Good Thursday morning!
How are my friends today? This morning as I was driving to work, I passed a sign at an oil change place that said, "See you in 3,000 miles." The thought immediately crossed my mind that 3,000 miles seemed like such as long time but in reality could only be a matter of months, if you drive as much as I do.
I then started wondering all the places a vehicle might travel in 3,000 miles before the next oil change--routines routes, unexpected emergencies, to the shop to be repaired, etc.
Just like we travel in our vehicle through a lot of situations, we travel with our friends through a lot of situations. Friends, most of you I've only known a little over a year. But during that year, think about the places we've traveled together. There have been times of change--decorating the foyer, putting classes and kids church in place on Wednesday night, changing the age of the classes. There have been times of great sorrow--Sis. Pat Watson, Kristen Martinez. There have been times of great joy--Rodney and Neda's wedding, Jonathan and Kassie's wedding, pastoral installation, the wonderful ways you as a church have honored my family. Times of fun--choir practice (c'mon, it's fun), Borlik's!!!!!, Thanksgiving Feast. Times of rejoicing--watching people pile off of the van each Sunday, sending many kids off to camp, watching our youth group grow, great Block parties. Times of spiritual refreshing--powerful Sunday evening services, a prayer meeting that lasted for hours after church was over, watching the attendance of DOZ grow, unbelievable revival with Bro. Chad Ducote. Times of ministry--watching and worshipping with children and adult sign teams, putting on the kids Christmas program, all of the various ensembles, driving up to a great looking church yard each Sunday, walking into a clean building, seeing remodeling take place upstairs because we are out of room.
Ok...so I'll see you in 3,000 more miles. Where shall we go?
Love you all, Sis. D.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Being a Giving Person
Good Monday morning!!!
What a glorious service last evening and great wedding shower for the Seaton's. Thank you to all of the ladies who brought food to make this a wonderful occasion.
Reflecting for today's blog, I wanted to blog a little about being a giving person. This recession that we are facing has brought about one of two reactions in people--total community focus (let's pull together and make it through) or a total hoarding of resources (sorry, I can't help because I need to protect what I have). I can remember my Grandmother many times talking about the great depression. My grandmother is a subject for another blog. She is now 104 years old and really only remembers church and the Word of God. That's because her mind was set on those things when she still was able to make a choice as to what consumed her thoughts. Anyway, she told me story after story of neighbors helping neighbors. She told me about how they had a farm and my grandfather was a trapper. They would share vegetables, dairy, etc with their neighbors who would share firewood and other things with them. I pray that we all have a community focus so we are able to pull out of this recession. Also, as a church we can easily fall into the habit of being as Bro. Stoneking says, "fruit inspectors." Always looking to be sure we don't give more than other people. Guys, character is something an individual person establishes and we can't establish character in people. Being a giving person is a sign of character. Participating in giving activities is a sign of character.
So, to follow my train of thought, I started thinking about teaching my children to be giving in everything. I ran across a wonderful article that I agree with 250% that I wanted to share with you. Hope it helps you and I love each of you very much.
On the subject of giving...we have three great opportunities in front of us...
1. Getting our youth to Nashville for youth congress. They are serving next weekend to try to finish up the funding for gas and hotel. Please consider bringing food to help them. Please contact Sis. Jenna for a menu item.
2. School supplies for the community. We are a church because we have been called to ministry. Consider doing something sacrificial.
3. Remodeling of Sunday School classrooms. We are out of space. WOW!!!! We are going to be knocking down walls and revamping upstairs to give our kids room for Sunday School and our youth a room for "youthy" things. Can you paint, reorganize storage, etc? Have we got a job for you. Someone is at the church everyday working. Can you help?
And for the article...
Raising Unselfish Children in a Self-Absorbed World
Many parents hope they can raise healthy kids by building their children’s self-esteem and focusing on their happiness as much as possible. But the result is the opposite of what they hope to achieve: self-absorbed kids who grow up into unhealthy adults – unable to find satisfaction, get along with others, or contribute well to society.
By giving children the message that their lives are all about their own fulfillment, parents are actually preventing them from discovering true fulfillment. Parents who are bold enough to raise their kids to be givers rather than takers, however, help their kids find God’s best for them in the process.
Here’s how you can raise unselfish children in a self-absorbed world:
Replace a mirror with a window. Help your kids see beyond themselves to other people. If you don’t take the mirror of self-centeredness out of your children’s hands, they’ll become intolerable to live with when they grow up and someone else will shatter the mirror for them, hurting them with its broken pieces. Aim to raise your kids to become selfless adults who function well in the world because they have self-respect, rather than self-absorbed adults who can’t function well because they feel entitled.
Take a hard look at yourself. You’re an important role model for your children. Honestly evaluate in what ways your own lifestyle is either selfish or selfless. Are your good deeds mostly about advancing your own agenda, or about the people you serve? Do you rationalize thoughtless decisions? Do you make excuses for cruel choices? Do you blame others while forgiving yourself? Do you buy things in order to feel better? Do you discipline yourself to live simply and with contentment, or are you constantly pursuing more yet are never satisfied? Ask God to reveal your selfish attitudes and actions. Then ask Him to empty your heart of selfish desires. Do whatever you can to model selflessness for your kids, such as by: not allowing difficult circumstances to make you bitter, trusting God with your children, giving without expecting something in return, making sacrifices, displaying courage, and loving your spouse if you’re married.
Accept responsibility and make a plan. Take full responsibility for your parenting so far – and how that has affected your kids – instead of blaming others like your children’s friends, teachers, or neighbors; the media; or society. Decide that from now on, you’ll change the way you’ve been raising your kids in order to change their perspectives on life, no matter how difficult they may be. Make a commitment to God to raise your children to be others-centered rather than self-centered. Make a commitment to your spouse to live with less in order to enjoy more. Make a commitment to faithfully and joyfully tithe. Make a commitment not to buy the latest products for yourself or your children unless you truly need something. Make a commitment to spend time together as a family regularly. Invite God to transform you into the person and parent He wants you to become. Study the Bible often so you’ll be able to teach your kids God’s ways. Live with integrity so your children can respect you when you reprimand them. Trade your pride in for humility so you can effectively discipline your kids, showing them that you’re their authority because God is your authority. Follow your own advice, doing what you say, so you’ll be able to successfully guide your children.
Take charge of your kids. Realize that children need parents who make decisions for them until they’re mature enough to make decisions for themselves. Don’t go to unhealthy extremes, either: deflecting your responsibility to take charge of your parenting duties and forcing your kids to be in charge before they’re ready, or giving too much or too little (without regard for your children’s needs) while depriving them of the ability to the mature and take charge of their own lives one day. Instead, build your kids’ critical thinking skills in age-appropriate ways by allowing them to make the decisions that they’re capable of making at each stage of their development.
Meet all of your children’s needs, but not all of their desires. Refuse to overindulge your kids in ways like: doing for your kids what they can do for themselves, buying them too much stuff, not expecting them to do chores, not having clear rules, giving them things or experiences that aren’t appropriate for their age or interests, giving them things to meet your own needs (such as looking good to others) rather than their needs, giving too much while expecting too little, and neglecting to teach your kids the life skills they need to survive in the world beyond your home. Teach your children the difference between a need and a want. Then make them work for what they want but don’t need, such as by doing extra household chores to save money for a certain video game. Help them develop patience. Give them opportunities to learn responsibility by assigning them age-appropriate duties to perform regularly. Make sure that you not only explain how to carry out their duties, but show them how to do so, as well.
Encourage your kids to place their confidence in God rather than in themselves. Help your kids know who they are and Whose they are, learn not to think more highly of themselves than they should, choose to be obedient to God regardless of what it costs them, accept their calls from God, learn to listen to God’s voice (such as by reading and memorizing Scripture, and listening to God during prayer), recognize evidence of God at work in the circumstances of their lives, serve God by serving other people (through opportunities you give them), and use their natural talents and spiritual gifts to contribute to others around them and help fulfill God’s purposes for their lives.
Cultivate compassion in your children. Fill your kids’ hearts with love so that, secure in the knowledge that they are loved themselves, they’ll be able to love other people. Choose some of the many different blessings from the Bible and pray them over your children. Aim to show your kids how much you love them through your actions and words every day. Model compassion for them by letting them see you act compassionately toward yourself, them, and others such as your family members and friends. Teach them to get to know people to understand them, and to empathize with their feelings. Help your children learn to look at situations from other people’s viewpoints. Teach them to love others. Practice hospitality, such as by inviting people over to your home for meals, opening your home up for youth group meetings, or welcoming houseguests. Do some service projects with your kids, working together to meet a need in your community (such as doing yard work for an elderly neighbor).
Build family togetherness. Strengthen your family’s relationships to help your kids increase their sense of security, which will give them the confidence to reach out to others in love. Let them learn from their experiences in your family – through good and bad – that love is choice rather than just a feeling. Eat meals together as often as possible. Work on family projects together throughout the year, from making a time capsule together in January and planting a garden in March to going on a neighborhood treasure hunt in June and thanking important people in your lives in November. Help your kids see how each of their parts in your shared projects contributes to the good of the whole.
Help your kids learn how to forgive. Teach your children how to show remorse, repent, and apologize to others they’ve wronged. Forgive your kids when they do wrong. Forgive others when they offend you. Ask your kids for forgiveness when you wrong them.
Cultivate generosity and gratitude. Help your kids learn how to live with open hands and open hearts by giving them plenty of opportunities to give to others. Nurture gratitude in your children in ways like giving them less stuff, unplugging their electronics on certain days and doing simple activities together instead, encouraging them to pray prayers of thanksgiving often, and requiring them to write thank-you notes for gifts they receive.
Give your children opportunities to serve their community. Incorporate community service into your lifestyle on a regular basis. Consider participating in projects like: hosting a neighborhood Bible club, collecting and delivering needed items for a homeless shelter, visiting elderly people in your area who have difficulty getting out (both those who still live at home, as well as those in facilities like nursing homes), volunteering to teach a class in something that makes use of one of your children’s talents, going Christmas caroling through your neighborhood, and thanking employees at your kids’ schools through notes and gifts.
Help your kids make a positive difference in the world. Give your children tangible ways they can contribute to the world beyond their local community, such as: working on a political campaign, writing letters to the editors of newspapers about topics in which they’re interested, contacting their elected officials about issues about which they care, and supporting global humanitarian efforts through charities working to help those in need around the world.
Parent with eternity in view. Remember that it’s not your job to make your kids happy, but it is your job to point them to the One who can make them holy. Make it a top priority to help your kids keep growing closer to Christ. Nurture their faith so that when they’re confronted with situations in which they must decide to respond either selfishly or selflessly, they’ll choose to trust God and respond with the selfless love that will bless all concerned.
Adapted from Raising Unselfish Children in a Self-Absorbed World, copyright 2008 by Jill Rigby. Published by Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, West Monroe, La., www.howardpublishing.com.
What a glorious service last evening and great wedding shower for the Seaton's. Thank you to all of the ladies who brought food to make this a wonderful occasion.
Reflecting for today's blog, I wanted to blog a little about being a giving person. This recession that we are facing has brought about one of two reactions in people--total community focus (let's pull together and make it through) or a total hoarding of resources (sorry, I can't help because I need to protect what I have). I can remember my Grandmother many times talking about the great depression. My grandmother is a subject for another blog. She is now 104 years old and really only remembers church and the Word of God. That's because her mind was set on those things when she still was able to make a choice as to what consumed her thoughts. Anyway, she told me story after story of neighbors helping neighbors. She told me about how they had a farm and my grandfather was a trapper. They would share vegetables, dairy, etc with their neighbors who would share firewood and other things with them. I pray that we all have a community focus so we are able to pull out of this recession. Also, as a church we can easily fall into the habit of being as Bro. Stoneking says, "fruit inspectors." Always looking to be sure we don't give more than other people. Guys, character is something an individual person establishes and we can't establish character in people. Being a giving person is a sign of character. Participating in giving activities is a sign of character.
So, to follow my train of thought, I started thinking about teaching my children to be giving in everything. I ran across a wonderful article that I agree with 250% that I wanted to share with you. Hope it helps you and I love each of you very much.
On the subject of giving...we have three great opportunities in front of us...
1. Getting our youth to Nashville for youth congress. They are serving next weekend to try to finish up the funding for gas and hotel. Please consider bringing food to help them. Please contact Sis. Jenna for a menu item.
2. School supplies for the community. We are a church because we have been called to ministry. Consider doing something sacrificial.
3. Remodeling of Sunday School classrooms. We are out of space. WOW!!!! We are going to be knocking down walls and revamping upstairs to give our kids room for Sunday School and our youth a room for "youthy" things. Can you paint, reorganize storage, etc? Have we got a job for you. Someone is at the church everyday working. Can you help?
And for the article...
Raising Unselfish Children in a Self-Absorbed World
Many parents hope they can raise healthy kids by building their children’s self-esteem and focusing on their happiness as much as possible. But the result is the opposite of what they hope to achieve: self-absorbed kids who grow up into unhealthy adults – unable to find satisfaction, get along with others, or contribute well to society.
By giving children the message that their lives are all about their own fulfillment, parents are actually preventing them from discovering true fulfillment. Parents who are bold enough to raise their kids to be givers rather than takers, however, help their kids find God’s best for them in the process.
Here’s how you can raise unselfish children in a self-absorbed world:
Replace a mirror with a window. Help your kids see beyond themselves to other people. If you don’t take the mirror of self-centeredness out of your children’s hands, they’ll become intolerable to live with when they grow up and someone else will shatter the mirror for them, hurting them with its broken pieces. Aim to raise your kids to become selfless adults who function well in the world because they have self-respect, rather than self-absorbed adults who can’t function well because they feel entitled.
Take a hard look at yourself. You’re an important role model for your children. Honestly evaluate in what ways your own lifestyle is either selfish or selfless. Are your good deeds mostly about advancing your own agenda, or about the people you serve? Do you rationalize thoughtless decisions? Do you make excuses for cruel choices? Do you blame others while forgiving yourself? Do you buy things in order to feel better? Do you discipline yourself to live simply and with contentment, or are you constantly pursuing more yet are never satisfied? Ask God to reveal your selfish attitudes and actions. Then ask Him to empty your heart of selfish desires. Do whatever you can to model selflessness for your kids, such as by: not allowing difficult circumstances to make you bitter, trusting God with your children, giving without expecting something in return, making sacrifices, displaying courage, and loving your spouse if you’re married.
Accept responsibility and make a plan. Take full responsibility for your parenting so far – and how that has affected your kids – instead of blaming others like your children’s friends, teachers, or neighbors; the media; or society. Decide that from now on, you’ll change the way you’ve been raising your kids in order to change their perspectives on life, no matter how difficult they may be. Make a commitment to God to raise your children to be others-centered rather than self-centered. Make a commitment to your spouse to live with less in order to enjoy more. Make a commitment to faithfully and joyfully tithe. Make a commitment not to buy the latest products for yourself or your children unless you truly need something. Make a commitment to spend time together as a family regularly. Invite God to transform you into the person and parent He wants you to become. Study the Bible often so you’ll be able to teach your kids God’s ways. Live with integrity so your children can respect you when you reprimand them. Trade your pride in for humility so you can effectively discipline your kids, showing them that you’re their authority because God is your authority. Follow your own advice, doing what you say, so you’ll be able to successfully guide your children.
Take charge of your kids. Realize that children need parents who make decisions for them until they’re mature enough to make decisions for themselves. Don’t go to unhealthy extremes, either: deflecting your responsibility to take charge of your parenting duties and forcing your kids to be in charge before they’re ready, or giving too much or too little (without regard for your children’s needs) while depriving them of the ability to the mature and take charge of their own lives one day. Instead, build your kids’ critical thinking skills in age-appropriate ways by allowing them to make the decisions that they’re capable of making at each stage of their development.
Meet all of your children’s needs, but not all of their desires. Refuse to overindulge your kids in ways like: doing for your kids what they can do for themselves, buying them too much stuff, not expecting them to do chores, not having clear rules, giving them things or experiences that aren’t appropriate for their age or interests, giving them things to meet your own needs (such as looking good to others) rather than their needs, giving too much while expecting too little, and neglecting to teach your kids the life skills they need to survive in the world beyond your home. Teach your children the difference between a need and a want. Then make them work for what they want but don’t need, such as by doing extra household chores to save money for a certain video game. Help them develop patience. Give them opportunities to learn responsibility by assigning them age-appropriate duties to perform regularly. Make sure that you not only explain how to carry out their duties, but show them how to do so, as well.
Encourage your kids to place their confidence in God rather than in themselves. Help your kids know who they are and Whose they are, learn not to think more highly of themselves than they should, choose to be obedient to God regardless of what it costs them, accept their calls from God, learn to listen to God’s voice (such as by reading and memorizing Scripture, and listening to God during prayer), recognize evidence of God at work in the circumstances of their lives, serve God by serving other people (through opportunities you give them), and use their natural talents and spiritual gifts to contribute to others around them and help fulfill God’s purposes for their lives.
Cultivate compassion in your children. Fill your kids’ hearts with love so that, secure in the knowledge that they are loved themselves, they’ll be able to love other people. Choose some of the many different blessings from the Bible and pray them over your children. Aim to show your kids how much you love them through your actions and words every day. Model compassion for them by letting them see you act compassionately toward yourself, them, and others such as your family members and friends. Teach them to get to know people to understand them, and to empathize with their feelings. Help your children learn to look at situations from other people’s viewpoints. Teach them to love others. Practice hospitality, such as by inviting people over to your home for meals, opening your home up for youth group meetings, or welcoming houseguests. Do some service projects with your kids, working together to meet a need in your community (such as doing yard work for an elderly neighbor).
Build family togetherness. Strengthen your family’s relationships to help your kids increase their sense of security, which will give them the confidence to reach out to others in love. Let them learn from their experiences in your family – through good and bad – that love is choice rather than just a feeling. Eat meals together as often as possible. Work on family projects together throughout the year, from making a time capsule together in January and planting a garden in March to going on a neighborhood treasure hunt in June and thanking important people in your lives in November. Help your kids see how each of their parts in your shared projects contributes to the good of the whole.
Help your kids learn how to forgive. Teach your children how to show remorse, repent, and apologize to others they’ve wronged. Forgive your kids when they do wrong. Forgive others when they offend you. Ask your kids for forgiveness when you wrong them.
Cultivate generosity and gratitude. Help your kids learn how to live with open hands and open hearts by giving them plenty of opportunities to give to others. Nurture gratitude in your children in ways like giving them less stuff, unplugging their electronics on certain days and doing simple activities together instead, encouraging them to pray prayers of thanksgiving often, and requiring them to write thank-you notes for gifts they receive.
Give your children opportunities to serve their community. Incorporate community service into your lifestyle on a regular basis. Consider participating in projects like: hosting a neighborhood Bible club, collecting and delivering needed items for a homeless shelter, visiting elderly people in your area who have difficulty getting out (both those who still live at home, as well as those in facilities like nursing homes), volunteering to teach a class in something that makes use of one of your children’s talents, going Christmas caroling through your neighborhood, and thanking employees at your kids’ schools through notes and gifts.
Help your kids make a positive difference in the world. Give your children tangible ways they can contribute to the world beyond their local community, such as: working on a political campaign, writing letters to the editors of newspapers about topics in which they’re interested, contacting their elected officials about issues about which they care, and supporting global humanitarian efforts through charities working to help those in need around the world.
Parent with eternity in view. Remember that it’s not your job to make your kids happy, but it is your job to point them to the One who can make them holy. Make it a top priority to help your kids keep growing closer to Christ. Nurture their faith so that when they’re confronted with situations in which they must decide to respond either selfishly or selflessly, they’ll choose to trust God and respond with the selfless love that will bless all concerned.
Adapted from Raising Unselfish Children in a Self-Absorbed World, copyright 2008 by Jill Rigby. Published by Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, West Monroe, La., www.howardpublishing.com.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Mississippi
Just wanted to add some pics I took of Mississippi. Mom and I went to Philadelphia, Mississippi to see her friend Ann a few weeks ago. We had a good time. Just wanted to share these pics. Ann has a piano and I took some pics of Mom playing.
The bridge is crossing the Mississippi at Vicksburg. The drive to Mississippi was much like driving through East Texas on the way to Lufkin. Not a bad drive. Enjoy the pics! There are no mountains :( in Mississippi and that's what I like to take pics of but the countryside was pretty. Momma "shucked corn", too, so to speak and that's the corn pics. The lady in the pic with mom is her friend, Ann Hardy. Enjoy!
njoy!
The bridge is crossing the Mississippi at Vicksburg. The drive to Mississippi was much like driving through East Texas on the way to Lufkin. Not a bad drive. Enjoy the pics! There are no mountains :( in Mississippi and that's what I like to take pics of but the countryside was pretty. Momma "shucked corn", too, so to speak and that's the corn pics. The lady in the pic with mom is her friend, Ann Hardy. Enjoy!
njoy!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
More on Friends
Good morning!
What a beautiful day it is outside. Also, I am so excited about the children's prayer revival tonight! I have seen all of the preparation and am so grateful at what is being poured into our children. Last evening Bro. Jamey preached an awesome message. I told him after church that I am so comforted to know he is standing in the gap for my daughter and son. Whew!
So standing in the gap? That's what friends do, huh? Yesterday I had a chance to observe a group of people in my workplace and I was totally shocked at their behavior. A group of people who can go out to lunch and have a great time and then two hours later completely try to destroy each other. What's that about? Many times we confuse friendship and being friendly. Being friendly is nice but shallow. But, friendship, my friend, is life changing. I ran across some quotes on friendship....
A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.-- Walter Winchel.
One who looks for a friend without faults will have none. -- Hasidic Saying.
Friendship multiplies the good of life and divides the evil.-- Baltasar Gracian (1647).
The only way to have a friend is to be one.-- Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you.-- Elbert Hubbard.
A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked. -- Bernard Meltzer.
Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief.--Swedish proverb.
A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.--unknown.
You can hardly make a friend in a year, but you can easily offend one in an hour. -- Chinese Proverb.
When you are friendly with someone, you can easily walk away and leave them during times of stress or times when you don't particularly want to be around them. But when you have a deep friendship with someone, you will as the first saying goes, "Walk in when the rest of the world walks out." I have a special friend like that my friend Sis. Tamara Mahaney. That would describe her to a "T". She is there through the tears of sorrow and there through the laughter that brings tears it is so good. My desire is for our ladies to have a deep friendship and unity of spirit so that when the world walks out on us, we walk in for each other.
You, my friend, are special to me and I hope you have a wonderful day. Take some time out today and tell one of the ladies in the church how you value them. Walk out of your comfort zone and tell it someone whom you normally don't talk with often.
Love you all!
Sis. D.
What a beautiful day it is outside. Also, I am so excited about the children's prayer revival tonight! I have seen all of the preparation and am so grateful at what is being poured into our children. Last evening Bro. Jamey preached an awesome message. I told him after church that I am so comforted to know he is standing in the gap for my daughter and son. Whew!
So standing in the gap? That's what friends do, huh? Yesterday I had a chance to observe a group of people in my workplace and I was totally shocked at their behavior. A group of people who can go out to lunch and have a great time and then two hours later completely try to destroy each other. What's that about? Many times we confuse friendship and being friendly. Being friendly is nice but shallow. But, friendship, my friend, is life changing. I ran across some quotes on friendship....
A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.-- Walter Winchel.
One who looks for a friend without faults will have none. -- Hasidic Saying.
Friendship multiplies the good of life and divides the evil.-- Baltasar Gracian (1647).
The only way to have a friend is to be one.-- Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you.-- Elbert Hubbard.
A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked. -- Bernard Meltzer.
Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief.--Swedish proverb.
A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.--unknown.
You can hardly make a friend in a year, but you can easily offend one in an hour. -- Chinese Proverb.
When you are friendly with someone, you can easily walk away and leave them during times of stress or times when you don't particularly want to be around them. But when you have a deep friendship with someone, you will as the first saying goes, "Walk in when the rest of the world walks out." I have a special friend like that my friend Sis. Tamara Mahaney. That would describe her to a "T". She is there through the tears of sorrow and there through the laughter that brings tears it is so good. My desire is for our ladies to have a deep friendship and unity of spirit so that when the world walks out on us, we walk in for each other.
You, my friend, are special to me and I hope you have a wonderful day. Take some time out today and tell one of the ladies in the church how you value them. Walk out of your comfort zone and tell it someone whom you normally don't talk with often.
Love you all!
Sis. D.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Saving money eating at home
Anyone ever heard of Once a month cooking? It's when you make several meals at once for the whole month.I've never tried this before but I think it's a great idea.
We have just recently started buying food in bulk to save money on groceries(I haven't had time for coupons lately)I have to freeze a lot of food before it goes to waste.And now I'm thinking of making meals to freeze.One of my family's favorite meals is lasagna and they can't get enough of it.Next time I make it I'll make 2 or 3 batches to freeze for times when we need a quick meal.(Just remember to thaw before you put it in the oven!)
Now on the weekends and Sunday afternoons after church we come home to eat instead of eating out.It is way more convenient to go out to eat on a busy days like Sundays but this has helped us to save money for other things.
I've used crock pot meals to help me and those are great to save time when you're in a hurry.Just throw together a salad and some rolls and you've got a great healthy meal for your family.I'm sure all of you know all this already but I'm just letting you know what helps me out right now.
If you'd like to start freezing meals I've included a recipe below.
Sticky chicken
4 tsp. salt
2 tsp.paprika
1 tsp.cayenne pepper
1 tsp.onion powder
1 tsp.thyme
1 tsp. white pepper
1/2 tsp.garlic powder
1 tsp.black pepper
1 large roasting chicken
1 cup onion,chopped
In a small bowl,combine all spices together.remove giblets from chicken,rinse cavity well and pat dry with paper towels.
Rub spices into chicken,both inside and outside making sure it is evenly distributed and deep down into the skin.Place in a zipper food storage bag or freeze.
or if you're ready to roast,then stuff cavity with onions,place in a shallow baking pan and roast uncovered at 325* for 5 hrs.
After the first hour,baste chicken every 30 minutes with pan juices.The pan juices will start to caramelize on the bottom of the pan and the chicken will turn a golden brown.
Always let your chicken rest 10-15 minutes before carving.
Enjoy! Hope y'all have a great Wednesday!
We have just recently started buying food in bulk to save money on groceries(I haven't had time for coupons lately)I have to freeze a lot of food before it goes to waste.And now I'm thinking of making meals to freeze.One of my family's favorite meals is lasagna and they can't get enough of it.Next time I make it I'll make 2 or 3 batches to freeze for times when we need a quick meal.(Just remember to thaw before you put it in the oven!)
Now on the weekends and Sunday afternoons after church we come home to eat instead of eating out.It is way more convenient to go out to eat on a busy days like Sundays but this has helped us to save money for other things.
I've used crock pot meals to help me and those are great to save time when you're in a hurry.Just throw together a salad and some rolls and you've got a great healthy meal for your family.I'm sure all of you know all this already but I'm just letting you know what helps me out right now.
If you'd like to start freezing meals I've included a recipe below.
Sticky chicken
4 tsp. salt
2 tsp.paprika
1 tsp.cayenne pepper
1 tsp.onion powder
1 tsp.thyme
1 tsp. white pepper
1/2 tsp.garlic powder
1 tsp.black pepper
1 large roasting chicken
1 cup onion,chopped
In a small bowl,combine all spices together.remove giblets from chicken,rinse cavity well and pat dry with paper towels.
Rub spices into chicken,both inside and outside making sure it is evenly distributed and deep down into the skin.Place in a zipper food storage bag or freeze.
or if you're ready to roast,then stuff cavity with onions,place in a shallow baking pan and roast uncovered at 325* for 5 hrs.
After the first hour,baste chicken every 30 minutes with pan juices.The pan juices will start to caramelize on the bottom of the pan and the chicken will turn a golden brown.
Always let your chicken rest 10-15 minutes before carving.
Enjoy! Hope y'all have a great Wednesday!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
May I Be of Service, Please?
Today, I'm looking back to about this time one year ago. A year ago, I took the Ladies department to try to fulfill a long desire I have had for a while. I went into it running. I wanted to serve in this capacity. I planned to have a ladies retreat, dinner, Valentine Queen, Lady of the year, and many more activities. About November, I hit construction in my life. I had to take a detour.
As some of you know, I became very sick. I have never been this ill before in my life. There were days I felt I would never be well again. I couldn't come to church like I always have. I tried to put on a good front and act like I wasn't sick but my family and friends knew just how ill I was.
I always love to sing in the choir. I sang in the ladies group and I loved it! As some of you know, I have played the piano for about 30 years, too. Well, this was all taken from me. I did not have the strength to do any of these things. I had to give up driving the Sunday School van (which I dearly loved)and for the first time in my whole entire Christian life I found myself sitting on the pew doing absolutely nothing. For the last nine months I have not been able to do anything. My, you don't miss it until you can't do it! But, guess what? This Sunday, after nine months I was able to sing! Awesome!
Ladies, I believe I am back! I feel strong and able to serve. I love to serve God's people. I am writing this blog to ask for forgiveness for letting you all down. I don't know why we go through times of trouble but it sure feels good to come through it!
The doctor says that there is no cure for what I have. However, the God that I serve both day and night is well able to keep and heal me. I am looking forward to serving the greatest ladies that I know. I love you all very much. If you ever need me, just call me.
Sis. Dotty
As some of you know, I became very sick. I have never been this ill before in my life. There were days I felt I would never be well again. I couldn't come to church like I always have. I tried to put on a good front and act like I wasn't sick but my family and friends knew just how ill I was.
I always love to sing in the choir. I sang in the ladies group and I loved it! As some of you know, I have played the piano for about 30 years, too. Well, this was all taken from me. I did not have the strength to do any of these things. I had to give up driving the Sunday School van (which I dearly loved)and for the first time in my whole entire Christian life I found myself sitting on the pew doing absolutely nothing. For the last nine months I have not been able to do anything. My, you don't miss it until you can't do it! But, guess what? This Sunday, after nine months I was able to sing! Awesome!
Ladies, I believe I am back! I feel strong and able to serve. I love to serve God's people. I am writing this blog to ask for forgiveness for letting you all down. I don't know why we go through times of trouble but it sure feels good to come through it!
The doctor says that there is no cure for what I have. However, the God that I serve both day and night is well able to keep and heal me. I am looking forward to serving the greatest ladies that I know. I love you all very much. If you ever need me, just call me.
Sis. Dotty
Monday, July 20, 2009
Building Children
It was so beautiful so see the young couple in church yesterday dedicating their two beautiful children to God. When Pastor was dedicating them, he said two things that profoundly caught my attention. He said that he knew this couple was serious about God because one of the first things they wanted to give to God after coming into church was their children. Secondly, he talked about a child makes their decision as to what type of dedication they are going to have to God by about the age of 11. I have found this to be so true. Yes, young people can come into church but truly we see those who are dedicating themselves to ministry begin those principles in their life at an early age. How many times have we heard a missionary or pastor say that God began to move on them on their childhood.
I thought back to people in my life and those who went on to do incredible things of God in most cases are those who were seeking God in their childhood years. This really causes me to look at what I'm establishing in my children and the expectations that I have of them. My parents expected that I would be in church and would be involved in every aspect of the church. It was never a choice until we reached adulthood (not even sure they would have accepted it then...ha). Many of you know that I work in education and have worked at all levels, teaching, adminstration, etc, for many years. Not once in that time have I ever had a parent tell me..."We leave it to our children if they want to attend school or not. We leave it up to our children if they want to be involved in class. We leave it up to our children if they want to do their homework. We leave it up to our children if they want to learn math in third grade. We leave it up to our children if they want to listen to the teacher." No, you get the idea. But, I have had several parents of kids 8-11 tell me, "I don't want to force the things of God on my child because I want them to make their own choices." C'mon now. That's not the responsibility God gave us. My main purpose in life is to pour everything into and mold three little Duvall children in my household so they will have the necessary tools to be powerful ministers. I don't want them trying to find out who God is at age 17. This is not the blog I had intended to write this week but feel impressed to pull the cover off the line the world tries to give us. We aren't here to be spectators in the spiritual development of our children but we are here to keep them on the path and give them a nudge when they are headed wrongly. Think of Hannah...she expected Samuel to serve. The Bible says in Joshua 24:15 (NIV), “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua made a choice to serve the Lord. But notice what he said, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” First of all, he made that choice for himself, and as a result, he made a choice that affected his household. When we make a decision to follow Jesus, it affects all those who are in our household. Joshua said, “We will serve the Lord.” He made a quality decision that effected his eternal destination, and that of the members of his household.
This is not a new principle but are you making decisions with your children that have an underlying determination that they will serve the Lord or are you not making decisions for them because you have bought into the psychobabble of this world that says, "Let them find their own way."
Love all of you so much! Don't forget the Children's Prayer Revival. :)
Sis. D.
I thought back to people in my life and those who went on to do incredible things of God in most cases are those who were seeking God in their childhood years. This really causes me to look at what I'm establishing in my children and the expectations that I have of them. My parents expected that I would be in church and would be involved in every aspect of the church. It was never a choice until we reached adulthood (not even sure they would have accepted it then...ha). Many of you know that I work in education and have worked at all levels, teaching, adminstration, etc, for many years. Not once in that time have I ever had a parent tell me..."We leave it to our children if they want to attend school or not. We leave it up to our children if they want to be involved in class. We leave it up to our children if they want to do their homework. We leave it up to our children if they want to learn math in third grade. We leave it up to our children if they want to listen to the teacher." No, you get the idea. But, I have had several parents of kids 8-11 tell me, "I don't want to force the things of God on my child because I want them to make their own choices." C'mon now. That's not the responsibility God gave us. My main purpose in life is to pour everything into and mold three little Duvall children in my household so they will have the necessary tools to be powerful ministers. I don't want them trying to find out who God is at age 17. This is not the blog I had intended to write this week but feel impressed to pull the cover off the line the world tries to give us. We aren't here to be spectators in the spiritual development of our children but we are here to keep them on the path and give them a nudge when they are headed wrongly. Think of Hannah...she expected Samuel to serve. The Bible says in Joshua 24:15 (NIV), “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua made a choice to serve the Lord. But notice what he said, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” First of all, he made that choice for himself, and as a result, he made a choice that affected his household. When we make a decision to follow Jesus, it affects all those who are in our household. Joshua said, “We will serve the Lord.” He made a quality decision that effected his eternal destination, and that of the members of his household.
This is not a new principle but are you making decisions with your children that have an underlying determination that they will serve the Lord or are you not making decisions for them because you have bought into the psychobabble of this world that says, "Let them find their own way."
Love all of you so much! Don't forget the Children's Prayer Revival. :)
Sis. D.
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