Good morning

Got to spend some time in the word this morning, this COLD morning :-P

It was eye-opening and refreshing. I want more and more time with the Lord!

I encourage you Please Read Romans and 1 Corinthians all the way through. There is SO much info. in there.
For example:
- Food & drink are not important in the kingdom of God
- God isn't mocked- anyone with sins not forgiven will not enter his kingdom
- it is better to be self-controlled and not marry, but if you need to, do marry instead of burning with desire
- do respect authority of government
- God's kingdom is present in Power, not in talk.
- Don't be puffed up.
- Don't owe anyone anything except love.
- Live not to please yourself, but please Christ.
- We are God's children.
- If your enemy is hungry, feed him.
- Show mercy.
- Your love must be Real.

I love God's word.
I have a long way to come, but I am so happy to serve a God who cares so much for all of his creation.


HELLO WINTER.
GOOD MORNING ALL. :)

Happy Thankful day!!

My list of 10 things to be thankful for:

1 - being home with my 2 boys
2- yummy food to eat :)
3- ability to miss family - then i appreciate them more and rely on God more
4- somewhere to live and my husband has a job
5- ability to relax and enjoy
6- being a stay at home mommy
7- GRACE that covers my many sins.
8- salvation
9- friends old & new
10- freedom

on my heart...

The gladness of our hearts should not come from holidays -
holidays are a pagan attempt to steal our true joy.
They were created to replace Truth.
If you are to study the origin of each holiday,
you would see that most mainstream holidays are Pagan.

On this note, we shouldn't wrap ourselves up in lies.
The lies that this season will bring us any joy at all-
the lie of loneliness - you are not alone if you have christ-
no boyfriend or husband or friend can ever make you feel complete -
a husband does offer a pure and beautiful way to have a companion for life-
but that will not in itself satisfy. You need Christ.
A christmas tree, lights and presents will not fill any void within your soul.
the brightness inside your soul from the holy spirit will.
HE alone will satisfy.

So whatever hope you have today,
whatever you are wishing for-
put it in God's hands.
Don't let your time be wasted on chasing empty promises-
which are lies to steal your heart.
No monetary gift you can give your friends or family is worth it--
only love - which comes from God- can make anyone happy.

This season, do be thankful.
Be thankful for all your needs being met.
Not your wants.
Not having what "everyone else has."

I've believed this lie for too long.
When toby & I first were married, he had never really celebrated holidays,
and i always had.
So, I was upset and felt that by not spending money on decorations, presents, etc.
that I was missing out on a great, fulfilling tradition.

But this year I realize I'm not missing out.
I realize that what matters is heaven,
what matters is how I treat others.
I need help learning how to communicate better and love others better,
but I realize that this is what I am called to do.
The only thing that will satisfy is Christ and his will for me.

Christmas lights may be beautiful,
turkey may fill my stomach,
pretty gifts may be pleasant to look at for a while,
but all of that isn't eternal.
If i die today, all of that isn't what I would be remembered for.
I will be held accountable for every word, every gesture, every single choice I make.
I don't want to spend my time and money on things that are not eternally focused.

I am tired of being selfish.
I am tired of desiring worldly things.
I long for heaven.
I long for God to just hold me in his arms and say "it's okay."

There I go.. with "I" statements.

What an ugly state my soul has become.
Now it is easy to see why Paul wrote in Romans 7:24 :

Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?




Christ set us free from guilt and forgive us. But help us not live as the world. 
Father, forgive me for my many sins. Help me stop this selfish nature. In christ's name, amen.




But i almost overlooked Romans 7:25 - which offers HOPE>


Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

my favorite book we have for sale..

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007HD42C

Click to view- it's called "we were tired of living in a house."

:)

Our store is here--
(copy and paste link)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/shops/storefront/index.html?ie=UTF8&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&sellerID=A1UFU6V5Q7QWRG

a boogers story. really.

My son knows what he likes. He also knows what he doesn't like.
He doesn't like his face wiped.
No matter how gross, sticky, or booger covered.
This morning, as he was fussing and moving his head side to side, successfully avoiding me wiping his nose, I thought about how we are like that sometimes.

God, as our father, sees our ugly-ness.
So, he loves us and wants to help fix it.
He tries taking his loving hand, to softly wipe away our sins or help us in some way.
We say, no thanks, I'd rather violently flail around and fight you for as long as I possibly can.
We are just like babies in that way. We want what we think is best for us.
But God knows better. And like me as Caleb's parent, he won't give up trying to clean us up because he knows that is the best thing to do to help.

Often we have something that God could easily wipe away clean for us, but we run from him.
We think it is better that way. If we can just ignore it, or try and fix it on our own, it will be fine.
We think "just leave us alone."
But God won't. He pursues us lovingly, saying, please just let me help.
Why can't we let him?
All he wants is what's best for us.

Will you let him wipe away your sins today? He is more than capable. He is our loving father.
He adores us.

PS> Today I am thankful for a husband that provides for us willingly as well as the gift and luxury of being a stay at home mother.

Also, today me and caleb and toby are all sick - we have a cold. pray for us?

thankful Thursday i guess it is.

Today I am thankful for:

laughter.
new beginnings.
food- esp. cooking.
a clear mind.
uniqueness - I am not like you or anyone else.
work.
a place to clean up.

today's thankfulness.

today i will not allow myself to think anything negative.

so here goes a few things i can be Positive about ...

- caleb has taken 2 naps already today so I know he is getting better from his teething extravaganza last night as well as his cold he is fighting off.
- my scalloped potatoes with onions turned out yummy.
- it is nice and warm in the house
- my hubby was able to work today
- there is a beautiful calmness about outside that is peaceful
- the house is mostly clean
- my mom is feeling better
- we get to go to NC for our anniversary and Christmas in 32 days and counting
- I got to watch 19 and counting last night! i was really excited because i hadn't seen the show in awhile.
- Caleb now has a deeper, more joyous love for bathtime AKA Splashtime. :)
- There still is hope that Toby will get a postal job soon
- God has great plans for me!
- Trials equal Joy. Joy isn't happiness. Joy is knowing that God is God. Which God is good. Joy is GOODNESS.
- Goodness, gracious, his Grace is sufficient in my weakness.


I am doing a contentment challenge from The Stay at home missionary. So this post is part of that.
Join me if you will -->
http://www.thestayathomemissionary.com/2010/11/choosing-contentment-challenge.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheStay-at-homeMissionary+%28The+Stay-at-Home+Missionary%29


In lieu of that, I will tell you how its gone.
Pretty awful.
I have a darkness about me when my hubby spends time with certain people. I am ugly whenever this person is around sometimes. Why? pure jealousy. It's gonna stop. It has to.

This verse tells me how sinful i've been and convicts me so strongly:
Proverbs 27:4
Anger is cruel, and fury is overwhelming, but who can survive jealousy?


What in your life is God dealing with you about?
Pray with me as I learn contentment.


Oh on a different page altogether, Here's my husbands pumpkin carving for this year. 
So great! 

Random thoughts

Thought this method would work best since i only have a few minutes...

- My husband is so forgiving and so understanding - I get so jealous of his time, but he is never jealous for mine and encourages me to reach out and spend time with everyone. I am a hoarder of his time. I know its bad and i am working on changing that.

- Caleb has to be the smartest child ever. I say that biasedly as his mother, but also a little unbiasedly too :). He went "#2" on the potty this morning, just like a big boy. He is only 8 months old! And every time we sit him down to go, he goes! His potty makes music, when the fluid hits, it starts playing a triumphant song.
You can potty train kids early. He is living proof that you can. Too bad sometimes i forget to go put him on it, it takes me and him because of course he can't walk just yet.

Check it out--  it's called elimination communication, or EC for short. You're supposed to start when they are first born, and lots of other countries do this. Us americans, i'm sorry but we're lazy sometimes. I am training caleb out of necessity though too. We need to save money on diapers. And if you know me at all, I am stubborn. I won't give up easily on this.

http://www.diaperfreebaby.org/

- I am super excited to visit family soon! 34 days and counting! I hopefully am moving back home soon.. that is if Toby gets a job there. I guess God knows what will happen. We could possibly stay here indefinitely. But he has to do something about his job situation soon regardless - he may have to pick up a second job here soon. I have to remember that God knows best and to be CONTENT.

- I am thankful for friends in my life, new and old. I got to spend time with some amazing ladies this weekend and chit chat and enjoy great food.

- Church was good yesterday- hit me hard about being content in your circumstances and letting yourself be a stepping stone for others to go ahead with the gospel after you-- laying your life down so that others may know the Lord. A humbling thought. In sunday school we talked about jealousy. Of course that is hardest for me right now. Admitting my faults is easy, but change? Change is the hardest part.

- I think the hardest thing for anyone is to realize their own sin. Other people's sins are so obvious. Our own sin almost looks good to us after awhile. Or we chalk it up to "our personality." It is not part of our personality to hurt others or to disobey God. Wrong is wrong. If you know something doesn't seem right, check it out. If you are not having peace, you need to talk to God about what you may be doing sinful in your life.

- On a lighter note, I am happy to be able to talk to my mom and brothers more often now. We got skype and it has video. I love seeing them - it is much easier to talk when you can see the other person.

- I am thankful for enough to eat, a warm place to stay, beautiful hills, and living near a sunset. (:-)
I told toby in the car the other day, "I am so happy we get to live so close to a sunset." What was I thinking? Thank God he thinks I'm cute.

thankful list

Today I am thankful for:

- a child to love
- a place to rest my head
- a husband to love
- friends to share with
- a relationship with my Lord & father
- family that love me
- food to eat
- a bright future to look forward to with joy

^{proverbs 31: 25} She is clothed with strength and dignity; 
   she can laugh at the days to come.