Summer Projects- day 2

Soap making day. Made a pot of liquid hand soap. The girls made soap balls. Bella made her soap into stars. I need to finish sewing some burp clothes as a baby gift, also want to start experimenting with a proto type fabic lunch bag. My creativity far exceeds my actual ability, but I'll try anyway.

Summer projects- day 1

Today I bought an old banquet chair from church to recover for Olivia's room. it turned out nice, Lindy wants another one for his computer chair since they one he uses hurts his back.

No pretend zone.

I don't spend a lot of time reading blogs or browsing Pinterest. I figure no one is as perfect as they pretend to be on their blogs or actually make those things they "pin", but it still can make me feel inadequate. And mad that they are perpetuating those lies/myths making other moms feel bad, guilty, not qualified and inadequate.

Shoot! I struggle with issues as a mom with my girls, as a homeschool parent,and a stay at home wife, and I'm honest about it. Pretending doesn't help anyone and makes things worst for yourself and others. I "preach" this message a lot.

Great article, Your Children Want YOU!

Shock&Horror! I don't make my own laundry SOAP!

I made laundry soap for 2 years. In that time we had to have a plumber come out and "snake" the waterline from the laundry room to the road every 6 months. Soap forms a "curd" that detergent does not. Soap and detergent are not the same. I've switch back to detergent about 1.5 years ago, no plumbing issues. Don't get "guilted" into using something just because it is the new thing eveyone else is doing if it doesn't work for your family. A $70 plumbing bill every 6 months wasn't saving us squat.

Personally I'm sick of hearing " well the Duggers use it". So what!?

Our Problem/God's Solution

Our Problem

Problem: God' standard is perfection (Not guilty of Law breaking/sinning) and His justice demands a penalty for sin.

Rom.3:10- As it is written, there is no righteous person, not even one.

Rom. 3:23- All have sinned and fall short of God's glory.

Rom. 6:23a- The wages that sin pays are death,

God's Solution

Solution: Christ's blood sacrifice at Calvary was a fully satisfying payment for our sin.

Rom. 5:8- But God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

II Cor. 5:21- God caused the one who didn't know sin to be sin for our sake so that through him we could become the righteousness of God.

Our Responsibilty

Faith: Rely exclusively upon Christ's work on the Cross (Death, Burial, & Resurrection) to be sufficient payment for our sin. Faith is in general, the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true. It's primary idea is trust. A thing is true and therefore worthy of trust.

Eph 2:8-9-You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith.^[a] This salvation is God’s gift. It’s not something you possessed. ⁹ It’s not something you did that you can be proud of.

Rom. 4:4-5-Workers’ salaries aren’t credited to them on the basis of an employer’s grace but rather on the basis of what they deserve. ⁵ But faith is credited as righteousness to those who don’t work, because they have faith in God who makes the ungodly righteous.

Rom. 4:20-21-He didn’t hesitate with a lack of faith in God’s promise, but he grew strong in faith and gave glory to God. ²¹ He was fully convinced that God was able to do what he promised.

Assurance

Assurance: To know for sure you have eternal life as a free gift, your sins forever forgiven, know heaven is your home when you die and have peace with God while you are here.

Rom. 5:1- Therefore, since we have been made righteous through his faithfulness combined with our faith,^[a] we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Eph 1:13-You too heard the word of truth in Christ, which is the good news of your salvation. You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit because you believed in Christ.

Romans 8:38-39-I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers ³⁹or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.

40 Bags in 40 Days

So how is your 40 Bags in 40 Days project coming along?

So far we have 9 bags, we are one bag ahead.

4 bags of Olivia's clothes, & 2 bags of trash from her room.

2 bags of my clothes and 7 purses.

2 Corinthians 5:21

2 Corinthians 5:21

Common English Bible (CEB)

²¹ God caused the one who didn’t know sin to be sin for our sake so that through him we could become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21

King James Version (KJV)

²¹For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Corinthians 5:21

New International Version (NIV)

²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin^[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Freedom in Christ

Don't be chained to the burden and condemnation of the past. Rejoice in the freedom you now have in Christ!

Galatians 5:1 (CEB)

¹ Christ has set us free for freedom. Therefore stand firm and don’t submit to the bondage of slavery again.

Galatians 5:1 (KJV)

¹Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:1 (CEV)

¹Christ has set us free! This means we are really free. Now hold on to your freedom and don't ever become slaves of the Law again.

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Heart Reflection

Proverbs 27:19

As water reflects the face,
so the heart reflects
one person to another.

What is your heart reflecting?

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In Christ

Ephesians 2:4-7

^4-5 However, God is rich in mercy. He brought us to life with Christ while we were dead as a result of those things that we did wrong. He did this because of the great love that he has for us. You are saved by God’s grace! ⁶ And God raised us up and seated us in the heavens with Christ Jesus. ⁷ God did this to show future generations the greatness of his grace by the goodness that God has shown us in Christ Jesus.

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As a blog tour member I have the opportunity to offer to my readers a free copy of the softcover edition of the Common English Bible, one copy per week for every week I write a blog post. Please comment to be eligible.

The Lord is my Tower

Proverbs 18:10

Common English Bible (CEB)

10 The LORD’s name is a strong tower;

the righteous run to it and find refuge.

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As a blog tour member I have the opportunity to offer to my readers a free copy of the softcover edition of the Common English Bible, one copy per week for every week I write a blog post. Please comment to be eligible.

Meal Plan

Sunday-Feast-Roast/Ham- we had beef roast, potatoes and carrots

Monday-Leftovers- Chicken Pot Pie

Tuesday-Mexican- Chicken Enchiladas

Wednesday-Pasta- spaghetti

Thursday- Casserole/Crock-pot- Broccoli Beef

Friday-Pizza;

Saturday-Cook's Choice

The Lord is my Tower

Psalm 61:1-4

For the music leader, with stringed instruments. Of David.

1 God, listen to my cry;
pay attention to my prayer!
2 When my heart is weak,
I cry out to you
from the very ends of the earth.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I am
3 because you have been my refuge,
a tower of strength
in the face of the enemy.
4 Please let me live in your tent forever!
Please let me take refuge
in the shelter of your wings!
Selah

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As a blog tour member I have the opportunity to offer to my readers a free copy of the softcover edition of the Common English Bible, one copy per week for every week I write a blog post. Please comment to be eligible.

Common English Bible

What is the CEB?

The Common English Bible is more than a revision or update of an existing translation. It’s an ambitious new translation designed to read smoothly and naturally without compromising the accuracy of the Bible text.

A key goal of the translation team is to make the Bible accessible to a broad range of people; it’s written at a comfortable level for nearly all English readers. As the translators do their work, reading specialists working with 77 reading groups from more than a dozen denominations review the texts to ensure a smooth and natural reading experience. Easy readability can enhance church worship and participation, and personal Bible study. It also encourages children and youth to discover the Bible for themselves, perhaps for the very first time.

source: Bible Gateway

Remembering God's Character

“May the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” 2 Thess. 3:16 (CEB)

I praise you Lord for you are my PEACE, which means I don’t have to look at my fears and the storms all around me, I only need to come to you believing and trusting that you are my anchor of hope, and you hold me in the palm of your hand.

“Don’t fear, because I am with you;

I will strengthen you,

I will surely help you;

I will hold you

with my righteous strong hand.”

Isaiah 41:10 (CEB)

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As a blog tour member I have the opportunity to offer to my readers a free copy of the softcover edition of the Common English Bible, one copy per week for every week I write a blog post. Please comment to be eligible.

Lent Reflection

Luke 9:23-25 (CEB)

23 Jesus said to everyone, “ All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me. 24 All who want to save their lives will lose them. But all who lose their lives because of me will save them. 25 What advantage do people have if they gain the whole world for themselves yet perish or lose their lives?"

What do I need to give up to follow Christ more closely?

Is something distracting me from hearing Christ?

Am I bearing my cross with the right attitude?

How can I know Christ more?

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As a blog tour member I have the opportunity to offer to my readers a free copy of the softcover edition of theCommon English Bible, one copy per week for every week I write a blog post. Please comment to be eligible.

Lent

The Common English Bible - Lenten Readings

View more presentations from Common English Bible

Growing up as a non-denominational christian we didn't observe Lent. But over the last few years we have done more heart preparation for Easter, which is what Lent is all about.

My mom posted this link on her FB wall, about giving away 40 bags in 40 days. I love it! The girls and I will be going through our home over the next 40 days giving away 40 bags of items to donate.

Here you can find free Lent activities for the family, dated 2009, but easily adapted to current dates.

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As a blog tour member I have the opportunity to offer to my readers a free copy of the softcover edition of theCommon English Bible, one copy per week for every week I write a blog post. Please comment to be eligible.

iCal continued

The orange lines are/will be yearly chores and holiday prep. I will work on the Holiday plan later. I use the 12 Week Holiday plan on paper, and it may work best that way, but I'm going to see what I can do with it in my calendar program.

using iCal

I realize this screen shots of my ical screen aren't very good, but I hope it will give you an idea about what I'm writing about.

Sheri Graham has really inspired me to actually do some of the things I've been meaning to do but never got around to doing!

I've wanted for years to utilize the iCal program on the computer for daily routines, menu plans, cleaning chores, coordinating family schedules and the like. Well that's what I started this morning!

The purple is the daily menu plan. I've always planned menus, but this past year I've changed my planning process. I plan meals around what's on sale & what's in my pantry. To do this long range planning I need a more open concept instead of fixed meals for each day of the month. In order for me to take advantage of my pantry/stockpile and sales, my plan is like this Sunday-Feast-Roast/Ham; Monday-Leftovers; Tuesday-Mexican; Wednesday-Pasta; Thursday- Casserole/Crock-pot;

Friday-Pizza; Saturday-Cook's Choice. Monday and Saturday can easily be flipped around.

The red line is the monthly cleaning focus for each week- wk 1-Kitchen, wk 2-Living Room, wk 3-Bedrooms, wk 4- Baths/Halls

The blue lines are the daily chores.

The green is the daily routine (if I could just get the family on board!)

Not totally convinced that I should do school assignments on the ical. It is so quick and easy to use my index card method, and easier to change around when needed.

Truth and Dare: Book Review

Truth and Dare: One Year of Dynamic Devotions for Girls, by Ann Margret Hovsepian is a wonderful devotion for young girls

The cover is enticing for the age group, making them want to open it and see what is inside. The daily reading and message are short, plus a journaling portion, then there is the "dare" part of each lesson. A triple dare each day to further explore God's Word and put God's Word in action in your everyday life in fun and creative ways.

My 10 year old daughter loves this book! She said after the first day that "it make me want to read ahead and do more". She does these devotion lessons without me having to tell her. She has really enjoyed completing the "dares".

I wish the cover didn't say "for ages 9-12" because my 16 year old was very interested in it. I'd love to see something similar for older girls.

Ann-Margret Hovsepian authored The One Year Designer Genes Devo and served as senior editor and lead author for Blossom. She is a Canadian author and speaker who has written over two hundred articles and regularly speaks at writers’ conferences, mission conferences, and women’s events. She is actively involved on the board of Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec.

Thanks so much to B and B Media Group for sending me this book for my review.