The way to Heaven is ascending;
we must be content to travel uphill,
though it be hard and tiresome,
and contrary to the natural bias of our flesh.
Jonathan Edwards
~ 2008 Goals ~
Family Goals
1. Purpose to be home more in 2008.
2. Love one another, prefer one another, be kind and tender-hearted to one another.
(Family Verse for 2008, Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."ESV)
Personal Goals
(Revised from last year)
1. Read my Bible and pray every day possible.
(Growing in grace to do what I know I am called to do, pursue holiness,diligence.)
2. Seek out tangible ways to encourage others as often as possible.
3. Purpose and pray to eat only when I am hungry, stopping when I am full, not stuffed!
Dec. 2, 2008~ To stay or to go? ~
I saw this quote today and it made me smile.
Let us be grateful to people who make us happy - they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. ~Marcel Proust
Lately, we've been pondering a potential move, as several opportunites have presented themselves, recently. I cannot believe It was almost 2 years ago that we moved here to this house with the goal of being debt free. We knew this house had some issues and we knew that these issues would not be fixed, but we felt and still do, that this house was hand picked for us by God. But what if it is time to move on?
I am never very sure how to figure out God's will for me. Usually, I make a decision and hope for the best. Then the feedback tells me if I was right or wrong. Then I usually have to live with the consequences until it is feasable to make changes. This house could be one of those situations.
Really, we are blessed to be here. I have always wanted to live in this town. We have great neighbors. We have a nice situation, except for the winterizing and updating that need to be done. We've enjoyed being close to the Monon Trail. We've enjoyed the library more than words can say. The kids love it here. We have just enough. I could stay here another couple years when our plan is complete.
However, some friends of ours from church are moving out of state and I have always liked their house. They have asked us to consider their house. They would feel better about moving, knowing a trusted friend is caring for their beloved home. We are all praying about it. It would be closer to church and work. It is a little larger and in much better shape than this house. It is also on the Monon Trail, just about 5 or 6 miles south of where we are now. It actually borders the trail. It is also closer to my parents. And it would be the same price as here because this is a more expensive area, which sometimes depresses me. Living here among the advantaged, the prices of everything are more expensive. I drive to another town to buy groceries cheaper.
So...if it is His will for us, then let it be. I am content to stay or go. Pray for us all to have wisdom in this situation. I appreciate all prayers so much. Thank you.
At the suggestion of my very smart husband, I have begun reading Daniel in light of my exile in modern day Babylon. In his NKJV Study Bible notes, John MacArthur says that Daniel made the most of his exile, successfully exalting God by his character and service. May I do the same. Here are some of my thoughts from chapter one.
The Lord gave over the Israelites to their enemies. (v 2) Again, this reminds me that God is sovereign. He made me. He has the right, power and wisdom to do what brings himself glory.
Daniel purposed in his heart he would not defile himself, engaging in compromise with the culture around him. (v8) This is a hard thing to follow through on. I pray that I can make progress towards this goal.
God brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of his captors. God honors those who honor him. (See 1 Sam 2:30.) I pray that I can bring honor to Him.
Eat your veggies (v15,16) OK, another reminder for me to eat right.
God gave Daniel knowledge and skill. Two things I could use more of, so I pray that I too will be given wisdom and skill.
If there is righteousness in the heart,
there will be beauty in the character.
If there is beauty in the character,
there will be harmony in the home.
If there is harmony in the home,
there will be order in the nation.
If there is order in the nation,
there will be peace on earth.
All creation cries to You
Worshiping in Spirit and in truth
Glory to the Faithful One
Jesus Christ, God's Son
All creation gives You praise
You alone are truly great
You are alone are God who reigns
For Eternity... (Y EAHHHH!!!!) woo ^^
God is great And His praise
Fills the earth Fills the heavens
And Your name will be praised
Through all the world
God is great Sing His Praise
All the earth All the heavens
Cause we're living for the Glory of Your Name, Glory of Your Name
God is great And His praise
Fills the earth Fills the heavens
And Your name will be praised
Through all the world
God is great Sing His Praise
All the earth All the heavens
Cause we're living for the Glory of Your Name, Glory of Your Name
Holy Is The Lord....
The whole earth sings
The whole earth sings... (x4)
God is great And His praise
Fills the earth Fills the heavens
And Your name will be praised
Through all the world
God is great Sing His Praise
All the earth All the heavens
Cause we're living for the Glory of Your Name, Glory of Your Name
Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory.
Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility;
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow'r that can never fail—
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises,
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.
A good friend of mine, a godly woman, has come to me with a situation that I do not feel qualified to handle. In fact, I told her that if it were me, I'd be in counseling with a godly focus.
Almost two years ago her husband had a stroke during heart surgery at the age of 33 or so. He's been on disability and working part time since then. Their troubles started long ago, however. He professed to be a Christian, but seems to have fallen away, having no desire to go to church or pray or read the Bible. I know that she has some blame in all of this, too, but I don't know the whole story, just her side. Anyway, they have 3 homeschooled children and a lot of stress in their marriage.
Yesterday she told me she is thinking about a divorce. He wants to move far away and she doesn't want to. It's a long story. He wants to go be near his family. She hates his family who are all non-believers. Anyway, it is a hard situation. All I could think was to tell her to go to her church and ask for help. I've told her this for years and she never has. I don't know what else to do. She has entered into the "for worse" part of her vows and I know the Lord expects her to stick it out. The world has another opinion. I just don't think it is the answer.
16 So the poor have hope,
and injustice shuts its mouth.
17 "Blessed is the man whom God corrects;
so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
18 For he wounds, but he also binds up;
he injures, but his hands also heal.
Deuteronomy 8:4-6 (New International Version)
4 Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.
6 Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and revering him.
1 Corinthians 9:24-26 (New International Version)
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.
Lord, thank you for not giving up on me despite my fickle heart. I am so easily distracted from pursuing you. Please forgive me.
Lord, thank you for music that feeds my soul. I love singing to you!
Lord, thank you for the change of seasons. I am looking forward to fall's glorious colors.
Lord, thank you for giving me the courage to tell someone I love that she is wrong for telling me things about her husband that she should only tell you. I am sorry it took me so long.
Lord, thank you for the whole of creation and its beauty.
Lord, thank you that you are incomprehensible.
Lord, thank you for the Sunday Schoolers we are getting to know. Help us to show your love to them. Help me to not grow weary in doing good.
Well, I sat down a few times today to write out my thankful list. I have so much on my heart to thank the Lord for, I don't want to miss the chance to do it publicly. Anyway, a full life is on the top!
Lord, I thank you for my full life and the desire to live it for your glory.
Lord, I thank you for the clothes I found this week for the kids at resale shops. I pray we find just what we need and that I do not go over board as I am known to do when it comes to deals.
Lord, I thank you for Elizabeth George and for her writings. I have been so inspired by her. (Just finished Life Management for Busy Women)
Lord, thank you for the lessons You taught me while on vacation. Help me to implement the changes I need to make in the way I view my time.
Lord, thank you for my home. Going away was nice, but coming home was best.
Lord, thank you for my family. I loved spending so much time with them on vacation.
Lord, thank you for Laura Ingalls Wilder's wise writings. I am so thankful that someone took the time to publish them.
Lord, thank you for Your Word.
Lord, thank you for the opportunity to serve You in Sunday school, which starts this Sunday. I am scared. It can be crazy with 60 kids in such a small space. Please help me do the good I know I ought to do and not run away from this work you've sent. I know it is from you. I'd be more afraid to run away from it.
Lord, thank you for the self-control I've received. I have lost nearly 20 pounds. Thank you!
********
Now, here is a quote I wanted to share.
"As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common, everyday blessings of our common everyday lives for which we should be particularly grateful. They are the things that fill our lives with comfort and our hearts with gladness-just the pure air to breathe and the strength to breathe it; just warmth and shelter and home folks; just plain food that gives us strength; the bright sunshine on a cold day; and a cool breeze when the day is warm. "
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little House in the Ozarks
So, Lord, I thank you for the common everyday blessings, too.
Lord, thank you for a new babysitting venture, just at the right time. Having a toddler for 4 hours will be a challenge to our school day, but, one I think we are capable of working through.
Lord, thank you for our upcoming vacation. I can't believe we will be packing up the van and on our way Sunday morning. I am so thankful for this family time and rest for my husband.
Lord, thank you for sustaining us this week. It's been a lean couple of weeks without babysitting money, but we've managed to survive.
Lord, thank you for the rain that is coming our way. There have only been two measurable rainfalls this month, which is not unusual for August. I miss the rain and the joy that comes knowing You are showering us with common grace.
Lord, thank you for my renewed health. Thank you that Trevor only seems to have a little cold. You know that I worry about these things right before a big vacation. Thank you that it is not worse.
Lord, thank you for the opportunity to serve you again in Sunday School. Thank you for providing workers. Thank you for the 60 kids we will teach each week. Please help me not be fearful of what seems like such a big job. It goes against my nature to be the one in charge. Thank you that I have my husband working along side of me. Forgive me when I grumble about 40 weeks being too long.
1 Praise the LORD!Praise the LORD, O my soul!
2I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3 Put not your trust in princes,
in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. 4When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
on that very day his plans perish.
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God, 6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever; 7 who executes justice for the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free; 8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous. 9 The LORD watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10 The LORD will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the LORD!
This summer is almost over and I feel we've accomplished much. We are rested and ready to get back to our lessons, at leats I am. For this, I praise You.
Thank You for the 2 inches of much needed rain! I have not had to water the garden or flowers very much this summer. I know I keep mentioning the rain this summer, but after last year, I've learned not to take it for granted or grumble when the rain spoils an outdoor event.
Thank You for the opportunity to babysit this summer. It really helped make ends meet. I pray for future jobs to be as sweet.
I wish I did not let my happiness depend on my circumstances so much. One moment I am all a titter about not having as much babysitting money as I thought I would have, and the next moment I am sitting on my living room floor rejoicing over a basket full of clothes for my boys! Thank you for that blessing! Please help me remember that my happiness does not depend on my circumstances.
My weight went up a little this week, yet, I have to be thankful for this too. I cannot get to a healthy weight without You.
Thank You for the drop in gas prices. Thank You that we've broken our addiction to fast food. Those two things were budget busters for us. And it did not help my waistline either.
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.
This week came the dreaded announcement of our family's bakery closing. Apparently, it was big news, making all the news reports and the paper. Even though we did not get the answer to prayer we were hoping for, I will praise You, my Lord and King. I know that Your ways are better than what I think is best for my family.
Thank You for the end of the 2 week stagnation with my weight loss efforts. Yippee! I even lost 2 pounds this week making up for the last two weeks. My 9 week total is 15 pounds.
Grace has had some accidents this week, more than usual. I am thankful that I know this will pass and it is probably related to her birthday. She has eaten birthday cake a lot this week. I need to make it a rule that we have cake for the event and toss it the next day. No one needs the cake, especially her. Thank You for this wisdom.
Thank You for the rain. I've not had to water my garden in weeks. Such a difference from last year.
Thank You for my dear husband. I am so proud of him. He's getting fit. He's making changes to eat healthier. He's such an encouragement to me.
Thank You for the opportunity to go to the True Women 08 conference in October with my mom. I am blown away at the thought of 3 days with her! What a blessing. It is hard for me to express how much this means to me. It is probably a once in a lifetime deal, like the time she and I went to Mackinac Island on a day trip. I'll cherish this trip with her.
Thank You for leading me to read Dr. Laura Schlessinger's book, The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage. It was a great reminder to me that marriages take work, even good ones. I was also reminded that I can be selfish and that I need to continue to pray about being the wife You want me to be and then get to work!
I realize that I am not alone in this. However these things have been weighing heavily on my mind this week. I can't seem to make ends meet. No matter what I do. We've cut and slashed our budget so many times. I try to use coupons. I follow frugal guidelines. I have not bought a piece of clothing for myself in 8 months and I am in desperate need of some new things after loosing 13 pounds. We spent $130 in gasoline this week and we are supposed to drive north for a birthday gathering in my dd's honor on Sunday. I have the task of calling my grandmother in Arkansas to tell her that we can't come in August because of money. And I don't know how I can drive to see my grandparents an hour away next week as I promised. And to top it off, I have to quit Weight Watchers. I knew when I started that we could not afford for me to go, but I was desperate to do something and so I went ahead hoping the Lord would make a way.
All these things the Lord knows. He tells us not to worry about them. I am casting my cares on You, Jesus. I have enough for today. Tomorrow will have its own troubles.
**Update, I really don't like being all down about things. So I have decided to look at this from what I do have. All our bills are paid. My husband has a job. I am home with my kids. We have books for school. We have food. We have mostly full gas tanks. We have family who loves us and want to see us. We have a lot of blessings!
Jul. 14, 2008~ Usually Not One to Toot My Own Horn, But.. ~
I have lost a total of 13 pounds in 7 weeks!!!!!
I am so excited. Can you tell? It all came together last week when I only lost half a pound. It dawned on me that the only change that had occurred from the previous pound+ loss weeks was that I had slacked off on eating all 5 fruits and vegetables. That's all. So this past week, I doubled my efforts to make sure I ate the fruits and veggies and I lost 1.6 pounds! I really love this new way of eating. And I feel so much better. This evening, even after VBS today, I took off on a long bike ride with my oldest son and would have NEVER done that in the past. I am a changed woman! Praise the LORD!!! With His help, I can do this. I can be the woman He made me to be.
(Music video and lyrics of Might to Save by Marty Sampson / Hillsong)
I
Everyone needs compassion
Love thats never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Anyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Saviour
The hope of nations
Chorus:
Saviour He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave…
II
So take me as you find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I Surrender
I Surrender…
***
Saviour He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave…
***
Saviour He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave…
***
Saviour He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave…
***
Saviour He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave…
Coda:
Shine your light and
Let the whole world see
Were singing for the glory
Of the risen King
Jesus Shine your light and
Let the whole world see
We’re singing for the glory
Of the risen King
***
Saviour He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave…
IF YOU ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU ALWAYS DID
YOU'LL ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU ALWAYS GOT!
Dottie's Weight loss Zone
I've not said a lot about this, but I joined Weight Watchers 5 weeks ago. I was at the end of my self, so to speak. So far I've lost 11# and feel so much better. I can't imagine going back to the old way of eating. Anyway, I just wanted to let the world know that I am taking my health serious and want my outside to reflect the person I am on the inside, ultimately bringing glory to my King.
Leviticus 20:26 says, "You must be holy because I, the LORD, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own." This blog is my place to remember this journey I am on and God's goodness to me. I am glad you are here. Welcome.
(v15,16) OK, another reminder for me to eat right. 
