Joyfull Living

Easter week is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the power of the cross and it's redemption and the power and victory of the resurection.  This is one of my favorite Easter verses: And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead  lives in you, then He who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through His Spirit who lives in you.  So then, brothers, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, Romans 8:11,12 The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead - that is almost too much to wrap my mind around, that He lives in me!  That Spirit took my sinful heart and cleansed it and brought new life to me.  There will always be stumbles and I will never be perfect, but with God's power living inside of me, there is a constant strenght to be changed to His likeness.  What a blessing and encouragement this verse is as we celebrate Easter!   

Just a quick note to let you know that I am over At the Well today talking about "An Excellent Spirit".  Come over for a visit!

It is Spring Break this week which usually means a week of no school and days filled enjoying the gorgeous spring weather. It is a time of year I eagerly look forward to.  But this year it seems that there are numerous things competing with the relaxation and rest of Spring Break. Things like sports practices for the boys - soccer, baseball, church softball, weight training - where someone different needs to be somewhere different each day.  Throw in a couple meetings that need attendance, a writing deadline,  a few days of work at my job during the busiest week of the month and then a children's activity that needs to be organized are ready by Saturday.  How did this happen??? Now knowing that if I let myself, I could get frazzled, harried and turn into a whirlwind of activity and emotion, my goal for my home (and myself) this week is to keep a calm and steady pace.  Since as the mom and woman of the home, my attitude and largely determines the pace of the h...

These came from an email that came to the church I work at.  Of course these do not apply to any churches I know, but they were cute all the same!!    

RESURRECTION ROLLS This is a wonderful way to teach children about the real meaning of Easter! Ingredients: Crescent Roll Dough - Melted butter - Large marshmallows - Cinnamon and Sugar Mixture. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. *Give each child a triangle of crescent rolls. The crescent roll represents the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in. *Give each child a marshmallow, this represents Jesus. *Have him dip the marshmallow in melted butter, which represents the oils of embalming. *Dip the buttered marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar which represents the spices used to anoint the body. *Wrap up the coated marshmallow tightly in the crescent roll (not like a typical crescent roll up...but bring the sides up and seal the marshmallow inside. This represents the wrapping of Jesus' body after death. *Place in a 350 degree oven for 10 - 12 minutes (The oven represents the tomb--pretend like it was three days!) *When the rolls have cooled slightly, the children can open their rolls (cloth) ...

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  II Corinthians 5:21 The cross is the universal symbol of Christianity.  I recently read a devotion that talked about the design of the cross and what it represented.  One beam horizontal and the other vertical.  One reaches out – like God’s love.  The other reaches up – as does God’s holiness.  One represents the width of His love, the other reflects the height of His holiness.  The cross is the intersection where God forgave His children without lowering His standards.  How?  God put our sin on His Son and punished it on the cross.  As we approach the Easter season, may our hearts reflect on the great sacrifice, love and victory of our Savior. 

Do you long to be an excellent wife?  That is God's desire for each of us also. "The implications of woman’s origin are profound. Her dignity and worth, her necessity, her role in life and marriage, and her unique beauty have been established by God from the beginning. She was made to be a man’s faithful helper. And there is no greater help she can offer him than her prayers on his behalf to the One who alone can provide perfect, sovereign help." "If you want to be an excellent wife, far more precious than jewels, pray for your husband. If you want to do him good, and not harm, all the days of your life, pray for him. If you desire to be a wife whose husband is “known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land,” pray for him. If you open your mouth with wisdom, may it be full of wise prayers for your husband. Let not charm or fleeting beauty distract you from this vital task. The fruit of wise prayers will be better for him than th...

As I was growing up, some of the memories sealed in my heart are of the way my mother did things.  She kept her hair very short and would say "my hair is getting long and it is driving me crazy".  She wore these polyester pants to work each day and only a certain brand would do.  Then as a teenager, I was given strict instructions on how to wash, dry and put them away - no exceptions.  When she warned me about things, there was always an "if" - "If you do that...this will happen".  These were a few of the little things that drove me crazy!  Along with those characteristics she had some other habits that were a part of who she was.  She would listen whenever I needed to talk.  She would stop everything if I needed something to help me out.  These may not have been everyday occurrences, but it was always known that Mom was there and always on my side.  She welcomed my friends into our home and as I grew up, married and had children, she l...

Jokes for the day! "Vengence is Mine," Thus Sayeth the Little Guy Three burly fellows on huge motorcycles pulled up to a highway cafe where a truck driver, just a little guy, was perched on a stool quietly eating his lunch. As the three fellows came in, they spotted him, grabbed his food away from him and laughed in his face. The truck driver said nothing. He got up, paid for his food and walked out. One of the three cyclists, unhappy that they hadn't succeeded in provoking the little [guy] into a fight commented to the waitress: "Boy, he sure wasn't much of a man, was he?" The waitress replied, "Well, I guess not." Then, looking out the window, she added, "I guess he's not much of a truck driver, either. He just ran over three motorcycles." Different Viewpoints Three people were visiting and viewing the Grand Canyon -- an artist, a pastor and a cowboy. As they stood on the edge of that massive abyss, each one responded with a c...

What is one to do when a budding desire for photography has to compete with a minimal amount of creativity?  Really!!  I am loving learning about photography and photo editing, but am just not wired to be a creative person.  So...I pray! You can pray about anything and look what happened. I was in the kitchen one afternoon this week and my youngest son looked out the door and called me to look at this bee.  There was this bee buzzing around a new flower I had just bought, by the door.  The AHH HAAA moment came and I grabbed my camera.  Would you believe the bee stayed in this plant long enough for me to capture several shots, try out various settings on my camera all the while listening to my son share how bees draw pollen.  It was truly a joyful moment!!    

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!  I enjoy this little holiday with the colors, the food and especially the Irish Blessings!  There is something that makes you feel so good when you read or hear a nice blessing. Isn’t it wonderful that our Lord has provided abundant blessings for us? Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, Ephesians 1:3 It is fascinating to me to research the power of a Biblical blessing.  A spoken blessing is a positive, Biblical statement that invokes the blessing of God in the life of another. The power of spoken blessings comes from God, Who Himself “hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). Our words have potential to do good or to do harm.  A spoken blessing does good to those who hear it. A prayer of blessing is also powerful. Currently I am reading in Proverbs and pray for blessings for my...

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day and just for fun each year I have been cooking the traditional corn beef and cabbage meal.  Tomorrow will be a busy day with work, a meeting and church which leaves little time to prepare this dish.  I found this recipe for a slow cooker corn beef and cabbage meal: - 3 pounds corned beef brisket with spice packet - 5 medium potatoes, scrubbed, unpeeled, sliced into 1 inch chunks - 1 large onion - cut into wedges - 1 head of cabbage - cut into wedges - 4 cups apple juice - 1 cup brown sugar - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard Place meat, potatoes and onion  in a slow cooker. Sprinkle with the seasoning packet that came packaged with the corned beef.   Combine apple juice, brown sugar, and mustard in a medium bowl.   Pour over the vegetables and meat. Cover and cook on high for 4 to 6 hours. The last half hour, put the cabbage wedges in and make sure they are submgerged in the liquie. The meat an...

A new week with new plans and goals gets me motivated!  Last night I read over our weekly calendar and noted the several things going on and was planning accordingly. But as most moms know, the child that is quieter than usual, takes an unexpected nap and has that rosy look in his face can halt the plans of a household!  He has come down with something and needs attention.  In our home, rest, staying in pajamas all day and some 7-up are instumental in helping one to feel better.  As life goes on around us, it is full of unexpected changes.  As the keeper of the home, during these times it takes considerabale amount of effort to maintain the focus of the home.  But during times of change and upheaval, the peace, familiarity and comfort of a home can bring quietness to the soul.  Whether those in our family are sick, facing challenges, struggles or just need something familiar, our homes can be that steadfast source of peace, rest and ...

In my job as a church secretary, it is my responsibility to do a major portion of the church announcements and publishing. Through "this side of the computer", I understand how easily the wording of things can get a little tilted and how being one letter off, can significantly change things. From "the other side" when reading bulletin bloopers, I can also smile with sympathy and wonder "Did they proofread this??"" Here are some of my favorite bulletin bloopers: The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals. ---------------------------------------------------------- The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.' ---------------------------------------------------------- Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King. ---------------------------------------------------------- Ladies, don't ...

Did you resolve to get healthier at the beginning of this year?  Me too!  Now that the "newness" of the resolutions are over, sometimes the determination can slip slowly away. Here are 5 easy resolutions which can offer great benefits to your health. 1. Eat more fruits and veggies Produce is loaded with nutrients that may lower blood pressure, including potassium, magnesium, calcium, and antioxidants . Researchers found that upping produce intake and switching to low-fat dairy products lowered systolic blood pressure by nearly 6 points (the upper number in blood pressure readings) and diastolic (the lower number) by 3 points in 2 weeks—almost as much as medication can achieve. * Easy Tips:  Keep your favorite fruits visable.  If you see them, you will be more likely to eat them! Make sure your plate is half filled with vegetables at each meal. 2. Exercise at least 60 minutes per week According to research, older women who walked at a moderate pace for 20 minu...

  This verse was in my daily Bible reading this week and stirred my heart: My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God.  James 5:19,20 The Message Each of us are born with a free choice and free will.  When those we know make choices that we don’t agree with, it may be easy to be critical and judgmental.  It may even be tempting to tell them “I told you so” or “You wouldn’t listen to me” etc.  This verse brings about an attitude of not just forgiveness, but that all correction should be with the sole purpose to restore those who have gone astray.  Instead of just letting them go, there should be some action to go after them and lovingly point them in the right direction.  This action of the heart may apply to a minor infraction or to a willful rebel...

Becoming Titus 2 is a monthly discussion over at Extravagent Grace  on what it means to become a Titus 2 woman.  Titus 2:3-5 is a familiar verse encouraging women in their lifestyle and behavior:  "the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things, that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,  to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." Today's section to look at is:  "not slanderers, not given to much wine,"   I will admit that my first reaction was to skip over this part, I don't drink and don't slander.  But as a woman who seeks to be a Titus 2 woman, I knew I needed to dig a little deeper into this. I found some interesting things about this verse.  The "older woman" doesn't neccesarily indicate age, but more of seniority or experience.  The olde...

Spring is in the air!!  As we enter March, there is promise of new life, warmer weather and the beauty of spring.  Many times in the home we prepare to "spring clean" where we get rid of things that hinder and hamper the efficiency of our home.  Spring cleaning takes some time, effort and plain ole hard work!  But the end result is worth it.  A clutter free, organized, clean home that shines from the inside out! Spring also means that Easter time is approaching.  Easter is early this year - April 4 and the season of Lent is already in progress.  Being born, raised and grounded as a Southern Baptist, Lent is not a practice that we observe.  In fact, it was only in the last few years that I learned about the practice of Lent and what it represents.  Apparently, this has also escaped my children's knowledge. This weekend while riding in the car, I began reading them some material about Lent and it's beginnings.  I started with the questio...

I have learned through the years with three sons that boys love these kind of riddles. And, through the years, I've developed a soft spot of these too! Here is some "Bible Trivia" for you: BIBLE TRIVIA Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married?A.Ruthless. Q. What do they call pastors in Germany? A. German Shepherds. Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible? A. Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation. Q. What was the greatest female financier in the Bible? A. Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet. Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible? A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury. David's Triumph was heard throughout the land. Also, probably a Honda, because the apostles were all in one Accord. Q. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible? A. Samson. He brought the house down. Q. What excuse did Adam give to his chi...

  When I was growing up I only had one sibling which was a younger brother.  I had several girl friends, but never any sisters....until I got married! Then I joined my husband's family and gained a sister in law.  Kathy was only a few years older than me, but to me as a young bride, she knew about and was great at everything!  It was a bit intimidating for me as, I could not cook well, was learning to keep a home, still tied to my mom's apron strings and then there was Kathy - bold, confident, a wonderful cook, wonderful mother, outgoing, always opening her home and life with love and grace.  Would I ever measure up???    Through the years, she was my friend and teacher, giving guidance and wisdom and a whole lot of fun!  We are almost perfectly opposite of one another, but have learned to appreciate our differences and balance each other out.  I even cook for her every now and again!!  We live a few hours apart and only see each...

I recently came across a beautiful web site ~ Holy Experience.   "Walk With Him Wednesday" is hosted there and provides an opportunity to share about a spiritual practice that draws us nearer to His heart. Today the topic is Hungering For God .   Our physical hunger demands attention.  It gnaws at us relentlessly until we provide our bodes nourishment.  Recently I came home and needed a snack. There was a cake that I quickly cut a piece of and ate.  I wanted more.  So, I cut another piece...I still wasn't satisfied.  Being somewhat health conscious, I realized that this cake was not providing the nutrients my body needed for energy, I made a better snack choice and was satisfied.   Our spiritual hunger may not be so noticeable in our lives. In fact, spiritual hunger often begins as a small  whisper in our hearts.  Sometimes the case may be that our lives stay so busy and there is so many things clamoring for our attention we m...