Saturday, July 24, 2010

A Quick Note

Hi there.

It's been a big week here. And a big one is coming up. It was my birthday this week and I celebrated for two days with friends and family. Last year was a "big" birthday. You know, one that ends in zero. Never mind what came before the zero. Everyone wanted to make a big deal out of it and I DID NOT. But now that the big fat zero year is out of the way, this birthday this week was quiet and lovely. I was blessed and my heart (& tummy) was happy and full.

Next week my family comes from Phoenix & Mexico. Actually, my brother & fam arrive late today and they are driving. I saw on Facebook that they just got a flat tire. Total bummer. Pray for safety, please. Dad & Mom fly in Monday. It'll be a good week of family time.

I just jumped on to tell you what I've been doing, what I will be doing and why the posts are fewer these two weeks. Thanks for understanding. Can I ask for prayer while I'm here? I haven't been sleeping very well these last two - three weeks and it is affecting my every day functioning. I've tried different meds and they aren't cutting it this time. I am so desperate for a week of good, uninterrupted sleep. So I covet your prayers over this situation. And thank you so very much.

I hope you're having a good middle of summer!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Scripture Memory Verse #14

Okay, friends, based on the response from the last post it seems I am closer to crazy than I realized. lol. I will carry on anyway. :)

The enemy has been throwing my insecurities up in front of my face a little more recently. He can be very subtle and truthfully, I make it pretty easy for him to do so. When I get so focused on my to-do list or my kids (not that there's anything wrong with either of those unless they are out of order on my priority list), I put off getting into the Word or spending time with the Lord. A couple days go by and I feel discouraged quicker or I play the comparison game or I am grouchy to my family. Thankfully, I am recognizing this pattern quicker than I used to. So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore has been instrumental in this. I highly recommend this book if you haven't read it.

One day this week when I was searching for my next verse, these popped out to me:

Psalm 91:1-2 NIV
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."


My footnotes explain it this way: "this should be a picture of our trust - trading all our fears for faith in him, no matter how intense our fears. To do this we must "dwell" and "rest" with him. By entrusting ourselves to his protection and pledging our daily devotion to him, we will be kept safe." The part that stood out to me was pledging our daily devotion to him. It is only when I daily go to the throne to meet with Him that I can be secure. Yesterday's visit won't give me what I need today. It's like taking vitamins. You don't take 7 pills on Sunday morning and say you're good for the week. It's most beneficial to take one pill every day for optimal health. It's most beneficial to take time every day with the Lord for optimal spiritual health.

To dwell means to inhabit or be present in. I dwell in my house every day. I am present here every day. I miss my home when I'm gone for any length of time. I want to dwell in the shelter of the Most High. I want to rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Have you thought about how His shadow doesn't shift? It is constant. I seek the shade in my yard these hot summer days. I have to keep moving the chair to accommodate the shifting shade. We do not have to move our chairs when we are resting in His shadow. Isn't that glorious?

When I am trusting in Him and claiming my strength and dignity (Prov 31:25), my insecurities don't rise up and loom in front of my eyes. It's hard to see clearly when our vision is blocked. I know that's an obvious statement. But have you checked your vision lately? Are you looking through the filter of God's Word or the filter of the enemy's lies?

Stay in the Word, friends. It is the only place where we find what we really need to live this thing out. I'm so honored to walk it with you. Thanks for stopping by. Leave your verse in the comments.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

How to Post a Comment

Hello, my friends. I hope you are having a great weekend. It is very hot here and after the spring we had, I'm enjoying it. Though it's hard to work in the yard when it's 97 degrees. **pant, pant**

Several of you have told me you don't know how to leave a comment here. So, that's what I'm going to attempt to teach you today. 'Cause I'd really like to know that you stopped by and to know I'm not having one-sided conversations. It gives me hope that I'm not crazy. :)

1. At the bottom of each post, you'll see "# comments". (A number beside the word comment.) Roll your mouse over that phrase and click.

2. You can type your comment in the text box.

3. Choose an identity. If you have an account with “Google/Blogger,” then click on that option. (“Blogger” is the free blogging service I use. Blogger.com is part of the “Google” network.) If you have an account with another blog service like Live Journal, WordPress, TypePad, or AIM, click on that choice. If you want to type your name and a web site that is not in one of those categories, choose “Open ID.”

*To set up a profile go to "create an account now" and follow the directions. Or go to www.blogger.com and follow directions on their home page. They ask for your email, a new password and that you agree with their terms. You can add a picture or just use the shadow silhouette.

4. Click “Publish your comment.” Or you can click “Preview” if you’d like to see what your comment will look like when it’s published. If you don’t like it, then you can click “Edit.” If you’re ready, click “Publish.” It will then say “Your comment has been saved and will be visible after blog owner approval” at the top of the page.

5. Wait for your comment to be moderated by me. I do this just for safety from spammers and to know someone came by.

So, if I was the bossy type, I'd say "do it now! Leave me a comment!" But, since I'm an oldest child who is also a wife and mother, I'll just say, leave me a comment. Did you leave me a comment? Were you planning to leave a comment today? Hey, did you leave a comment on the blog? I told you, step-by-step, how to leave a comment, did you? How many times do I have to tell you? LEAVE A COMMENT!

Thank you very much. Let me know (perhaps via email) if you have trouble.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

A Good Deal

Recently, while I was in Mexico helping a homeless, poverty-stricken family get a chance in life, my husband was holding down the economic fort in Idaho by purchasing "good deals". Costco. Need I say more? The bulk warehouse where we're sucked into thinking bigger is better and more is essential by lower cost-per-unit prices. I have a good size house. I do not have a Costco size house. Now, I have some supplies that will probably last until this time two years from now.

I've threatened to take his card away. He cannot go to Costco without me. It's just not prudent. His defense is, "it was such a good deal. Why pay the same price for something from the grocery store that is less than half the size?"

I'll tell you why. I cannot possibly use it up before it goes bad. I do buy some things in bulk at Costco. Toilet paper, dishwasher soap, batteries. Not perishable items, though. Granted, not all he purchased was perishable. But it is not a good deal if after opening, it sits in the fridge (taking up way too much space, by the way) for a month. It is not a good deal if we end up throwing any of it away. But he still thinks it is. Overall he spent less, he says. I don't get this logic. And he's a banker! He's all about value, I'm all about not wasting.

Let me show you:


Recently we got a new grill. They recommended some seasonings. What did I have in the cupboard? That little "Weber" jar in front. Apparently, the saying is "spice is the variety of life."


On the left, the olive can I normally buy from a normal grocery store. Is he wanting a tapas party??


This is delicious barbeque sauce. I had those two little bottles in the pantry (& one in the fridge). Good deal from Costco: two in a package.


I have nothing to compare this to. I don't buy blue cheese, ever. Now we have 504 ounces of the stuff. After tasting it, he decided it was too strong. I'm leaving it in the fridge to mock him. That's how I am.


If you get a gift from me in the next five years, it just may be wrapped in tin foil. In front is the normal size (75 ft) roll. We have seven HUNDRED and fifty feet now. Yes, it's wider and will fit the new grill easily. Where does one store a roll this big???


All I've said to you here, I've said to him. It's another way men and women are different. It has, however, influenced how I tell him I spend money. I compare all the options, citing one of the more expensive ones as my example when I find that good deal of my own. Example: shopping for a new mirror for the bedroom yesterday. I started at the furniture store. $250! I stopped at a couple other places and ended up with a full length one from Ross for $15. He wouldn't have made a big deal about spending $15 for the mirror. But when I said I could've spent $250, he's very happy with my final purchase. I never would've spent $250 for a mirror and he knows that. Remember, he's all about the good deal. It's all in the presentation. I could've spent $250 but actually spent $15. That's a very good deal.

Oh yeah, we're having a party this weekend. Come over for spicy, barbeque, blue-cheese stuffed olives. We'll be eating on tin foil.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Scripture Memory Verse #13

Well, friends, we've passed the half-way mark on the year. I decided that my favorite months are May, June & July. If I could make these months last 6 months of the year, I would. I just love them. The sunshine, warmth, flowers, grass, trees, berries, vegies - it's all good. What's your favorite month(s)?

Two weeks ago we started a summer Bible study, Beth Moore's The Inheritance. It's very good, as I expected. My verse comes from that study:

Psalm 16:6 ESV: The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed I have a beautiful inheritance.

As we've just begun this study, I don't have the full concept of this verse yet. But I want it in my memory when she does explain what the first part of the verse means. I am beginning to understand the inheritance part and it is exciting. God has made me an heir and a co-heir with Christ (Gal 3:26-4:7). In Bible times, the oldest son received a double portion of his father's estate and any other children divided what was left over. God says I am a co-heir with his first born son which means I, even as a woman (vs 28), get a double portion of my Father's estate. How awesome is that?

Please keep learning your verses friends! We are at that half-way point where we can forget why we're started doing this hard thing and the goal seems a long ways off. Persist. A verse from last year comes to mind right now: 1Cor 8:11 Now, finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it is matched by your completion of it, according to your means. Satan wants to distract you, don't let him win.

Have a great holiday weekend! Leave your verses in the comments.