When attending a Birthday party yesterday, I watch my kids as they sing Happy Birthday. Mainly b/c my youngest loves singing the Happy Birthday song. Well my 6 year old is taking it in and has a very serious look on his face. I asked what was wrong? "I was just thinking about my Birthday Wish that I made, it is really coming true." Well what was your wish? "That I would have alot of happy days. You know it is really coming true. I have had alot of happy days and they still continue to come." Could we say this Momma could had stop and cried and hugged my child all day!
I am so blessed that he has such a sweet spirit about him. May we all stop and cherish all the happy days that God has blessed us with!
Monday, August 31, 2015
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Children & School
School is tough, but life is harder! There is no rush to throw my child into this big bad world.
I daily strive now just to make sure that no matter what issue they have, that I use that as an example to point them to Christ, someway - somehow. And somehow someway, we try to bless someone that day and show them God's love - Then we have succeeded. If my child grows to love the Lord, I have succeeded.
“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.[a] 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Reservations for Two by Hillary Manton Lodge
This is Book 2 in a series. It does carry on from the 1st book, so you really need to read it in order. Juliette and Neil continue their romance while they find letters from her grandmother back in 1040s. This is a book that has a lot of mention of Italy/France and chefs since this is Juliette’s background. Each chapter begins with a quote about food. At the end of each chapter is a fancy recipe. This book was a little more difficult to read than the first. She doesn’t start reading her Grandma’s letters until midway through the books. I don’t think I could recommend this book, but if you read the 1st book, you need to read this book to see how the relationship goes. I love the cover of the book. It’s cute like the book. "I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review."
The Plans I Have For You
By Amy Parker
This is a great children's book!
It is a fun read like God is talking to YOU! He has big plans for YOU and YOU and YOU! He put all you need inside your skin, you just have to find your purpose, and be the hands and feet of Jesus! My 6 and 2 year old love this book. I hear, "again! Read Again!" The pictures are very colorful and vibrant. It shows you all the many different things you could be in the pictures of the pages. It is a more rectangular book. I don't see the paper cover lasting long, but the hardback book itself is just as brightly colored and really all that is needed for the book. Jeremiah 29:11 has been my favorite verse, so I look forward to reading this book continually for my children. Thank you for this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
This is a great children's book!
Monday, August 10, 2015
Are you taking advantage of this brief life?
My Pastor just finished a Tick Tock sermon, which really hit home. Below are the verses that go with this sermon.
We have 3 ways that we waste time: 1. We have no plan for the future – We should spend time to prepare our life to live righteously and to imitate God. 2. We simply exist in the present. Are we seeking God while we exist? 3. Live in the past – do you live in the past? Or do you need to learn from it and move on! Don’t keep looking back!
We are only given a certain amount of days, hours, and minutes on this Earth. The verses below will really show us how numbered our days are. Do we seek God and use every opportunity given? We should look for opportunities in our youth, while our body is still young and able!
“We must realize that in this brief life, we have a door of opportunity.” “In order for us to grow in wisdom, we must constantly be reminded of how brief our time on this earth will be.” “We must constantly remember our Creator before the door to life’s opportunities is closed.” - Beck Payne
This sermon really hits home for my family. My dear brother-in-law is fighting for his life at 35. My sister is standing by her husband and giving her all to him at age 31. Do you think in their teenage years they would see this coming? My heart breaks for both of them. We never know how short of a time God has for our life, the heartaches we will experience, or those we will touch by living for God. We can either make the best of each day – Honor God by helping those that are hurting, stopping to see/hear the beauty of God’s world, working to bring the joy of God to others.
Daily I want to embrace the beauty of the sky, the laugh of my children, the love of my family, and really anything that brings a smile to my face. Our time is so numbered on this Earth. I want to teach my children to look for the best in life. Always try to reach out and help people even if it is just a smile or opening a door for someone, etc.
PSALM: 39:4-9
LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.” Interlude
6 We are merely moving shadows,
and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth,
not knowing who will spend it.
7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you.
8 Rescue me from my rebellion.
Do not let fools mock me.
9 I am silent before you; I won’t say a word,
for my punishment is from you.
Teach us to realize the brevity of life,
so that we may grow in wisdom. Psalm 90:12
Ecclesiastes 11
5 Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb,[c] so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.
8 When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember there will be many dark days. Everything still to come is meaningless.
9 Young people,[d] it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. 10 So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless.
12:1 Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.”
Ephesians 5New Living Translation (NLT)
5 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us[a] and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,
“Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
Living by the Spirit’s Power
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do
We have 3 ways that we waste time: 1. We have no plan for the future – We should spend time to prepare our life to live righteously and to imitate God. 2. We simply exist in the present. Are we seeking God while we exist? 3. Live in the past – do you live in the past? Or do you need to learn from it and move on! Don’t keep looking back!
We are only given a certain amount of days, hours, and minutes on this Earth. The verses below will really show us how numbered our days are. Do we seek God and use every opportunity given? We should look for opportunities in our youth, while our body is still young and able!
“We must realize that in this brief life, we have a door of opportunity.” “In order for us to grow in wisdom, we must constantly be reminded of how brief our time on this earth will be.” “We must constantly remember our Creator before the door to life’s opportunities is closed.” - Beck Payne
This sermon really hits home for my family. My dear brother-in-law is fighting for his life at 35. My sister is standing by her husband and giving her all to him at age 31. Do you think in their teenage years they would see this coming? My heart breaks for both of them. We never know how short of a time God has for our life, the heartaches we will experience, or those we will touch by living for God. We can either make the best of each day – Honor God by helping those that are hurting, stopping to see/hear the beauty of God’s world, working to bring the joy of God to others.
Daily I want to embrace the beauty of the sky, the laugh of my children, the love of my family, and really anything that brings a smile to my face. Our time is so numbered on this Earth. I want to teach my children to look for the best in life. Always try to reach out and help people even if it is just a smile or opening a door for someone, etc.
PSALM: 39:4-9
LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.” Interlude
6 We are merely moving shadows,
and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth,
not knowing who will spend it.
7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you.
8 Rescue me from my rebellion.
Do not let fools mock me.
9 I am silent before you; I won’t say a word,
for my punishment is from you.
Teach us to realize the brevity of life,
so that we may grow in wisdom. Psalm 90:12
Ecclesiastes 11
5 Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb,[c] so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.
8 When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember there will be many dark days. Everything still to come is meaningless.
9 Young people,[d] it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. 10 So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless.
12:1 Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.”
Ephesians 5New Living Translation (NLT)
5 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us[a] and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,
“Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
Living by the Spirit’s Power
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do