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Saturday, January 29, 2011

Caught up

I got behind.. pretty far behind all my fellow 90 day Bible challenge friends. Infact, I was about 4 days behind!
Thats a lot of catching up to do, especially when you are in 2nd Samuel and need to read halfway through 2nd Kings! Whew!
But, I did it!

Im sorry I havent been blogging much this past week.
Just yesterday morning we got a call from school and our middle child was sick.
I took her to the doc and turns out she has the Flu.
It hit her pretty hard and I am just praying it doesnt hit the rest of us.
Upping the Vitamin C and disinfecting the house today..

So. No Cheerleading or Basketball for us today.

Anyway, I hope you all are having  a fantastic day!
God Bless!
Keep on reading, even if you get behind, just keep on!!!!

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Tuesday, January 25, 2011



How in Earth have I not known about Coconut oil before now!
A sweet lady, and friend recently told me about Coconut oil and about all it can do for your body.
At first, I was a bit skeptical, but she told me to use some on my sons severely chapped lips. I finally FOUND some after looking for it for almost 2 weeks, and of course my local Publix was out of it.
Yesterday they finally got it in and I was so happy.
I put a little on my sons lips and today they  look SO MUCH BETTER!

She had mentioned to me a few of the things that she uses it for.
Bruises, Infections, Cuts & Scrapes, Hair, etc.
I wasnt sure If I wanted any type of OIL used for Cuts and Scrapes.
But I decided to do a little research.

Here is what I found out:
The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc.  Here is where I found the info at.



Did you know that Coconut oil is one of the best natural nutrition for your hair. It not only helps hair growth and shine.You can actually take a bit of the oil, and massage it into your scalp (Sounds delightful..who doesnt love scalp massages!!!) and then you can also put it on your hair, from the roots to the ends, and wait an hour and then wash it out.
If you choose, you can put a shower cap on your hair, and leave it on over night and wash it out in the morning, and BAM! You have beautiful shiny hair!
Its great for dry scalps too! And the best part, YOU CAN USE IT, no matter your age.
Even on babies, Also, by massaging this oil on your head, it can release MENTAL FATIGUE!

 It also delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age. Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. Therefore coconut oil forms the basic ingredient of various body care products such as soaps, lotions, creams, etc., used for skin care.


WOW!!!!! I still can not believe I didnt know about this stuff earlier in my life!
There is so much information out there on the uses and wonders of Natural ingredients, and NO im not asking you all to run out and buy some coconut oil. But I am just sharing my simple amazement in it.
This doesnt even tell you half of what you can use this for.  I am currently researching more on it to find out more uses, becuase I am not pretty sure after the results I saw just overnight with my son, this will be a staple in my house from now on.

For the record, my friend who told me about this is from another country, where the use of natural ingredients instead of "western medication" is used mostly.  They may be onto something.
While prescriptions are wonderful for some things, I do think that natural products are just as great or better for other things!
This is something that Im excited to find. It can be eaten, infact, many people cook with it, just the same as they do with Olive Oil or Vegetable oil.  Its just so happens that It can be used topically as well for skin irritations and skin treatments. I love it because its safe for my family, and has so many benefits!



Oh and another tiny bit of information that I found very interesting..
Its used by Athletes before races and such!

Finally, coconut oil is often preferred by athletes and body builders and by those who are dieting. The reason behind this being that coconut oil contains lesser calories than other oils, its fat content is easily converted into energy and it does not lead to accumulation of fat in the heart and arteries. Coconut oil helps in boosting energy and endurance, and enhances the performance of athletes.



Ok, now...If you are reading this still (Im sorry its a bit long) and you are in my 90 day Bible Reading Challenge with me..
I'm right on Target and staying on tract!
Todays reading is 2nd Samuel 12:11-22:18
For some inspirational reading and daily devotional to go along with 2nd Samuel 12:11-22:18Please head over to:
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Monday, January 24, 2011

What is it God?



Don't you just love it when you FEEL God is trying to TELL you something,
and you have no idea what it is?

Last night (or rather early this morning) during one of the times my littlest was awake,
I just started praying for God's wisdom and guidance.
I asked him to reveal to me, what it was that I felt he was trying to tell me, but because I am human, and have human ears and a human brain, I just couldn't figure it out without his help.

It's almost funny. It should be simple to figure out what someone is telling you. But because you are so much in and of the world, and trying to come out of it as much as possible, those simple things that you should be able to figure out, become like a huge math equation.

I've never been good at math. I've tried but my brain just didnt click with it...... I wish I was better! I'd pretty much LOVE to be able easily help or teach my son with math as he gets older.

Ok, ok, now that I've chased the rabbit...Lets get back to the point..


What is it God? What are you trying to tell me?
I'm just a simple person with simple ideas.
I need you to reveal in me, in a way that I will and can understand what it is that you are wanting me to know?
Have you ever been in this place before? How did it turn out for you? What did you do differently?
How did God finally reveal his plan to you? Or is it still a process?

Comments highly appreciated!
 
 

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Friday, January 21, 2011

Sorry.......Its been a few days...





It's been a few days since I've blogged. I got a day or two behind on my reading, and I was trying to catch up! Its been a bit busy here. We had to take our baby to the ENT, where they scheduled her surgery to get tubes in her ears for the following morning, (Which was yesterday) . Last night was a bit rough, as she woke up a lot and her ears are very sensitive.  The good part, is now that she has tubes, her ear is no longer blocked with excessive fluid so she should be back to her normal self very soon. (And hoping some extras sleep for mommy and daddy as well).

Ive been feeling a bit convicted lately on my parenting skills. Im guessing its because of the Bible reading challenge and I am feeling a bit closer to God, than I have in a very long time.
I am wanting to parent our children the way that God wants us to, so that they grow up with good self confidence, and Godly.  I want so much for them, that I know I have not given them over the years.

I have a friend who put it best, (I hope she doesnt mind me using it here) " the important thing to me here is not a punishment to fit the crime but rather the development of their character"
This to me, makes a lot of sense and its an excellent way of directly and parenting our children in the way of the Lord.    To Built Character.
We should be Building our Children up, not berating them or tearing them down.
We should be Building our Spouses up, not berating them or tearing them down.
We should be BUILDING others up....not berating or tearing them down.

Remember what I said a few days ago......

When we spend time criticizing people, we lose time that could be spend admiring them.

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Thursday, January 20, 2011

AWESOME!!!

Head over to  Graceful AbandonAND checkout her checklist!!! Its amazing!!! Please take 5 seconds of your time and head over there NOW!
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Monday, January 17, 2011

What kind of Culture are you helping to build?

This post is mainly from things we talked about in Sunday School yesterday.
What kind of culture are you helping to build?
As Christians we are called to build a culture of life. God expects us to use our spiritual gifts and abilities for His glory and to help inpact our society with the gospel.
As Christians, we too must turn to the Scriptures as the right blueprint for making a godly difference in our wayward culture, we should pray for our nations leaders, work to protect the most vulnerable of our vitizens, and seek to make the will of Christ Supreme in our lives as well as in our society.   by Studying Scriptures and prayof for God-given understanding , we can learn Gods' instructions for building a culture of life-a culture that pleases rather than angers our Lord.
(taken from Explore the Bible, Adult Learner Guide, Winter 2010-2011)

How Vital  this truth is for believers seeking to built a culture of life! By setting the example of loving God and living according to HIS ways, we often influence others to do the same!!!

 

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Sunday, January 16, 2011

A few things on my mind this morning.


Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.
Deut:4:39


Hear O' Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandements that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Tie them as symbols to your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Deut 6:4-9

Fear the Lord your God, serve him ONLY and take your oaths in his name.
6:13

The Lord commanded us ot obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God so that we might always propser and be kept alive, as is the case today.
And if we are careful to bey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.
6:24


Are yo wondering why I am listing these passages in Deuteronomy today?
These were in my Bible reading yesterday. These really spoke to me.
Especially the one where is says.
"As is the case today"


Are you wondering why I am writing these passages from Deutoronomy today?
Well, these were part of my reading yesterday and they really spoke to me.
Especially the one that says
"As is the case today"

Why?
Well I fear that many people read through parts of the Bible and figure that things that were written in the Old Testament before the Birth of Jesus just are not as important as things written after the Birth of Jesus.

This simply is not true. 
God Is God, God has always been God. God will always Be God.
HE is the Alpha and Omega. The Beginning (Genesis) and the End (Revelation)
Things in the Old Testament are just as important and things in the New Testament. Yes a few things may have changed with it came time for Jesus to be Born, but no matter what, Gods word. Is and always will be Gods word.
Every single word of the Bible is 100% important!
Nothing is un-important.

"As is the case Today"

Whether you were reading this 2000 years ago, or 100 years in the future.
"As is the case Today" will still be there. and it means what it says.
The
Lord commanded us to bey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our GOD, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, AS IS THE CASE TODAY"

---and if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD OUR GOD, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness!


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Saturday, January 15, 2011

A New Perspective

Last night, I did something that I have not done in a very long time.
Rewind a bit:
At night time, usually My husband and I sit on the couch, one of us holds the baby, Our older daughter plays in the floor with her barbies and barbie house, while our son sits on the loveseat/sofa.

Last night, our oldest daughter climbed onto the couch with us. She does this fairly often as she is a huge daddys girl. Daddy was holding Princess #2 in his arms. So he had both his girls cudding with him.

I noticed that our son, like always was sitting alone, like usual. I started to feel a huge conviction over not spending as much time with him as I should.
You see, he and I are a lot of like, so we butt heads all the time.
We are both hard-headed, strong willed, always right, never wrong individuals, When you have the two of us together it can be very dramatic.


However, I understand that by the Grace of God, God has showed me Mercy and Grace when I know I do not deserve it.  He has taken this strong willed, never wrong, always right woman, and taught her to admit defeat, admit being wrong and to think about things and perspectives BEFORE I open my mouth.
This is a long time coming, and I am glad its here because I feel more at peace with myself.


So fast forward to my son sitting on the sofa.  I got up, walked over, climbed over him (He was sort of laying down) and pretended to get behind him but instead, picked him up (like a baby)..and started tickling him, then sat him back down on my lap, and we both just sort of cuddled up on the sofa together (He's a LOT heavier than I remember...haha!)

We sat there and watched Nanny McPhee Returns (That my husband brought home with him after work yesterday) and It was a very pleasant experience.

This worked out nicely because while daddy was spending quality time cuddling with the girls, mommy was cudding with her boy!

It was a nice evening all around.  This past week I've spend a good deal of time with each child, but I had never felt so convicted as I did when I recently read that a friend of mine tries to speind twenty minutes EACH day, with each of her kids, Just spending time and enjoying being with them and for that, I am so thankful that does that.

But I was very convicted.  I made sure that this morning, when I knew my kids were awake to immediately be cheerful and tell the Good Morning and even play a little morning wake up game with them.
Then while we were eating breakfast,  We went around the table and told each other FIVE THINGS that we love/like about each other!!!!

Now, I am off to my handsome, extremely smart and talented sons basketball game and to watch my Princess #1 daughter cheer! (For the churches league)



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Thursday, January 13, 2011

Checking in on Thursday.

Today, I am going to ask everyone to go over to
Graceful Abandon
and read her incredible post about the beginning of time and when Sin began.
Then make sure tomorrow you take yourself back over to her
and read her end of the week post.

Don't forget!
For those keeping up with the 90 Day Bible Challenge, its going wonderfully.
We started Numbers yesterday and will continue reading through it today.
My eyes have been opened so much the past week at just how accurate God told the people to be.
I am so glad that We are Forgiven and that Jesus Died for OUR SINS, so that we do not have to be as accurate and do all the sacrifices. I honestly do not believe people today would follow directions to that extent.

Are you not THRILLED that GOD SEND his only SON so that we may Live FOREVER in his Kindgom after we perish off of this Earth!B



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Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Encouragement


en·cour·age·ment  audio  (n-kûrj-mnt, -kr-)
NOUN:
  1. The act of encouraging.
  2. The state of being encouraged.
  3. One that encourages.
The noun ENCOURAGEMENT has 3 senses:
1. the expression of approval and support
2. the act of giving hope or support to someone
3. the feeling of being encouraged



When I think of Encouragement, I immediately think of "To lift someone up" Not their physical self, but their emotional and/or spiritual self.
Encouragement:  Something we should do everyday. No matter who we are around.
Everyone needs a little encouragement now and then.

Another thing:
When we spend time criticizing people, we lose time that could be spend admiring them. 

I feel that this post has been brought on mainly by one of the challenges that I have taken on this year.
I have taken on the "30 Day Husband Encouragement Challenge".

Todays post really touched my heart.
"Women who are constantly negative towards their husbands-espeically by speaking evil of them to others-show great disrespect.
Men respond to women who respect them.
Do you know how many people out in the world speak negatively of their husbands, wives, children, friends, parents.  So again, refer back to the bold large typing above
When we spend time criticizing people, we lose time that could be spend admiring them. 

Instead of criticizing...ENCOURAGE!

I consider myself extremely blessed! I am very encouraged all the time. Not only by my husband and our kids.
But I have a network of newfound and (recently found again friends) who are all doing the 90 Day Bible Challenge, who encourage me all the time.  Whether its not specifically pointed at me or not. I'm extremely encouraged and I want to give them each a
BIG BEAR HUG!


 


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Monday, January 10, 2011

War within myself.



I feel as though I am at war within myself.
Is this a result of Satan trying to worm his way back into my life
because I am becoming Closer with MY GOD?

I just feel as though I'm at war. Everything feels like it is pulling at me.
My heart strings are tugging at me for being not as great of a Mom as I've always wanted to be.
I see all these other moms with what looks like so much patience and having so much fun raising their kids, and while I LOVE my children more than I could ever imagine..there are days where I can not wait for them to just go to school. Which is sad because a huge part of me KNOWS that when they are at school , I miss them terribly.  Its hard to believe this impatient Woman use to homeschool....
I feel as though I yell way to much and do not praise nearly enough.
Im feeling pulled in a million different directions at the moment. The inner wars of Motherhood is staring me right in the face.

Do I give in? Do I let it take me all the way in to a place that I know I don't want to go.
No....
I am going to do what I never thought was possible. I'm going to bite my tongue. Pick my battles and allow the Almighty GOD, who shows grace to me way to much,
pick me up and put me back on solid ground.
I'm going to be the Mom/Wife that I know I can/need to be.
and I'm going to be proud of myself.
Just as soon as I can get through these next few moments when the motherhood insanity rushes in.
Then I am going to wake up in the morning with a smile on my face, even though the kids school is cancelled again because of the Snow.
Sit on the end of my couch, cuddled up with my Bible, and read the 2nd portion of Leviticus!

Here I am God! I'm on my knees crying out for you.
Change me.. Change me.. Change me.
Create in me a pure heart for you O'God.
Change me

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Saturday, January 8, 2011

Exodus Day 2

Exodus day 2
15:19-28:43

Today was good reading! Simple as that! Good..no..Make that great reading!
We traveled with Moses through the tasting of the Bitter Waters at Marah. Where God told him how to Sweeten them so that the people could drink.
We listened as the people cried out and God fed them with
Quail and Manna.We learned how an omer of Manna was kept for future Generations.
How Moses struck a Rock and Water came out for people to drink from.

We learned that as long as
Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but when ever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up-one on one side, one on the other-so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

What can I say.. This entire reading was full of learning!

But the most important part of this passage is the Ten Commandments in which we are all to live by.


Then God gave the people all these instructions[a]:
   2 “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.
   3 “
You must not have any other god but me.
   4 “
You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those[b] who love me and obey my commands.
   7 “
You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
   8 “
Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
   12
“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
   13 “
You must not murder.
   14 “You must not commit adultery.
   15 “You must not steal.
   16 “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
   17 “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”





I loved how when the people asked Moses to speak to them his self, instead of God speaking to them, because they were afraid that they would surely die if God spoke to them and Moses replied
“Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from Sinning”.

What an awesome thing! If We would all settle down and be quiet for a bit, and erase all the loudness from our lives, and just meditate on GOD's word..maybe then we could hear him speaking to us! (better) Can you imagine if everyone did this. If every one meditated on God's word and we could HEAR him speaking to us, that it may keep us all from Sinning.
The FEAR of GOD would be within each and every one of US!

In this reading we also read the Laws of God: on Judgments, Personal Property, Personal Relationships, Justice, Rest, Festivals.
I can not even begin to TRY to tell you all the great things I have just read!
This entire experience has been awesome so far for me and I am wondering WHY I took so long to attempt to read the Holy Bible from Cover to Cover before!
Like many, I've done the reading plans that skip all over the Bible but I never did finish them. This one, so far, has gotten me to read much more of the Bible in just five days than I have probably read in my entire life. I've read Bible verses and memorized them before but this is a whole new ball game and Guess what? I'm loving it!
I'm here to tell you that If I can sit down and spend time with God each day, then its not all that hard to do! You just have to make time to do it and most importantly you have to pray for God's guidance and help on this. I have three wonderful kids ranging in ages from 7 to 7 ½ months and yet I am finding time to spend with God on a daily basis. Much more than the average 15 minutes that most people say that you should do. On a daily basis, the past few days I have spend hours and hours with God! I am also much more committed to praying on a daily basis than I ever have been before! I am just so thankful that in this day and age with all the bad things you hear about/on the internet, it has allowed be to get in contact with some WONDERFUL women who have told me about the 90 day Bible Challenge and we are using the internet for something Good.
I am thankful for new friendships being formed as well.
I'm thankful for a renewed sense of “ME”.
I'm thankful for so many things that I can not even begin to tell you all of them because you would be reading all day long.


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Friday, January 7, 2011

Exodus: Day 1


Exodus 1:1-15:18

Wow! Can yo believe it! Genesis is over and Exodus reading has begun!
Today's reading was excellent! I was able to read much about Moses from the events surrounding his birth, to the point where he parted the waters of the Red Sea.

One of my favorites verses of this is found on Exodus 3:14. (I have a few verses that I will be putting in this post).

“I am who I am”
“The Lord, The God of your fathers-The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob- has sent me to you' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.”

This is what the Lord wants us to know! HE is God! HE is “I AM” This is what WE are supposed to refer to him as! It's as plain as day, written right there! This is HIS name forever, the NAME which he is to be REMEMBERED for generations to come!

Another part, that I love about this:
Exodus 4:10

Moses said to the Lord, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tonque”
The Lord said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mnute? Who gives him sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go, I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.


What an awesome thing! This really spoke to me!
Because it just reminded me that no matter what we believe we can or can not do, GOD will
help us! He does not CHOOSE the QUALIFIED. The QUALIFIES the CHOSEN!
This means that God can use me for anything he desires to, no matter my education or experience, because he is the Sovereign GOD and He can do ANYTHING he desires!

How amazing is that to know that GOD will help us through that. Even Moses was afraid but God worked that out for him, and he'll do the same for us!


“In your unfailing love you will lead
the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them
to your holy dwelling” _Exodus 15:13

“The Lord will reign for ever and ever”
Exodus 15:18

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