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I’ll Be Studying about the Word of God this Week; Will You Join Me?

May 31, 2010

I have been blessed with a very sweet husband.

He bought me a new bible.  For Mother's Day.  The one I've been dreaming about.  You know the one.  Turns out, it was in stock after all...

For the past month I've been running my fingers over its cover, perusing through the pages, smelling it, enjoying it.  I'm thankful for it and I treasure it.

He asked me what I'd been reading in it lately, and I felt ashamed to say that I'd been dancing around quite a bit ~ a portion here, a chapter over there.  No rhyme or reason.

This week, though, I've decided to focus on a simple inspirational study about the Word: what it is, what it should mean to me, how I should respond to it.

Would you care to join me in studying this week?

Here's what I'll be contemplating and using as a guide:

 The Bible is the Word of God ~

It is holy, inerrant, infallible, and completely authoritative. (Proverbs 30:5-6, John 17:17, Psalm 199:89)

It is profitable for teaching, reproving, correcting, and training me in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)

It matures and equips me so that I am ready for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:17)

It is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)

It brings me stability during the storms in my life. (Matthew 7:24-27)

If I believe its truth, I can be set free.  (John 8:32)

If I hide it in my heart, I will be protected in times of temptation. (Psalm 199:11)

It is the powerful, living, discerning Word of God. (Hebrews 4:12)

It is the Sword of the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:17)

It is sweeter than honey and more desirable than gold. (Psalm 19:10)

It is forever settled in heaven.  (2 Corinthians 13:7-8, Psalm 119:89)

It is absolutely true with no measure of error.  (John 17:17, Titus 1:2)

It is absolutely true about God.  (Romans 3:4, Romans 16:25-27, Colossians 1)

It is absolutely true about man.  (Jeremiah 17:9, Psalm 8:4-6)

It is absolutely true about sin.  (Romans 3:23)

It is absolutely true about salvation (Acts 2, Acts 4:12, Romans 10:9)

It is absolutely true about heaven and hell. (Revelation 21:8, Psalm 119:89)

That's it.  Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.  Will you join me?   From the comfort of your own home?

Please let me know if you are planning to participate by sharing your thoughts in the comment section.

UPDATE 6/3/10:  If you are late in joining us, that's just fine... you may also want to check out today's post for more inspiration.

      Truly,
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Filed Under: Books Worth Reading, Practicing Faith, Reading the Bible 12 Comments

"I Fought For You!" ~ A Memorial Day Tribute

May 30, 2010

Wishing you all some sweet, special time with your families this holiday weekend... and that all of our veterans receive the honor they so greatly deserve.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day!

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Precious Time With My Children

May 24, 2010

"Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth." Psalm 127: 4-5

Children are a blessing... a reward.  We believe that, and we cherish our time with our two boys.

That's why, when SarahMae offered this challenge, I just had to join in.

One day?  Anything my lovelies wanted?  Precious time with them while being completely present?  Surely I could give them one day. 

And so we played in the backyard while our large lilac bush was in full bloom and so very fragrant.

We had water fights with the garden hose.  Splashed in the kiddie pool.  Chased each other.  Got in Daddy's way as his strong arms pushed the lawnmower through 90 degree heat.  Drank icy cold drinks together.  Scribbled chalk on the patio.  Lounged on lawn chairs.  Crawled through tunnels.  Blew bubbles.

And it was wonderful.

Think you might want to do it, too?

      Warmly,
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Filed Under: Frugal Living, Nurturing Family, Practicing Faith 17 Comments

Whole Wheat Banana Bread, Using Soaked Wheat

May 24, 2010

{YUM.}

Over the weekend I stumbled across a recipe for whole wheat banana bread on the Paprikahead site.   I did a little bit of tweaking to adapt it to what my husband and I were looking for and we had sweet success.  Oh yes... it was SO good.  And fairly easy.

I used my 12-inch long bread panI'd purchased using some of my Swagbucks.  I highly recommend this pan; it has been wonderful!  We ended up getting two of them so that I could do one big batch of breadbaking early in the week and then not have to bake again for a few days.

I noticed that a couple of Paprikahead's commenters had mentioned their loaf was gooey and sank in the middle.  Using the longer loaf pan may have helped me avoid having the same problem, but I also added additional flour... see my note in the recipe.

Here's what worked for us:

The night before, combine two cups of wheat flour (I used freshly ground hard white wheat) with 1 1/3 cups of water, plus two tablespoons of vinegar.  Be sure the flour is saturated, cover it, then leave it on the counter overnight, or about 14 hours.

The next morning, butter one long loaf pan and preheat the oven to 350.

Mash two large, ripe bananas in a large bowl.

Stir in:
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp salt
1/2 tbsp baking soda
1/4 c sugar (you *should* be able to substitute honey if you prefer)
3 tbsp butter, melted
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Using wet hands, mix everything in with the soaked flour mixture. IMPORTANT:  Keep an eye on your dough here.  Mine was still very wet, so at this point I added an additional 3/4 cups of flour to get it to the right consistency... it shouldn't be soupy, but it should still be pourable, kind of like a thick cake batter.

Pour into your buttered loaf pan and bake for approximately 50 minutes, until golden brown.  If a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, it's ready to come out of the oven.

Let the bread sit for at least 30 minutes before serving, and don't be surprised if it's gone by the end of the day :o )

     Enjoy~
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Filed Under: Recipes 7 Comments

How to Peel & Cut a Mango

May 18, 2010

Mangoes are one of my favorite fruits.  Last week I bought a box full of them from our local warehouse store, and they. taste. so. good. 

My husband grew up in the West Indies and according to him, mangoes grew on the trees in his neighborhood.  When he wanted a fresh, ripe, juicy mango, he would just pick one, peel it, and eat it.  Just like that.

Hmphhhh.

Me?  Well, I struggle with mangoes.  I love them, but they do not love me back.  I can never seem to cut them right and I ultimately end up just peeling them and then biting into them over the kitchen sink.  Those coveted juices run up my arms and drip down from my elbows.  It's a mess.  A blissful, wonderful mess.

Now you know why I am so excited about finding this short video tutorial, "How to Cut and Peel a Mango."  Maybe you could use it, too?

      Warmly,
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Filed Under: Eating Real Foods 8 Comments

Learning to Wait

May 17, 2010

I have a problem with being patient:  I'm not very good at it.

You'd think that after all the practice I've had trying to be patient, I'd be filled to overflowing with this fruit of the Spirit by now.

There are many times in my life where I have had to wait.... just trust Him, hold on, and wait.  Sometimes I held on for dear life, white-knuckled, by sheer faith.  Other times I quietly and blindly walked with Him, letting Him lead the way, carrying me when necessary.

Patience was cultivated as my husband and I waited nearly four years to be married; as we waited years for our children, who each ultimately arrived by the blessing of adoption; as we waited for God to show us the city where He wanted us to settle and put down roots; and now again, as we wait to sell our home in a struggling economy.

Things don't always happen the way that we plan, but it is so comforting to know that He is working everything for good, in His timing, when we continue to be faithful.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  ~ Romans 8:28

That's a promise worth holding on to, white knuckles and all.

Wait
by Russell Kelfer
Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .
And the Master so gently said, "Wait."
"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.
"My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.
"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply."
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting... for what?"
He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.
"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.
"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence are all you can see.
"You'd never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.
"The glow of my comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have, last.
"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you.
"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."

Praying that we can all appreciate His most precious answer of all... to wait on Him.

May you feel His presence and be filled with Him as Pentecost approches this week.
    

        Warmly,
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Filed Under: Biblical Womanhood, Practicing Faith 17 Comments