Established Work

Saturday, April 26, 2008

I've moved my blog!

I am not very tech savvy and was getting frustrated with not being able to get my blog here working and looking like I wanted it to without spending hours of time on it. And since I don't have hours of time I've moved over to blogspot.

Here's the link:
Nest of Pleasant Thoughts

Blessings, Jessica

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Handicrafts for the kids

Posted in Kids Stuff

I was so thrilled to find this wonderful CM blog full of handicraft ideas and kits that I had to order a couple for the twins and I was not disappointed.
Alissa and Thomas each made their own fleece hats with the materials provided in the "winter themed kit" and had a blast. They did sewing and cutting themselves and it only took an afternoon to make them. We are also working on the weather lapbook that was included and considering it's our first lapbook experience it is going very well.

Here are the kids modeling their new winter hats. Emily & Wesley simply had to be in the picture too:)

Check out Hearts & Trees blog!

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Progress in Decluttering

Posted in Clean Heart Journal

Here are some before and after pics from my decluttering process.

I haven't done any deep cleaning just the deep decluttering and that has helped me get through this a bit faster. I plan on going back a bit later to do deep cleaning but for now just getting the extra clutter cleaned up and out has helped.

KITCHEN UPPER BEFORE

KITCHEN UPPER AFTER

KITCHEN LOWER BEFORE

KITCHEN LOWER DURING WITH HELP:)

KITCHEN LOWER AFTER

KITCHEN UNDER THE SINK BEFORE

KITCHEN UNDER THE SINK AFTER

• Comments (2) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Week 5

Posted in Clean Heart Journal

Rebuke - to be right, correct, chasten, convict
Have Mercy - to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior, have pity upon

While I have been reading and meditating on this verse one phrase has stood out to me "For I am weak". That pretty much sums up the basis of my struggles and problems. I am too weak to say "no" to self, to weak to stand strong, too weak to be steadfast.
I have spent so many years giving up and giving in instead of crying out to Jesus for mercy.
My soul is greatly troubled when I look on my failings but there is a way of escape "have mercy, O God".

Cleanse me Jesus, make me new, draw me into Your presence.
"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

"Have mercy on me O God, according to your steadfast mercies, wash away all my iniquities, cleanse me from sin."

• Comments (2) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Week 4

Posted in Clean Heart Journal

Supplication/Mercy - earnest prayer, entreaty
Heard - attentively, diligently discern, give ear
Mercy (dictionary) - price paid, compassion, relief of distress

How blessedly true this verse has been for me recently. It seems that daily I am crying out for mercy in the dailiness of life.

God give me patience through math
God I need Your strength & alertness through breakfast
Jesus I need wisdom for Phonics
Help! I have no inspiration for supper

These cries seem so utterly menial and meaningless and yet we have His word telling us that he "diligently and attentively listens" for our voice and cries.

While pondering on this verse I hit upon something that I hadn't taken note of previously.
God has sent revival to my soul and spirit in the last few weeks and renewed my hunger & thirst for Him, and in doing so I have needed to call on Him continually because I know with clarity that I can't.
Not just I can't do, I can't find, I can't know but simply I can't.
For my heart is "desperately wicked" outside of Christ. He is the One who can in all things.

What is even more amazing is that I will never outgrow Him, the closer I am to Him the more I "cry" for mercy because His glory reveals my depravity.

Faithfully,
Jessica

Clean Heart Clean Home devotional & journal is available at Dandelion Seeds blog.

• Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Week 3

Posted in Clean Heart Journal

"I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely..."
Hosea 14:4

backsliding: turning away
I will love: to have affection for like a friend
freely: spontaneously, willingly

I have been mulling this verse over and meditating on it all week and frankly don't like where that has brought me:)
If I have backslidden (and I most certainly have) then it means that I have turned away from my Lord. But it is more than just turning away because in this world nothing is static. I am always moving towards or away from one thing to the next.
Here are the "things" that I have turned away toward:

pride - I know the best way
judging - At least I'm not like that!
comparison - I'm so much more organized, better, neater, etc
blame - If he were home sooner, if he helped out more
selfishness - I want to do my own thing
anger - Why do I have to put up with this
despair - nothing will ever change or get better
frustration - I just cleaned that!
coveteousness - I want a nicer/bigger/newer house
jealousy - It's not fair that I don't live close to family for help
discontent - My life will be better with this purchase

Oh God, Forgive me.
"I will HEAL your backsliding"

I come to the end of myself for there is nothing of this "old woman" that I care to keep around.
You, O God, are my healer. I sit here and soak in your healing love. I feel no guilt or reproach from you in response to my backsliding because I feel your spontaneously abundant gift of love....for me.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Sunshine!

Posted in A day in the life

I'm cold-blooded, for as long as I can remember I have always been cold. Pregnancies have made a slight difference but still in the winter-time often I can't seem to get enough layers of clothes on and I drink gallons of hot beverages everyday.
So, you can imagine my delight to have a "warm" place in my house. For a few hours every sunny day I am blessed by having sunlight pour into my kitchen through my one small South window.
Mmmmm, delicious, lovely, bright and warm sunshine! I love to be in my kitchen in the afternoon just for the sunlight, it brightens the whole room and warms my baking counter so that I almost feel hot standing there.

Truly the light is sweet,
and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
Ecclesiastes 11:7

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Friday, January 11, 2008

Clean Heart Journal

Posted in Clean Heart Journal

1 Corinthians 14:33
"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace..."

confusion: instability, disorder, commotion, tumult.

peace: quietness, rest, set at one again, freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions.

For God is not the author of instability of mind, disorderly thoughts, commotion or tumult but He is the author of quietness of heart, rest in my soul, and freedom from disquieting thoughts and oppressive emotions.

As I have been meditation and pondering on this verse and what it means to my life I began to question what it is that causes me to be in a state of confusion?
Hmmmm, fear of circumstances (empty bank account, unpaid bills, health problems, etc), and lack of direction and purpose are what come to mind first, but to dig deeper I believe the root of my confusion is a lack of trust and faith in my Jesus.
In John 14 Jesus is sharing with His disciples about His leaving but the coming of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. And then He says in verse 27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Do you see what that means?
Not only is God the author of PEACE but He has given us PEACE!
So when the phone is ringing off the hook, there are no clean dishes for lunch, the floor is covered with toys, your searching baskets to find some clean clothes, the baby won't sleep, the kids are quarreling and you just want to run away and scream or fall in a heap and cry......remember.....He has given us PEACE.
Seek the author of rest, and quietness.

faithfully,
Jessica

• Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Counting down to Christmas

Posted in A day in the life

We are having a very fun time looking forward to Christmas this year!
I'm enjoying keeping up old traditions and starting new ones and always searching for ways to point my children towards Christ during this time.
Here's a bit of our traditions.

OLD
Decorate the tree after returning from Thanksgiving weekend with family.
Make & decorate sugar cookies
Participate in a Christmas Cookie exchange
Read lots of Christmas books
Drive around and look at Christmas lights

NEW
Mail out Christmas cards and letters
Make & decorate gingerbread men
Read a chapter from "One Wintry Night" & "The Indescribable Gift" nightly.

• Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Frugality

Buy what you NEED
Want what you HAVE.

• Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. Psalms 90:17