tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48840562865919618292023-11-16T05:46:06.427-08:00Not My Own...You are not your own, you were bought with a price purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him... 1 Cor. 6:19-20Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.comBlogger184125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-74466688410832642602016-06-20T21:58:00.005-07:002016-06-20T21:58:54.453-07:00New Blog<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Time to say goodbye to blogspot!! I have started a new blog with word press and I LOVE IT! So much cleaner and easier to work with. So come on over and check it out!</span></div>
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<a href="https://katielapierre.org/"></a><a href="https://katielapierre.org/"><span style="font-size: large;">https://katielapierre.org/</span></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-15543949205333559632016-05-04T17:20:00.001-07:002016-05-04T18:38:29.608-07:00Upgrading Our Dining Room Table and Old Dressers<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ok, so if you want to think of someone who is not crafty you can think of ME. I NEVER pictured myself doing something like this! But... I did :) I married <a href="https://scottlapierre.org/" target="_blank">a wonderful, frugal man</a> and <b>I figured out rather quickly that if I wanted my furniture to look better or different that I was going to have to get creative in how to do that on a tight budget. </b><br /><br />First came my table. My husband had bought a solid oak table before we even met. It is a nice table. The wear and tear though from all the company and kids was bad. It was just getting flat out ugly. (see pic below)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sorry for the blurry picture. It's hard for me to get pictures not blurry through my instagram account. But you get the idea, the table was worn out!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">First I unscrewed the legs and my sister helped me get the top propped up out in my carport and I borrowed her hand sander and went to town! I used <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Minwax-22718-Finish-Interior-Stain/dp/B000C027V8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462334168&sr=8-1&keywords=wood+stain+black" target="_blank">ebony wood stain</a> to stain the table after I was done sanding and did about 3 coats. I wanted it super dark and it was super dark and BEAUTIFUL. After that dried for a day or two I put on </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Minwax-13333-Polycrylic-Water-Based-Protective/dp/B000PSF9Q2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462334265&sr=8-1&keywords=polycrylic+water+based+minwax" style="line-height: 1.3;" target="_blank">Polycrylic Water-Based Protective Clear Finish</a><span style="line-height: 1.3;"> to make it super shiny and EASY TO CLEAN. I used a couple high quality paint brushes for the stain and just plain old foam brushes for the clear finish. I probably did about 4 coats of the clear finish. Like I said, I wanted it shiny :)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRc6pzLhvE2sFbn1mwIxkTVP0tNqleKWSEm2XANU63K10ltpk4gp1pf-kJWJFnKxzCyuqEPce8vmN3j_OZB3rjHCCFN442HYdbRL2tvcXJL_UAWWLwiIZDjRkHB9aH8kfEA2cy5VJeNVA/s1600/IMG_1902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRc6pzLhvE2sFbn1mwIxkTVP0tNqleKWSEm2XANU63K10ltpk4gp1pf-kJWJFnKxzCyuqEPce8vmN3j_OZB3rjHCCFN442HYdbRL2tvcXJL_UAWWLwiIZDjRkHB9aH8kfEA2cy5VJeNVA/s320/IMG_1902.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />The table today! It is holding up wonderfully! Doesn't even look like the same one!</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="line-height: 1.3;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">As that was drying I started on the legs. </span>I did NOT want to sand the legs so I used chalk paint. Chalk paint is a lazy person's best friend.<span style="font-weight: 400;"> I made my own (WAY TOO MUCH MONEY THE OTHER WAY).</span>Homemade chalkpaint recipe:<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: 400; line-height: 19.2px;">Mix 1/3 cup of </span><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: 400; line-height: 19.2px;">plaster of Paris</span><span style="font-weight: 400; line-height: 19.2px;"> and 1/3 cup of cool water; stir until completely smooth. Mix that with 1 cup of latex </span><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: 400; line-height: 19.2px;">paint</span><span style="font-weight: 400; line-height: 19.2px;"> and stir thoroughly. This will make enough </span><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: 400; line-height: 19.2px;">chalk</span><span style="font-weight: 400; line-height: 19.2px;">-finish </span><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: 400; line-height: 19.2px;">paint</span><span style="font-weight: 400; line-height: 19.2px;"> for one coat on a six-drawer dresser. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: 400; line-height: 19.2px;">Chalk</span><span style="font-weight: 400; line-height: 19.2px;">-finish </span><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: 400; line-height: 19.2px;">paint</span><span style="line-height: 19.2px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> should not be stored and reused. I used foam brushes for this too and did probably four coats. After that I waxed them with </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Johnson-Fine-Wood-Paste-00203/dp/B0000DIWIM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462334495&sr=8-1&keywords=johnson+paste+wax" style="font-weight: 400;" target="_blank">cheap wax</a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This stuff stinks people! So make sure you are in a well-ventilated area and don't plan on bringing your masterpieces inside for at least a couple of days :) </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: 400;">Next, THE DRESSERS!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: 400;">Let's just say in the picture below that the one on top is dresser number 1, the one to the left and below (with black and white table cloth on top) is dresser number 2 and the last one is dresser number 3. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dressers are great for multipurpose function! We use ours out in our living room/dining areas to hold our homeschool supplies and paper products and we use the tops as buffets for when we have company!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.2px;"><span style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.2px;"><br />Dresser number 1:</span><span style="line-height: 19.2px;"> This was my grandmothers dresser and it was pretty ugly :) I got some of my stepmom's old paint, bright turquoise as you can see, and made homemade chalk paint out of it! (recipe above). That's it. Super easy. Did about two coats and then put some of the same protective clear finish on top that I did on my table. It is holding up really well! It got some scratches on it on the move over (my parents live in CA) but I just touched up with some of the same paint (not chalk paint, just straight from the can). <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cornell-841-20-Piece-Brush-2-Inch/dp/B001BF6MDM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1462405480&sr=8-3&keywords=foam+brushes" target="_blank">I used foam brushes for this.</a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Dresser number 2:</b> This was more than likely my GREAT grandmother's dresser! I did the same to it as dresser number one, homemade chalk paint but in a different color. It is also holding up really well! The top was pretty messed up so it almost always has this table cloth on it (one I got for a wedding gift 10 years ago!) So far these two dressers have cost me $0!!! That's the way to do it people! :)<br /><br /><b>Dresser number 3:</b> This was in the house we are living in when we got here. It had some real wood and some of that fake wood. I knew sanding wasn't an option. At this point I hadn't heard much about chalk painting (this was actually the first dresser I did) and so I was looking into other options to paint it without having it scratch off easily/peal without sanding. I found this: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-03504-Interior-Exterior-1-Quart/dp/B000BZX6B4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462405784&sr=8-1&keywords=cover+stain+primer" target="_blank">Cover Stain Primer</a>. It worked very well! I put on two coats and then took my sister's left over paint that she used to paint her laundry room with. I used foam brushes again (my favorite obviously). There were some knobs missing so I went to IKEA and got a bag of 10 of them for $5 to match as closely as possible! I also spray painted the other knobs/handles with a glossy black spray paint and put them back together. For the top I used some lovely <a href="http://www.amazon.com/General-Finishes-JH-Stain-pint/dp/B001DT1IZS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1462405955&sr=8-2&keywords=Java+Gel+Stain" target="_blank">Java Gel Stain</a>. I love this stuff! Hate sanding?! This is your thing right here! I applied three coats to the top of the dresser with socks! That is the best way to do it. A little bit goes a long way!<br /><br />Let me tell you all a little secret. There are a million other people out there that know a million times more than me about this stuff :) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqRBASVgg48" target="_blank">This lady is the one I learned a lot from!</a> I love her youtube channel!<br /><b><br />Now for one last fun LITTLE project that I did spur of the moment.</b> My oldest daughter had a painting up in her room that no one really cared for that was like $10 at a garage sale from years ago. I loved the frame but the picture itself was lame. So I decided to paint it with homemade chalk paint (the same turquoise I had borrowed from my sister for my dining table chairs) and painted the frame with that. Next I painted the painting itself with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/folkArt-Chalkboard-Assorted-Colors-2517/dp/B001DCTH2G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1462406514&sr=8-2&keywords=chalkboard+paint" target="_blank">chalkboard paint! </a>I have made lots of little and big chalkboards since then! Again, one can goes a long way and use foam brushes.<br /><br />Let me know if you have any questions! It was so much fun doing all of this and spending so little money to transform so many pieces of furniture! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">First picture is all the things I used to refinish my table, chairs and dressers! (minus the paint...lots of different types and colors there and mine were all free!). Each of these containers are 1/2 to 3/4 full still and can be used for any future projects! The second picture is the old picture I painted and put chalkboard paint on from my daughter's room. We decided to hang it up on our fireplace.<br /></span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-76891358596289773562016-04-26T08:54:00.000-07:002016-04-26T10:12:19.079-07:00Cutting Costs While Practicing Hospitality <span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A reader recently wrote me and asked: Could you blog about any cost cutting tips you have in regards to hospitality?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">First let me start by saying that hospitality is not a gift, it is a command if you are a Christian. "</span></span><span style="color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. </span></span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span class="highl" style="color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><b>Be hospitable to one another </b>without complaint.</span></span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.…" (1 Peter 4:8-10)</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Notice the commands surrounding the part about being hospitable: keep fervent love for one another and serve one another with the gifts you have been given. <b>Those are not things for us to choose to do, </b>we are called to do them as Christian women and that is also the case with being hospitable. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Some people may be better at it than you but you are just as called to invite others into your home as those who are "better at it".</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://woodlandchristian.net/player.php?src=04-03-2016" style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">For further encouragement on hospitality be sure to check out my husband's sermon!</span></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><br /><span style="color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Keep in mind since hospitality is something God commands then surely He is acquainted with the fact that it costs money, it is not a surprise to Him :) </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Let me put in a plug (again) for</span><a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2014/10/how-we-paid-off-our-mortgage-in-six.html" style="color: #001320;" target="_blank"> DEBT FREE LIVING!</a><span style="color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Pursue it with all your might! Debt free living makes GIVING so much easier and more enjoyable. <b>Hospitality really is just another form of giving, not just of your home, but also of your time and finances. </b>Make this form of giving more within your reach by denying other things you want to buy.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are a budgeting family (which I recommend) check out </span><a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/everydollar?ictid=ZO1HT1225" style="color: #001320;" target="_blank">Dave Ramsey budgeting stuff here</a>. Once you have a budget<span style="color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> then you will definitely want to incorporate hospitality into it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://scottlapierre.org/" style="color: #001320;" target="_blank">Scott</a><span style="color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and I have always loved to have people over. It really is our only hobby. We don't hike, or camp or go shopping. I don't sew or knit or ride a bike. He doesn't work on cars or build things... </span><a href="https://scottlapierre.org/marriage-gods-way-2/" style="color: #001320;" target="_blank">although he is getting into writing! </a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #001320; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Before moving to WA we had spent the first 5 years of marriage in CA. <b>At one point we were hosting THREE HOME FELLOWSHIPS A WEEK! </b>One was the youth group, the other was a young adults group and then on Sunday evening we hosted another adult home fellowship. I only had 1-3 kids in those five years and it was much more manageable. On top of that I would host random mommy-kiddo play dates and host family and friends for overnight visits.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #001320; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let's look at the possible expenses with hosting: </span></div>
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<li><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Water (toilet, washing extra dishes, sprinkler for summertime play dates :) </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Electricity </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Food</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Drinks</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Paper products</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Little gifts (tea parties, birthday parties, special guests)</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Basket of extra necessities (shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant etc.)</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Extra toilet paper! :) </span></li>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That's a short list that comes to my mind quickly when thinking of practicing hospitality.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here are some cost cutting hospitality ideas: </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">1. <b><u>Potlucks! </u></b>Talk about cutting your costs! I am not ashamed to host people and have potlucks! ;) <b>If you are providing the space then there is nothing wrong with everyone pitching in for the most time laboring and expensive part: THE FOOD!</b> We have a potluck every week at our house now for our Wednesday night home fellowship and it's a big hit! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2. <b><u>Tea Parties</u></b>. I look for clearance prices on teas when at the grocery store. Don't ever buy tea full price! Second I like to look for economical choices on what to make. <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/shortbread-cookies-237919" target="_blank">Like shortbread! </a>and fruit that is on sale at the time. If your kids are like mine, tea ain't really their thang so we usually do hot cocoa parties. I get a big tub of it since it's much cheaper per ounce than the packets and then I just mix the cocoa together in the tea pot and put the tea pot on the table. We do tea parties randomly and have even used it as a witnessing tool inviting one of our little unsaved neighbor girls over to share Christ with her through books and coloring and talking. Makes me want to do one this week!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">3. <b><u>Birthday Parties</u></b>. Birthday parties can be VERY pricey if you aren't careful and intentional. First, let me tell you that I don't do "take home bags". I hate when my kids get a bag full of junk for me to throw away and pick up around the house. Second, we often just do cake and ice cream and invite families to come over at 7. Who says you have to do some big meal? I must say though that since our kids have gotten older and since we have no debt, that we are willing to be a bit more extravagant in our birthday parties. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">4. <b><u>Having people over for dessert (instead of dinner)</u></b>. This has been a major game changer for me. Having five littles and making a big meal is A LOT OF WORK. Forget about the money! It takes a lot of time and patience to make a meal for two families with little people pulling on your legs. <b>So now Scott and I invite people over at 7 for dessert and fellowship. </b>I often just make "cake cookies"! The easiest, cheapest and yet yummy option! I just got a bunch of boxes of Betty Crocker cake mix for $1.50 each! ******Recipe: One box of cake mix (anyone you choose), 2 eggs and 1/4 to 1/3 cup oil. Bake at 350 until they crack on top (around 10 min.). Let sit on pan for at least 5 min. and transfer to cooling rack. Once cooled we like to frost them.******* I also stock up on frosting when they are on sale/clearance. Or get a big bag of powdered sugar to make your own frosting. Lastly, we like to buy sprinkles at the dollar store or again, when they are on clearance. <b>I always have a big stock pile of these items</b>! Plus the kids love decorating them and Rhea can make them by herself since they are so easy! Another great option to have along side these cookies is popcorn. Could it get any cheaper than popcorn?! My husband prefers the airpopper and I prefer stove top. I put enough oil (coconut is yummy or just good ole canola oil) on the bottom of a big pan to cover the bottom. Then I put in kernels (much cheaper than bagged popcorn you put in the microwave). I put in enough kernels to cover the bottom as well (better too little than too much because too much leads to burning). Then you shake the pan vigorously until almost all the kernels are done popping. If you want kettle corn you can stir in sugar together with oil and kernels before popping. When finished salt it and eat up! Always a big, yummy, <b>cheap</b> hit! ( I also do garlic salt sometimes!)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">5. <b><u>Look for frugal and creative ways to furnish a home that is guest friendly/ideal for hospitality</u></b>. Craigslist and yardsales people! So I am sitting in our living room and dining room (which are really one big room) right now looking around at our house. <b>We have 3 sofas, one sectional, two recliners, three dressers (that I use for storing homeschooling stuff and paper products and use as buffets when we have company) and two dining room tables (we also have some card tables folded up and metal chairs for extra seating that we got for free).</b> One of the tables was my husband's when we got married (I completely changed it! It was a plain oak table and I sanded it down, stained the top black and chalk painted the legs. I will have to do a tutorial on that too!) and the other table was purchased off of craigslist for $250 with all six chairs ( a huge table by the way). The table my husband had when got married came with six chairs. We now have four left (hey! 12 years and lots of kids=lots of abuse). I chalk painted them and use them as extra chairs. The other chairs we now use at the table were given to us for free. I spray painted them as well and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Oil-Cloth-Limones-Yellow-Fabric/dp/B00OZ4AZYS/ref=sr_1_79?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1461649453&sr=1-79&keywords=oil+cloth" target="_blank">covered the cloth on the chairs with this (not this pattern) kid friendly oil cloth</a> (which is cheaper through Michael's by the way). Lastly, for the dining room table, I have a bench that seats three children that I got for $20 with a store credit at a local consignment shop. Two of our sofas were also my husband's when we got married. One of the recliners was given to us and one was 50% off a few years ago at Fred Meyers (promise me you will NEVER buy something full price :) The last piece in the living room, the sectional, was a splurge. I had researched craigslist and yard sales for weeks and was finding that $800-$1000 was normal for USED sectionals! I couldn't believe it. We ended up getting one off of amazon brand new for $500 with free shipping. Given that it feels like IKEA furniture but we are still happy with it. Lastly, the dressers! I Love my dressers! I got them all for free! Two were in my dad's storage shed (looking tore up!) and the other was in the house when we moved in. I will be doing a post on how I got these babies fixed up soon!<br /><br />6.<b style="text-decoration: underline;"> Paper products and toilet paper.</b> I'll admit it. We do plastic cups... maybe that will change some day, but for now we put a sharpie out by the cups and call it good. Our home fellowship can have around 40 people on a Wednesday night and I just don't want to wash that many cups! I buy ours at Costco. Also, like I mentioned earlier, this is a splurge we feel comfortable making since we have no debt. For all other paper products (napkins, paper plates, plastic forks and toilet paper) I do "subscribe and save" through amazon.<br /><br />I think that's it for now! Let me know if you have any ideas to contribute or any other questions!<br /><br />Happy Hosting!<br /><br />Pictures below of our house. Sorry they are so blurry! <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mrsscottlapierre/" target="_blank">Follow me on Instagram to see better pics :) </a></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Part of our living room with our sectional. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of our tables for Christmas dinner.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Two of our dining room tables and the round table is one we borrowed from our church. The round table has the chalk painted chairs around it! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My dressers! I use two to put food on when company is over and one of them for the drinks.</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-59351950622163740862016-04-19T10:36:00.003-07:002016-04-19T10:39:00.102-07:00What Do You Let Steal Your Identity? <span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-size: large;">We recently had <a href="http://woodlandchristian.net/messages.php?show=conference" target="_blank">a ladies conference at our church</a> and this is a transcript of my message! The theme was: Identity In Christ. To listen to my message <a href="http://woodlandchristian.net/player.php?src=04-09-2016&ss=conference" target="_blank">click here. </a></span><br />
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<b>What titles or identities do you crave?</b> Do you want to be known as a woman who has self-control? Is smart? Thin? Pretty? How about an excellent homemaker? Independent? Popular? Funny? We all crave different identities. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My hope is that through this post the list of identities you crave will dramatically change.
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Our sense of identity will determine so much about our lives. It determines if we feel a sense of belonging or a sense of loneliness. A sense of purpose or a sense of uselessness. A sense of hope or a sense of despair.</b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Who we think we are determines so much and it is vital that as Christian women we have a Christ centered, biblical perspective of our identity. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(2 Cor. 5:17) <i>"Therefore, </i></span><i><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">if anyone is in Christ</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(1 Peter 2:9) </span><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"But </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">you are</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br class="kix-line-break" /></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">( Gal. 2:20) </span><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">So just looking at those 3 verses alone I was able to gather 9 ways that God identifies us as believers. I have 9 blanks for you on your insert to fill in. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He says we are </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#1. A new creation</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#2. Chosen</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#3. Royalty</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#4. Holy</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#5. His own possession</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#6. Called out of darkness</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#7. Crucified with Christ</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#8. Living by faith</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#9. Loved</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Look over that short list. It should make us all very thankful! </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Looking over those nine identities should bring us all a sense of joy and gratitude for who God says we truly are in Him! </b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are in Christ, these are just some of the marvelous ways God describes you. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The world on the other hand, wants to rob us of these beautiful descriptions! The world wants to give us counterfeit identities that make us feel important at first but then later only leave us more unsatisfied and longing for more. In other words, the world and your enemy want to practice identity theft on you. Let me read this secular description of identity theft: “</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">identity theft</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is the deliberate use of someone else's </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personally_identifiable_information" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">identity</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, usually as a method to gain a financial advantage or other benefits in the other person's name. The person whose identity has been assumed may suffer adverse consequences. Identity theft occurs when someone uses another's personally identifying information without their permission.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now let's look at this from a spiritual perspective:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b> Spiritual identity theft is the deliberate use of a Christian’s identity to zap them of all joy and peace that they are supposed to have in Christ. This causes great pain and confusion in the Christian’s life.</b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> They wander around often unaware that their identity has even been stolen and unaware that in fact they often gave it away. Spiritual identity theft is all too common in a Christian woman’s life. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
I have provided for you</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> six warnings, that if you heed them, they will help you to fight against spiritual identity theft.
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Warning number 1: </u>Don’t let your past take your identity.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So many Christian women feel bound to their past. They play the same records over and over again. “I was abused. I was a child of a drunk. I was the daughter of a single mom. I had an abortion. I did drugs.” Whatever their pasts are they meditate on them and are unable to move past them because in a sense they are claiming their pasts as their identity rather than who Christ says they are. They are allowing their past to commit identity theft.
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<b>Picture a butterfly flying around and all day it’s sad because it USED to be a caterpillar.</b> Everyday his little butterfly friends are telling him: “Yeah, but you’re not a caterpillar anymore! We’ve been changed! We’re new creations now! We are something completely different. Rejoice! that old has gone behold the new has come!” And then imagine he ignores his friends and continues to mope around not experiencing the joy he is meant to have as a butterfly because he repeats over and over, “I used to be a caterpillar. I used to be a caterpillar. It was so terrible when I was a caterpillar.” Now wouldn’t you feel sorry for that butterfly? Wouldn’t you think what in the world butterfly?! get it through your head! You’re not a caterpillar anymore! In fact you are something totally new and different.” Now I know that is a super cheesy analogy but I like it anyway. Too many of us are butterflies mourning over the caterpillar that we once were. Many of us who God declares are new creations are spending our whole life moping and mourning because of what we WERE or because of what WAS. If our identity in Christ were based on our pasts we would all have some lame identities. But praise God! Our identity in Christ is based on Him and not our pasts. Your identity in Christ is based on Him and not you. The same goes for His love for you. His love for you is never based on you. His love for you is based on who you are IN HIM. His love for you is based on what He accomplished not on what you accomplished or are accomplishing. If you struggle with letting your past become your identity I would recommend 2 Cor. 5:17 become one of your memory verses that you can say outloud and use to help take your thoughts captive, reminding yourself that it doesn’t matter who you say you are, it matters who your Creator says you are, and He says, if you are in Him you are a new creation.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>Warning number 2: </u>Don’t let your weaknesses steal your identity.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ok, but you don’t really know me Katie. I sure don’t feel like a new creation. I hate myself. I hate my weaknesses. My struggles. I never change. Does that sound familiar? We all hate our struggles and weaknesses. Turn with me to 2 Cor. 12:7. We will read through verse 10.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><i><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8 </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9 </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10 </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></i><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s break this down a bit. Verse 7 says: "To keep me from becoming conceited.” Believe it or not we are all capable of becoming conceited. Praise God for our weaknesses because they remind us we have nothing to be conceited about. Praise God that He knew we would become so puffed up with ourselves if we did not have weaknesses or struggles to remind us of how fragile and helpless we really are! This is why Paul can say he will boast all the more gladly in his weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon him instead of the power of Paul. <b>We all need the power of Christ to rest upon us, not the power of self.</b></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Imagine you had no weaknesses or struggles. Your power would be found in yourself. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Instead of letting your struggles and weaknesses become your identity, make them propel you into worship of Christ.</b></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Recognize that they are able to turn you away from yourself and toward Him. Never let your weaknesses do the opposite and turn you away from Christ while focusing on yourself. You are not defined by your weaknesses and struggles. <b>They are simply there to remind you that when you are weak you are strong because your weaknesses force you to draw from His strength.</b></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will close this warning with a quote from the gospel coalition: </span><b style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.38;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The bedrock of our rejoicing isn’t the goodness of our day, but the goodness of our God. It’s him strengthening me that allows me to abound. Not me being strong enough to no longer need him.”
</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>Warning number 3:</u></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Don’t let your strengths take your identity. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This one is tricky isn’t it? What are you praised for in your life? Your weaknesses? Do people go on and on about how much you gossip or how much you interrupt and never stop talking or what a glutton you are or your anger problem. No. People praise you about your strengths. This makes it very easy unfortunately to have our strengths become our identity. This makes it very easy to cling to our strengths and make them our all and all. Whatever strengths you have they are strictly there to glorify Him and not you. Remember when I read from 1 Peter 2: 9 </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“ a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him”? Looks like our strengths don’t even belong to us. Looks like they’re His. Looks like they are only there to help proclaim His excellencies, not ours. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whatever strengths you do have they are meant to build up His reputation and not yours. Don’t let your strengths steal your identity. Instead remind yourself that you are not your own possession and your strengths are meant to point others to Him and not you. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>
Warning number 4:</u></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Don’t let comparison steal your identity.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Comparison is often the thief of joy isn’t it? I do want to say at the onset of this lesson though that </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>sometimes I think comparison can actually be used to push us in the right direction and not the wrong direction. </b></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don’t think it is ALWAYS a bad thing. Let me explain, there have been some very godly women </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>I have compared myself to and it has pushed me toward Christ and away from myself. </b></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It has actually increased my security in my identity in Christ. It has compelled me to want to be more like them because it seems they have a better grasp on who they are in Christ than I do. That form of comparison though is not what I am warning you against. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Comparison in most womens’ lives destroys their identity. God has a specific plan and purpose for YOUR LIFE that looks different from His plan for others’ lives.</b></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of my heros of the faith is Joni Earekson Tada. That woman has chosen to not compare her life to others. Joni was in a diving accident as a teenager and has been paralyzed from the neck down ever since. She is 66 years old now. So for about 50 years I am sure this dear woman has had to battle the temptation of comparison. I am sure comparison has wanted to steal her identity numerous times. She has chosen HOWEVER to find her identity in Christ alone and thereby not worry about how God has chosen to plan other people’s lives. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>She doesn’t spend time comparing instead she spends time giving praise to her Maker.</b></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Listen to these beautiful words from her. “The nice thing is God understands the art of pruning. In John 15:2 it says that the Lord "cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will bear even more fruit.” <b>Sometimes God seems merciless with His pruning shears and, like Job, we often feel like the Lord's sharp shears have clipped our lives so close to the root that we don't see how anything could ever grow back. </b>I should know this. I broke my neck when I was just a teenager and, believe me, dealing with quadriplegia at so young an age was very hard. God really clipped my life close to the root. But God's purpose in pruning us back couldn't be more virtuous, more noble, for if we are bearing fruit in His kingdom, He'll prune us so that we can be even more fruitful. God is an expert with His shears and <b>He is looking for believers who are happy to yield to the cutting edge of those clippers, and when you do, hope returns. New life pokes up from the stump and joy reappears.</b>” </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Praise God for this woman’s submissive heart to Him and His pruning. <b>We cannot be living in the detrimental practice of comparison and submitted to God at the same time. We can’t be so consumed with how the Lord chooses to prune or not prune others’ lives and have confidence in His </b></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>plans for our lives. </b></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We cannot be submitted to His pruning and whining that we don’t have what others have. When we choose to avoid comparing our lot with the lot that God has given others we will find the vibrant confidence Joni speaks of. Our identity in Christ can never be found if we are living a life filled with comparison.</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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Warning number 5:</u></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Don’t let </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YOUR</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> plans for your life steal your identity: </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We all have BIG plans for ourselves don’t we? </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">In five years my life will look like…. Fill in the blank. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 20 years I will be….. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I get married to the love my life we will have this many kids and live on property and grow our own food and have no debt and NEVER fight and my husband and I will partner together to train up our children in the way they should go and they will DEFINITELY go that way and everyone will talk well of us and want to be us and… </span></span><br />
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OH. MY!! But we do this. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>We wrap our identity up in this make believe world we have created for ourselves or this world we think we so justly deserve and then when God doesn’t deliver we are very disappointed and often angry.</b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We have all these dreams and plans and forget that His plan is probably WAAAAAY different. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you think Joni had a different plan for her life? </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Turn with me to Luke Chapter 1 starting in verse 38 we read Mary’s response to the angel when he tells her that she will be a pregnant virgin. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then Mary said. Um no sorry Gabe, that’s definitely not in my plans. Do you have any idea what that means for me? Joseph and I aren’t even married yet! This is going to ruin my reputation and his and forever change my plans for my life! Thanks but no thanks.” No that’s not what she said. She said: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>“Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” </i></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And the angel departed from her.”</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now let me ask you, do you think Mary was ready for this? </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Do you think it was ever in her plans or dreams to become a pregnant virgin and be mocked and ridiculed by many? Do you think she maybe had other plans for her and Joseph? Do you think she was afraid? And yet, look at her response how does she refer to herself?: “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” </b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love how the NLT puts it: ““I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” THIS is the response we should have to our Lord when He takes OUR plans for our lives and changes them… even dramatically… Mary’s identity never changed, she always saw herself as a maidservant of the Lord. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>She knew she was not her own. She understood her identity.</b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is that your identity? Do you identify yourself as His maidservant ready to do His will? When we find our identity in Him rather than in all our dreams and plans and the way we THINK things should be we will truly find our identity in Christ AND we will live a life filled with joy and thanksgiving rather than bitterness and ingratitude. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is a </span><span style="line-height: 33.12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">wonderful</span><span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"> quote by John Piper:</span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b> “Occasionally weep deeply over the life you had hoped would be. Grieve the losses. Then wash your face. Trust God. And embrace the life you have.” I particularly love that last part! <u>Embrace the life you have! </u></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Too many of us are having an identity crisis because we spend so much time trying to identify with a life that isn’t ours… that we may have hoped for but that isn’t reality… embrace reality. </b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Be like Joni Earkson Tada. Or </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Helen Keller</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> who was </span><b style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">born</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">with the ability to see and hear and at 19 months old, she contracted an illness and it left her both </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">deaf and blind</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. She lived a lovely life not consumed with how she wished her life would be and here is one of my favorite quotes of hers: “So much has been given to me, I have no time to ponder over that which has been denied.” Are you doing that? Are you so wrapped up in what has been give to you that you have no time to ponder what has been denied? Don’t let YOUR plans for your life steal your identity. Embrace His plans. Embrace the life you have. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>Warning number 6: </u></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t let your emotions take your identity. </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">This is definitely one I think we can all relate to. Our emotions and feelings often have way too much sway over who we think we are. We let our feelings determine our identity instead the Word of God determining our identity. Listen to this quote by DG Hart: We should understand that the subjective depends on the objective. Right emotions depend on, and derive from, sound doctrine.” </span></span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Right emotions depend on and derive from sound doctrine</b></span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. If you know who you are in Christ, if your doctrine is correct on your identity you can use it to influence and direct your feelings and emotions rather than having your identity rest on how you are feeling. Here’s what some may struggle with though in regards to this. Many of you have been Christians for a long time. You have known you are loved, holy, chosen, called out of darkness, a new creation but rather than having those truths run your life you let emotions run your life. Rather than taking that head knowledge and living out daily as truth you store it away and say “yeah, I know all of that.” But you don’t. Your life proves you don’t really know that. </span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>When our feelings determine who we are we are sure to find ourselves in a mess. </b></span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are sure to have a wrong view of our identity in Christ. Elisabeth Elliot said: </span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We float on feelings that will carry us where we were never meant to go; we bubble with emotional experiences that we often take for spiritual ones; and we are puffed up with pride. Instead of seriousness, there is foolishness. Instead of gravity, flippancy. Sentimentality takes the place of theology. Our reference point will never serve to keep our feet on solid rock, for our reference point, until we answer God’s call, is merely ourselves.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Don’t let your emotions be your reference point.</b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Don’t let them steal your identity. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYfpAxCbLok" target="_blank">One of my favorite little sermon clips on youtube</a> is of a wonderful preacher named Allistair Begg. He shared how he went to a different church on vacation one time and when the worship leader got up before the church he shouted: “How do you FEEL?!” Allistair said to himself: “How do I feel?! I feel crummy! Don’t ask me that question! Ask me what I know! Ask me what I know about God! Ask me what I know about His Word!” </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>We must quit asking ourselves how we feel and start asking ourselves "what do I know?” </b>This is why the Word of God is so paramount in our lives</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Reading it daily and listening to it daily, will continue to strengthen your identity in Christ and </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>diminish your identity in how you are feeling. </b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>T</u></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>he enemy wants to commit identity theft on you and have it wrapped up in your past, your weaknesses, your strengths, your propensity to compare, the big plans you have your life and your emotions. But God wants your identity wrapped up in who He says you are. </u></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jen Wilkin said: “We are what we behold.” Do you believe that? If you behold His Word daily, not just in reading but in your heart and mind, you will become more of what it describes you to be. If however you behold the lies that circulate in this world through media or even the lies of your own thoughts and feelings, you will buy into those lies more and more. </span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Behold your God. Behold who He says you are. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t look at your circumstances. Stop looking at what you wish would have been or what might be. Stop looking at others. Stop looking at how strong you are or how weak you are. Stop looking at your past and how you are feeling. Look at Him. Behold Him. Remember who He is.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> He is the Alpha and OMega. The King of kings. He is your Creator. The Almighty One who will never leave you or forsake you. He is the Author of life and Sovereign over all things. He is good. All knowing. He is love. It is in this God that you are to find your true identity.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA07AOh2VxXDsEIx8wPqlEWE8hVFtTNliLUofItT0JfmhI__BLZiUfC3yt8YndxiQremR-QDyIuTSz6ZRF9I38eAQhfCRR7wFfl-YA6RTRKUCSllBUuPAvehJsX7SRI-gBin24Efp24FY/s1600/1513764182-12332-I-Am-Blessed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA07AOh2VxXDsEIx8wPqlEWE8hVFtTNliLUofItT0JfmhI__BLZiUfC3yt8YndxiQremR-QDyIuTSz6ZRF9I38eAQhfCRR7wFfl-YA6RTRKUCSllBUuPAvehJsX7SRI-gBin24Efp24FY/s400/1513764182-12332-I-Am-Blessed.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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Hebrews 12:1-2 <i>“</i></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, llooking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”</i></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Look to Him. Read His Word to find out who He is and you will find out who you really are. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-55609623438997304152016-04-12T08:16:00.000-07:002016-04-12T08:25:33.616-07:00Why We Don't Live Within Our Means<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We don't live within our means. Let me explain. <b>We could be spending a lot more money than we do.</b> Our means, the amount in our savings, says: "go ahead and live a little" but in my husband's wisdom he admonishes us as a family to save more rather than spend more. <b>Future generations will reap what we sow. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have plenty of money in savings because we:<br /><br />1. Don't go out to eat more than once a month and we pretty much never go out to coffee.<br />2. Plan very few trips. In fact, we hardly leave our house. I had been looking for a particular sippy cup for weeks. I went out to the van and saw it was there! Guess it had been a while since we had gone anywhere :) Going places usually means spending money even if it's only on gas. I must admit that we have more freedom in this because we live downtown, next to our church and next to family. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3. Rarely buy new clothing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">4.Only get one nice gift for the kids on their birthday. (What a waste so many toys can be!)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">5.<a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2014/10/why-we-paid-off-our-mortgage.html" target="_blank">Paid off our mortgage! Talk about making it easier to save money! </a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">6.We really try not to waste food.... or anything for that matter.<br /><br /><a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2014/10/how-we-paid-off-our-mortgage-in-six.html" target="_blank">Here is a link with more of our tips on saving!</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>You see, just because you have the money to go on more trips, buy more toys, go out to dinner often, purchase new clothes etc. doesn't mean you have to.</b> <b>Don't spend money just because you have it.</b> Buy what you NEED not what you WANT and then later in life you can buy what you want not just what you need without the guilt!<br /><br />Too many are living outside of their means in the other direction. They spend money they don't have and wonder why they are constantly struggling financially. I have also seen people get out of debt and then think that gives them the liberty to spend their money anyway they please only to find themselves in debt again or living paycheck to paycheck.<br /><br /><a href="https://scottlapierre.org/marriage-gods-way-2/" target="_blank">My husband recently is fulfilling one of his dreams</a> to publish a book! We are all very excited and it has been such a joy to be able to invest in this dream of his without having to worry about the money we are putting into it because we have plenty saved up. Another huge benefit of living like this is we are better able to give! We can give liberally without worrying.<br /><br />Please don't think we have plenty in savings because we make lots of money :) We have been single income our whole marriage and my husband went from being a public school teacher to a pastor... neither career is known for it's high income :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not sure how to live within a budget?! Dave Ramsey can help! <a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/media/broadcast/mytmmo/pdf/guide-to-budgeting.pdf" target="_blank">Click here. </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lastly, every human should <a href="https://vimeo.com/145194633" target="_blank">watch this</a>. It cracks me up and it's so true! :) </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-88739872497415816302016-04-02T13:45:00.003-07:002016-04-02T22:03:59.169-07:00Is Wearing A Headcovering Distracting? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://woodlandchristian.net/" target="_blank">Our church </a>recently had a modesty class for ladies Sunday School in which the associate pastor's wife and I taught. We got both extremes in feedback. Some women loved it and thanked us and others.... not so much. <br /><br /><b>One thing we discussed was how modesty goes beyond just dressing sexually.</b> It's a much bigger issue than just worrying about men lusting after you. <b>We can be immodest in our behavior, our hearts, our home decorating and most importantly in our hearts. </b>One way we can be immodest is in being distracting by wearing flashy things that draw attention to us. <br /><br />"<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><i>I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes..</i>." 1 Timothy 2:9 <br /><br />I think that is what Paul is getting at in this passage. I think we can be immodest by spending an unreasonable amount of time on our looks and wearing things that are elaborate or "over the top".</span><br /><b>One of the things we tried to major on in this modesty class was that each person needed to search their own hearts and look for areas of pride in their relationship to modesty. </b>But unfortunately, when you talk to ladies about modesty and clothing we struggle with "keeping our eyes on our own page". We struggle with truly praying for the Lord to help us in our own lives without worrying about what others are or aren't wearing.<br /><br />I have had a couple women now (one right after this modesty class) tell me: <b>"Your headcovering is very distracting."</b> Ouch. My response to the second woman was: <b>"It wouldn't be such a distraction if more women in the church would obey the bible."</b> Um... did that just come out of my mouth?! :) It is how I feel though. <br /><br /><b>It seems clear to me that the main reason so many women don't wear headcoverings to public worship is because so many women don't wear headcoverings to public worship. There is safety in numbers. People will often justify things and it is even more tempting to do so if some of "the most godly women" you know don't wear one. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Please search the scriptures and your hearts for yourselves and see what His Word says about wearing a symbol of authority on your head.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cornerstonebible.org/resources/sermons/series/head-coverings" target="_blank">Be sure to check out this new sermon series I found on headcoverings!</a> You will have to scroll down a bit to get to the actual sermons. Also if you haven't seen my other posts be sure to check them out <a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2015/08/headcovering-movement.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2014/07/why-i-wear-head-covering.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-15115972937030720022016-03-30T08:13:00.000-07:002016-03-30T08:57:08.091-07:00Why Back To The Future Made Me Want More Kids<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Who remembers the scene in Back to the Future when Marty McFly's siblings started disappearing out of a photo? (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irDGPbCyLBk" target="_blank">I couldn't find the actual scene but I did find someone showing the photo</a>) <b>I didn't realize when I first watched it as a kid what impact that scene would have on me as a grown adult/mommy.</b><br /><br />After three very difficult, sick pregnancies Scott and I decided (mostly after me nagging him to death) that it would be best for us to stop having children and look into adoption instead. <b>So a few short months after our third baby was born Scott had a vasectomy. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>A few months after the surgery this scene from Back to the Future popped into my mind... oh how I tried to forget it... but I couldn't... I just kept thinking of the children that were being erased out of our family photo because of our decision. </u><br /><br />Here's the good news: </span><span style="color: #263238; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">By God’s grace this decision was ‘reversible’ for us. Sadly for others, that hasn’t been the case</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">. So after much prayer and support from our </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://woodlandchristian.net/" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">wonderful church</a><span style="font-size: large;">, </span><a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2013/04/reversing-our-decsion.html" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Scott went ahead and had a reversal! </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">About 5 months later I found out we were pregnant again!!! We were both so joy-filled and yet I was also so scared. My pregnancies were terrible, even landing me in the hospital because of dehydration from constant puking. I was resolved though to trust God and research more on how to combat hyperemesis. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2016/02/fighting-hyperemesis-for-sixth-time.html" target="_blank">I have had much success improving my pregnancies!!!</a> We are now in the middle of my third reversal pregnancy. I can't believe we almost missed out on having our sweet Carebear (Charis), Chloebug (Chloe) and now little Noah. We almost missed out on three wonderful gifts and hopefully more to come!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Last night we received some wonderful family photos that we had taken about a week ago and I couldn't help but think back to that scene again in Back to the Future. <u>Praise God Scott and I have our arms full (and my womb full) in this picture.</u></b></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-82525974391666097762016-03-26T10:49:00.000-07:002016-03-26T11:25:14.450-07:00Being Someone You're Not For The Sake of Your Marriage<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br />Do you ever feel like you have to be someone you're not in order to have a good marriage? That's ok! In fact, I would say, that is a good place to be!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The less I am "myself" the better my marriage goes and therefore, the better my life goes. </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Myself wants to dominate and control. Myself wants things my way. Myself wants to put forth the least effort and fully give into my flesh. Who I am in Christ however, who I am when I die to self, wants to give the other person their way, wants to submit to my husband in all things (Eph. 5:24) and fully give myself over to the Spirit.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our marriage should constitute (after our relationship with Christ), the most important relationship in our lives. </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">What are you willing to give up for that relationship? What are you willing to sacrifice? </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hopefully we are willing to sacrifice our wants, wishes and desires in order to have the best marriage possible.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, before you start throwing tomatoes at your computer screen let me explain. "Y</span><span class="text 1Cor-6-19" id="en-ESV-28470" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">ou are not your own,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-6-20" id="en-ESV-28471" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">for you were bought with a price. </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28471D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28471D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So glorify God in your body." 1 Cor. 6:19-20. Did you catch that? </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">You aren't yours. You don't belong to you anymore if you are a follower of Christ. You belong to Him and He calls you to adapt to your husband. He calls you to submit or put yourself under him and that is going to call for a major, difficult changes for most of us... I would dare say, for all of us. </b><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Many of us wives spend so much time worrying about what our husbands aren't or are doing that we lose track of what God has called us to do!</u></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">maybe you have a super passive man</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and you don't feel this as much. But in some ways I bet you have to work super hard (not be yourself) and let him lead how he wants (which might look like not leading) and deny your desire to control. Or </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">maybe you are married to a visionary man</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> that has you on a constant roller coaster ride, learn to enjoy the ride. Learn to let go and be someone you're not in order to support your man in a way that seems so foreign and scary to you. </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember, your job is not to make sure your man is doing everything right, your job is to be obedient, respectful and submissive</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">... you better believe that calls us women to be someone we aren't :) <b>Maybe you are married to an organized, leader-type and efficient man like me </b>and you are anything but organized and efficient. Maybe you feel like me and that you have had to be someone you aren't in order to bring the most peace and joy into your home... and that's ok! God calls us to a life of self-denial. </span><u style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Every Christian has to be someone they aren't in different ways in order to bring the most glory to God. </b></u><br /><br /><br /><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now hopefully you picked a godly man to share life with that will also experience this push to be someone he isn't in order to love you as Christ loves the church. But if you didn't, that doesn't get you off the hook for doing your part when it comes to obeying God and His calling on your life as a wife.</span></u></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span class="text 1Cor-6-20" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Proverbs 12:16 says: "</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Prov-12-16" id="en-NKJV-16736" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; position: relative;">A fool’s wrath is known at once, </span><span class="text Prov-12-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><i>But a prudent </i><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">man</span><i> covers shame." </i><b>Some of us wives are acting as fools letting our wrath and whatever else we are feeling be known at once because we believe in fully being ourselves! </b>But the verse goes on to say a prudent man or in our case, a wise wife, covers shame. The word here in greek means to hide or conceal. Sometimes the best thing for us to do, the wisest thing for us to do, is hide or conceal ourselves. Be someone we aren't. <u>The most miserable wives are the ones who refuse to hide or conceal or deny. The most miserable wives are the ones who are so busy fighting for their rights and being themselves that they forget the ultimate goal of marriage is to bring God glory, not themselves. </u></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So stop fighting against that push to be someone you aren't... instead embrace it! Claim it as if it's something you want because you know that in the long run it will make for a more peaceful home and marriage and therefore life!</span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-72327998805171869642016-02-01T14:05:00.002-08:002016-02-01T14:46:56.080-08:00Fighting Hyperemesis for the Sixth Time<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />When I found out I was pregnant this time I must admit that I wasn't afraid because I thought I had found the answer to my <a href="http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-complications/hyperemesis-gravidarum/" target="_blank">extreme morning sicknes</a>s issues: a low carb diet. I was so hopeful and excited! I had been doing it faithfully for about a month before I got pregnant and continued into my pregnancy. At 5 weeks I still had not thrown up or felt extreme nausea (just minor nausea if I hadn't eaten) and I was feeling pretty confident...but still afraid of that 6 week mark. That is usually when it hits pretty hardcore for me.<br /><br />Lo and behold, I was 5 weeks and 6 days and sobbing in bed because it hit me like a tidal wave. I just laid there filled with disappointment and fear and sadness. All the old feelings came back from the previous five pregnancies.<br /><br />Now don't get me wrong. My first three were by FAR worse. Throwing up so much I would throw up blood from my stomach lining. That hasn't happened the last three pregnancies. The part I am not sure of is: are my pregnancies improving because some women who struggle with hyperemesis get better with each pregnancy or because I am understanding hyperemesis more and more with each pregnancy? Not sure.<br /><br /><a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2015/03/morning-sickness-tips.html" target="_blank">Here is my post from my last pregnancy on tips for morning sickness.</a> I stand by each of those tips this time as well! I only take about 1/2-1 zofran pill a day. So that is super good. I broke the tiny pill up into quarters this time and I am so glad I did! I know there are many lawsuits out on zofran and I want to take the bare minimum.<br /><br />So, guess what though?! This time, my sixth time fighting hyperemesis, I have only thrown up like 3 times and I am pretty sure that is because the stomach bug was going around our house at that time! Crazy. So what changed? Not much really. But I did one thing MORE that I think made a difference.<br /><br />I rested a lot more. I STAYED IN BED EVERY MORNING UNTIL 9:30 OR 10:00. Sounds like such a simple thing but I truly believe it made all the difference. Here's the sad part. I fear that some of my hyperemesis friends don't have the luxury I have in being able to do this. My husband is able to go in later to work and just stay later at work. I have a 7 and 8 year old that are a BIG help. And I have inlaws close (about 3 doors up the street) that can help too! If you struggle with hyperemesis I HIGHLY recommend figuring something out where you can do this.<br /><br />We did hire a couple young ladies from our church to come a couple mornings so that Scott could get to work. That may be an option for some of you. Do you know of a family with young ladies that could lend you a helping hand in the morning? I highly recommend having a plan BEFORE you get pregnant. Simplify your morning routine. Have your older kids understand how much life will change when you get pregnant. And stay in bed.<br /><br />I would just lay there and Scott would bring me my peanut butter toast and I would suck on my apple sauce packets. Every night I fill <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Reusable-Food-Pouch-Pack-Homemade/dp/B00TXBSHBQ/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1454363806&sr=8-7&keywords=baby+food+packets" target="_blank">three of these</a> with no sugar added applesauce. I eat them through out the night when my nausea wakes me up and it's perfect because I don't have to move much to eat it... you just kind of suck it down. In the morning there is usually some left and I finish that while my husband gets me my toast. And then I lay there for 2-3 hours. I don't drink ANYTHING until after noon. Fluids make my nausea worse.<br /><br />After I get out of bed I move to my recliner and "run the house" from there. With<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=ace+paces&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCQ&nav_search=1&cms=1" target="_blank"> homeschooling with ACE</a> curriculum I just assign my big kids 4 pages in each pace and then have them bring them to me when they are done to correct them. It's also good just sitting there because I am fully available for questions and teaching.<br /><br />The worst of my nausea seems to be behind me already! I started feeling much better and noticing that I wasn't taking any zofran around 14 weeks. That is early for me and very exciting. Some days are better than others but I am seeing glimpses of normal. People just don't appreciate normal :)<br /><br />Hyperemesis is debilitating and depressing but as <a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2015/09/why-more-kids.html" target="_blank">my husband and I have yielded our family planning to God </a> I am learning to embrace it as a part of my life for a while. Some people get terribly sick and that's all they get. I get sick and get a wonderful new life added to our home. I have learned to appreciate the ability to move around and clean a house more than others who haven't experienced this form of suffering. I am thankful.<br /><br />Please feel free to ask any questions in the comments. I find great joy in encouraging mamas with hyperemesis. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-36193858001360029732016-01-20T10:12:00.002-08:002016-01-20T10:13:11.388-08:00Are Your Kids Doing Your Job Mama? <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I have been sitting A LOT the last 7 weeks. My <a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2015/03/morning-sickness-tips.html" target="_blank">morning sickness</a> started at about 6 weeks and I am 13 weeks now. It usually lets up around 17 weeks. I am so looking forward to being on my feet more and being about my normal day to day activities and chores! I hate sitting around like this. But I am thankful for something it has caused me to contemplate.<br /><br />I am sure you have all heard the saying: "Good parenting is working yourself out of a job." While I get the gist of it, I don't like it overall. Here is why. It feels like I have been out of a job these last 7 weeks as I shout orders from my recliner. I feel like this lazy woman (I know, I'm not...but it FEELS that way) barking at my little servants to do... my job.<br /><br />We SHOULD train our children. They SHOULD be helping us because they live at home too and should be contributing when it comes to it's upkeep. <b>BUT I am noticing something that is happening. I feel like more and more moms are spending more and more time on their computers/i-phones and less and less time keeping the home. </b>Which we are commanded to do.<br /><br /><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><i>"...encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, </i></span><span class="highl" style="background-color: #fff4ec; text-align: justify;"><i style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">to be sensible, pure, WORKERS AT HOME, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored."</i><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> Titus 2:4-5</span></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: #fdfeff;"><i style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">"So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to MANAGE THEIR HOMES and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander."</i><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> 1 Timothy 5:14 </span></span><br /><br /><b><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">When we aren't keeping and managing the home we are allowing the word of God to be dishonored and we are allowing the enemy opportunity for slander. </span></span></b><br /><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Keeping the home WELL is no joke. There are many things that can be done everyday to make our homes run more smoothly and efficiently. <b>We as the managers and keepers of the home are deciding everyday how well our homes will run and how chaotic and messy our homes will be. </b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">In a day and age where we have so many conveniences (dishwasher, vacuums, washer, dryer etc.) there is really no excuse for a home to not be managed/kept well. Some of us, myself included, need to be asking: "Are my kids doing my job?" The Lord has not called our children to manage and keep the home. Yes we should be training them and it will bless them later in life if we do so, but we should never be barking orders from our sofa all day with the laptop and i-phone in front of us because we are too indulgent and selfish. If our homes are falling apart it's on our shoulders.<br /><br />I will be the first to admit I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to keeping the home. My poor mother always worked full time outside the home and she never really gave any thought to training us. I am starting from scratch AND I am a very un-organzied person by nature. But I know God wants me to keep my home well and so I know He will answer my prayers to be a better at it. I pray to Him for wisdom on how to be the best keeper of the home I can be.<br /><br />Don't embitter your children toward you. Don't make them question if mom is training them or just being lazy. We are called the keepers of the home and we need to live up to that title. </span></span></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-44172406706391838852016-01-12T21:56:00.001-08:002016-01-12T21:57:06.238-08:00I Get My Groceries Delivered AND Save Money!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I love Safeway. I like their quality. I like their options. I just don't like their prices. But here's the good news! I have figured out how to shop at Safeway, get my groceries delivered for free, get a dollar off a gallon at the gas station AND save 25-45% off my grocery bill EVERY time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's how I do it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1) Go to <a href="http://www.safeway.com/">http://www.safeway.com/</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2) Sign up for: Just For U and for grocery delivery (you will have to sign up for both separately).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3) Go to Just For U and "clip" coupons. It doesn't get much easier than this! You just push the button "add" and it's put on to your account! Easiest couponing ever! ALWAYS look for a 20 cent gas reward coupon. This means for every $100 you spend you will get 20 cents off a gallon. (sometimes even more!) I also just saved $10 off on frozen pizzas with my just for u coupons!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">4) Go to your grocery delivery account.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">5) Look for the promo codes that you need. Obviously you will want the one for FREE DELIVERY. This will mean that you have to purchase at least $150 worth of groceries (which is easy for me because I shop about every 1-2 weeks) and purchase 5 items from a list. I only buy 5 items that are on sale. Look for other promo codes that apply to your shopping list. For example, I had cereal on my list. I found a promo code that said: Save $3 when you purchase three of these cereals. I looked through the list to find ones that were already on sale. That means I got three bags of cereal already on sale and then an additional dollar off each one with that promo code. All with the push of a button from my comfy chair in the living room! :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">6) Always be sure to check out the buy one get one free sales. You can't beat that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">7) Next click "online savings" and click on "club card specials". Go through your list and only buy what is on the card savings. Always check what items are per ounce to make sure you are getting the best deal. My shopping list sometimes evolves as I shop online to get the best deals. Sometimes I don't get something on my list if it's not on sale.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">8) Go to checkout after you have gone through your list and accrued at least $150 worth of groceries and enter your promo codes. Then pick a delivery time. (they have only been late for me once!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's like a mama of five littles dream come true!! Someone does the shopping in the store for me, loads it up in the truck, brings it to my door at a time when I am ready for it! Doesn't get any better than that :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I know some of you out there are like: "I save way more money going here, there and everywhere." It's just not worth the few dollars I might save to drive all over the place wasting more gas and time. Time is a PRICELESS thing for me right now as I am pregnant, homeschooling and keeping a home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So whatcha think? Gonna try it out?!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-89654235218293197042016-01-12T10:24:00.001-08:002016-01-12T11:29:05.114-08:00Go To Church<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /><br />We've all heard it: "I don't GO to church because we ARE the church."</b> I get it. I know the body of Christ is the church. But saying: "I am going to the corporate gathering of believers" is too long so we say "I am going to church". Many now say: "I don't go to church anymore. The church left me wounded. It's full of hypocrites."<br /><br />Here is my response to that. <b>Everyone is wounded in life. Family wounds us. Friends wound us. Church wounds us. Life wounds us. That doesn't mean we check out of all those things.</b> <u>Being hurt is part of life. </u>Those who grow and mature from it are happier in life than those who "just can't move on". </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Being a pastor's wife the last five years has greatly increased my appreciation for the local church. My appreciation for GOING to church...consistently... week after week has grown. <b>I see a difference in the lives of those who sporadically go and those who come every Sunday giving of themselves and being given to. </b><br /><br />There is a "movement" to leave church. To walk away. To "do church in homes like the first believers did". I have not seen the sort of accountability and church government I believe God desires in these home churches. There is almost a sort of pride that I see from people I know who are like this. They look down on us silly Christians that meet in a "building". Um... a home is a building too. Ours is just bigger and functions better for how many people come here. Jesus went to the synagogues often. Once Christianity came on the scene there were no church buildings because it had just begun.<br /><br /><b>I do see the benefit of meeting in homes. </b>That's why our church has so many home fellowships through out the week. I see how they encourage closer relationships and I am thankful for them, but I also see the benefit of having a place to meet corporately. I see the blessing of having a pastor study all week and present the Word of God to us each week as God feeds His sheep through that man.<br /><br /><b>No local church body is perfect. Just like you aren't perfect. No local church body lacks in hypocrites but I am pretty sure if I asked those who live with you if you are ever hypocritical there would be a resounding yes.</b> <u>The church exists for Christ and His glory, not you and your feelings. </u>Being plugged into a local church body of believers is a blessing not only for you but those around you! It is such a gift to be part of local body of believers that you can benefit from and that can benefit from the gifts God has given you.<br /><br />Go to church. Go to a church that says: "Turn with me in your bibles to...." Go to a church where there is an emphasis on destroying sin and rejoicing in your salvation. Get plugged into a local body. It provides accountability and encouragement. It provides a place you can consistently go to and feel like home. It provides a family like you have never known.<br /><br />One of the biggest gifts I have witnessed for myself and for those in our church is the sense of community that we have!<b> Oh the joy to know that if you go through something tough that your church family will definitely be there for you.</b> Oh the joy of mourning with those who mourn and rejoicing with those who rejoice. Sharing life with brothers and sisters in Christ is how God designed us to live and yet so many forfeit this.... You were not meant to live on an island by yourself. <b>You and your family were designed to be living life with your brothers and sisters in Christ through all the ups and downs. You were meant to have relationships with people that endure and withstand all those conflicts and annoyances. </b><br /><br />Don't buy into the lie that you don't need to be part of a local church body. <b>Don't believe that you are too good for all those churches that just "can't get their act together". You're pretty messed up yourself. Just like me and everyone else. </b><br />Once you get plugged in, <b>expect to be let down. Expect to be hurt. Expect to be disappointed. But also expect to grow and be challenged. Expect to be loved.</b> Look for ways to encourage others and don't go to church with such a critical heart. Look for ways to bless others and don't just sit there waiting to be blessed.<br /><br /><b>Go to church. </b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-52612187825664925692015-11-16T22:30:00.001-08:002015-11-17T10:13:48.841-08:00My Christian Friend Had Abortions...<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had our fifth ladies conference here at <a href="http://woodlandchristian.net/" target="_blank">Woodland Christian Church</a> last week. It was wonderful. The theme was "Finding Hope". I loved every minute of it. But there was one part in particular that was so very special to me. My friend shared "a testimony of hope". She shared how she had abortions and how God has brought hope into her life since then. I asked her permission to share parts of it! I pray it blesses, educates you and humbles you as it did me!<br /><br />"Abortion has affected me in many ways. I'll start with how it has affected my relationship with God since that relationship has a ripple effect into every aspect of my life.<br /><br /><b>I have never felt fully forgiven by God, which ultimately has kept me a good arms length away from Him.</b> I constantly asked for forgiveness and was continually repenting. I would talk about being forgiven because I believed what the bible has to say about His forgiveness grace and mercy. <b>Yet I continued to feel like I was not fully embraced. </b>Not intimately nestled under His wing as I know other Christians are.<br /><br />If that's how I felt with my Lord and Savior, the most loving and gracious Being, <b>you can see how that would pour over into every single relationship I have. </b>Some of you may relate, some of you don't and some of you seasoned Christians know that the the problem lies with me and not Christ.<br /><br /><b>What changed? How was I able to allow God to fully embrace me as His forgiven, clean precious daughter? Well it's been a process and some of it is very fresh.</b><br /><br />I remember the moment the scales fell from my eyes and I was clearly able to see that abortion was sin...murder to be exact. I read the Bible and went to church so I fully understood that I was forgiven yet it didn't set me free. I was constantly reminded of how much worse I was than all the ladies around me at Sunday school, Bible study, church, or even just hanging out.<br /><br />Sometimes I would get mad (silently). Most of the time I just felt dumb. <b>The best way form to explain it would be for you to imagine yourself sitting in a bible study (or at any event really) and you have chocolate pudding literally all over your face. You're trying to hang with the gals and be as normal as possible. Smiling, talking...yet you know you have pudding all over your face and that's all anyone can think about as we just muscle through our time together. </b><br /><br />That picture I just drew for you is just one ugly side effect sin can have on our lives. Me feeling that way has absolutely nothing to do with the ladies I'm hanging out with and has everything to do with me and my sin. Abortion goes deep. It has lasting and deep consequences. How could I ever be that close to anyone with chocolate pudding all over my face? right?!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My 17 year old daughter and I were on a walk one afternoon something struck me HARD that she said to me. It prompted this conversation. <b>She was talking about her struggles and pains that she's endured and mentioned how much she always wished for an older brother that could have watched out for her or had an older sisters shoulder to cry on. She even went on to say that she didn't feel like she should have been the oldest but has embraced it and tried her hardest to be the older sibling she never had. </b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><u><b>My heart caved into my chest at that moment. I fought back tears and told her she wasn't the oldest. She did have an older brother and older sister. She looked at me with absolute shock. I had to confess that in my selfishness I took that away from her. I not only robbed her of the role God created for her as a little sister, I robbed her siblings of life. I went into great detail about how much abortion changes God's intended plans for generations. I explained that regardless of the circumstances, abortion is always a product of pure selfishness. Little did I know, that conversation would save my grandsons life 4 months later. All the glory to God!! </b></u></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">All sins are not the same according to God's written word. The impact of them, the influence of them and the consequences are not the same.<a href="http://woodlandchristian.net/player.php?src=01-04-2015" target="_blank"> I'm not going to spend too much time on this because pastor Scott has broken this down really well in his sermon on abortion. You can listen to it on the woodland Christian church website.</a> I really encourage all you ladies take a listen! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some of the highlighted scriptures are:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">1st Corinthians <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_945878406" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">6:18</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hebrews <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_945878407" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">12:15</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Proverbs <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_945878408" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">6:17</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Genesis <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_945878409" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">4:10</span></span> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Numbers 35:33 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Psalm 106:38</span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Those scriptures were key in my healing process. No one wants to tell a hurting woman searching for relief from her own sin that her sin is worse than others, but the reality is my sin is much worse than others. I needed to acknowledge that so that I could fully embrace God's grace when He told me yes, your sin is worse but you are EQUALLY FORGIVEN!</span></b></div>
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<u><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That's when It broke. </span></u></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The crippling grip keeping me distant from God. I am equally forgiven. I am equally clean. I am equally precious. I wouldn't know this kind of grace and forgiveness if I wasn't going to church, willing to listen to God's word and accept the hard truth about myself and my sin.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">His word has brought me true healing. True hope and real peace even though I don't deserve it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 John 2:2 says "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Atoning means to make up, as for errors or deficiencies. Obsolete. To become reconciled.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Romans 8:6 says "the mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the spirit is LIFE and PEACE."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I<b>'m finally experiencing life, peace and healing that other women are searching for but keep missing because they believe the ear tickling lies of the world</b>. These lies come wrapped in all shapes and sizes. Do not be fooled. Sadly some women are actually <b>"shouting their abortions"</b>. It's a sight where you publicly and proudly shout out your abortion. This is a desperate attempt to feel justified in their sin. You get one or the other, self-righteous justification or humbly accepting a beautiful gift of gracious forgiveness that sets you free. I've been given such hope not just through my repentance but accepting His forgiveness.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>If I could give a struggling woman one piece of advice it would be to make Christian friends. The advice and prayer a Christian friend gives is priceless. </b>Even though our past and our sins may be very different, we have something wonderful in common, we are equally forgiven sinners! We are equally loved by our creator.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'll end with some unsolicited advice to Christian women who may not know they are speaking to a woman that has had an abortion.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Continue to speak out against abortion. Don't be shy about it. Its very important to stand firm in voicing what an atrocious and heinous crime abortion is. <b>Talk about the biblical view of children. Talk about what a gift and blessing they are</b>. <b><u>Realize that abortion is a very spiritually evil act and please understand that an argument with a pro choice woman is one of spiritual nature not common sense that can't be hashed out with lots of words but rather prayer.</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When you are talking about sin or making a point or comparison don't ever compare what they've done to murder. You don't know how many times I've heard the comment "Well it's not like you've committed murder" in a discussion about sin. And sadly yes I have and many others have as well. <b>All that does is make us feel that much more unforgivable.</b> That much farther away from God than others. So undeserving of His grace. And believe me, even as of right now I feel very unworthy of sharing any of this. Its such a battle to even speak about this. <b>I'm only sharing this out of obedience to Christ and to bring hope and peace to others."</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-13296700721749038532015-10-06T09:37:00.000-07:002015-10-06T09:37:36.799-07:00Top Five Areas I Am Simplifying In My Life<span style="font-size: large;"><br />I am craving simplicity in my life right now. Having five children eight and under will do that. It seems life is all about moving from one season to the next and finding a "new normal" and finding a new normal is always easier if your life is simpler. Here are the top five areas I am seeking to simplify.<br /><br /></span><b style="font-size: x-large;"><u>#1 Wardrobe:</u></b><span style="font-size: large;"> Have you heard of the "10 rule"? It's where you have only 10 shirts/blouses, 10 bottoms (skirts and/or jeans) and 10 winter tops. May still seem like a lot to some of you... but not to this "clothes hoarder"! :) The other issue with clothes for me is the season of childbearing years. My weight fluctuates within a 50 lb range so it's hard for me to get rid of clothes knowing that I might need them some day. Either way, I am seeking to implement the "10 rule". </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>#2 Schedule/Commitments:</u></b> When Scott and I first moved to WA I wanted to be involved in and head up everything! Now I am barely involved in anything. My only consistent commitment, outside the home, is to be the nursery coordinator for church. I also plan a ladies' conference once a year and that's pretty much it. I am not in a season right now that enables me to be involved in many things and that's okay.<b> My main objective in life is to serve Christ and I serve Him best right now by serving my husband and children.</b> <a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2014/11/our-familys-daily-routine.html" target="_blank">Here is a simple sample of our average daily schedule. </a> <b>Another way to simplify my life/schedule is to make as few trips "into town" as possible. </b>I do much of my shopping online through amazon.com and safeway.com (you can get free delivery and better prices by shopping online!... I am thinking of doing a separate post just on how to safe the most possible on safeway.com and get your groceries delivered to your door AND get a big gas discount!)<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>#3 Meal Planning:</u></b> One friend of mine recommended that I ask my husband which two areas in my stay at home endeavors were most important to him. He said: house cleaning and homeschooling. Meal planning came in last. So our meals are very simple. <b>Cereal, toast or oatmeal for breakfast. Lunch is almost always "homemade lunchables" (just grab a variety of crackers, lunch meats and cheese and put on fun tray) or sandwiches with a choice of fruit. And dinner is either: tacos, homemade pizza, homemade almond flour pancakes, pasta with veggies, quesadillas, or soup/chili with homemade bread. (I also throw in a "ninja smoothie" with at least one meal a day which consists of frozen fruit, mixed greens and water). </b>Simple but yummy and pretty healthy. If your husband just wants his favorites made consistently and on time consider writing down his favorites and then picking a day of the week that corresponds with each meal: "Taco Tuesday", "Lasagna Wednesday", "Chili Thursday" etc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>#4 Homeschooling:</u></b> <a href="http://www.aceministries.com/homeschool/" target="_blank">I have chosen ACE</a>. It was tempting to keep looking and looking at all of the bajillion choices out there but we are happy with ACE and I love that we just set the workbooks out for each child in the morning and they get to work. So much easier than making all those lesson plans for all sorts of curriculum! The kids do about four pages a day and I supplement with extra reading and <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/maps-charts-graphs-the-places-around/9780813621326/pd/621321?product_redirect=1&Ntt=621321&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP" target="_blank">geography</a> workbooks. They are each on time or ahead of their grade level. We usually do our homeschooling in the morning right after breakfast and finish by noon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>#5 Stuff:</u></b> De-cluttering your life is the quickest and most efficient way to simplify your life!<a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2014/08/toys.html" target="_blank"> Click here to read a post I did a while back on decluttering our toys</a> (<b>often one of the main culprits in messiness in homes with lots of littles). </b>I think that I throw away between 5-10 things DAILY. Clutter makes messes and complicates our lives and if you're anything like me, stress us out! So grab a few garbage bags and run around your home right now and <b>grab whatever is not useful or beautiful and toss it </b>or bring it to salvation army and let it clutter someone else's home :)<br /><br />How about you? What are some ways you are seeking to simplify your life? Share in the comments below. </span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-43893873731267445902015-09-22T21:42:00.001-07:002015-09-23T11:07:21.777-07:00Organizing and Homemaking Links and Advice!<span style="font-size: large;"><br />In June I told you I was <a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2015/06/im-going-back-to-school.html" target="_blank">"going back to school" </a> and I have! I promised I would be sharing with you some things I have been learning and so here you go! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Places online and products that have blessed me!:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.deeprootsathome.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.deeprootsathome.com/</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><a href="http://strangersandpilgrimsonearth.blogspot.com/">http://strangersandpilgrimsonearth.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.raisingarrows.net/">http://www.raisingarrows.net/</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.familyvisionfilms.com/Homemaking-101-201_p_112.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">I bought these wonderful videos on homemaking and highly recommend them! So blessed by the simple example of this keeper of the home!</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><b><u>5 simple pieces of advice that have helped me tremendously!:</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>#1. Don't put it down, put it away.</b> I have to repeat this to myself through out the day! so hard to do when you have lived a life of putting things down rather than putting them away. Which brings me to number 2.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>#2. Everything has a place and there is a place for everything.</b> Now putting things away rather than putting them down only works if those things have a place to go. I can't believe how much cleaner my home looks when I have a place for everything! If there is no place and I don't have room then I give it away. Which brings me to number 3.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>#3. Get rid of what you don't use. </b>Sounds so simple doesn't it?! But it's not! Here are four reasons it's hard to get rid of stuff and four reasons you still should.<br /><u>1) "I might use it someday."</u> Go on a major purging expedition in your home. Go through each room (with your kids if you want) with giant black garbage bags and have one bag that represents things you definitely want to give away and then another "I might use it someday bag". Then, <b>take the ones you are giving away and load them up in your car and drive them to the thrift store THAT DAY, don't delay</b> or the bags will probably just lay around. Next, take your "I might use it someday bags" and put them in some closet. <b>Go to your calendar and skip three months ahead exactly and write: "Get rid of those bags". Whatever is left in those bags (that you didn't have to take out because you didn't have to use it) is what you take to the thrift store THAT DAY that you wrote on the calendar three months in advance.</b> If you didn't use it in the last three months you probably won't use it. Worse case scenario you have to go to a thrift store and buy one. Just as a note, I have only regretted one thing I have gotten rid of: my massage table I paid like 500 bucks for that thing and sold it for 75 and now I wish I could give my husband and kid's massages on it. But considering the hundreds (yes hundreds) of things I have gotten rid of, having only one regret isn't bad :) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>2) "Someone gave it to me."</u> Yes, and someoneS are going to continue to give you lots of things. <b>You shouldn't be bound to keep things just because someone gave you something.</b> People who know me well know I don't keep things and so they give to me sparingly and that is okay because I am upfront with people that material gifts are definitely not my love language. <b>More stuff means more things to find places for (see #1 and #2) which means more of my time which means less time doing the things I love which means more stress.</b> I have gotten rid of quilts, pictures, drawings, glass thingeys and souvenir stuff that people have given me. So just a heads up, don't buy me anything. Hang out with me instead. Pray for me. Bless my children with a trip to the library or park. Try to do the same in communicating this to your loved ones. Let them know what would really bless you: a cup of coffee, free babysitting, email encouragement... things that don't clutter your home and make you feel guilty for throwing away! I have had to tell my parents and my husband's parents to give each child one present for Christmas and their birthdays. No more than that. One special gift is plenty and less likely to be thrown in the trash :)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>3) "It's pretty."</u> There are lots of pretty things out there. Now, I don't have a problem with having a few pretty things I really love. Like this one chalk board I made out of an old painting my daughter had. But <b>the key is to have just a <u>few</u> pretty things.</b> Some people think way too many things are pretty when really they are just adding to the messiness of their homes and making their overall homes less pretty. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>4) "It's a sentimental object." </u>Oh yes. <b>This is probably the toughest for people.</b> At times, even hard for me. I still have my mom's mother of the bride dresses from my sister and my wedding. Not sure why. I think I'll get rid of those asap. I just took my wedding dress to a wedding dress consignment store and that was a great call. I do have a few pieces of my mom's jewelry as well... but that's about it. I don't think I struggle with this one as much as most but <b>it saddens me when I see people unable to let go of sentimental things. Not just one or two things but people who have closets just of things they don't want to get rid of. Things that serve their current living situation or family in no way. Things that add to the clutter and messiness of their homes all in the name of sentimentality. </b>Pray and ask the Lord to help you sort through why you are attached to something and see if it would be best overall to part with these things. They are just things. "<i><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. </span><span class="highl" style="background-color: #fff4ec; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.</span></i><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"> "Col. 3:1-2 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> “<i>Don't lay up treasures for yourselves on the </i></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><i>earth</i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><i>, where moth. and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; 20: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor. rust consume, and where thieves don't break through and steal.</i>" Matthew 6:19-20 </span>Which brings me to #4. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><b><u>#4. Keep an eternal perspective.</u></b> When it comes to clutter ask the Lord to give you an eternal perspective. Everything, I mean <b>EVERYTHING that you can set your eyes on will not come with you. </b>It is all temporary. But the ministry you provide out of your home serves an eternal purpose. The way you keep your home will effect your ministry in the home in positive or negative ways. You do view homemaking as a ministry right? It's a ministry to your children, your husband and all your guests. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Remember, people before things, always! Practicing hospitality is a command not a gift some people have and it is a command much easier to live out if you have a orderly, non-cluttered home. </span><b style="font-size: x-large;">Pray the Lord helps you to view your home from the perspective of eternity. </b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>#5. Your morning begins the night before. </u></b>This little saying has helped me to enjoy my days much more. When I spend too much valuable evening time on the computer and not enough time sweeping, doing dishes, setting out clothes, finishing up laundry, writing my to-do-list/schedule for the next day, I always pay for it in the morning.<b> How our mornings go often determine how our entire day will go. </b>So don't waste your evenings! Use them for your mornings!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBYned4_eYjZYRcm5v_gcVeC-cQIKbEfmrlMFCmaFzroCTvT3V7Tn6GYs9WkfiTsM45Wh-MiqJGjuyL5UUEZSrivgdQUApLCUhwmJxW5WdYIlFf_2jQLZhIMjNhrCrHRHNafM5sfC9go/s1600/Set-your-mind-on-things-above2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBYned4_eYjZYRcm5v_gcVeC-cQIKbEfmrlMFCmaFzroCTvT3V7Tn6GYs9WkfiTsM45Wh-MiqJGjuyL5UUEZSrivgdQUApLCUhwmJxW5WdYIlFf_2jQLZhIMjNhrCrHRHNafM5sfC9go/s320/Set-your-mind-on-things-above2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source: thewordshared.net</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />How about you? What is one practical piece of homemaking advice that you use daily? Which one of my pieces of advice spoke to the most? Share in the comments below!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-45353487011084106342015-09-10T16:26:00.000-07:002015-09-10T16:26:58.188-07:00Why More Kids?!<span style="font-size: large;"><br />"I couldn't handle 5 kids!"<br /><br />"I was done at 2."<br /><br />"I just don't have the patience for that many kids."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Why have more kids? How are you going to have a relationship with each of them?!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have heard these statements and questions many times. "Why have more kids?" I like to reply with: "Why not?" I don't know about you, but many of my own answers to the "why not?" are selfish. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>We are allowing God to plan our family size because:</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">*I want everyone that God wants here, here.<br /><br />*I don't want one little person to be missing from our family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">*I know that God uses children to refine us in major ways to make us more like His Son.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">*I believe He designed us to have children. He designed us with a desire to be intimate and out of that intimacy He designed conception. (<a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2014/11/are-you-depriving-your-husband.html" target="_blank">p.s. I know intimacy has more purposes than just making babies</a>) Preventing pregnancy goes against His design and His desire to bless us with the wonderful gift of a child! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">*Children are forever. I don't like messing with deciding if a little one that lasts forever exists in the first place. That's too big of a decision for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">*My husband has the conviction to let God lead in all areas of life including family planning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">*Children are presented as a blessing, gift and reward and why turn that down from our Creator? He presents debt as a curse and children as a blessing... it seems our culture is embracing the wrong one.<br /><br /><u><b>I am not doing this:<br /></b></u><br />*Because I want a whole bunch of kids.<br /><br />*Because I am so good at being a mom (I am not a very good one. Especially with babies.)<br /><br />*Because I want to earn extra points in heaven.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">*Because I love being pregnant (I hate it actually because I have 9 month all day "morning" sickness). </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihr8rFjEgliLwGTMJPrPtm3slVsmqqIVuNxx4uagVvD6owLI1x7k5zywpABNA_Zbi0j5akuXgZtaYEPYqHkOX914rj482pA1xRBjm-cs9bM-QwjaM7sveCmIxrQmI3KEKMOpND2wkJcy8/s1600/IMG_20141225_043456_499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihr8rFjEgliLwGTMJPrPtm3slVsmqqIVuNxx4uagVvD6owLI1x7k5zywpABNA_Zbi0j5akuXgZtaYEPYqHkOX914rj482pA1xRBjm-cs9bM-QwjaM7sveCmIxrQmI3KEKMOpND2wkJcy8/s320/IMG_20141225_043456_499.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am with our second "reversal baby". Chloe Marie.<br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So.... What are your reasons for the way you "family plan"?<br /><br /><u><b>Further Reading: </b></u><br /><a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2013/04/reversing-our-decsion.html" target="_blank">My first blog post about our vasectomy reversal</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nurseryofthenation.com/search/label/Children%20as%20Blessings" target="_blank">Love these thoughts from Barbie at "In the Nursery of the Nation" </a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2015/09/worldview-of-children-our-view-does-change-the-world.html" target="_blank">Kelly Crawford with Generation Cedar</a><br /><br /><a href="https://thefullquiverhomeschoolhouse.wordpress.com/tag/holly-elliff/" target="_blank">A neat interview by Holly Elliff on Revive Our Hearts</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-8110727195210319082015-09-01T14:31:00.002-07:002015-09-01T14:39:35.253-07:00My Favorite Places Online!<span style="font-size: large;"><br />The internet can be such a blessing... <a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2015/08/facebook-reflections.html" target="_blank">and a distraction</a>. Let's use it more for the blessing part and look for ways to build ourselves and our homes up spiritually! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some of my favorite places to do that:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Looking for some awesome audio messages on godly womanhood?! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.reviveourhearts.com/resource-library/programs/p/Revive%20Our%20Hearts/topic/Womanhood/">https://www.reviveourhearts.com/resource-library/programs/p/Revive%20Our%20Hearts/topic/Womanhood/</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A great resource for bible study! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/">https://www.biblegateway.com/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our associate pastor's wife's blog! I met her through her wonderful blog! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://jessconnell.com/">http://jessconnell.com/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have been following Kelly's blog for years and have been so encouraged! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.generationcedar.com/main/">http://www.generationcedar.com/main/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another great resourse for bible study! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/">http://www.blueletterbible.org/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Got questions about the bible or Christianity in general? This place has solid answers! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.gotquestions.org/">http://www.gotquestions.org/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our church website and audio sermon page! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://woodlandchristian.net/messages.php?show=messages">http://woodlandchristian.net/messages.php?show=messages</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Endless sermon options here!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.sermonaudio.com/main.asp">http://www.sermonaudio.com/main.asp</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Looking for solid homeschooling info?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://www.christianheritageonline.org/">https://www.christianheritageonline.org/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Looking for godly tv? Hard to find I know. Look no further! Joni did an awesome job creating a tv series that will build your family up! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.joniandfriends.org/television/">http://www.joniandfriends.org/television/</a></span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-63635659166788014672015-08-31T21:58:00.000-07:002015-08-31T22:02:33.702-07:00Facebook Reflections<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br />I have been off facebook for four months now. My original intention was to just take a month off but after my first month off I realized I didn't want to get back on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When you are not on the biggest social network in the world you may feel a little left out but you will probably get a lot more done in the real world. There are those rare people that some how "don't check their facebook much" but I don't know many... most seem to check it constantly and then recheck it.... like I did. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">About 6 months ago I was asking the Lord what His will was for my life and it is answered quite simply in Titus 2: <u>to keep my home, to love my husband and to love my children</u>. </span></b><span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, facebook wasn't part of the list. So I thought I would take a month off and that month turned into four months. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2015/02/children-annoy-homemaking-boring.html" target="_blank">This post by Kelly Crawford also convicted the socks off of me! </a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I have been reflecting lately: "what is it about facebook that makes it so appealing and for some, addictive?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Here are three possible answers to that question:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>1. Everyone wants to be affirmed. </u></b>We all love to hear: "good job!" "I believe in you!" "I like you!" We all enjoy a nice compliment, but sometimes that craving can get unhealthy and <b>before we know it we are craving the approval of man more than the approval of God.</b> It is His opinion that matters most! It is His opinion we should crave the most! It is His "like" that we should be looking for! <b>You have all the affirmation you will ever need in Christ. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>2. Everyone wants to be heard. </u></b>One of my children in particular wants to be heard. So much so that when he is not heard his eyes often fill with tears. <b>Some adults are like that too. </b>They just want to be heard! They just want to vent whatever is on their mind and have others say: "I hear you." Facebook provides this for many people. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>3. Everyone wants to feel connected.</u></b> We are made to be social, hence the word "social network". <b>Facebook provides a sort of crack-cocaine form of feeling connected.</b> God designed us to feel like part of a community and facebook provides that... in a way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Here is something to think about though: <br /><b><br />Is the facebook world robbing our families of the opportunity to be the ones that primarily affirm us, hear us and make us feel connected?</b><br /><b><br />Are we so tuned into our computer and phone screens that the very ones God put around us are not able to love us the way He designed because we are so distracted by our facebook family? </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Not everyone needs to get off facebook. But for now, it is best for me. My hope is not that this post makes anyone feel condemned but that it makes you think about why you are on facebook and if you are letting it rob you of the real life relationships and duties God has given you right within the four walls of your home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands." 1 Thess. 4:11</span></i></span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-12194196405582846782015-08-28T11:38:00.000-07:002015-08-28T11:39:54.854-07:004 Ways to Nurture Your Marriage In Busy Times<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>It's easy to pay attention to your husband and put his needs first when it's just the two of you. But when you throw 2, 3, 5, 8 kids into the mix it makes things a lot more difficult.</b> Add to that homeschooling and ministry and you are bound to be scrambling just to keep your head on straight much less figuring out how to pour into your marriage. But it's easier than you think! <u>Here are four ways even the busiest wife can nurture her marriage:</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>#1 Smile.</u></b> Weird huh? But when's the last time you intentionally looked at your husband across the room and smiled? A smile can change the whole mood in the home. When your kids are running around like monkeys make an effort to look at him and smile. This is a small way to warm his heart and let him know you not only love him, but you like him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>#2 Text him.</b> </u>Text him things you are thankful for about him. Text him about how thankful you are that he works hard for the family. Text him some of your favorite things about his personality. Text him about how you appreciate his love for your kids. Text him anything during the day that will encourage him and put a little pep in his step!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>#3 Put the kids to bed early and plan a "in home date night".</u></b> Make his favorite dessert and sit together at the dining room table or out on the front porch and talk about your day. It's amazing how much this time together can nurture your marriage and save you money! :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>#4 Touch him.</u></b> Embrace him with a big hug and kiss when he gets home. Hold his hand when you sit together. Lay your head on his chest when you sit next to each other on the couch. Some men are not "touchers" and so you can ignore this one. But <b>it is important that you find out how he does feel loved!</b> Does he light up when you verbally affirm him? Does he seem extra thankful when you serve him his favorite meal or bring him a cup of coffee? Does he beam with joy when you surprise him with a special gift? <b>Figure out what blesses him the most and look for ways to incorporate it into your life! </b>Figuring out your husband's love language and looking for opportunities to do it will be a major way to nurture your marriage. One love language most men share is sexual intimacy. <a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2014/11/are-you-depriving-your-husband.html" target="_blank">Be sure to be available sexually for your husband too! You are the one woman he gets for life to satisfy him and you don't want to disappoint. </a>God has made it very clear in His Word that your body belongs to him too. Don't deny him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>When we pour into our husbands and marriage this way we are nurturing ourselves too! </b>When we feed our marriage we are feeding ourselves! After all, two become one flesh. <b>However you nurture him you nurture you.</b> <br /><br />Please leave a comment and give your own ideas of ways that you nurture your marriage in the midst of busyness. Also let me know if you do one of these four things! Would love to hear how it goes!</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-43776149212939049762015-08-22T16:26:00.004-07:002015-08-22T22:33:20.625-07:00Headcovering Movement<span style="font-size: large;"><br />There seems to be much talk about headcoverings around me lately. In person and on the web.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some great online resources/links I would recommend if you are wanting some further reading/studying.</span><br />
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<a href="http://followthelamb.net/25/SID25614.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">This one is a short book written by India Evangelist K.P. Yohannon.</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here is a great sermon on why wearing a head covering is not cultural but biblical:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=731&v=pe8BZ_Lbwsc">https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=731&v=pe8BZ_Lbwsc</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Here are a number of great articles too: <a href="http://www.headcoveringmovement.com/articles-series">http://www.headcoveringmovement.com/articles-series</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Great video answering why the passage is talking about an actual head covering and not saying that your covering is your hair: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqzYQR2olF4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqzYQR2olF4</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ladies! Don't do what every one else is or isn't doing around you. Decide for yourselves what the Scriptures say. Be sure to read my post on <a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2014/07/why-i-wear-head-covering.html" target="_blank">why I wear a headcovering to public worship. </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 Cor. 11:2-16</span><br />
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px;">
<span class="text 1Cor-11-2" id="en-NLT-28563" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: xx-small;">Instructions for Public Worship</span></h3>
<div class="first-line-none" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text 1Cor-11-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2 </span>I am so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts, and that you are following the teachings I passed on to you.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-11-3" id="en-NLT-28564" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">3 </span>But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NLT-28564a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NLT-28564a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+11&version=NLT#fen-NLT-28564a" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span></span> <span class="text 1Cor-11-4" id="en-NLT-28565" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">4 </span>A man dishonors his head<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NLT-28565b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NLT-28565b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+11&version=NLT#fen-NLT-28565b" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</span> if he covers his head while praying or prophesying.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-11-5" id="en-NLT-28566" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">5 </span>But a woman dishonors her head<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NLT-28566c" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NLT-28566c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+11&version=NLT#fen-NLT-28566c" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</span> if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-11-6" id="en-NLT-28567" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">6 </span>Yes, if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair! But since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved, she should wear a covering.<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NLT-28567d" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NLT-28567d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+11&version=NLT#fen-NLT-28567d" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote d">d</a>]</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text 1Cor-11-7" id="en-NLT-28568" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">7 </span>A man should not wear anything on his head when worshiping, for man is made in God’s image and reflects God’s glory. And woman reflects man’s glory.</span><span class="text 1Cor-11-8" id="en-NLT-28569" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">8 </span>For the first man didn’t come from woman, but the first woman came from man.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-11-9" id="en-NLT-28570" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">9 </span>And man was not made for woman, but woman was made for man.</span><span class="text 1Cor-11-10" id="en-NLT-28571" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">10 </span>For this reason, and because the angels are watching, a woman should wear a covering on her head to show she is under authority.<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NLT-28571e" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NLT-28571e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+11&version=NLT#fen-NLT-28571e" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote e">e</a>]</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text 1Cor-11-11" id="en-NLT-28572" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">11 </span>But among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-11-12" id="en-NLT-28573" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">12 </span>For although the first woman came from man, every other man was born from a woman, and everything comes from God.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text 1Cor-11-13" id="en-NLT-28574" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">13 </span>Judge for yourselves. Is it right for a woman to pray to God in public without covering her head?</span> <span class="text 1Cor-11-14" id="en-NLT-28575" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">14 </span>Isn’t it obvious that it’s disgraceful for a man to have long hair?</span> <span class="text 1Cor-11-15" id="en-NLT-28576" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">15 </span>And isn’t long hair a woman’s pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-11-16" id="en-NLT-28577" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">16 </span>But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-58800212400094800342015-07-30T18:08:00.002-07:002015-07-30T18:12:43.169-07:00The VERY BEST Way to Make Money From Home!<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, are you ready? You want to hear the very best way to make money from home?! Here it goes....</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">DON'T SPEND MONEY!</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yep. That's it. So many women go back to work because "they have to" (don't get me wrong! I know there are cases in which women really do have to go back to work). But <b>many women actually could stay home if they just wouldn't spend the money their husband is making.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I know it's impossible to not spend ANY money, but so many women WASTE money. <b>How many actually buy what they need instead of what they want? How many women are looking for ways to save by not spending rather than shopping the sales? </b>Many of those "sale purchases" are unnecessary and shouldn't have been purchased in the first place!<u> Just because something is on sale doesn't mean you should buy it!</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Think of ALL THE MONEY you would have if you didn't waste it! Think of all the money you would have if you didn't waste it on meals to go because you did a better job planning meals for the week! Think of all the money you would have if you simply stopped spending it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Those $40 shoes that you "have to have", not so much. That "special" toy that you MUST buy your 5 year old only so they can toss it to the side in a week in hopes of getting something else, not so much. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">STOP SPENDING MONEY AND WATCH YOUR MONEY GROW!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it. <br />(Proverbs 21:20)</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, that's my advice for a stay at home business! You will make big bucks for sure!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">P.s. Be sure to check out <a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2014/10/how-we-paid-off-our-mortgage-in-six.html" target="_blank">HOW WE PAID OFF OUR MORTGAGE ON ONE INCOME</a> (I'll give you a hint, a lot of it has to do with NOT SPENDING MONEY :)</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-69447977186748803402015-07-23T10:29:00.000-07:002015-07-26T08:17:18.739-07:005 Ways We Ruin Our Relationships With Our Children<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our relationships with our children can be such a blessing but there may be some ways we are hindering it from being a blessing...especially for them. </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>I would like to encourage you to live in ways that do not embitter your children toward you.</b></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I haven’t had children very long, only 8 years, but I have been in ministry for about 10 years and I have seen some pretty sad and sour relationships between mothers and their children.
<u>Here are the top 5 ways I am seeing parents ruin their relationships with their children:</u></span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>Poor communication.</u> </b></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some parents simply don't talk with their children and when they do it’s often with a loud irritated voice...with annoyance or biting words. We need to be available to our children. We need to be women they can look up to and whom they WANT to talk to. We need to be approachable and not freak out when they share their honest feelings and questions. Freaking out is what makes our children NOT want to communicate with us. </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Speak with your children often. Ask them questions often. Praise them often. Communicate how much you love them and tell them specifically the things about them you are grateful for often. </b>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>Being a bad role model in what a wife should be like. </u></b></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Many sons and daughters have become embittered with their mothers because of how they treat their daddy.</b></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Even if daddy isn’t living out that spiritual leadership role he should, our role as wives is to submit to and honor our husbands. </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>Don’t try and poison your children toward their daddy.</u></b></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Esteem him. Praise his good points. Don’t ever mention his weaknesses to them. Our role is to show them what a godly, submissive, gentle wife looks like. We aren't responsible for our husband's behavior.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>Not loving them.</u></b></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This may seem like a duh point. But it’s one that needs revisiting because it’s easy as a mom to go about life, working through our to do list, making sure the kids are bathed and fed, and forgetting the essential action of love. Titus 2 says that the older women are to instruct the younger women to love their husbands with a friendly love and to love their children with an affectionate love. It’s the greek word </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">philoteknos (Fa-La-Tick-Nos) </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">it’s only used this one time in the new testament. It comes from the greek word phileo which as you know refers to friendly love. </span><b><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The older women are to teach the younger women to have a friendly love toward their husbands AND their children. Why? </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> think it’s because we forget to love this way.</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can often end up loving like servants, meeting their daily needs and training our children in the ways of life but we forget to </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>have fun with them.</b></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>We forget to hold their hand and laugh with them. We forget how much it means to them when we participate in their favorite game, craft or other hobby. </b></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s love our children with that friendly love and shower them with affection, even (or especially) when we don't feel like it or feel like that is our "love language". </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>To truly love others often means doing so outside our comfort zone and against our natural inclinations.
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>Being lazy and expecting them not to be.</u></b> I think this is a relatively new issue. I bettcha 100 years ago children didn't see lazy parents! <b>Our i-phones, televisions and computers constantly tempt us to lay around and shout orders at our kids.</b> They watch us as we spend hours scrolling our phones, watching our favorite episodes on tv and surfing the web for hours while we get frustrated with them for wanting to play with their electronics. Something I have to constantly remind myself is that my children are not my little slaves, yes they have chores, yes they "carry their share" around here, <b>but I am the one called to be the homemaker... I am the one that primarily is called to keep the home</b> and I think many children are embittered toward their parents because their parents expect them to work hard around the home while they lay around.<i style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"> </i>God says:<i style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"> "</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"><i>Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.</i>" (Prov. 18:9) When we are slack in our work at home we are sisters to him who destroys. Let's set an example for our children in working hard and not just shout at them "work harder!".<br /></span></span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><u><b>Being a different mommy at home than you are in public.</b></u></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"> This one hits close to home. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; text-decoration: none;"><b>Can I share a super humiliating moment with you that recently happened? </b><a href="http://scottlapierre.org/" style="font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">My husband</a> and I live in a parsonage. We have a lot of traffic right outside our door often. We have a lot of traffic that consists of our closest friends. Recently one of my friends (who walked through my carport to leave the church, that's how close our home is to the church) confronted me on how I was talking to my kids when I was at home. <b>You see, I don't talk to my kids at home like I would in public and this could potentially make my children very bitter toward me. </b>Lord help me! I told the friend thank you and cringed inside. My immediate response was pride. I thought: "I never get 'a day off'! I'm always 'on'! It's not fair living next to the church! I live in a fish bowl everyday!" <b>And then I was convicted and humbled and started thanking the Lord instead of having a pity party. What a gift that was for my friend to show me what a hypocrite I was! </b>What a gift that was for her to love me enough to rebuke me and reveal very clearly that I was being a different mommy at home than I was in public. <b>Be the same mommy at home as you are in public.</b> The Lord's eyes are never far and we truly have to live for an Audience of One. </span></span></li>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-84524520438196684012015-06-30T15:23:00.000-07:002015-06-30T15:36:39.193-07:00My Second "Non-Babywise" Baby<div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My sweet Chloe was born on December 6th 2014. She was my second homebirth (you can read about my first homebirth <a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-first-homebirth.html" target="_blank">here</a>). The birth went as expected: lots of pain followed by lots of joy :) oh and p.s. this was the first time I didn't find out what I was having and it definitely was NOT all it's cracked up to be. Not doing that again.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheu_nno26vMQMQlUA9onjrcm7hHrJVk12Ondi9SzrWIstwjDJ2m9D1sXYzOmP3FyHEi1xht6M2oY0wg3mVZp1NAOCGWcms2G_19JtbD1KR4V5tDPnmNj67ru1fYflQRyJCi6vQGdvaiMU/s1600/chloe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheu_nno26vMQMQlUA9onjrcm7hHrJVk12Ondi9SzrWIstwjDJ2m9D1sXYzOmP3FyHEi1xht6M2oY0wg3mVZp1NAOCGWcms2G_19JtbD1KR4V5tDPnmNj67ru1fYflQRyJCi6vQGdvaiMU/s320/chloe.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh my goodness! How cute is my Chloe bug?!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had decided when I was pregnant that I would do a "non-babywise" thing again with this baby <a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2013/08/why-i-am-no-longer-babywise.html" target="_blank">as I had done with Charis</a>. Now truth be told I was terrified (slight exaggeration) that I would change my mind... because... well... I do that A LOT. But yeah! I didn't change my mind and <b>I am loving having my sweet Chloe bug on what I call: a go with the flow sleep training schedule. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now "go with the flow" and "schedule" don't usually go together. But I believe I have found a happy balance. <b>Here are my tips on how to not have your baby screaming their head off periodically while also not losing your mind. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>#1. NEVER sleep with your baby.</b> Alright, so I totally just lost half of you right there. But try it out! Sleeping with your baby trains your baby to sleep with you. Duh. But<b> sleeping with you also means lots and lots of nursing and that can often mean no sleep for you or daddy or baby. </b>Now, hey, if you want to sleep with your baby and that's what your husband wants (mine definitely didn't) then by all means go for it.<br /><br /><b>#2. Have a transition plan.</b> My babies when they are first born are placed in the little bassinet and placed next to my bed. When they start to become more aware of their surroundings I transition them to a more private place like a bathroom or closet (big closet with good air flow) that is still close to my bed but far enough away that they don't see me. Around 6 months I transition them to the crib. Chloebug (her nickname) is almost 7 months so has been in her crib for about a month and it's going great! Now, by great, I don't mean: sleeping through the night. That, unlike babywise moms, is not my ultimate goal. I'll sleep later in life. I am able to nurse and go back to sleep and so it's not a big deal to lose out on sleep in 10 min. increments knowing that I am still in my own bed <b>without a baby</b> about 7-8 hours a night. Chloe usually gets up around 1-2 times in an 8 hour period. I nurse her in the dark and lay her right back down with her pacifier (I LOVE THE PACIFIER). Which brings me to number 3.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>#3. Use a pacifier.</b> There are so many oppositions to the pacifier that you can start to fear it's use. I didn't use a pacifier with my third and fourth child and they both still suck their finger (one is 2 and one is 5). Pacifiers can be taken away. Chloe has never shown "nipple confusion" and it never has hindered her nursing. Lastly, <b>I taught her how to take it in and out of her mouth on her own so that I don't have to go in constantly and put it back in.</b> You just practice when they are awake. <b>Pacifiers have also been shown in helping preventing sids. </b>Speaking of that, <u>this is the first baby I have put on their back</u>. I was not too excited about that but my husband insisted that I did and I was petrified of one of our babies dying from sids and us having to live with that if we had them on their tummies. One of my friends is a NICU nurse and she said she has never seen a baby come in who died from sids that was on their back... every single one was on their tummy... put that bit of info together with the fact that our friend's neighbor had just lost a baby to sids and they had the baby on their tummy. So I put Chloe on her back and swaddled her with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant-SwaddleMe-Adjustable-Woodland/dp/B007XL658K/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1435641833&sr=1-1&keywords=swaddle" target="_blank">one of these.</a> It went fine and now she is swaddle free and rolling all around in her crib. I still lay her down on her back and she often chooses to sleep that way now anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>#4. Try feeding your baby whenever they wake up. </b>This idea actually did come from babywise with it's: feed, wake, sleep routine. Chloe wakes up, I nurse her, let her "play" and then lay her down WIDE AWAKE. Now here's the deal though, for the first three months this rarely happens as planned and I am okay with that. I wore Charis (<a href="http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2013/08/why-i-am-no-longer-babywise.html" target="_blank">my first non-babywise baby</a>) a lot the first three months and I did that a lot with Chloe as well. <b>I was so afraid to wear my first "babywise babies" and was so pleasantly surprised that they could still sleep by themselves at night and that I wasn't training them to only sleep on me like I had feared. </b>I never let Chloe and Charis scream like I did with my first three. I would do a "go with the flow schedule/routine" of: sleep, wake, feed, play, sleep. <b>But sometimes I nursed them to sleep and sometimes I would wear them to get them to sleep during the day.</b> By the time they were almost four months old I wasn't wearing them anymore and they were going to sleep happy! <b>I never watched the clock but instead prayed that God with give me motherly wisdom to nurture, love and train my babies as He would have me do, not as man says I should. How did Eve survive without Gary Ezzo telling her what to do?! In fact, she didn't even have a clock! Oh. my. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>#5. Don't stress.</b> Easy right? Ha! Yeah right! Stress is something we as people, especially a Christian people, have to combat daily. Stressing usually is due to a lack of trust in God but in the case of being the mama of a new baby it's often due to just not knowing what to do! It's hard to meet the needs of a little one that can't talk yet! It's hard to know why they are crying again and again. Mothering seems like something that should "come naturally" but just like many things in life, it is a learning process. For some of you though the learning curve isn't as severe because you were raised around babies, I wasn't. But I have found such a profound difference in mothering my fifth baby verses my first. <b>Oh that I could go back and tell myself to chill out!</b> I remember sprinting through the house as fast as I could to pick up Rhea (my firstborn) because she was crying. Now I understand <b>crying is part of life. It's a part of my life as an adult and for a baby.</b> I don't believe in letting my baby cry for long periods of time because frankly that's what "crack moms" do. Sounds harsh. But it's true! Crack moms don't tend to their babies needs and nurture them. Crack moms leave their babies to cry for hours. I have learned to enjoy this season more. Not freak out about crying and not let it go on and on. <b>Now when I lay Chloe down I recognize which cry means: "I'm not going to sleep" and which one means: "I'm sleepy and need to fuss a bit". </b>I enjoy my "go with the flow" mothering so much more than rigid scheduling! Life doesn't always happen on schedule and so pray and ask God to help you to not stress when things don't go according to your plan. Stressing totally takes your joy and prevents you from loving the baby season!<br /><br /><b>#6 Have a "security blanket" for them.</b> I love my pacifiers and blankies. I pick out a soft blankie, preferably lighter so that it isn't too hot in the summer, before the baby arrives.<b> I nurse them with it and lay them down with it. These come in so handy in the car when they need to settle down, at church, when they are upset and best of all at nap and bed time! </b><br /><br />Those are my 6 simple tips on how to "train" a non-babywise baby to sleep. Thoughts? Questions? Be sure to leave them in the comment section! Thanks for stopping by! </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-91774268618058384822015-06-25T15:53:00.001-07:002015-06-25T22:00:49.985-07:00Top 3 Reasons I Don't Blog Much<div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#1 There are A LOT of AMAZING bloggers out there. Thousands. In fact, there are thousands that blog about the very things on my heart: mothering, marriage, homeschooling, homemaking etc. <b>They are better writers than me. More popular than me. More creative than me. </b>Why in the world would I invest time in something when I know that I will never even come close to these wonderful ladies? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />#2 <b>No one else is married to my husband.</b> Sound weird? Well it's not. It makes perfect sense actually. I just had this thought as I was scrubbing the toilet in our guest bathroom. Lots of deep thinking happens during this activity for many of you, I am sure of that. Anyway, I was scrubbing the toilet thinking about how I would like to blog more and I thought: Scott would rather I be scrubbing the toilets. Well, my husband would like it if I was doing any sort of homemaking thing but that was what I was doing at the time of my epiphany. You see, I am married to a man that loves a clean, organized, clean (did I already say that?), noncluttered home. I am also called to be this very man's helper. <b>The bible says I was made to help him and help carry out his vision for my home and his vision is very simple: teach and train my children and keep the home. Blogging is not at the top of his priority list and therefore it's not at the top of mine.</b> Don't get me wrong, he doesn't mind me blogging and actually enjoys reading my posts but he minds if blogging comes before my children and my home (which it totally would if I invested in it more). Which leads me to reason number 3.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#3 No one else is the mommy of Ricky, Rhea, Johnny, Charis and Chole. Yep. Nobody else is blessed to be their mommy. I'm the only one. And <b>when I blog I am not available to them. When I blog I am distracted... very distracted. When I blog I am missing out on watching them, training them, loving on them</b> (unless I did it when they are sleeping which honestly is my best time to catch up on other things of greater importance). My children get one childhood and one mommy and I"m not going to miss it staring at my computer screen. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4884056286591961829.post-84493328226142544552015-06-05T11:29:00.001-07:002015-06-05T11:30:30.489-07:00I'm Going Back to School...<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Well, that's what it feels like at least. You see, I spent 13 years going from kindergarten through my senior year and then I spent another 6 years getting my BS in psychology. What. A. Waste. OK, I know it wasn't ALL a waste. I did learn my alphabet and how to read. But as far as learning how to be a homemaker, mother and wife I learned nothing. Even my home economics class in high school has proven to be of no worth in terms of benefiting my current day to day life. </span><br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">I am putting myself back in school. I am studying homemaking, motherhood and being a godly wife like I am getting degrees in all three! </b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Ladies, I am already seeing the fruit of this endeavor! As I am diligent in studying and putting into practice what I am learning, I am being blessed with visible fruit! <br /><br /><b>Why in the world don't we study for these major roles? Why spend so much time studying and investing in things that have little value eternally or even practically, for how we will spend most of our lives (as mothers, wives and homemakers). </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">God addresses older women to train the younger women in Titus 2 to: keep the home, love their husbands and love their children (among other things). <b>According to God these are the things He wants me to be trained in. These are the things He wants me to be investing in. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That is why I am looking for Titus 2 women on-line to teach and train me! What a blessing to have so many godly women available to us 24/7 to train us in the things God desires for us to be trained in! <b>We have no excuse.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I am by nature a very unorganized woman.</b> This does not work out well for me when it comes to being a keeper of the home and training my children. There is hope though! With God's help we can change! If you are like me, believe with me that we can become organized! <b>I have been praying that God would help me to think differently since that is how we change ourselves! (Romans 12:2) He is changing the way I think and He is using my investment in studying in keeping the home to actually keep it! </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Study the Word of God first and foremost, seek His Kingdom first and He will add unto you what you need. <b>Don't neglect the study of His Word to study even good things like keeping the home, loving your husband and children. Read it first and then go to studying practical ways to live out His design for your life!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I feel a bit like a guinea pig for y'all! <b>I am going to be checking in every once in a while over the next few months to share with you what worked and what didn't work.</b> What was worth investing in and what wasn't. I will be sharing practical ways to better keep the home, love your children and love your husband.<br /><br /><b>Stay focused on these few things God has called you to ladies! Don't get distracted by all the things there are to pursue in this world. </b>(For me this means no facebook :) If you are feeling overwhelmed cry out to God and ask Him to reveal to you what needs to be removed from your life to be able to carry out His will. Remember, <b>there is ALWAYS TIME FOR THE WILL OF GOD. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>There is a lot at stake when we don't live out God's design.</u> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It actually says that His Word is dishonored. Let's honor God today and every day by pursuing His best and endeavoring to be excellent in the few roles He has called us to!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">"Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good </span><span class="highl" style="background-color: #fff4ec; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.…" Titus 2:3-5</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908769263879160520noreply@blogger.com0