Oct. 2, 2009 - Fear Mongering and Reality
Reality is our media and government like to keep us in a state of panic. When did wisdom become an afterthought? God created us to be reasonable thinking beings.
That being said, we can look at our situations, evaluate them and make rational decisions. As every year, we have entered into flu season. Look around your home and evaluate what you end up using every year and just be prepared to have it on hand. Here are a few ideas to help aleviate chaos.
1. Make sure you have a working and clean thermometer. I cannot tell you how many times over the past 17 years I have had to send my husband out to a 24 hr store in the middle of the night because I wasn't prepared with a working thermometer. Now I have both an old fashioned one and a battery powered one.
2. Tylenol, motrin and ibuprofen on hand only makes sense. if you have children make sure these medicines are not expired. Tylenol and motrin can be used one after the other to help with stubborn fevers. (one is a four hour the other is an 8 hour) I would use the motrin at bedtime and chase it 8 hours later with a tylenol.
3. Start preparing your body now. Buy vitamin D-3 (I like the chewables) Something else I have done over the course of 2 years is stopped using antibacterial soaps. My family and I use regular hand soap and make sure we wash them for at least 30 seconds each time we use the bathroom. This way we have been building up an immunity to the agents around us. Let me remind you, when you get an injection like the polio injection or the chicken pox injection, are they not giving you a small dose of the LIVE germ...to build your immunity to it? If I clean myself of all germs known to man and I come in contact with that germ, I'm gonna be sicker than I would had if I had built up an immunity to it.
4. Have the necessary cough and cold medicines available. Popcycles are nice to have on hand for the kids if they end up with a fever and it feels good on the throat and they are cheap.
5. I have read good things about Oscillococcinum so I have purchased a couple boxes for my husband and I and a couple boxes for my children. I will tell you that Wal-Mart is cheaper than Walgreens by a mile. Learn from my mistake. This is supposed to be most effective when taken when you feel the flu coming on. Not as a last resort.
6. You should have cough drops, mentholatum, lip balm, and the pink stuff on hand.
7. Diluted sports drinks for older children and adults for dehydration and pedialyte or similar fluid for younger children.
8. Have your dr's phone number on hand and know the procedure for the proper way to bring down a fever. They now suggest you not use alcohol. When I had pnemonia when I was a young girl they rushed me to the ER and threw ice cold wet towels all over me...I surely didn't enjoy it and they also don't recommend that any longer either...thank the Good Lord. A tepid, luke warm bath will slowly bring down a fever, you don't want them to get the chills.
9. Soups. Make up some soups you can freeze and have ready when you aren't feeling up to snuff. Create a few casseroles you can store in the freezer. When you don't feel like cooking, your family can take care of themselves.
Some would suggest you have a few gallons of water on hand, face masks and the likes. That's fine, we already have those in our arsonal and not a bad idea incase we are instructed to use them.
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Oct. 2, 2009 - Chocolate Zucchini Apple Muffins
I found this recipe on Allrecipes.com and it was YUMMO!
3 eggs, 2 Cups sugar, 1/2 Cup vegetable oil, 1/2 Cup applesauce (if you don't have applesauce, just double the oil), 1/3 Cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 1/2 teasp vanilla, 1 1/2 Cups grated zucchini, 1/2 Cup grated apple, 2 Cups flour, 1 Cup flax seed (if you don't have flax seed, add another cup of flour), 1 teasp baking soda, 1/2 teasp baking powder, 1 teasp salt, 2/4 teasp ground cinnamon, 1/4 teasp ground nutmeg, 1/4 teasp ground cloves.
Mix dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in another bowl and bring together. Bake at 350 for 25 - 30 minutes. Let cool.
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Sep. 27, 2009 - Homeschool Family Camp Vacation
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We enjoyed our family vacation to the Homeschool Family Camp in Ekalaka, MT. Like I mentioned in my previous post, we took food to save money. That helped out so much, plus we didn't gain weight on our trip and stayed healthy.
Since it was such a long drive and the last time we actually took a family vacation was 7 years ago, we wanted to make the most of our trip. We drove through ND on our way there and back through SD on our way back. Since I knew we would have to cover the cost of food till we reached our destination and after we left our destination I made a plan with my husband on what we could take with us that would be easy.
I made homemade cinnamon rolls the night before and packed cans of tuna, turkey, and chicken and a jar of miracle whip. We brought a cooler for the items that needed to stay cold and a tote for the dry items. To keep trash from piling up in the vehicle, we brought 1 water bottle with each of us and included 2 gallons of water. I am so glad we brought the gallon jugs instead of multiple water bottles. I included a couple storage containers that would allow me to mix up the sandwich spread. The night before I chopped up celery for the spread and made sure I chopped up enough for each can we would use. This worked out really nice. I would have included onions and seasonings but my kids didn't want all that in their spread. We included cheese sticks and apples and cans of fruit as well as snack bars and chips. With all this in toe and a loaf of bread and juice boxes, we were good to go and it all worked out even better than I thought. I thought we might actually get tired of eating sandwich spread but because it was different kinds of meat with regular meals inbetween our vacation (before and after or destination) nobody complained at all. We did include a 1/2 gallon of milk in our cooler because we didn't want it to go to waste while we were gone and glad we did.
The first night we actually slept in our vehicle, we didn't plan it that way (as some of us didn't have pillows and blankets) - next time I will be better prepared. The kids had pillows and blankets so they were warm and slept soundly. We pulled into Roosevelt National Park...along with many others (proved to be a popular idea) and rested till morning. Come morning we were amazed at the choice we had made because it was beautiful. Chili, but beautiful.
After we reached our destination to Trails End Ranch (highly recommend) the fun and fellowship got started. If you go, learn from our mistake - take pillows, blankets, towels, and sleeping bags...I guess that is why they call it "camp" MY BAD. Thankfully they had extras. These are great people that love the Lord and put everything they have into what they do.
After leaving we headed through SD and made the usual stops. Again, eating from our own store. However, it was nice to sleep in the hotel for a couple of nights. In Keystone is a nice hotel called K Bar S and it is only miles from Mount Rushmore. We did order pizza out one night. All in all it was an extremely enjoyable experience. We met great families at Trails End and are looking forward to going back next year, Lord willing.
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Sep. 9, 2009 - Wanted: Farm Fresh Milk
Okay! Why does it have to be so difficult to provide my family with farm fresh milk that doesn't cost $10 a gallon. I have done my research and understand how it all works. All I want is my family to have milk that doesn't have all the hormones and antibiotics that man is filling our cattle with. Cows that are range/grass fed are healthier and happier and make better milk. I see all the signs on the milk jugs that say there is "no significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rBST treated and nonrBST treated cows." Malarkey! They tell me that coffee is good for me and great for the memory but my body tells me something different. Just view these articles, prevent cancer and prostrate cancer. Don't know what rBST is: rBST. Here is an article published in 1985 regarding milk safety. Raw milk is actually the best way to drink it, non-pasteurized, or unheated as heating the milk does cook out necessary nutrients,
General Mills appears to be jumping on the bandwagon to use non-treated cows for their yogurt. Wal-Mart may even be jumping in as well.
Here is a good article on milk produced today.
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Sep. 8, 2009 - Family Vacation On A Budget
We are preparing for a family trip. I'm so excited. We haven't taken a family vacation since our dd was 6, she is now 17. Family vacations can be pricey when you add up the gas, dining and lodging. One way to save money is by preparing and taking your own food. It's also healthier.
There are items like cheese sticks, granola bars, carrot sticks, grapes and chips that make this easy. If you dry your own food, dehydrate some apples for apple chips with cinnamon, or dehydrate applesauce and make roll-ups. Pick some cherry tomatoes from your garden or from the grocer. Water can be brought in 1 gallon jugs instead of wasting all those water bottles and each person can bring their own water bottle and re-use it. Pick up some dry mix packets of lemonade where you just add water for a change of pace. Mix up boxed pudding for an added treat and store it in a cooler, or just pick up pudding pkgs from Wal-Mart, they're cheap.
For the main coarse, pick up dried jerkey, or bring cans of tuna or chicken, or turkey. Prepare slices of celery and include some spices, divide mayo or miracle whip in snack bags and you have the makings of a tuna salad sandwich. Make sure you pack your can opener (non electric) and cans are easy to pop open and prepare. Rest stops make great places to stretch ones legs and prepare a quick meal. Along with bringing some fresh fruit, include a few cans of fruit. Include a loaf of bread and/or tortilla shells, or pitas. When booking your hotel, check to see if it has a microwave. Bring along popcorn for a snack.
Another way to save money is by roughing it a bit. Instead of staying at a hotel, plan ahead to stay at a national park and tent camp.
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Sep. 5, 2009 - All Laws Should Be Measured Against God's Law
I have been reading a fabulous book The 5000 Year Leap by W. Skousen. Wow. It disturbs me greatly that this was not taught to me when I was in school. It would disturb me even more that my children were not to learn this if it were not for me homeschooling. I hate the idea that so much truth has been stripped away from our education.
Our founding fathers' idea of a strong America was
"to keep the power base close to the people. The emphasis was on strong local self-government. The states would be responsible for internal affairs and the federal government would confine itself to those areas which could not be fairly or effectively handled by the individual states."
Like what Moses did after his father-in-law's suggestion.
Research shows that:
Jefferson had a conversation with President Washington in August 1793 where he expressed deep concern that some elements of the President's administration were pushing toward oppressive monarchial-type powers. The President immediately responded that republican principles must be maintained and that "the Constitution they had in place was an excellent one, if we keep it where it is." and took steps to correct the situation.
Our founding Fathers warned against the temptation to head towards a "welfare state" where the government endeavors to take care of everyone from the cradle to the grave. Thomas Jefferson wrote: "If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them, they must become happy."
They even warned against deficit spending. Jefferson wrote, "we shall all consider ourselves unauthorized to saddle posterity with our debts, and morally bound to pay them ourselves, and consequently within what may be deemed the period of a generation, or the life [expectancy] of the majority." It was immoral to pass the debt of our frivilous lifestyle to the next generation.
I think it extraordinary that our Founding Fathers were all well-read. But not just anything. They read from Polybius, Cicero, Thomas Hooker, Coke, Montesquieu, Blackstone, John Locke, and Adam Smith. They were also careful students of the Bible, especially the Old Testament. Even those that did not belong to any Christian denomination. They were educated on Greek, Roman, Anglo-Saxon, European, and English history.
Cicero said, "The animal which we call man, endowed with foresight and quick intelligence, complex, keen, posessing memory, full of reason and prudence, has been given a certain distinguished status by the Supreme God who created him; for he is the only one among so many different kinds and varieties of living beings who has a share in reason and thought, while all the rest are deprived of it. But what is more divine, I will not say in man only, bit in all heaven and earth, than reason? And reason, when it is full grown and perfected, is rightly called wisdom."
Cicero understood the greatest commandment, to love, respect and obey God. Apply this to government affairs where humans are involved and it is justice. It is intriguing to me that Cicero was neither Christian nor Jew and yet he figured this out.
Our Founding Fathers understood it was necessary to build a highly moral and virtuous society. They wanted to be different from other societies. They measured everything against God's Laws. They had enough wisdom to know that without two key elements, the Constitution they developed would not last. The people needed to be sufficiently "virtuous and moral" to govern themselves. A corrupt and selfish people could never make the principles of "self-government" operate successfully.
Franklin wrote: "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters."
I am in awe over how the people back then knew how important it was for these two key elements to be present and that they doubted themselves. They had a deep thirst for independence. They wanted this to work but weren't sure they were capable of being "good enough". Some of the doubters were John Jay, Robert Morris, Robert Livingston, and John Dickinson. However, they took great pride in powerful expressions of faith and confidence they saw in men such as John Adams, George Washington, Richard Henry Lee and Josiah Quincy.
It was noted that Europe had corrupted its people with "luxury, indolence, amusement, and pleasure." (sounds familiar) There were newspapers in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Charleston printing letters pointing out deficiencies of American society. This caused a "self-examination" period amongst the people and a reform started to take place.
"Many Americans became extremely self-conscious about their lack of "public virtue" because of non-involvement in the affairs of government. They began to acknowledge their obsession with self-interest, the neglect of public affairs, and their disdain for the needs of the community as a whole. Gradually, a spirit of "sacrifice and reform" became manifest in all thirteen colonies."
Because many Americans liked the improvement in the quality of life due to the reform, they became afraid they would lose it and took quick steps to make sure this would not happen. They separated from all British manners under the current Monarch.
Want to learn more, I suggest getting the book. What an eye-opener. My prayer is that we will be given the opportunity by God to have one more reform.
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Sep. 1, 2009 - Citi-fied Homesteading
School - I'm still working on my planner. I should have started earlier this summer but am getting more excited about the new school year the more I delve into the curriculum I have. Busy boy is more than excited to get started and darling daughter is excited about all the new books she will be earning. I created an incentive for her to do her best by buying 4 books. I let her pick them out and I ordered them. She can earn 2 per semester.
Spiritual - I am enjoying spending time in God's word. I just finished up Ruth and sat back and meditated over God's intervention in both Ruth and Naomi's life. God was mighty quiet but busy at work. I am so glad that I can trust that God is busy at work in our lives even when things seem quiet.
Housework - I have been finding and cleaning out old plastic containers to use for my flour, sugar, etc. Darling husband likes to hold on to these things once their emptied just in case he needs them. I'm going to hyjack them. If you only knew how many ice cream containers my husband has been storing. They are such a spacehog. He likes to use these for the garden, plus milk containers. He cuts them up when it's time to seed and uses them to hold his seed starters. Kind of like a mini plastic greenhouse. Earlier in the week, while cleaning I came across a food dehydrator that my husband got at a rummage sale for $5. After a lovely conversation with a friend of mine this morning, she reminded me it was hers. After some research on how to use it I saw a recall notice and figured it was a waste of my time. After making a phone call to the company, I found out the one I have was not a part of the recall, so guess what my new toy is!!!
The one great thing I am finding from keeping a stock of food in my pantry is that I can buy things on sale. I love that! Or I can wait till I have a coupon and get them when they are on sale. I love that even more! I rotate my pantry on a weekly basis. Last year my husband made up home-made jars of salsa and tomatoes. We are still enjoying what is left and I'm hoping he will do it again. Our tomatoes are finally blooming and ripening, thanks to prayer. My next challenge is finding a local farm that will sell me milk and eggs. I'm wondering if the milk from the store is what is making my busy boy, extremely busy. I found when we did buy the more expensive milk he settled down more, but I cannot afford $4 a gallon, not with as much milk as we go through.
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Aug. 29, 2009 - Feel Good Potato Soup
Wow, it is actually a bit chilly today. The kids are all outside in sweatpants and sweatshirts and hubby must feel it too because he's doing the normal outside fall chores. This could only mean one thing. It's time for my potato soup. This is one of those "feel good" soups my mother use to make and she would add pieces of chicken. I would always ask my mother to make this when I was feeling down and needed a pick-me-up. Now I make it on fall gloomy days. I think we're going to have an early winter. And like last year, it's probably going to be a long one. Ugh. So here is my recipe for Potato Soup.
1 large onion, 10 small potatoes, 5 tbsp butter, 5 - 7 cloves of garlic, salt and pepper to taste, 1/2 pkg frozen carrots (ours wasn't ready from the garden yet), 1/2 a large zuccinni, simmer with lid on.
While that is simmering, cook up your chicken breast. I use 3. Don't forget to season your meat on both sides. When done, slice, chop and throw them in with your vegetables and add about 3 C of chicken broth and 3 C of milk. Season with 3 tsp of parsley flakes and 1 tsp of oregano. ( I don't actually measure, I eyeball.) Let simmer for atleast 1 hr.
Enjoy.
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Aug. 28, 2009 - The Tall Grass Zoo - By Winifred and Cecil Lubell
I am sheepishly admitting that this has been in my library of books since my eldest was small and I have never read it. My son brought it to me to read to him and was so delighted with it I decided to blog about it. If you are a homeschooler that loves to teach your children about the great outdoors, this book is for you. If you are a mother of a young child, but don't embrace nature quite as earnestly as outdoorsy people, this book is still for you. It is not a book of poetry. It gives simple, to the point information about bugs you would find in your backyard and puts it in a storybook fashion. It almost reads as though your grandmother has taken you by the hand and says, "look at this, this is a such and such, and this is what it does and why it's useful." An "at your level" type of reading. I especially liked the reading on the ant, but maybe that is because God has been reminding me of the one in proverbs. This book also reminded me how valuable earthworms and ladybugs are especially if you are needing help in your garden or flowerbed. My opinion, make up a batch of "feel good" food and sit down and have a read with your little one.
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Aug. 27, 2009 - Organizing on a budget
Today was a good day to clean my kitchen cupboards. I even rearranged cupboards and made my kitchen make better sense. I was appalled at how much clutter I have accumulated in my kitchen and it was definately time to purge. I had quite the assortment of half used packages of food and candy in cupboards they didn't belong. Now I have one whole cupboard for all my electrical countertop appliances; the mixer, the steamer (which I forgot I had) the vitamix, slow cookers. I cleaned out my cupboard where I place my toaster and minioven as that accumulates crumbs and cleaned out my silverware drawer and divider, who knew how dirty those could get. Next will be my utensil drawers. I get so tired of rummaging through those drawers looking for something specific. It's time for some organization. I'm even finding things I wish I had, that I forgot I had. Now, I can cross them off my list of "things I must have" - bank account spared.
Next thing I can save myself money on is storage containers. My husband is a terrible packrat, that includes drink containers (the hard plastic ones, not the 2 liter) and I save cans of drink mixes for possible art ideas. I'm working on buying 50 lbs of oats plus I keep 10 lbs of sugar and flour in my pantry, these containers will work great after they are cleaned out and dryed and I'll drop in an oxygen absorber and tape around the plastic lids.
When I cleaned out my towel closet I used shoe boxes to organize my belongings. Now my medicines are in one box, my body and hand creams in a box, etc. This works so well and I can find things now. I even found enough items to create a first aid kit. Now I always know where my thermometer and bandaids are not to mention I purged expired medicines. Very good idea.
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Aug. 26, 2009 - Sorry, I am to busy for menopause, call back later.
Oh boy! In just a few short weeks, 3 to be exact, it will be time to pour ourselves into a set schedule. No more basking around in the sun, drinking lemonade and having nothing but the blue sky to look at....pppzzzzzzt... now back to reality. Okay, so wishful thinking. I cannot believe I am surrounded by books, books, and more books and that is for history alone. I have procrastinated long enough that now I'm starting to freak out, my planner is not complete and I haven't even started on child #2. I am not a procrastinator by nature, but this summer has been rather difficult on my body and I'm entering a new phase of life, the one that includes hot sweats, irritability, lethargy and weight gain. UGH! I'll be schooling a highschooler and a busy 1st grader. Wow, talk about needing a right and a left brain. Thank you Lord that I'm not alone, but that you are with me, guiding me every step of the way and just like in Revelation, where you tell the churches..."I know your works", I can relax knowing you are in charge and that you know me. Because of that here is a list of what I need currently:
2 Cups of patience, 5 Cups of grace, 5 lb of wisdom, 2 Tablespoons of creativity and I'll bring the love.
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Apr. 7, 2009 - The Art of Learning...
I am amazed at how much more I learn now, teaching my children, then I did when I attended public school. It saddens me to think how little we appreciated learning when we were young, and even those now that don't understand the importance of learning.
I have come across a great book that explains why learning is so necessary and it was explained in a simple, kind-hearted way that even my 16 year old was enlightened.
I ordered this book from the local library, called "What Really Happened During The Middle Ages" for my teenager who is studying the middle ages but didn't realize the prize I had till my teenager pointed out something that opened up her eyes. I decided to pick up the book and read it for myself. Needless to say I ordered it from Amazon. This would be a valuable resource for any homeschool library. Terri Johnson compiled the book.
In this book you will learn, in a light-hearted story like way, about St. Patrick, Theodora, Alcuin, Good King Wenceslas, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Joan of Arc, Johann Gutenberg, and Martin Luther.
Check it out, you'll be glad you did.
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Mar. 14, 2009 - An Urgent Message
Below is a message from Pastor David Wilkerson. I have included it that believers, followers of Christ may take heed.
I am compelled by the Holy Spirit to send out an urgent message to all on our mailing list, and to friends and to bishops we have met all over the world.
AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT IS GOING TO BE SO FRIGHTENING, WE ARE ALL GOING TO TREMBLE - EVEN THE GODLIEST AMONG US.
For ten years I have been warning about a thousand fires coming to New York City. It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires—such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago.
There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting—including Times Square, New York City. What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God’s wrath. In Psalm 11 it is written,
“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (v. 3).
God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations. He is destroying the secular foundations.
The prophet Jeremiah pleaded with wicked Israel, “God is fashioning a calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh, turn back each of you from your evil way, and reform your ways and deeds. But they will say, It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart” (Jeremiah 18:11-12).
In Psalm 11:6, David warns, “Upon the wicked he will rain snares (coals of fire)…fire…burning wind…will be the portion of their cup.” Why? David answered, “Because the Lord is righteous” (v. 7). This is a righteous judgment—just as in the judgments of Sodom and in Noah’s generation.
WHAT SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS DO? WHAT ABOUT GOD’S PEOPLE?
First, I give you a practical word I received for my own direction. If possible lay in store a thirty-day supply of non-perishable food, toiletries and other essentials. In major cities, grocery stores are emptied in an hour at the sign of an impending disaster.
As for our spiritual reaction, we have but two options. This is outlined in Psalm 11. We “flee like a bird to a mountain.” Or, as David says, “He fixed his eyes on the Lord on his throne in heaven—his eyes beholding, his eyelids testing the sons of men” (v. 4). “In the Lord I take refuge” (v. 1).
I will say to my soul: No need to run...no need to hide. This is God’s righteous work. I will behold our Lord on his throne, with his eye of tender, loving kindness watching over every step I take—trusting that he will deliver his people even through floods, fires, calamities, tests, trials of all kinds.
Note: I do not know when these things will come to pass, but I know it is not far off. I have unburdened my soul to you. Do with the message as you choose.
God bless and keep you,
In Christ,
DAVID WILKERSON
http://davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com/
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Feb. 12, 2009 - Cardboard Testimonies
This is powerful! Enjoy!
Cardboard Testimonies from Overlake Christian Church on Vimeo.
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Feb. 6, 2009 - Going to Hell in a handbasket or are we going to Heaven in a wheelbarrow?
"Going to Hell in a handbasket" or "Going to hell in a handcart" is an English alliterative phrase of unclear origin, which describes a situation headed for disaster without effort or in great haste.
There are similar phrases going back over 400 years, such as to "Heaven in a wheelbarrow". There has been some speculation that the phrases may be related. Kind of like looking at the glass half full or half empty.
As of January things seem to be moving along at breakneck speed. The left side is definately rejoicing in their new position and taking advantage of it without delay. Our new President is wasting no time implementing his ideals, he is definately not a slacker. President Obama has mentioned God gave him a purpose long ago...I don't doubt that one bit, God gave Nebuchanezzer a purpose as well. Just look at some of these stories:
Obama stuns pro-life with prayer breakfast speech
Al Gore: "Don't Listen To Your Parents."
Another Senator Lines Up Behind "Fairness Doctrine"
Educators: Explore Homosexuality But Not The Bible
What is our response to these...pray. God is calling or causing His people to get on their knees and spend time in prayer. When we stand before our Holy God, are we going to hear "well done good and faithful servant" or are we going to see ourselves watching tv, playing on the computer and living lives as though we were placed here for OUR purpose?
Ezekiel shows us how God responds to idolatry, unfaithfulness, and immorality amongst His people. He decides it's time to leave from their presence and then judgement.
It's time to pray and pray like we've never prayed before. At the pace things are going, homeschooling could be illegal in another year. Christian tv and radio could be wiped out. Our pastors will be jailed for speaking against homosexuality and America will not be the America we have today.
We need to repent and pray.
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Dec. 31, 2008 - Gaining New Perspective
Wow, I've been gone awhile! It's amazing and December is a blur. I received an e-mail regarding Sombra and decided to checkout all my friend's blogs. You all have been so faithful to keep your blogs updated. Merry Christmas and may you have a blessed New Year.
Both our children were involved with Christmas plays at church this year. I'm still working part-time in the evenings and my husband received an early Christmas present, an increase. That was unexpected as his company has been trimming layers for over a year now and thanks be to God, he has kept his job. God also brought about a side job that he'll do from home, which is a blessing; we just found out we need to purchase a new furnace. Thankfully, the service guy thinks it'll hold out the remainder of this winter but definately not next winter. I've been promoted to customer service manager...yikes. Of course this comes with a timely increase but also more responsibility.
The Lord opened up an opportunity for us to travel down to see my family for Christmas. We had not been home for 2 years and the kids were so excited. One of my nephews didn't recognize us, he just turned 5 the last time we saw him and now he's 7. We didn't recognize one of our other nephews who is 13 but boy what a difference two years can make.
This winter has been extremely hard for me. I seem to be experiencing symptoms of depression, but the winter brought it up a notch. My energy level dropped to the point where I just want to sleep to 10 - 11 in the morning, I have no desire to clean, school or participate in anything. I feel tired all the time, my eyes are heavy and I even missed church one Sunday...that is not like me. Even my husband was surprised that I suggest we stay home one Sunday. In fact that morning while I was sleeping I had a dream that my pastor called and asked if we were going to make it to church...I know this was the Lord.
This did not come on all of a sudden. It's been a gradual thing that I cannot explain only that I have not been making time in God's word or in His presence as I had been. Some of it could be that I'm experiencing the season of menopause and the lack of necessary vitamins that my body needs due to bad eating habits because of my work hours. I had been drinking coffee again, decaffinated, but noticed that actually increased my desire to sleep. I don't get outside during the day much, so the lack of sunshine could be a missing ingredient as well. Here in MN it's too cold to layout on the sunporch and in all reality, I really detest the cold.
I've been calling out to the Lord and this morning when I woke up at 5 I decided to get up and read instead of going back to sleep. I read where I opened my bible up to and just enjoyed a time of quietness with God I had not had in awhile. His word ministered to me and I even saw things I didn't remember ever reading. His word was encouraging and loving. I did end up going back to bed for a few hours afterward but my sleep felt so peaceful that when I did wake up I felt good. I didn't feel tired. I hadn't felt like that in some time.
This is just a reminder that I need the Lord. My heart desires to serve Him, to obey Him, to follow His commandments. To continue to abide takes work and a steadfast desire to keep distractions from getting in the way. In 2nd Kings 18 the Lord describes a man named Hezekiah, he was one of Judah's kings and became king when he was 25. He trusted in the Lord and there was no one like him. He set himself apart from all the other kings of Judah. He held fast to the Lord, he did not depart from following Him and he kept God's commandments. This is how I want God to describe me.
In the movie Wall-E, Eve had a "directive" and she remained steadfast in accomplishing that directive. That is what God's people need to do. That is what I need to do. May the Lord accomplish His will through me.
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Nov. 26, 2008 - What I've Learned From The Fall Of Rome
As I have been reviewing and preparing for our next history lesson I thought it very interesting that our lesson will be on the Roman Empire. There was obviously alot I forgot or chose not to remember in High School but this chapter is very interesting in how the Roman Empire came to it's end.
During the Pax Romana era, Rome enjoyed peace. They had prosperous trade, travel and communications improved and cultural activities flourished. They had prosperity. During the Pax Romana era, wealth reached it's peak.
Leaders won popular favor by promising "free" food and amusements for the Roman people. However, the Romans failed to realize that these things were not really free, the necessary funds came out of the public treasury.
Political, economic, and social crises shook the Roman empire in the third century and there were signs of internal weaknesses and decay. Rome could no longer "boast" of a strong and stable government. There was also much waste and inefficiency within it's government structure.
Rome was also starting to have economic troubles due to the public treasury being drained. So what do you think they did to try to solve the situation...ding, ding, ding, you guessed it....they increased the tax burden on the working class. The value of their coins declined and prices rose.
Rome also had a one-sided trade agreement with India and China, which depleted the gold and silver supplies. Roman money became almost worthless and the barter system replaced the use of money. Trade wasn't as prosperous any longer, business' closed and poverty increased. There was a lack of confidence in the economy.
Rome's strength in her early years were due to the virtue of it's citizens. They worked hard, were patriotic, respected authority, believed in discipline and self-denial. However, moral decay set in and contentment was replaced by greed. The Roman people looked to the government to supply their needs. Family life disintegrated, divorce and immorality flourished.
Two powerful emperors introduced strong reforms that delayed the end of the Roman empire for almost two centuries. Maximum prices were placed on goods and services. A cap so to speak. They introduced new money into the system and the tax system was reformed. However, these measures to solve Rome's worries involved greater government control and regulations and ended up adding to their problems.
Rome had external problems as well with the Germanic peoples as well as the Huns Eventually the Roman army replaced the Emperor's seat with a "non-Roman" and Rome collapsed. Rome had started to collapse from the inside before it collasped on the outside.
You could almost replace the word Rome for America and the story would still be the same. If this is the track we are on, God has used history to warn us of our future. I ask myself, what if God, through the prayers of the Saints at that time, allowed Rome to have a little extra time to do what is right, to make changes in the right direction, but they worked on the economy instead of the heart of the people. What if reform involved seeking God, bringing back discipline and respect for authority, honoring the marriage bed, working with our hands and denying self to help others. Imagine what Rome could have become.
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Nov. 18, 2008 - Computers Help People Help People
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Nov. 15, 2008 - Christmas Decorating and Etc.
Well, I am so ready to decorate for Christmas and my hubby is remaining steadfast on waiting till after Thanksgiving. Bummer. So, I went ahead and started decorating my blog...like my tree? 
I added some Christmas music too.
This is the time of year I really clean. I give my house a deep cleaning before I put the Christmas decorations up. I don't know why. I guess it could be all the Christmas lights make everything look so sparkly and add life to the home that a deep cleaning is only necessary.
Our eldest has joined a group that puts American school girls and German school girls together through e-pal. Our homeschool group found out about it. She has really enjoyed this experience.
We shrink wrapped our bedroom window this weekend. WOW, what a difference. We didn't realize how bad our window was till we did that, now maybe our bedroom won't feel like a freezer any longer.
Our youngest is making things look like dinosaurs. He took me into his room this morning to show me what he could do with his train track. I said, "oh, looks like the start of a roller coaster." His response, "uh, dinosaur." Then I could see that it was indeed in the shape of a long tail dinosaur. I should have known.
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Nov. 14, 2008 - Given Over...
As I read and contemplate the book of Judges I ask the Lord more and more..."Have you given us over to Barak Obama and his extremely liberal views?"
In the book of judges I read over and over, "the Isrealites were given to..." each time they reverted back to doing evil in the site of the Lord. They would cry out to the Lord and the Lord would give them a deliverer. They would enjoy a few years of peace and then they would revert back to evil.
I can already see people's opinion of things changing and growing bolder and President Elect Obama has not taken office yet. It's like these people have a renewed sense of strength and they're going to take advantage of our new president's tolerance.
Change is not always done in a positive manner and the changes that our new president will bring will only increase Satan's agenda.
However, things only happen to the Lord's people with His permission. Oppression caused His people, Isreal, to seek His face again and search their hearts and repent.
It appears we may have entered full force into Sodom and Gomorah. We need to seek wisdom from the Lord and be as steadfast at doing what is right as Daniel and his friends. We may go through the fire in the next few years but God is still with us if we do it His way.
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