Stoop and Drink

Stoop and Drink

(Author Unknown)

After a hot and dusty drive a commercial traveler stopped his car in front of a hotel in Jonesville, Arkansas, one day in the spring.  As he entered the hotel he noticed a drinking fountain with the invitation written above, “Stoop and drink.”  He went toward it in anticipation of a cool, refreshing drink.  Upon reaching it he put out his hand to turn the water on, but found no handle.  Then he looked for a button to press, but found none,

Sitting down near by he tried to study out the perplexing situation.  Here he was thirsty and anxious to drink, and the invitation to stoop and drink only seemed to mock him.  As he thought of it, the words “Stoop and drink” began to make an impression on him.  Surely, he though, if those words are true I am to do nothing about turning the water on.

Again his thirst reminded him of his need, so he left his seat and walked across the lobby.  Ignoring the curious glances of any who might be watching him, he went to the drinking fountain and stooped - and lo, even before his mouth was opened, the cold, clear water flowed, so he drank and enjoyed the refreshing drought.

When his thirst was satisfied, he examined more closely the fountain that had so mystified him.  He finally discovered that it was controlled by an electric eye, so arranged that when a certain beam of light was interrupted a switch was thrown which opened the faucet.

What a picture this is of another fountain at which men are invited to drink!  It is the fountain of the Water of Life.  Many, because they do not understand all about it, refuse to drink.  Others think of the onlookers, and because of personal pride refuse to stoop and drink.  Many others are trying to do something, as this traveler would have done, could he have found a handle to turn or a button to press.  But no, there is nothing to do but stoop and drink.  Reader, if you are not saved, do this simple deed today.  Christ has died for your sins; simply humble yourself, open your heart, and let Him enter.  - M. Kenneth Morris

God Says:  “Let him that is athirst come, and whoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”  Rev. 22:17

Stoop and Drink

Discovery Friday - Dish Water Cell Phone

    My sister works part time at a home restoration company.  One day while talking with the plummer, he was telling her about his problem of constantly getting his phone soaked and what he has to do to dry it out.  (Being a plummer and having your phone get soaked... Somehow that is just a disturbing image)




The plummer told Chip that when his phone gets really wet, he simply places it in a zip lock bag or sealed plastic container with RICE!  The dry (D-R-Y)  rice pulls the moisture out of the electronic. Some times it takes a day or a few days depending on how wet the phone is.  If the phone is working again but a few of the buttons aren't then it just needs to be placed back in the rice for awhile longer.
        Only a few short days later, Chip was washing the dishes when she reached in the water and pulled out her cell phone!  She still had no idea how it got in the water or how long it had been there but it most certainly was NOT working.  She placed it in a bag of rice and it worked!  It gives an amazing extra flavor to the rice too.  Yummy!  (No, really, I'm joking... Please don't eat the rice if you try this. )

So there you have it!  A way to fix your wet cell phone.  I imagine this would probably work on other small electronics as well.  Great information to have but hopefully you will never need it!

Additional comment!  After I scheduled this post, my mom managed to send her cell phone through the washing machine - on the HEAVY cycle!  She thought her cell phone was done for but she decided to try the rice trick anyhow and it WORKED!  

Raising the Standard - An Apology & Challenge to Blog Readers

Raising the Standard

          “Why do we have several pictures of girl’s shoulders on Pure Femininity?”
          My mouth dropped open and I stared at my sister for a moment, unable to answer the blunt, unexpected question that she had just asked me.
          “What do you mean?” I finally responded.

Photo Courtesy

          “I was looking through our posts on Pure Femininity recently and I noticed that there were several pictures of girls wearing strapless dresses.”
          I knew in an instant which pictures she was talking about, they were displayed in one of my favorite posts.  Being tired and in a hurry, I had chosen pictures to corrispond with that particular article that I thought were “OK.”  

          To most people, such pictures would have been no big deal and would have gone completely unnoticed.  After all, the only thing the pictures really showed were girl’s shoulders  - from the back!  Most girl’s today would even look at such dresses as “modest,” but if they could only hear what “thoughts” such dresses trigger in the minds of men, I hope they would think otherwise.

          I have made it an object in the past to learn how men think about how women dress and how it dramatically effects them and causes them to stumble.  Because of the things I have learned, I have made it a priority in my life to dress in a way to promote men to think like real men instead of in a lustful, animalistic way. 
          I typically am careful about what images I post, but I had let myself become off guard and fall into the lie that it really was not that big of a deal.  But why would I ever even consider posting a picture of a girl wearing something that I myself would never wear when I know that even an image will cause the same lustful thoughts in a man as the real thing?  Granted, this blog is geared towards women, but we do have men who occasionally stop by.  It’s so easy to let little things slip in as “no big deal” until they grow and grow until there are no moral values left.  

Photo Courtesy

          To many of you, this post may seem ridiculous and unnecessary, perhaps even offensive.  I mean no offence whatsoever, but I need stand strong in my faith.  In Isaiah 7:9-b it says, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”

          As a Christian, I want to joyfully and eagerly live my life as pleasing to the Lord in every possible area with strength and boldness - Not letting myself be concerned about what others think when I stand firm.  
          Showing shoulders in a picture may not seem like a big deal, but I know that it causes my brothers to stumble.  “It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.” Romans 14:21
          I know that I am called to set a good example:  “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”  1Timothy 4:12
          And I know that I am do be different from the rest of the world:  “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  Romans 12:2

          Since I know these things and have been made aware of my mistake, I humbly ask the forgiveness of you, my blog readers.  I believe that true leaders have a heart to serve others, to be good examples, and this sometimes even means repenting of small, insignificant sounding issues.  I want to set a good example to you in every possible way and to live my life in a way that will continue to point to God’s ultimate goodness and the true freedom in following Him.

Be Prepared!

Be Prepared!

Author Unknown

An outstanding lesson that has emerged from World War II is this:  a nation must be prepared.  An army and navy cannot be improvised when the enemy comes in like a flood.  Once the enemy is within the gates, the opportunity is gone.  And the nation pays the bitter penalty for its lethargy and lack of foresight. 

In His story of the Two Builders, Jesus emphasized the need of foresight in the higher realm of character and destiny.  He relates that two men built houses.  The first was in a hurry and built upon the sand.  “How will it look?”  was the chief consideration with him.  But the second man was concerned with the question, “How will it stand?” and so took time to dig down to a rock foundation.  We can imagine the first pointing a mocking finger at the other, and saying: “That foolish man is wasting too much time and money on his home.  I was smart enough to make quite a saving.”

"The Two Builders"  Matthew 7:24-27
Photo Courtesy

Both houses were finished and looked alike until the storm came, and the fall of the one and the stability of the other revealed who was the fool and who was the wise man.  The tragedy is that so many men who think themselves smart will one day find out how foolish they are.

Each one of us is building a house of character.  We are either building upon the shifting sands of human philosophies or public opinion, or upon the eternal principles taught by the Christ.  Into that building we are putting either shoddy material of sinful, crooked, or selfish living, or the solid material of righteous deeds.  One day the storms of life - sickness, sorrow, loss, temptation, death - will come to test our building.  Then only those who have based their living upon the words of the Divine Teacher and who have received Him as their Deliverer will meet the crisis with faith, courage, and endurance.

Too many wait until they are broken by life before they come to God.  Better late than never, for God is merciful.  But how much better to be prepared before the troubles of life overwhelm us!  Foresight is an attribute of wisdom.  Are you a wise man? (Or woman) Are you prepared?  If not, come to Christ the Builder, and He will help you build a character that will stand the test of life, death, and the judgment.  - M. P.

James 1:5-6 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 

Recipe Mondays: Lemon Garlic Spaghetti

Ever want a light meal that won't take a long time to cook?  I get that feeling all the time...ESPECIALLY in the summer!  I just don't want to eat much or cook for long in the heat.  So I am always looking for light, yummy, refreshing meals to cook during summertime.  That's why this lemon garlic spaghetti is so good -- and as a benefit, it is relatively healthy! Serve with a glass of iced tea, some fruit, and maybe a salad and you have yourselves a very quick, refreshing, summer meal!  Check out the link below!

Lemon Garlic Spaghetti

Photo Courtesy

The "New" Bucket List

The “New” Bucket List

What is a “Bucket List?”  It’s the list of life goals to be accomplished by an individual before they “kick the bucket”, or to put it more bluntly, before they stop breathing…permanently.  The point of a bucket list is to write out all of the numerous and usually awesome or crazy things that you want to complete before the end of life strikes.  Recently, I have noticed people posting a lot of different things that they would like to add to their bucket list.  

Things such as:

• Swim with dolphins
• Go sky diving
• Climb Mt Killimonjaro
• Go scuba diving
• Meet someone famous

(Credit Unknown)

          If I myself were to creative such a bucket list, I would have quite a good start on the kinds of things typically found on these lists.  For example, things that I could check off my bucket list that I have already done in my life are:

• Watch fireworks over the Atlantic ocean
• Have a raccoon and a fawn as pets
• Travel to Mexico and play in the Pacific Ocean
• Spend two months in the Alaska wilderness
• Drive through the deep jungles of Tanzania in knee deep mud
• Visit more than half the states in the US
• See the famous lakes and mountains of Canada
• Own my own small business
• Visit down town New York multiple times
• Ride in a 3 seat airplane in dangerous wind conditions (Now THAT was FUN!)
• Stay overnight in an ancient hotel in Ethiopia

          …… Quite honestly, my completed bucket list could go on and on and if I look at that list, I have done a lot of really awesome things for someone my age.  My question is… What’s the point?  Do I really want to be remembered for doing all of those things?  And when it’s all said and done, how long do those around me even remember the cool things that I’ve bragged about?  I don’t think my family even remembers half of them!
Even more importantly, did any of those things in themselves really make a difference in anyone else’s life?  

          There’s nothing wrong with wanting to travel and do neat activities. ( I would still someday like to fly in a helicopter!) The problem comes when that becomes our ‘life’ focus.  Creating the typical bucket list involves focusing on ‘self’ and what ‘I’ want to do.  It focuses on material possessions, money, travel, pleasure - all things that when life is over, really don’t amount to anything at all.

          So what does a good bucket list consist of?  

          A good bucket list is a life focused on others, and above all, a life that is focused on Christ.  

          How about creating a “New” Bucket List with me?  A list that dramatically changes lives and hearts in a positive way, instead of dying and leaving behind sky high credit card debts from all the ‘cool’ things that were accomplished.

A few new bucket list ideas:

• Lead a dying person to the Lord
• Change a woman’s mind about aborting her baby and then watch the child that was saved grow into a young man/woman. 
• Personally give away 1000 Bibles (One at a time) and share with individuals how to practically study it.
• Be part of bringing dramatic life change to someone on the edge of committing suicide
• Inspire purity, joy, perseverance and faithfulness to all who know me
• Write a life impacting book
• Provide a shelter and necessities for someone in need
• Brighten the day of every cashier in every store that I enter
• Win my family members to the Lord by the way I chose to live my life
• (And the very last thing on my bucket list is:)  Lay my life down to save someone else

"Little kids that we distributed shoes to in Tanzania"

          Some people might look at this list as a way to make sure that people remember them after they die, but that is not the point at all.  
          If a rock is thrown into a lake, it sinks to the bottom and is forgotten, but the waves that it leaves behind will reach more water than the rock could have ever touched.  That is what I want for my own life.  If I die and am remembered no longer, I’m fine with that.  The goal is not to be remembered but to make waves that will reach far beyond into lives that I could have never touched in my lifetime.  The goal of this kind of bucket list is not even to make a ‘list’ at all.  The goal is to get our eyes off of making a foolish, self-centered list and to live a lifestyle that will change our world and bring glory to the one true Savior, Jesus Christ.  

"A little girl with new shoes in East Africa"

Discovery Friday - Kitchen Organizing

Photo Courtesy

Amazing what a bit of good kitchen organizing can do!  Here's a few ideas that might help you to organize your kitchen.  (Or if your like me, save the pictures and ideas for when you have your own kitchen!)

What a fun and easy way to organize canned food! >>

Photo Courtesy

 The above picture is not actually organizing per-say, 

but using an old ladder for decoration - 

what could be more fun and creative!

Photo Courtesy

What a fun idea!  Use a cheap cookie sheet to create a menu board to plan out your weekly menu!  I am going to make one of these someday! 

Photo Courtesy

And of course, refrigerator organizing!  I love this!

Natural Homemaking: Juicing

Most people like some type of juice...but imagine having it freshly made! When juice is freshly made (juiced) the enzymes and vitamins are more potent giving you a very healthy dose of many things you need! You can juice fruits and vegetables...and it is delicious!

In April of this year, my husband bought me a Jack LaLanne Power Juicer.  It works GREAT! It is not the most efficient so there is a fair amount of pulp (non-juice) left, but for us juicing once a day, it is very good.  I am not sure what type of juicer Missy and Chip have, but I know theirs is more expensive but also much more efficient.  This saves them money as they use it way more than I do, so it saves them money on fruit.  Since we only do it about once a day, it was better for us to get a more mid-grade quality one and save the money on the machine.

Photo Courtesy

There are many different recipes to juice, but in reality - have fun with it! We have made melon combos, vegetable combos, and fruit/vegetable combos.  We usually just use whatever we have on hand.  My husband loves carrot juice, so anytime I juice for him, it usually has carrots in it with an abundance of fruit.  I don't usually do as many vegetables, as I tend to put those in green smoothies instead.

Juicing is a great way to get important vitamins and enzymes, while drinking delicious juice of fresh fruit.  It tastes amazing, and it is a great way to begin going a natural, healthy route.

Recipe Mondays - Unique Cinnamon Rolls

Photo Courtesy

Oh bad.... This is very, very bad!  I'm craving cinnamon rolls, so what do I do? Look up unique cinnamon roll ideas! YUMMY!  

Why make regular cinnamon rolls when you can make them into hearts?!  How fun!

Photo Courtesy

 Forget making the hearts!  Let's make cute little bunnies!!!

Photo Courtesy

Ohhhhhhhh! No, forget the bunnies! 

Cinnamon roll waffles! Oh la la!

Photo Courtesy

Whoa! Change of plans! Drop everything and make BLUEBERRY cinnamon rolls! YUM!

Photo Courtesy

How about making blueberry bunny, waffle cinnamon rolls in a heart shaped pan?  That would cover just about everything, wouldn't it?

Well, now that I have thoroughly tortured myself by looking at unique cinnamon roll ideas, I'm going to go home and have a salad. ;)

~ Missy

A Letter to My Children About Marriage

This is an absolutely amazing letter written from a mother's heart. This letter is something that can benefit everyone - whether your married, single, male or female, this should be the taken to heart by all who read it.  Many may have read this as it made the rounds earlier this year...but it is good enough to read again and really take to heart.  Enjoy!

A Letter to My Children About Marriage

by KELLY on FEBRUARY 2, 2012 in LEGACY, TRAINING GROUND FOR MATURE ADULT CHARACTER

Dear Children,

Should the Lord give you the good gift of a husband or wife, and I hope He does, there are a few things I want you to know. Things that you may not hear from anyone else, and certainly not on TV or other media. Sadly, your church may not even tell you.

Marriage, sweet little people, is not for the purpose of your happiness. Happy as I want you to be and hope you will be, you must yet understand that marriage is God’s design and His purposes must be pursued in order for you to be truly happy. His end is holiness and He will use all things in a life devoted to Him to fulfill that end.

To my girls:

Marry a man whose first pursuit is Christ. After that, he is not hard to please. Admire him, cheer him on and show gratitude, and he will fall over himself trying to please you. Smile often, speak well of him always, and do whatever necessary to try and maintain a pleasant mood about you so that it transfers to your home, making it a place where he and your children love to be.

You’ll have bad days of course, crying days even, and that’s when you go to your bedroom, kneel on the floor and beg the Lord to carry you. Then get up, get a fresh perspective (crayons will come off the wall), and try again. Above all else, make a home.

To my boys:

Marry a woman whose first pursuit is Christ. After that, she may be hard to please  only if you don’t know “the secret”. What is that? I’m glad you asked. The secret to pleasing your wife is to make her feel safe and treasured. You may have to move out of your comfort zone to do this at times. She won’t always readily translate the oil change to love, though it means that. But let me give you a “secret question”–a question you need to ask her often. It’s not just in the asking, though. Be sure to focus your eyes on hers, maybe even touch her shoulder or face, and then ask: “What’s on your mind these days? “ And then be ready to listen. She wants you to draw her out. She will perceive this as your protection over the matters of her heart. Tenderness, listening, protection. That’s what she wants.

To you all:

If your wife or husband does something really stupid, forgive. If they do it again, forgive again. Forgiveness must be the propelling force in your lives each day. Dwell on the strengths, push out thoughts of their weaknesses. Take every thought captive–choose to love.

Here’s that part you are not going to hear often:

If you find yourself “not happy”, having lost attraction, disinterested, etc., you are not permitted to even think about a divorce. If you find yourselves arguing more and more, don’t think for a minute that “the children will be better off out of this”, because they won’t.

The vows you took on your wedding day were not suggestions. They were covenant vows, before a Holy God, family and friends, to stay with this person the rest of your life, even if you don’t feel like it. You swore a solemn oath and if you can’t live up to it, don’t get married. Decide up front that your marriage is irrevocable. There is far more motivation for getting along if your “marriage house” has no door.

Do not share intimate thoughts or feelings with anyone of the opposite sex. Do not find yourself alone for any length of time with such either.

Divorce is not a “private option”. It will affect multiple families for many generations. When you “separate what God has joined” you permanently injure far more than just yourself.

Guard your marriage as fiercely as you would guard your own life. Treat your spouse as an extension of your flesh, just as God sees you. Treat your spouse like other family members. You know, “you gotta love ‘em, they’re the only family you’ve got”.

I want you to be happy, I surely do. But I will pray for you to be holy.

First Video Blog - How to Make a Cross-Over Twist Hairstyle

Trust

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

I know I have written several times about trust....but allow me to write a bit more on it.

 Trust.  It is something for which all of us need to strive.  It is something the Lord commands.  It is a simple word, yet in it endless complexities exist and numerous struggles come out of that one single word. 

I have never been very good at trust.  It takes me years to trust someone, and in a manner of seconds someone can lose my trust.  Oftentimes I forget that Jesus is not a “someone.”  Jesus is fully trustworthy, and He is truly everything.  So why is it so hard to trust?  Psalm 118 speaks of the difference between God and man, and who we should put our trust in.  “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.  It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.”  (Psalm 118:8-9)

Trusting God means relinquishing everything.  A friend of mine has often told me to “Let go, let God.”  It sounds simple, right?  It should be simple.  Christ was the one who came to earth, for sinners, and died – He gave everything.  The least we, as Christians, can do is to give Him everything – no matter how little or big it is.  However, to “Let go and let God” means admitting that I have no control.  Admitting that I can do nothing.  Giving everything to God is something Paul talks about in Romans.

Photos Courtesy: Sunset-Pictures

 Romans 11:33-12:2 says this, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! […]  For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.  Amen.  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

There are several concepts in Romans that can be applied to trust.  In Romans 11:33 it clearly states that no human can ever fathom God’s ways, knowledge, and wisdom.  He knows everything, and His path and will are the best for everyone.  It is when we turn our back on Him that things go awry.  Futhermore, in Romans 12, Paul begs us to give everything to God – down to our bodies being a living sacrifice for Him. Trusting Him is one of the least things we can do to show Him our dedication and gratefulness for all He has done for us.

Sometimes I become worried that if I relinquish control that I will not get what I want.  A selfish human desire.  However, by turning things over to God, trusting Him, and praying is something else that the Bible incorporates as a theme.  Furthermore, if we trust Him and if it is His will, He will grant us the desires of our heart.  “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.  Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.  He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.  Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.”  (Psalm 37:3-7)

          At times I am scared to trust (terrified might be a better word).  There are several references that show us that trusting God should be our Comforter, Refuge, and Strength, not the other way around.  

Photo Courtesy: E-Reef News

 “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid…”  Isaiah 12:2a

“Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.  In God (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust; I will not fear.”  Psalm 56:3-4

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.”  Psalm 91:1-2

          My times are in His hands.  “But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’  My times are in Your hand….”  (Psalm 31:14-15a) 

Trusting Him is the only way that I will find peace.  “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.  Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.”  (Isaiah 26:3-4)

God’s way is perfect and far superior to man’s.  “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust Him.” (Psalm 18:30)

“Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust…”  Psalm 40:4a

Natural Homemaking: Natural Conditioner - Guest Writer Kristen

A couple of years ago, I was introduced to the no-poo method of shampooing: 

Baking soda. Vinegar. Water. 

I loved it! However, my husband (who has a keen sense of smell) wasn't particularly fond of my hair carrying a whiff of vinegar. So what's a frugal natural-wanna-be to do?? Alas!

To take the place of the vinegar, I have introduced Coconut oil to my daily hair regimen. 

photo credit

* Coconut oil contains Vitamin-E. Nearly everyone knows the importance of vitamin-E for skin and hair. It keeps scalp and skin healthy and hair rejuvenated.
    
* Coconut Oil has a high moisture retaining capacity, since it is not broken down easily nor evaporated. It does not let moisture escape thus keeping hair moistened and soft. This prevents breakage of hair.
   
* Coconut Oil also has very good anti dandruff agents with its fatty acids. A regular application can help you get rid of dandruff for ever.

After you get out of the shower, drop a pea sized amount in one hand and rub together. Then evenly distribute through hair, using a comb if you can. Do not put more than a pea sized amount. Trust me. 
There are so many health benefits in using coconut oil! Do your own research and be amazed. 

Kristen Lisemby Lee is a happy wife to her best friend and preacher of the Gospel and a blessed mommy of one adorable little boy. She was home-educated and is a college graduate with a degree in Bible Arts. She finds joy in ministry, homemaking, writing, and being with family and friends. She is currently writing a book about purity and the faithfulness of God, inspired by her blog, The King’s Bride. When she’s not on the road, running errands, changing diapers, or picking up toys off the living room floor, she writing about marriage, motherhood, ministry, and what it means to be pure and set-apart women for Jesus Christ.

Her contact information:

www.thekingsbride31.blogspot.com, 

www.createdtobehis31.blogspot.com

 kristenlisembylee@yahoo.com