Notes of Encouragement and DaySpring: Part 1

One thing I love to do is send notes of encouragement.  It is one of my "spiritual" gifts that I found out about over 15 years ago at the church we were attending at the time.  I didn't even know that there was a way to find out what your gifts were.  After taking the class, all the things that came out as my top 3 were so true, and encouragement was number one.  

Now, have I used my gift to its full potential?...NO!

Have there been times that I have been moved to send a note and it hasn't happened?....(sadly YES)

Do I want to be more faithful at obeying the still small voice of the Lord when he prompts me?...YES!!!!!

However, my desire to obey my heavenly Father in this area is foremost because I Love Him and I want to do what He is calling me to do.  Secondly, I have heard testimonies from people of "how it came at just the right time", "it lifted their spirit", they were "blessed by the scripture", they "didn't feel alone".  So knowing these two very important things, how can I hide my gift?   

One way that will help me use this gift, is that I was given some beautiful cards from DaySpring that will certainly bless the person who opens and reads it.  Several weeks ago, I had been alerted by a dear friend and mentor of an opportunity to do a review for DaySpring.  At the time, I thought how cool to get some free stuff in the process.  However, when I got the cards, I was amazed at the beauty of them and the sweet words and scripture that were written on them.  As I was reading through them, different people came to my mind as to who would get each one.  This may sound a little hokey, but that is how the Lord has done it in the past, and I am sad to say....I had not heard Him speak to me like this in a VERY long time!  

I'm learning that we can get so FOCUSED on our life, that we have tunnel vision, and we can not see the hurting, suffering and needy people around us.  What good is it to the Lord, if we are so stuck right where we are that we can't be his feet, hands or loving voice to the lost and hurting world or a brother or sister in despair.  I am the chief sinner in this area, and the Lord has begun to show me the time I have lost and how He wants me to broaden my view to see what is going on around me.  

I am encouraged to see what will happen and what He will do.  Maybe I wont ever see the fruit on this earth, but knowing I am following the still small voice that leads and guides me is ENOUGH for me!

What are your gifts?  How do you encourage others?

Blessings,

Denise

*The pictures are of several of the "So True" series of cards that I was sent at no cost by Dayspring to give an honest review.  Stay tuned for part 2 of my review!

Join the Birthday Party Bash at Our Simple Country Life

Blogging is such a new a fun adventure!  I have met so many wonderful women over the last 10 months. One special lady in particular is Esther over at Our Simple Country Life.  She has encouraged me with scripture that points me back to the Savior, she has shared practical cooking, cleaning and organizing advice, She has had fun link ups about all sorts of things so I could meet other wonderful ladies, she shared her testimony this summer when her boys had an accident, and I was able to pray for her. I have admired her devotions and love for the Lord and how she is able to accomplish so much with such beauty and wisdom while raising a large family.  


Well, her blog turned 3 today!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!





I want to invite you all over to her blog for a fun celebration this week, and she is the one giving the gifts!   Check out the giveaway today, it is a beautiful card organizer from Dayspring.  I know you will be blessed to join the celebration and hang out with us each week as we encourage each other on in our lives and especially our walks with the Lord!


Blessings,
Denise

Names of Jesus Christ: Firstborn

Revelation 1:5
and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,

Happy New Year!

I love the "newness" (is that a word?) of a new year.  It is like getting a fresh start.  This year, one of the goals I have set for myself is to live out 1 Peter 3:4.



"let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."

How will I plan? 

My goal is to sit down this week and make a plan very similar to how I plan my homeschool schedule and goals I want my children to accomplish that year. 

I plan to write out all of the areas where I struggle with having a "gentle and quite spirit", and then write down how I can respond to those areas in a different way so I can attain my goal.  Maybe some will be to do something specific (go take a time out for 10 minutes, sit down and write out your thoughts, take a 10 minute prayer break etc..)  or maybe I will have a scripture that I will speak out loud.  Whatever the issue, God has help and guidance for me.

How will I know if I have attained it?

The best way is if others notice it in you, which is my goal.  However, if I have a plan, I can monitor myself on a daily basis and journal about it which gives me a history to look back on to see where I am and where I have come.  This is a tool I have used over the years, that I have let slip, but realize how valuable it is for me to do. 

I know I have other goals, like the old standby "weight loss", but I am taking baby steps this week and working on a plan with 1 Peter 3:4 as my priority.

What are your goals for 2012?

Blessings,

Denise

Names of Jesus Christ: Good Teacher

Mark 10:17

Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

Names of Jesus Christ: Good Shepherd

John 10:11

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

John 10:14

I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

Names of Jesus Christ: Faithful and True

Revelation 19:11

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.

Child reads Scripture

The "delight" of today listening to my 5 year old read scripture!  They are precious in His Sight!

Names of Jesus Christ: The Beginning and the End



Art work done by David (5)



 

Revelation 22:13

New King James Version (NKJV)

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

Molly Saves! In the Powder Room

Who would have thought that you could write a whole issue of Molly Saves with the main emphasis as the "powder room" (aka the bathroom, restroom, water closet...).  Well, Molly does and it is full of some great "how to's", DIY's, tips and tricks and much more. 

This issue has checklists for cleaning the bathroom from top to bottom, recipes for making your own cleaning supplies, frugal ways to beautify your bathroom, and so much more.  There is a great DIY project idea that Eleanor Joyce shares with us about how she took an old dresser and made it into a place of beauty and of storage. She also shows how to transform a ordinary bar of soap into a beautiful gift.  Christmas is just a few weeks away, and these would be a great gift to make up and give to your mother, girlfriend or your children's teachers.

This is the time of year when everyone is getting colds and flu, so pull those turkey bones out of the freezer from Thanksgiving and make some Turkey Stock. Molly takes you step by step through the process, and it is not hard at all, but it is so much better than anything that you can get in a can or box.  If you don't need it now, freeze it and save it for that day when you are feeling a bit "under the weather".

Now, my favorite part of this issue is the article on "Stop Spending on Children's toys", it has GREAT ideas (I am a mom, I know a good idea when I see one).  There ideas from watercolor paints to marshmallow shooters.  They are brilliant ideas!  You can put them together fairly quickly and at a very low cost.  Just think you can avoid the mall or superstores and enjoy making something for your child, grandchild or neighbor in the comfort of your own home.  So click on over here and get your December issues of Molly Saves in the Powder Room or leave me a comment by Sunday, Dec 11,2011 with one way that you save in the powder room, and I will be giving away a copy of this issue on Monday December 12.  Merry Christmas!

Names of Jesus Christ

King of Kings   Holy One   Almighty   Word  Deliverer  Redeemer  I AM  Gift of God  Chosen One   Cornerstone  Alpha and Omega  Counselor  God with us   Holiness  

Our Hope   Immanuel  

Our family will be focusing on the names of Jesus Christ for the next several months.  I will be sharing from our journey as we seek Him and learn more about Him by looking at who He is and finding the "delight" and comfort in what each of these names means to us. 

We would love to hear from you too, so please leave us an uplifting comment about how God has comforted you or helped you in your walk by focusing on His Name!  

May God richly Bless you as you come to Him, and seek to follow and learn more about Him!

Blessings,

Denise

Giving Thanks

All of November, I have been thinking about what I am thankful for that day.  It has been a transforming experience. 

In past years, I had a desire to create a "Thanksgiving Tree" where all the members of my family could write what they are thankful for on paper leaves.  Then at the end of the season we could save them and each year look back at what we were thankful for during that season of our life.  Well, this year, it took shape and we accomplished the goal!  We all have been reminded of the blessings in our life and have become more thankful.   

 As for me, this exercise has shown me:

1. How my attitude can change toward everything going on in my life if I speak the things that I am thankful for rather than looking on the negative that may be going on around me or to me.
2. How much I have to be thankful for.

3. How it can change the mood in our home when we are focusing on our blessings.  

 While this was an outward expression to remind us of our blessings, it can and should be a daily pursuit.  Yes, I share what I'm thankful for in prayer by my self and with my family, and occasionally I journal about it, but what would happen if I wrote down what I was thankful for each day of my life?  I think it would make a big impact because there is just something that happens when we write things down; it allows us to look back on where we have been and it the process of writing helps us to remember things better. 

The following was the devotional thought from my A Heart at Rest devotional by Nancy Leigh De Moss from Revive our Hearts Ministries.

 

A grateful man or woman will be

a breath of fresh air in a world contaminated by

bitterness and discontentment.

Daily Encouragement (from scripture)

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Col. 3:17)

Blessings to you and your family! 



Molly Saves! In the Laundry Room

It’s November, and I just love this time of year; the weather, the smells of yummy food, scented candles or a nice fire in the fireplace.  Well this issue of Molly’s Digest: Molly Saves! In the Laundry Room will help anyone out the that is trying to get out from under the laundry pile. 

·         Learn ways to remove stains using household items.

·         Make your own “rolling laundry cart”.

·         Make helpful organizational items using an old laundry box.

Even though his issue features topics about the laundry room, there are holiday ideas, great recipes to make and serve during this holiday time, and ways to have a “stress-less” holiday season.  My favorite is the review of the book “Unplug the Christmas machine” which will help you to refocus and make this holiday special and important in your own way.  We all need to step back, take a deep breath and enjoy the season and not let ourselves get so caught up in all the events of the season that is passes so fast and without much enjoyment.  You can go here and get a copy of Molly Saves! In the Laundry Room so you have time to prepare for this season.

I really enjoy my Molly Digests, and I have been inspired to cook new recipes, learn frugal ways to shop, cook and live, but I recently made one of the items that was featured in Molly Saves! In the Nursery.  Here it is:

My first “blessing blanket”!  I made it for my BFF’s new baby that will be born early next year.  I also made one for my nephew’s new little one who is due to arrive around the same time.

 

It was a lot of fun to make and hopefully it will be a treasured keepsake for these girls.  You can check out Molly’s Digest’s over here.  I hope you will be “frugally-inspired”

Blessings to your and your family!

* I was provided the Molly Money Saving Digest in exchange for my personal and honest review.

When in doubt, Seek HIM out!

Many of us experience seasons of sadness and helplessness here in this life.  However, if you call the Lord your Lord and have received Jesus as your Savior, you can be assured of He faithfulness to provide for you in the darkness of the hour.

This afternoon, I was crying out to the Lord about issues in my life that have become weights to hold me down and that the enemy has used to discourage me.  I cried out with a deep sense of longing asking Him to help me.  I turned to Psalm 25 (because today is the 25th day of the month...so spirtual huh?), and there He was consoling me, teaching me, and loving me.  How awesome is our God!  Are you in need today?  When in doubt, seek Him out!

¹ In you, LORD my God,
   I put my trust.
 ² I trust in you;
   do not let me be put to shame,
   nor let my enemies triumph over me.
³ No one who hopes in you
   will ever be put to shame,
  but shame will come on those
   who are treacherous without cause.
 ⁴ Show me your ways, LORD,
   teach me your paths.
⁵ Guide me in your truth and teach me,
   for you are God my Savior,
   and my hope is in you all day long.
⁶ Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love,
   for they are from of old.
⁷ Do not remember the sins of my youth
   and my rebellious ways;
  according to your love remember me,
   for you, LORD, are good.
 ⁸ Good and upright is the LORD;
   therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
⁹ He guides the humble in what is right
   and teaches them his way.
¹⁰ All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
   toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
¹¹ For the sake of your name, LORD,
   forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
 ¹² Who, then, are those who fear the LORD?
   He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.^[b]
13 They will spend their days in prosperity,
   and their descendants will inherit the land.
¹⁴ The LORD confides in those who fear him;
   he makes his covenant known to them.
¹⁵ My eyes are ever on the LORD,
   for only he will release my feet from the snare.
 ¹⁶ Turn to me and be gracious to me,
   for I am lonely and afflicted.
¹⁷ Relieve the troubles of my heart
   and free me from my anguish.
¹⁸ Look on my affliction and my distress
   and take away all my sins.
¹⁹ See how numerous are my enemies
   and how fiercely they hate me!
 ²⁰ Guard my life and rescue me;
   do not let me be put to shame,
   for I take refuge in you.
²¹ May integrity and uprightness protect me,
   because my hope, LORD,^[c] is in you.
 ²² Deliver Israel, O God,
   from all their troubles!

Review: Molly Saves in the Dining Room

Is it really October already? Where has the time gone?  Our lives are busy, busy, busy and it seems like this year has flown by so fast.  As I read this month’s Molly Money Saving Digest about saving in the Dining Room, it has caused me to stop and reflect on what is going on in our life.  It was interesting timing for me to get this digest this month, because we have been unable to eat dinner together as a family due to my husband’s work schedule this last month.  It is something that I have always tried to make happen at all costs. 

This digest was extra special to me, because it contains an article on Allergy- Friendly Entertaining.  As a family that has food allergies, any event that is accompanied by food is a challenge.  The article is great in offering cooking suggests, but it more importantly deals with the issue of how to approach entertaining in a polite and helpful manner, so as to accommodate your friends and family who have special food allergies.  I found the information excellent, for those who have food allergies and those who desire to have others over who may have food allergies.  It is a great Allergy Entertaining 101!

Are your kids eating you out of house and home?  Have them do the lesson on Food Finances in the Tightwad Training Camp section of the digest. (Have I ever said how much I LOVE this section of Molly’s Digests?  Oh, just about every month!) It is a great lesson to train kids in the art and skill of shopping and help them understand the cost of the items that they seem to want to slip in the cart when Mom isn’t looking.  Don’t they know we have eyes in the back of our head?  This section has not disappointed me yet, and I am a strong supporter of helping our kids gain life skills early and understand how to manage money in this age of entitlement.

The Dining Room is so much more than just the place we gather to nourish ourselves physically as I read in the article on Inspiration!, I was challenged to bring the Bible to the dinner table.  This is one tradition that I intend to try at our home.  We have struggled lately with our kids, goofing off a lot at the dinner table and I think this will keep their mind engaged in a life changing way as they are nourishing their bodies.

Eating a meal together is so important to the family unit and I encourage anyone reading this blog to reflect on what you can do to make this happen at your house.  It doesn’t have to be dinner, it could be breakfast.  Whatever you do, make time to break bread together each day with your family!

I encourage you to try out a Molly Membership today and begin learning money saving strategies for your family.  This month I am giving away a free copy of Molly Saves in the Dining Room.  Please leave a comment below on why you are interested in this free issue, and I will do a random drawing on October 20th the old fashioned way (putting the names in a hat and drawing one out). 

* I was provided the Molly Money Saving Digest in exchange for my personal and honest review.

Review: Molly Saves in the Family Room

September is here, and it is back to school for the kids, and families are getting back into their routines.  The schedules are getting full with various activities and it will take more effort to gather together as a family.  This issue of Molly’s Money Saving Digest is all about the Family Room.  It’s the room where we all spend time together.  In this issue, there are some great ideas for everyone, but my absolute favorite is the Tightwad Training Camp. 

Each month, I flip forward to this section of the newsletter to see what Molly has to help us in teaching our kids about “how to manage” money.  This is a priority for me and my husband, because we are always looking for ways to help our boys understand that money doesn’t grow on trees and sometimes you have to sacrifice “wants” to supply for your needs.  This is something that is hard to convey to them in this era of “entitlement”.  I think just this section is worth the monthly cost* for the Molly digest because the information is great!  This month it is all about budgeting your “Fun Money”.  There are great tips for everyone in this section, not just the kids.  My favorite is how to save by making your own iced coffee at home.

There are other great features this month:

·    Décor & More: How to repurpose and reuse old items and make them into something new.

·    Great Book Review: The Reluctant Entertainer by Sandy Coughlin

·    Creating Frugal Family Traditions

·    Great Recipes in both the Begin with the Basics section and Meal of the Month. 

I can’t wait to try the “Honey Lime Chicken” recipe featured in the Meal of the Month section.  I’m always looking for another way to cook chicken! 

I hope this review was helpful to you and encourages you to check out this months Molly Digest, or better yet try a Molly Membership for the next year.  Whatever you do this month, make sure you set aside time to get together as a family and come up with a fun new tradition together!

*Purchase Molly Saves in the Family Room for $4.95 or Sign up as a Molly Member and get each issue for $3.95 per month.

* I was provided the Molly Money Saving Digest in exchange for my personal and honest review. 

The joy in homeschooling

It is such a privilege to be able to teach my children at home.  Besides the “reasons” we homeschool, the best is that I get to actually see the joy when my child first learns how to do something. 

Yesterday, my 5 year old completed the first level in his Hooked on Phonics reading program.  To see how excited he was when he finished was a true “delight” to my heart!  He did it!  He pushed me to let him keep going on and he pushed himself and tried so very hard, and he did it!  I’m proud of him and excited that the more he learns to read, the closer he is to being able to read God’s Word on his own.  I think I just may bawl my eyes out when I hear him read his bible for the first time!

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

Proverbs 22:6

Molly Saves in the Closet

The August Molly’s Digest is out and it is all about “the closet”.  Perfect timing as usual, since I am in the midst of organizing items that have gotten out of hand; items to put in my kids portfolios, purging smaller sized clothes for my boys and replenishing them with “hand-me-downs” or determining what I need to buy, purging clutter that has seemed to collect and is causing us to be unproductive and a little stressed. 

In this issue, there are so many great ideas to help you organize, repurpose old items into something new, and get your closets in order.  When I saw the office that Eleanor Joyce created in a closet, I was amazed!  It was well organized and everything fit into a small space.   Molly gives great advice for how we can keep our closets uncluttered and provides links to items that help with many areas that have an impact on our closets.  She covers areas of contentment all the way to the places to shop for clothes. 

Love the Meal of the Month for August, because Kerry Ann shares how to make your own taco seasoning.  This is great for our family, because we can’t purchase the packets because of special dietary restrictions, besides they are really expensive.  I am also going to try and convert the vanilla pudding recipe to meet my son’s special dietary restrictions. 

It is a great resource for only 3.95 a month!

* I was provided the Molly Money Saving Digest in exchange for my personal and honest review. 

Book Review-"Notes to Aspiring Writers:Your Dream, God's Plan"

Are you an aspiring writer? Do you have dreams of one day being published? If you would have asked me these questions a year ago, I would have told you “no”. However, in the last year something has been brewing and I do have a dream that I hope will come to pass one day…if it is what the Lord desires too.

I just had the wonderful opportunity to review the e-book Notes to Aspiring Writers: Your Dream, God's Plan by Brooke McGlothlin.  What makes it so wonderful is the tender heart with which it is written.  Brooke is an example of a woman, wife, mother, writer and more importantly a devoted child of God who shares her testimony in various areas which all lead back to glorifying the Lord.

While the book is not a “how-to” type of a book, it is in my opinion the most important part of the believers writing process.  Is our writing and work what we want, or what He wants?  Brooke shares her testimony of the heart change that she went through as she continued to pursue her dreams…of writing.  I found myself relating to her on many levels, but it was more than just writing, it was other dreams and aspirations that I have. She challenged me through her testimony, thought provoking questions to ask myself and scripture to make sure that my writing lines up with what the Lord desires from me and my writing. 

While this book is directed toward writers, the principles that she outlines in this e-book apply to all the dreams and aspirations that you may be hiding in your heart.  I know that the message she is giving to us and the process which she encourages us to take is more than worth the $2.99.  You can get a copy on Amazon today.

*I was provided a copy of Notes to Aspiring Writers:Your Dream, God's Plan for my honest review.

Molly Saves in the Nursery

Molly’s Money Saving Digest for July is all about saving in the nursery.  While I don’t have a baby anymore… (Sigh), I just found out that several ladies in my life are going to have newborns in the next 6 months (smile).  I’m so excited to meet these little bundles and it is so fun to have these great money saving ideas to use in preparing for their arrival.  This digest isn’t just for new Moms, but all those mothers, aunts, grandmothers and friends who are going to be celebrating the new arrivals in their life.  

Having a baby can be so expensive, and I personally believe, after having two, we parents really just need the basics.  Some of the topics she covers in this issue are:

·    Great organizing tips and projects

·   “DIY” projects for making the furniture you need or repurposing something you already have to meet your needs. 

·    Cloth diapers: the article describes cloth diapers in detail and gives you the pros and cons of each type so you can make an educated decision.

·    Recipes for homemade wipes.

·    Making a child’s lap desk out of “Nursery cast-offs”

·    Review of the book “Baby and Toddler Meals for Dummies”

·    Blender basics

·    5 Moms share frugal decorating tips for the nursery.

I would have loved the “fold away changing table” link she has provided, because our home has very limited space.  We used a dresser top for our changing table and just had to get the changing pad to sit on top.  It worked great and we were able to store all the necessities in the drawers and had ample space to make that task manageable. If you can sew, crochet or knit, there are some links to great projects you can make for the baby.  She also includes many great ideas for blessing “Mom”.  After the baby arrives, it is a very hectic time getting use to the new baby and trying to function on little sleep. 

Molly introduces KerryAnn Foster of Cooking Traditional Foods who will be providing the Meal of the Month section of the digest.  She has great recipes and she specializes in traditional food recipes with changes that can be made for families who have to allow for food allergies and intolerances.  This is great for our family! Her recipes this month would be great to make and take to a family who has a newborn, so they can have a warm home cooked meal.

In this month’s digest you get all this great information on Saving in the Nursery along with all her regular features: Pet Care for Pennies, Tightwad Training Camp, Forms, Printables and Links.  The Molly Money Saving Digests are very reasonable and you can get a lot of frugal ideas for only $3.95 a month.  To find out more, jump over to Econobusters and sign up today. 

* I was provided the Molly Money Saving Digest in exchange for my personal and honest review.