Updates Coming

Whew! Lots to update on...

***I'm still here!
***It's snowing and blowing outside! and...
***It's fffffrrr...eeezing cold! actually it's well below freezing cold!

Seriously, check back in a couple of days...for some new stuff!

Have a blessed day,

Lori

Help with your Baggage?

Watching my daughter pack for a missions trip this past week to Thailand brought back a few memories....

One summer, during my college years, I took a job in the Catskill Mountains of New York as an art teacher and camp counselor. Packing for such a trip became quite a concern since I was to be there the entire summer. Since getting there from a small town in North Dakota also meant a plane flight that ended up in busy LaGuardia airport and a taxi cab drive from there to even busier Port Authority, which led to a bus ride to my final destination, I also needed to pack light - light enough for me to handle. Well, try telling that to a 20 year old female who thinks three months is like three years! So there I was, saying my goodbyes with two suitcases in hand (two very large, bulging suitcases that is), a back pack and an over-stuffed purse. Not too bad - well, okay, I had a lot of baggage. When I got to New York, everyone imaginable began to ask me if they could help me with my baggage. I had been warned to not let just anyone take my baggage or I might not see it again. So, I rejected everyone's offer. I went upstairs, and downstairs, down long hallways, in and out of doors trying to find where I was to go. My arms ached as my baggage got heavier. I began to struggle under my heavy load. Yet, I wasn't about to let anyone help me. That was my baggage and I intended on keeping it. At my final bus stop, I recognized the camp coordinator from a picture I had been sent and when he said, "Here, let me help you with your baggage", this time I did - whew! What a relief!!

Jesus Christ said in Matthew 11:28, "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." And in I Peter 5:7, it says, "Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you." What welcome verses to those of us who are weary and heavy laden; for those of us who are carrying around excess baggage - emotional baggage. Perhaps today, you are bending under a heavy load, maybe bad news has distressed you, or there are crippling issues from your past that cause you a lot of pain. Some of us may be trying to carry the weight of a bad relationship, a serious health condition, financial pressures or a family crisis.

Carrying around our own emotional baggage can wear us down, tire us out and cause us all sorts of spiritual problems. We were never meant to handle the pain, the burden, and the stress all on our own. Jesus himself said, "Come unto me". He wants to carry it for us. He knows our pain, our anguish, our hurts - He understands. Why? Because He's been there. He's felt the pain of loneliness, the pain of betrayal. He's suffered through the agony of a torturous death. All to relieve us of our heaviest baggage - the weight of sin in order to give us a home in heaven. But, instead we earnestly try to hang on to our own baggage - our sin, our emotional hurts and pains, our loneliness, our fears. We turn every corner of life, walk down every hallway and in and out of doors lugging our carefully packed, bulging bags, refusing to let the Saviour help us with them, when He is beside us on every turn saying, "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden." Are you like me - afraid of letting go? Are you afraid of losing something if you let the Lord handle it? Are you getting tired? Jesus says, "I will give you rest." Will you finally let Him carry your baggage - your burden? His arms are able to handle the heaviest weight, the most hurtful pain - the greatest sin.

Besides being cumbersome, hard to manage, and burdensome like my overstuffed bulging suitcases, trying to carry the wight of our own sin will keep us out of heaven. The Bible says Jesus Christ carried our sins in His own body on the tree and the day we tell Him we are trusting Him to be our Lord and Saviour from that sin is the last day we will ever carry our burden alone! Won't you let His strong arms carry your baggage, your burden - today? He stands there with his strong arms reaching out to you and saying "Come unto me. Let me carry your baggage for you. I can handle it." Jesus Christ can handle it - He already bore the weight of our sins upon the cross. The rest is easy and it comes with this promise - "I will give you rest." Is your soul tired today? Are you weary from lugging around excess baggage? Let Jesus give you what only He can - peace and rest at last.

Check out Faith for Life page 6 for the article Knowing for Sure You're Going to Heaven. It will tell you how you can find that peace and rest in the Lord (www.fargobaptist.org/PDFs/08-10_Faith_for_Life.pdf).

Have a blessed day.

Lori

Crisp Mornings and Blustery Days

With crisp mornings and blustery days there's no shortage of colorful leaves on the ground! Is this the day? ...is it time? Why, time for leaf-jumping of course! My children are no casual leaf-jumpers. They work on their leaf-jumping techniques - perfecting each calculated dive. They cartwheel, leap and long jump, hoping to break the records from the year before. Leaf-jumping is one of our fall traditions. It's one of those things we do each year to celebrate fall. These fall rituals are like check points, helping us mark and even slow down the passing of time - just a little.

How about starting a fall tradition with your children? There are many excuses to fall in love with the season of changes: caramel apples, scarecrows, leaf collecting, hayrides, and campfires. Short on ideas? Here are a few to help you celebrate the fun of fall.

Leaves have great kid-appeal. Raked into piles, they serve as tumbling cushions and sweet-smelling hiding places. And best of all - they're FREE!! So take advantage of this special gift from our Creator. When leaves cover the lawn, rake a twisting pathway through them. Copy a classic maze for extra credit. Hide a wrapped lollipop under a pile. First one to find it, keeps it. Get out the backpacks and hiking sticks and view the changing landscape up close.

How about capping off the season with a campfire feast. if your backyard doesn't lend itself to the event, check at a state park or local campground. Many have campfire pits for the public to use. Keep your foods basic like roasted franks. Just push a hot dog onto the end of a forked stick and hold it over the coals. A cookout wouldn't be complete without a toasted marshmallow treat! Graham crackers with a piece of chocolate and a melted marshmallow will have everyone asking for s'more.

Hold a harvest slalom race in which runners must weave through a line of potatoes or turnips or set up a row of pumpkins and take turns trying to land a hula hoop or circle of rope around one. you could even see who can "squirrel away" the most acorns or pine cones in ten minutes.

Scarecrows are interesting fall creatures. Each year we try to come up with a new way of dressing up or posing our latest creation. Why not start a new tradition by getting out an old shirt and pair of pants, stuffing it with hay or straw or even leaves. You could us a pumpkin for its head. Short on time or space? Make a mini scarecrow to decorate your front door by stuffing old baby or doll clothes and using a stuffed sock for the head.

The squirrels are busy scampering and scurrying through the leaves from tree to tree. Hmmmm....maybe they know something is up? Or maybe...just maybe they are getting in some last minute fall fun! How about you?

Have a blessed day,

Lori

Fall on the Farm

These were taken Sunday morning October, 19, 2008.

The Sunrise

The sunrise was beautiful on this Sunday morning before church. I had to run out and snap a few photos.



The Farm Home

Our home was built in 1913. When we purchased it in 1995 it was dilapitated and in ruins as it had sat empty for many years. Today we lovingly call it home. I'll tell you the story about how 'we got it' sometime. The Lord is a gracious gift-giving God!



The Pond

The old wagon wheel and pump are my treasures from Dad's farm in Northwestern ND.



The Barn

The sunrise glowing on the barn makes it look especially beautiful on this Lord's Day morning!



The Porch

This is one of my favorite places to sit in the spring,summer and fall months early in the morning. Here's where I meet with the Lord in my personal devotion time while sipping a little tea.




These are just a few photos around the farm at this time of year. This is why I haven't been blogging very much for a few weeks. I absolutely love this time of year and try to enjoy every moment of its fleeting awesome colors...as snow will soon arrive and blanket it all for winter.

Have a blessed day!

Lori

Apples in the Kitchen!

I love apples! Back about 13 years ago, I even very painstakingly hand painted and stenciled apples in a checked pattern on my kitchen walls, since that time....I've gathered quite an extensive collection of apples! Apple items adorn every nook and cranny.

Here's what we did with our own collection from our apple trees a few weeks ago...



We made applesauce:

Lots of apple crisp!

We had to peel and ... and peel...

(we had a little help, some of you know who this is)

and then arranged them in pans!



We topped them off with a crumbly topping...YUMMY!!

Here's the recipes we used:

APPLE CRISP
8X10 inch pan - 8 servings Time: 45 minutes Temp. 350 degrees

5 apples
1/2 cup sugar
Cinnamon

Crust
1 cup sifted flour
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar

Butter Pyrex dish or pan. Peel and slice athe apples into dish. Cover with 1/2 cup sugar and sprinkle with cinnaon. Mix flour, brown sugar and butter until it resembles cornmeal. Cover the apples with this crust and bake until light brown or well done.

(I double this for the 9X13 pan - it makes for a thicker, deep dish crisp). Enjoy!


APPLE DAPPLE CAKE
(courtesy of the Prairie Dwellers - www.prairiedwellers.blogspot.com)

Ingredients:
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
3 cups flour
1 tsp.cinnamon
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
3 cups peeled and diced apples
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup coconut or 3/4 cup oatmeal
1 cup walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together eggs, sugar, and oil. Add dry ingredients, then apples, nuts, and vanilla. Bake in 9x13-inch pan for 45 minutes.

Icing:
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup margarine or butter
1/4 cup milk

Boil for 3 minutes. Poke holes all over top of cake, pouring icing over while cake is still hot. The icing will soak into the cake. Let cool.

Thanks Bryce!! This is extremely good!

Have a blessed day!

Lori

Apple Pickin' Time!

This past week was Apple Pickin' Time!

The kids rushed out to pick the apples before a hard freeze. I forgot to mention to them not to throw the apples into the basket as we didn't want them all bruised....but....

Don't worry Mom! We came up with an Ingenius Apple Pickin' plan...Using a blanket to throw them in kept them from getting bruised!The harvest is all in...just in time!


The best apple of the entire tree was way up at the top.

Apple of My Eye
The Ascent
Gotcha!
Victory is Sweet!
It's mine...all mine!!

OR IS IT?....

Autumn Harvest

What natural beauty bestows the countryside as fall comes to season. Leaves begin to change color in rustic shades of brown, orange and red. The trees boast ripe, juicy apples, ready for picking. Pumpkins and gourds adorn porches, and the autumn sunset glows of harvest colors onto the land.

Oh, for all the fruits and vegetables that abound during the fall! Apples and squash are two of the most plentiful and picturesque members of the produce family that graced grocery store shelves with the approach of cool weather. Both apples and squash are versatile members of the fall food season, meaning they are equally scrumptious served up in the bulk of the main course and as the headliner on the dessert table. Open up your hearts and kitchens to the most plentiful crops of the fall season – apples and squash!!

Johnny Appleseed, an American folk hero who was actually named John Chapman, covered 100000 acres in his lifetime – on foot, planting apple seeds, the fruits of which we’re still enjoying today. He apparently had a dream in which he envisioned a land completely covered in apple blossoms, and was inspired, beginning the very next morning, to spend the rest of his life planting and growing apple trees. Why not start peeling and whip up some of your favorite apple recipes, such as apple crisp, apple pie, apple upside-down cake, apple bread, or apple scones. With over 7500 varieties worldwide and several times that in recipes to use them, it shouldn’t be hard to find an apple-pleasing dessert!

Although there are no famous American folktales cataloguing the inspiration and glory of squash – seed planting, squash does indeed have a long and well-founded history in the young Americas. The word squash itself comes directly from the Native American word “askutasquash” which means, “eaten raw or uncooked”. The Iroquois tribe considered squash along with corn and beans to be the “sustenance of life”. Squash are nutritious (jam-packed with vitamins A and C) as well as delicious and abundant. How much more convincing do you need? Why not try some baked squash, squash soup, pumpkin pie, or any number of pumpkin dessert recipes you already have on hand.

With the pressing garden work of spring and summer behind, you now have time to enjoy your harvest. Warm fall colors will fill your kitchen as squash, tomatoes, pumpkins, eggplant and corn are harvested. The cool weather’s creeping up on us so, it’s time to heat the kitchen up with hearty soups and stews, and fill the house with the wonderful aroma of baking cookies and breads. Nothing quite compares to the satisfying wholesomeness of a hearty, home-made meal.

Get out your recipe box and start digging for those treasured delights of fall, today!

Have a blessed day!
Lori

Autumn Expressions!

The blustery autumn breezes are blowing signaling change is in the air. Fall is a time for change – especially a change in weather causing us to put our summer clothes away and bring out the sweaters and jackets. But, perhaps the most obvious change is the turning of the leaves from green to brilliant shades of scarlet, gold, orange, ad deep purple. This is not a season of death and dying it is a season of preparation. The trees are preparing for winter.

Why do leaves change color and fall? Are you curious? In late summer, as the growing season slows down, a corky separation layer develops between the stem and the leaf. After the leaf has fallen, the scar where it was attached to the stem is sealed and protected by this separation layer. As this separation layer forms, the production of food within the leaves slows down. The cells and veins in the leaf become clogged. Thus no more chlorophyll is produced, and the green color disappears. Other colors were present in the leaf, but they were hidden by the stronger green. Now they appear in all their splendor.

Frost is often given credit for autumn’s beauty, but the temperature actually has little to do with it. A combination of favorable weather conditions is required. Red pigments are formed in the sunlight in leaves that have stored sugar. Cloudy, rainy weather or a very hot, dry summer prevents the pigments from developing. If warm days are followed by warm nights the sugars drain out of the leaves and into the woody portions of the plant. Ideal conditions are bright, sunny days followed by cool nights. All this intricately planned by our Creator.

Can you remember pressing brightly colored leaves between sheets of waxed paper to preserve their color? It’s one of those experiences of life no one should miss. Here’s how to do it:

• Place autumn-colored leaves between two layers of wax paper. Cover with an old towel or cloth rag. Press the fabric with a warm iron, sealing the wax paper together with the leaf in between. Cut your leaves out, leaving a narrow margin of wax paper around the leaf edge. That’s the old-fashioned way of doing things.
• You can also preserve fall leaves in your microwave oven. Choose fresh leaves with the brightest colors. You don’t want fallen leaves that already have started to dry. Run the oven for 30-180 seconds. The drier the leaves, the less time they will need. Be careful; you could start a fire in your microwave if they cook too long.
• Here’s another way to preserve leaves using a solution of glycerin and water. Use a mixture of one part glycerin to two parts water. Place the mixture in a flat pan, and totally submerge the leaves in a single layer in the liquid. You’ll have to weight them down to keep them submerged. In two to six days, they should have absorbed the liquid and be soft and pliable. Remove them from the pan and wipe off all the liquid with a soft cloth. Done correctly, the leaves will remain soft and pliable indefinitely.

So, take some time with the children in your life. Go out and collect some of the treasures of fall. It’s something they’ll remember for the rest of their life!

Minnesota Fall Foliage

These photos are from Maplewood State Park. I took the two youngest girls on a day trip in early October to see God's wonderful Fall splash of colors. They were about 50% changed and gorgeous!

Autumn!

Hmmm…..If we could only capture the beauty of autumn and hold it to our hearts all winter long! Crisp mornings, warm days, azure blue skies, tasty apples, golden pumpkins, harvest moon…and perhaps most spectacular…the beauty of changing leaves, all typical sprinklings of the season. Yes, fall is my favorite time of year!

I love the whisper of the wind, the blustery breezes swirling fallen leaves and scattering them in colorful piles in otherwise barren places. I love the smell of campfires and burning leaves, the sound of crunching leaves beneath my feet.

It’s a time to slow down, a time to enjoy the beauty around us. It’s the season’s last hurrah before coming to a close and cuddling under a snowy blanket.

The bible tells us in the book of Genesis that the change of seasons was God’s idea. In chapter 8, the Lord reminds us, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

Virtually everything’s affected by the seasons. Farmers plant and harvest their crops in the warm months and mend fences and tend their livestock and machinery in the winter. As the seasons change, people wear heavier or lighter clothing and eat different foods.

The cycle of the seasons make up a year. Before the calendar, people looked to the sky for signs that a new season was approaching. The book of Genesis, chapter 1, says that God put the lights in the heavens, “…to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.” This knowledge was vital in determining seeding and harvesting times. That’s why we still call the low, orange colored moon, “the Harvest Moon”.

The seasons have a profound effect on plant and animal life, too. In spring, plants and trees sprout new leaves, flowers appear, birds migrate to warmer regions, and many animals emerge from hibernation. With summer, the lengthy hours of sunshine provide energy for photosynthesis and stimulate growth in plants and animals alike. In autumn, the final harvesting is done, many plants shed their leaves, birds migrate to warmer regions, and construct warm, protected burrows, seeds have hard coats to keep out the cold, and buds are wrapped in wax as protection against ice.

Out of these four seasons, autumn is my favorite! Check back again as I take some time to enjoy the beauties and aromas of this special season.

Shortcuts in the Kitchen

There is something just as exciting as saving money, and that is saving time – especially when it means either a trip into town or being able to stay put!

How many times have you started to get together the ingredients for a recipe when you realize you are one ingredient short! For me, it’s not optional to drive down to the store to pick up the needed ingredient. I only live a few miles out of town, but the mentality that I’m still out of town keeps me from running in. And these days, gas prices as they are, we’d do well to plan ahead, or make do when we don’t. So…here’s a few neat substitutes I’ve found that work when I’m missing an ingredient or two:

Eggs

• 1 Tbsp. ground flax + ¼ cup water = 1 egg
Heat this on the stove until ooey-gooey like an egg. This works great in any baking recipe I’ve tried. I don’t suspect it would work well for scrambled eggs – ha!!

Here’s a few others to try:
• 2 T. cornstarch = 1 egg
• 2 T. arrowroot flour = 1 egg
• 2 T. potato starch = 1 egg
• 1 heaping T. soy powder + 2 T. water = 1 egg
• 1 T. soy milk powder + 1 T. cornstarch + 2 T. water = 1 egg.
• 1 banana = 1 egg in cakes.
• 2 egg whites + 1 - 3 tsp. vegetable oil for each yolk omitted = 1 egg
• 1 egg white + 2 1/4 teaspoons nonfat dry milk powder + 2 teaspoons vegetable oil (may store 1 week in refrigerator or freezer) = 1 egg
• 2 T. water + 1/2 tsp. baking powder = 1 egg in cookies and cakes only.
• 2 T. flour + 1/2 T shortening + 1/2 tsp. baking powder + 2 T liquid (use liquid called for in recipe) = 1 egg for cookie and cake recipes calling for 2-3 eggs

A couple of places in the Bible it mentions to us to redeem the time (Eph 5:16 and Col.4:5). Making wise use of our time in one area will "free it up" (or redeem it) in another. The Lord is making a correlation here for us. You've heard of 'buying time'. Well, this is one way we can buy time as it were. Keeping tabs on time where we can save it, frees up time for other things. Try redeeming your time this week in areas you can. A few minutes here and there can add up fast to great time savings later. Make good use of that 'freed up time' by doing something nice for someone else - maybe, take them a good, hearty homecooked meal!

Stop by tomorrow for a few more substitutes!

Have a blessed day.

Lori

Putting on the Brakes! (part 2 of Too much is too much!)

Are you like me? Did you get yourself into high gear with no brakes? You'll run out of gas and come to a screeching halt! Did God ever intend for us to get this busy? I don't think so. Perhaps a good acrostic for busy is B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke ; that spells busy all right! it is a yoke - and a heavy one at that! Jesus Christ told us to put His yoke on (Matthew 11) "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Isn't that what we are looking for - rest? Yet, we look at Christ's yoke as being burdensome, heavy; but, it is just the opposite. Satan's yoke is the heavy one. Jesus' burden is light. How? and Why? Because He is with us through every trial every frustration, every care. We don't go through trials alone. Under Satan's yoke- you're on your own. And believe me, that's one heavy burden!

Here's how Satan works:

Are you busy? Suppose Satan called a worldwide convention. In his opening address to his evil angels, he said, "We can't keep the Christians from going to church. We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from forming an intimate, abiding relationship experience in Christ. If they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to church, let them have their conservative lifestyles, but steal their time, so they can't gain that experience in Jesus Christ. This is what I want you to do, angels. Distract them from gaining hold of their Saviour and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!" "How shall we do this?" shouted Satan's angels. "Keep them busy in the non essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their mind", he answered. "Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and husbands to work 6-7 days a week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their lifestyles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their family fragments, soon their home will offer no escape from the pressures of work". "Over stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear God's still small voice. Entice them to play the radio or CD player whenever they drive, to keep the TV, VCR, CD's and their PC's going constantly in their homes. And see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ." "Fill the coffee table with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, sweepstakes, mail order catalogues, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services, and false hopes." "Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. have them return from their recreation exhausted, disquieted, and unprepared for the coming week. Don't let them go out in nature to reflect on God's wonders. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, concerts and movies instead." "And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and emotion." "Let them be involved in soul winning. But crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Christ. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause."

It was quite a convention in the end. And the evil angels went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busy, busy, busy and rush here and there.

Has the devil been successful at his scheme? You be the judge.

Will that stop us? It's good for me to think about this every once in awhile - we can get so caught up in 'good causes' that we really forget what is important. Mary sat at Jesus' feet. Sometimes having a Mary heart in a Martha world is not easy. But, oh how refreshing it is. Lord help us to hear the still small voice. Better yet, help us to be quiet and still long enough to listen.

Have a blessed day,

Lori

Too much is too much!!

You probably can tell I've been tied up the last couple of weeks. Just one of those extra busy times. Do you ever feel like you're strapped to the front of a train going full speed ahead and can't get off? Sometimes the busyness of life can cause great frustration (if we even have time to think about it, that is) or even depression and burnout, especially if we feel we have no choice in the matter. Yes, we can get overwhelmed, over-taxed and too busy. We all hit those times in our lives when feelings of burnout drag us down.

Burnout is an "exhaustion of one's energy or enthusiasm". Exhaustion!! Mr. Webster says to exhaust something is to draw out or drain off completely, to empty, to weaken, to tire, to use up! Has the frantic pace of life zapped you of your energies? your zeal? your interest? Most of us have more than plenty to do, life is full of work and activity, in other words we are b-u-s-y! Sometimes even natural changes in our schedules, like school starting in the Fall, can overwhelm and over-extend us. Sometimes its holidays. Seems like I've been here before (many more times than I'd like to admit). I found an old list the other day as I was going through a pile of papers. Yep, been there. The list had a couple of months of things that I had going on or was doing. This included Thanksgiving dinner for the singles in our church in my home, a couples get-together for Christmas in my home, two teen activities at the farm, a Bible college new semester dinner, two Christmas cantatas to get ready for (I was painting murals for one and the kids had parts in the other), two Christmas recitals to attend, violin lessons and trumpet lessons to run to, a HEART homeschool event to plan for, ladies ministry meeting, several group Bible studies to plan and prepare, a couple of hospital visits, some doctor's visits (I was expecting at the time), school work to correct, cookies to bake for a Christmas exchange, several owies to kiss, Mount Laundermore to conquer, one birthday to celebrate (mine - hee,hee) and our Anniversary. Whew!! Somebody put on the brakes!

Tune in again for the rest of the story.... just don't know when...tomorrow, or the next day or....when I have a chance.

Have a blessed day,
Lori

Am I Devoted?

When we are devoted to something or someone we have given ourselves wholly to that purpose, service or person. We are said to be very loyal and faithful. After looking up that dictionary definition, I had to ask myself 'How devoted to the Lord am I, really? Am I faithful to meet Him daily? Am I loyal?' When we like someone, we want to spend time with them. That is a natural thing, isn't it? So, how's our time with the Lord? Is it meaningful? Do we enjoy our time with Him in the quiet moments of our day? Do we look forward to what He has to say to us through His word? Can we apply it to our every day lives? Is our time with the Lord special and important to us? Perhaps, the answer to these questions is no, not really.

Having that special quiet time with our Lord can often seem elusive, just slipping by us undone and unnoticed. When you were a single, unmarried Christian woman, it was probably easy to spend time with the Lord in personal devotion to Him. Marriage and children can change all this as our time is no longer our own. The demands of children can easily interrupt quiet solitude, and your dear husband may need that button sewed on his shirt before he goes to work at 7:00am. The Bible tells us, in I Corinthians 7:34, there will be this struggle, "There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.” The unmarried woman has no divided loyalties, but the married woman - that’s a different story. She can’t read her Bible all day and pray long hours. Why? A sick little one may need her attention,laundry for the family needs to be done, or someone may have tracked in mud all over the floor and company is coming for supper! The things that pertain to raising children and keeping a husband happy will be in the forefront,often competing with time needed with the Lord. So, how can we, as Christian wives and mothers, still have effective, meaningful devotional time with our Lord? After all, we need His leadership and guidance in our lives. Here are a few tips that may help.

Since distractions are most likely the number one cause of us not having our devotional time, choose a time when the children are more apt to be sleeping and the telephone is less likely to ring. For me, this is easiest early in the morning. Find a nice cozy place in a nice, comfortable chair and meet in the same place each day. I like to get a hot cup of tea to sip and a warm throw to curl up with. You will begin to look forward to the sweet time of fellowship as this time becomes more consistent.

Side Note: Have you ever noticed sleepiness begin to set in as soon as you pull your Bible out? Five minutes of exercise will often fix this and help keep us alert.

I like to begin with prayer for an open heart and mind and determine before I even start my special time with the Lord, that I will obey any command or principle He may reveal to me. I remind myself of David's prayer in Psalm 119:18, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."

Keeping a special “devotions” book can be a real blessing, too. Writing down dates of prayer requests and answers will remind you of God's interest in our lives. Jotting down any ideas I get from reading the Bible and new lessons or principles that need to be heeded helps me remember what He has been doing in my life daily. Including special poems or songs that I've found meaningful along with sayings, quips or quotes can give me strength through the day, too, as I am reminded I'm not the only one who has gone through this. Sermon outlines are always good to add. All these things can be a great blessing during times when we need encouragement and they help us to keep a thankful heart.

Learn to hunger for a sweet relationship with the Lord. Our devotional time should be more than just asking for needs to be met or for help in certain situations. It ought to be a time of meditating and enjoying the Lord. Meditating, considering, thinking quietly and reflecting on spiritual things often takes practice and patience – don’t get discouraged.

Avoid the temptation to skip devotions. Don’t succumb to Satan’s whispering in your ear “It’s a waste of time – you’re not getting anything out of it anyway.” Keep reading and you’ll discover something special the Lord has just for you. It is a step of faith to continue even when you don’t feel like it. When we resist the urge to quit, we also give God a chance for fixing what is troubling us.

One last tip, when you discover something especially meaningful, try writing it down on a 3x5 card and putting it in an obvious place, like the refrigerator or above the sink. That way you’ll see it often and be continually reminded of God’s blessing throughout your day.

We can have an effective and meaningful devotional time with the Lord. It will just require some determination and effort on our part.

Have a blessed day,


Lori

Bread Baking (and eating!)

Mmmmm....the wonderful smell of bread baking in the oven. Just nothing quite like it. And eating that first slice of warm bread smothered in butter - ooh, nothing quite as rewarding to the taste-buds.

My mom used to spend Saturdays baking homemade buns for our family when I was growing up. I can still see the top of the old freezer lined with rows of neatly spaced balls of dough left there to rise. I'm sure it was more a "labor of love" than an actual money saving event. Perhaps she just plain enjoyed hearing the oohs and aaahs from her appreciative family, as we sank our teeth into a fresh slice of homemade bread. Perhaps she got satisfaction from knowing we were getting a nutritious addition to our daily diet. Whatever her reasons, she faithfully baked bread for us for years and we joyfully ate it!

I find it interesting that the Bible speaks much about "bread". Jesus Christ rebuked the devil when he commanded the Son of God to turn stones to bread by saying, "It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." And in another place He called Himself the "Bread of Life", telling us the importance of accepting Him as Savior in our own lives and reminding us that we need His word daily. Paul tells us to eat the "unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" in I Corinthians 5:8. We are to ask the Lord to give us our "daily bread", speaking of Him providing our necessary food each and every day. But one of the most interesting references to bread is found in Proverbs 31:27, where it mentions we, as wives, ought not to eat "the bread of idleness". Why is it that some wives and mother's never seem to find enough hours in their day to accomplish the many tasks at hand, while others seem bored, oblivious to their daily duties, spending hours on the phone or visiting with friends. There may be no harm and even something at times to be gained from a friendly visit. But we can all too easily let this pleasantry take too much of our time, allowing us to become guilty of eating "the bread of idleness".

After filling ourselves with this bread we are sure to end up with a stomachache of discouragement, worthlessness, and unhappiness. Why? Because God intended for us to work. There is therapeutic value in work. We are happiest when busy. We can gain a sense of worth when we've accomplished something. It is rewarding. Many a broken or discouraged heart has been healed while working outdoors in the sunshine amongst flowers.

Here's a word of caution, though, we need a variety of "breads" to have a balanced diet. Don't neglect to eat "the Bread of Life", and indulge in God's Word daily. That's the true life-giving bread and a mainstay if we are to "looketh well to the ways of [our] household". You'll find no time to be bored and you'll have energy to accomplish all the Lord has in mind for you daily. Your reward? ..."strength and honour are her clothing and she shall rejoice in time to come." - Proverbs 31 woman

Have a blessed day,

Lori

Greener Grass?

This past summer I took the kids to the zoo for an afternoon. We enjoyed seeing all the different animals; the bears, tigers, otters, emus, camels, and different birds. The monkeys entertained us for quite awhile and then off to the petting zoo we went. It was full of cute little baby animals. There were two small calves, a few goats, some miniature horses and a couple of lambs. The boys ran off to see the huge colorful fish and deer, while the girls and I stayed and watched the lambs. There was one particular little lamb that had its heart set on eating the grass on the wrong side of the fence. He struggled to get his head through and finally succeeded. After munching his new found delicacy, he decided he’d had enough and went to pull his head back inside the fence. He turned it this way and that way, he pulled up and tried pulling down. He was stuck! I stood there and shook my head and sighed, ‘the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence!’ Now, this little guy wasn’t starved for food, he had plenty on his own side of the fence. He wasn’t lacking any water, either. What made the grass on the other side so appealing? Good question!!

Is this like us or what? Under difficult circumstances, or when under certain pressures or even when we just plain don’t feel like anything is getting accomplished, we get to looking around to see if there is a better situation elsewhere. The grass begins to look greener on the other side of the fence. But is it really greener? Watch out! If we’re not careful, we will let these circumstances push us out of God’s will for our life right into the railings of the fence seeking for greener pastures.Before making some life altering decisions, lets consider a few things:

1. When a trial or difficult situation pops into our lives, do we run to the Lord in prayer? Are we willing to yield to His will in that particular circumstance, acknowledging we are His to be used for His glory and honor? Or do we run around like a chicken with our head cut off in full panic mode? (Too many times, I’ve been found scrambling - looking for my head!)

2. Often when faced with temptation, we can be guilty of ‘grasping at straws’. This is a good thing, because.... We will try every opportunity that comes along, without seeking God’s guidance. Here's a tip, determine now, in your heart, that you will stay steady and not make a move until you have complete assurance of His will in the situation. How many times have I thought something was God’s will and jumped right in without consulting Him. How many times have I put words into His mouth?!! Too many times to count I’m afraid.

3. Sometimes we will use our own lack of comfort and happiness as a barometer for change, thinking we must not be in the Lord’s will if we aren’t happy. What about Job? Was he comfortable and happy in his situation? I’m sure not. Was he in the Lord’s will? He most definitely was. I think he must have made up his mind before the situation arose to do the will of God no matter what the cost. Something for us to consider, that way our emotions won’t even be an issue.

4. Perhaps we want a change because we want an excuse to get out of a problem. We really want to quit! That most likely won’t solve the problem. Often we leave behind even more problems and difficulties for others to deal with and we bring our problem with us (it really is our reaction to the problem that is the issue). Shirking our responsibilities creates more hardships for others.

Let's consider this: Are we fully using the opportunities available to us right now to do the Lord’s work, or do we really think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence? Our imaginations can often paint a more vivid picture of exciting service elsewhere. Visions of better jobs, more pay, more recognition, more appreciation, more friends, and better opportunities for our children and on and on the list goes can often get the best of us. Could we just be looking for an easier way of life? Is that a reason to move on?

Before making a change or looking for greener pastures, maybe we ought to ask ourselves, “Is my spiritual condition such that my decision can be relied on?” If we are not committed to the Lord’s will, we will not have the discernment we need to make a spiritual decision. We just may get our heads caught in the fence!

Although it may look greener, it’s still only grass!!

Have a blessed day,

Lori

Quiet and ...Peace

The other day I sat down at the dining room table so I could write - lunch was over and it was a relatively slow time of the day - even quiet. Well, as quiet as can be in a family our size. As I picked up my pencil, the two youngest picked up their speed - squealing with delight as they darted in and out of the chairs and around the table. I kept writing - no one was crying yet, it was still for 'fun'. Then I heard a door shut and this sound - slightly discernible as music -come blasting through the room as one of the kids decided it was time to practice...the trumpet! Thoughts of one day hearing that child play beautiful music quickly escaped my mind. My concen.. concentra...concentration was f-a-d-i-n-g. Then someone else remembered they hadn't practiced their violin lesson yet - out came the violin. Children have to start somewhere, I reminded myself. It was definitely getting harder to think...let alone write something! I thought about yelling out "Quiet!" But, I just sat there... amazed... wondering what decibel if would finally peak out at. A symphony? Not. Well, at least not yet. Soon my ears had had enough. I packed up my things and retreated behind a closed door to...think.

Think! Think! Think! I couldn't think! So this is what Winnie the Pooh feels like ...my mind could just as well as been filled with fluff! What happened? For starters, I was distracted and experiencing confusion of mind...a disturbance of thought (part of our vocabulary lesson). It's easy to get distracted during the course of a day. It's easy for me to get my head turned and forget the task at hand. Many things clamor for our attention. Unfortunately, getting distracted is common in the spiritual realm, too. The Bible talks about the Word of God being choked because of us minding the cares of this world. Our attention is divided, because of distraction. The things of this world can often 'grab our attention' and get us off course. We can allow ourselves to set our minds, our affection, our hearts on the wrong things. I John 2 gives us a firm warning, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof. But he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." We get distracted when we get double minded, trying to mind the things of this world and the things of God -"a double minded man is unstable in all his ways." We also get distracted when we worry, are anxious and dwell on things we can't do anything about, forgetting we are to be "casting all (our) care upon him: for he careth for (us)."

The Bible often uses the words: think on, dwell, ponder, meditate, and consider. Because it's easy for us to get distracted spiritually, we need to have our hearts fixed on some things. Psalm 112 says of a saved man, "his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord." And in Psalm 57, David says, "O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise."

How do we fix our hearts on the Lord, on spiritual things? It involves our thinking. What do we think on... what do we dwell on? The Psalms are full of things we are to think on, things we are to meditate on. Psalm 1:2 tells us to meditate or think on His law day and night. In Psalm 143 we are told to meditate on God's works. And of course in Philippians 4:8 we are told, "finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Often though, for me to think, I need quiet. It is hard to dwell on something, to pay attention or heed something when it is noisy. Our Father reminds us, "Be still and know that I am God." We can't hear God speaking to us with all of the 'noise', the outcry of the world clamoring for our attention. Let's find a quiet place for some quiet time with the Lord every day. "My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places." - Isaiah 32:18.

Lord, help me to find the quiet place today.

Have a blessed day,

Lori

My Golden Spiritual Birthday

I don't normally try to toot my own horn, especially for a birthday. But today is special, not because I have done anything special, but because the Lord has. It has been 25 years ago today that the Lord saved me. A whole quarter of a century!

It was a stormy, Thursday night on August 25, 1983 and I had brought my dad to see my Pastor, Clayton Doss. I knew some of what the Bible said about being born again, enough to explain to my dad it was what he needed. But, it was me the Lord was working on that night. The more I sat and waited for my dad to finish talking with Pastor, the more despair I felt for my own soul. How could I know for sure? How could anyone know for certain they were going to heaven? Wasn't that presumptuous?

Ah...but the story goes back further than that, back to college days when a friend of mine asked me a very abrupt question, "Where would you go if you were to die tonight?" "Errr....heaven," I said, but my heart had no peace about that answer. In fact, that answer haunted me as I tried to justify my reasons for it. Well, that was the beginning of my journey to Bible salvation.

The next several months were a time of rededicating my life to religion. I faithfully went to church every morning, joined a Bible study and faith enrichment class and tried to read my Bible. Frustration soon set in as my religious busyness still did not alleviate my fear concerning my eternal destiny. Questions were not being answered satisfactorily even though I was seeking desperately for them.

An old friend invited me to attend church - a Bible believing Baptist church in Crookston, MN. Much to my shame now, I stared out the window for most of the service and tried hard not to listen. The preacher preached on sin - my sin and how if you weren't right with God, you were condemned to eternity in hell. Not something I wanted to hear! I even made a vow not to come back!

Several more months passed, the things I had heard at that church began to sink in, especially as I attended my own church and saw contradictions to the Bible. I began searching for answers again, this time from the Bible. Soon I found myself back at that Bible church again...somewhat enjoying it - my questions were being answered. Months passed, I quit college, met new friends, and even mustered up a viable salvation testimony and was baptized. I was soon discovering, though, just because you believe in Bible things, go to church, get baptized and join the church doesn't mean you are a Christian. It's not something you 'grow into'. I still had no peace and the fear of not making it to heaven was something that consumed my thoughts. On the outside I was a Christian, I conformed to what I thought Christians should be like and I did a good job at it. No one suspected I wasn't a true Christian. On the inside, I was miserable. No peace, lots of fear, and still chained to sin, I would sit through sermon after sermon, under a load of guilt that only pride could dismiss.

Finally, that stormy Thursday night in August, I admitted to God I was lost and needed Him. I couldn't wish myself into heaven, I couldn't work myself into heaven...there was nothing I could do. It was time to leave self and put Christ on the throne of my life. That night in tears and shame, I humbly turned from my sin, my self, my ways and my effort to the Saviour and He gloriously saved me!

Yes, this is a wonderful day to me, not because of my doing, but because He did it all! Those last words Jesus spoke when He died for my sins, "It is finished", say done! No more working, wishing, trying...to get to heaven. He has furnished the way. Simple faith and repentance (turning from sin to the Saviour) does what none of us can. It gives us a home in heaven. Thank you Lord!

Have a blessed day,

Lori

My Favorite Salvation Verse: Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast."

How to Read Your Music (pt 2)

The dictionary describes music as the "art of putting sounds together in beautiful, pleasing, or interesting arrangements". Yesterday, we saw how God, our Great Composer, is busy creating a perfect piece of music for us. If we follow what is written, all the notations, markings, and notes of our lives will correctly reflect His views, feelings and ideas, blending in perfect harmony with the One who created us. This is very important, especially if we are the instruments working off the 'Grand Staff' as in marriage with both a treble clef and a bass clef. Following Our Composer's written desires kept for us in the Bible, we may be assured we will play our piece with dexterity, thought and correct expression.

Much music is written in chords, which are three notes played together in harmony - what a picture of the husband and wife who put the Lord first in their marriage ("a three-fold chord is not quickly broken" - Ecclesiastes 4:12b). There will be many major chords played and even a few minor ones. Major chords sound out strong: the things a marriage is based on; the Word of God, salvation, a good New Testament Church to serve in. There may be a home to keep and children to bring up, happiness, joy, and blessings! Occasionally, there will be minor chords as well; times of sickness, pain, death and heartaches. But remember, these chords are triads - three notes played together at the same time. The Lord is with us all the way.

Sometimes in marriage we can hit a dissonant note causing our perfect melody line to become disturbing to those around us. Disagreements and arguments, while they may occur, need to come to a 'resolution' quickly ("let not the sun go down upon your wrath" - Ephesians 4:26b). A dissonant chord occurs when two notes are too close - competing for the melody line. A wise wife knows when to take a 'step down' in order to make things harmonious once again. Accidentals may occur occasionally in a piece of music as well. These are sharps and flats, those changes in pitch that are not a part of the key the music is written in. Sometimes we may get on the sharp side - not keeping our tongues under control. Or sometimes we take on a flat disposition - moving down half a step with a negative, critical spirit. The solution? Get back to God's original key signature with a 'natural' sign - which means we are not changed in pitch by a sharp or flat!

Rhythm is the pulse of the composition - the under girding. Our marriages need the stability that the Lord provides in His Word so we don't run ahead of His plan or lag too far behind the tempo he has set for our lives. Occasionally, we may feel life is a bit on the allegro side and long for a nice slow down - andante style. Remember, He knows just what we need in order to be a great piece of music.

Scales need to be practiced - how fun! Up and down, up and down. Will we ever get it right? There are things in marriage that we seem to go over and over again, hitting clunkers on the way up and again on the way down. Irritations, hurt feelings, angry words, can be overcome by relying on God's power to change us and not our spouse. Don't give up! Eventually, the clinkers will disappear, we'll gain speed and dexterity and the ups and downs of life's scales will seem much easier.

While sight-reading is important in the playing of music, it is "faith reading" that is important in the Christian life. We are not to walk by sight but by faith. Without faith it is impossible to please Him as the Bible says. That may occasionally require us to follow on even though we've lost sight of the melody line in our lives.

God sometimes does a bit of transposing, changing from one key to the next, and sometimes there may be an inversion in the melody, where it is turned upside down. Sometimes we may feel stretched as he throws in a few augmented chords or sometimes we may be humbled and reduced in size as he adds a diminished chord here and there. And just as composers do when writing a beautiful sonata, the theme is just introduced at the beginning of our new lives together. As the years go on, the development phase takes place in which the harmony is unfolded and our love for each other deepens, further on the recapitulation stage occurs. That's the original theme repeated and broadened until the ending or the coda one day occurs. The music that the Lord has composed just for us will have been played expressly and beautifully, loudly and softly, lightly or vigorously, just as He had planned. The original melody line will be hummed by our children and others; that true "Melody of Love!"

Have a blessed day,

Lori

Beautiful Music Together!

Music is all around us: we hum a tune, whistle while we work, tap our feet as the parade goes by, and sing lullabies to our children. Music makes an exciting story even more thrilling, a sad one more somber and a happy one more exuberant! Without music, our world would seem very strange.

God has made our world full of musical sounds; birds, babbling brooks, rain, wind, and waves at the seashore all contribute to His symphony. Of course, not all we hear is music, a lot is just plain noise! Both music and noise are made up of sounds. But there is a difference. Sounds by themselves are not music. Someone has to pick and choose certain sounds to give us a pleasing tune to listen to. This composer, as he is called, is telling us his feelings by the melodies he chooses. He does this with the different counts he picks and by differing rhythms or playing fast or slow, loud or soft, in big rich sounds or in thin far away sounds. He is as a painter using his melodies as objects and scenes on a canvas. We learn to follow the melody as it grows from a simple tune to a great song or symphony.

What is the difference between music and noise? Music has meaning and reflects the composer's ideas and feelings. Music has melody, a string of notes that follow each other to make pleasing sounds. The first melody of a song may lead to another melody, or to the same melody played by a different instrument, faster or slower, louder or softer, perhaps even with new notes added to it. Music also has rhythm. There are many kinds of rhythms. But they are all regular and steady. They can be counted on.

Music is a composition of sounds that have regular vibrations, put together so they have rhythm, melody and meaning. In making music out of sounds, the composer plans them the way an architect plans a building so the finished work will be both strong and beautiful. He shapes his sounds together the way a sculptor shapes a statue. He fits them to each other the way a cabinetmaker fits the parts of a fine table. The composer arranges his sounds in a kind of order, the way a storyteller arranges his story, so that one part leads to the next and there will be a beginning, middle and an end. When the composer has done all these things to make sounds into a finished piece of music, we call it a composition!

There are many kinds of music. Some is written for soloists, some for instruments, some for duets and trios. In all these forms of music the composer chooses the sounds he thinks will best express his idea. Often he picks a theme or tune or melody and makes several variations of it.

The idea of music was spawned in the mind of God! Is it any wonder then, we can find many correlations to life and His idea of marriage as well? He is the Great Composer wishing to express His feelings, His ideas in and through a special composition. Not a duet written for two, for God's music is written for three. A Christian marriage is arranged around God and His desires for that couple. To have "perfect harmony" we must learn to trust Our Composer and reflect His feelings, the story He wants to tell through our lives. He has the Program Music already written, it is now just a matter of following the score. Some music is written for Treble Clef instruments (the high sounding ones) and some for Bass Clef instruments (the low sounding ones), but together in marriage they comprise the Grand Staff (both clefs written together) and are capable of putting forth a great amount of music - even an orchestra full!

Written music often has many markings and notations along with many complicated combinations of notes. We don't need to be overwhelmed with all these, though, because just as piano keyboards are divided into black and white keys to make it easier for the pianist to identify the right key for the desired sound - we have the Bible to make black and white sense out of all these different markings and notations so the desired sounds and melodies of our lives will be played as God desires. Tomorrow, we'll take a look at how to read our music.

Until then...

Have a blessed day,

Lori

Special Features Needed

Not too long ago I was looking for a replacement for my tired worn out sewing machine. I diligently read the listed features of each one I was interested in, noticing their strengths and weaknesses. Some had many different features on them: zigzag stitches, decorative stitches, stretch stitches, buttonholes and fancy embroidery stitches. Some could sew from one fabric to another without changing a thing and some seemed they could do anything from simple mending to practically cleaning my home! Each one had been specifically programmed to perform the functions the designer intended for them. I had a lot of thinking to do - what did I actually intend to do with my machine? What jobs would I require of it? What special features did I need?...What was I doing? I was checking out the qualities or features of the different machines, weighing their strengths and weaknesses. Each one had a particular strength or way it was to be used for best performance.

Hmmmm....Those of us who have children know perfectly well that they arrive programmed, if you will, toward doing wrong. They have a sinful nature. But the Lord intends to use each one with their own characteristics and features to do a particular, unique job that only they will be able to accomplish. It is our job to train them, to bring them up, and to encourage them. What will the Lord want them to do? Will they be prepared and ready or will they lack the 'special features' needed for His particular use?

Here's a list of some 'special features' I want to be sure my children obtain: attentiveness, obedience, diligence, contentment, neatness, reverence, forgiveness, gratefulness, faith, truthfulness, a sense of security, meekness, cautiousness and patience to name a few. These 'special features' will enable them to have good relationships with us as their parents, their teachers, and any employers they will one day be working for. They are vital for success in marriage and are the foundations upon which the maturing person will add another thirty or so important character traits later in life. Character provides the foundation a child needs in order to develop and maintain a good personal relationship with the Lord after salvation.

To develop character in our children, we need to know what we want to achieve. Then we can figure out how to accomplish those goals. Anyone can do it who keeps the goal in mind and follows through on a day-to-day basis. (That day-to-day thing is the hard part.)

The goal is to produce a disciplined life for the child ...do the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, with the right attitude even when he or she doesn't want to. Children have to be taught to do what is right - and made to do it.

Perhaps, you see some character lacking in your own life as I have in mine. Raising children is a great way to improve our own missing or insufficient character traits.

Have a blessed day,

Lori

Priority Checkpoint

Discovering what is best for our own family is the way to keeping our home life on an even keel. Our parenting and homemaking goals will vary as widely as the paths we’ll need to take to reach those goals, but one way to get a sense of direction is to make a list. If...I’ve learned anything from my husband it is this little golden nugget: if it needs to be done, write it down! Early in this series I mentioned making a list of goals, those things we deem important in running our households. Sometimes it is helpful to get the big picture in view. Is your main objective to have a clean house or to raise children? Is it to be able to contact Martha Stewart for a spot on her show or is it to have a reasonably clean, welcoming atmosphere for your family. When you have a clear big picture, then you can get down to the nitty-gritty details. Ask yourself first what matters to you regarding your everyday expectations and make a second list in addition to your goal list.

This is a priority checkpoint. Be honest with yourself as you prioritize your activities. A meticulously clean floor may have to take a back seat to your child’s paper mache volcano project. If I write down each day’s events (that list thing again), I am assured of at least attempting to get first things done first. Sometimes we struggle unnecessarily so and spend our days in frustration and chaos instead of peace, harmony and satisfaction, knowing we did what was most needful. Help is only a prayer away, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not (doesn’t hold back); and it shall be given him.” And one of my all time favorite verses in the Bible, Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Being a mom could be so much easier …if we’d only ask for help.

Here’s an excerpt from the book Celebrate Home written by Angie Peters, that I thought I’d share with you today:

Housework isn’t really that important…Oh, yes it is – to an extent! Chances are that domestic order somehow figured into the picture if not at the top, at least in your “top 10” goals penned earlier. Why is it so important?

You may want to make you home a clear contrast to the hectic, messy, and disorganized world beyond your driveway. You want clean floors (if for no other reason than because your toddler would just as soon eat off the floor as off of china plates.) And although your walls may sport a cute plaque with a homey rhyme about excusing messes while you rock your baby, you wonder how comfortable your guests would really feel if they were to crunch crumbs from last night’s dinner as they walked across the kitchen floor.

In addition, you may find it difficult to imagine that the ideal woman, whose portrait is painted in Proverbs and whose standard we strive toward, had a basin full of dirty pottery, overflowing garbage baskets, or less-than-fresh straw in her family’s bedding.

Although we do need to clean our homes, we need more urgently to rock our kids while they’re still rock-able, to tell stories to our kids while they want to listen, and to embrace the story of Martha and Mary: We must know that to forego enjoying the blessings of the Lord’s presence in our living rooms (in our case, enjoying His presence in the hearts of our beautiful kids, in the pleasures of our home, and in the lifestyle we’ve been called to lead) to wash dishes would be to settle for second best!

Key Verse to remember: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” - Matthew 6:33. Priority number one!

Have a blessed day,

Lori

Cleaning with Kids

In the early days, my kids were very eager to help with cleaning and household chores. I’m no fool, I put them to work! While they may not be ready to take on complete responsibility for household chores, your children might surprise you by their willingness to at least ‘help’. But, you’ll have to train them. The first course of action is to break down the job into bite-sized pieces. “Clean your room” is an overwhelming command when the room looks like an active junkyard. Make your bed, pick up the toys, put away books, pick up clothes, straighten dresser, dust and vacuum seem far less daunting. Small tasks are completed rather quickly and soon add up to that greater accomplishment – a clean room! Inch by inch it’s a cinch!

Communication gaps normally occurred in the command stage in our family. Somehow there was a great distinction between Mom Clean and Kid Clean. By listing each specific job (in the early days I did it by pictures), I eliminated a lot of confusion and frustration for me. Here’s the steps to Mom Clean in our house:
1. Clearly Define the Job.
2. Show them how to do it.
3. When the next cleaning day comes around let them help.
4. The third time, they do the job with supervision. I have to hold myself back on this one. This is the time for praise and not scrutiny. You don’t want discouragement at this level or you’ll create a dislike for the job, or the perception they can’t do anything right. Asking them questions like, “How do you think your room looks?” or “What do you think you could do to make your shelf look neater?” are far better than, “That looks awful!”
5. The fourth time is Independence Day! That’s when your child is left to do the work on their own. If you’ve agreed on what is an acceptable level of clean, junior will know when the job’s been done right. A word of caution, though, be sure to inspect what you expect. Kid Clean will be closer to Mom Clean if they know you’ll be back to check.

I used to have a chart system called Choreganizers that worked extremely well when my kids were small. Pictures of chores were used and hung on a name chart for a particular child. When that chore was done, they took the card and placed it in a pouch. Mom Money or Dad Dollars were given out for a job well done. The store was open at the end of the week for them to cash in or save for a larger prize the following week (prizes were small like a pencil, eraser, or new crayon and big prize was an ice cream cone or something like that.) When they had outgrown the chore chart, we went to a list of chores that needed to be done in each room. Some chores needed to be done daily and some weekly or monthly. Those were listed under their headings. That list was slipped into a vinyl sleeve protector and posted on the back of the door in that room with a dry erase marker mounted nearby. Each child was assigned a room for the week. They then checked off what they had done during our cleaning time, very similar to Zone Cleaning today. Now, with time constraints, busy schedules and busy teens, we do the 15 Minute Power Clean! That’s what my middle son came up with. We set the timer for 15 minutes and everyone runs to their assigned location and works like mad to get it all done. It’s amazing what we can accomplish in only 15 minutes! This is a great emergency plan and works well when surprise company is coming, an activity is moved in doors, or you’ve been busy and created a huge mess and it’s time to clean it up!

What if you have a child who doesn’t do it the way you do? That used to really irritate me and I viewed it as disobedience for a long time. But, really it’s okay …IF…they have learned it the way you’ve shown them, can do it that way and have met your acceptable standard. Allowing them the freedom to devise ways of doing the job more efficiently will keep their interest levels high and even initiate creativity. And that’s great inspiration for growth! You might even get an inventor out of the deal. Hmmmm, I wonder if some kid had an overwhelming job and that’s why the vacuum cleaner was invented?

Have a blessed day,

Lori

PS. You can still get Choreganizers and Zone Cleaning now has a Zone Cleaning for Kids Clean and Flip Chart that looks like a great way to motivate kids to clean. If you know of any other great options, let us know by leaving a post below. Thanks.