Grace=unmerited favor
I've been a Christian for a long time. Most of my life. I didn't always walk right, but I knew the Truth, and eventually I let the Truth set me free (because God can set you free, but you choose to carry around the chains anyway). Something long-time Christians may struggle with is thinking all they do for Christ proves to Him how righteous they are. (Righteous=right in God's eyes)
My epiphany for this week is that God's grace, given to me by Jesus, makes me righteous. Not what I do. Oh, I knew this all along. I knew I was saved by grace and not works. I've taken college classes on being sanctified and justified, and I knew what they meant. But somewhere along the line, I started feeling like all I DO shows what I AM to God.
And here's the thing: I am still right in God's eyes even if I'm not teaching a class; I'm right in God's eyes even if my husband isn't the Praise and Worship leader; I'm right in God's eyes even if we drop all our responsibilities at our church and walk away. What I DO does not make me what I AM to God. (***Goosebumps***) It's what HE did.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Really?
I've been a Christian for many years. Most of my life. And in those years, I've had times of trouble with obedience. I've even argued with God. My latest disagreement with Him was about being called to lead our Children's Ministries--a position that didn't even exist.
I had many legitimate reasons for not doing it. After all, I'm a busy mom of 6, homeschooling my family. Three and a half years ago, God pulled me out of my ministry positions, only allowing me to gradually pick up a couple--a light load. And I needed that! Doing this would make no sense!
Many times, I've heard fellow Christians say, "God wants us to use common sense." I may have said it myself. A couple months ago this phrase triggered that still, small voice saying, "Really?"
My mind began to wander through the Bible stories; the stories I've been told, I've read myself, and I've taught to others. I was looking for God wanting His children to use common sense.
Wander with me through the Old and New Testaments as we look for God's use of common sense.
* God told Noah to build a big boat in a land that had no bodies of water and had never seen rain.
* God told Abraham to offer his son as a sacrifice--the son that would fulfill God's promise to multiply Abraham's descendants to outnumber the stars.
* God called Moses--the man with the stutter--to be His spokesman to Pharoah.
* God told Joshua to lead his people around Jericho and destroy the walls with a shout.
* God informed Gideon that his army of 22,000 was too big to fight the Midianites. He only needed 300 men.
* When fighting a giant, forget the army or strongmen--send a young boy with a slingshot.
* God unraveled a plot to exterminate the Jewish race by placing a Jewish girl as Queen to a self-centered King.
* God sent a baby to a poor virgin girl to save the world.
* Dipping seven times in a dirty river can cure leprosy.
* Spit in the dirt; the mud will open blind eyes.
* If someone treats you badly, return it with love.
I cannot find any example of God saying, "My people, who are called by my name, shall use common sense." Wrack your brain; can you?
In fact, you can almost test God's will by it not following common sense!
Are you facing a decision? Do you see an open door of ministry and wonder if God really wants you? Do you doubt that you could possibly do what God is asking you to do? Does common sense say you should stay in your pew and keep your mouth shut? Ah ha! God is calling you! And like Moses, if God calls you, He will equip you. Step out in faith with me.
I had many legitimate reasons for not doing it. After all, I'm a busy mom of 6, homeschooling my family. Three and a half years ago, God pulled me out of my ministry positions, only allowing me to gradually pick up a couple--a light load. And I needed that! Doing this would make no sense!
Many times, I've heard fellow Christians say, "God wants us to use common sense." I may have said it myself. A couple months ago this phrase triggered that still, small voice saying, "Really?"
My mind began to wander through the Bible stories; the stories I've been told, I've read myself, and I've taught to others. I was looking for God wanting His children to use common sense.
Wander with me through the Old and New Testaments as we look for God's use of common sense.
* God told Noah to build a big boat in a land that had no bodies of water and had never seen rain.
* God told Abraham to offer his son as a sacrifice--the son that would fulfill God's promise to multiply Abraham's descendants to outnumber the stars.
* God called Moses--the man with the stutter--to be His spokesman to Pharoah.
* God told Joshua to lead his people around Jericho and destroy the walls with a shout.
* God informed Gideon that his army of 22,000 was too big to fight the Midianites. He only needed 300 men.
* When fighting a giant, forget the army or strongmen--send a young boy with a slingshot.
* God unraveled a plot to exterminate the Jewish race by placing a Jewish girl as Queen to a self-centered King.
* God sent a baby to a poor virgin girl to save the world.
* Dipping seven times in a dirty river can cure leprosy.
* Spit in the dirt; the mud will open blind eyes.
* If someone treats you badly, return it with love.
I cannot find any example of God saying, "My people, who are called by my name, shall use common sense." Wrack your brain; can you?
In fact, you can almost test God's will by it not following common sense!
Are you facing a decision? Do you see an open door of ministry and wonder if God really wants you? Do you doubt that you could possibly do what God is asking you to do? Does common sense say you should stay in your pew and keep your mouth shut? Ah ha! God is calling you! And like Moses, if God calls you, He will equip you. Step out in faith with me.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Just 10 minutes
On March 18, 2006, I was sick of being tired all the time, hanging on to baby weight from my last 5 babies, and the perimenapause symptoms I was having at 37 years old. So I pulled on my snow boots, coat, hat and scarf, and started walking around my backyard. The ground was slushy. It was raining/snowing out. I thought I could die from the effort. I walked 10 minutes. And I lived.
When I got in the house, I was amazed at how ALIVE I felt. My heart seemed to be buzzing from the flood of oxygen. I was hooked. I started walking every day. Soon 10 minutes wasn't enough. Then 15 minutes wasn't enough. I dusted off the exercise bike in my basement, too. I borrowed a Leslie Sansone walking video from library and fell in love with indoor walking.
I want to add that one thing I mentally fought with was: "What will the neighbors think?" It held me back until I decided that what they thought wasn't going to keep me feeling like crap! And one neighbor did comment. I answered him and kept on walking! The mental benefits from walking--fresh air, time without kids, feeling muscle in my legs, weightloss, etc.--far outweigh anything the neighbors are thinking!
Today I walked 3 miles with a Leslie Sansone video. There is no way I could have done it back in 2006. But I am still amazed at what that first 10 minutes led to! FlyLady says you can do anything for 15 minutes (except hold your breath.) This motto has kept me walking and riding the exercise bike many times. And if you can do anything for 15 minutes, surely you can do it for 10. So, go on, get moving. You can do it for 10 minutes
When I got in the house, I was amazed at how ALIVE I felt. My heart seemed to be buzzing from the flood of oxygen. I was hooked. I started walking every day. Soon 10 minutes wasn't enough. Then 15 minutes wasn't enough. I dusted off the exercise bike in my basement, too. I borrowed a Leslie Sansone walking video from library and fell in love with indoor walking.
I want to add that one thing I mentally fought with was: "What will the neighbors think?" It held me back until I decided that what they thought wasn't going to keep me feeling like crap! And one neighbor did comment. I answered him and kept on walking! The mental benefits from walking--fresh air, time without kids, feeling muscle in my legs, weightloss, etc.--far outweigh anything the neighbors are thinking!
Today I walked 3 miles with a Leslie Sansone video. There is no way I could have done it back in 2006. But I am still amazed at what that first 10 minutes led to! FlyLady says you can do anything for 15 minutes (except hold your breath.) This motto has kept me walking and riding the exercise bike many times. And if you can do anything for 15 minutes, surely you can do it for 10. So, go on, get moving. You can do it for 10 minutes
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
New Year's Resolution
Happy New Year--2012. Wow, where did time go? I'm still trying to figure out how July went by so fast!
I've been thinking about this blog and what it is. I've read others' blogs and mine is so different. I'm not sure what I'm aiming at. I guess it's kind of like a public diary to me. We'll see where it goes this year!
My New Year's Resolution is to get back in shape. That includes exercise and eating right. Today is Day 4. Day 1 couldn't really count because I was sick as a dog on New Year's Eve, so was in no shape to exercise on the 1st.
In the first 4 days of 2012--except for Day 1-- I've exercised at least 30 minutes a day, exercise bike, walking videos, and Wii Fit. I've cut out almost all sweets. I'm an all-or-nothing kind of girl. Eating sweets makes me crave more. It's easier to say "No" than "No more."
Recipe of the Day--Pumpkin Soup (super easy)
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1 t. minced garlic (opt.)
Olive oil or marg. enough to saute onion (1-2 T.)
2 cups pumpkin--I used pumpkin I cooked, pureed and froze after Halloween; 1-15 oz. can will work
Salt & pepper to taste
Saute onion & garlic in oil/margarine until tender. Add pumpkin. Stir until bubbly. Stir in enough liquid (broth, milk, or water) to get the consistency you prefer. Stir until bubbly. Season to taste.
Great way to load up on an orange veggie! If you haven't ever cooked pumpkin before, it is worth the effort! It is smooth, and tastes more like winter squash than canned pumpkin.
Blessings!
I've been thinking about this blog and what it is. I've read others' blogs and mine is so different. I'm not sure what I'm aiming at. I guess it's kind of like a public diary to me. We'll see where it goes this year!
My New Year's Resolution is to get back in shape. That includes exercise and eating right. Today is Day 4. Day 1 couldn't really count because I was sick as a dog on New Year's Eve, so was in no shape to exercise on the 1st.
In the first 4 days of 2012--except for Day 1-- I've exercised at least 30 minutes a day, exercise bike, walking videos, and Wii Fit. I've cut out almost all sweets. I'm an all-or-nothing kind of girl. Eating sweets makes me crave more. It's easier to say "No" than "No more."
Recipe of the Day--Pumpkin Soup (super easy)
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1 t. minced garlic (opt.)
Olive oil or marg. enough to saute onion (1-2 T.)
2 cups pumpkin--I used pumpkin I cooked, pureed and froze after Halloween; 1-15 oz. can will work
Salt & pepper to taste
Saute onion & garlic in oil/margarine until tender. Add pumpkin. Stir until bubbly. Stir in enough liquid (broth, milk, or water) to get the consistency you prefer. Stir until bubbly. Season to taste.
Great way to load up on an orange veggie! If you haven't ever cooked pumpkin before, it is worth the effort! It is smooth, and tastes more like winter squash than canned pumpkin.
Blessings!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Angry Eyebrows
I've come to realize I have a lot of eyebrow stories. Strange. In high school, I started plucking my eyebrows without mercy. I didn't realize how merciless I'd become until school pictures came out. I stopped plucking and started hiding those pictures. I already have a very high browbone...plucking hadn't helped!
A few years ago, I was introduced to waxing. I didn't want to keep going to the salon for something I could do myself, so I bought some waxing stuff from Avon. And did it myself. Now, usually, I have good results. It is tricky to make both brows match. And sometimes when I look at the hair left on the fabric I have a heart-sinking panic attack. Sometimes, in a try to make both brows match, I end up with some pink burns on my brows...or a very surprised expression for a few days from over-waxing.
A couple weeks ago I realized it was time to wax them again. Before I got to it, a lady coming out of Aldi complemented me on my eyebrows. Now, that was a first! And I figured they must not need done after all! LOL
Well, last week I decided, no matter how much a grocery-store stranger admired my brows, I wanted them touched up. I put the wax in the microwave...then forgot it. When I got it out, it had cooled a tad too much. The usual fine coating on the toothpick I use was a rather large blob. And it dripped, or dropped, right onto my eyelashes! Almost instantly my top and bottom lashes were globbed together with rapidly cooling waxing goo. What a panic I was in! Now to remove the wax without removing my lashes! With the help of oil, I got most of the wax out. But it left my lashes sticky. I should have given up, but noooo, I continued to wax my brows with lashes sticking together. And I must say...my brows do not match, I burned my skin enough it was still red the next day, and I look like I'm constantly raising one skeptical brow--an expression I am unable to do naturally.
A few years ago, I was introduced to waxing. I didn't want to keep going to the salon for something I could do myself, so I bought some waxing stuff from Avon. And did it myself. Now, usually, I have good results. It is tricky to make both brows match. And sometimes when I look at the hair left on the fabric I have a heart-sinking panic attack. Sometimes, in a try to make both brows match, I end up with some pink burns on my brows...or a very surprised expression for a few days from over-waxing.
A couple weeks ago I realized it was time to wax them again. Before I got to it, a lady coming out of Aldi complemented me on my eyebrows. Now, that was a first! And I figured they must not need done after all! LOL
Well, last week I decided, no matter how much a grocery-store stranger admired my brows, I wanted them touched up. I put the wax in the microwave...then forgot it. When I got it out, it had cooled a tad too much. The usual fine coating on the toothpick I use was a rather large blob. And it dripped, or dropped, right onto my eyelashes! Almost instantly my top and bottom lashes were globbed together with rapidly cooling waxing goo. What a panic I was in! Now to remove the wax without removing my lashes! With the help of oil, I got most of the wax out. But it left my lashes sticky. I should have given up, but noooo, I continued to wax my brows with lashes sticking together. And I must say...my brows do not match, I burned my skin enough it was still red the next day, and I look like I'm constantly raising one skeptical brow--an expression I am unable to do naturally.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Homemade Laundry Soap
One way I save a few pennies for our large family is by making my own laundry soap. A friend gave me the recipe and showed me how. It's kind of hard to figure out just how much it costs, but I believe it's less than $2 for about 2 gallons of laundry soap. Some ingredients take some looking for, and the price can vary drastically from store to store.
There are three basic ingredients in my recipe: Arm & Hammer Washing Soda, Borax, and Fels Naptha. It's important to use washing soda, not baking soda. (You can chemically change baking soda to washing soda by baking it!!) I've had better luck finding this near Amish communities. I've paid as much as $5 a box, and as little as $2.77 a box. It comes in 55 oz. boxes, and you only use 1 C. per recipe. Borax is easy to find in just about any grocery store or Walmart. Fels Naptha is trickier. I've searched and searched in stores I knew carried it. Sometimes it's with laundry products, but sometimes it's with bar soaps (it's in a bar). I've seen it for as much as $1.69 a bar, and just recently I found it at our Walmart for only 97¢ a bar.
Here is the recipe I use. If you Google Homemade Laundry Soap, you can find many, many recipes. Most are variations of this.
1/2 bar Fels Naptha, grated
1 C. Borax
1 C. Washing Soda
Optional water-soluble fragrance
2 gallon covered bucket
Put grated Fels Naptha in a stock pan with 6 C. water. Cook until soap melts; stir occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add Borax and Washing Soda; stir until dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 C. hot tap water into the bucket. Add soap mixture and stir. Add an additional one gallon plus 6 C. water and stir. At this time you can add fragrance, if you prefer.
The recipe says to let sit 24 hours, stir and use (about 1/2 cup per load). I don't always let it sit that long, and there's no problem. Sometimes it has a thick gel consistency. Sometimes it's gel on the top, but watery on the bottom (I stir it up before each use to get some of each). I don't know why it varies.
I think it cleans as well as anything. You can use the Fels Naptha bar as a pre-treater, too. I miss the strong fragrance of store-bought laundry soap. I haven't found a fragrance to add that matches it. If you don't mind the lack of fragrance, it's no problem. The soap smells very strong when you make it, but it doesn't stick to your clothes. (Make a batch of soap and your whole house smells fresh and clean!)
There are three basic ingredients in my recipe: Arm & Hammer Washing Soda, Borax, and Fels Naptha. It's important to use washing soda, not baking soda. (You can chemically change baking soda to washing soda by baking it!!) I've had better luck finding this near Amish communities. I've paid as much as $5 a box, and as little as $2.77 a box. It comes in 55 oz. boxes, and you only use 1 C. per recipe. Borax is easy to find in just about any grocery store or Walmart. Fels Naptha is trickier. I've searched and searched in stores I knew carried it. Sometimes it's with laundry products, but sometimes it's with bar soaps (it's in a bar). I've seen it for as much as $1.69 a bar, and just recently I found it at our Walmart for only 97¢ a bar.
Here is the recipe I use. If you Google Homemade Laundry Soap, you can find many, many recipes. Most are variations of this.
1/2 bar Fels Naptha, grated
1 C. Borax
1 C. Washing Soda
Optional water-soluble fragrance
2 gallon covered bucket
Put grated Fels Naptha in a stock pan with 6 C. water. Cook until soap melts; stir occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add Borax and Washing Soda; stir until dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 C. hot tap water into the bucket. Add soap mixture and stir. Add an additional one gallon plus 6 C. water and stir. At this time you can add fragrance, if you prefer.
The recipe says to let sit 24 hours, stir and use (about 1/2 cup per load). I don't always let it sit that long, and there's no problem. Sometimes it has a thick gel consistency. Sometimes it's gel on the top, but watery on the bottom (I stir it up before each use to get some of each). I don't know why it varies.
I think it cleans as well as anything. You can use the Fels Naptha bar as a pre-treater, too. I miss the strong fragrance of store-bought laundry soap. I haven't found a fragrance to add that matches it. If you don't mind the lack of fragrance, it's no problem. The soap smells very strong when you make it, but it doesn't stick to your clothes. (Make a batch of soap and your whole house smells fresh and clean!)
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Dreams Really Do Come True
We came home from Kalahari late Wednesday night, not knowing our house would soon be a water adventure!
Bill woke me up before 8 a.m. Saturday. "I don't have time for this. The sump pump pipe came apart, filled the chicks, and half of them are dead." What a way to start your day!! William and I spent the next hours tending to both the living and the dead. I gave the 9 survivors a blow-dry on my lap. Amazingly, they don't struggle much; a little at first, then they close their eyes and accept their fate. They remained in a stunned state all day, huddled under the heat light.
We quickly realized the sump pump pipe was in crisis. It continued to pop off and shoot water-like-you-wouldn't-believe out. This is not sewage water, just water it had pumped off the floor. It was a cycle--pump it up, shoot it out, pump it up, shoot it out. Oh, and then the kitchen sink got in the act...and the toilet, too. The water wouldn't go down, William would plunge it, it would go down, but shoot out of the sump pump pipe onto the basement floor. Ugh. (Yes, we finally had sense enough to unplug the sump pump.) Not knowing if the problem was with the septic tank or the pipes, I told Bill we'd better get a septic tank guy out here, STAT. No problem, how about TUESDAY morning? Fine, we'll just be in waterworld for four days!!
So, we've been very gentle with our water usage. Dirty dishes fill the dishwater, and my laundry pile isn't going anywhere. I flush the toilet and stand back. We showered at our friends' house. Bill ran a hose from the sump pump out to the backyard, so our basement wouldn't fill up any more. This morning Bill tells me he dreamed last night that water was pouring through the ceilings. Oh, thank the Lord that was just a dream!! (Hint: foreshadowing)
Well, the other day I was listening to a call-in home repair show on the radio. Someone had gurgling toilets/sinks whenever the washer ran. Our sinks have done that since we moved in, and the sump pump would occasionally back up in the bathroom sink. The solution offered--check the venting; just run a snake down the vent pipe on the roof and look for clogs.
Today as an attempt to do ANYTHING to help the situation, Bill climbs on the roof with his snake and puts it down the two vent pipes. One is clear, but the kitchen one is totally blocked and the snake won't go through. At this time, I am taking a Pentecostal nap in my bed. I hear some water hitting the floor, and think, "Great, the toilet is overflowing again." But it is strange how loud it is. Then William is yelling at Sarah over the roar of the wet/dry vac. I go down to investigate and find water pouring through the kitchen ceiling around the light fixture. We scramble for buckets to put under four streams. Oh, thank you internet for all your useful information, but curse you for telling my beloved husband to run a hose down the vent pipe to wash the blockage out!!! The blockage remains, and 15 minutes of hose running went all over my kitchen floor!
Dreams really do come true!! Even nightmares! WAH!
Bill woke me up before 8 a.m. Saturday. "I don't have time for this. The sump pump pipe came apart, filled the chicks, and half of them are dead." What a way to start your day!! William and I spent the next hours tending to both the living and the dead. I gave the 9 survivors a blow-dry on my lap. Amazingly, they don't struggle much; a little at first, then they close their eyes and accept their fate. They remained in a stunned state all day, huddled under the heat light.
We quickly realized the sump pump pipe was in crisis. It continued to pop off and shoot water-like-you-wouldn't-believe out. This is not sewage water, just water it had pumped off the floor. It was a cycle--pump it up, shoot it out, pump it up, shoot it out. Oh, and then the kitchen sink got in the act...and the toilet, too. The water wouldn't go down, William would plunge it, it would go down, but shoot out of the sump pump pipe onto the basement floor. Ugh. (Yes, we finally had sense enough to unplug the sump pump.) Not knowing if the problem was with the septic tank or the pipes, I told Bill we'd better get a septic tank guy out here, STAT. No problem, how about TUESDAY morning? Fine, we'll just be in waterworld for four days!!
So, we've been very gentle with our water usage. Dirty dishes fill the dishwater, and my laundry pile isn't going anywhere. I flush the toilet and stand back. We showered at our friends' house. Bill ran a hose from the sump pump out to the backyard, so our basement wouldn't fill up any more. This morning Bill tells me he dreamed last night that water was pouring through the ceilings. Oh, thank the Lord that was just a dream!! (Hint: foreshadowing)
Well, the other day I was listening to a call-in home repair show on the radio. Someone had gurgling toilets/sinks whenever the washer ran. Our sinks have done that since we moved in, and the sump pump would occasionally back up in the bathroom sink. The solution offered--check the venting; just run a snake down the vent pipe on the roof and look for clogs.
Today as an attempt to do ANYTHING to help the situation, Bill climbs on the roof with his snake and puts it down the two vent pipes. One is clear, but the kitchen one is totally blocked and the snake won't go through. At this time, I am taking a Pentecostal nap in my bed. I hear some water hitting the floor, and think, "Great, the toilet is overflowing again." But it is strange how loud it is. Then William is yelling at Sarah over the roar of the wet/dry vac. I go down to investigate and find water pouring through the kitchen ceiling around the light fixture. We scramble for buckets to put under four streams. Oh, thank you internet for all your useful information, but curse you for telling my beloved husband to run a hose down the vent pipe to wash the blockage out!!! The blockage remains, and 15 minutes of hose running went all over my kitchen floor!
Dreams really do come true!! Even nightmares! WAH!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)