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Thursday, August 27, 2009

Much better morning today. Got my swim in. Redirected my "fell off the wagon so I'm depressed" to "I deserve to be healthy and today is another day!" I find that it's all in my mind. I can defeat myself with my thinking.When you have used food for comfort in the past, it is easy to slip into thinking that you are depriving yourself. Not! If I remember that I want to change my unhealthy habits to healthy ones because I deserve to feel good and be healthy, if I remember that none of my bad habits made me happy, if I remember that my bad habits depressed me and the new ones make me happy, if I remember that one or two bad days are just that- one or two bad days and not a lifetime of bad habits whichever way I want to go etc.....I can get back on track! We can do anything we decide to do. I like to remind myself of that because I often feel controlled by life. P.S. OK, I was scared to get on the scale, but made myself and YEAH! I didn't gain anything! What a relief! It is so hard to get those stupid pounds off! I was unhappy with myself for falling off the wagon! Yeah! Have a Blessed Healthy Day!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

I blew my diet this week. Obviously when things get crazy, I can't follow a plan. I resolve to begin again tomorrow without fail. I commit to this.
God has answered my prayers for my friend. She appears to be on the road to recovery. Her oxygen saturation is up. Her fever is down. The doctor thinks the abcess is resoving.

Her daughter, who has been in many ways estranged from her because of a long distance relationship since her husband divorced her, has been at her side for a week and doing a wonderful job of taking care of her. Her ex was very concerned and demonstrated that before his children. Her father came and has been here for several days. Many friends rallied to her side. I love how God has a plan for blessing in the midst of adversity. I feel certain that He is healing her. I am so grateful. Her family still needs her.
The preacher preached another really good sermon tonight. I loved it. A forshadowing of the Savior.
Similarities between Jesus and Isaac.
1. Both miraculous births.
2.Both only begotten sons.
3.Both carried the wood to the sacrifice.
4.Both bound to die on Mt. Moriah. Abraham names the place Jehovah Jireh, God provides. And He does.
In Genesis 22, God calls Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on Mt. Moriah.
Abraham waited 100 years for Isaac. If he lost Isaac, Ishmael was already gone, his hope of a descendant would apparently be gone. But his hope was in God. I wonder if Abraham wasn't thinking, that if God let Abraham take Isaac's life, God would give Isaac back. At this point in the Bible, God has not raised the dead, but such was Abraham's faith, I feel certain of that. Abraham assumes that what God asks of him is right, and he obeys. As Abraham works through this, he discovers how much he loves God and how much he trusts Him. Can I trust God for more than I've seen Him do personally in my life?
All the evidence of how much I can trust Him is there. He has done miraculous things in my life. I want to say that definitively now! He has been incredible, miraculous, amazing!
The evidence of how much more He can do is in the scriptures.

How much are you willing to trust Him for?

1. In the toughest of times, how much do you expect of God?
2. Do you expect God to have a reason for what He allows?
3.In your mind, is God on your side?
4.Do you trust God or are you suspicious?
5.Do you think God knows your breaking point? Did He know Abraham's?
6.Do you expect God to know your heart?
7.Do you expect God to come to the rescue?
8.Will He really come through?
9.Do you expect there is something God wants to teach you?
10.Do you expect God to bless you?

God brough Abraham to Mt. Moriah to expand his blessings. "In your seed, all the nations of the earth shall be blessed because you have obeyed my voice." All peoples and nations will be blessed by him. Jesus is a descendant of Abraham. God fulfilled this promise.

In the midst of your crisis, claim your blessing, expect and obey. Then watch as God makes sense of your crisis and blesses you.

I am not saying you will always get what you asked for. That doesn't always happen. But trust God enough to know that He has a reason and His heart is for your good.
"Know the plans I have for you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you."
"God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him."
OK. My week went crazy, literally. A friend was deathly ill, and I do mean deathly. She was diagnosed with a liver abcess and the mortality rate, treated, is 15 to 35%. I've spent the first part of the week in the hospital and today at church. All my plans fell through. Next week is another week. I don't think I'll start tomorrow. It is William's birthday and the house is a wreck and I want to take care of my friend and her daughter again tomorrow. I am still determined to achieve a schedule. I may change my plans though. William covered nearly a third of a history book on Monday. I may do math every day and use the rest of the day for one other subject. All that switching around and getting them started wastes time. We'll set a schedule for subjects by days.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

OK! Wish me luck! Tomorrow I am going to attempt a real, disciplined schedule with my children. I am fairly certain that I don't have what it takes to accomplish this. It goes totally against my style. I am a spur of the moment, nonplanner! I can't follow a plan to save my life!

Well, that might be an exaggeration. I really follow a loose plan, but not a strict one! It will be a good exercise in discipline for us all and I hope we can do it. It will take more than one day to make it work.

More later!
The preacher preached on Esther today. I love that book.
Who knows but you were placed here for such a time as this?
If I perish, I perish!
Watching God's timing and realizing that His "in the meantime's" accomplish what He desires.
While Esther fasted and then when she waited and had 2 feasts, Haman did himself in.
The preacher made these points.
Commit to God's plan
Be commited to do whatever He calls.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Studying Daniel this week.
From Daniel Ch1, although Daniel and his friends were taken into captivity in an alien land, they remained separate. We are aliens also in an alien land. We want to remain separate, also. As our culture tries to assimilate us, we need to keep our eyes on God's precepts. In Joshua 1:1-9, we are told to be strong and courageous, to meditate on His laws day and night not turning to the right or the left. Then we will make our way prosperous and then we will have success.Daniel did just this.
From Daniel Ch2, Daniel gives God the glory for his abilities.
From Daniel Ch3, when God save you, He saves you completely. Not a hair on Shadrach, Meshach , and Abednego's heads was singed.
From Daniel Ch4, God removes and restores Nebuchadnezzar. He is fully in charge of the rise and fall of leaders and nations and is capable of handling our lives.
From Daniel Ch5, I don't want to be measured and found short.
From Daniel Ch6, the king asks Daniel if his living God whom he continuously serves was able to save him. I want to continuously serve our living God.
God is sovereign and able to humble those who walk in pride. We serve a ferocious and awesome God. He is not tame.
I love Isaiah 43. I am reminded of the promises there when I read Daniel.
"But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other people in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and gather you for the west. I will say to the north, Give them up! And to the south, Do not hold them back. Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth, Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made......
You are My witnesses, declares the Lord, And My servant whom I have chosen, In order that you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me. I, even I, am the Lord; And there is no savior beside Me. ... And I am God. Even from eternity I am He; And there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?'"
Soon I am going to do a promises post. There are so many promises that I have hidden in my heart and treasure. I want to post them and I want to teach them to my children.
I am so glad I am His. I am not worthy, but I didn't have to be. It makes me all the more grateful.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. And the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered himself up for me.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Bible Study yesterday was great.

We are studying Damiel.

Daniel 1

God chose Daniel and set him apart as a man of excellence. Daniel chose to follow God.

Daniel gave God the glory for interpreting the dream of Neb.

God saved Azariah, Mishael, and Hannaniah from the fire. When He saves you, He saves you completely. Not one hair on their heads was singed
Joshua 1:1-9
The preacher preached the best sermon on Sunday. He took it out of Joshua 1:1-9.
Be strong and very courageous.
God will always be with you.
He will never leave you.
Meditate on His law night and day, and do not turn to the right or to the left and then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have success.
I am back to resolving or something like that.
I want to make a schedule and stick to it.
For eating
For bible study
For exercising
For school
For church
For sleeping
Music

I'll probably have to adjust times and things as I find out what I can make work. I know it can be a loose schedule. You can't schedule everything.

6 am Coffee/Exercise
7 am Breakfast
7:30 Chores: Bathrooms, Laundry, Dishes, Floors, Weeds, Concrete
8 am Bible
9 am Math
10 am Writing(Literature & Essay) /Debate
11 am Starting Points/Music
12 am Lunch
1 pm Science
2 pm History/Music
3 pm Exercise
5 pm Cook
6 pm Supper
7 pm Reading/Games/Music/Exercise
8 pm Games/Reading/Music/Exercise
9 pm Music/Reading/Games/Exercise
10 pm Bed

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

God continues to be my shelter, shield, healer and provider. He never fails.
The enemy seeks to destroy us and our loved ones. That has never been more clear than now. It is something I have known for a long time. But I always felt sheltered.
My prayer life has not been up to par. God knows the cries of my heart. I often let that stand. Lately, though, I have felt prodded to step up my prayer life. I found out why. I discovered an area of our lives that the enemy was trying to destroy us with. I guess in some ways, I felt safe enough. I didn't feel the need to fall before God on my face and pray for His protection in this crazy world.
Esther prayed when faced with destruction. She prayed and fasted in sack cloth and ashes. I feel the need to follow suit. I haven't put on my sack cloth and ashes. I am smiling and laughing at the normal things. I feel blessed and loved. But the enemies attack left my heart bleeding and shell shocked. I am not sure how one can be both at the same time, but I am. I am His child. I am always loved and protected and cared for. I am blessed. But I live in an alien land. This is definitely not my home.
Oh Lord,
I cry to You. You are our rock and shield. You alone are good. You alone are light, love, joy, and peace. Protect my family from the enemies attacks. I bind the enemy from my family by the power of the precious blood of Jesus Christ. I bless them with protection from my Lord and my God. I ask, Lord, that You surround the four corners of my home with angelic protection. I ask that You guard and protect my children supernaturally from the enemy and his attacks. I claim You, my Lord and my God, as my rock and shield against the slings and arrows of the enemy and his schemes and plans. I ask that You help me to raise my children to love and honor You. I ask that You guide us in teaching them how to reach a lost world for You. I ask that You help me to guide them to seek You and You only. That they seek to serve and honor and glorify You. That I serve and honor and glorify You. I praise Your Holy Name. I praise all that You are. I thank You for Your protection, love, forgiveness, guidance and wisdom. I love You Lord. You alone are able. I lie prostrate before You asking that You raise Your supernatural hand and shape and mold my family to Your glory, in Jesus name.
I yield the rest of my prayer to the Holy Spirit, that with His groanings to deep for words, He speak that desires of my heart in my prayer.
Amen.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Chicken Fajitas

Chicken Fajitas
I made the best Chicken Fajitas today.
6 Vidalias sliced
6 Hot Banana Peppers, seeded and sliced lengthwise
2 - 4 Jalopenos, seeded and diced (Can add at the end to taste)
3 Red, Yellow, or Orange Bell Peppers sliced
1 1/2 to 2 cups of sliced tomatoes (Probably 6 to 8 - 2" tomatoes)
5 lbs BS Chicken Breasts sliced into tenders
2 bulbs of garlic( that is BULBS)pressed
A liberal sprinkling of Chili Powder
A dash of Cumin
Salt to taste
Flour Tortillas

In your largest cast iron skillet(18" is best), put a little oil and your onions, peppers, and 1 bulb garlic. Saute til very tender and beginning to brown. Add tomatoes and saute til reduced some.
Remove from pan.
Put a couple tablespoons olive oil and your chicken in the pan. Saute til chicken is close to done but not dry yet (Still a good bit of broth in the pan) Add the garlic, chili powder, salt and cumin.
Saute til reduced. Add vegetables. Add Jalopenos to taste. Adjust Salt.

Joy is a choice

Joy is a choice.
Sometimes I forget. Thank goodness God reminds me when I forget.
I have so many blessings. God has been faithful in protecting and raising up my children to love and honor Him. He has been faithful to ALWAYS be a rock and shelter, protector, sustainer. He fills everylonging of my soul. He is faithfulness, love, wisdom, shelter, comfort, light, life, joy, peace, gratitude, guidance, sustenance, discipline, protection. He is my healer, provider, and so much more than my friend. When all else fails, He never does and He never will.

In Colossians, He is called our all in all. In 1 John we find that God is love. In Hebrews, we find that He disciplines those He loves. In Phillipians, we find that He who began a good work is faithful to complete it, that He gives peace, that He will supply all our needs, that we can do all things through Christ. In James we learn to rejoice in our trials. In Romans we find that He works all things together for our good and nothing can separate us from His love. Throughout the Old Testament and New, we see the evidence of His faithfulness, His love, His wisdom, His peace, His power to heal, His power to protect, His power to guide, His power to forgive, His power to provide and sustain. In Jeremiah, we find that He has plans to give us a hope and a future. The list goes on......

Rejoice and again I say rejoice.

Life is full of trials. Some of our own making, many that are not. If the source of your joy is situational, it is transient at best. Let God be the source of your joy.

Keep your eyes on Him and not on your trials.

People are made of clay. Don't expect them to be perfect. Expect failure. It is an every day fact of life. People don't always fail, but they will fail sometimes no matter how hard they try. Only God never fails or disappoints.

Sometimes adults have character flaws that they appear to be incapable of overcoming. We are tied to some of them by marriage and some of them by blood. The issue has to be dealt with. In some ways it is fairly simple. Only God can help them. Just forgive them.

Sometimes the natural consequences of their mistakes will help them see the light. Sometimes, they don't want to see the light and therefore will never see it as long as they choose to ignore it.
Your anger will not help them see the light. It is a waste of your energy. Love them. Pray for them. Be honest with them about what you see at the appointed times(appointed by God- you will have to let Him guide you). But don't appoint yourself as their personal Holy Spirit. And don't expect it to change them.

{Just to be clear, I was referring to adults with character flaws. That doesn't mean that you are never responsible for consequences in a relationship. There can be gentle natural consequences that help mold your relationships with others. And there are desperate times when you are responsible for severe consequences to abberent behavior in times of drug abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, etc. At those times, though love must be exercised.}

Be glad that God is all you need. Be glad that you can do what He requires of you. Let God be responsible for others. It is too much for you to bear.

P.S. I did organize yesterday and today. I love it when I follow a plan. I have never been very good at that!When I read my blog, I saw that I said I was going to do that and it made me glad that that is what I did.I have not made it to the other house or planned my Arbonne events, but my leg held out today and I was probably up for almost 13 straight hours working. I was encouraged. I need to be able to do what I need to do. LOL! This is the first time it hasn't really given me trouble when I tried to do a full days work. It aches a little, but nothing like the trouble it has been giving me.I have to decide whether to try to homeschool and work and fix the other house up, or whether to homeschool, work and pay someone to fix the other house. I will pray about it.I won't let the kids go. Whatever I need to do to be the mother I need to be will be my first priority. God will lead.At least I have a plan.

Monday, August 3, 2009

I resolve never to resolve again. LOL! Just kidding!
If you fail to plan you plan to fail.
I didn't keep any of those resolutions like I wanted. On the other hand in the past 6 months I have exercised and eaten right nearly every day to the tune of 20 pounds lost. Yeah!
The past few weeks I have used prevention.com's health tracker as a tool. It's free.
Today I will clean the house and start getting the other house ready.
I am going to plan some Arbonne events.