Dec. 2, 2008 - ~I.O.U.S.A

0 Comments Post A Comment! Permanent Link

Dec. 1, 2008 - Happy Thanksgiving

We ate a little from the garden this Thanksgiving.  That was fun!


I know...... a little smitten.  But homegrown lettuce will do
that to you




This was the flower arrangement that Grandma made.  Ain't it perty?
She made it from stuff around her house and yard!  Gotta love that!

After our fun with the folks on Thanksgiving, some very good friends
showed up for a visit.  They brought tomatoes from their bath tub and
we supplied the lettuce from our pool (sounds like
a true hillbilly gathering if you ask me!) and together our ingredients made a splendid salad!



And lastly..... here's another potato recipe(from Laines Letters). 
Target has more potatoes on sale!  Still 1.99 per 10 pounds!
Run -don't walk- and get them taters!

Happy Thanksgiving!





*I love to make fried potatoes. Here is a fast recipe:

About 6 potatoes peeled and chopped or sliced
2 T. olive oil
salt to taste

Mix all together in a big bowl. Spread on a cookie sheet and bake at 450 for about 30-40 minutes until browned. (You may turn them once while baking, although I don't and they come out fine.) That's it! Sometimes I make these with onions and bell peppers, like I did tonight. They are good for breakfast like that, too.

1 Comments Post A Comment! Permanent Link

Nov. 28, 2008 - ~To all our friends.....

0 Comments Post A Comment! Permanent Link

Nov. 24, 2008 - ~Good Conversation

I have been blessed to have great friends that love to discuss deep topics.  We discuss music, dress, politics (yes, even politics!), movies, and even personal standards.  No topic is sacred!  The reason I say I am blessed is because we're STILL friends!  You know you have a good friend when you can discuss things you don't agree, are not sure if you agree on, and you are drawn closer to them!

It's been in the past year that I have become keenly aware of how blessed I am.  See, in the past year or so many of these topics have come up and in a few cases I have had friendships that have become even sweeter than before.  And this from two opposing positions! 

I've been thinking a lot about this lately, along the lines of the verse: 'As irons sharpens iron" Prov.27:17.  What I think interesting is that it is not a soft object that sharpens iron.... it's another piece of iron!  And in learning about this I have made some interesting discoveries..... #1 You do NOT sharpen iron (your knife) with a stone!  This is only to be done in rare occasions when you have failed to sharpen your knife with another piece of iron and it has become quite dull!  The every day sharpening HAS to come from ANOTHER piece of iron.  The stone SHORTENS the life of your knife!  Yet the iron (if used in accordance with the directions) will make your knife last a lifetime.

The other interesting point that stands out was actually watching a knife being sharpened by each object.  When a knife is sharpened by another piece of steel it looks more like a collaborated effort.  Two pieces of steel are involved in the sharpening.  In watching the sharpening with the stone it seems more like a forceful action.   

And one of the most wonderful discoveries that jumped out at me was that if you don't sharpen your blade it will become totally dull and be rather useless (see video below). 

I think it's extremely important that we continue to sharpen one another.  Continue to discuss those sacred cows (isn't that what they call it?).  What kind of music do you listen to?  Why?  Why do you dress the way you do?  Is this your preference?  Or is it a conviction?  Vote for who.......why?  Why does it matter what movies I watch?  Do you really think that affects anything?

When we stop hanging with those that sharpen us..... we stop being sharpened.  You CANNOT be sharpened with another piece of iron unless you rub up against it!

Thanks for listening to my rambling........

1 Comments Post A Comment! Permanent Link

Nov. 22, 2008 - ~Our sweet girl

While I gave the little ones a bucket bath last night our eldest daughter was decorating our room for an intimate date.  She had made a Pot Roast with mashed potatoes and broccoli and a wonderful ceasar salad followed by homemade cookies! 

When she first pitched the idea to me (about her dad and I having a date in our room) I said No.  Then I decided to talk it out with her.  I explained just how much work that would mean.  It is her dishes week and to make dinner and then clean-up for two tables (one with all the fancies) would be a lot of work!  Once I knew she fully understood what she was getting herself into the date was on. 

We had so much fun and really enjoyed our night out in!

Thanks Belle!

0 Comments Post A Comment! Permanent Link

Nov. 21, 2008 - ~It CAN Be done ~IRONing

I belong to an online group that has been discussing how to feed your family for 100.00 per week.  Though it would be interesting to feed a family of four on 100.00 per week, it is an intense thought to feed a family of eight or ten on the same amount.... don't you think?

Well, I recently had some time on my hands (I'm sick and miserable) and began to jot down some of our meals and recent buys, etc.... and as difficult as it may seem (with a little planning)  it can be done. 

My first stop was figuring our daily amount (I was curious), which was approximately $14.25 per day.  That equals out to roughly $1.78 per person as we have eight in our family, which is a bit over .50 per person, per meal.  Then I jotted down how we've been eating and how much it costs.  This was very interesting......

A morning breakfast of Oat Groats and a cup of milk cost .45 per person.  That is calculating oil, cinnamon, -the works.  The cost is basically the same for Oat muffins and Southern Health Bread (each with a glass of milk).  That's a rotation of three healthy meals, each costing less than .50 per person.  

Lunches are pretty easy to figure out.  Peanut Butter and Jelly w/Carrot sticks.  Homemade banana bread w/a fruit or veggie, etc.... .  The cost was about .38 cents per person, considering each person drinks water with their lunch.

For dinner I wrote down a couple of weekly regulars at our house.  I can easily get 2 meals from a whole chicken that I purchase from Sams.  The cost for 2 whole chickens is about 7.00, which means each chicken cost aprox 3.50.  An example of a cheap nutritious meal would be to roast the chicken and serve with homemade beans and rice or side veggies (adding about 1.50 to the cost of the chicken), but then the second nights dinner is virtually free since I take all my leftovers and make a chicken soup with loads of onion, garlic, and tidbits of carrots.  I almost always add 1/2 cup of barley since it's so cheap and healthy (although yesterday I substituted orzo since I got that for .69 a pound).  It's easy to whip up a batch of bisquits or serve a sleeve of saltine crackers which only adds about .25 for the entire family. 

I'm also realizing the blessing of local produce.  Yesterday hubby and two of the children picked up these lovely Navals (above).  A local grower was selling them on the side of the road (8 for 1.00!).  They can be served with our lunch or as a seperate snack and a dollars worth can be 16 servings if cut in half!  We got two dollars worth, so that's 32 servings!  Lord willing we'll be able to harvest our own for free within the next few years, but for now that's a VERY good deal!

I found my way back to Target the other day and purchased 3 more bags of potatoes (30 pounds) for less than 6.00. What a blessing to be able to buy food for .20 per pound!  Potatoes last a good while if kept in a cold climate, but I'll be using nearly ALL of the potatoes this coming week on two Thanksgiving meals.  God's perfect timing!

That's as far as I got in figuring out the cost of our individual meals and servings.  I bought a pot roast the other day and will probably make that tonight.  I'm sure that individual meal will send me over-the-top regarding the individual budget, but then again I might be able to make 2-3 meals from the roast which will help me break even....?  We'll see.  I'm definitely not at the 100.00 mark yet!  And when you consider toilettries, cleaners, dog and chicken feed, our love of coffee and the occasional desert....... the price does go up a little

There's a verse that has been coming to mind a lot lately: "As iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another".  This verse has come to mind when I think of sin and waywardness.  It has come to mind when I have thought of particular paths we often take.  And it has also come to mind when I think of my role as a wife and mother.  I am always encouraged when I hear of women who encourage their husbands (iron sharpening iron), mothers loving and joyfully guiding their children (iron sharpening iron), and woman who desire to be faithful with what the Lord and their husbands have entrusted to them (iron sharpening iron).

3 Comments Post A Comment! Permanent Link

Nov. 17, 2008 - ~3 good things

*The first good thing I want to share is that Potatoes were .20 cent pound at Target yesterday.  I bought 10 pounds for 1.99!  Hardly ever am I able to get to a Target as there is not one near here - Boy! am I glad I did yesterday!  Time for Potato soup, Poor mans meal, Mashed potatoes, Veggie soup, and Jo's homemade potato chips!

*#2 - Did you know that Dollar General has broths and other canned goods for .50 each?  That's cheaper than many sales I have found and I don't need to settle for dented cans.  That's a good thing!

*And last - but not least......... our third good thing for today comes from Oswald Chambers:

Have a blessed day!



November 17th.

   

THE ETERNAL GOAL
   

"By Myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing . . . that in blessing I will bless thee. . . ." Genesis 22:15-19

Abraham has reached the place where he is in touch with the very nature of God, he understands now the Reality of God.

"My goal is God Himself . . .
At any cost, dear Lord, by any road."

"At any cost, by any road" means nothing self-chosen in the way God brings us to the goal.

There is no possibility of questioning when God speaks if He speaks to His own nature in me; prompt obedience is the only result. When Jesus says - "Come," I simply come; when He says - "Let go," I let go; when He says - "Trust in God in this matter," I do trust. The whole working out is the evidence that the nature of God is in me.

God's revelation of Himself to me is determined by my character, not by God's character.

"'Tis because I am mean,
Thy ways so oft look mean to me."

By the discipline of obedience I get to the place where Abraham was and I see Who God is. I never have a real God until I have come face to face with Him in Jesus Christ, then I know that "in all the world, my God, there is none but Thee, there is none but Thee." The promises of God are of no value to us until by obedience we understand the nature of God. We read some things in the Bible three hundred and sixty-five times and they mean nothing to us, then all of a sudden we see what God means, because in some particular we have obeyed God, and instantly His nature is opened up. "All the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen." The "yea" must be born of obedience; when by the obedience of our lives we say "Amen" to a promise, then that promise is ours.

2 Comments Post A Comment! Permanent Link

Nov. 11, 2008 - ~Savings all around

Several months back we began a little experimented living.  I saved a few pictures, but never blogged about it.  For over 2 months, at a certain time in the evening, we shut everything down and ran on candles and fuel oil.  No electricity was allowed and we had SO MUCH FUN! 

Every evening we'd run around the house getting all our cleaning done and shouting "We're running out of day-light!".  Then as the sun would set we'd light a few oil lamps and sit down to read. 

This was my favorite lantern that we purchased towards the end of this experimental time:


This was purchased at Lehmans for less than 30.00 and really dispersed the light throughout the room. 

We were the strictest (experimentally speaking) for about 2 months, but this way of life continued much longer and we still revert back occasionally.  We also made a few experimental conclusions during the course of this time, #1 - Fuel oil beats out olive or vegetable oil!  I cannot share the process, but I can definitely share the conclusion!

#2, Buy lantern oil on sale if you can!  For some reason I was able to purchase clean fuel oil at one particular Walmart for 2.50 per half gallon during this time.  Over a period of several months I'd buy a few bottles each time I visited and no other Walmarts had the same deal (I checked 5!).  The regular cost for the same amount is over the 4.oo mark!  2.50 is MUCH better!

#3, There is substantial savings!  I really didn't expect to have as much savings as we did.  This was in part due to not using night-time lighting, but also night-time electricity as well.  A side-effect though,  that has to be noted, is that living this way during this short course of time encouraged us to a different mindset that saved on other things as well.  Long story short..... we used less water during this time.  Less electricity.  Had less waste.  And we saved money all around in general.  One thing usually leads to another and our little experiment was no exception.

One of my favorite blogs is lentilsandrice and I was tickled pink this morning to see that they are doing pretty much the same thing over there!  I love this blog because she always posts LOTS of pictures and I like seeing the many ways she cooks up those beans!  I've got beans on the stove this morning and am looking for ways to make more than one meal from this ingredient.  Lentilsandrice usually has what I am looking for.

Now to share a neat little recipe we came up with the other day......  We had a big/late lunch and were a little hungry, but not hungry enough for a big ol meal.  A few of us were also starting to act a little like a cold was trying to get us.  So I took a large onion, a big clump of fresh garlic (atleast 10 cloves), and sauteed those two in a little olive oil (better for cooking instead of lighting). 

Then I added a can of diced tomatoes and some italian seasoning, along with 1/2 cup of barley and 8 cups of water.  Added some salt at the end and it was YUMMY!  A nice light/healthy meal for about 2.00!



 

1 Comments Post A Comment! Permanent Link

Nov. 10, 2008 - ~Demographic Winter

We spied a review in the most recent World magazine and found the documentary online.  Here it is.......

0 Comments Post A Comment! Permanent Link

Nov. 6, 2008 - God Does not Play Dice~Einstein

~God does not play dice with the universe- an Albert Einstein quote I thought a perfect introduction for the movie 'Expelled - No Intelligence Allowed'.  You can purchase or rent the movie and it's definitely worth the view!  It's a very informative documentary of the 'expelling' of common sense and questioning from our elite college institutions.  The reviews are out and depending on where you get your review from will determine their synopsis.  There is certainly a control factor here and I believe the movie Expelled does a great job unveiling that fact.

I am short on time this morning, but I wanted to put this small part out.  Expelled is not a pop the pop-corn, have a good time, forget your brain kind of film.  It is thought provoking, sometimes funny, sometimes dry facts.  The producers did a very good job mixing up the facts with classic & funny television scenes (old black & white) and making their logical points without being rude or disrespectful.  This is a must and you could literally use this film with your science curriculum. 






 

0 Comments Post A Comment! Permanent Link

Nov. 3, 2008 - ~I have never learned SO MUCH!

We've just completed 2 very full weeks of work and living.  Our second wedding is complete and we'll begin the editing process for the photographs and video today.  My entire body is sore with my back and feet taking the brunt of achy.  One more week to go and that should do it.  Life of a homeschooling- christian mother sure is interesting

I might be uploading a few photos and video but in the meantime I wanted to share something that truly tickled me pink!  Looky here:


We had an early freeze a few days back and had to cover much of our little garden.  We lost 1/4 of our beans and our sweet little pumpkin as well.  I remember hearing something to the effect of a farmer learns to live with losses.  I try to remember that for our garden experiments here at home.

It was such a nice surprise picking 12 beans and this radish.  A little fruit from our labor and sooooo encouraging.  And here is my fantastic little pool of lettuce.  I haven't counted, but estimate aprox 50+ lettuce plants.  I snack on these and the pole beans when I'm out watering - yum!  I will do this lettuce pool every fall/winter/spring!  It has been so productive and we eat the dickens out of lettuce around here.

The first round of lettuce will be ready for harvest in just a few weeks.  The Romaine is standing up nice and tall and the red leaf is becoming so full and pretty.  When the lettuce reaches a nice height I'll cut off the tops and a few weeks later will get a second harvest as well.  Isn't that amazing?!  I still can't get over the fact that I plant once and harvest TWICE!


We're due to plant onions and potatoes soon and that ought to be interesting.  Like I say....experiments.  We learned much from our Summer experiments and have a few clues of what to do and what not to do next year.  With all the winter tests around here we're sure to keep learning. 

By this time next year we'll have a little more experience and hopefully not so many losses.  We'll see.....

Homeschooling never ends.  Whether it's filming and photography or gardening, cooking and organizing.  As I/we attempt to train and encourage the children we are in the process of being trained and are learning as well.  I have NEVER learned so much in my life!

2 Comments Post A Comment! Permanent Link

Oct. 28, 2008 - ~Some of the wedding photos we took over the weekend

~One of my personal favorites.....



So much fun....more to come.

0 Comments Post A Comment! Permanent Link

Oct. 23, 2008 - ~Really Basic Ingredients

We did our weekly shopping yesterday.  For the past 2 weeks I have been under budget and it is SO MUCH FUN!  Two weeks ago we saved about 5% and last week we were nearly 25% under budget - Boy did that put wind in our 'SALES' for this week!

So this week I decided to go VERY basic.  We went to Sams and bought potatoes, onions, carrots, salad, apples, cheese, milk, eggs, etc.....  And of course those .69 per pound chickens!  I'll cook using these ingredients and the small stash of items we keep in our pantry (dry beans, canned goods, etc). 

Last night our daughter baked a chicken and made mashed potatoes and green beans.  All filled up we put the leftover bones and meat in the fridge bowl.  This morning when I woke up I emptied all that chicken in our big soup bowl and I'll cook the chicken and bones all day long for a yummy-in-my-tummy broth.  Tonight will be chicken soup loaded with onions, garlic, and other veggies since we're in the middle of fighting some type of bug (perfect timing!).

I used the remainder of my wheat this morning for the Oat muffins (using leftovers), so we'll have to grind flour before we're able to make fresh bread for tonight.  That's the plan anyway>grin.  Each week I spend between 10.00- 20.00 from our budget keeping the small pantry stocked.  This week that included oil and evaporated milk.  Next week I'll stock pile a little honey -if all goes well.  Keeping the pantry somewhat stocked helps in making meals like Corn Chowder, Salmon Chowder,  and this little ditty here:


This was made last week from leftover black beans from two nights dinners.  I just added onions, garlic, green pepper, spices, canned tomatoes and canned corn for a spicy tex-mex style dish I found on allrecipes.com.  It was good having the canned items needed for the meal and we didn't waste any of the leftover black beans either. 

What I did differently though was take the peppers, onions, garlic, etc... and whirled them in the blender creating no-see-um spices for the dish.  This was a bit of wisdom I received from friend Arleen a week or so ago and has worked great for the little pickers that tend to pick out the healthy vegetable spices.

I would love to hear from others about ways they have used simple ingredients or ways they used leftovers in other dishes!  Looking for more so DO share!

Blessings,

eunice:O)

0 Comments Post A Comment! Permanent Link

Oct. 22, 2008 - ~How to catch wild pigs - A must read!

Catching Wild Pigs

A chemistry professor in a large college had some exchange students
in the class. One day while the class was in the lab the Professor
noticed one young man (an exchange student) who kept rubbing his
back, and stretching as if his back hurt.

The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student
told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while
fighting communists in his native country who were trying to
overthrow his country's government and install a new communist
government.

In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a
strange question. He asked, 'Do you know how to catch wild pigs?'

The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punchline. The
young man said this was no joke. 'You catch wild pigs by finding a
suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs
find it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn. When they
are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the
place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the
fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side
of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You
continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate
in The last side. The pigs, who are used to the free corn, start to
come through the gate to eat, you slam the gate on them and catch
the whole herd.

Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and
around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to
eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have
forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept
their captivity.

The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees
happening to America . The government keeps pushing us toward
socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of
programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned
income, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant
crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, etc... While we continually
lose our freedoms -- just a little at a time.

One should always remember: There is no such thing as a free lunch!
Also, a politician will never provide a service for you cheaper than
you can do it yourself.

Also, if you see that all of this wonderful government 'help' is a
problem confronting the future of democracy in America , you might
want to send this on to your friends. If you think the free ride is
essential to your way of life then you will probably delete this
email, but God help you when the gate slams shut!

In this 'very important' election year, listen closely to what the
candidates are promising you!!

Just maybe you will be able to tell who is about to slam the gate on
America.

'A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big
enough to take away everything you have.' - Thomas Jefferson

*I'd also like to add (for those that do not know) there are third party candidates!  Candidates who have a high likelihood of winning if we vote our conscience.  Or the very least - send a huge message this election! One such candidate is Chuck Baldwin (whom Ron Paul endorses.  remember Mr. Paul...the one who was right about our current situation!). 

Republicans are trying to look more like 'democrats'.  Democrats are trying to appear more 'republican'.  This is politics folks!  In days gone by men voted their conscience - not their pocket books!  Freedoms were understood!  It takes back bone to vote your conscience.  It takes back bone to do something when you know you might lose.  Reminds me of the beginnings of our country - Men and women with back bone!





This little piggies got back bone

Blessings, eunice:O)

1 Comments Post A Comment! Permanent Link

Oct. 20, 2008 - ~ Here and There

It's been a very busy week.  Honey's grandmother passed away - she was 92.  To live to 92 -  Oh my!  It was nice to see family though.  We've got lots of pictures, storing up treasured memories for the young ones, passing down information about where and who they come from. 



The garden is growing wonderfully!  My synopsis so far is that it's easier and more productive to grow a Fall garden in Florida.  My lettuce are absolutely loving this weather!



Our Bible study is fantastic!  We are having so much fun gathering together (just the four of us) and discussing the Word.  It's neat having grown-up conversations about the Word of God and The Lords will with the older children.  There's a different element than when we're one on one, or when we're discussing scripture as a family together, and we're really enjoying this particular study as well.

Last week the children collected tad poles from our outside bucket and put the tad poles in the fish tank. I was a little surprised to see so many though!  There had to be 60 tad poles in that tank!


We were out of fish food and the tank needed cleaning, so the children decided to try this little experiment....it worked!  I was SO surprised!  I thought for sure that the tad poles would make an even bigger mess in the tank, but within 2-3 days the tank was totally clean!  And we haven't bought food yet either >grin.


Some of the best things in life are FREE!

 

0 Comments Post A Comment! Permanent Link

Oct. 14, 2008 - ~The Coming economic earthquake

Today on Focus on the Family - part two of an interview conducted with Larry Burkett in the early 90's.  As you may know, the founder of Crown ministries, went to be with the Lord about 5 years ago. 

I tuned in to the program yesterday and could not pull myself from the show.  On one hand I could not believe how right-on Larry was, and when I found out he wrote this in the early 90's it was even more sobering!  On the other hand though.... I was not surprised.  The Word of God is always right!  And just as a synopsis to what Larry said:  We know and earthquake is coming, and have an idea of how big it will be, we just don't know when!  I was able to listen to yesterdays show online at focusonthefamily.com , but I had issues getting the broadcast to play for a while.

It was an excellent show and actually uplifting!

0 Comments Post A Comment! Permanent Link

Oct. 13, 2008 - ~My laundered heart

I've had a recurring thought.....  My laundry room is a visual reminder of my prayer life - my heart.
That may sound quirky, but after this morning I'm REALLY beginning to think that is an accurate thought.

We have lived in our current home for about 8 years now and ever since we have moved to this house I have struggled with having time with the Lord.  For the first 4 or 5 years I fought very diligently.  There are many reasons for why having time with the Lord became so much more difficult with our move.  Many things changed at that time, but the point is- I was focused and knew I must, at the very least, get up and try. 

99% of the time a little one would wake or there would be another disruption, but I knew that I knew, I needed the Lord and my time with Him.  And the interruption didn't deter either...... if a child woke up, I would just put the little one on my lap and read anyways. As I would read and pray I knew the Lord had me focus on the one in my lap and that little one got bathed in prayer.

I began to be creative.  I would pray while doing other things as well.  You know the term.... multi-tasking?  Well, my laundry room became my favorite prayer closet, praying for each individual as I folded their clothes, and interestingly enough..... the laundry room was rather neat and tidy! 

The picture above is not my laundry room.  One day perhaps.....  :O)

My laundry room is a mess at the moment.  I have two full baskets that need to be folded and put away and I have three loads left to do.  It ain't a pretty sight!  Here's what I read in my study this morning..... 

 31Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

 32But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

 33Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

 34Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

 35Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

 36Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

 37And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

 38Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

 39And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

 40And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

 41Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

 42He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

 43And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

 44And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

 45Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

 46Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

 47And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

 48Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

 49And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

 50And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him.

 51And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.

 52Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

 53Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

 54But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

 55In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

 56But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

 57And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

 58But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

 59Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

 60But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

 61And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

 62And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

 63But Jesus held his peace, And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

 64Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

 65Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

 66What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

 67Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

 68Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

 69Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

 70But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

 71And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

 72And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

 73And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

 74Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

 75And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

The Lord asked Peter to watch and pray.  He commanded it!  Jesus knew that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.  Peter wasn't prepared for his temptation because Peter did not pray. 

In the above passage we see Jesus facing the greatest struggle of his entire life.  Jesus was prepared because he prayed and He submitted.

I don't have much time to write this morning, but I really wanted to jot down my thoughts before I went and tackled my laundry room.  Must be time for prayer.......

2 Comments Post A Comment! Permanent Link

Oct. 8, 2008 - ~A quick update of Life on the Farm

Okay..... so it's not REALLY a farm, BUT it feels like it sometimes :O)

Here is a picture of our pumpkin patches.  The one in the middle can barely be seen this far away (it's the one which had the tractor accident), BUT the resilient little pumkins are coming back.  It seems they have survived a run-in with the tractor!  Amazing!


And guess what we have here.......


This folks is a little pumpkin!!!  Can you sense my excitement?!  Now for pumpkin growing 101 - do you see that little bud atop that little baby pumpkin?  That is the Mommy flower!  You can always tell the Mommy bloom from the Daddy bloom, because the Mommy bloom has a baby pumpkin attached!

We are watching for our Daddy blooms to open and we will self pollinate so that we can be sure our baby pumpkin will grow.  Well..... as sure as newbie farmers can be - lol.

And this........


is Passion.  These chickens sure have grown - haven't they?  We're down to three since our favorite chickens departure, due to her involvement in The Ultimate Games.  Oh my!  Those reality shows get you every time!

Here's a picture of this years winner:

0 Comments Post A Comment! Permanent Link

Oct. 7, 2008 - ~Bright ideas

*Illustration above represents Jesus on the throne of our life.  The S represents Self (notice S is not on throne)


Each year, before school begins, we examine the upcoming year and certain needs for each child - as well as for our entire family.  This year we took a few hours to get away and went to our local library to think and rummage through catalogs.  They have a beautiful screened in patio and we took our catalogs and water bottles and went there for all that decision making.

One of the things that consistently comes up every year is God's Word.  We reflect on our short comings, what did and didn't work the previous year, where we need improvement, and what needs each individual child has (especially concerning spiritual matters).

As we were discussing the children, it occurred to my husband that he needed help discipling his older children.  Shortly after, we re-visited a Bible study series that was integral to my husbands relationship with the Lord many years before.  *Why is it we forget these things?

The Bible study is from a series of ten books from Dr. Bill Bright and I highly recommend them.  It was my husbands desire to have a Bible study at the house (like you would at your local church).  We meet each week and go over the lessons and what God is saying through His word and the study.  We began with the very first book in the series, Step 1, Beginning the exciting journey of Faith.  What I think is so wonderful about the series (other than the inexpensive - 4.00 cost) is how it is foundational and really causes you to examine yourself. 

We're on week #3, and this morning while I was finishing up week #2, I completed my Life Application.  For the entire week I've studied a multitude of scripture on the Christ controlled life.  Now, at the end, I am asked to examine myself!  The questions are simple and direct and being that they are at the end of a clear cut truth, there is no confusion for me.

Last week one of the children was in the middle of many trials.  It's an area that has been re-visited again and again in the life of this particular child.  What was neat though...was that this time the trial was being examined in the light of scripture - daily.  The child had scripture that was helping to guide through the trial and the child's weaknesses.  Truths regarding who is on the throne of this child's life.  I use to have this idea (ideas can be strange....can't they?) that if I wasn't in the word then I wouldn't be tested.  But the truth is that if I'm not in the word I do not hear as clearly.  The testing and trials come no matter what.  God's peace and power come by the Spirit of truth (the Word of God).

It was so neat to see what God was doing with the study and how God was preparing Gary with the wisdom he needed to help guide this child through it.  Gary was a day or so ahead of the rest of us so he had glimpses of what was to come.  The scripture that he would study (a day ahead), he was able to share with this child while in the testing, and then the child would get the same scripture and have to apply it the following day.  So not only was the child being guided by daddy, in the midst of the trial, but the Lord used the scriptures to really cement truth when the child was alone with Him as well.

We realized that we needed something a little different with the older children.  It's been great gathering together and singing and reading God's Word.  The conversations we have are indispensable.  This though, is allowing for deeper study and fellowship with our older children. I just thank the Lord for Bright Ideas!

2 Peter 1

 1Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

 2Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

 3According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

 4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

 5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

 8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.


*You can find the bible study at christianbook.com by typing in Bill Bright.  Hopefully this link will work (copy and paste):

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=9030X&netp_id=188803&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW&view=covers

1 Comments Post A Comment! Permanent Link

Oct. 5, 2008 - ~Pastor Appreciation Day (early)

1 Comments Post A Comment! Permanent Link