Happy Valentine’s Day

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My Dear Sweet Man,
~ us ~ 2012 ~
I thank God for you. I am blessed to awake in the same home as you and know that you are there. I know your love is there and that your forgiveness has been just as constant as your love.
Thank you for going to work each day. Thank you for coming home, too. usually in time for supper {smiles}. Thank you for wanting to spend time with your family above others. Thank you for loving our children with discipline and instruction as well as hugs and kisses and tickles. Thank you for all you do to ensure that our family stays together and that we serve God together, too.
You are truly the best thing that ever happened in my life apart from accepting Christ. I pray the Lord allows us many more years together [or simply comes back!!]
…Grow old with me. the best is yet to be!!!

answering {simple} questions .1

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answering {simple} questions .1

I must preface this by saying that only if you as the parent/adult are already saved  
can you truly answer a child’s questions regarding salvation. 
Only God can guide your words to speak appropriately.
1. What does it mean to be “saved”?
and
2. How does Jesus come into our hearts?

 

These answers will be written the way that I would address a small child [under age 5]. Children can understand so much, but we must also be aware of just how literal they are!
because one day they will need to know how to hold God’s hand!

 

“Saved” means that you have asked Jesus to come into your heart and wash away the sin. [This does not mean that another person is going to come into your body. It is not something we can see.] This is also called being “born again.”
This also means that you have Everlasting Life. which means that when you die you will go to heaven to live with God. Those who understand this and choose not to “get saved” will not go to heaven but hell when they die-living an eternal death.
Jesus will only save you or come into your heart if you ask Him to. He then becomes a part of your life and He can help you in your mind to choose to do right instead of wrong. He can help you think good thoughts and be nice to others. He can help you be strong enough to help others {such as a younger brother or sister} choose to do right, too.
some Scripture reading: John 3:1-21 [especially: 16,17] 
and Acts 2:21 & 10:13; 16:30-33.

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{learning} how to fall

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{learning} how to fall

We read this story in our devotion book the other evening: {I will paraphrase some of it}

Little Sammy had to wear leg braces because he had polio. He fell often but still wanted to attend school. One day he fell down the steps and his teacher rushed over to see if he was ok.

“Sammy, are you hurt?”

Sammy SMILED up at her and said: 

“No, I’ve learned HOW TO FALL.”

As people saved by grace, we need to learn how to fall.

leaning out

First. We must realize that we WILL fall.

There is sin in this world, still residing in our hearts. Falling is inevitable.

and

Second. No one ever falls all-by-himself.

There are consequences. If I am a child of God, His chastisement will remind me; and more than likely, there will be at least 1 human who notices also.

Our actions affect other people.

BUT there is grace for every time.

And I must learn that it is not the fall that will destroy me. It is how I handle it. I must allow God to work in my life.

God can use any fall to bring Him glory if we are seeking His face- searching for Him.

And that is learning how to fall.

Always into His waiting arms of grace, picking us up, helping us make it right, strengthening us to apologize, supporting us, allowing us another opportunity to make it right, giving us grace to learn through the consequences.

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{searching} for ME

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{searching} for ME

{my heart–convicted recently… sharing}

Have you ever heard the expression “I just need to find myself”?

Maybe you have been there, searching for who you are- leaving family and just looking- searching God’s creation for YOU.

Or maybe you have not physically left your life in this pursuit, but emotionally there are days when you are “checked out” and unavailable. [I am pointing any  and all fingers at myself!]

People searching, hunting, rummaging, pursuing– for SELF. {Who am I?}

~a quest of self-discovery.

Christmas 2011-039

Our world is filled with these people. We have a pre-occupation with SELF.

And God says we are FOOLS.

A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.  Proverbs 18:2

  Being a Wife is a full-time responsibility. Being a Mommy is hard work. You know this.

We don’t have time to “find ourselves.” [and if we tried, that would make us fools!]

We do not have time to be “checked out.”

BUT

We don’t have to.

If Jesus has you, then you ARE found. {JOY}

Christmas 2011-173

we are   {FOUND}

Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. Luke 15:6

we are  {OWNED}

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one. John 10:27-30

we are  {LOVED}

I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Proverbs 8:17

I must REST in HIM~in WHO He is~in what He has done for me~in what He can do through me.

…and be contented in knowing that where I am is not where I will always be.

I pray you have a BLESSED weekend!

Because HE is… I can be!

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{teaching} with evidence

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When children see evidence of God’s importance in Daddy’s and Mommy’s lives  and are trained to also be involved, it becomes a part of their lives. 
There is a marked difference in the attitudes of children towards authority between those who are taught that God is Important and those who are left to figure things out on their own [Proverbs 28:26; 29:15]. 

Children must be continually exposed to God and His Word and His Love and commands in order for them to become a part of their lives. 
If God is important to us as parents it will be evident to our children when they are in Sunday School every week and when we read the Bible [even just a verse and explain it] with them each day and when we pray for the difficulties we face and when we praise Him for all things. It will be evident when we participate in the ministries of our church or go out of our way to be helpful to those in need.

Children with parents who are passionate about “being green” learn how to recycle and repurpose, because their parents DO it. Those whose parents are avid about “organic food” will learn about the nutritional value of different foods and the negative effects of pesticides and processing, etc because their parents are DOing something. Those who are fervent in their quest of an organized home & life teach their children the importance of everything having its own home and putting it there by always having them put things away as well as DOing it themselves.

In the same manner, parents who are are dedicated lovers of God WILL teach their children who God is. We will prove that He is our Creator and that He is to be revered and praised and worshiped and served with our whole life. with our actions.

The Good Wife’s Guide {review}

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book review
When I volunteered to read The Good Wife’s Guide {with a foreword by Candace Cameron Bure} to offer a review of it, I was truly honored {read: *tickled purple*-I like purple better than pink} that the author responded and was willing for me to do so.
Darlene has genuinely taken to heart the passage in Titus 2 that instructs …teach the young women… in this book about Embracing your Role as a Help Meet.

In a concise, easy-to-read format, Darlene lays out basic Biblical guidelines that will leave a Christian lady with the necessary tools in her heart and mind to be “the good wife.”

If you are looking for sound, Scriptural advice about what God’s intent of a help meet looks like and if you desire to learn from plain talk and practical advice, then this is a must read.
Some topics found:
*using your strengths and 
managing your weaknesses
*managing your time 
and making priorities
*truth about what submission is 
and a wife’s role
*basic truths on mothering 
and practical ideas
*realistic methods of  creating schedules 
and routines for cleaning
*encouragement that being the woman God created you to be 
is so much more!

If you are [or know of!] a young lady contemplating marriage, this is an excellent resource. As a young mother approaching 9 years of marriage, this book helped me reinforce those areas I am doing the right thing as well as spotlight [in an encouraging manner] some things that need some work {smiles}.

The Good Wife’s Guide will be an uplifting and helpful read to any Christian lady seeking to be a better wife [which I have found leads to being a better mommy, too!].

The author, Darlene Schacht,  is a sweet lady [that I have never actually met] whose humble spirit and graceful charm are evident in her blog Time-Warp-Wife.
In her own words [from her blog bio]:
I cherish vintage values, and yet I understand they are simply a means to an end. Yes they are to be cherished, but unless I couple those values with strong conviction based upon the Word of God and what is right in His sight, they are nothing but tradition, custom and practice. 
As a Christian, I accept the Word of God to be true, and each time I apply it to my life I quickly discover that there is a good reason God put it there. His wisdom exceeds mine.
Does this mean that I am a doormat to my husband or that I’m compromising my beliefs in any way? Absolutely not—I’m reinforcing them. I’m living out my faith which is backed by belief. I’m happily choosing to be my husband’s helper because faith powers every decision I make.
I believe that I was created with purpose, and in living out our purpose we discover a peace which passes all understanding through Jesus Christ our Lord.
*I received a free copy of this eBook 
with the intent of writing a review. 
There is no affiliate link, but please click the picture
if you desire to purchase this book.

giveaway closed
GIVEAWAY GOING ON HERE:
through February 15 {2012}

You can also visit Darlene online at
for Godly wisdom spoken with vintage charm.

live a {beautiful} life

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One of my favorite quotes that can motivate me to have and seek the proper spirit each day is:

Duty makes us do things well,

purple flower

but Love makes us do them beautifully.

I love beauty: a clean table, dresser drawers closed neatly, covers pulled up to the bed pillows, toys in their home, children playing together, a lovely kiss when he comes home.

And each of these situations could occur every day, but just because they happen does not mean there is beauty in HOW they were done.

It is the love of God in my heart that causes me to accomplish these tasks beautifully– to enjoy the moment-

to take pleasure even when the chaos ensues~~

to live a beautiful life

in the ordinary-everyday.

 [I Corinthains 13]

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I’m also on Instagram!
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how many servants?

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or How many do I serve?

How do you measure greatness?

 I have a quote in my Bible:

Your greatness is not measured by how many servants you have
but by how many men [people] you serve.

I am not sure where I heard it. I failed to write that part down.

Is this not what Jesus taught? sometimes I need to be reminded. I have no illusions of actually having servants {laughing hysterically}, but do I treat my family as my servants?  Or do I delight in serving them?
Mark 10:43b, 44 …but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

Mark 9:34b-35 …for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.  And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
These are just some thoughts {among others} that have convicted me recently.
When I truly seek to serve God with my day, I will readily serve my family–with a smile in my heart!
I will be willing to serve others as He makes opportunity in my life; and I will teach my children that real JOY comes from serving God [without even telling them! though we ought to express it verbally, too].

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Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!

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I’m also on Instagram!
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and I’m on Twitter!

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