Interactive Faith Builder

What keeps you from believing that God can restore the parts of your life that feel dead or broken? What is the “something more” that God may be calling you to?


Why is it that every question lately brings me back to myself? I can answer questions that don't have anything to do with me better.

In order to answer the first question, I had to look into my life and decided what exactly feels dead or broken. There are some parts inside of me that I would qualify as dead. I talked a couple of days ago about finding myself. As I sit back and think and look into things I don't think that it isn't that I don't BELIEVE that God can restore me. It is more like WANTING him to. I commented on my weight loss blog that part of my block in weight loss was that if I lost the weight I wouldn't know how to act, would everybody expect something different from me. So I guess the issue for me is -- If I change through this process, how will I act? Will that affect the way the people think of me? Will it be harder?

God is calling me past the easy. He wants me to know myself. He wants me to BE myself.

It is just easier that way...

One of these changes that I keep talking about is in the way I view myself. All of my life I have been living to please someone else. That is what has been the easiest. I was going to say it was what made me happy, or what was comfortable but those descriptions didn't always fit. It was not necessarily what made me happy all the time. Sometimes it wasn't comfortable. But as long as I could figure out what others wanted I was ready to comply. It was just easier that way.

I say easier because I didn't have to think to hard about what I wanted or too much on how I felt. The result is I didn't know myself very well. Introductions were always hard for me. You know when you have to go around and tell about yourself. When those times came around I would pick a few very generic likes to list. It was just easier that way.

When it came to doing things it was easier to let my mom or dad or whoever, give me the ideas and then do the work. The truth is they probably thought I had no ideas of my own. The truth was I was timid to let anyone know I had a different idea, that person might not accept it and as a result not accept me. I know that is not how it works but you never know, it might be. Go with the other person's ideas. It was just easier that way.

When it came to school, subjects with exact answers were the easiest for me. I loved algebra, geometry, science, chemistry, physics. There were answers there I just had to find them. I didn't have to come up with them on my own. I loved history as well, especially when it was date and event recall. English and writing were harder, because well I had to come up with my own thoughts and answers. I perfected the art of listening carefully in class and regurgitating answers. I made A's that way. That pleased my family and it was just easier that way.

I was always proud of the fact that I made good grades In the classes that I took, that meant I could think for myself. At least that is what the world outside looking in thought. It was fine by me. It was just easier that way.

I find myself still living by that code, trying to discern what other people want and then giving it to them. Coming up with my own ideas and deciding what I really feel and like still often takes a back seat. However, I am slowly learning who I am and it is the hardest thing I have ever done.

More later.

Don't forget....

.....to go see this post to add money to the total going to ST. Jude's Children's Research Hospital -- the comments have almost doubled in 12 hours -- but she still needs 200 or so to reach her goal.

I was # 294 (yes again -- you can post once a day for credit)

Go Comment!!!

Postie Patrol Strikes Again

This is hilarious! PayPerPost has the Postie Patrol where various Posties -- that'd be people like me who post ads for companies via PayPerPost -- compete to win various prizes. On this one Robin was on a trek to win Digital Photo Printing gear from HP.

The video was so fun to watch. It had everything from crazy stunts to snow angels in the middle of Chicago -- in windchill of -9* btw -- to my favorite, of course, Salvation Army Bell Ringers. In fact that was the only trademark, besides HP or PayPerPost of course, that I saw in the video.



Would I do something like this? Humm...... I don't know, I am not very outgoing. Of course the motivation of HP gear and a cash prize -- would that be enough to get over my fear? I don't know. Go watch the video and see if you could picture me doing things like that. Let me know.


HP sponsored this post!

Things that maks you go humm..........

Which Classic Female Literary Character Are you?

You're Anna Karenina of Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy! Take this quiz! Quizilla | Join | Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

A Good deed for the day

Go over to Pass the Torch -- this blogger has a corporate sponsor who will donate $1 for every comment, up to 500, on this post to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. A wonderful way to help. I was # 154 -- help her get to 500.

It is my Anniversary.....

My hubby woke me up with a whispered "Happy Anniversary" and he as said it several times today.

And several of my W@H sisters sent wishes ~ It helps that another one shares an anniversary with me lol! ~ Thank you So very much girls~~ I love you each and every one!


However, that is it. No one else has said a word today - both of my parents, my sister, and my best friend all called today and did not mention one thing about my anniversary. I am trying very hard not to be upset but it isn't working very well. Only one person that was there 10 years ago remembered - as well he should - but no one else.........

None of them read this blog either so I won't be guilting them into a call....lol

Job Hunting in the 21st Century

This time last year my husband was looking for work. He had just begun a process that lasted for more than 10 months. We learned a lot about ourselves and about the job market in this area.

We worked on his paper resume, posted online resumes, filled out paper applications, and online ones as we searched high and low for something full filling and worthwhile for him.

There is something new on the job searching horizon -- Audio Resumes. You can Learn More About Audio Resume here.

You simply call and answer questions related to yourself and then are given a unique link to place on your resume. Potential employers can go to the link and listen to your responses. Another great way to make a good impression before ever having seen anyone in person. Good first impressions lead to more chances for second and third impressions, and more chances to be hired.

All of this for only $9.95 a good investment for your future.



This is a sponsored post.

For the organizationally Challanged.....

This was originally a post to respond to a question on the W@H message board. The original question ran something like this: What routines do you have that help you keep up with the day to day and get other things done as well?

As you can see by my answer I didn't have any wonderful advice for her with basic day to day stuff but I did give her the starting point from which I am working.

Here is my answer in its original form - minus the friendly chatter that accompanies message board banters. I am posting it here for posterity and as a motivational tool to keep me on track.

Girl I have no wonderful advice for you -- I would say the same about me -- I am very organizationally challenged -- One thing I have learned in the last year or so however, is to take tasks slowly one step at a time.

I am willing to bet that you are a perfectionist -- don't laugh -- you want to mount tall mountains perfectly the first time, realize that you can't do it and either don't start, or if you have started, stop in frustration, adding to the clutter. I am exactly the same way!

People like that are never going to get anywhere with that mode of thinking. I have begun to realize that and started breaking jobs down into smaller, MUCH smaller tasks.

for example this week's broad main goal was the clean the front part of the house, meaning my kitchen, living room and hall way. In my imagination that was a completely clean, sterile environment that was not only clean on the out side but inside the cabinets, pantry, shelves, and closets etc. and all was organized.

However, I realized quickly Tuesday that with 3 children at the house that wasn't going to happen.....I broke it down into manageable jobs. Tuesday's goal was to surface clean the kitchen. That meant the dishes, the counters, the table, the stove. That DID NOT mean the floor, cabinets, pantry and fridge and freezer were going to be cleaned up and out and organized. I got that done and have maintained the surface clean with the help of assigning certain chores to my 8 and 5 year olds. The whole job took about 2 hours and the rest of the day was filled with daily activities etc.

Wednesday's job was to surface clean the Living room. Which meant picking up clutter, trash, toys, books and crafts -- putting up or throwing out. I did vacuum the middle of the floors in here -- meaning up to the furniture but not moving it. That is done and the goal is to maintain that.

Tomorrow's and Friday's goals are to clean up and out the entertainment center and the hallway and accompanying bathroom respectively with catching up on laundry in the meantime. The entertainment center is my one major clean up/out project this week the rest is mostly just surface cleaning and of course maintaining.

I am learning to be satisfied with small successes and keep building on them.

I am going to start a household notebook this year too -- but do it in small, small steps. The first things I am going to add are routines and chore lists for these areas that I have cleaned this week. It will help me once we start back to school next Tuesday.

How do I love Pay Per Post?

Let me count the ways....

PayPerPost is the blog marketing website for which I have been writing. It is an easy way to earn a little extra money doing what you like to do anyway -- blog.

I have to admit I was a little skeptical when I first heard about it, so I sat back and watched as several other bloggers I know personally try it. I read their success stories and even found a few new services and products through them. So I decided to try it myself.

I have written 12 posts (this is the lucky13th :-) ) and had 8 approved so far -- with the holidays approval has slowed down somewhat but it should pick up after the new year -- I will be paid over $100 once all my posts have been written thus far, including this one, are approved and up.

What is more, I am working on my writing skills and writing more. This causes me to have to write in a new style that I haven't written much of before. It also causes me to keep up my blog with daily posts of other things as well. Those are the things that I really want to be writing so now I have motivation to get them written...

This is sponsored by PayPerPost.

Challenges ~ 2007

I have already talked about how I am going to Celebrate a Year of Abundance with Sallie.

And now Mrs. Cat has issued a challenge. List 3 things you would like to do learn this year that you don't already know how to do. She has a plan for accomplishing those things too. And, as one to jump on a bandwagon, I am going to list my 3 things. (umm can I list celebrating abundance and goal making as my first two? lol))

Three things I want to learn this year:

1. Planning and maintaining a financial plan (notice I didn't use the dreaded b word?)
2. Planning and maintaining a household planner
3. Quilting -- from start to finish.

There are mine -- what are yours?

Got Baby?

With 3 pregnancies under my belt I know about stretch marks. I am sure that my other pregnant friends can tell similar stories. I have several pregnant friends and I have found something that I am going to suggest for to them.

Mother's Intuition has a unique line of Natural products for new mothers. Tummy Honey is a product for those hated stretch marks. It has an extract that is proven to fade and prevent stretch marks. This product has won awards and is the talk of Mom Websites on the 'net

This post sponsored by Mother's Intuition.

Something Fun!

1. If I were inviting someone over for a special dinner, I would
most likely serve.... Spaghetti, Salad, Garlic Bread

2. If I were in a rush, and needed to make something quick and easy,
I would serve.... Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwhiches

3. Something I ate in a restaurant that was absolutely wonderful
was.... Chicken Parmigiana at Olive Garden

4. Something I have had at a gathering and asked for the recipe
afterwards.. .. BLT Dip

5. My favorite meal served when I was a guest at a gathering... . Oriental Thanksgiving Dinner at my MIL's

6. My kids always beg me to make..... Apple Chicken

7. The best meal for a cold, wintery night.... Chili or Beans and cornbread

8. Something that goes great from freezer to table... Ice Cream -- lol

9. My favorite crock pot meal is.... I need your help here........

10. Something I have only heard being prepared in my family is.... Ky Derby Pie or Sweet Potatoes Curl Style

Have fun :) I tag my favorite cooks: Leann, Blest, Stephanie,

More Coupon Sites

You know over this holiday season I have discovered the joy of shopping online!! I can shop for 3 kids -- without their knowledge. I can immediately balance my checkbook -- instead of forgetting to do it when I return home and being surprised when I check my bank balance. The mail man and our park manager do most of the lifting and carrying. And I have many boxes from which to choose when wrapping gifts -- always a plus! I have shopped around to find good deals on my purchases and recently this site was brought to my attention -- Coupons & Discounts NCNatural has links to many online shops including Amazon, Chadwick's, JoAnn's Fabric, and my favorite Target.

These of course are just a few of the sites listed. The home page is very easy to navigate, separating and listing each retailer alphabetically. Then each retailer's page has a list of coupons from which to choose. The whole site is updated daily and you WILL save money using them.

This post sponsored NCNatural.com

Advantages.........

Do you know the advantage of having 15+ Veggie Tales Movies?

.......peace and quiet to pack and load the van for Christmas!!


Do you know the advantage of having a set order to the movies to be watched?

........not having to stop every 30 minutes to referee the argument over which movie is next.


Do you know the advantage of having an 8 year old who can operate both the VCR and DVD player?


.......not having to stop every 30 minutes to do the job myself


End Result:

The entire van is cleaned out, a family of 5 is completely packed, over packed in some cases, the van is loaded to the hilt with luggage, presents, Santa goodies, and of course the absolute necessities of Barney, Wee Wee, Tinky and assorted pillows. All of this in under 3 hours.......

PayPerPost Video

I have been blogging for payperpost for a couple of weeks. You know those sponsored posts you keep seeing. They pay me to advertise on my blog for different companies. Some of the sites I wouldn't have seen if it wasn't for payperpost, other sites I have seen and used before but the difference is I will get paid to write. So yeah it is a little cheesy, but I get to write, which I actually like doing, and I get paid for it, something I never dreamed would happen. It is a start. I get to choose the opportunities I write about and see the websites I promote before I do it.

In previewing an opportunity I got to sit and watch this video:



\It is all about Payperpost moving into their new office space. You can see these are real live people, that work in a real office, whose taste in office colors are a little bright. I am impressed with the professionality (is that a word?) of the employees shown and glad that they shared some of their experiences.

This of course is a sponsored post.

My changes post ....

....is still in draft mode but I need to post something........

so I thought I'd post

A Christmas Card for Everyone!

Just a note:
It is interactive - directions appear in the bottom left hand corner of the card
Stick around until the very end and turn up your speaker!

It is more blessed to give......

....than to receive.

A dear friend referenced this in her post just tonight. And I thought about it when I read that PayPerPost, or more specifically Ted at PayPerPost has the great HP cameras to give away. I want to win one of these cameras.

Up until a month of so ago, I would have kept it for myself, however, I have been gifted with an awesome digital camera and memory stick. So I don't need it anymore. However, if I were to win this camera offered, I would be able to give it to someone else so that that person could share some awesome digital photos with her loved ones. I even have someone in mind who really wants one, however, I can't reveal her name because I want it to be a surprise and I am pretty sure she reads my blog. However, I do know she has a wonderful opportunity to take and show off some pretty good pictures coming up in July. She would also be able to show us more of her wonderful service dog who is so cute and so helpful to her. What an awesome wedding gift this would be for her. Humm.... I could even take it to her and help take candid shots at the event itself......

This post is brought to you by HP

December Declarations

I am late again on the December Declarations -- so here goes 11 more, since I las posted these on the 10th :-).

* God has placed me in the absolute best situation for work AND educating my children
* I have healthy, intelligent children that bless me daily with their knowledge and love of the Lord
* I am imaginative and that can be used to glorify HIM
* I am inquisitive and desire to research and learn more about my God
* I have a wonderful husband that supports me in everything I do
* I have a great family that holds me to a high standard
* I am creative and love to work with my hands
* I am an inspiration to others (man that one is hard to believe sometimes.)
* I am motivated to help others
* I am a blessing to others (That is another on that is hard to believe sometimes.)
* I am a good wife and mother.

Got Lighting?

Remodeling your home? Do you need lanterns inside or outside. This site has links to many beautiful lanterns that will go with any decor. From the traditional ones patterned after the original gas lights of the 1800's to the New Orleans' French Quarter appeal there are many to choose from for the outside. Not doing the outside -- there are a host of candle and oil lanterns that will enhance the beauty of your rooms. You can't beat the softness of candle light to soften the atmosphere of any room. What about your next out door BBQ? How about strings of paper lanterns to decorate and provide a unique atmosphere for your get-together.



This is a sponsored post.

Celebrating a Year of Abundance

Sallie, over at A Gracious Home, has a wonderful post. She speaks of Celebrating a Year of Abundance. It is a simple concept really. She wants to limit her spending as much as possible and concentrate on using what she already has. I like the concept. I am a bad one to go out looking for something to to a project or to finish one up rather than using what I already have. Two areas I am especially bad in this are my crafting, particularly cross-stitch and my new found love of stamping, and cooking.

With my crafting, I am always wanting to try something new or just plain old get bored with a project and start different one. I am going to finish things I already have started and not buy any more things to start new ones, the one exception to be made will be card stock and or ink -- once I have used up all I have now -- because well, that IS consumable.

With cooking, I have never been one to sucessfully be able to put things together and come up with a good dish. My husband is wonderful at this, so I have a built in tutor in this area. I will also work on substitutions that will work for the missing ingredient. If something just CAN'T be substituted. I will have to go without. I will make my menus and grocery shop once a week. With my normal school schedule I can't do it any other way. It will also stop those 'I'm to stressed to figure out what to cook, let alone cook it, let's eat out nights.

Just as Sallie is planning, I am planning on periodic updates on my progress and changes as they occur,

Win a FREE iPod

Today is the last day to enter to win a free gift and it is an iPod today. All you need to do is go to DealsVista.com, find a great deal and tell others about it! DealsVista.com is a deal website for bargain hunters. You can find many great deals with incredible low prices here, including computers, electronics, gifts, books, movies, toys and much more. Why are they doing this? It is a marketing campaign to get you to refer others to their website. Why am I telling you about it? To give you a chance to win a free iPod.


This is a sponsored post.

Christmas Stocking

Xmas Stocking

leave a gift for momof3litlbugs your username: your gift: (30 characters or less) get your stocking

Disclosure Policy

This policy is valid from 19 December 2006


This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. This blog does not accept any form of advertising, sponsorship, or paid insertions. We write for our own purposes. However, we may be influenced by our background, occupation, religion, political affiliation or experience.

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The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

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Post topics

Christmas
Lessons in the dessert
Callings
Who are you following?
Contentment vs Comfortable


just a working list....

Model Cars

My father and my two older children have gotten into a Thomas the Tank Engine phase. Dad has a hobby room set up in the bonus room over their garage and he now has a train track set up in the room. It originally wasn't a Thomas one, however, he found that Thomas is the same scale as the original and so it has changed ;-).

Anyway back to my topic. I was searching online for Thomas pieces and came across this site. Not only does it have trains, Thomas and others, it also has model cars, pedal cars, and planes.

I thought of my BIL, who shows old cars and wondered if he had models of any of the ones that he has shown. HUMMM.......

This is a sponsored post.

December 16 already

I have had several post topics running though my head lately. I have yet to form one of them into a real bonafide post. Yes, Jamie the Christmas post is one of those. Another of those is my lessons in the desert post. I have Christmas pictures to post, but my house is decorated, only the tree, which for some reason has a big gaping hole in the lower right hand quadrant of it. I had promised pictures of my nativities, however, only one is out and that one sorely needs to be dusted and arranged. I also have packing and lists to make as we are going to celebrate Christmas at my MIL's over the weekend.

I am praying things slow down over next week -- Hubby works Tuesday through Saturday and I will get some things in order and actually get a couple of these posts and pictures done.

Christmas Online Games

IT is time for Christmas break. I have 2 whole weeks of sleeping in, no kids, no lesson plans, no picky eaters...... who am I kidding? I am a mom with 3 kids used to getting up early, and one of which is a VERY picky eater..... anyway I do have some downtime. This morning I was blog hopping and discovered this Christmas online games. What a wonderful way to kill even more time online. There is the Elf Toss Game where you see how far you can have a team of two elves launch a third elf across a frozen pond and the Greet Santa Game where you try to steal presents from Santa. My favorite is the Gingerbread Hangman Word Puzzle! It is hilarious to watch him get eaten, I actually threw the game to watch it.

What is more, this links to Blue Mountain eCards and the games double as said eCards. You can also sign up for a month free trial of for the eCard service.

This is a sponsored post

For Jamie

I will post my Christmas piece just as quickly as you posted yours.......

.... if not quicker.......


lol!!!


let me get through this week -- only 3 more days of school left ----

If at all possible it will be next week........

Christmas Gifts Bonanza!!

Okay, so you know that post I just made about needing something under the tree? How about a Gourmet Gift? Oh. My. Goodness. There are 100's to choose from here. You can choose from dinners, to desserts, to chocolates, to coffees and teas, to spices, to cheeses, to ..... to....to..... well you get the idea. Have them shipped straight to the recipient and you don't have to do any wrapping or shipping. It will be hard to go wrong with Gourmet Gifts!

The Tree ..........

............... is up!

and there are lights and ornaments on it........


Now for something to put under it..............................

Calenders

How many times have birthday's and anniversaries and other special days just slipped up on me? I mean, if it wasn't for my daughter's incessant daily reminders I probably would have let her birthday slip up on me last month. Did I tell you she was 8 now? LOL

Anyway, I have found this awesome online calendar, put out by American Greetings, that lets me add birthday's and anniversaries and other important events to my own personal calender. I can then set reminders to be sent to me when I want them, from the day of to 30 days before. You can even have 2 reminders sent. One in time to send a card and a second one the day of, so you can send an e-card, straight from the site I might add. These reminders can be sent to your email, my preferred choice, or to your cell phone. All of these choices are made by the click of your mouse and the site is so user-friendly it didn't take me long to add about 20 birthdays and several anniversaries for the coming year.

The service requires you to sign up, but it is FREE, my favorite price tag. And all personal info is kept confidential.

Interactive Faith Builders

Discussion: How awesome would it be if today, in our daily life, our entire city could hear our from rejoicing far away! In what areas of your own life do you recognize lack of joy and thanksgiving? Is your heart joyful in the everyday mundane stuff?

Oh this is a hard hitting question. Especially since I am typing this at bed time. Earlier in my life I would have immediately said mornings were stressful and least joyful. However, since returning to work the Lord has given me Psalm 118:24 which has made my mornings so much brighter and easier. Many days getting out of bed is so easy, I am still working on getting out of the house joyfully but we are getting there.

However, bedtimes are definitely one of the most stressful times in our house. You see I have children that are just like me -- night owls. We all would rather stay up late and sleep late in the morning. But as we must get up early in the morning, we must go to bed early at night. My 8 year old understands the concept, she doesn't like it but she does understand it. My 4 year old is beginning to get the idea, he doesn't like it any better than his sister, however. The 2 year old just doesn't understand the concept at ALL. He wants to do everything his way and going to bed early doesn't fit into his plans. He lets everyone else in the house know that as well. It is these nights that really lack joy and thanksgiving.

As I sit and type this, however, I realize that many times they are just feeding off of my own lack of joy and dislike at stopping the evenings activities in order to get to bed. However as I look at that verse closely I see a couple of things that speak to me about my evening attitudes.

The verse says "This is the DAY the Lord hath made" First of all it doesn't specify a specific part of the day. it just says day, that means the WHOLE day, morning, noon, afternoon and night. Secondly the Jewish day begins at Sundown, just before we prepare for bed. The original audience for this text were the Jews and that is the way they interpreted the Psalm -- day beginning in the evening. Not only does it not let me off the hook by saying morning, but even if we slide off into concentrating on the early parts of the day that still coincides with the evening times.

I believe this verse just became my whole day verse......

Pay Per Post Blog

I have just recently joined Pay Per Post. They pay me money to review websites post these reviews to my blog. However, I just discovered that the guys there have their own blog. Now there's a novel invention, a blog to keep others informed of what is going on. It is great! I have added the rss feed to my bloglines list and I can now keep up with all the goings on over at Pay Per Post. Even if you don't blog for Pay Per Post I'd suggest you take a look at the blog. There are some really neat pictures posted of a charity event in which they lent a helping hand.

December Declarations

Over at the Women at Home boards several of us have taken up the challenge to list a December Declaration for each day of the month.

The guidelines, set out by one of our dear ladies, Vicki, were as follows:

Let's change things a bit for December: each day state (declare) something positive. Declare a truth about God, yourself, your family, whatever . . . just make it a positive declaration.

Examples:

• I am precious to God
• I love my husband
• Today is a beautiful day
• I made a delicious meal tonight

The idea for December Declarations comes from Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

So get out those Positive Thinking Caps, place them firmly on your sweet heads, and get prepared for a month of declarations.

The ones I have listed so far go like this:

• I am fearfully and wonderfully made
• I have a great husband, who isn't perfect, but is honest with me when he fails.
  
• All Things will Work out for good for I love God and am called according to His purpose!
• My God has everything under control.
• I am a benefit and helpmate to my husband!
• God has placed me in a WONDERFUL school, with WONDERFUL kids, parents and co-workers (yes they are ALL wonderful)
• God has given me the victory over struggles and temptations!
• My God is an AWESOME God!
• I am blessed to have a small part in producing the Christmas musical that my daughter is singing in at the church where our school is located, and working with such talented adults, from whom I can learn so much.
• God has blessed me with a unique beauty that is just right for ME!

There are the first 10 --

Who will join me?

Wordless Wednesday

Contentment

Online Shopping for Chirstmas?

Do you like saving money while you shop? Do you like to shop from your seat and not your feet? Do you or are you going to shop online for Christmas?

If you answered yes to these questions then this online coupons site is just for you. Think these can't be good retailers? How about Target? Here you can save 10% on your order ? Or do you have pets. Save 25% on Small Pet supplies at PetCo? Or the one that I am getting ready to use Oriental Trading Company, but hurry that one expires today. Need clothing how about $20 off a $60 order at Chadwicks.

There are many more to choose from just look here!



This a PayPerPost blog

Interactive Faith Builders

How do you display the joy and peace that Christ has filled you with? How do you use the gifts that He has trusted you with to heap joy on those around you?

I admit I haven't done well with this in the last few weeks and months, especially Saturday night through Sunday afternoon/evening. I get so so SO bogged down in listening to the enemy and not remembering the promises and lessons of my Savior. So I am going to change up the question somewhat to fit where I am now and what I am learning and to challenge myself to do it.

How can you display the joy and peace that Christ has filled you with? How can you use the gifts that He has trusted you with to heap joy on those around you?

From the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. These were Jesus' words, in teaching his disciples and in turn us. And therein lies the key for me. Not only will my mouth speak but my whole countenance will portray what is inner most in my heart.

Case in point, this morning I was in a foul mood. It all boiled down to one point; I didn't want to be in church. I don't really have an explanation or reason why, I just didn't. Oh I know that that the deeper reason was the fact that the enemy didn't want me there. He wanted me to miss a blessing, an opportunity to serve, or an opportunity to be a blessing or some sort of combination of the three. I didn't say a word about it the fact that I didn't want to be there. I even tried to work and act as if it were any other Sunday. However, what I was really concentrating on was how I didn't want to be there, what a crummy Sunday morning I had had and where I really wanted to be, home in bed. I was even allowing my mind to wander into some unwholesome areas. Yet I tried to maintain somewhat of a 'cover' and sing the words, participate in the service, teach my class. After the service, we were all getting ready to leave, I thought I had made it. Yet, Mrs. Minnie a dear soldier of our corps came over to me and gave me a hug and asked how I was doing. She said I seemed "down in the dumps" I didn't have anyone fooled and I knew it. But I really didn't care.

So to answer the question. How can I display the joy and peace that Christ has filled me with? By saying "No!" to these negative thoughts and concentrate on the joy and peace that God has given me. Yes, it will be hard, especially in the beginning. However, I know from practice that the more I do it the easier it gets.

The second part of the question is a bit tougher. In order to use the gifts I have to be sure of them myself. Which is what I am working on in the first section. However, I can NOT just sit by and concentrate on only myself. To do that would not be growing and stretching myself. Nor would it be obeying the instruction to our gifts to serve others. So I need to decide on practical ways to use these gifts that God has bestowed on me.

Stay tuned.....

Life Lessons

This year has been a hard one for me personally. I have learned a lot about myself -- not all of it pretty or nice. I have learned a lot about God -- quite a few things that I thought I already knew. I have learned a lot about my husband -- some of it quite surprising. I have learned a lot about relationships -- several things I should have already known.

The ups and downs have been, at times, dramatic and now I feel a need to write some of this down, yet I struggle to put it into words or coherent sentences. So I looked back in my archives to find something I wrote earlier. Here is one that I need to go back to time and time again. I remember writing it and meaning every word that I wrote yet as I went back and read it I realized that I have forgotten once again....... so I guess I am still learning.......

Just one thing to say.......

....... Gator Food


Did you expect anything else?