All Generation Class Today

Today was our all generation class at Church.  It is always enjoyable, and the children get to participate, we are usually split into groups with a mix of adults and children.  Today Bill had our table discuss the following passage and then draw it out on paper for illustrational purposes.  I really enjoyed today's passage (and enjoy reading it in the New Living Translation):

Psalm 1

¹ Oh, the joys of those who do not
      follow the advice of the wicked,
      or stand around with sinners,
      or join in with mockers.
 ² But they delight in the law of the Lord,
      meditating on it day and night.
 ³ They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
      bearing fruit each season.
   Their leaves never wither,
      and they prosper in all they do. ⁴ But not the wicked!
      They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
 ⁵ They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
      Sinners will have no place among the godly.
 ⁶ For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
      but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

My Confession - My Kiddos Are Not Angels!

Tonight when I told my boys it was time for bed, I was looking into the eyes of my oldest boy who was glaring at me with the darndest hard core look you'd ever seen.  You've got to be kidding!  MY LITTLE ANGEL? Some days are awesome with hugs and kisses and "mom, I love you" and "mom, you're my friend" then I get the "h*ll no, I'm not doing what you ask me to do!" look and I'm thinking "where am I going wrong?" 

Seriously!?%$#

I really do pray every night and morning for God's guidance to raise these charming children of mine, and then when something like tonight goes on - I litterally feel like my child is possessed and I need to perform an exercism.

I do notice some trends in behavior and so I really try to avoid certain things that set off bad behavior or attitudes in my children such as watching TV and avoiding being on the phone or internet.  And I try really hard to bond with my children and train them up.  It just breaks my heart to see my children act in such a way, and in my mind I immediately flash forward to the teen years and think "I'd better get these boys under control now!"

I hope I'm not the only mom out there that's having these days, nights, mornings, etc.

Please, please, leave me a comment and pray for a better tomorrow!

Here are some comforting scriptures I try to remind myself of as I reflect on my job as a mother.

Deut 6:5-7

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up."

Prov 22:6

"Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it."

Prov 13:24

"He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently."

Prov 22:15

"Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him."

Prov 23:13

"Do not hold back discipline from the child, Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die."

Prov 29:15

"The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother."

Eph 6:4

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

On Good Behavior - Resources & Articles

Above all I believe in Child Training thru God's Word. God is specific in that we are to 'train' our children. That means consequences for unacceptable behavior. This has been on my mind a lot; when you have four kids under 4 years of age, there's a lot of training going on! And they're all at different stages and levels of comprehension. These verses help me focus on today for the future and the articles below are also great resources...

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Ephesians 6:4

And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

No Greater Joy.org has some great resources in their magazine that you can read online or you can subscribe to via the mail. They also have many child training books and videos (several of which we own, have read and viewed!).

From the Total Transformation Program there are two great articles, one on how to give consequences that work and the other 0n motivating the child, these are quick reads and actually give some specific examples that made me think 'duh' that's what I should be doing!

Other resources you can find out there on the web, and I most recently found a really good series of articles written on the Raising Olives blog called Your Child's Heart which I highly recommend!

God will fully satisfy every need...

Since we've started our 'Financial Freedom' bible study by Jim Sammons (http://iblp.org/iblp/discipleship/financialfreedom/) I have tried harder to let God supply our needs thru prayer and patience.

Today was another one of those wonderful days in which God supplied our needs.

We have been wanting some folding chairs for when we have family and friends over to the house - since we have limited seating - and I have been putting off purchasing folding chairs to see if God would supernaturally intervene and he has! We received two very nice metal folding chairs thru Freecycle.

The other need we've been putting off is getting our carpets cleaned. I really want to get them clean since the babies are starting to play on the floor more and I can't put down a blanket without them rolling up in it anymore. Last week I priced out renting the carpet cleaner and decided to wait till this weekend to rent it while the boys were at my parent's for their weekly night over. However, today, during my Chiropractic Massage, thru small talk with my massage therapist, she has a really nice carpet shampooer she doesn't need anymore and is going to give it to us!

God is awesome!

Philippians 4:19

And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

I want to challenge you to let God work in your life supernaturally and supply your needs. Sometimes his response is instant and sometimes it takes time.

Remember - God's timing is always perfect!

No Greater Joy

http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/magazine/

I highly recommend reading and subscribing to this free magazine. Articles usually focus on chid training and marriage. I recieved mine in the mail yesterday and have already read it cover to cover!

Fruit Of The Spirit

With four kids constantly needing my attention, as well as my husband and frequently forgotten dog, I find it rather challenging at times to maintain composure.

I find that the more I practice these fruits of the spirit, the happier I am, and the happier everyone else is as well.

For a constant reminder of how my attitude should be I have the following verse in my kitchen and read it several times a day:

Galatians 5:22-23

The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Financial Bondage and Purposing To Be Debt Free

OK, so here's my second post on Jim Sammon's Financial Freedom Seminar we've been watching and reading. I'm going to try to keep it short because I'm so excited to be sharing some new resources I found in the Internet and want to get to updating my budget sheet right afterwards.

After several sessions, we have learned that the first thing we need to do is give it all to God - letting him be in control, after all, we are only stewards of God's gifts to us, including finances. We needed to tithe properly. I never did understand how to tithe until after this study. It doesn't mean picking an arbitrary amount and writing it on a check every week to put into the collection plate - it means giving exactly 10% of your 'first fruits' - before taxes, insurance, etc. are taken out. Plus, it means to tithe ANY amount of money that comes to you - yes, that means 10% of your bonus too, if you get one.

So that was our first 'correction' we made - tithing correctly - giving God our 'first fruits.'

Also, learning more from scripture about how we are stewards of God's money and that we need to be using it more wisely, in all ways, meaning that we examine each purchase we make, not to mention - using CASH and not going into DEBT for any purchase for any reason.

Purposing to be DEBT FREE is our next step - and I found a wonderful online source of a 'Snowball' spreadsheet - showing how to pay down your debts starting with the debt with the lowest balance so you can see (and celebrate) debts being paid off. It's really amazing, really. After you input all your debts it shows (among other things) how the 'snow ball' works, when your debt will be paid off, and an amortization schedule like the one you get when you sign up for that mortgage.

Just to clarify - a 'DEBT' is considered any bill that is unpaid - including: any and all loans (personal or bank), medical bills, utilities, the local hardware store charge account, etc.

Speaking of mortgages, this spreadsheet can probably help you figure out how to payoff your mortgage quicker as well (when paying more than what your regular monthly payment is required).

The new website I found tonight: http://www.christianpf.com/
The article that has the link for the spreadsheet: http://www.christianpf.com/snowball-your-way-out-of-debt/

Before I Was A Mom

Thanks to KC for forwarding this to me tonight! I had read this before, but it's been a while and I really love it! Not sure who actually wrote it...

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a mil lion pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom .

Teaching Children how to Give

Recently with the Tsunami in Samoa - I have seen an opportunity to show Michael Jr. what it means to give to those in need. Because he can understand (for the most part) I explained what happened in Samoa and told him that "the water destroyed and washed away these people's cars, homes, clothing, food, toys, books..." and that we were going to go thru things in our home that we don't use that those in need would put to good use. He was very eager to share and suggested that we give some of his toys and cars to those children in need, and I let him pick out what he wanted to give, as I was doing some of my own gathering of items around the house. Several times a day he thinks about what has happened in Samoa and asks me questions and suggests "maybe people in Samoa need (fill in the blank)" and I find it has been a wonderful way to involve his little (big) mind in thinking about meeting the needs of others.

(There is a local family collecting donnations to send to Samoa via AML - let me know if you want more info on that).

Also, today in checking my email, I had come across the following article that I recommend (a short read) that is appropriate for this holiday season: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/spiritual_growth_for_kids/teaching_servanthood/gimme_gimme.aspx

How do you take opportunities to share with your children the importance of giving to those in need?

Drawing Closer to God - Financial Freedom - Part 1

Mike and I have been doing a bible study on Financial Freedom and it's amazing! It was on back order when we purchased it, so we've been waiting about two months and it finally came in the mail. We've only watched the first session - there are 20 sessions in all - and we've skimmed thru the 'Men's Manual.' The first session is "Learn What It Really Means To Be Financially Free," and is eye opening. It has a twenty question quiz "To What Degree Are You Financially Free?" and then gives 20 factors, scripturally based, showing how scriptural principles affect financial freedom. It also shows you how to identify evidence of financial bondage.

There are listed many factors of financial freedom which include the following:

Knowing God's purpose for money
Knowing how to Tithe properly
How to keep out of Debt
Living within your income
Learning how to live in abundance and in need
Knowing the potential of your home and developing it
Create a good family name
Avoid Partnerships
Avoid Slothfulness

Some scripture to ponder:

Deuteronomy 8:18
"But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth"

Philippians 4:12
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want"

Hebrews 11:6
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him"

Romans 13:8
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law"

John 16:23-24
"...I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name...Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete"

Malachi 3:10
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, "says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

2 Thessalonians 3:10
"...If a man will not work, he shall not eat"

Proverbs 19:15
"Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry"

Proverbs 6:10-11
"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest - and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man"




I highly recommend this study: http://store.iblp.org/products/FFSP/

God's Timing is Perfect

We have been on RuralCap's list for some time now. It's a local division of Alaska Housing to assist with home energy such as putting in new insulation, windows, doors, furnace, fans, etc. to make homes more energy efficient.

We had been on their list for about 6 months now and were scheduled for a in-home review today at 10am.

However, this morning about 8am I noticed I didn't have any hot water, and that the timer that is connected to our hot water heater wasn't working. Then I started smelling an electrical burning smell back in our bedroom - our hot water tank is accessed thru the exterior of our trailer but just next to our closet. I immediately turned off our electricity and called Mike to come home and investigate. When he came home he found that the water heater was leaking all over the electrical it was hooked up to.

Then we called RuralCap who where going to be here anyway at 10am. They came out a little earlier because of our situation to do their evaluation and see the water heater. They were able to arrange for us a new water heater and professional installation thru Jack's Plumbing and Heating.

Isn't it just amazing how God works in mysterious ways? HIS TIMING IS ALWAYS PERFECT.

So, more information on RuralCap's Weatherization Program for all of you who may be interested in applying. There are two programs - one that those who can have an energy star rating done before a project, spend money and do the project and then have another energy star rating done and get a reimbursement for up to a certain amount. The other program - which we are doing - is based on income and household size. They do all the work for you and there's no out of pocket expenses for the home owner.

In our particular situation today we learned that we are getting all new vapor barrier and insulation under the trailer, new skirting, drainage, plus having our forced-air furnace tuned up and possibly replaced if it doesn't meet specifications, the air ducts leaks fixed, the entry way insulated, new sheet rock in the hallway ceiling, new vent in the bathroom and kitchen, new fire alarms and Carbon Dioxide Monitor and last but not least, our water heater!

If you're interested in the weatherization program check it out at:

http://www.ahfc.state.ak.us/energy/weatherization_rebates.cfm