We’ve been slimed!

Some of you may have noticed that the blog updates have tapered off some and the truth is we’re living what we ‘preach’… and some days it is hard.

Shifting gears from a ‘grown-up’ household to one with 3 young children is taking almost all of my waking moments. I am NOT complaining and I am so VERY thankful for this beautiful mission God has brought to us, at the same time it is exhausting (just being real). I do think over the next couple of months we will settle in even more and maybe blogging can move higher on the priority list, but for right now our family is working double time to win the hearts of these precious ones.

When you care for children who are not yours, and if you get them after certain habits and worldview are instilled in them it makes discipleship even more complicated; then throw in the uncertainty of where they will be in the months to come and interactions with their ‘previous life’, it becomes a very messy and confusing situation…for all of us.

BUT! This is what we are called to, all of us! Life is messy!!! There is no ideal family situation. There is no ideal church, community or job situation; if you are living with or near people there are going to be issues… YOU WILL BE SLIMED!

If you plan on being a witness for Christ and impacting this culture for the sake of Christ’s kingdom, then YOU WILL be in messy situations; your hands will get dirty and from time to time your heart will be broken. If you don’t like hard work, if you don’t like to sweat physically or spiritually, then just sit in your comfy pew and consider the powerful words of Keith Green, “…how can you be so well fed and be so spiritually dead?”

God has called us to good works.

We are not saved BY our good works but FOR good works.

For some of you it may not be meeting the needs of children but rather serving in some other way. The needy are all around us we just have to be willing. I dare say there are more needy adults than there are children!

Yesterday, after the chores and schoolwork were done the children and I made slime.

THE SLIME RECIPE

1 1/2 Cup of Warm water, divided
1 Teaspoon of Borax
1 Bottle (4 oz.) Glue
Food Coloring

Mix together:

1/2 Cup of Warm Water and 1 Teaspoon of Borax until the Borax is dissolved.

In a separate bowl mix:

1 Cup of Warm Water, Food Coloring, and 4oz. of glue until glue is dissolved.

Add the borax mixture to the glue mixture, mix together and it will turn to slime fairly quickly.

Store it in ziplock bags and it will last a couple of weeks.

DO NOT LET THE CHILDREN PUT IT IN THEIR MOUTHS!

The rule at our house is to keep it at the table…

somehow it has managed to get EVERYWHERE…I do mean EVERYwhere!

It’s highly unlikely that I will make this again, but it was fun for the moment (for them anyway).

It is all the process of winning their hearts,

sometimes we have to do things we don’t like to prove our love.

You can not disciple if you do not have the heart.

If there is less blogging going on,

you’ll know it is because God has slimed our lives with good work to do!

The Freedom that Comes with Using Samaritans Ministries

I’ve talked about Samaritans here before but I wanted to share this video clip I just saw. This gentleman does a great job explaining why he uses Samaritans as a Biblical option for health insurance. I also love that he is doing what he LOVES to do! Ben, I thought of you and your tractors when I saw this.

To ‘Rise Up’ is MORE than Getting Up Early!!!

What I love about Facebook is ‘meeting’ so many people with similar interest and coming across so many great writings. Yesterday this article was ‘liked’ by a friend of mine that I have great respect for, so I clicked over to see what it was all about. It is really good and I wanted to share it with all of you.

When I emailed Mrs. LaPoint, to get permission to post her writing, I found out that she lives about 25 minutes from me…small world! My friend in Georgia pointed me to this Virtuous Woman who is practically a neighbor! You can ask to be Terri LaPoint’s friend on Facebook here.

So enjoy this little tidbit from the Scriptures and be encouraged to always dig dipper!

Rise Up

by Terri LaPoint

She rises up while it is yet night” – Prov. 31:15. How many sermons have been preached about this sweet domestic woman who gets up out of bed before the rooster crows to cook and clean and be a good housewife? How many night owls have felt condemnation from the typical understanding of this verse (and its companion verse in vs. 18 “her candle goeth not out by night”)? I know I have wrestled long and hard with this.

Until.

Until one night when I was hugely pregnant with my 3rd child (my 10 lb 4oz chunk!), and I was up late because I couldn’t sleep. I was reading my study Bible, the one that has an actual lexicon in the back. I started looking up the words in Prov. 31 to see what the words mean in the original Hebrew language. And I was TOTALLY blown away!!!

For those of you who don’t know, the Hebrew language, the original language, is a picture language; in other words, they draw pictures with the language to communicate a message. This is opposed to the Greek language of the New Testament which is a very precise language. It says exactly what it means. If there was a more precise word to use for communicating a message, they would have used it – no room for ambiguity. But the Hebrew language is a beautiful language that teaches and expresses things by drawing a picture in our minds.

So, the first word I looked up was “night.” And it can mean a literal night. But being a picture language, that same word can also mean “a time of trial and temptation,” even as we would say in English “the dark night of the soul.” So next I looked up “candle.” And yes, it can mean a literal candle or light. But it also means “trust and confidence in God”! So her candle goes out at night can mean she stays up all night canning vegetables and sewing clothes and working, or, equally valid, it can say that her faith and trust in God does not stop in those hard times of trial and temptation!

Then, and here is the best part to me. You’re not going to believe how powerful this is! In Proverbs 31:15, she rises up while it is yet night. She gets up out of bed? NO!!!! “Rises up” is a WARFARE term! It is used of the armies of David rising up against their enemies. It is used to say “Rise up, O Judge of the earth” in Ps. 94:2. It is a POWERFUL word, with the idea of rising up in the natural or in the spirit prepared for battle, prepared to win! This is the only time in Scripture that it is translated to mean a wimpy getting out of bed in the morning. That is NOT what it is talking about at all. The Proverbs 31 woman who was a woman of God who would see adversity coming, against her home, her family, her nation, and she would become bold in her prayers. She would rise up in the spirit in those times of difficulty and intercede before the throne of Almighty God for Him to help and intervene! She gave “meat” to her household – the meat of the Word, the meat of what God showed her in prayer, and she gave “portions” to her maidens, to her friends around her, because there was so much overflow of the power and anointing and the truth of God that she was able to bless others around her and give into their lives as well.

The Proverbs 31 woman was a mighty woman of God, strong in intercession, who loved God with all her heart, and knew how to rise up in the spirit to see God move in a mighty way in the circumstances around her!

So as you pray today, in times of difficulty and darkness, may you RISE UP in authority and boldness, and get ahold of the throne of God as you pour out your heart to the One Person who can change nations, who can turn the heart of a judge, who can redeem us from the snare of the enemy. May you be encouraged and strengthened!

A God-centered health care plan- Samaritans Ministries

Being self-employed makes buying insurance VERY expensive. A couple of years ago we decided to use Samaritan Ministries for our health care needs. Jeff is not on our family plan because he uses tobacco (cigars), so we carry a separate insurance policy for him, but our girls and myself are on a family plan. The cost for Samaritans is much less than if we had to carry a normal health insurance policy. We pay $320 a month, even if Jeff were on it the cost would be the same.

Samaritans is not insurance, but rather a Biblical alternative to health insurance.

Every month when I write out my check for $320, I write it to an individual. Samaritans sends me a letter with a name and address of who I am suppose to send the ‘share’ to. They also tell what the medical issue was so we know how to pray for that person’s healing.

I LOVE the satisfaction of knowing that the money is going straight to a person and directly to their medical cost, rather than an insurance company with a LOT of strings attached and people in offices to pay!

I love that this is actually sharing the cost of medical bills of other Believers.

My mother who also lives with us, uses Samaritans now that she is retired, rather than buying an insurance policy. I know several other people that use Samaritans.

Even if we were wealthy I would still want to be a part of Samaritans because I believe that paying for medical care should not be big business, and insurance companies should not be influencing the cost of medical care as much as they do.

If you would like to know more about how Samaritans works, go here.

Link Disclaimer

True Evangelism Happens through Relationships

I met Hayley along with her sisters and mother a couple years ago at our state homeschool convention. Heyley and one of her sisters came to our table to introduce themselves. They were readers of this blog and we have many friends in common (the homeschool community here in Alabama is quite large!), I was so impressed their gentle and kind spirit!

About a month ago Hayley’s dad contacted me to see if I would do the food for her graduation reception, I was thrilled to!

Emma and I handled the food while we were also able to mix and mingle with the guest, a few we ready knew. It was a great bunch of people to serve.

Hayley’s dad gathered everyone together in the livingroom, he began to speak of Hayley’s character and her dedication as a daughter and as a child of God. It was so beautiful! If only every father and daughter had such respect and love for each other! Then Hayley’s great-grandmother spoke, what a beautiful testimony of faithfulness. If only everyone had grandparents and great-grandparents that truly prayed for them and invested into their lives; oh, how our families would look so different. I was so blessed to hear those words spoken that day!

So often people view evangelism on a large scale to strangers, when really the most effective evangelism happens through relationships. The most important relationships are those within your family. Don’t neglect your family to attempt to win the world.

How can you impact this world?

Love your family, not only in word, but in deed and in prayer.
Live righteously, give them honorable steps to walk in!
Work at relationships, work long and hard at them.
Love people more than stuff!
Live as if future generations depend on you…they do!

Sewing Party -Pillowcase Dresses for Africa

This is a re-post from my old blog, I thought it might give some of you an idea or two.

Back in 2007, I can’t believe it has been that long, our dear, dear friends adopted the most precious little African boy who was in great need of heart surgery.

Not only did God heal his heart through surgery, but He gave this little boy a heart for his adoptive parents. Little Jo, as my husband calls him, has the most precious smile and tender heart. I’ve seen him be so gentle and giving, but don’t let that gentleness fool you, he loves to take on Mr. Jeff (my husband), in a good ol’ wrestling match!

Anyway, back to the sewing party a few years ago…

Several moms and daughters got together to have a sewing party to make some simple pillowcase dresses to send over for the orphanage.

We had so much fun making these simple dresses.

There are lots of ways to work on basic skills and still give to charities.

This is most of the girls that worked on the dresses.

What a sweet bunch of giving girls they are!

A 30 Day Challenge for Wives

In the spirit of sharing the love this month (Valentine’s Day), how about we focus on giving rather than expecting? Expect no flowers, no card, no candle light. Instead, focus on giving, especially to your husband, and expect nothing in return.

The amazing thing about giving, if you give with the pure motive of love and not to manipulation (getting your way), is that you can be fulfilled and content just knowing you gave your all. Don’t look to the recipient for fulfillment, but look to Christ. If you know you have done your best, with God’s help, then you have little reason to feel offended, neglected or angry.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss is one of my absolute favorite teachers! Here is her FREE 30 Day Challenge for Wives. Give it a try, you have nothing to loose, but much to gain. If your marriage is already good, this will only make it better!!!

We watched Fireproof again last week. It is such a good movie! If you haven’t watched it yet, make time to do it!!!

The ‘love your neighbor’ concepts in both the 30 Day Challenge and the Love Dare (from Fireproof), apply not only to married couples, but to every relationship. Do you have someone that is difficult to get a long with? Apply these challenges.

The Love Dare

Fireproof

Grief and the Holidays -Pipe Cleaner Ornaments

These are similar to the ones I shared earlier this week. One of my friends shared these pictures on Facebook. Aren’t they adorable? I love the bright colors!!! I made some of these a few years ago using the metallic gold and silver pipe cleaners.

This dear woman lost her husband and 9 year old son in a car accident a few months ago. I can’t even begin to grasp their pain right now, but I do admire her willingness to still celebrate God’s goodness; to celebrate Christ’s earthly birth and rejoice in His resurrection. For without the resurrection there would be no hope, there would be no Christmas, there would be no reason to celebrate.

My friend Christy will be with her husband and son again; we will all be gathered around the Lord’s table, because we are His and He will not forsake any of us. Grieving the earthly parting of a husband and child is probably the deepest pain one can experience, and there are no magic words to make it go away; but we can rest in the fact that Jesus will lead us, one day at a time, even one minute at a time.

The first Christmas after our daughter died I was pretty numb. Although I still decorated, I didn’t want to. I bought gifts with no anticipation. There were lights on the tree but I did not see them. I didn’t know Jesus then like I do now. I didn’t understand how much He loved me, all I knew was my pain.

As we slowly turn our eyes away from our circumstances , whether it be death, sickness, broken relationships, financial ruin, etc… and focus on who Jesus is and what He has for us today, we can wait on OUR resurrection with joy and peace!!!

Pray today for someone who is having an especially tough holiday season. Is there anyway you can help them see that God is still good, even in the midst of the deepest pain? Perhaps let them experience a compassionate friend as you acknowledge their pain and cry with them? You can’t make it all better, you can’t make it go away, but you can love them and help them ‘do the next thing‘.

Isn’t it sad that during what is suppose to be the ‘most joyous time of the year’ that suicide is at it’s highest? Share some Compassion, some Peace and some Joy…some Jesus with people today!

Teen’s Sweet 16 Party Saves Children

I LOVE this story!!!

Teens are so capable of doing BIG things, HARD things! We have got to change the way we parent; we have got to teach our children that it is all about giving of themselves, and that starts at a very young age.

Perhaps we should reconsider what clubs to belong to, what teams to plan on and what instruments to learn and search out ways to give, ways to roll up our sleeves and serve!?!!!

(Hampton, Va.)—A Chesapeake, Va., teen’s decision one-and-a-half years ago to forsake a traditional “sweet 16″ birthday party enabled her to fully fund the construction of a $30,000 church-orphanage in Kenya, providing much needed food, shelter, clothing and education for approximately 50 orphans in that country. Instead of presents, Megan MacDonald, requested party guests donate to the construction project which was overseen by Hampton, Va.,-based International Cooperating Ministries (ICM). MacDonald and her parents visited the facility in January for the dedication.

MacDonald said she was deeply moved when she visited the African church-orphanage. “When we drove up to the church, I was blown away by the size, and all the time and effort put into it. It was evident that people really put their heart and soul into this project. And when I saw the orphans, my heart just broke. It was difficult not to cry and not want to take all of them back.”

Read the rest of the story HERE!

Is Your Pantry Stocked?

I’m sharing this info not to receive a pat on the back or anything, but to share an idea and how canning helps.

Our family heard about another family that was in need. One of our daughters prepared a meal and I made some brownies. I then went to our pantry to gather what I could on short notice. I was able to pull out jars of vegetable soup that we canned last year and put them in a box with some other food goods. This year I want to plan a little extra just for the sake of situations like this.

I have not canned anything yet, but that is soon to change! I thought this would be a good time to link to my check list from last year.

Planning for the Pantry