What Do You See? By Guest Writer, Emily

What do you See?

From Guest Writer, Emily

 

I recently watched a DVD that taught me a very good lesson. The DVD was an old-fashioned story about a man who had an awful lot of problems! He was about to lose his land because there was an awful drought which meant he couldn't grow anything on his land and make any money to pay his bills. His well dried up, so he had to haul water from the river. When he tried to dig new wells, he just hit rock. Secondly, his wife died of scarlet fever. Then his young daughter caught their house on fire trying to make dinner.

He was complaining about all his problems to his father. His father took him up to the top of a hill which overlooked his house and land. The father said to him, “What do you see?” All the son could see was the dry fields, his land that he thought he was going to lose, the house that had nearly burned down etc. His dad said to him,”That's your problem. All you see are the bad things. You don't see all the blessings that God gives you.” Their discussion went on further, but I learned a lesson right here. 

 

When we look at things in our life, what do we see? When we look at our parents, what do we see? Do we just see their mistakes and faults? Or do we see all their good points (which are usually far more than their faults)? When we look at our family, what do we see? Do we see how annoying they can be sometimes and all the ways that they could be nicer and better? Or do we see the things that we can appreciate? When we look at our school or schoolwork, what do we see? All the work that it takes? Or the big blessing that we are able to learn and get education when there are many in the world who never can? When we look at our church, what do we see? Just the things that we think should be done differently or that ways that it could be much better? Or are we thankful for the good things?

This was a lesson for me! When I look at my home, what do I see? Lots of never-ending work?! Or a lovely place that God has provided us with? When I look at my children, what do I see? Dirty nappies, noise, interrupted sleep etc?! Or do I see the fun they bring, their cuteness and the joy they are? When I look at my husband, what do I see?! His few faults? Or the great blessing and help that he is?

 

Sometimes it's like we are wearing dark sunglasses and everything seems so dark and gloomy! But if we would just take them off, we would see the sun and the blue sky.

 

Let's be thankful and focus on the positive things, and then pray about the negative things! It will make a world of difference.

 

Focus on the good things!

 

“In everything give thanks.”

To Follow Emily, please visit her blogs here:

http://forchristianteengirls.blogspot.co.nz/

http://encouragementforbusymums.blogspot.co.nz/

Getting to Know Him

It’s 10am.  A pretty girl is sitting at her computer going through the list of things that must be done today: homework, chores, family time, work, and other odds and ends that make up a huge list.  It seems impossible to get it all done.  On top of that, there is, of course, Bible time that should take a priority.  With a sigh, the girl decides she needs a break or she’ll go crazy.  She logs into her computer, checks her email, chats with a few friends, and reads some Christian blogs.  While reading the blogs, she posts a few comments while talking to her friends for about an hour.  Then she returns to the crazy tasks of the day.  But at the end of the day, she crawls into bed realizing that she never got to Bible time.  In exhaustion she says, “I’ll get to it tomorrow” and falls asleep.

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 Sound familiar?  I am guessing it does.  We’ve all done it at some point.  And for a day or two, it’s actually somewhat understandable.  I don’t think it is excusable, because Jesus should be our all and we should always make time for Him.  However, life does get crazy and it does happen, whether it should or should not.  The problem with this scenario is that it can often go on for days, weeks, or months – always so busy that we never make time for Him. 

What is interesting to me, is that in order to make ourselves feel better, we often read Christian blogs online and post short comments saying that we agree or longer comments expounding on some topic…  And that somehow makes us feel spiritual or like we have spent our Christian-time that was required of us for that day.  Christian blogs are good.  They can be very encouraging and helpful.  However, they should never ever be a substitute for reading His Word, the Bible. 

It is curious to me how we work as humans.  We can’t make time for reading and studying His Word – but if you think about it, we probably have plenty of time.  We just think of texting and chatting with our friends, email writing, and blog reading as one of the priorities of life.  We probably (or at least, most of us probably) spend 2-3 hours doing these activities each day.  If we even took ¼ or ½ of that time, we would have plenty of time to study His Word and truly get the time we need to learn about Him.

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 I’m not trying to judge anyone or condemn anyone here.  Trust me, I’ve done this too.  But I am trying to encourage all of us to truly make time for Him.  He gave us His all, the least we can do is at least make sure He gets some time of day from us.  It is important to spend time in His Word – it’s what gives us direction, helps us grow in Him, helps us make wise decisions, and so much more.  Oftentimes I think we do things because we want others to think positively about us.  This drives us to read what everyone else reads, comment on posts, and write blogs that say a lot of good things.  And none of these are bad things.  In fact, they can be very good things.  Missy, Chip, and I like writing for our blogs.  We like commenting on other people’s blogs and we love reading your blogs and comments on our blog.  But if we did only those things and didn’t spend time in His Word, that would be very serious.  The Word keeps us grounded…not blogs and comments. 

I hope that you will be encouraged to really get to know Him – to study, read, and pray.  Spend time with Him.  He is amazing and He leads and guides us faithfully.  The least we can do is give Him some of our time.  And I know you won’t regret doing it! 

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Home Schooling - At Home or Always on the Run?

Home schooling brings about many sentiments when people hear that words.  Some people think it’s awesome, others awful, still others strange. My parents home schooled me through high school and are in the process of doing the same with all of my siblings. I loved it, and I plan to home school our kids, as well.  But when searching through Pinterest the other day, I saw a pin that really struck me.  It said this, “Why call it homeschooling if we are never home.” 

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 I am sure you all knew a home school family (or two…or three…) who home schooled but you never knew how they got things done because they were a.l.w.a.y.s. gone.  Perhaps that was even your experience if you were home schooled.  In my experience, that family’s house was always chaotic and stressed because they were never home to focus on the basics.  To do what needed to be done.  To have time to think.  To do school right.  They were simply never home.

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Now, I am not saying it is bad to get out and do things.  I don’t think we should leave as hermits isolated at home.  What I am saying is, if you choose to home school, don’t forget the basics.  Don’t forget about the importance of being home.  Some families can handle more than others, so how much you need to be home is going to vary family by family.  But I do know this – no family can really keep things in order at home and succeed at getting school done right if they are always gone.  Kids need to be taught how to care for things at home and live as a family at home just as much as they must be taught math, reading, and writing.  It is important to remember that home should always be a focus – whether you are home schooled or public schooled or have no kids at all.

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Up-Cycled Fuzzy Fabric

     Have you ever looked at the prices of fuzzy fabric in a craft or fabric store?  $12 and up per yard! OUCH! I don't know about you, but I can't afford to pay prices like that, but even if I could, I prefer to spend my money wisely and be as prudent as possible.  


     Well, what's a girl to do when she wants to make something out of fuzzy fabric?  I found a solution!  Earlier this year, Lisa had a little boy and I wanted to make him a very special fuzzy blanket from his auntie Missy.  Over a couple of weeks time, I visited several thrift stores and picked up old robes, crib liners, and pajama pants that were in good condition.  My trick for saving the most amount of money was to go to a thrift store when I knew they were having a 99 cent sale on certain color tags.  Once I found out which color tag was on sale, I went through the PJ section and only looked for that particular tag color.  After finding the right tag, then I would look at the item to see if it was in good condition and was something that I could use.   For regular clothes shopping, this approach would never work, but for fuzzy fabric it's great!  


     I used my up-cycled fuzzy fabric to make this cute puppy blanket.  I used two robes, one PJ shirt, one pair of PJ pants, and I still have so much fabric left over that I will be able to make something else later!  Altogether, the fabric for the top of this blanket coast me about $4.  I had to purchase a large piece of new fabric for the back - but it simple flannel that was on sale for $1.99 a yard!  


     Would you have ever guessed by looking at that cute puppy face? Probably not. 


Practical. Resourceful. Prudent.  - Learning to save and spend money like a Proverbs 31 woman. You can do it too!


~ Missy

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Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide - By Guest Writer Kristen L. Lee

Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide

By Guest Writer Kristen L. Lee

Currently, all I have inserted in my household notebook are my daily/weekly routines and reminders with cleaning tips, but I am wanting to expand it and make it the "book for all household needs" type of thing. I am currently typing up home remedies that I will eventually print and add to my notebook for quick, easy access. And along with that, I will include the following.

Since I am in my first trimester of pregnancy, my sense of smell is enormous! Also, being the one who is in charge of cleaning the house, I know that many cleaning supplies that are sold in stores are actually harmful for me to inhale. So, a friend of mine showed me a list of natural uses for things like Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide. Below are two lists of things which those two items can be used! Taken from 1 Green Generation, I hope it is helpful to you!

BAKING SODA


1. Shampoo Replacement. A Non-Toxic, Frugal Way To Wash Your Hair Without Buying Shampoo explains it all in detail. Try it!

2. Deodorant. How To Make Your Own Deodorant (A Very Simple Recipe). I encourage you to try that as well – so simple!

3. Air Freshener & Deodorizer. Brilliantly easy, all you need to do is open up a box of baking soda, or dump a pile of it into a bowl, and leave it in an offensively smelling area – your fridge, your closet, your pet area, you car, wherever! (Change it out every 3-6 months.)

4. Carpet and Garment Deodorizer. Just sprinkle a bit over the offensive area and let it sit. A little while later, you can vacuum or shake it out.

5. Counter, sink, and tub Cleaner. Just like using Bon Ami or some other powdered cleaner, sprinkle it onto the surface and rub with a wet cloth. Be careful on delicate surfaces – test it out first to make sure it won’t scratch, though it’s more delicate than most powdered cleaners. To shine the surface afterward, you can spray a bit of vinegar and wipe clean.

6. Jewelry and Silverware Cleaner. You can use a paste of a baking soda mixed with a bit of water (3:1 or so), or if that doesn’t work well enough you can try replacing the water with hydrogen peroxide.

7. Coffee, Tea, Rust, and Hard Water Stain Remover. Scrub with the same 3:1 (baking soda: water) paste, and it should do the trick!

8. Pot and Pan Cleaner. Sprinkle some baking soda onto your rag or sponge, and clean your pots – it will take off many stains.

9. Drain Unclogger. If water hasn’t yet backed up, pour 1 cup of baking soda down, followed by 3 cups boiling water. Repeat if the drain doesn’t clear. If the drain still doesn’t clear, follow with 1 cup of vinegar. This makes it bubble, fizz and usually that does the trick! If this does not work, we usually buy enzymes from the local health food store.

10. Cat Litter Extender. If your cat is persnickety about clean litter, in addition to cleaning the litter daily, you can shake a light layer of baking soda onto the litter and mix it up.

11. Garlic Smell Eliminator. Cutting boards and other surfaces can be cleaned with a thick paste of vinegar and baking soda. Apply this paste and let it sit for 10-15 minutes – it will both clean and deodorize.

12. Bath Softener. If you want to feel extra soft and silky, dissolve 2 cups of baking soda in your bath water. This works well if you have itchy skin from bites or hives also.

13. Exfoliator. I use the same mixture for my hair (above) as a light exfoliator on my face every couple of weeks. It’s quite rejuvenating.

14. Homemade Toothpaste. You can make your own toothpaste by using two tablespoons of baking soda and one tablespoon of peroxide. I don’t do this regularly, but I have done it in a pinch.

15. Denture or Retainer Soak. You can soak these overnight in a glass with water and baking soda. It will leave them clean and deodorized.

16. Fill small holes in Drywall. Sometimes you find yourself without spackle. Ah, just mix a bit of white toothpaste with some baking soda and fill the holes! Let it dry completely before you paint or anything – but you might find you don’t need to paint!

17. Fire Extinguisher. Great for a grease fire in the kitchen, a car fire, or another small fire. Just sprinkle it over the fire until the fire goes out. Keep it in your kitchen for sure!

18. Shoe Deodorizer. Sprinkle a small amount in your shoe, or put some in an old sock and tie the sock – then stuff it in your shoe overnight.

19. Ant, Roach, and Flea Deterrent. If you have ants or roaches, sprinkle baking soda in the areas where they are coming in the house. If you have fleas on the lawn, sprinkle baking soda around the areas where you and your pets walk by. This helps. I’ve written other tips for organic ant control here. You can try it with snails and rabbits, too!

20. Cook with it. Lots of yummy things. Like pancakes!

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

1. Whiten Your Whites and Brighten Your Brights. Works fabulously as a bleach alternative that you can also use on colors. Just put the hydrogen peroxide in the bleach receptacle in washer.

2. Stain Remover. Works very well on blood, if you get to it fairly quickly – I learned this from Matt’s mom who is a nurse! Just pour a bit on a cloth and dab at your clothing; if it has sat for a while, pour some on and let it sit for a couple of hours. Also, some people just have a chemical difference in their sweat that leaves yellow underarm stains on white clothing. Or wine stains on a white blouse? Again, pour some hydrogen peroxide on the stain and let it sit a couple hours. Then wash as you would normally – this works for me every time!

3. Antiseptic. Works great to help kill germs and prevent infection on cuts and scrapes. Make sure it bubbles up first before dabbing it off.

4. Mouthwash. You can use it straight or mix 1 to 1, water to hydrogen peroxide. Gargle, Swoosh, Spit, and Rinse. This works well if you have canker sores or other mouth sores.

5. Toothpaste. You can make your own toothpaste by using two tablespoons of baking soda and one tablespoon of peroxide. I don’t do this regularly, but I have done it in a pinch.

6. Cutting Board and Countertop Sanitizer. Vinegar kills most germs, and hydrogen peroxide kills most of the rest. The two kill more germs and bacteria than bleach alone, if you do this: have the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in two different spray bottles, spray on one first, then the other. Then rinse clean.

7. Watering Your Plants. If you tend to over-water your plants, this is for you. Mix 1 oz of hydrogen peroxide with 1 quart of water, and water your plants normally. This adds oxygen to your soil, helping stave off root rot and enhances root development. I do this particularly with plants whose soil is overly dense and more prone to water-logging.

8. Kill Shower Mold and Mildew. Spray on the surface and let sit, then wipe clean. Or spray after your shower to prevent mold from forming.

9. Toilet Bowl Cleaner. Pour 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide into the bowl, let stand for 20 minutes, and scrub clean.You can do the same thing with vinegar.

10. For Faster Germination When Soaking Seeds. This is a new one to me – I just read about it and haven’t tried it yet. Apparently if you soak your seeds in 1 cup of water mixed with 1.5 t hydrogen peroxide, the seeds will germinate faster. Has anyone tried this yet?




So there you go!

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

Perspective

I am sure many of you, like me, sometimes just need a perspective check.  A few months ago, my Mom and I were talking about this little one who is about to be a blessing to my husband and I.  I made some comment about "Oh, how I hope my baby doesn't cry all the time."  And I still hope that... I would really LOVE to have a very content, easy baby.  But, when I said that to my Mom, she really put something into perspective for me.

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 She quoted two verses to me: Matthew 21:16b and Psalms 8:2a.  Let me show you what these verses are:

And Jesus said to them, "Yes, have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise'?"  Matthew 21:16b


"Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants, You have ordained strength." Psalms 8:2a

Do I want my little one to cry all the time?  Absolutely not.  But I hope in those times when our baby is crying all the time, that I can remember these verses.  God even uses such things as infants crying to bring glory to Him!  May we never lose perspective of how God's ways work which can be so different from our own.

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Children: Blessing or Hinderance?

As the birth of our baby draws near, I have been continually amazed by the people who feel SORRY for my husband and I.  Now, let me clarify, the vast majority of people around us are thrilled and happy for us.  There is one man on my husband's ship who always makes me smile.  I barely knew him when I told his wife that we were expecting a baby around our 12 week mark...  He gave me and my husband a giant bear hug and was so excited for us.  He has a one-year-old daughter and...well...let's just

LISTS!

I don't know about you ladies, but I am list oriented.  Even if I don't have a list written DOWN...I have one in my head.  And I mentally check things off as I go along.

With baby coming along, I have been worried I would forget some things so I have a ton of lists printing for February & March of this year.  I am going to pin them on my bulletin boards and check things off...that way I won't have to remember as much and I will know what I have and have not done.

My biggest concern is making sure I pay all the bills.  I am really good about getting a bill and paying it off within 24 hours...but with baby coming, what if the bill comes while I'm in the hospital?  Or what if I am just so tired I won't remember?  So this is just one of my lists - the bills and payments that I need to make every single month:

Lists are a great way to keep yourself organized and things on track.  What are some of the lists that you all use and why?  Would love to hear from you!

Organization: Family Management Notebook

I've been working on getting my life organized before the baby comes and one of the things I have been working on is a family management notebook for our household.  I first thought it was a good idea when I ran across this post while surfing through some blogs: http://www.thebettermom.com/2011/08/family-management-in-emergency-situations-legos-optional/

To put it lightly, I LOVED her idea.  Now, there are some parts where I thought this very ingenious lady was a wee bit crazy.  For instance, no thanks, but I am NOT keeping important information such as bank account numbers, driver's license numbers, and social security cards in one notebook so that anyone could just snatch it.  Sorry, but that just sounds like identity theft in the making.  I suppose that if you are very careful with the information (as I am sure Amy Bayliss is) you could do it safely, but I want this notebook to be available and easy to find.  I don't want to be worried about where I place it, who sees it, etc.  So I will not be putting any sort of HIGHLY sensitive information in it.

This is what I HAVE put in it thus far, however.  I currently took her front cover template and changed it just

Submission, Respect, and Obedience

Submission, Respect, and Obedience

by Lisa

Originally Posted May 10, 2011

In this day and age, women work for a living, gain money, and are more or less financially independent.  While there is nothing wrong with a woman working in and of itself, it is important that these newly found financial independence does not lead to a rebellion. 

The Bible clearly says “Wives, submit to your husbands, as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22) and “Nevertheless, let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband” (Ephesians 5:33).  Similarly, as daughters, we must be sure to respect, honor, and obey our parents, and in particular our fathers who are the head of the households.  This is found in Ephesians 6:1-3 which states “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise: ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.’”  While gaining independence and helping with the bills is fine, it is important that “financial independence” does not carry further.

Some women these days even make more than their husbands.  Again, there is nothing inherently wrong with this; but it is still important that a woman respect her husband (or if she is unmarried, her father) and not let financial independence take over in a woman and make her become less submissive and respectful of her husband or obedient to her father. 

How can a woman make sure she is within the bounds of a submissive and respectful wife or a submissive and obedient daughter?  While it is hard to practice because of sinful nature at times, there are ways to make sure that even if you are financially or otherwise independent, that you still fulfill your Biblical roles as a woman.  Asking questions and following in their guidance is mainly the important part.  A woman can ask her husband or father if they mind her working and follow their lead and guidance by what they say.  If they agree that a woman should work, it is still important that a father’s or husband’s opinion and guidance is respected and honored, such as how they use and invest the money.  

Respect of the husband’s or father’s lead and guidance should also be shown given how a family is run and what decisions are made.  While a woman can lend her opinion, the ultimate decisions should be left to the man.  And the woman must not cross the God-made boundaries for herself. 

However, even though a woman must follow the lead, this does not mean she should also forsake the God-made position of a helpmate to her husband or a helpful daughter to her father.  A woman must take into balance the two different aspects of a submissive, respectful, obedient wife or daughter, as well as model after the Proverbs 31 woman who “seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands.  She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar.  She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants.  She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard.  She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms.  She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night.  She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle.  She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.  She is not afraid of snow for her household for all her household is clothed with scarlet” (13-21).  It is important that a woman find the proper balance between submission and wisdom, honor and respect, and obedience and independence.  It is a hard balance, but in the end it yields large rewards.

Preparing Your Footsteps to Follow a Path

Preparing Your Footsteps to Follow a Path

Posted by Lisa on March 28th, 2011

 

As humans, we have many life decisions to make.  It is important that we align our footsteps with those paths which God has designed girls and women for.  I have found that I have a little different strategy when compared to many.  I have found two sets of people: those who believe that a woman should have only a career, and those who believe that a woman should only remain at home.  In my life, I have combined the two.  I have attended college and am within two months of, Lord willing, gaining my Bachelor’s of Science.  Work-wise, I have

Quick Tip - Organization

Quick Tip

Posted by Missy on March 19th, 2011

Need a quick organizing tip?  

I picked up four of these little baskets from the dollar store and used them to organize my socks - etc drawer! 

Usually this drawer is about the most disorganized spot in my bedroom but these baskets helped a ton!  Now I can just toss my socks into one basket and not worry about them getting mixed up with everything else as I open and close the drawer!  I love organization.