Continuous Conversion

"If we trust in our own abilities, instead of God's 

we produce consequences for which God will hold us responsible...

The response of the natural to the spiritual should be continuous conversion, 

but this is where we so often refuse to be obedient...

God holds us accountable every time we refuse to convert ourselves, 

and He sees our refusal as willful disobedience. 

Our natural life must not rule- God must rule in us."

-Oswald Chambers

30 Days of Torah Parenting

"Are you ready to stretch yourself as a parent??" is how this article begins...

If you're up for this, check out: 

30 Days of Torah Parenting

Each day you are given a little project to help you on your parenting journey!! :) 

Fervent Prayer

Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons; the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we were saved.  But hope that is seen is no hope at all.  Who hopes for what he already has?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.  

Romans 8:23-25

God tells us to pray with hope.  We can easily tell people our needs, but praying to the Lord for our needs is a different story.  Often we don't see how or when or why God would answer our prayers.  It's beyond our comprehension.  But Romans states clearly that our job is to wait patiently with hope for God to answer our prayers.  HE is great and powerful and knows our needs.  HE loves to take care of us.

Let's pray in boldness about our children's lives that they would be holy, that they would be surrounded by peers that would be edifying and encouraging.

Let's pray for our husbands that they will soar in their profession, that they would be blessed and be a blessing to their coworkers.

Let's pray for ourselves, that we will be refreshed each day to be a light to our family and friends, that we would be strong and wise and diligent, that God's love will renew our perspective to live in freedom, with creativity and playfulness in our walk with Christ.

Let's just pour our needs before God.  Focus on God's love! and you will be able to hope and trust and be fervent in your prayer life.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  

Romans 15:13

God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.  We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure it enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.  He has become a high priest forever....

Hebrews 6:18-20

Center Your Life On What's Important

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
May my meditation be sweet to Him;
I will be glad in the Lord.
Psalm 104:33-34


When you're having a tough day with the kids, remember to sing.
When you're having a tough week with schedules, remember to praise God.
When you're having a tough month with finances, remember to meditate on Christ and be glad.

Why?  Because we live by faith, and God will honor that.

No eye has seen,
nor ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him
1 Corinthians 2:9

Thanksgiving

This week we focus on the holiday of Thanksgiving.  However, in the midst of fall break and holiday parties and cold season, we are so super busy and overwhelmed that it seems impossible to quietly take a moment and be sincerely thankful.  For me, personally, I realized that there was one more thing that I overlooked that was keeping me from being thankful (besides having a busy schedule and being deprived of sleep).  Forgiveness.  There were some wrongs that I made in the past that I made right by asking for forgiveness, however I was still experiencing guilt.

I realized that God was telling me that there was another part of forgiveness that I overlooked.  Although others may have forgiven me and I may have forgiven others,  have I forgiven myself?  That's such a foreign concept.  But it is necessary to move on and live in peace in order to be in a position to be thankful.

Forgiving myself means to set myself free from self-condemnation.  If Christ can forgive me then I should definitely be able to forgive myself.   Romans 8:1 says,  "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."  When I realized this great truth, my spirit was so free to focus on Christ, not on myself, not on my burdens, and not on my faults.

If this sounds like something you can relate to in your life.  Ask the Lord in a simple prayer to give you strength and courage to forgive yourself and cleanse your conscience from all guilt and condemnation.  Then release your burdens to the Lord, cast your cares upon Him.  Feel the freedom of a lightweight, guilt-free life . . . and start praising the Lord with Thanksgiving!

Happiness

If you could have any one thing in life, absolutely anything, what would it be?  Prosperity?  A better body? Good health?  A long life?  A great marriage?  A better job?  A fabulous career?  What?

If you answer, "Prosperity," I might respond, "What good is prosperity without health?" If you answer, "Great health, " I could point out a lot of healthy people who are miserable because they hate their jobs or don't make enough money.  No matter which answer you choose, I could point out someone who has exactly what you want and yet is unhappy.

The truth is, more money, better looks, better health, a better job, a better marriage, and even a longer life are really only a means to an end.  What you really want goes one level deeper than that.  What you really want is happiness.  -Steven K. Scott

So, waht is happiness and how do we attain it?  Sarah Young talks about happiness in her devotional, Jesus Calling, as being content in the Lord no matter where you are in life or what you're going through. 

You can live as close to Me as you choose.  I set up no barriers between us; neither do I tear down barriers that you erect.  People tend to think their circumstances determine the quality of their lives.  So they pour their energy into trying to control the situations.  They feel happy when things are going well, and sad or frustrated when things don't turn out the way they'd hoped.  They rarely question this correlation between their circumstances and feelings. Yet it is possible to be content in any and every situation.


Put more energy into trusting Me and enjoying My Presence.  Don't let your well-being depend on your circumstances.  Instead, connect your joy to My precious promises.:

I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.

I will meet all your needs according to My glorious riches.

Nothing in all creation will be able to separate you

from My Love.

12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
Philippians 4:12

15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. 

Genesis 28:15

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:19

 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Romans 8:38-39

Habits

Below is an excerpt from Simply Charlotte Mason about instilling good habits in our children.

"Here are some habits that Charlotte specifically mentioned in her writings. As you can see, most are matters of character and can be cultivated in everyday situations by example and practice. Charlotte recommended working on one habit at a time and concentrating on it for about four to six weeks, while remaining ever vigilant of already-formed habits. "

• Accuracy
• Attention
• Candor
• Cleanliness
• Courtesy
• Even Temper
• Gentleness
• Kindness
• Modesty
• Neatness
• Obedience
• Order
• Perfect Execution
• Punctuality
• Regularity
• Remembering
• Respect
• Thoroughness
• Truthfulness

10 Points of Joyful Parenting- Ann Voskamp

10Point Manifesto for Joyful Parenting

(any text in turquoise links to posts for more explanation & encouragement)::

1. Today, I will make our home a house of prayer. I will pray at set times. And I will invite our children to come move into an interior space that lives with God.

2. Today, I will transfigure all things into beauty, and I will refuse to see anything else.

3. Today, I will not have any emergencies. There are no emergencies! Only amateurs hurry.

4. Today, when stress mounts, I pray to dismount it with gratitude. My stress management plan will be intervention with verbal thanks. I can only feel one feeling at a time, and I choose to give thanks at all times. Fight feeling with feeling!

5. Today, I will pray to speak words that are only STRONG words, words that make these children feel strong. Grace words. Grace is the only non-toxic air. All other words I breathe are death words.

6. Today, I will pray to be consistently consistent. I will create safe rhythms that our children can find security in. I willcreate daily ceremonies because everyday we are CELEBRATING the gift of now!

7. Today, the moment when I am most repelled by a child’s behavior, that is my sign to draw the very closest to that child.

8. Today, I will hug each of my children as many times as I serve them meals — because children’s hearts feed on touch. I’ll look for as many opportunities to touch my children today as possible — the taller they are, the more so.

9. Today, my priorities will be all Things Unseen.

10. Today, I will laugh! And I will let the little children laugh! I will create a culture of JOY!

You can read this list, and Ann Voskamp's blog here.

She also has this book "One Thousnd Gifts": 

Atmosphere, Discipline, Life

Charlotte Mason Method A method of education popular with homeschoolers in which children are taught as whole persons through a wide range of interesting living books, firsthand experiences, and good habits. Charlotte Mason was a British educator who lived in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Her method, the Charlotte Mason method, is centered around the idea that education is three-pronged: Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life. By “Atmosphere,” Charlotte meant the surroundings in which the child grows up. A child absorbs a lot from his home environment. Charlotte believed that atmosphere makes up one-third of a child’s education. By “Discipline,” Charlotte meant the discipline of good habits — and specifically habits of character. Cultivating good habits in your child’s life make up another third of his education. The other third of education, “Life,” applies to academics. Charlotte believed that we should give children living thoughts and ideas, not just dry facts. So all of her methods for teaching the various school subjects are built around that concept. (Excerpt from www.simplycharlottemason.com)

Be the Kind of Women...

Peaceful Home

"If our lives are too stressed, it is hard to be patient, and we tend to be less peaceful.  If people have not been listened to, they will not feel patient or loved.  Furthermore, a person who is hungry and has not had a good meal at the right time will also lack patience.  You can see that getting a good atmosphere is a tall order and that there is more to it than meets the eye."

"Atmosphere. The one that is genuine, honest, open, true.  And this means asking for and giving forgiveness, for we all sin.  None of us gets it right; none of us is easy to live with."

-Susan Schaeffer Macaulay
(Excerpts from "For the Family's Sake: The Value of Home in Everyone's Life")

Tot School

Thinking about homeschooling? 

Check out this neat site... 

1+1+1=1

and...

No Time for Flashcards

Check out this site: 

Homemakers Challenge

Comparing and Competing

Grocery Shopping on a Budget

(Excerpt from "everydayhealth.com")

Grocery Shopping on a Budget: 9 Ways to Shop Healthy and Save Money

1. Plan, plan, plan. “If a family or head of household can take an hour to plan a week’s worth of meals and make a grocery shopping list and another hour to grocery shop, then the family can be good for a week,” says Shelley A. Rael, RD, a registered dietitian and health education consultant at the University of New Mexico’s Employee Health Promotion Program in Albuquerque. This is a win-win situation as food prepared at home is generally healthyand less expensive.
2. Buy in bulk. Whether it’s choosing a “family size” pack of skinless chicken breasts and freezing what you don’t use right away or one large container of nonfat yogurt instead of individual servings, buying big can equal big savings.
3. Cut those coupons. “Clipping coupons and shopping sales will never go out of style, especially when there are many mouths to feed,” says Amy Berns, RD, a registered dietitian with Medical Network One’s Michigan Institute for Health Enhancement in Trenton. Coupons are everywhere these days, from local flyers to the Internet. Check individual food companies’ Web sites for discounts, rebates, and coupons you can print yourself.
4. Shop the perimeter of the store. Most stores are organized with packaged foods in the middle. As much as possible, stick to the outer areas where you can find the healthier fruits and vegetables, meat, and dairy. Also, while these foods may seem expensive, be sure to consider actual serving sizes and how many meals you can get from one purchase. “Produce may appear expensive at the outset,” says Rael, “but it can be part of a meal or a snack. Many people see ‘$3.99 per pound,’ but don’t think about how that pound could potentially be spread across several meals or people.”

   ---

   Curious about buying organic produce? Find out if these foods are worth the cost.

   ---

5. Try some substitutions. Instead of expensive and less healthy beef, buy more chicken and pork. Beans are another good source of protein and are usually much cheaper than meat. Fish can be bought frozen or canned to cut down on cost as well.
6. Try the “IKEA” style of eating. That means “some assembly required,” says Ashley Koff, RD, a registered dietitian in private practice in Los Angeles. “Rather than buying the salad already made, buy the pieces and assemble it yourself. Instead of the ready-to-eat pasta dish, buy the sauce, the cheese, the meatballs, and some organic frozen vegetables.” Not only is it less expensive to purchase items individually, but you will also be avoiding the preservatives used to increase a packaged food’s shelf life.
7. Skip the snack foods. Products like chips, cookies, and soda are unhealthy and represent an unnecessary expense for shoppers looking to save money. Popcorn, dried fruits, and nuts are good, nutritious substitutions for chips.
8. Go local and buy in-season. “Look for fresh local and in-season produce as this is usually more affordable than choosing imported produce,” says Erin Palinski, RD, a registered dietitian in private practice in northern New Jersey. “If fresh produce seems too expensive, try choosing frozen or canned. It is more affordable and has a longer shelf life. To cut down on the sodium content of canned vegetables, try rinsing them before cooking and serving.”
9. Be creative. Whether it’s trying a new recipe with ingredients bought using coupons or putting a new twist on an old favorite, shopping and preparing different foods can be fun.

Instructing the Heart

"Instructing a child's heart is not simply transferring data from parent to child. It is impressing the heart with truth."

"Honor for God, respect for authority, respect for others, and a gracious and productive atmosphere in our homes will be some of the blessings of biblical formative instruction. Modern homes can be the shelter where dignity, loyalty to family valued and standards are kept, helping our children to face the world and its challenges every day."

Tedd & Margy Tripp

(from "Instructing a Child's Heart")

She is clothed with strength and dignity;

she can laugh at the days to come.

-Proverbs 31:25

Traveling with Little Ones

Traveling used to be an adventure! The idea of a spontaneous trip used to be so exciting to us! However, that's not the case now; traveling with young kids is a different story. It can be intimidating because we don't know what to expect, and we're used to our routines and controlling our children's environment.

Take heart! :0 ) Here are some tips to put your nerves at ease:

Security

Car seats are free to check in

Strollers are also free to check in at the counter (or at the gate -just make sure you get a luggage claim tag at the gate)

Carry On Bags: What to Bring

Travel lightly. It's just you, your baby, and your diaper bag

An extra outfit for your baby in case there's a food or potty accident

An extra shirt for you in case your current shirt gets soiled for any reason

An Ergo, Baby Bjorn, or your preferred baby carrier

Enough diapers

Bibs

Snacks (if age appropriate)

-cereal puffs

-freeze dried yogurt snacks

Little toys and books that aren't too bulky or heavy to entertain your baby

-wind-up toys, like a wobbly penguin or a dancing monkey can be set on your fold-out table to amuse your child

-Playdoh (if age appropriate)

Pillow

-this is a bulky object that you may choose to forego, but many moms prefer to lay the pillow on their lap (or on the wall if on a window seat) for their baby's head to rest

In the Air

Air pressure is an important note. Breast feed at take-off and at landing. Pacifiers can work too. What's important is that your child is sucking to relieve the pressure in her ears.

Try to fly during baby's nap times or evening sleep time

A window seat is preferred if you want to breastfeed more privately because you have more room to turn away and feed

An aisle seat is preferred if easy access to the bathroom is a priority for all diaper changing needs

Other Tips

On the plane, you can ask the steward if any empty seats or a row of empty seats are available for relocating so that you and your baby will be more comfortable

It's common for babies to become overly stimulated from new surroundings and unfamiliar people. Chamomile tablets or teething tablets can help sooth and calm a child. These tablets are usually homeopathic and will easily melt in your child's mouth.

At the ticket counter, don't hesitate to ask if your spouse can get a pass to help you through security and to your gate. Not all, but many airports are family friendly and will gladly allow your spouse to accompany you!

Proverbs 1:33

But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be secure, without fear of evil.

Relax, and enjoy the trip!