance!
These are a few websites that help me save money that I love!
http://www.southernsavers.com/
http://moneysavingmom.com/
http://myfrugaladventures.com/
{And for any of you who are the pros at this ( I know you are out there!) I'd love to know any other helpful websites!}
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Romans 12:9-13
I was told that I've become a blog slacker... I guess so.
D. and I have been on the road a good bit the last couple of weekends... and I've been thinking a lot about what we learned about friday night... here's just a little bit about it.
We spent our weekend learning from this:
Did you know...
Today, over 1 Billion people live on less than $1 per day?
Today, close to 2 Billion live on less than $2 per day?
The average American Christian household income is $42, 409? And this is the TOP 2.5% of the richest people in the world
There are over 2300 verses in the Bible about money? That's more than on faith, prayer, heaven and hell.
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:14-17
I'm still chomping through all of the info and truths that we looked during this study... there is so much. So much in the Word that calls us to live radically different than the religious culture that has set itself up around us.
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6
Ouch.
Definitely something to think on... and then to do something about it.
I've discovered a new hobby recently... and by hobby I mean a new kind of shopping (yes, that's my hobby) that my hubby actually gets excited about. Yes, not only do I shop, but he totally approves and lets me do it a few times a week.
Here's this weeks damage:
and the best part about it... I got all of this for just under $10.
Yes. Regular retail price for all of that is right around $60... and I spent only about $10. And as the pic tells, it's not off-brand stuff... it's good quality brands.
It takes a little bit of study, and some planning... but (I might sound ridiculous here) it is such a great feeling when I walk out knowing I've basically robbed them and it is totally approved by their store! I might not need everything that comes out to be a good deal every week, but if I can get it for free or close to free, why not just go ahead and take advantage of it, and then give it to someone who could use it? I really can't tell you how much fun this is to me!
Check out southernsavers.com and learn how to do it. This site as become a favorite!
For You, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon You. ps.86:5
Jewish Passover began this week... and it is marked by something called a seder meal or feast. Now, before Monday I didn't know much about this at all. Which I'm glad that I do now...because the foods used in the feast are all symbolic of the Israelites time in slavery and being set free. My sweet friend Devorah hosted a seder with a bunch of our friends... and at the risk of sounded cheesy...I'll say it was such a fun time, with sweet girls, and I learned a lot!
I wasn't very on top of things with my camera... So these aren't pictures from the meal I went to, but here's the idea:
Except there were over 20 girls at ours, so our table was much larger!
Picky eaters beware... some of this stuff was very different! We started out taking a bitter herb- representing the bitterness of slavery- (parsley) and dipping it in salt water-representing tears. And... I'll just say I chose too big of a bite, and struggled swallowing. And to be honest, I couldn't bring myself to eat the roasted egg dipped in salt water. But the matza on the other hand....
who doesn't like bread? We ate a lot of it at our end of the table.
There was lots and lots of food in between... definitely worth looking up the Passover seder and learning the significance. I'm so glad that I've experienced it now!
And to mark the beginning of the week that Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for our sin...
"Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29 "He is not here, He is risen!" Matthew 28:6
All I can think after watching this...is how true it really is.
"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life and there are few who find it." matthew 7:13
(I swiped this video from my friend's, the Sullivan's, blog. Check out holyheartburn here .)
I decided that I liked how random wednesday's post last week went... so I think I'm gonna do it again. So here is a few random topics floating around in brain today...
I have a new favorite in my life- it's trail mix. If you read last wednesday, I had just made an impulse buy of a 2 pound bag of trail mix. And... oh, it's just so good. And it's such a mobile food that I can eat and work... ok, maybe that's me trying to justify that I'm on my second bag. Oh well. And one more favorite...Passion released Awakening yesterday... it is the worship from the conference that was in Atl earlier this year. It is an amazing album... I've been listening to it non-stop! I highly recommend it!
My hard working hubs put pine straw out at our house yesterday in the rain. He's way more dedicated than I am. I'm way more dedicated to things like going to wal-mart and shopping...in the rain...and that's only if I'm feeling really inspired. Speaking of shopping, D. actually asked to go shoe shopping with me last night (thanks mom!) and well... after it took me an hour just to look at my options he was regretting his decision. He did patiently wait on me to make my careful, big shoe decision...Making purchases under pressure messes with a girl's brain.
I was reading this morning and this hit me: Numbers 14:21-24 "none of the men who have seen My glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice,shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised Me shall see it.But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it." I see Caleb- the Lord chose because, 1. he has a different spirit and 2. he has followed Me fully. (v.24) I'm pretty sure that this description could not be used to describe me yet...but I'm definitely making it my aim. This encourages me that it is ok to be different, because he was different than all the other Israelites in spirit, attitude, and action. Not only is it ok to be different, but it is expected if I am going to be chosen to be used by the Lord.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.
Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Psalm 72:18-19
There are lots of songs that have been bouncing around in my head today...
The first one. (yes, from the movie legally blonde, i'm sorry) "it's a perrrfect daayyy...."
And then the classic "I can see clearly now the rain is gone... it's gonna be a bright ("Bright!") bright sunshiney day"!
And finally... out of it's context..."It's the most wonderful time of the year!".... (I mean, I love Christmastime, but there is just something really exciting to a southern girl about warm temps and sunshine!)
My hard working man had to work today...
So, I did some cleaning, laundry, errands, and then sat outside (in the beautiful sunshine) on my back deck with this:
and this:
Talk about a great afternoon!
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13
Some random thoughts from my ever wondering mind this morning....
I went and did my weekly (ok....sometimes bi-weekly, or even tri-weekly... yes I know I have a problem) trip to Wal-mart yesterday afternoon. And, I noticed that they had changed my wal-mart... they added all of these end of the aisle displays... you know, the catch your attention kind to make you buy junk you hadn't planned on. Well, I fell sucker to one, and came home with an almost 2 pound bag of trail mix. Who really needs a bag of trail mix that big? Apparently I do. And thus, I've been eating on it most of the morning. There's gotta be something healthy about nuts, berries, and chocolate, right?
The sun is shining today...Spring is almost here, and man it cannot come soon enough. This pasty, white girl needs to see the sun again. Dustin keeps calling us (and not intending to be racial here) the pale russian couple. My palest makeup shades are making me look orange... and that's just never good. It's kinda like when you've gained and few pounds, and you're jeans are too tight. You refuse to buy bigger ones because you just know (ha) you're gonna drop the pounds. I refuse to by lighter makeup... and mostly because they probably don't make it any more pale anyway.
This morning while getting ready for work, I was remembering a time when a couple was prayed for...their business was struggling financially. That night while praying for them, I listened to several people pray for their business to rebound and for them to have abundant finances. And- if that is the Lord's will... awesome. But I started thinking... what if that is not the Lord's will. What if He has something else for them to walk through... that isn't as easy. Will they doubt the Lord's faithfulness to them after what they have been looking for? What if the Lord has a different plan for that business? What if He has something different for them to do? I've walked down my own road with this question. I saw that for some reason, the Lord did not have in His plan for my husband to get another job after he lost his. It's been 7 months. It wasn't easy... there have been a lot of frustrated prayers. But we have learned so much about the character of God and the bodyChrist- that we wouldn't have learned if life had been different. And I mean, learned life changing stuff. So, this got me thinking about being content. Contentment in the place that God has chosen for you to be in right now. Content to learn from what is now. Not questioning God... not begging to get out... but being ok with it. Paul was content to be persecuted!: For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor. 12:10 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment... 1 Tim. 6:6
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. Psalm 25:10
This: I just wanted to drop in and say that Dustin wrote about some good stuff on his blog last night. I'm plugging this as suggested reading not just because he is my husband and I love him (which of course I do!), but he really has seen some good stuff in the Word that is worth hearing.
Yes, we did it. Finally put up our home for sale. (Shameless plug inserted here) It's a great house, in a great location (Res-Brandon area), renovated (we've put a lot of sweat into it!- and I don't even like to sweat!) and if you'd like to know more about it...please let me know!
Now the waiting game has begun.
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes; he fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb . Psalm 19:7-10
"How are you going to impact the world with yourone life?"
Last week, I was thinking on the hard fact that I've got one life...it'll be over quickly (James 4 calls my life a mist, and Job 7 calls it a vapor)...and it's got to count.
So how do I make my life count?
D. and I recently listened to this (video below), and I think it will answer every bit of that question.
(warning, this is only the audio, with cheesy pictures popping up over it...so ignore the cheese factor.)
Make. Disciples. "this is Jesus' plan to impact the nations for His glory."
It's not get a great job...marry a great man...be a good wife...raise successful children...get a nice house...go to a big church...run big programs...be busy all the time...give lots of money to the poor...stash up a large savings account...
He made it pretty simple for us... make disciples...all the time... everywhere... teach them My Word. That's it.
(The rest of the message is posted on youtube if you'd like to hear the rest of the series. It's broken up "david platt make disciples #1", #2, #3, #4, etc).
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom. Ps. 90:12
I feel like every time I sit down to write, I can say "well, not much has been going on with us."... and then I realize we sound kind of pathetic. We have had stuff going on, I just don't want to bore you with the mundane details. But then again, isn't that was this whole blogging thing is about...my two readers to seem to seemingly care about those details.
Oh, and speaking of people who care...one of my newest blog world converts is Dustin. I know he cares about my mundane because it's his too...I'm married to him.
So check out his blog Burningforrevival.blogspot.com.
On to more meaningful things. I wanted to let you in on what I have been thinking on for the last few days.
I have been thinking about a part of the song Hosanna. If you have never heard it, you should, and you can listen to it below.
"Heal my heart and make it clean, open up my eyes to the things unseen. Show me how to love like you've loved me. Break my heart for what breaks Yours. Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause. As I walk from earth into eternity." Those are the words of the bridge of the song, and these words have been resounding over and over again in my head.
Pretty much a prayer of surrender.
But the part that has been getting at me is the last phrase as I walk from earth into eternity. I'm on my way to eternity.
I took this and ran with it in two different directions.
One, being that there will be a moment in time where we all are brought up to be with the Father forever.
"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." 1 Corinthians 15:52
'Jesus said to him, “Iamtheway, andthetruth, andthe life. No one comes to the Father except through me." 'John 14:6
"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done." Revelation 20:12
I pray that you are prepared for this moment...there is nothing more important than this in the world. We will stand before the Father either covered and justified by the blood of Christ or we will stand on our own- and face the wrath of a holy God. (Revelation 20:12-15, Romans 10:9)
Second and the main thought that I've been chomping on: being that with every step I take, I am one more step closer to eternity. Every minute, every day that goes by is one that is done and will never be back. Every morning I get up, I'm not younger, I'm older (ha. even despite the ways we try to stop or slow it!) So, in light of the fact that with every moment that goes by I'm getting closer to the end, am I living like I know this?
"Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." James 4:14
"For my days pass away like smoke.." Psalm 102:3
“Remember that my life is a breath..." Job 7:7
I promise I'm not trying to be a downer...I'm just trying to be real. This is reality whether I like to think about it or not. My life, my time here, is very short compared to the time line of history past and present.
So, if my life is just like a shot of air freshener, here for just a second, and then never seen again... what am I doing that will make a lasting impression? Forgive me for the weird analogy, but what fragrance will I leave behind? I'm not saying that I'm going to to go out and do things to get people to like me. Not saying to make sure people miss me and say nice things about me when I'm gone.
I am saying... Am I living with eternity in mind? Am I living every day thinking that I've got to be living for what matters...this is my one shot.
Will your life stand the test? Will what you have done stand when tested by fire? "Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done." 1 Corinthians 3:12-13
I read through some of Ecclesiastes today where the writer is discussing what truly matters in life...you should check it out. (way too much to discuss here, now, i've already made this the longest post ever.) But he ends it by saying basically here's the bottom line...
"The end of the matter, all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
And by the way... the God that created the universe loves you! That's a comforting thought... "But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him..." Psalm 103:17
Well, the weatherman was actually right this time. Over night and during today we got just about 4.5 inches of snow at our house!
Here is a look at our snow day...
When we finally ventured outside, we found this branch about to pop. So D. braved the elements and shook most of the snow off, so that we wouldn't have half a tree down in the drive way.
I look pretty athletic, don't I? ha. (the seriously dumb moment I had after this picture was taken... I decided to throw the snowball at D.- well, I didn't think twice about where I was aiming, and ended up not hitting D. but smacked my camera... and then I freaked out... not good.)
Attempt at a snow angel.
Gotta love the self timer when it's just the two of us.
"O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens...
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?" Ps. 8:1-4
Not much has been happening with us. Well, except for kleenex. Our lives have been filled with kleenex, cough medicine, and lots of sleep for the last few days. I picked up some lovely virus last week (oh, the joys of working in retail among lots of people) and passed it on to the hubs. I'm not going to call him a high maintenance patient, because I think I am probably one as well.
On another note, the buzz around here is that snow might actually arrive tomorrow night. Maybe 4 or 5 inches (and you might as well have said 4 or 5 feet to us deprived southerners). And yes... if it does, you can count on life as you know it in central ms. will cease to exist and we will all just sit and look at the pretty white stuff. I'll admit it...I'm a sucker for it. Here's my cute sister the last time we had a decent snow that stuck (last year I think)(she's gonna kill me for putting this up)
There's something about snow that genuinely freaks us true blooded southerners out. I mean, it's like we don't know how to function. Most kids love it. I love just looking at it. (Does that make me old?) Well, I love looking at it as it has freshly fallen. It is so clean. So pretty. Untouched. It gives everything a new look. And then, the snow starts to melt, and kids play in it... and I don't enjoy it as much. It's not so clean anymore, not so perfect looking.
Thinking about snow...the picture that the Lord lays out for His people here is cool to think about: "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." Isaiah 1:18
How thankful I am for the blood of Jesus, that when I was a disgusting sinner, He cleaned me up! I can stand spotless before the Father now. He has made me clean...pretty...untouched...new. "But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
I'm a bandwagoner...and I'm ok with admitting that. I think.
We had a quiet, rather boring Friday evening and Saturday. I won't bore you with the details.
But, Sunday did get a little more interesting. This is where me being a bandwagoner comes in. Football. I love it. That fact hasn't always been true of me. But at this stage of my life, I do love it. Sec football mostly. I digress... I don't think I need to mention anything about who was in the Superbowl, or who won. As long as you haven't been living under a rock for the last week, I'm pretty sure you've heard. Though I'll admit I was surprised and was excited and nervous during the entire game. I joined the majority of good southerners to the cheer on the little underdog who could. We ate. And we cheered. Got nervous. Ate more. And more. And then we won! I can't say that I jumped on the "who dat" bandwagon far enough to purchase the pricey official gear... but I did jump on far enough to create my own.
*please forgive us for looking like such goobers.
"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ, who gave Himself as a ransom for all..." 1 Timothy 2:5
It's been a pretty uneventful week around our house... no kitchen fires, meal disasters... I did successfully pull off hosting some friends for dinner. And made these incredible molten lava cakes for dessert. I highly recommend that you try them! Especially if you are in love with chocolate.
For the last few days, I have been thinking on this verse: "Test all things; hold fast to what is good." 1 Thess 5:21 The command is clearly- test everything. So, I'm not just supposed to test things I have questions about. I'm supposed to test everything. It is pretty obvious that God doesn't want His children to be deceived in to believed something that is not from Him. And then I see something else... In light of that, there are going to be false teaching and things with God's name on it that are not from Him. (See Matthew 24:23-27, 2 Peter 3:3, and Jude 17-18)
While I was reading in Exodus last week, God clarified this for me even further. In Exodus 7-11, the plagues are sent by God upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians, because he would not let the people go. God sent terrible things... their water turned to blood, frogs covered everything, then gnats, then flies... and it just got worse from there. But here's the crazy part. After God sent the first plague, Exodus 7:11 (and 7:22) "Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts." And it happened like this over and over again. Obviously here, there are people, not of God, and clearly working by darkness, were able to re-create (or copy) something God had done. That's kind of sobering isn't it?
And that is why we are told to test everything. There will be false teachers. There will be people, places and things with God's name on it that has nothing to do with Him.
I really desire to be more like the group of people, the Bereans, that Paul said, "They received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so." Acts 17:11 That's testing everything- being in the Scriptures daily, to see if what we see, hear and learn are lining up with what God has laid out for us in the Word. Yes, it'll take a little extra effort. But I'm pretty sure God doesn't want His children to be a group of people who just take in anything and everything and swallow it as truth. He desires us to test it and make sure it lines up with His Word.
So yes- test everything. That's even...your pastor, the guy you watch on tv, the one you listen to on the radio, the article or blog you read on the internet, the friend's advice they gave you today... it's everything.
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
I like to think that I'm a good cook. It is a "hobby" (actually, necessity) that I only recently picked up, when D. and I were married almost two years ago. I started out only making my mom's tried and true recipes...and then I started living on the edge (watch out!) and trying new things. And then... I discovered what will change my life in the kitchen forever- cooking blogs. You know... such as (some of my favs) pioneer woman, or my kitchen cafe, or bakerella (well i'd be a billion pounds if i cooked off of her site all the time). I just love my cooking blogs (ha)... I know someone has tried them...they even come with pictures so I know what is supposed to happen.
I've only had one major catastrophe with suggestions from my beloved blogs. I tried a crockpot version of chicken cordon blue = bad idea, just in case you were wondering. It turned out... gross. It is still, to date, the only meal we couldn't finish eating. And then there was the time I tried home-made frozen hot chocolate... it wasn't a catastrophe, just more of a let down.
But then there was dinner last night. It wasn't the cooking blog's fault...but it didn't quite turn out like it was supposed to. The recipe called for cooking sherry, which I didn't have. And quite frankly, I don't know what flavor it adds. So I did what I always do when I'm missing something, and looked up a substitution for it = bad idea. One suggestion was to try a little vinegar with sugar. Another said to try orange or pineapple juice. And well... I really didn't like the thought of adding vinegar, so I opted for the pineapple juice. Let's just say that pineapple juice and artichokes don't really blend flavors together very well. I took a bite and my entire body involuntarily shook. Not very yummy. Needless to say, learn from my mistake, and don't ever (on any occasion) replace cooking sherry with pineapple juice.
Oh...and this deserves and explanation too.
No, I didn't make the bread from scratch. Though, one day, I will be a super woman who can do that. I took the easy way out, and bought the frozen dough at wal-mart. It's great... you just take it right from the freezer and let it sit out. It thaws, and rises. All you have to do is stick it in the oven... but warning- you can let it rise a little too long. Instead of allowing it to rise just 1 inch over the pan, I let it go about 5 or 6 inches above it. And in a dumb brunette moment, I didn't think about the fact that the bread would rise a little bit more as it cooked. And well... this is what happened:
yea... I almost burned my kitchen down because the bread was right against the oven burner. Oops.
I am:
...a follower of Jesus Christ
...a lover of the Word of God
...a wife of almost 2 years
...a big sister
...a daughter
...a cook (ha)
...a compulsive house cleaner
...a recovering diet coke addict
