So today I am going to post something different than usual. Lately I feel like God has been teaching me about having the heart of a servant. Strangely enough the devotions that I read today was on having the heart of a servant. As I read through the devotions, I copied and pasted the text that I felt was jumping out to me. Here are the snippets that really stood out to me:
Real servants pay attention to needs. Servants are always on the lookout for ways to help others. When they see a need, they seize the moment to meet it, just as the Bible commands us: “Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10 GWT).
When God puts someone in need right in front of you, he is giving you the opportunity to grow in servant hood. Notice that God says the needs of your church family are to be given preference, not put at the bottom of your “things to do” list.
Real servants make themselves available to serve. Servants don’t fill up their time with other pursuits that could limit their availability. They want to be ready to jump into service when called on.
If you only serve when it’s convenient for you, you’re not a real servant. Real servants do what’s needed, even when it’s inconvenient.
“Whoever wants to be great must become a servant” (Mark 10:43 MSG).
We serve God by serving others.
The world defines greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige, and position. If you can demand service from others, you’ve arrived. In our self-serving culture with its me-first mentality, acting like a servant is not a popular concept. Jesus, however, measured greatness in terms of service, not status. God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you.
Anyone can be a servant. All it requires is character.
Jesus said, “You can tell what they are by what they do” (Matthew 7:16 CEV).
11/19 Servants Serve with What They Have
11/18 Real Servants Pay Attention
11/17 Servants Make Themselves Available
11/16 We Serve God by Serving Others
Here is the link to the daily devotion I read:
http://profile.purposedriven.com/dailyhope/
Now there is some food for thought today!
Cheers,
Beth
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Evan's Dedication
This Sunday, the 15th, was Evan's dedication. We had a nice little ceremony during church and after church our house filled with 21 people to celebrate Evan's dedication.
The menu:
I made lasagna and we also had bread and salad...and of course a veggie tray. I made a "Pineapple Lush" cake and my parents were so kind to order Evan's cake.
It was a wonderful day for a dedication, the weather was just wonderful! Thank you ALL who came to celebrate with us!
Some of you may ask WHY we dedicate rather than baptize. Here is a little background:
Some Christian churches baptize infants by sprinkling them with water. In those churches the covenant of baptism is seen as being similar to the Old Testament covenant of circumcision. Other Christians don't baptize infants. Instead they dedicate babies to God. There are several reasons for this. First, there are no clear incidents of infant baptism in Scripture. Baptism seems, instead to be an evidence of making a decision to follow Christ. Additionally, while some groups suggest that baptism imparts a special grace to children, there is no real scriptural support for this. Finally, in our society, often adults who were baptized as children desire to be baptized again as an expression of their decision to receive Christ as their Savior and Lord. During this Christian Dedication service a beautiful and solemn promise is made before God and the Church to care for this child as though it was God's child.
Here is the recipe for the Pineapple Lush Cake, it was SUPER easy and YUMMY!
Cheers,
Beth
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Personal Growth & an Inspirational Poem (I beleive)
I have been struggling for quite some time with wanting to stay at home with my kids. My Wednesday's are such a treat for me. I get to stay home with my kids, maintain my household, cook dinner and I LOVE it. OF COURSE, staying at home is a LOT of work and sometimes it can get to be stressful but I LOVE it and being home on Wednesday's has solidified that this IS what I want to do.
One difficulty I have with wanting to stay at home with the kids is being patient and letting God work it out in His time. I tend to want to take it into my own hands and figure out how to make it work. For those of you who have young children, they grow so fast and I feel like time is slipping away right in front of me. The daily devotion that I read put this into perspective for me, check it out, I am sure that you will be able to see why it hit home. This is a two part devotional.
http://www.purposedriven.com/article.do?method=articlePage&contentId=202021
http://www.purposedriven.com/article.do?method=articlePage&contentId=202022
After I read the above devotions this morning, I was sent this poem by a good friend (thank you Sue), I wanted to share the poem:
I Believe...
That just because two people argue, It doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, It doesn't mean they do love each other.
I Believe...That we don't have to change friends if We understand that friends change.
I Believe....That no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I Believe...That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.
I Believe... That you can do something in an instant That will give you heartache for life..
I Believe...That it's taking me a long time To become the person I want to be.
I Believe....That you should always leave loved ones with Loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
I Believe... That you can keep going long after you think you can't.
I Believe...That we are responsible for what We do, no matter how we feel.
I Believe...That either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I Believe.....That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
I Believe...That money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I Believe...That my best friend and I, can do anything, or nothing and have the best time.
I Believe...That sometimes the people you expect to kick you When you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.
I Believe...That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, But that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
I Believe...That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had And what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
I Believe...That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I Believe...That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I Believe...That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, But, we are responsible for who we become.
I Believe....That you shouldn't be so eager to find Out a secret. It could change your life Forever.
I Believe...Two people can look at the exact same Thing and see something totally different.
I Believe...That your life can be changed in a matter of Hours by people who don't even know you.
I Believe...That even when you think you have no more to give, when A friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.
I Believe...That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
I Believe...That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.
I Believe...
The happiest of people don't necessarily
have the best of everything;
They just make the most of everything.
Cheers,
Beth
One difficulty I have with wanting to stay at home with the kids is being patient and letting God work it out in His time. I tend to want to take it into my own hands and figure out how to make it work. For those of you who have young children, they grow so fast and I feel like time is slipping away right in front of me. The daily devotion that I read put this into perspective for me, check it out, I am sure that you will be able to see why it hit home. This is a two part devotional.
http://www.purposedriven.com/article.do?method=articlePage&contentId=202021
http://www.purposedriven.com/article.do?method=articlePage&contentId=202022
After I read the above devotions this morning, I was sent this poem by a good friend (thank you Sue), I wanted to share the poem:
I Believe...
That just because two people argue, It doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, It doesn't mean they do love each other.
I Believe...That we don't have to change friends if We understand that friends change.
I Believe....That no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I Believe...That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.
I Believe... That you can do something in an instant That will give you heartache for life..
I Believe...That it's taking me a long time To become the person I want to be.
I Believe....That you should always leave loved ones with Loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
I Believe... That you can keep going long after you think you can't.
I Believe...That we are responsible for what We do, no matter how we feel.
I Believe...That either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I Believe.....That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
I Believe...That money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I Believe...That my best friend and I, can do anything, or nothing and have the best time.
I Believe...That sometimes the people you expect to kick you When you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.
I Believe...That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, But that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
I Believe...That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had And what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
I Believe...That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I Believe...That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I Believe...That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, But, we are responsible for who we become.
I Believe....That you shouldn't be so eager to find Out a secret. It could change your life Forever.
I Believe...Two people can look at the exact same Thing and see something totally different.
I Believe...That your life can be changed in a matter of Hours by people who don't even know you.
I Believe...That even when you think you have no more to give, when A friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.
I Believe...That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
I Believe...That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.
I Believe...
The happiest of people don't necessarily
have the best of everything;
They just make the most of everything.
Cheers,
Beth
Monday, November 9, 2009
A Poem - Slow Dance
SLOW DANCE
Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down. Don't dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last.
Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask how you are? Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head?
You'd better slow down don’t dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last.
Ever told your child, we’ll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste, not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, Let a good friendship die Cause you never had time To call and say,'Hi'
You'd better slow down. Don't dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere, you miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day, It is like an unopened gift....Thrown away.
Life is not a race.Do take it slower
Hear the music before the song is over.
Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down. Don't dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last.
Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask how you are? Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head?
You'd better slow down don’t dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last.
Ever told your child, we’ll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste, not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, Let a good friendship die Cause you never had time To call and say,'Hi'
You'd better slow down. Don't dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere, you miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day, It is like an unopened gift....Thrown away.
Life is not a race.Do take it slower
Hear the music before the song is over.
An Acomplished Weekend - The Office and more
This weekend Adam was away hunting so I decided to put my nose to the grindstone and get some home decorating done. I have such a hard time getting all the decorating and other projects done with so much going on all the time, so THIS was the weekend to tackle those projects.
I learned from Terese (my mother in law) how to quilt on Friday night and got some hands on with my sewing machine. I am SO excited to start on my first quilt, I went out on Saturday and bought all the supplies I need to get my first quilt started. I can't post much about this since it is a Christmas gift and I don't need to spoil the surprise.
I ALSO tackled sewing the office curtains. My mom so graciously walked me through how to make the curtains. I am happy to say I did them by myself! I am pretty proud of that! Here is how they turned out:
After I finished my sewing project I decided to tackle the wall above the desk. I plotted out what I wanted to go above the desk and then, along with my dad, get to pounding nails! I still have to paint the big letter D a chocolate color (the same color as the chocolate wall in the kitchen) but overall you get the idea. I covered cork board with fabric, I printed out pictures of the spine on vellum paper so it kinda looked like a x-ray and put them in frames (for those of you who don't know, my hubby is a Chiropractor, thus the spine pictures) and I also hung a needlepoint picture that Adam's grandma did for him when he became an Eagle Scout.
The office has a MUCH warmer feel to it! I am excited about how it has turned out. I still have a few things I want to do here and there but overall I could not be happier and it is a great surprise for Adam!
Cheers,
Beth
Friday, November 6, 2009
YummY Frosting Recipe
Chloe and I made sugar cookie dough on Tuesday night and last night I finally had time to roll them out and bake them.
I wanted to frost the cookies and OF COURSE the store bought stuff I had was expired. So, I looked online for a simple frosting recipe. I happened to have some heavy whipping cream in the refrigerator so I looked for frosting recipes with heavy whipping cream in them. Here is what I found...
Recipe:
1 pint Heavy Whipping Cream
1 (4 oz) box of pudding mix
Whip together with a mixer, gradually increasing the speed of the mixer until fluffy...
I frosted the sugar cookies and then decorated them with sprinkles...they are so cute! This recipe is SO simple and it is SO good. The flavor is amazing and the texture is light and airy and it melts in your mouth!
Cheers,
Beth
I wanted to frost the cookies and OF COURSE the store bought stuff I had was expired. So, I looked online for a simple frosting recipe. I happened to have some heavy whipping cream in the refrigerator so I looked for frosting recipes with heavy whipping cream in them. Here is what I found...
Recipe:
1 pint Heavy Whipping Cream
1 (4 oz) box of pudding mix
Whip together with a mixer, gradually increasing the speed of the mixer until fluffy...
I frosted the sugar cookies and then decorated them with sprinkles...they are so cute! This recipe is SO simple and it is SO good. The flavor is amazing and the texture is light and airy and it melts in your mouth!
Cheers,
Beth
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
A good morning chuckle
Chloe and Evan have little bags specially made for them by the hospice people, from when my grandmother passed away a few months ago. I pack the bags with toys that will entertain the kids in the car. Today Chloe asked if she could bring her and Evan's "purse's" with them in the truck while we went to daycare, of course I said yes.
Soon after we left the house I looked back to see Evan putting on the hats that were in his bag. I was lucky enough to have a camera handy and got a cute picture! I had to share!
What a great way to start out the morning, with a heart warming chuckle and two fantastic children! I love being a mom!
Cheers,
Beth
Soon after we left the house I looked back to see Evan putting on the hats that were in his bag. I was lucky enough to have a camera handy and got a cute picture! I had to share!
What a great way to start out the morning, with a heart warming chuckle and two fantastic children! I love being a mom!
Cheers,
Beth
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