Good Stuff

What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could be like gods — be their own masters — invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God.

And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history — money :: poverty :: ambition :: war :: prostituion :: classes :: empires :: slavery — the long terrible story of
man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.
Terrific energy is expended — civilizations are built up — excellent institutions devised; but each time something goes wrong.
That is the key to history.
The reason why it can never succeed is this: God made us; invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on gasoline, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself.
He Himself is the fuel our sprirts were designed to burn,
or the food our spirits were designed to feed on.
There is no other.
That is why it is just no good asking God to make up happy in our own way with out bothering about Him.

God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself,
because it is not there.
There is no such thing.
C. S. Lewis

Thou hast made us for Thyself,
and the heart of man is restless
until it finds its rest in Thee.

St. Augustine

Copied from : http://beliefwithoutsight.wordpress.com/

The Worth of a Girl

The Worth of a Girl

How do you measure a little girl's worth, When all her charm on you is unfurled?

You either see her through the eyes of God Or through the eyes of the world.

The world shouts, "She must have her freedom, Liberation - her true destiny."

But God says, "Child, when you seek my truth, Then you'll know what it is to be free."

The world cries, "Don't thwart her psyche,Let her decisions be hers from the start."

God says, "Train her, which way she should go And from Me she'll never depart."

The world would like always for her to think of success as her foremost goal,

But God says, "Love me and each other, With all your body, mind, and soul."

The world teaches, "Do just what you want Regardless of who gave you birth."

But God says, "Honor your Mom and Dad That your life may be long on this earth."

A girl is truly a gift of God's grace To be all that He's called her to be.

We must lead and guide this life in the nowFor she's part of eternity.

Charming manners can be so deceptive And outward beauty is all so vain,

But a woman with fear and reverence for God His blessings with her will remain.

A divine blueprint is stamped upon her, Teach her to read it carefully.

For a little girl is what God will use To make a virtuous lady!

~by Betty Walkup Albuquerque~

This poem copied from another wonderful blog link at: http://maidensofworth.org/

New Contest!

Contest: The first five (without using their computer, Bible of course IS allowed)
to name all 12 tribes of Israel.
Email privately only. stephclunn@aol.com
Bonus Prize: $10.00 gift certificate to Starbucks to whoever can name the tribes into their N,S,E,W categories...honor system now...no computer.) Blessings to the players!





Playing for: Choice of one of these Women of Faith Devotional Books along with a Doorpost's Checklist for Parents.
Titles of devotionals are:

Living Above Worry and Stress
Discovering God's Will For Your Life
Managing Your Moods
Encouraging One Another
Receiving God's Love

There will be 5 winners. Each one will receive one devotional book and a Checklist for Parents. The Checklist is a wonderful reminder of how we should be treating our children daily. I love it!
The order in which answers come in correctly will be able to choose which devotional they want.
First one to answer bonus gets the gift card. Contest ends Friday.

Two Mommies in the Making...

"What a cute baby you have!"

(Abby and Kate with

"babies-in-sling")

Home again Home again

Jiggidy Jig...toes are a bit better. Glad to just be in PROXIMITY to you fabulous people. Hope to see you all soon.
S

Liberal or Agape?

Saw an intriguing bumper sticker today...

It said, God Bless the whole world, no exceptions.

I couldn't decide it it was with a liberal intent or an agape one!

I guess first I have to decide if I am a realist or an idealist! Lol

Atonement

Wow. Couple a days away and broken, release and atonement take on completely new meanings, Lol.

Suffice to say that though I think Kiera Knightly is one gorgeous chick, she is still after all, a Hollywood actress. And a rated R movie is no movie to be seen if your the blushing type. YIKES. This one should be looked up on the Christian movie review BEFORE seeing it. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't even look it up. TRUST me. These are not words for Lord loving eyes to see...

Plus it was depressing. Perfect.

Now I have broken toes, a mind full of imagery and words not meant to be there and a long ride home. Yep, I am still in Vero. Lol

BUT! Lots of OTHER good things are happening, ;) and I have my blood test on Tuesday am and Hey!!!!! Thursday AND Sunday are comin'!!!!!!!!!

Ring around the Rosie

Well since my SIL is refraining from calling me a WHINER, Lol I shall move on.Lol

I heard someone singing Ring around the Rosie this morning and everytime I hear it I can't help but feel a little wiggy since I learned, some years ago that the song represented the Bubonic Plague...

The words to the Ring around the rosy children's ring game have their origin in English history . The historical period dates back to the Great Plague of London in 1665 (bubonic plague) or even before when the first outbreak of the Plague hit England in the 1300's. The symptoms of the plague included a rosy red rash in the shape of a ring on the skin (Ring around the rosy). Pockets and pouches were filled with sweet smelling herbs ( or posies) which were carried due to the belief that the disease was transmitted by bad smells. The term "Ashes Ashes" refers to the cremation of the dead bodies! The death rate was over 60% and the plague was only halted by the Great Fire of London in 1666 which killed the rats which carried the disease which was transmitting via water sources. The English version of "Ring around the rosy" replaces Ashes with (A-tishoo, A-tishoo) as violent sneezing was another symptom of the disease. .
We "all fall down" represents the mass deaths..

PLEASE release me...

Well, I finally had to succumb to being off my feet yesterday. After being down for an hour I realized it really did feel better to be off it. Yeah, yeah, I'm a bad patient. The thought of being down all day seems well, impossible for me.

But I stayed off it for most the day and....WATCHED TELEVISION. I watched more television yesterday than in the past 5 years combined. Lol Well, practically anyway.

Came across the CHEESIEST channel called Hallmark channel. I watched this movie where this couple loses their life in an auto accident. They had one daughter they left behind.
Then there was this hospital ward with wannabe heart transplant recipients.
So one gets the Mom's heart and one gets the Dad's heart. Getting the picture yet? SO of course they all of a sudden have these longings for each other (they didn't like each other at first) and for this kid. You know, the hearts found each other again and then their daughter as well.
Ugh. I watched the whole thing. It was more lame than I was.
Long lost hearts finding each other...I am NOT into cheesy romantic....for REAL romance see post: http://clunnintheson.blogspot.com/2007/05/thoughts-on-husband.html

But anyway, I watched that and the kid's new movie "The Game Plan". Oh my. Pride and Prejudice where are you?
I cannot wait to be released from the prison of immobility, Lord willing!
The one good thing? Jeff is taking me to see "Atonement" today. I really wanted to see that movie...speaking or romance! Can't wait.
The cheese of yesterday's TV extravaganza was it got me thinking of old shows we used to watch...who remembers MELROSE PLACE??? Lol
Missing you all like CrAzY!!!

Broken

Wow. This can mean a lot of things. But today it means it's official. They're broken! Well, as official a it can get without an x-ray. A little internet research by my trusty assistant Sloan led to some info that stated you cannot actually know if a toe is broken without an x-ray.
But signs are swelling, bruising and extreme pain. Got that. Lol
It's no better today, worse actually and I am TRYING not to feel sorry myself. I am surprised that I do even...it is really not my nature. But I keep thinking, how long will it be before I can plan badminton with the girls again? Chase them? Manage stairs or not guard my foot so carefully that I am constantly hyper-sensitive to movement of myself or others.
Wow. Toes. Who knew? :(
I don't think I can make it back to Eustis today like this. I have driven on it but I think it is actually just too dangerous...if I had to slam on the brakes or something..plus it swells terribly when I sit instead of lay. Lie. Lay? Whatever.

OwieOwieOwieOwie

Well, I had some toe-stepping of a different kind yesterday...

I accidentally kicked the corner of a wall but HARD. I (think) I broke some toes...can barely walk...I NEVER knew how important toes were until now. I am not even sure how I am going to get home tomorrow. The smart thing would be to stay and rest it for a couple of days more but miss church on Sunday? Me thinks not. Hey, maybe I'll visit the Calvary here....
I actually got brought to tears last Sunday over a song we were singing...it was new to me and I can't even remember what it was, but it was just SO beautiful. It really had me FEELING God's love...you know, we all KNOW He loves us and I can see the countless ways He does, but I have never been really been blessed with "feeling" it....I have been well-taught to not count on feelings over Truth so to "feel" it...well, it's just darned great!

Sheepers!

We are going out of town today just until Saturday and I cannot shake the disappointment I feel from having to miss church on Thursday. Now, I am not unfamilar with church or it's operations (when it has them, lol) but I do NOT know what it is about this one...I hope it not just a honeymoon phase. You know how it goes eventually, yada, yada, yada...off to church we go.

I was taught, when starting to question the depth of what was being taught years ago, that church was for edification of the body, corporate worship and encouragement of the saints. So you go until well, you know, the inevitable happens. You outgrow the preaching...ouch. Then you are supposed to TEACH. Somehow this just never sat right with me....I always felt like the preaching should at least be on level with if not above the level at which you are being fed at the family altar.

So it is good to again be being fed as sheep...dumb sheep? Maybe. But happy nonetheless!
See you when we get home! Check in by email!

Shalom Ya'll

Bath time and life's plans

Kate has started to "play" in a little more organized fashion. She lines her little animals up over and over and then stops and looks at them. She knocks them all in and starts over again.

She also gets rocking in the water causing a wave motion and then furiously splashes in the waves until she gets a face-full of water that stops her short. It got me thinking tonight, as she played in the warm, sloshing water, that don't we all do that?

We line our little ducks up in a row. We plan this and we plan that. As life gets some serious crazy for us here lately, I am going to watch that I don't "line up my ducks" too much. I will stay in surrender over and over, day by day, minute by minute, lest I begin to try to take over in my own strength. Instead of making waves, I want to lie in surrender surrounded by the warm comforting Spirit ebbing and flowing, taking me along with Him, instead of splashing furiously to get to where I want to go and ending up choking on my own wave making. Yep, bathtime tonight was a metaphor for life. But to Kate, it was just another rub-a-dub-dub.

James 4:13-15 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

A little Pride and Prejudice...by Sloan

Silly Girls at Tea

By the way....

What UP with the child discrimination going around lately? Banned from nice restaraunts....the problem is not that kids should be banned from restaraunts, it is that parents won't discipline them so they can properly attend a nice restaraunt. Sure, I get it, kids under two cannot always be made to behave but I mean an AGE limit on dining? Talk about trying to put a bandaid on the problem. If your kid is 12 and cannot behave, I would say the problem may be larger than not being able to dine upscale.
J and I are excited to do this supper thing at church. We noticed there is a kid-no kid option. How funny that someone would NOT want to be around kids! Could that be the problem, not the kids? Children are a blessing from the Lord! Why is it that until they are of a certain age, they are not thought of as such? Since when did we decide that kids were a PROBLEM? I know I am going to hear it for this so please, go ahead, set me straight. I only ask that we be allowed to have people come to our house who DON'T have kids. I don't mind that they don't have kids at all. Really. They sure are welcome here! Can you imagine that we are at a place where our kids are so undisciplined that we may not be able to bring them to someone's house? That someone would need an "opt out" of visiting with us because of them? YIKES.
I want to mix it up...kids, no kids, space aliens, bring it on...all to the Glory of God!!!

Disclaimer: I get that if the kids are scary-undisciplined why that option would be there. I don't want to get imprisoned for two hours with disrespectful kids either. So please assume I am talking about any reasonably well-behaved children. Nor am I judging the ones who aren't. I am just sayin'.

Can I write it? YES I CAN. (love that BTB theme song)

Good Morning to whoever is there!
Yeah I know...I can just hear you all now.
I knew she couldn't do it for long....Lol
Hey, what can I say...if I keep blogging and never publishing, I'll end up with whole heck of a lot of posts that do nothing but stay in my head.
And I have enough in my head already.
Though some may not think I have nearly enough, Lol
And they're probably right.
But anyway, it is good to be back. Missing you guys terribly! Getting time for a get together I am afraid. Did anyone mark time this time? Remember I said I wondered if the amount of time in between our getting together was consistent as I always "Jones" for you guys all at once and then plan something. I crave the fellowship of the believers...I know it was too crazy last time.
Man, too bad we didn't have a good day care center at my house...Haha
I WAS thinking that we could pull something together a little more God-focused. I mean, we can capitalize on our time together by endeavoring to make it more profitable.
So I thought, when we get together for purposes of fellowship, we could arrange to come without kids. You know I am an ADVOCATE for children being allowed to come...but if some who could get child care would then those who really couldn't could still come and bring kids and there wouldn't be all the chaos outside.
Then we could choose a topic to discuss that is spiritually profitable. Marriage, kids, homemaking, conflict/resolution, homeschooling, etc.
Ah, my penchant for women's ministry is starting to show I'm afraid...
anyway, just a thought.

Just finishing up from Sunday (maybe)

Yeah, yeah, I know it wasn't a very long break. But HOW can I not share all this good stuff? If church weren't so good, I wouldn't have much to blog I am afraid. Ya'll better get it over to CCOTL to see what good is happening there. :) I mean, if you don't have your own home church yet. ;)
So the memory verse was: Philippians 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

WOW. Ok, so we've all heard this scripture about a billion times but what struck me when this scripture was exhaled into my spirit this time was about how by praying, that our hearts and minds would be guarded! Protected from the enemy...

As women, we know that our minds can be ONE DANGEROUS PLACE. Forget poor Tom Cruise. If someone could visit our brains, they would run screaming into oblivion...our thought life is a MESS! I have recently been endeavoring to spend any conscious thought time in a prayer state instead of a thoughts-wandering-where-they-will state. And by doing that, my heart and my mind are protected! I cannot get easily offended, for I am in the Lord's presence. I am slower to speak my mind (and thereby possibly offend) because I am in the Lord's presence. My heart has a little thicker skin and I literally feel grace flowing out instead of hurt flowing in...because I am in the Lord's presence.

Need your mind and heart guarded? Need some peace? Don't be anxious about things...pray..ask God...be thankful! I learned this little diddy when I was a teen and I have never forgotten it...

My God is able to make all grace abound towards me
that in every situation having all sufficiency
that everything I do might prosper
that I will harvest every seed I sow,
my God is not withholding, he'll meet every need I know!

So you had a bad day...

Jeff just left...I always seem to lose a day when he goes...I am going to endeavor to NOT let the enemy shut me down for the day....even with the very good excuse that my hubby left. I will look for ways to rejoice in the change. (any ideas appreciated, Lol)

Shut me down, Shut me up

More from Sunday...

D was talking about how quickly the enemy can shut us down....sad but true...as we move through life and obstacles arise...if we allow the enemy to shut us down, he also shuts us up! And we need to be ever-joyful and going about the things of the Lord. I was completely moved by this as recently I got "shut down" for a day due to some very small circumstances. But nonetheless I had chinks in my armor...and the enemy got through them. It shut me down and it shut down my joy...for the day. PTL the next day was Sunday...I was supposed to stay home from church with Kate but the Lord arranged it so that I could go get what I needed!

I cannot say how happy I am that Jesus has ultimate victory! Good thing He doesn't count on us to be faithful...Lol

I was thinking about how grace is not only our making room for other's mistakes without judgement but also how we must not be easily provoked so that we can always extend that grace. If we are mad, or jealous, or upset, or hurt, it will be much harder to extend grace. We are "shut down" in terms of extending grace. Ugh, I should be better at this by now. But I recognize it at least...and now I have had a few different opportunities to choose not to be offended. Actually, I WAS offended but I didn't say anything and so it didn't create anything. I chose to extend grace instead which prevented the enemy from shutting me down...shutting down my witness, shutting down a relationship...being easily offended really can shut us down. And as women, you know how easily that can happen...Lol

PLEASE bretheren, extend grace to me when I cross the line! I never intend to...I am still a work in progress! Let me endeavor to show all gentleness first...let me not be the person who one has to say of: She's a great gal, once you get to know her.

Jesus loves you, but I'm a bit more choosy...

HOW funny is that?! PD said that today when talking about harboring bitterness toward someone...that is what we are saying when we don't like someone...this really made me laugh. It is such a statement!

Loved this too..."The goal is not to win the argument, but to win back your brother." Amen!

Pursue peace with those you need to today...

Sunday's Going's On...

Ugly Christian.

Don't those words just strike you?? I guess they are hard to hear in the same sentence. Or maybe it's just unthinkable for that adjective to be used when referring to a Christian. Yeah, that's it.

But it was partially what PD talked about at church today. "Revealing your gentleness".

How living in peace with others requires a gentleness with others. If someone has to say about you or you have to say about yourself, "I'm really a good guy, once you get to know me", then that might be a good indicator. Gulp. Gentleness should be shown right off...joy should be evident. Moping not allowed. Complaining not allowed. (Phil 2:14, Phil 2:14, Lol Gotta love CCOTL)

I LOVED when he spoke of when one needs reconciliation with a brother, or restoring peace with them, that you must show humility. THIS IS SO TRUE. Retaliation never works, it only inflames. When you are hurt or mad with someone, it is ALWAYS better to just humbly approach and restore peace. Reconciliation and subsequent unity comes with being humble. I often restore peace with someone who I have a relationship with by just NOT taking the bait and remaining in humble mode. Who can fight with someone who refuses to fight back?

Scripture is clear that it counts for NOTHING when you are easy with those who are easy with you...(that's too easy!) It is only when you are gentle with those who are NOT that it counts...

I am learning, I am learning! Help me continue to learn O Lord!

Shalom

Taking a break for awhile...Shalom ya'll. :)

Crazy Tom

While Jeff was watching the Crazy-Tom video we noted some funny comments...


I will totally join any church that has the Mission: Impossible theme as its music

Didn't L. Ron start Scientology as a bet? As in, he was like, "Betcha twenty bucks I could start a religion."

"they're coming to take me away ha-ha, they're coming to take me away!"

(and my personal favorite) "I hope he gets help for his repressed ego. Tom? thanks for making the world the place it is--never taking a vacation and all that is rough, but the peace breaking out all over must be quite gratifying on a purely personal level.

No, don't say it!

Lauren said yesterday, "Mom, do you know what three things I hate to hear?"
"No, what?" I asked.
"You already ate."
"You're too little."
and "No piano right now."
Too funny!

And now... from Vero Beach!!!!!!!!! Lol

Insightful reader Chewhi sent me this email and has given permission for me to post it. Good stuff! Ya'll be sure to give her a shout out in the comment section! ~S~

Chewhi says: Incredibly interesting subject matter in your last post!! Jesus growing us is such a beautiful topic.

I responded twice and could respond again because it's such a personal topic but I don't know that we (I) could say enough to "explain" our (my) thoughts in print... know what I mean?? Not to mention... God may grant me insight (please do Lord!) to something that may change my thoughts yet again!

Your path description is so right with Jesus being that path or way. Otherwise, it can become a different path, can't it? I have an aunt who is Seventh Day Adventist... http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/ and she is lovingly fearful for my Mom (her sister), myself, and my sister. She knows us to be true believers, she knows we love the Lord, and that we diligently seek His will BUT..... and that's what makes her fearful for us. She is fearful that we will not "make it till the end." Now that said, I know she believes in salvation only thru the shed blood of Jesus'death and His glorious resurrection and that her "works" don't change that... period... BUT....

Talk to a Jehovah Witness and they'll say "yes, we believe in the salvation of Jesus... but" And we know they are NOT true believers. They are a cult, promoting a dangerous deception. And they are definitely exclusionary.

But so are the Seventh Day Adventists. So are the Amish (though some Amish do NOT believe in the finished work of Christ). Out where my Mom lives is a large Mennonite community and they are beautiful people. There's an incredible store near Mom's house that I love to visit. It's run by a family with everyone partaking and they are a wonderful example of family in a community where the family is definitely deteriorating and it being a farming community! I tried to talk to the mother and thought I was being friendly but quickly realized they don't welcome such from outsiders. You could be plainly dressed, wearing a cross, and obviously wanting to speak to them about Christ or family or even homeschool, but they are not interested in what you have to say other than "can you break a $20?" I'm friends with a gal (known her since high school... she's a Christian homeschool Mom, takes care of her ailing parents and she runs one of those quaint country hairdresser shops in her backyard... love it!) who's sister married into the Mennonite community and she has some great insight. They do believe in the finished work of Christ but they are exclusionary... yet talk about strong views of family, purity, and education... wow! I suppose the mother in that store couldn't begin to judge me because she wouldn't even begin to know me but she most suredly judged me to not even bother. But you know what... it doesn't matter... because what they have I would not begin to dare question. So should I be convicted to pursue their lifestyle?

Aunt Lynn loves us and her convictions are real and she has scripture after scripture to back up her/their "more" beliefs. But I think she (they) is/are in error to what the whole Word of God teaches, they are exclusionary. They are a church people who are incredibly dedicated to living a godly life yet they are also extremely judgmental because of their dedication though they won't see that because they're living scripturally "pure" in many more ways than many of us quite frankly. I know Aunt Lynn and I know her God is the LORD and not the church (so different from the Jehovah Witness) so I don't feel the same insistence to convince her I think she is being taught some error but I believe she's missing out on a wonderful peace I'd love for her to experience. But I do believe her faith is properly placed (in Christ) though some wouldn't agree. It was hard for Mom because Aunt Lynn would plead with her that she (Mom) needed to comprehend the whole Word of God, not understanding Mom's security and peace in her salvation. Aunt Lynn has let up some though she'll still give us pamplets.

So where does that place Aunt Lynn? Quite frankly, she and her church lives a much "purer" life than a lot of other denominations I know.... are they more right? Those Mennonite families definitely live godly lives, yet they don't see each other that way either. So there they are, both denominations truly actively striving to live godly, to please God, even to an exclusionary level, believing in the finished work of Christ, yet judging most other Christians and even each other. And here I stand, shaking my head knowing I stand in their judgement but KNOWING I'm not called to live in their exclusionary way of thinking... which is judging also because they ARE scripturally living a more pure life than I am on the surface but I think I have a greater peace and possibly more love. Am I confused? No... and I hope I'm not causing confusion either. And even more, I pray I'm not missing something either!!!!! The kids question these things too and there's no way I'm going to try to "peu-shaw" anyone wanting to live a pure godly lifestyle. I want to live and encourage a pure godly lifestyle and strive to do so. But it is most important to me that I strive and encourage in the Spirit and not in my flesh, and that's my greatest personal challenge. It's also how I challenge the kids... seek Him, ask for more of Him... abide in Him....

The peace I have is only because of Jesus. He said it and I firmly believe it... He is the way, the truth, and the life. There is no way to the Father but through Him. Thomas (John 14) was worried he was missing something, would miss the way, (I get that, I don't like thinking I've missed out spiritually somehow), and he was assurred in the way that completely assures me. First thing... look to Him, place your faith in and abide in Him. Jesus continues and lovingly talks about the "more" yet it doesn't negate His promise. And in this "more," He does talk about works and commandments and this tells us there are works to do when we're His people (as does the book of James), the greatest being loving Him with our whole selves and after that, loving people as we love ourselves. I'm still tackling those two! but I do believe that as long as I'm looking to Him, placing my faith in Him, and abiding in Him... He'll make sure I don't miss out on something I need to pay attention to. It truly is all about Him.

Hope you don't mind another book!! ... but this is an important and interesting topic to me and I just wanted to share some more, hope you don't mind! Did I ever tell you that I came "this close" once to allowing myself to be taught by some Jehovah Witnesses?? Mom's training ringing in my head, fear of what Rod would do, and God's Spirit in my heart is the only thing that saved me from that heartache! But it was a wake up call. God's truth is very important to me and I truly don't want to miss anything, which actually makes me susceptible to incorrect teaching. Realizing that about myself, I've learned that the way to not be susceptible is to know the Lord and His Word more and more... simply put but a continual process, though I've never been more sure of His peace than these past few years.

Blessings! Later... Cheryl

The Power of Conviction

I was talking with a friend some time ago about conviction. Conviction from God that is for everyone and personal conviction (which should be from God) but may NOT be for everyone.
This is SO true and a way we can rightly divide judgement from truth. Well, in an ideal world where humans were near perfect anyway. Lol
But it really was and is a good way to help one navigate the waters of convictions.

I think the problem lies (here we go!) in that many of us think that some of God's mandates can be thought of as personal convictions instead of the mighty word of God that is meant for ALL.

Do we want examples or is that better left alone? Lol

I love John the Baptist. I mean, I really do. He is my kind of guy. I am freakily learning through CCOTL, that Paul is my kind of guy too.

Direct, to the point and either loved or hated. Yep. I can relate.

But we must be careful not to think that what God's Word says is bendable for us...because it is not. The Word is Truth and applies to all, period. Believe it or not, heed it or not, read it or not, it still is Truth for you and truth for me across the board.

There are some things that are personal convictions in life that may apply to one and not the other. That is clear as well. The Word is clear in that. Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial. What is ok for one may NOT be ok for another.

The trouble is when we take God's Word and call it a "personal conviction" instead of recognizing it as truth across the board.

To clarify: We are all on the same road but at different places on it. So we all are not ready to receive the same truths as others...the problem is that when we, as Christians, read God's Word and do not accept it as truth and so do not apply it to our lives---that is when we are being disobedient and saying, "Well, that is not true for me. God has not called me to that. I am not led there."

Online Devotional...Good Morning!

Be Led by the Spirit
Today's Scripture
“Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14).

Have you ever started to do something when you had a little nudging on the inside of you telling you to do something completely different? Sometimes it’s easy to override that little inward voice, but that small voice deep on the inside of you is how God speaks to you. It’s how He leads you by His Spirit. When you follow the Spirit’s leading by faith—even when it doesn’t make sense—you are making a declaration with your actions that you are a child of the Most High God. Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons and daughters of God. The more you yield yourself to His leading, the easier it becomes to follow Him. You’ll hear His voice in the midnight hour giving you direction about which steps to take. You’ll hear His voice affirming you and guiding you into everlasting peace. Remember, God lead’s us by peace and joy. He’s never condemning but He always leads you into Truth. Take time today to tune out the other voices so that you can be led by His Spirit into the life of victory the Lord has in store for you!

Busy!

Hello my friends! I am going to be busy busy busy for awhile so I am probably won't be on quite as much.

I have a Dr's appt on Friday that hopefully will help in straightening out whatever needs straightening in regards to my two recent miscarriages.

We have decided to keep actively trying. Wow. That is exciting! And a little scary regardless of my faith in the Lord. Those times were so hard!

All is good here...trying to get super organized and on track...

Finished up "Before You Meet Prince Charming" and planned on blogging mightily on that but...may not. SO much great info...I encourage anyone who is interested in courtship to read it!

Still finishing Created...more on that later>

Shalom Ya'll ;)

Uh, can you say CrAzY?

This video is long (9 minutes) and most of you won't watch it all. (But try, to get the fullness of the craziness) I came across it looking at a portfolio of a web designer of all things. It sucked me in completely. I have heard a lot of living people called the potential anti-Christ before, but I imagine when he does show up, he will be something a little like this.
To clarify: I am NOT calling Tom Cruise the anti-Christ! Lol
But I tell you, this scientology stuff (aka: the enemy) has made him NUTS!
http://gawker.com/5002269/the-cruise-indoctrination-video-scientology-tried-to-suppress?autoplay=true

Created to....

NOT CRITICIZE!

I'm up-I'm up-I'm up and drinking water instead of having my 3:30 am bowl of cereal. Trying to cut out these early snacks when I should be sleeping! But I AM still nursing! (welcoming comments that support extra calorie consumption due to nursing, lol)
But seriously folks, I figure if I cut OUT the extra calories (or at least some of them) that are necessary for nursing AND she really IS still nursing, then I should really be burning them up then, right? RIGHT????

My favorite saying in "Created to be His Helpmeet": Men do not crawl out from under a wif'e's criticism in order to do better for her. Or something like that.

It is AMAZING what support can do for a man. You know, you may be the type that doesn't criticize openly. Whining, moaning, kvetching are all forms. Poo-pooing his ideas are the same. Supporting every thing they do right or wrong without complaint and with joy will build any man into a giant.

Even in little ways. Most ideas they have may not ever come to fruition but it doesn't have to be because we shoot them down. Support of them, of their ideas, of their actions cause them to have the confidence to grow and change and succeed. We all have different types of men but Created speaks of three general types. Each man is a combination but has a dominant trait coming out.

There is the Command Man. This is the guy who is IN CONROL. You never have to wonder what he wants, likes or expects. There is safety with this man but not much room to move around.

Then there is Visionary Man. This is the one with lots of inventive ideas and schemes. Prone to great success or great failure. Causes strife inadvertantly through his many ideas of right and wrong...

Then there is Mr. Steady (that's mine!) He is the every day in and out kinda guy who everyone can always rely on... The book says something like, "He's the guy that cleans up after the battles that Mr. Visionary starts and Command Man leads. Too funny. We may call him wishy washy but still waters run deep.

If you have this book, I would go back and re-read these different types of men. Their pros, their cons and how we can make mistakes as wives with them. I was floored, again, by it's accuracy. I wish I could write it all down! If there is enough desire for it I will...

I have new respect for my Mr. Steady! He is SO coming home to a renewed wife!

He's the man!

Did you know????

That tortillas are TERRIBLE for you??? (I LOVE torts.)

Better to have BREAD? (Unless they're whole wheat and high in fiber tortillas)

Wow. Who knew. Get rid of the wraps and have it on a whole wheat bun people.

P.S. I HATE today's quote of the day...it is SO not true!

~Smile-it Coke!~

One treat I DID allow myself though was Sam's Diet Coke. I used to worship for years at the altar of Diet Coke (saying by Jeff Meyer) but lost my taste for it after one stint of not drinking it for a few months...

but then the Wal Mart quarter soda sucked me in to Sam's Soda. I honestly think it is better than regular Diet Coke. But I still only got it occasionally...

So I bought myself a 12 pack about a week ago to use as a treat in my new "lifestyle" and just opened it tonight to "treat" myself. SO sweet. No calories.

Don't care about the Splenda, NutraSweet or saccharin- freakos, so lay off.

:) Have a nice day! Lol

And...GET MOVING!

I've done something I haven't done in a long time today...I watched Oprah!!!

Normally I am too busy to watch but today Kate didn't nap until late and she got up really cranky and so I sat down to nurse her indefinitely, lol and clicked.

Of course it was the START YOUR NEW LIFE LOSE WEIGHT show so I am chalking that up to encouragement!

So her trainer guy Bob says "Get moving" is the first thing to do which reminded me that I am doing that! I had to go find shuttlecocks (birdies) today for the badminton net at Wal Mart since they and the racquets never showed up again...and have plans for DDR and some tennis with Sloan. Nothing huge. Nothing overly committal. Just going to get...moving.

Feels good!

Caramel Musty Machiatto Lusty

Okay, I tricked out the title I know. BUT! There is method, I promise.

I am not your 300 llb to 150 llb wannabe success story. I am typical. Unremarkable. Average.

I only have really 50-70 llbs to lose. Nothing undo-able. But as I say, everything is relative. I have always known that my forties would be my best decade. I think I knew that in my teens. Lol I never felt comfortable in my own skin until I was an adult. I was an adult in a kid's body for most of my youth. Forty has just been a-waitin' for me.
But anyway, there is just NO WAY I want to turn 40 this coming September wishing I had more control over my weight. I'd like to say all the right things, like it is for health reasons, etc. But I would really just like to stop buying clothes the next size up. Anyone who knows me knows I am not the vain type. I mean, we are all a little vain...but I can go without makeup, have dirty feet (which is often since I am nearly always barefoot, though I DID just get a pedi and I mean to say!) and my clothes have definitely turned Wal Mart grade. But really, I am getting to the point where I want to really hide and I know that means that it is time. I saw a picture of myself somewhere which shall remain nameless and I really looked, well, big. Everyone I know is not super thin, how come THEY don't look big? But of course I do. And my big round face doesn't help either...

But still, 50 llbs off the old bod might make me flip it again a bit (whatever that means)....so...
I am giving myself 10 llb increments and am going to do it by my birthday.

All this to say that I was reading about how the very first lust was the lust of the tastebuds!! Isn't that the TRUTH! We have become a society where everything has to look and taste OUT OF THIS WORLD or we don't want it...I have been full for two days eating the way I have but even right after I eat I am looking for something to titillate my tastebuds. It's terrible.

But like anything, after a few days, real, raw, fresh, less seasoned food becomes quite tasty. Water gets sweet. And hunger subsides. This new Caramel Machiatto thing we are all on is a good example. I was "scheduling" it into my lifestyle change as my "treat". Because it tasted SO GOOD. And even more so...honestly? It's the best caffeine rush I've had in a long time.

And since every VICE that's any good has been stripped away by unseen forces...Lol it is the only one I can get away with that doesn't break the Christian barrier of acceptance. Except if I know the Lord at all, and I do at least a little bit, he's bound to sneak up on this one too and take it away eventually. That is, if I turn it into something that it shouldn't be. Like a drug so fine I can single handedly operate heavy machinery while quilting, nursing and grinding wheat all at the same time. Sigh. I would have made SUCH a good junkie.
Anyway, I am endeavoring to tame the lust of my tastebuds and turn my passions elsewhere...I imagine someone should benefit from that. ;)

Good Eats

Good day so far!

Yes, Lean Cuisine's are pretty good. I just had the roasted chicken. Had DELISH mashed potatoes and gravy, some stuffing and turkey, green beans with little cranberries. Really good. 270 cals. Which is a calorically expensive meal for me but worth it. I mean three times a day, that is only 810...so no prob.

I had (admittedly, lol) a small bowl of granola at 3:30 am. Moved to no-fat milk as well from 2%.
Later had 2 "fried" eggs. (spray of cooking spray) 2 pieces of 40 cal. each bread. Not normally on the new lifestyle change but hey, I wanted it, was hungry and am still WAY WAY WAY under my normal calorie intake.

EARLY Lunch: some romaine leaves with 3/4 of a tomato and one packet of sweet and spicy tuna. (about 170 cals) (should have had this in my favorite things basket. I LOVE these flavored packets of tuna!)

The Lean Cuisine I spoke of (early dinner, see above) 270 cals.

Also had a handful of almonds before LC.

I'll have to have something else before bed but still doing well.

LOTS and LOTS of water!

Have promised self to weigh only once per week.

New stuff in house: Special K (Cinnamon Pecan) 130 cals per 3/4 cup. YUMMO.
Cascadian Farm Organic Cinnamon Raisin Granola 210 cals per 2.3 cup. Yummy, chewy too!

Sunday's goings on...missed!

Well, not sure what is happening with church. I fear that splitting up the family may not have been the best move...when Jeff is not here, it is hard to leave someone behind... When he IS here, I feel it should always be me! I will have to seek my husband's wisdom on this. He always knows what is best to do.

I missed church ALL DAY yesterday but could not bring myself to leave someone as everyone wanted to go...so everyone stayed. How ironic is that?

Better that we ALL go then we ALL stay. I shall seek the Lord and see...meanwhile, I wait with joy and a trusting heart!

Stream of Thought...

I've been up since 3:30 and am totally awake.
Which is going to make me totally tired by six.

I had a total rush of coveting (but in a GOOD way) when HSC mentioned what a good message there was at church yesterday. Can't wait til' it hits the pod cast.

I am anew with desire to please my husband in every way! I normally feel this way but feel fresh with confidence in who I am called to be regardless. I cannot wait to have every opportunity to practice reverence, submission and honor! (Choke if you want, I am sitting back enjoying a happy marriage)

I really should be planning school, I'm up, have the time, but here I am. But I DID do personal bible time first...

I've lost two pounds already! I gave myself the out of coffee in it's various forms and so of course took the ridiculous step of looking UP the caloric suffererings of Starbucks. Over 300 calories for my new fave bev. SO I realize, I CAN ask for non-fat, sugar free and see how it tastes... I could have TWO lean cuisines for that. Hey, don't knock my L.C.'s- I LIKE them!

And now for something...

totally different.

Blog readers: You will see some changes in formatting of some of my blog posts...as you may remember, my intention for this blog is to be printed one day for my girls.
Thanks to alert blogger Tif, the website to do such a thing has been found! Not all posts will be printed, just the ones I want. So from now on, some posts will be directed specifically to my girls or may seem in conversational form with them.
Feel free to continue to leave comments on those posts as well as I have the option to include or not include them in my printing!

S

Being pressed in...

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who will listen."

This is such good truth and so needed in today's Christian...especially ME! We are so NOT careful with what we say and how we say it...I am going to go delete something RIGHT NOW! Lol

Happy Sunday!

Now, THAT'S gonna be a water balloon fight!

Whoops...

Well, Kate was watching Miss Patty Cake a few minutes ago when she became obsessed with a Star Wars DVD she found in the DVD case. She was adamant that Rach put it on for her. I told Rach, "Go ahead, it's not scary."
And we both stopped.
And looked at each other.
And cracked up.

How about Toy Story Kate? Lol...

Created to be....

in active goodwill toward your husband!

I am re-reading Created to Be His Helpmeet by Debi Pearl. I have found with Jeff's being gone and my needing to slip into the role of head of the house (in the physical anyway) that it is NOT so easy to slip OUT of it upon his return. Jeff and I have what you may call the "easiest relationship in the world". We actually LOVE each other and enjoy and endeavor to spend time together. He is easy to get along with and believe it or not, so am I. Usually. Well, maybe he puts up with me? I don't know.

But seriously folks, it is the little things that I have noticed myself doing..like saying, "We're going to do this or that", or just little, little things. It is easy to be too tired, too nonchalant, too complaining (Philippians 2:14, Philippians 2:14) See! There's the 2:14 again! (My Mother would say let's go play 2-1-4 on the pick three! And that's the kind of Mom I have. Gotta love her! But---digressing again)

Back to the matter at hand...

We don't fight or yell or even raise our voices. We don't pick on each other or call each other names and I cannot remember the last time he ever made me cry.

But, like I was telling Sloan the other day in regards to disciplining children of varying behavioral degrees, everything is relative! (Someone else's troubling child's worst, is the same as another's relatively well behaved child's worst, to that particular parent)

So even in a good marriage, something that is amiss is amiss and needs to be corrected! So I notice right off when something is off balance in myself. So off to refining school I go via the route of the Holy Spirit! So expect some "Created" stuff until I get totally back on track.

"...Does your husband share Adam's feelings of delight when he looks upon you? Do you wake each morning ready to make your husband happy and blessed, to serve him to the best of your ability-to be his helper? Are you engaged in active goodwill toward your man? That is God's perfect will for you."

(This is like music to my ears to hear again! This is what I am created for! Created to do! Created to be! If this makes you gag, you might want to prayerfully pick up your book too. Lol)

"When you are a help meet to your husband, you are a helper to Christ, for God commissioned man for a purpose and gave him a woman to assist in fulfilling that divine calling. When you honor your husband, you honor God. When you obey your husband, you obey God. The degree to which you reverence your husband is the degree to which you reverence your Creator. As we serve our husbands, we serve God. But in the same way, when you dishonor your husband, you dishonor God."

FOR THE MAN IS NOT OF THE WOMAN; BUT THE WOMAN OF THE MAN. NEITHER WAS THE MAN CREATED FOR THE WOMAN; BUT THE WOMAN FOR THE MAN.

1 Cor. 11:8-9

Sometimes we sure do act like they were created for us. Every time we complain, kvetch, moan, criticize, sigh heavily, etc. etc. we are saying: You are not there for me.

Would we do that to a boss at work? No way. But at home in the honor of marriage, no problem? I admittedly have been having a hard time of it lately without Jeff and without the intimate knowledge of a church family. (yet!) It is easy for me to become depressed and mopey. He calls, and I am upset with the kids. Is that me being there FOR him? Nope.

This is not about his "deserving" it.

"Who said anything about what he deserves? (though I think MINE does!) You can only realize your womanhood when you are functioning according to your created nature. IT is not a question of whether or not you can do a better job than he; it is a matter of doing what you were "designed" to do. If you successfully do the job of leading the family, you will not find satisfaction in it. It is far better that the job be done poorly by your husband than to be done well by you."

"When he first fell in love with you, you were a sweet little thing, full of laughter and fun. From the very bottom of your soul you were thrilled with him. Every day you woke up planning some activity that involved you both. Is he still married to that same sweet little thing, or have you become a long-faced, sickly complainer? Love is like a flower: you can't expect it to grow without sunshine. Has your lover seen your sunshine lately? Is he still your lover? What would he say?

So yesterday I apologized and asked for his forgiveness. And you know what? He seemed totally different after that in that conversation. Confident, happy, leading...

Take it as you will but I am choosing to remember my God given role in this life.

I am created to be my honey's HELPMEET. Even when he is not here. I need to keep HIS best interests at heart, not my own.

Fear not your piano teacher....

I was talking with Sloan today and she was telling me about her last piano lesson.
I had NO IDEA what she was talking about. Some new concept she is learning about notes being named V8 and M2 or some crazy thing. But she ran over time last week and as I sat tapping my foot in my car, her very patient instructor took the extra time to explain it to her instead of booting her out to sit on the front porch.
Yes. Her old instructor used to have her students sit on the front porch until their EXACT lesson time and then back on the front porch if the parent wasn't there to pick them up.
One time she got up from the bench in the middle of Sloan's piece to walk across the room and pick up a piece of lint on the floor.
But I digress...
So she was explaining that her instructor had asked her, "Do you understand?"
and she said, "No." So he explained it until she got it.
She told me she NEVER would have told her old instructor that she didn't understand out of pure fear.
After months of torture, tears and tyranny...(really) we switched instructors.
Now she is zooming along, back to having fun, enjoying piano and progressing nicely.
All with NO FEAR.
Beware ye of thee piano instructor! Lest ye fall into the abyss of musical fear!
Whatever. I am just SO HAPPY that she is where she is with who she is doing what she is.
And that's all folks.

Playtime at Pendleton

I wanted to get out of the house today so we scooted down to Pendelton Park. No one was there and the kids had fun playing. By the time we left lots of kids had shown up so it was a perfect time to leave! I am a little weird today...empty I guess. Too much emotional stuff going on with everyone! Love you guys though...

Hangin' around!

Woohoo!

Not so fast Mom!

You spin me right round baby right round!

Congrats!

Prize delivered! (Well, picked up anyway!) Congrats Ann Marie!

Today's Online Devotional...

Look Straight Ahead
Today's Scripture
“Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you” (Proverbs 4:25).

What are you looking at today? I don’t mean in the natural, but in the spiritual. What is in the forefront of your mind and heart? Are you constantly dwelling on your problems, or things that have happened in your past? In the natural, you will move in the direction that your eyes are looking. In the spiritual, it works the same way. Whatever you focus your mind and heart on, you will move towards. That’s why this verse tells us to look straight ahead. If you are constantly dwelling on your problems, or things in your past, wondering “what if” then you will stay right where you are. But if you choose to forgive and release the past then you can focus on what is ahead of you and you’ll begin to move forward. God doesn’t want you to live in the past. He wants you to meditate on His goodness and believe His promises so that you can keep growing. God is a creative God and He has designed a wonderful future for you. Look straight ahead so you can see it and move forward into the live of victory God has promised!

The Week's School in Review...

Monday: See post http://clunnintheson.blogspot.com/2008/01/school-yesterday.html (in other words, success.)
Tuesday: Kids at Disney
Wednesday: Kids exhausted from Disney and we finish "taking Christmas down."
Thursday: Rachel's Birthday, Fun fun fun.
Tomorrow? Well, it IS Friday...
Sigh.Help.
Can someone copy Monday's schedule in fives and apply it directly to my week?
Thanks and...
Shalom Ya'll

Adam's Family Values revisted: Gremlin style

Well, I've done it again. I've traumatized my children.

If you don't know of that to which I refer, please view blog post: http://clunnintheson.blogspot.com/2007/05/family-values.html

I thought I'd buy Rach a "cute little movie" for her birthday. But when I went to peruse them I couldn't find a new release she didn't already have. Yeah, yeah I know. But at least she doesn't even KNOW who Hannah Montana is. (much)

ANYhoo, so I get the "cute little movie" and they begin to watch it.

Half way through the movie, out they come. With, the "look".

Uh oh, I think. Not again.

Me: But it's GREMLINS! It's the cute little Ferbie characters! You're not suppose to get them wet or feed them after midnight! But they do! So they have a food fight in the kitchen and mess everything up!

Them: Uh, Mom? Can we all sleep in your bed tonight? They stabbed the science teacher in the back with a knife after chewing his hand off and electrocuted a little old lady in a wheel chair and threw her out a plate glass window. They drank and smoked and swung from a fan. One was smoking FOUR cigarettes at once. I'm SCARED!!!!

Me: So does this mean you don't want to finish it? Haha.

Ok, so I do not remember ANY of this that happened in the movie. I ONLY remember the messy kitchen part! Then again, I was raised by a Mother who thought the more scary movies she showed me, the less scared I would be of them. I had nightmares for most of my entire childhood. Hmmm, things are getting clearer...

So...if anyone want a Gremlin's movie, no contests, you can HAVE it.

And I have officially been crossed off the list as movie buyer.

Maybe too many Freddy Kruger movies left me thinking Goonies, Adam's Family and Gremlin's were benign? I am happy to report that I have no lasting scars from the movie Gremlins. So I don't think they will either...but it might be the very first time they have ever seen someone getting "stabbed" or...electrocuted or...thrown through a window or...a hand being chewed off.

But come on! It was from a 4 inch tall furry (NOT SCARY M) mouse like creature.

Just sayin'. (Why do I keep sayin' "just sayin"?. Just sayin'. AARRGGHH)

Well, there are some upcoming posts on defrauding I am writing and I am afraid this is a good segway into them: Stealing my children's innocence... one Gremlin at a time. Why must so much of our learning come from our mistakes? Oh!!!! Because we won't listen to

S-C-R-I-P-T-U-R-E!

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things... (emphasis added)

Line from other post: "My gauge is broken if I use my upbringing as my compass. I must always rely on the Lord to be my compass or I shall fail!"

Right. Gotta remember that one.

Happy Birthday Rach!

Here are SOME pics that I took of Rachel's bd. Just sayin'. Lol

Happy Bithday Rach!


Yummy cake...Eleven candles. Call the fire department.

Cake and presents!

Fave gift. I gave her this little cute mailbox from Target (a buck). Decorated it with darling heart sparkly translucent stickers (you can't see them) and wrote her a "love letter". Each girl will get one for her birthday (coming right up) and then will keep them in their rooms. When anyone wants to offer a bit of encouragement or love to one another they can leave a note or small gift and put the flag up.When they get "home" (to their rooms) they may have gotten some mail!

Brooklyn style pizza...their new favorite.

Kate felt like such a big girl sitting at the table in her "restaraunt" chair.

French manicure anyone? She'd been asking for this...

Kate got her this little pull along toy...wasn't that thoughtful? Rachel agrees she will share it with Kate. (We got way too many presents for Kate for Christmas:note Christmas wrap. We have about four more presents for Kate to "give" to others! LOL)

All of my scarves I never used and she loves them. I came across them the other day. A hit!

Ugh. The dreaded Webkinz. But she LOVED them.

A lot.

Guess who else did too? Ebay here we come. Again.

Oh happy horse webkinz day.

Cake anyone?

This one is special folks. Birthday blessings to the brightest light around...

Online Devotional...

Focus on the Unseen

Today's Scripture
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Every obstacle in your life is subject to change. It doesn’t matter what you may be facing, there is an answer in the unseen. The unseen is the spiritual realm where the promises of God exist. Your faith brings those unseen things into this natural realm. When you are fixed on something, you can’t be moved. There’s a determination that fuels your focus. When you fix your eyes on the unseen—the promises of God—your faith will not be moved by your circumstances and you’ll eventually see those promises come to pass. Make the decision today to fix your eyes and mind on the promises of God. Meditate on His promises until they become more real to you than the air you breath. Declare that His promises will come to pass in your life. Declare that you have His favor. Declare that you are more than a conqueror. Don’t allow fear and doubt to change what you are speaking over your life. As you continue to fix your spiritual eyes on the unseen promises of God, you will see those things come to pass in the natural and you will move forward into the abundant life the Lord has for you!

Inerrant/Infallible

Good stuff from the Rev. Doug Kuiper of The Reformed Witness Hour (a radio broadcast)

"Scripture: Its infallibility"

The child of God must know the Scriptures to be infallible. Not only inerrant. That is true too.

Inerrant means there is no error in them. But also infallible (not capable of having error in them). That they are infallible explains why they are inerrant. There is no error, not merely as a coincidence, but because Scripture is unable to have errors in it.

The reason why Scripture cannot have errors in it is because it is the Word of God and God cannot lie. It is impossible for God to lie (Heb. 6:18), which God who cannot lie promised (Tit. 1:2). God is not a man that He should lie (Num. 23:19). Because God is a God of light and of truth and of unchanging truth, so in Scripture there are no lies, errors, or deceptions.

That the Scriptures are infallible, however, does not merely follow from the truth of God’s unchangingness, but is also expressly stated in Scripture itself. There are a number of passages that imply or teach it to some degree, but the classic text regarding the infallibility of Scripture is John 10:35. There we read (and it is Jesus who is speaking): “The scripture cannot be broken.”

Scripture cannot be broken, so believe it or don't but as I like to say, it doesn't change the truth of it.

Look what we found in our lake!

Hungry Hungry Hippo!

Disney

Well, here are the AMAZING pics of Disney that my family took while the Mom stayed home...I mean, isn't that the ONLY thing a Mom would look forward to when all her kids left her? The PICTURES? But at least they got a few...sheesh, do I have to do everything around this joint? Lol Here they are leaving the house yesterday am and a few um, pictures. THey did have a GREAT time and didn't get home until after 11! I guess the boat trip was fun with the guide making hilarious jokes like, "Look! Here comes the strongest family in the world! They're able to single handedly hold up a Disney ride!" Ba dump dump. I had a good day too doing a bunch of tasks for task sake and not having to think too much. It was good! (But today was better! They were HOME!) Oh- and big mistake- Jeff asked me like three times to check to see if PD was singing anywhere so they could see..and I kept forgetting! My only solace? Waiting for Lisa's response telling me he wasn't at the Magic Kingdom yesterday...yikes!

All alone...almost

Sloan's going to Disney now too! Waaahaahaa. I'm all alone there's no one here besiiiiide me...
oh, that's right. I have Kate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Checklist

Here is the link to The Checklist. Click on sample pages.

http://oklahomahomeschool.com/checklist.html

New Fave Organizing Life Stuff

I hear AnnMarie was the inspiration for this gift that Sloanie got me. The ultimate calendar!

Wipe off boards work well in our school... Right inside the kitchen by the coffee maker: Don't forget Mom, "He is our perfect peace!"

School yesterday...

I SO have to give full credit to the Lord for such a great school day yesterday! He was in it all the way and everyone had a great day! We did school the way I love to do it...outlined but led by the Holy Spirit. Every time I am full surrender, the day rolls seamless, perfectly ordered from thing to thing...often ending up where my outline would never have taken it...it's perfect! And I believe how the Lord would have it...nothing wrong with a little planning but you must always be willing to bend to the Lord's will!

Lauren: Bible Basics: (Review) Differences between OT and NT. How to locate, read and write scripture references.
Reading: Assessed skills (almost ready for beginner chapter books) Alternated reading stack of books in increasing difficulty (her then me, her then me) assessed, pray and plan.
Writing: (Review) Write upper and lower case letters, name, address and phone number, assess, pray and plan
Math: (review) count to 100 (too easy Mom) recognize patterns and number sequences (had to REALLY try to finally stump her.
(We call this game "stump the punk" and they LOVE it. In any given subject I try to "stump" them. After many of their successes and feeling really good, we usually end up stumping them, When the skill is ultimately mastered, they are no longer stumpable, by their level of knowledge of course... and they "win" and we move on to next level or skill) review ordinals, place value, write words one-ten.
Read: Read aloud "Stranded on Plimoth Plantation" to get back into reading aloud. (short book while we look for a new one?
Read: You're Aboard Spaceship Earth
Science: didn't get to it but did talk about conservation and recycling a bit...

Rachel: Bible Basics: How to locate books easily, memorization, how to study the bible, how to read and write scrip. references
Reading: Begins Amy Carmichael and she notes that she read about her in one of her other books Jewel something or other...very exciting.
Math: Tortured her with two pages of multiplication to teach her the hard but valuable lesson that memorization is KEY in basic math. Makes life so much easier than trying to figure out 9X7 the hard way. We will put all work sheets in mult. away now and MEMORIZE them. :) Shape skill assessment: Poly, hex, hep, oct, etc.
Penmanship: Proverbs. assess skill, practice dictation. (we need to improve speed)

Sloan: Bible Basics: Infallibility of Scripture. Inerrancy of scripture and the difference between them. How the Bible was written.

Reading: Start an American author: Louisa May Alcott. Internet study of her and one page essay on her life. Will pick up a book to read of hers from the Library, Eight Cousins or The Inheritance.

TLP (all language arts) continuing...Pride and the Prejudice

Math: Multiplication review and mem, shape review and Latin root meaning, meant to get to measurements of weight and kitchen conversions but never did.

Begin Bright Lights.

And that is how I would like to do it most days! can you imagine? We were all relatively done by after lunch too, except Sloan who has more...

so today? Well, we DID school yesterday so today? Jeff is taking Rachel and Lauren to DISNEYWORLD. Yep. That's what I said. Sloan opts to stay home with me so we have to do some fun stuff too. It is for Rachel's BD that they are going and how could they leave Little L behind so she gets to go too for HER birthday as well which is soon also.

So much for routine. But hey, isn't this really what homeschooling is all about? Flexibility! Lol Back to routine on Wednesday me hopes.

BTW- All of this followed along in the Checklist by Cindy Downes

Affirmation with a capital A-men!!

And amazingly, after the wonderful Word God gave me in PBT this morning about Peace, Tif AND Giselle BOTH sent me this:

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Being at peace with yourself is a direct result of finding peace with God.
SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY: And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:7

Now, how's THAT for affirmation? God is totally on our side. And he lets us know! I love it!

The Real Him meets the Real Us!

Good newsletter from the Pastor of our old church in Vero...


THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE MESSY
Luke 2:7 She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.

What do I mean by “messy?” It’s the word I think can best describe my spirituality. I grew up in a church culture where spiritual meant, religious, right, pure, clean, holy, serious, republican, dressed well, short hair, no sin. It didn’t take long for me to figure out that in that culture I was not counted as very spiritual. I could try for awhile to look the look and talk the talk, but walking the walk was very weary and very inconsistent.
Don’t get me wrong, my passion and love for Jesus has always been strong. It’s just that inside I am really pretty messy, and that messiness shows up on the outside way more often than I like to admit.
I once thought that the older I got, the further I would move from this messiness. Honestly, it’s been just the opposite. The older I get the more I realize just how incomplete and imperfect I am. Can I get a witness?
This past Christmas gave me a fresh sense of what spiritual is. As we celebrated our Christmas Eve service together and shared in communion, I got it…again. There was the Christ child. Holy, divine, perfect. In the middle of a mess. Cow, sheep and donkey dung. Smells. Unwelcome noise. A rather ugly place for the Son of God to choose to come into. And He is still doing it today. The incarnation (taking up residence) in messy places like my life. The pure and beautiful, and the confused and messy.
I am starting 2008 with a re-focused mind. Spirituality is not about competency; it is about intimacy. Spirituality is not about perfection; it’s about connection. Spirituality is not about being “fixed;” it is about God’s being presnt in the mess of our unfixedness.
May the realization of the divine presence of God catch you off-guard today. May the realization of God’s consistent love for imperfect people impact how you relate to Him and to others today.
Thank you Lord that you use our messiness as the workshop of authentic spirituality and the greenhouse of faith. And that as You do this, the real You meets the real us.

Just as I am without one plea but that
Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee
Oh lamb of God I come I come.

We have been given 86,400 seconds this day. How shall we spend it?