Weekend Inspiration

Encouragement:

Ecc 9:7-9 "Go ahead---eat your food and be happy; drink your wine and be cheerful. It's all right with God. Always look happy and cheerful. Enjoy life with the one you love, as long as you live the useless life that God has given you in this world. Enjoy every useless day of it, because that is all you will get for all your trouble."

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Wow. I don't remember reading those verses before. But what an encouragement that God is in control. We can work to try to achieve riches, and it can all be taken away. Or we can enjoy what the Lord has given us, and it is up to Him how long we enjoy it.

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WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL.

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Enjoy what you have and make the most of everyday God has given you.

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Try Something New:\

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In going with our verses above, I want to encourage you all to get out and do something with your family. Something meaningful. Go to the zoo. Go for a picnic. Go to a museum. What does your family enjoy? Go do it! Make some memories that your children (and/or grandchildren) will remember.

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This weekend, we are going to the Dunes along Lake Michigan. I will always remember this place, because my husband proposed to me there. Now 11 years later, I get to take my children back there. They are going to love it. Climbing the sand hills, playing in the water... It isn't anything that will cost much but it will make lots of memories.

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So, again, I encourage you to enjoy what God has given you. Get out there with that wonderful family that God has blessed you with. Have a great weekend!

Weekend Inspiration

My goodness, I feel like I have hardly been on my computer for the last 5 days! I have had swimming lessons for my boys first thing in the AM all week then, when we (finally) get home. We try to catch up on everything we dropped that morning, lunch, finish chores, get ready for VBS, dinner, then VBS! After VBS I spend time in the yard or garden (if it isn't raining!) then computer time has been from about 9:30 pm to 12:30 am.... Then back up again and rolling at 7 am... yeah. I am looking forward to next week!

Encouragement:

Mat 6:25-34 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. "

Boy, I don't know about you, but this hit the nail on the head with me. I am always worrying about things that I have ABSOLUTELY NO control over. There are MANY things in our lives that we need to let that soak in about!!!

YOU DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER THIS, SO DON'T WORRY YOUR PRETTY LITTLE HEAD OVER IT!

I am always doing the "What if's" with myself... well, what if this or that happens, then what will I do? As if I don't have BETTER things to do then to worry about the "what if's". I know most of you out there KNOW what I'm sayin'!

But be encouraged with Jesus' words:
"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? "

Try Something New (with a twist!)

Like I said I have been neglecting my poor computer all week, so I haven't had much time on being able to look at all the new ideas out there. But I will give you some blogs to look at, some that I enjoy. And maybe you could find some enjoyment in also...

I am going to let you all in on a little info about me that only those people close to me know. Well, you all probably know that I have 4 boys, who I am so proud of and blessed everyday with. But I have always wanted a girl, and thought for sure I would have at least one daughter of my own someday. I came from a family of 4 girls and 1 boy! So SURELY I would have ONE girl! Noooo... Well, the thing most of you probably don't know about me is I would LOVE to adopt. My hubby and I will not be having any more children (unless by God's supernatural hand). And I often get teary-eyed about never having a little girl. So, I love hearing stories about adoptions and seeing how incredible the lives of these families are, how blessed each member of the family is for being a part of the adopted family. Well, one of my favorite blogs to read now is Rylee for Life. This is a blog about one families journey through adoption and how blessed their lives are now!

I live on a (mini) farm in Indiana. And we have some animals and probably more to come. We love being outside and being about to take care of what we have, grow some of our own food, and be able to let our boys run, and not be afraid. One blog I find inspiration (HUMOROUS inspiration)from is Amy's Humble Musings. It is a great blog about Amy's life on her family farm.

Then look at this delightful sandwich! This is a pulled-chicken sandwich. You all have heard of a pulled PORK sandwich, right? Well, go HERE to find the incredibly easy recipe from Kraft for this sandwich.

Well, I wish I had more time to share, but if I have to leave you with those things for today. I hope you find some inspiration and encouragement. And I just hope you are able to be blessed by what you have read today. Have a great weekend, and make sure you make Father's Day a great on for those father's in your life!

See you all soon!

Weekend Inspiration

Encouragement:

Psa 84:9-12 "Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed! For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!"

God keeps His promises and will bless those who bring Him blessing! It is something to strive for!

Try Something New:

Have any of you ever made a sock monkey? I haven't, but thought THIS would help me learn how. (These are hubby's favorite!)

Wouldn't you love to know how easy it is to make this cute purse? Alright... go HERE! I'm not sure it could get any easier!

And I saved the best for last... OH. MY... Don't these Homemade Graham Crackers look delightful? Visit the Smitten Kitchen to find out how to make this yummy treat!

That's all for this weekend. I hope you all have a blessed weekend. See you soon!

Weekend Inspiration

Encouragement:



Psa 139:15-16 "When my bones were being formed, carefully put together in my mother's womb, when I was growing there in secret, you knew that I was there-- you saw me before I was born. The days allotted to me had all been recorded in your book, before any of them ever began."


God knows us. He knows our every thought, our every deed. He knows the way each vein weaves in and out from each other, and the exact place where we broke that bone, and the area of cancer that is invading our body. In fact, He KNEW we were going to break that bone before we were even made in our mother's womb. He KNEW we were going to get cancer, before we were even born.


The number of our days here on earth are also known to God. Because it is He who is in control. That gives me some comfort. I know no matter what happens to me, God has control. I WANT Him to have control! I DO NOT WANT to be in control. I would mess up. It is too big of a job for us to handle.


We need to make our days on this earth count. We need to make sure that the days the God has allotted to us here, count for His kingdom. Have you been making those days count? Or have you been doing what I have been doing lately, just getting by.... just making it through each day hopin' nothing else happens.


Let's make our days count. Let's not only make our children, our parents, our grandchildren, our friends, our family proud of us, but let's make those days count for Jesus. Make your life count for the ETERNAL!


Try Something New:


I have a few things this week that I wish I had time for, like NOW! Hope you enjoy them, and hope you find some inspiration and try to do something new!

• Oh. My. Goodness. Do these Homemade Oreos look like the most delicious thing you have ever seen??? The regular version is HERE. The celiac version is HERE. I WILL be trying these out. SOON.

• I had forgotten about this, but I had seen it before. Using potatoes to make stamps! I bet my boys would LOVE this. Check it out HERE. By a Little Hut

• Look at this adorable project! It is a hurricane Candle cover, made with cardboard from toilet paper! Check out this great project HERE! by A Little Hut.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Weekend Inpiration

Encouragement

Sometimes life gets too crazy, it is filled with this thing, and that thing, and more of that thing... And our focus can go from what is important, to just getting by.

For the last few weeks, I have been so busy my head was just spinning with times, and chores, and medications, and appointments... I am realizing it is time to re-focus. Sometimes in life, we have to do that. What are our priorities? Are we focused on those priorities?

What things are important in my life? God first. My husband. My kids. My family. My church.

I need to re-focus. How are you on your priorities today?

Luk 6:45-48 "Good people do the good that is in them. But evil people do the evil that is in them. The things people say come from inside them. "Why do you call me Lord but don't do what I tell you? I will show you what everyone who comes to me, hears what I say, and obeys it is like. He is like a person who dug down to bedrock to lay the foundation of his home. When a flood came, the floodwaters pushed against that house. But the house couldn't be washed away because it had a good foundation."

Do we live like we say we do? If we call ourselves Christians, do we live like it through and through? Do we not just LOOK like a Christian but LIVE like one?

When days or weeks come, and our priorities get messed up, are we still honoring our God? I am taking today, as crazy as it is going to be, to honor God in ALL that I do... at least I am going to try as hard as my fleshly body will let me. Take today to re-focus on your priorities also, you won't be sorry!

Try Something New

I haven't been on the Internet, but only 2 days. So, I haven't gotten a chance to check out much. But I did have some sites bookmarked. So hopefully something here will inspire you:

Look at this great homemade lunch sack. Check it out from "Tumbling Blocks".

Don't these look delicious? And they are simple! Go and get the recipe from "The Kitchen at Cairnwood Cottage".

I hope something here has Inspired you today. Have a great weekend, and I look forward to see you again in a few days!

Weekend Inspiration

I can't believe it is the weekend already! I will take it though! I hope all of you have a wonderful Mother's Day, and hope you get to spend good, quality time with your family!

Encouragement:

Pro 23:25 "May your father and your mother be glad. May she who gave birth to you rejoice. "

When your parents are proud, your Father in Heaven is proud of you also!

Try Something New:

Here are some great things that I found, that hopefully you will enjoy also!

Look how adorable these "felt crowns" are! My boys would have a blast with these. From Balancing Everything.

Talk about saving money, fabric napkins! Paper napkins are a HUGE waste. I am definitely going to be trying this! The best part of making your own is not only that they are cheap, but that they can match your decor exactly! From Film in the Fridge.

Is this not the most gorgeous salad you have ever seen? I am a sucker for a good salad. This one is by my aunt. She has cancer and she is eating healthy, and sharing her recipes! This is one. I am going to start trying out some of these wonderful, healthy recipes! From the Kitchen at Cairnwood Cottage.

Until next weekend, enjoy yourself, and let God's light shine! Have a great weekend.

Weekend Inspiration

With Weekend Inspiration, I hope to bring you some words of encouragement from the Bible, and also bring you some new ideas that will maybe inspire you to try something new! I know on the weekends, if I have time, I will look around on the Internet, and there isn't a lot posted on weekends to hold my attention. My hope is to give you all something of worth to check out each weekend.

Encouragement:

Proverbs 14:1 "The wisest of women builds up her home, but a stupid one tears it down with her own hands. "

This talks about how we, as women, care for our homes and all that is in it. Do we build up our Husbands and our children? Do we make an environment that our family thrives in? Or do we hardly have anyone want to stick around our homes because we have made it a tense environment? Do we take care of what we have, or do we not care about taking care of what God has blessed us with?

It's not so much about a spotless house, as it is about a happy home.

Try Something New:

Here are some things I found, that I would love to try. Hopefully you find inspiration in one of them:

- Cardboard Stars from a Toilet paper Roll! By Her Cup Overfloweth

- Name Flags by Lavender and Limes

- 30 Meals, Meal Planning Made Easier! Idea re-blogged (is that a word?) by Create Studio.

- I want to make these Ham & Cheese Muffins and freeze them, to bring them out for breakfasts! Yum! By Betty Crocker.

Well, I hope you have found something that has inspired you to do something new this weekend! I know I would LOVE to do all of these! Have a blessed weekend! Make your time count.

If you would like to submit ideas to be linked here, please e-mail me!