What's cookin'

Mon~Worcestshire chicken, roasted potatoes, green beans
Tues~Teriyaki pork chops, rice, corn
Wed~Bbcue meatballs, cheesy potatoes, bread, salad
Thurs~Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, carrots with friends
Fri~Paula Deene's Black Bean soup, crusty bread
Sat~Homemade pizza, raw veggies
Sun~Veggie beef soup, bread, applesauce

Great Reminder from Nancy Leigh DeMoss

A friend from church sent me this. I'm sure everyone needs to be reminded of this once in awhile.
The right side is cut off (I am not real computer savvy so not sure how to fix that!), but you get the gist.

October 28, 2010 Circumstances and Excuses “I was never an impatient person—until I had these twins!” Nancy Leigh DeMoss: We’re all tempted to think that we’re the way we are because of the situation we’re in. We feel that if our circumstances were different, we would be different: more patient, more loving, easier to live with. If our circumstances make us what we are, then we’re all victims. We aren’t responsible. We can’t help the way we are. But here’s the truth: Our circumstances don’t make us what we are. They justreveal what we are. The exasperated mother had always been an impatient person. She just didn’t realize it until God brought new circumstances into her life. He wanted to show her what she was really like so He could change her. The circumstances of life can be really hard, but they’re no excuse for sin. Ask God to show you what you’re really like, so He can change you. With Seeking Him, I’m Nancy Leigh DeMoss. This transcript is taken from the nationally-syndicated daily radio program Seeking Him with Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

What's Cookin'

Mon~Leftover lasagne and tacos, salad, veggies

Tues~Quesadillas, fruit, salad

Wed~Grilled chicken, rice, corn

Thurs~Roast beef, egg noodles, red cabbage, green beans

Fri~PRTS dinner

Sat~Reformation party

Sun~Veggie beef soup, bread

Escape!~II Thessalonians 1:9

I stayed home with Joel and Aaron this morning and listening to this sermon from Dr. Murray on the second coming of Christ. Very serious reminder and clear explanation. I recommend listening to it when you have a chance. Dr. Murray has a way of making the mysterious things of the Bible more clear and showing how different parts of the Bible relate to each other. It was very interesting to learn more about the "mighty angels" that will accompany Christ on the last day.

Book Recommendation: Nine Day Queen of England by Faith Cook

This is an excellent account of Lady Jane Grey, Englands nine day queen who was executed by Bloody Mary. She was one of the first martyrs during Mary's reign. I learned many new things about Lady Jane and was encouraged by her faith and calm spirit during the days leading up to her execution. Read more here.

Boys Photoshoot 2010

Auntie Alice took pictures again!

Precious baby Aaron.

My biggest boy. This was after he sat on Aunt Alice's prop barrel and fell through, scraping his back up, so good job Andrew!

Joel, my smiley boy. I think he did the best job. :-)

Cutey patootie Noah~I don't know how many shots Alice got of him, but they turned out cute!

4 boys together, all looking at the camera! Not an easy task!

Thanks Auntie Alice! Some of the pics will grace our walls soon. :-)

What's Cookin'

I got this book out of the library and am going to try a couple recipes from it out this week.

Mon~Chili, Crusty French Bread, salad (try Boston lettuce, I bought some this week and I really like the texture)

Tues~Cowboy Spaghetti from Eat What You Love, salad, corn

Wed~Grilled Chicken, Sour Cream and Cheddar Faux-tatoes from Eat What You Love, green beans (Try and guess what's faux about the potatoes!)

Thurs~Pea soup, Crusty French Bread

Fri~Stromboli, fruit, salad

Sat~Tacos, chips n salsa, fruit

Sun~Meatball veggie soup, jello, grilled cheese

Name that baby!

Baby A


Baby B

Name that baby!

4 Men in a Tub!!

Aaron's first experience bathing with his crazy brothers. He's not too sure what to think of it...

Hmm, I think he likes it! But we may need a bigger tub. :-)

Best Deals at Meijer this week

Head over here to see how to get Coffeemate for $1, 4 boxes of Barilla pasta for $1, and 6 cans of Campbell's Great for Cooking soups for 9 cents each!

What's Cookin'

Mon~Spaghetti, salad, cheesy bread
Tues~boys are having grilled cheese, mommy's meeting daddy for lupper :-)
Wed~Fellowship dinner-PW's barbecued meatballs
Thurs~Red Hot-Meeting daddy for dinner
Fri~Stromboli, salad, chips and salsa
Sat~Grilled steak, baked potatoes, green beans
Sun~Meatball veggie soup, bread

Raspberry Cherry Pie

Made this tonight for the home school moms meeting. Very yummy, especially with vanilla icecream! My crust was a bit tough, but had good flavor. May cut back on the salt next time. Love having lots of frozen fruit in my freezer for these kinds of goodies! Tomorrow I am making quarts upon quarts of applesauce. My freezer will be full!

What's Cookin'---Work in progress

Can't think of a menu right now, so I'll update this when I've figured it out. :-)

Mon~PW's meatballs, baked potato wedges, cauliflower, salad
Tues~Chicken alfredo, green beans
Wed~Crockpot Dutch soup, rolls, apple crisp
Thurs~Louis Benton Steak house with our Groupon
Fri~
Sat~Pizza with family
Sun~

Prayer

Formality - We are creatures of habit and routine. We all tend to have our own phrases and manner of approach to the Lord. It is therefore easy for prayer to become so predictable. Interestingly, John Newton used this observation as an argument in favour of the use of written prayers in public worship. In most extemporaneous prayers, he maintained, you recognised the beginning, could discern the middle and you knew when it was coming to an end, so why not use written ones, was his conclusion. The problem of excessive length and formality was dealt with very succinctly by D. L. Moody when he said: 'Some people's prayers need to be cut off at both ends and set on fire in the middle.'

Vagueness or being unspecific - Although prayer involves communion with the Lord and a worshipping frame of mind yet we are to make requests. The story is told of a prayer meeting where one brother seemed to be preaching rather than praying. One sister felt especially troubled by this, so she interrupted by calling out: 'Ask for something!'

Prayers that are unduly personal - very little prayer or desire may be expressed for the conversion of sinners and the furtherance of the gospel: instead, the time is spent in an introspective rehearsing of numerous personal doubts and fears. One preacher described it as 'hanging out the dirty washing for all to see'.

Pride - a desire to be seen and heard. The heart being uplifted at the thought of an opportunity to show others one's 'gift in prayer'. This was the downfall of the Pharisees: they wished to be seen of men. To quote the theologian, Robert Reymond: 'When you pray, remember whose attention you wish to gain.’

To quote Spurgeon again: 'It is necessary to draw near unto God, but it is not required of you to prolong your speech till everyone is longing to hear the word “Amen”'. The only exception I believe is if a spirit of prayer and supplication is poured out upon one member in a special way. They will know, and every spiritually-minded person will know, and will lose sight of the time.

Source

(Taken from our church's bulletin meditation, emphasis mine)

What's Cookin'

Mon~Roast beef, potatoes, carrots, red cabbage (we have finally gotten to this meal~we will be eating it tonight, its in the crockpot!)

Tues~Bean and cheese tostadas, salad

Wed~Chicken parmesan, green beans, bread

Thurs~Omelets, toast, fruit

Fri~Canada!

Sat~On our way home from Canada

Sun~Beef vegetable soup, rolls

Respectable Sins: Chapter~Unthankfulness

UNTHANKFULNESS

Bridges begins the chapter with the story of Jesus healing the 10 lepers and how only one leper returned to thank Him for his healing. Bridges states, "Christ's giving us spiritual life is a far greater miracle, and its benefits are infinitely greater than healing from leprosy. Yet how often do we give thanks for our salvation?"
Bridges points out from scripture that every breath we take and every material thing we have is a blessing from God and therefore our whole lives should be ones of continual thanksgiving. One of our "acceptable" sins is failing to continually give thanks to God.
In Romans 1:18-32, Paul explains how God allowed the people of that day to downwardly spiral in their morality and gave them up to their own natural inclinations "because they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him." The people became more and more morally perverse and this is evidenced in our day as well.
Paul also tells us in Thessalonians to give thanks in all circumstances, even those we don't necessarily feel thankful for. We need to thank God for the good He is working out in us, because God directs all circumstances for our good, even ones that don't feel comfortable to us. This means giving thanks with our hearts, not just our lips. Give thanks by faith in the promises of God.
Bridges suggests memorizing the following verses to help us in giving thanks to God:

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Ephesians 5:20

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

I Thess 5:18

"Dad" of 23

Unbelievable.

Seriously, what do you do with people like this? He's sent to prison, but that's definitely not helping his kids. Even one of the mother's says at the end of the article, "Now my taxes will go to support him in prison."

GREAT Birthday Freebie

Found this via The Bargain Shopper Lady. Sign up here to receive a free $10 gift card to your local mall on your birthday.

Happy Birthday Joel!

Joel is two years old today! We love you, Joel!

³ Sons are a heritage from the LORD,

children a reward from him.

⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior

are sons born in one's youth.

⁵ Blessed is the man

whose quiver is full of them.

They will not be put to shame

when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

Psalm 127:3-5

Respectable Sins: Chapter 9~Discontentment

DISCONTENTMENT.

-arises from longterm, on-going circumstances that we can do nothing about (ex. physical disability)

We have conditioned ourselves to respond to difficulties with anxiety, frustration, and discontentment and we feel these reactions are normal (they are-for sinful man!) So we need to consider these reactions as what they really are, sin, and that we are responding no differently than unbelievers when we react with anxiousness, frustration, or discontentment.

Piper's first plan of attack against sin is always to refer to applicable scripture. For example, for those with physical disability, remember Ps 139:13: "You formed my inward parts."

Piper also points out that only in acceptance do we find peace with our circumstances. This is different than resignation, which often leaves smoldering discontentment in its wake. Acceptance allows us to find ways to glorify God even through circumstances we find difficult because we realize that His plan is perfect.

Piper's theme in these last two chapters "is the importance of the firm belief in the sovereignty, wisdom, and goodness of God in all the circumstances of our lives." God has allowed these circumstances for His glory and our ultimate good.