Surf's Up

So, I'm a day off with this post. I apologize. Can you believe I went to bed at 7:00 last night? I had had a horrible headache mixed with nausea. I woke up here and there to help with the mister, but mostly I slept. I slept and slept...and slept until 8:00 A.M. I am still a tad tired though, and still have a lingering headache. Hmmmmmm......

Anyway, once again I found some wonderful posts. And time seems to be the theme.

Over at A Path Made Straight, we are reminded to slow down and enjoy the present.

Take a look at Precious Time Versus Spare Time with Enjoy The Journey.

And, Seeking Faithfulness has an important, MUST READ reminder for all moms out there. So, if you are a mom or are becoming a mom or want to be a mom someday, READ IT!!!!

Thankful Thursday

The Lord has blessed me with a healthy family...two happy, healthy children. I am so thankful for that.

Even though it isn't always peaceful sleep, I am thankful that I can cuddle in bed with my little mister at night and have him sleep in my arms.

I am thankful for the opportunity to be at home every day and to teach my kids, as well as other children under my care, about God.

I am thankful for the cleanup song and how lately the kids have been loving it too and actually pick up toys while singing it.

And, funny enough, I am thankful that I get to have a Superbowl party at my house on Sunday. It'll be my first time hosting one and it should be fun. My friend, Tiff, will be bringing lots of grub, which helps a lot. And she has offered to stay after everyone has left to help me clean up.

I am thankful for such a great friend. I think I have said that now on this blog more times than I can count.

Chldren Obey

Here is the group of kiddos singing their Bible verse for the week. It gets noisy in parts and it isn't very clear...sorry!!!

The Homemaking Meme

Aprons – Y/N? If Y, what does your favorite look like?
I actually do not own an apron, but I should. When I bake, I am messy and I get stuff all over myself.

Baking – Favorite thing to bake
I looooove baking. Right now, brownies are my favorite thing to bake. But cakes are fun too.

Clothesline – Y/N?
No, No, No.

Donuts – Have you ever made them?
LOL...nope....but sounds like a fun challenge.

Every day – One homemaking thing you do every day
Just one? Clean my kitchen....a few times a day actually.

Freezer – Do you have a separate deep freeze?
Nope

Garbage Disposal – Y/N?
If I didn't have a disposal, I wouldn't have a dishwasher. I would miss both desperately.

Handbook – What is your favorite homemaking resource?
Flylady has been helpful

Ironing – Love it or hate it? Or hate it but love the results?
Ironing? Hmmm . . . It's very time consuming, but sometimes it can be relaxing. And there is something satisfying about taking something all wrinkled and finishing with something pretty and smooth.

Junk drawer – Y/N? Where is it?
My closet....LOL. I used to have a junk shelf in one of my kitchen cabinets, but it is cleaned out and organized now.

Kitchen – Color and decorating scheme
I have cute Americana stuff in the kitchen...and it goes well with my blue Kitchenaid Mixer. :o)

Love – What is your favorite part of homemaking?
The end result....feeling like you really did accomplish something....and how having a clean home just makes it easier to relax.

Mop – Y/N?
Yep, 5 kids in a house all day long = Must Mop.


Nylons – Wash by hand or in the washing machine?
I washed them in the machine even though it said not to. Usually they held up okay.
I put it on the handwash cycle.

Oven – Do you use the window or open the oven to check?
Oh, I open the oven to check. I love being overwhelmed with the sweet aroma of whatever is baking. And I have to get close up and stick the toothpick in...all of that.

Pizza – What do you put on yours?
Just cheese for me.

Quiet – What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment?
What is a quiet moment like???? Just teasing....usually I am on the internet, reading a book or doing devotions.

Recipe card box – Y/N? What does it look like?
I have one, but it is too small. So I made myself a recipe binder. It is divided into sections...appetizers, side dishes, main dishes, desserts...and so forth. And then when I rip out recipes in magazines and such...they fit in the binder under their appropriate section.

Style of house – What style is your house?
I have a litte tri-level house...with a finished basement. It's cute...I like it. BUT, about 20 minutes away, is a GORGEOUS, HUGE Victorian style house and it's AMAZING! I want it!!!!! I will take a picture of it someday and show you all.
I love those Colonial style Victorian type houses. LOVE THEM!

Tablecloths and napkins – Y/N?
EH...not usually

Under the kitchen sink – Organized or toxic wasteland?
Toxic wasteland...well actually just lots of empty things that need to be thrown away. I should clean that out today actually. Thanks for the suggestion.

Vacuum – How many times per week?
Not enough.

Wash – How many loads of laundry do you do per week?
A week, maybe 4

X’s – Do you keep a daily list of things to do that you cross off?
My daily list is in my head.

Yard – Y/N? Who does what?
I leave the yard to the hubby. He mows, weeds, shovels. Maybe this spring I'll attempt some gardening. We'll see. I am not sure what color my thumb is though. Guess I'll find out.

Zzz’s – What is your last homemaking task for the day before going to bed?
Cleaning up the kitchen.

In Other Words

"Satan's ultimate lie is that you are capable of being the god of your own life, and his ultimate bondage is getting you to live as though his lie is truth."
~ Neil Anderson ~

I have been doing the Beth Moore devotion, David, 90 days with a heart like his. For the last several days, we have been looking at Saul's life. When I read this quote, I immediately thought about Saul. Many of his actions are great lessons for us. He shows us what happens when you act impulsively, don't follow God's will and try to set your own path for your future.
Sadly, I think we all may have some Saul tendencies at times. I know that I sometimes struggle with impulsiveness and surrendering complete control to God. Saul idolized himself. And it is oh, so easy, to become like him. When we are so self focused that we don't want to listen to God anymore, we are worshipping ourselves. We become our own idol.

And I can see how easy it is for Satan to make that, at first, seem so wonderful. How easy it becomes to justify actions that completely go against the word of God. It begins with sin. Then the justification comes to play, so that you won't feel convicted. Then your Bible finds a permanent place on the shelf where it begins to collect dust. Church outings don't happen anymore, because you KNOW God will just have that sermon speak to you and try to condemn you, so it's better to just sleep in and skip it. It's a vicious cycle and before you know it, you are caught up in the world and Satan has reined you in.

It happens often and it's scary. And really and truly, the end result is such unhappiness. The sinning becomes worse and worse. And so many people, including yourself, become horribly hurt in the process.

And, it is so easily preventable. Don't listen to satan's lies. YOU can't be the god of your own life. And why would you want to? There is a Father who wants to love you and wants your days to be blessed, joyful, peaceful. He wants to take your burdens. He wants to heal your marriage. He wants to listen to your prayers. He wants to answer them. He wants to give you eternal life.

So then why does the world and all of its anger, bitterness, loneliness, rejection, and sadness entice us at all?

Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever.
1 John 2:15-17 NLT

Psalms Sunday #4

Today, we are looking at Psalm 4. This is the Psalm that first got me thinking about the idea of a meme to talk about the Psalms. One verse spoke out to me that afternoon, when I read it. I was about to come on here and blog all about it, when I decided, hey, what a great idea for a meme. Any ol' way..... you can bet, that that specific verse will be my focus today as I share to you what it means to me.

Psalm 4 (NKJV)

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
 1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
         You have relieved me in my distress;
         Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
         
 2 How long, O you sons of men,
         Will you turn my glory to shame?
         How long will you love worthlessness
         And seek falsehood?  Selah  
 3 But know that the LORD has set apart[a] for Himself him who is godly;
         The LORD will hear when I call to Him.
         
 4 Be angry, and do not sin.
         Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.  Selah  
 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
         And put your trust in the LORD.
         
 6 There are many who say,
         “Who will show us any good?”
         LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
 7 You have put gladness in my heart,
         More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
 8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
         For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Anger and patience are two things I have definitely been struggling with lately, so it is no surprise that verse 4 grabbed my attention rather quickly. I grew up in a family where it was unusual if nobody was screaming. We conversed by shouting from one end of the house to another. And when we were angry, we made it very well known. I would scream on the top of my lungs and be so emotionally involved in my argument, that most of the time, I'd wind up just screaming to release everything, which would then be followed by sobbing.

I try very hard to make things in my home much different, but I still have my moments. There are times when I don't take a moment to think before responding. There are many times where I allow my sleepiness and my stress to get the best of me and I lose it. I scream, I shout, I stomp around. I slam cabinets in the kitchen, I grit my teeth at my daughter. It's bad...it's ugly. And there are some days when I wonder if I may not need some sort of anger management. So, needless to say, I was convicted greatly with verse 4.

I did do some research and I learned that the word used for anger in verse 4 is also the same word used in
Ephesians 4:26-27
Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger, and do not leave room for the devil.

Leave room for the devil, eh? I feel that when I act out on my emotion of anger, I let the devil in and he has a field day, let me tell you. It is at those moments, where I need to stop, sit, pray, and humble myself before God. I need to ask myself at that moment, if God was visibly standing right next to me at this very second, how would I handle this current situation?
Many of my prayers lately, throughout the day have been...God, I am tired right now. I need your strength. I don't want to be impatient. I don't want to be quick to anger. Please fill me up with your love....with your patience. Help me to display your gentleness. Help me.

When I act out on my anger, especially around my little miss, and I do not do it in the right manner, I am not teaching her well. I want her to learn how important it is to take a time out, to breathe, to calm down. I want to teach her how important it is to talk things through calmly. I want her to see that it is sooo important to be loving and gentle. And when I let the devil in, when I get so infuriated that I am seriously out of breath and my heart is racing a mile a minute, my reactions are not teaching her properly...AT ALL!!!!!

I need to be still at those times. I need to be still and meditate on the Lord.

As far as meditating on your bed, I am sure, well at least I think, that David meant at night before sleep. Why? because that's when things are quiet and peaceful. Also, I am sure that that is when one can begin to think in that silence and be anxious. But the way I take it, for myself, to help me with my struggle with anger....is to at that moment focus so much on Him and His peace and gentleness, that although my child is screaming on the top of her lungs....and hasn't been listening to me alllll day, I am to meditate and be still as if everything around me was muted and faded....as if all was quiet and peaceful.






What about you? How did this Psalm speak to you today?

Thank you for contributing. I'll see you again next week for Psalm 5.

Look Who Is Sitting And Trying To Crawl