Friday Funnies!!!

My Inner Speak: Redeeming the Time

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.  Ephesians 5: 15-21

Slow down...redeem the time...walk worthy.

Don't rush to the next errand on the list.  What needs to get done will get done.  Wherever you are...be all there.  See Divine appointments.  

Stop and pray for the brokenhearted and lost.  Delayed prayer is delayed care.  Grab the hands, lose the pride...pray.  Share His Word.

Realize that salvation is of the LORD...and just cuz they haven't understood it from you this whole last year...only God knows if hearing it somewhere else might be the moment of Holy illumination.  Save King Jesus!!  Invite them to the special service.

Extend your hands in welcome...reassure with pats on the arm and eye contact...true welcome...They will know us by our LOVE...not our rush, not our pride, not platitudes of empty nothingness.  

Are there burdens in your heart?  Is your past a memory that binds you?  Is there some pain, that you've carried far to long?  Then strengthen your heart with this Good News.  There is a Savior, and He's forgiven you.

There is a Savior...what Joy expressed.  His eyes are mercy, His Word is rest.  For each tomorrow, for yesterday, there is a Savior, Who lights our way.

Pre-holiday Hodgepodge

1. Time magazine has selected The Ebola Fighters as their person of the year for 2014. Do you agree, and if so who would you say is a close second? If you disagree with their choice, who do you think should have been chosen? 

I was pleasantly surprised by their choice.  I guess, since it's a person or persons who affected the news for good OR ILL...I'd say the close second would be ISIS.

2. This question comes to you courtesy of Susan who blogs over at Stew Mama Says. She knows we have a wedding happening any minute now, and she asks, 'What's your favorite-something old? something new? something borrowed? something blue in your home?  Be sure you hop over and say hi to Susan today!

Something old--old thimbles.  Something new--mac anything and everything Something borrowed--library books  Something blue--the cobalt bottles in my windows.

3. Fudge-yay or nay? Your favorite flavor? Do you make it yourself? With nuts or without?  

I'm not a huge fan really.  It's a bit too much for me.  I might eat one little chunk each Christmas season.  I love peanut butter fudge best...but rarely go near it due to worrying about kissing my sweet baby boy with peanut butter lips.

4. December 17th is Wright Brothers Day, commemorating the first successful flights made by Orville and Wilbur Wright in 1903 in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.  How old were you when you made your first flight? Do you like to fly? Have you ever been to Kitty Hawk or other parts of the North Carolina Outer Banks? I think I was six.  I went to FL with my grandparents.  I love to fly.  I wish it wasn't so expensive.  I have not visited those areas...but I live close enough to Dayton that I've been to the Air Force Museum...totally awesome! 

5. Do the people in your family tend to follow a particular career path, and if so what's the path?
People in my family are largely teachers...be it via ministry or schools.  
6. What is one thing you absolutely, positively must accomplish today?
I have a quadruple batch of Springerele cookies to bake!  My house smells GOOD!  
7. This Christmas I hope___________________________________.
We can all stay healthy and my parents can come and that my Mom (who's mid way through chemo) will be able to relax and enjoy being at my house!!
8. Insert your own random thought here.

MERRy ChRiStMaS!!

Sew Saturday: Gray...

Now that my Christmas gifts are done I can start showing what I'm working on again...

I saw this heartland tweed and fell in love!!  It is that muddy gray with little flecks of color (red, turquoise and yellow) throughout.  I'm doing 10 rows knit...then 3 sets stockinette.  My darling daughter lost my scarf somewhere...so, I really do have a reason to buy more yarn...haha.

I've finally cut out a baby quilt...long anticipated.  She chose a very modern herringbone pattern with gray and white.  It'll be backed with gray minky.  Delightful!!

This panel is my inspiration to work...I really want a Christmas quilt.  But, I won't let myself cut the gorgeous coordinating reds that accompany this panel until the baby quilt top is done.  When my Mom comes for Christmas I might break my rule though.  

Intentional Parenting...

Intentional Parenting...that's what I've been praying for.  Which little known to me, also meant that I was praying for patience, the ability to pause and give full attention at the worst possible moments in my day, and endurance for stubborness when I am most tired.  I also didn't know that praying for this would mean I would be learning so much about God myself.  

I am humbled to tears when I see the parallels between my sinful childish behavior and God the Father's perfect parenting of me.

I hear myself say, "Just give your worries to God...Read these Scriptures with Mommy"...and then we read, "Don't be anxious about anything..." and I have to say..."God wants to teach Mommy these things too."  I have been worried about things I couldn't ever tell them about...and not handling it well or biblically.  I'm a bundle of knots and nerves...why?  I tell my child, "The Bible says...worrying can't help...and tomorrow has enough trouble of it's own.  Give Your worries to God...only He can help you."

I preach to myself.

Yet, I keep praying for Intentional Parenting.  I want to be intentional to point to Christ...the only Redeemer, Who is ABLE!  

I hear myself snap at my child, "You can't expect to do everything perfectly.  You have to practice things.  AND, God doesn't give everyone the same gifts and talents...and that's okay ya know!"  Um...ouch...I obviously don't know...or my time at and thinking about church and service and ministry would be much, much different.  I say, "Remember that you're working for GOD...not other people."  But, then I just wasted a whole hour agonizing over what I said about that and what she'll think about this....or that...and how I might be judged if I change roles here...or there.  

I preach to myself.

Parenting is humbling.  No way around that.  And I will continue to pray for Intentional Parenting.  I'm learning so much...and hopefully, God will be merciful and my children will learn too!

Oh Lord, 

You make no mistakes and You knew what You were doing when you blessed me with two Sweet Boobahs.  You know my desire is to obey you in my parenting...to be intentional about directing them to You.  I don't want to just correct behavior....I want to point their hearts to You!  I'm so thankful that I can ask for wisdom and Your Word says You will give it GENEROUSLY and without finding fault. Thank you a milllion times!

Amen.

God with us...Immanuel.

I've been thinking a lot about something a friend said this week.  She said, "So often, I think I'll just "top off" ME with a little bit of God and call it good enough." It is so true...that many days I forget what Holy Spirit filling is really about.  Especially when I'm busy and have "my plans" all roaring to go. Then, someone else in the discussion said the comment in reverse..."Mostly God "topped off" with me."  This is also true.  How often when I've been strong in the Lord, do I, suddenly and stupidly, think I should give Him a little bit of my good ideas for the future.  It's downright ridiculous but so very much what I often do.  In those times I need a bigger view of God.  If I knew more about Him...and put into play what I know...I'd realize He is ALL KNOWING (He doesn't need anything from me)...His plans are PERFECT and without flaw (So why would I race forward with my plans instead? Yet I do.)

We've been studying about Moses...and our discussion stemmed from a question regarding how the filling of the tabernacle with God's glory and presence affected Moses...and how we could apply that to our lives.  Well, Moses couldn't enter the tabernacle when the cloud covered and filled it.  In a lot of ways this surprised me...I mean, Moses just saw God pass by...as close as possible to seeing God without actually seeing Him and dying!  This is the guy called God's friend and the man with the glowing and radiant face from His close and intimate times with God.

But maybe, it wasn't about Moses anymore....this was, after all, a picture of what Jesus would do for all of us.  He would pay for my sins and then the Holy Spirit would come...and tabernacle within me!  It has always been His desire to dwell with His people and for them to worship Him alone.

The truth is that when we are filled with the Spirit there should be NO ROOM for our selfish desires.  It's not about me, or Moses, anymore.  It's all about worshipping God.  He is transcendent...way beyond our understanding.  But He is immanent...pleased to dwell near us, among us and to be our God.  WOW.

And then I thought...the Holy Spirit is the very presence of God, not just a symbol of God.  He doesn't just hover over us in a cloud...He is with us...INDWELLING us!  At first, I was thinking I'd prefer a cloud to show me where to go...but God did not give me less...He gave more!  The Holy Spirit protects and guides me.  He helps me understand and obey what I read in God's Word.  

When God guides me it means there's a goal for the journey.  And in difficult journeys that's very comforting.  I start and stop and change my mind a thousand times (ask my husband)!  People disappoint me...and I disappoint them and myself.  God NEVER does!  He always finishes what He begins....and He will be faithful to complete the work He's started in me... and complete it!  (Phil 1:6)

Oh Heavenly Father,

There are so many things that I don't understand about Your Triune-ness.  But I'm trying.  I'm so thankful for the Holy Spirit given to help me understand Your ways and convicting me to obey your ways.  Thank you for Jesus...Immanuel...God with us!  Help me to go about today full of YOU, worshiping and bringing You glory in all I do and say!  No more I, but Christ that lives in me!

Amen.

Cookie with your Coffee

 

I saw this and thought...well, that's inane fun...I've got a few blog drafts that will probably never be published as I've deemed them too judgy, downers or the like.  But, I miss blogging and You, my Dear Void!  Hope you enjoy the funny-ness.

Four names that people call me other than my real name:

1. Honey (Darreny, cuz he loves me!)

2.  Mommy (by my Sweet Boobahs)

3.  Teacher (by my two year olds in BSF)

4.  Beej (by my Mom)

Four jobs I’ve had:

1.  Dishwasher (first paying job in a family restaurant)

2.  McDonalds worker

3.  Produce seller (from a wagon one hot hot summer)

4.  Teacher

Four movies I’ve watched more than once:

1.  You've Got Mail

2. Sleepless in Seattle

3.  White Christmas

4.  Pride and Prejudice  

Four books I’d recommend:

1.  Flavia De Luce series by Alan Bradley

2. Mary Russell series by Laurie King

3.  Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear

4.  Anything by Agatha Christie 

Four places I’ve lived:

1. Racine, Wisconsin (born there)
2.  Hancock NY
3. Cincinnati OH
4. Greenwood, IN

Four places I’ve visited:

1. Spain

2. Scotland 

3. England  

4. Germany 

Four things I prefer not to eat:

1. Dog food   

2. Liver (unless my Dad cooks it)

3. Pepsi (Coke, Please!)

4.  onion soup

Four of my favorite foods:

1.  Steak

2.  Spring Peas 

3.  Indian food (date night) 

4. Mar y Tiera (land and sea...shrimp and chicken with peppers...yum) 

Four TV shows I watch

1.  Duck Dynasty

2.  Cook's Country

3.  Classic Sesame Street

4.  The Mind of a Chef 

Four things I’m looking forward to this year:

1.  Christmas...my parents are coming here!!!

2.  Being an AUNT...my nephew is coming in February.

3.  Growing in my faith...

4.  Reading more books together as a family.

Four things I’m always saying:

1.  Knock it off! 

2.  I’m cold 

3. Actually,..... 

4. Don't put "X" in your mouth.  (at what age does this stop?)

Well, anyhew...this was fun.  Here's hoping this gets me back in the blogging mood.