The Walnut Acre Chronicles: July 2011

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Lessons From the Rich Young Ruler - Notes From The Morning Sermon

Mark 10:17-22
¹⁷ As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother. ”
²⁰ “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

Hebrews 11:1-5
¹ Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ² This is what the ancients were commended for.
³ By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
⁴ By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
⁵ By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”^[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

Isaiah 55:8-9
⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Jesus was not interested in the rich young ruler's money. He wanted him to take his eyes off of what he could see and focus on what he could not see. His whole life had been based on what he could see - his actions, the approval of those around him, his money. Jesus wanted him to live by faith, not by sight.

Do not deny reality, but do not put your faith in that reality.

As we look around us we see many things that may cause us to fear, but we need to remember that our faith is in an unfailing God. It may not be as easy as it was but it will be profitable for you if you trust in God.

These are notes, quotes and paraphrases from our morning sermon at White Hill Church of the Brethren, preached by Jim Chappell

~ Linking Here ~

Menu Plan: Monday August 1 - Saturday August 6, 2011

Breakfasts

Monday - Friday: Cereal, Milk, Fresh Fruit

Saturday: Blueberry Muffins, Fried Ham, Strawberries, Milk, Coffee

Lunch

Monday: Hot Dogs, French Fries, Pears (Austin)*

Tuesday: Hamburger Chow Mein, Green Beans, Applesauce

Wednesday: Turkey and Cheese Sandwiches, French Fries, Green Beans

Thursday: Hard Boiled Eggs, Grapes, Carrots and Dip, Very Berry Muffins

Friday: Homemade Pizza, Veggies and Dip (Austin)*

Saturday: Leftovers, Fruit

Dinner

Monday: Cheeseburger Macaroni (Hamburger Helper), Corn, Bananas (Amanda)*

Tuesday: Broccoli Chicken Casserole, Applesauce, Biscuits

Wednesday: Cheesy Tuna Pasta, Corn, Watermelon, Cinnamon Rolls (Amanda)*

Thursday: Chili, Cornbread, Salad

Friday: Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce, Salad

Saturday - Oven Scrambled Bacon and Eggs, Tater Tots, Apple Slices, Toast

Snacks

Bananas

Apples

Grapes

Toast

Popcorn

Saltine Crackers

Peanut Butter Crackers

* Austin and Amanda each plan, shop for and prepare two meals each week.

~ Linking Here ~

Menu Plan Monday, Unwasted Homemaking Linky, Making a Home,

Morning Musing Over Coffee - No More Ruts

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

The only difference between a rut and a grave is their dimensions.

~ Ellen Glasgow

Growth is the only evidence of life.

~ John Henry Newman

I don't know about you, but I really don't want my ruts to turn into a grave. And I really do want to show evidence of being alive. So I guess it's time to climb out of some ruts and start growing.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Oven Scrambled Bacon and Eggs

These eggs are so fluffy and delicious, they disappear in a flash when I make them. And I love the convenience of having them bake in the oven while I work on the rest of the meal - or drink my coffee.

1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

1 lb bacon slices, fried, drained and cut into small pieces

24 eggs

2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning

1/4 teaspoon white pepper

2 1/2 cups milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Pour melted butter into a 9x13 inch baking dish. In a large bowl whisk together eggs, salt, pepper, poultry seasoning and white pepper until well blended. Gradually whisk in milk. Stir in bacon pieces.

Bake uncovered for 15 minutes, then stir and bake for an additional 10 - 15 minutes or until eggs are set.

Enjoy!

~ Linking Here ~

Friday, July 29, 2011

First Tomatoes

Doug and Aaron brought these tomatoes in from the garden this evening. They're really small but we're happy to finally see some ripen. There are more (and bigger) ones out there that will be ripe soon.

Morning Musing Over Coffee - New Wings

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls the butterfly.

~ Richard Bach

The end of a chapter. The closing of a door. The word No. What we perceive as failure. All of these sometimes seem a little like the end of the world to us. But in reality the Master and Creator of all things good knows no endings, closed doors, or failures. So what seems to be a negative cirucmstance should instead be viewed as the beginning of a beautiful opportunity, a chance to leave a dark coccoon and fly on beautiful new wings.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

credit: renjith krishnan

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Thursday Blog Hops

Cow Roll and Color

Today we played a fun roll the dice and color game. The cow printable for this game can be found here. Each child took a turn rolling the dice and then everyone colored the corresponding numbered spot on the cow. The kids continued taking turns rolling the dice until all the spots were colored.

~ Linking Here~

SUNDAY – Craft Schooling Sunday, The Sunday Showcase , Link & Learn, MONDAY - Learning Laboratory, Made by Little Hands Monday, TUESDAY - Noted Show and Tell Blog Hop, WEDNESDAY – Kids Get Crafty, THURSDAY – It's Playtime, FRIDAY – Preschool Corner, For the Kids Fridays, The Play Academy, Fun For Kids Friday, High Paw,

Morning Musing Over Coffee - A Song In My Heart

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.

~ Chinese Proverb

This world has many problems and I have very few (if any) answers. But I do have a God who does have all the answers. And He said He would take care of me and that alone is enough to put in a song in my heart.

Think of the birds. They do not plant, cut or keep any food. Yet God feeds them. You are worth much more than the birds. Luke 12:24

credit: happykanppy

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Clothespin Farm Animals

The kids had SO much fun making these clothespin farm animals today. We're continuing with the farm theme this week because there are just so many fun things to do related to this theme. I'm enjoying it and so are the kids.

I still had the clothespins from the time over eight years ago when I lived in house that had a clothesline in the back yard. I thought it was time for them to find a new purpose.

I printed the animal templates from First Palette.

The kids are each taking their own set home but I have two printed sets left over that I think I'm going to make a playset out of. I have some ideas for making fences and barns that I want to try out.

~ Linking Here ~

Colored Water Painting

We did a simple but fun water activity this morning. I filled some empty containers with water and added some food coloring to color the water. Then I set them out on the porch and sidewalk, provided a variety of brushes and let the kids paint away. They loved the colored water.

The food coloring just provided a hint of color and when the water dried I couldn't even see the color anymore so there was no mess to clean up.

It didn't take long for the shoes to come off because it's so much fun to walk through your water painting!

I'm thinking this will be an activity we will do again on a regular basis.

~ Linking Here ~

SUNDAY – The Sunday Showcase , Link & Learn, MONDAY - Learning Laboratory, TUESDAY - Noted Show and Tell Blog Hop, WEDNESDAY – Kids Get Crafty, Works for Me Wednesday THURSDAY – It's Playtime, FRIDAY – Preschool Corner, For the Kids Fridays, Outdoor Play, The Play Academy, Fun For Kids Friday, High Paw,

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Trees or Cages

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages.

~ Jacques Deval

I love to watch the birds in my yard. It's amazing to watch them fly and to listen to their songs, each varied and beautiful in it's own way. It would be sad to see these birds, so happy in their natural environment, contained in a small cage. It would be sad to see these birds, so graceful in their flight, with clipped wings to keep them close.

But I have to wonder if we sometimes do that to our children. Do we, in an attempt to keep them close, or make them the person we want them to be, cage them. Not literally, but with our expectations. Do we clip the wings that would take them to the heights God created them to reach, and instead keep them close to the ground.

Each child is born with gifts and natural abilities that are an important part of who that child is. But sometimes these are so different from the gifts and abilities of the child's parents and teachers that they are misunderstood and inadvertantly "clipped." The result is a child who feels caged and frustrated.

There are of course, the basics that every child has to learn. How to follow instructions when necessary, to be polite, the value of a job well done. But there are times when I child sees things or does things differently than I would and I forget to stop and see the value in the different point of view. There are times when a child's interests different from mine and I forget to acknowledge and encourage those interests.

Today I want to give the gift of flying, the freedom of the open sky, to a child who is trying to grow into the person God created him or her to be. I want to hear each individual and beautiful song.

credit: Tina Phillips

~ Linking Here~