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Morning Musing Over Coffee - A Richer, Fuller Life

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

For you know that is was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. ~ 1 Peter 1:18-19

Redeemed from the empty way of life - what a profoundly true statement. There is nothing quite so empty as life without Jesus. But that was where we were until He reached out and drew us to Him. 

Oh, love that will not let me go.

I rest my weary soul in Thee

I give you back this life I owe

and in Your ocean depths it's flow

may richer, fuller be. 

Fun With Chicken Fabrics

The further we get into Spring this year the more I want chickens. I'm sure eventually I'll have some but for now they are still on my wish list. In the meantime I find myself smiling at all things chicken including these wonderful fabrics. 

My mind spins with fun things to make with these fabrics from curtains, to cushions, to furniture covers. All these fun ideas make me smile almost as much as thought of having real live chickens.

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Planning For Emergencies - Is It Important?

Recently I have begun to think more and more about emergency preparedness. However I've been somewhat hesitant to write about it for several reasons.

 For one, I've always hated the idea of doing something just because everyone else is doing it. Jumping on bandwagons is just not my thing and somehow it felt like I was jumping on an emergency preparedness bandwagon. But the more I've looked, and read, and thought the more I've realized that there really is merit in having provisions in case of an emergency. 

 Another reason is that I really don't want to be seen as an apocalyptic fanatic. While I believe Biblical prophecy, I also believe that we are to carry on with the work given us until Jesus returns. 

The reality is the possibility of emergencies of various kinds does exist. And whether weather and geologically based emergencies are becoming more frequent, or there is simply better reporting, the fact remains that they do happen frequently and those who are prepared doubtless fare better. 

Along with that, if you pay any attention to the news at all, you cannot escape the fact that our economic situation in this country is not the greatest and has the potential to cause (and is causing) great hardship for many. 

For these reasons, I feel it is important for me to not only have adequate supplies in case of emergency, but to also have some basic understanding of ways to care for myself and my family should we find ourselves.


There are some great resources that help with deciding what should be put aside for emergencies based on the number of people be provided for as well as other factors. Here are a few that have I've been looking at and that have me thinking about how to implement them for us.


Ready.gov

How to Make a 72 Hour Kit for Emergency Preparedness

And here are some articles on this subject that I've been reading and found interesting. 


Biblical Survival Planning

Is Preparing For An Emergency Showing a Lack of Faith

I would love to know your thoughts on this subject. Do you have an emergency preparedness plan? 

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Peace and Mutual Edification

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification. ~ Romans 14:19

In this chapter Paul is writing about the controversy over what foods are acceptable to eat. Many believed that some foods were unclean and should not be eaten by the Christian. Others, however, believed that everything was created by God and therefore clean. 

Paul was telling the Christians to respect other's beliefs as well as their strengths and weaknesses and not to cause hardship for others in how they lived their own lives. If one believed that what he was eating was okay but it caused another difficulty in his faith, than he should refrain from eating that food.

While this chapter is talking about respecting other's beliefs  
 mainly in the context of food, I believe it carries over into other areas of life as well. We need to be careful that what we do is not a stumbling block to someone else. We are all interdependent on one another and we need to be mindful of that in our daily lives. What is right for me may cause another to stumble and I need to be very aware of that fact and live accordingly.


A little later in the chapter there is this verse that sums it up nicely.


It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall. ~ Romans 14:21

The Simple Woman's Daybook - Monday April 23, 2012

For Today


Outside my window . . . 43 degrees and gray and dreary. I'll be glad when Spring comes back.


I am thinking . . . that when we as Christians get really serious about prayer we will begin to see things we never dreamed of before.


I am thankful . . . for a God who hears and answers prayer.


I the kitchen . . . I made Homemade Granola earlier today. At the moment there is chicken baking in the oven for dinner. 


I am going . . . Michael was scheduled to have physical therapy this evening but his therapist called and canceled. Soon after she called my friend called and asked if I could take her to work this evening and then pick her up again after work. 


Around the house . . . there are lots of busy people - playing, working, and learning. 


I am pondering . . . His Eternal Power and Divine Nature.


A favorite quote for today . . . Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever it is you need one. ~ Jane Howard

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Family Conversations - A Beginning

As I mentioned last Monday, I decided to start a new dinner time routine with the family. I felt we needed more constructive conversation and fewer snarky comments and speed eating contests. 

The plan was to start Monday but I got home later than I had planned from Michael's physical therapy appointment and we were a bit rushed. So I thought I would start Tuesday instead. But Tuesday we ended up having a meeting with a service provider for one of the kids. It ran much later than I expected and once again we were rushed. Wednesday evening we had dinner at church and Thursday evening we decided to go out to eat. And I'm not even sure why we didn't do it Friday evening. But, finally, Saturday evening we got started with it. So here is what our family conversations were about Saturday evening.

Memory Verse - 

But thanks be to God, He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians15:57

Daily Question

Saturday - 

If you could invent one thing to make your life easier, what would it be?

The general consensus was that we would like a robot to help us with our work. Austin wants it to clean his room, and I want it to wash dishes and do the grocery shopping. CJ wanted a robot that would pick up everything. Amanda just wanted a fork that would feed her by itself because she wanted to eat but didn't want to have to bother to keep lifting the fork. I'm not even sure what to say about that!

Blessings

Doug

    1. helping family - He mowed his cousin's yard Saturday

    2. reducing debt - We were able to pay off some bills last week and I agree it's a wonderful blessing.

Rose (Me)

    1. Going shopping and out to eat with Amanda Saturday

    2. Rain for the garden

Austin

    1. good food

    2. good movies

Amanda

    1. new clothes

    2. macaroni and cheese

CJ

    1. Going with Doug to mow 

    2. playing outside

Michael

    1. Going with Daddy to mow

    2. square gum and hot gum

Morning Musing Over Coffee - His Eternal Power and Divine Nature

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. ~ Romans 1:20

God intended for His power and divine nature to be clearly apparent to all. His creation speaks volumes about His nature and His love for His creation. From the microscopic organisms to vastness of outer space, all creation speaks of Him. What an awesome God! And yet He knows my name and loves and cares for me. He also knows your name and loves and cares for you. 

I Stood

We had a visiting speaker at church today who spoke three different times - once during the Sunday School hour, once during the worship hour and again this evening. He had so much to share with us and it's much more than I can share tonight. It will take a lot of thinking and sorting through although I do hope to share a lot of it here in time.

However, I do want to share a challenge that was giving to us tonight. This challenge was to choose two people each week that need Jesus in their lives and to spend at least a half hour each day praying for those people.

This looks like a lot to me. I'm not sure how to fit it in and yet I know I need to and I want to. More and more I am realizing the power of prayer. It has also been impressed more and more on me how important it is to reach those around us with the Good News of Jesus. It is the calling of every Christian and yet I fail so miserably at it. 

If we were willing to commit to this we were asked to stand. I sat while others around me stood. It felt like too big a commitment, it felt hard, it scared me. And yet the longer I sat the more I realized what a small sacrifice it really is to spend a half hour a day in prayer for others. In the end, I stood. 

I take this seriously and am committed to following through with it. I know God will provide the time and the wisdom to pray as He would have me pray. I also ask for the prayers of others as embark on this journey of prayer. And if any of you feel called to join me, I would love to hear from you.

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Eternal, Abundant Life

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

READ

"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

~John 10:28-30

EXAMINE

The Christian has the assurance that they have eternal life with Jesus. We are given to Jesus by the Father, and no one can take us away from Him. 

APPLY

This is an awesome assurance from Jesus that takes away any fear of eternity. Not only do we not have to fear eternity, neither do we have fear anything that happens to us in this world either. The eternal life we are given begins, not after we die, but now. John 10:10 says "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Now, I simply have to step out in faith knowing that I am His and He has given me all I need for that abundant life. 

PRAY

Heavenly Father, thank You so much for this abundant life that has been given to me. Thank You that no one can take that eternal, abundant life away from me. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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The Simple Woman's Daybook - Friday April 20, 2012

For Today


Outside my window . . . temperatures in the upper 60's and sunny. 


I am thinking . . . that I really need to make an appointment with the eye doctor and get new glasses since I broke my old ones. Actually I'm thinking about getting contacts this time instead of glasses.


I am thankful . . . that it's Friday.


In the kitchen . . . sandwiches and fruit for lunch today. This evening we're having pizza with cauliflower crust. I'll post the recipe and how we liked it later this evening or tomorrow.


I am going . . . preschool drop-off and pick-ups and a trip to the store to pick up a few things this morning. 


I am wondering . . . if we'll like this new pizza recipe. 


I am reading . . . Staying Sane as a Stay at Home Mom  at The Better Mom, 3 Leadership Lessons I Learned Through Tragedy at Michael Hyatt- Intentional Leadership, 


I am hoping . . . that Michael snaps out of this grumpy spell soon. 


Around the house . . . Doug is mowing, CJ, Cayson and Michael are playing outside and Austin and Amanda are walking the dogs. 


I am pondering . . . Psalm 36:5-9


A favorite quote for today . . . Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude. ~ Ralph Marston

New Gardening Deals - Savings On Seeds and Gardening Supplies

Few things can compare with the satisfaction of growing, picking and eating garden fresh vegetables from your own garden. As I've shared before Burpee has an offer for $10 off $50 running through the end of the month. But for a limited time there is also a new offer of $10 of $40 or more using the code AFFTOFF now through April 23rd at Burpee.com. Below is the link to this great offer.

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Happy Gardening!!!!

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Psalm 36:5-9

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

5. Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,

Your faithfulness to the skies.

6. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, 

Your justice like the great deep. 

You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.

7. How priceless in your unfailing love, O God!

 People take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. 

8. They feast on the abundance of Your house; 

You give them drink from Your river of delights.

9. For with you is the fountain of life;

 in Your light we see light.