What kind of a light are you?

¹³"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

¹⁴"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Today's sermon was one that really made you evaluate yourself and do an inventory. How do I measure up? Am I a shining example to the world? Those that are a shining example stay on the path of living a righteous life. Pastor Steve asked, "Do you live a marked life?" Is your life marked by a uniqueness, are you different and can others tell? He then challenged us to quit trying to live a unique life in our own power and stop and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you the strength and power to do it. He commented that if you think about the people you know who live a life that is marked by uniqueness that they share a common trait, consistency. They will not waffle or waver, but walk in consistency. I don't know about you but that is the trait I want to possess, consistency! Examine yourself today, what kind of light are you? Can others tell you are a believer, or is your light so dim that others do not even notice?

Record Breaking Granny: 1,400 Relatives

I heard this story while driving to the gym yesterday on K-Love. I'm sure some of you heard this story as well. Here is an excerpt from the article.

Rachel Krishevsky was 19 when she married her cousin Yitzik from within the ultra orthodox Haredi community in Jerusalem. The young couple then set about following the Jewish commandment to be “fruitful and multiply.” And they certainly succeeded.

By the time she passed away last Saturday in Jerusalem aged 99, Rachel had according to her family, no less than 1,400 children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and even great-great-grandchildren. She and her husband had seven boys and four daughters. Among the ultra orthodox jewish community large families are seen as a blessing. Each of their 11 children followed in Rachel’s footsteps, resulting in 150 grandchildren. In turn these descendants had 1,000 children of their own and in the last few years several hundred great-great-grandchildren started to appear.

According to one unnamed grandchild Wednesday, “grandma knew all of her descendants by name.”

This really amazed me. She had 1,400 children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren and she knew all of them by name. WOW! That seems like an amazing feat to me. As amazing as it is here on this earth, that cannot even hold a candle in comparison to God and the love He has for His children. My mind instantly went to our one and only Father who knows all of His children so intimately that He even knows the number of hairs on our head! I don't know about you, but that brings me such comfort. He loves me and cares so much about me, that He knows the number of hairs on my head.

"Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God--You're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration--what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day."

Psalm 139:13-16 The Message

I thought it would be neat to read this verse in the Message translation. How comforting that the Lord not only formed me, made me, and knows all about me. He watched me grow from conception to birth! He can see all the stages of my life. All the days of my life were all prepared before I had even lived one day. I want to live all of those days to the fullest for my Maker. I thank you God for making us just how you have fashioned us to be. I give thanks to you today, for Your love endures forever!

Happy First Day of Fall!

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1

I love this verse. Thinking about the seasons reminds me me of how there is a time and a season for everything under heaven. God is in control!

In honor of the first day of fall I have complied a list of the 20 things I love about fall!

1. The changing leaves (what beautiful colors!)

2. The nip in the air

3. The weather (cooler temperatures)

4. Fall scented candles (Pumpkin Vanilla from Yankee Candle is my newest fall scent)

5. Taking a trip to the pumpkin patch

6. Switching to Fall/Winter clothes (clothes you have not worn for awhile)

7. The smell of fireplaces when you go outside at night

8. The anticipation of the upcoming holidays

9. Fall decorations

10. Pumpkin Pie (with whip cream)

11. Hay rides

12. Football (not that I really watch), but fond memories of college football games

13. New shows are back on the networks (no more repeats)

14. Cozy sweaters, sweatshirts, hats, and scarves

15. Hot Chocolate and Hot Tea

16. Soups and stews (comfort food has returned)!

17. Thanksgiving food (need I saw more)!

18. Day after Thanksgiving shopping

19. putting up the Christmas tree/lights

20. ...and this year the anticipation of the arrival of our new baby boy in December!

I would love to hear what you love about fall. Feel free to add your comments!

Monday's Mothering Moment

Blueberry Oatmeal Bars (with Spinach)

Created by Jessica Seinfeld

Crunchy and sweet, but full of spinach! Let the bars cool completely before serving so that the taste of the spinach has a chance to disappear completely.

Ingredients:

Makes 12 bars

•     Nonstick cooking spray
• 2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup Balance trans-fat-free soft tub margarine spread , chilled
• 1 cup low-sugar blueberry preserves
• 1/2 cup spinach puree

Preheat oven to 375°. Coat an 8" x 8" baking pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and vanilla and stir to mix well.

Add the margarine and cut it quickly into dry ingredients with two knives until the mixture resembles coarse meal and is no longer powdery. Do not overmix—bits of margarine will still be visible.

Set aside about half of the oat mixture; press the rest firmly into the pan. Bake until lightly browned at the edges (but not fully baked), 13 to 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix the preserves with the spinach puree in a small bowl.

Spread blueberry mixture over the partially baked oat layer, then sprinkle with reserved oat mixture. Bake until topping is slightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Set the pan on a rack to cool completely before cutting into 12 bars. 

From the book Deceptively DeliciousSM

The Testers for Week 1:  Deceptively Delicious

The William's Family (Chris, Kate, and Max)

Ease of Recipe:  I would give this a 4 out of 5.  The recipe was easy except for the pureeing of the spinach.  I was also surprised at how 1 bag of spinach did not make very much puree.

Adult Rating:  I would give this a 3 out of 5.  The bars did not taste too bad.  You really could not taste the spinach.  However, I did not like the texture that came along with the spinach being included (slimy).

Child Rating:  4 out of 5.  My son did not seem to mind the texture!

Additional Comments:  I will not give up on this cookbook!  I have heard too many good comments on some of the other recipes.  I would probably not make this recipe again in the future.

Are you a Disciple?

I am just loving this study on 1 Thessalonians. It is amazing how you can read something and not get anything out of it, but when you take a study it closely, the word can come alive and things just start jumping off the page at you. Wednesday night we were talking about Paul and studying how his journey to Thessalonica came about.

We see how Paul met Timothy in Acts 16:1. "And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, 2) and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium. 3) Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek."

Timothy was circumcised to be a witness. He would not have had to have done this. That was law back in the Old Testament. He did this on his own accord not wanting the Jews to be able to say anything about his unbelieving father. He went above and beyond what would have been required. We see that "being a disciple is optional" not everyone is going to be able to do it. Sure anyone who has accepted Christ as their Savior will be in Heaven, but when I get there I want to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." I don't want to do the bare minimum. I want to be a disciple for Christ. I hope everyone asks themselves the question "What is it that I can do to serve and do exactly what God wants me to do?" Not just what would be easy for me to do, but what is God calling me to do? It may get me out of my comfort zone and I may not like it, but if that is what God is calling me to do, I want to be found faithful.

Monday's Mothering Moment

The next month of Monday's we will focus our Mothering Moment section on Healthy Eating for our families! Whether you have young children, teenagers, or an empty nest I think you will find this series both interesting and beneficial.

This series is going to consist of tips and tricks to get your family to eat more healthily. It is also going to involve an "experiment." I hope I have peeked your curiosity. We will have a variety of woman trying out and rating some of the recipes in the cookbook "Deceptively Delicious" by Jessica Seinfeld. "In Deceptively Delicious, she shares her solutions: easy, mouthwatering recipes that even the most overwhelmed families can make-stealthily packed with unseen veggies, pureed so kids will never suspect."
This week I wanted to share my healthy eating findings from kidshealth.org. According to them these are the five best strategies to improve nutrition and encourage smart eating habits at any age.

1. Have a regular family meal. "Family meals are a comforting ritual for both parents and kids. Children like the predictability of family meals and parents get a chance to catch up with their kids. Kids who take part in regular family meals are also:

• more likely to eat fruit, vegetables, and grains
• less likely to snack on unhealthy foods
• less likely to smoke, use marijuana, or drink alcohol

To get teens to "buy into" the family meal here are some tips.

• allow your teen to invite a friend to dinner
• involve your teen in meal planning and preparation
• Keep mealtime calm and congenial--no lectures or arguing

2. Serve a variety of healthy foods and snacks. "Kids, especially younger ones, will eat mostly what's available at home. Here are some guidelines from kidshealth.org for serving healthy foods.

• Work fruits and vegetables into the daily routine.
• Make it easy for kids to choose healthy snacks
• Serve lean meats and other good sources of protein
• Choose whole grain breads and cereals
• Limit fat intake
• Limit sugary drinks

3. Be a role model by eating healthy yourself. The best way is to eat fruits and vegetables and not overindulge in the less nutritious stuff. Also, it is important to serve appropriate portions and not overeat.

4. Avoid battles over food.

• Establish a predictable schedule of meals and snacks.
• Don't force kids to clean their plates.
• Don't bribe or reward kids with food.
• Don't use food as a way of showing love.

5. Involve kids in the process-"Most kids will enjoy deciding what to make for dinner. Talk to them about making choices and planning a balanced meal. Some might even want to help shop for ingredients and prepare the meal. At the store, teach kids to check out food labels to begin understanding what to look for.

If you would like to read this article in its entirety please click the following link to visit www.kidshealth.org
Come back next week for our first installment in the Deceptively Delicious Experiment!

Alive Again

Matt Maher says of his song, "'Alive Again' is my attempt to use language and music in the form of a pop song to re-create the moment when God reached in and grabbed my heart for the very first time. There's nothing more compelling than waking up in a dark world and knowing that God is fervently pursuing me and shouting my name -- even if, at first, I don't recognize His voice."

I love the words "you called and you shouted," I often find God calling and shouting to me when I let the busyness of life and my own selfish desires get in the way with my relationship with Him. I hope you enjoy!

Taking one another by the hand

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. ²⁵Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV

I am in a Precepts Bible study (Kay Arthur) on Wednesday nights. We are studying I Thessalonians-You Blameless at His Coming. We were watching the video and it was amazing how what Kay was discussing was so timely, I just had to share it with you!

I Thessalonians is a letter that shows how we can come along side others believing, caring, teaching, urging, encouraging, and exhorting others! Wow, that is the purpose I would want for this blog.

Kay was saying that she believes that there is so much "sin in the camp" of believers today because there is not someone to come along side people and care and love on them. We need to encourage, exhort, and comfort one another. We need to spur each other on in the faith!

Kay ended the video with a challenge to each of us that I would like to extend to you as well. She said that we should be praying about who we can come along side and encourage today.

Girlfriends of Grace be encouraged in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Birthday Surprise!

My doorbell rang yesterday and I was greeted with the most beautiful flowers! My amazing and thoughtful husband had sent me flowers on my birthday. It was so exciting. As I was gazing at them last night I could not help but behold their beauty. I was reminded of Proverbs 31:30 "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."
These beautiful flowers that are so vibrant, and so alive at this moment cannot last forever. That is the sad part that comes along with enjoying flowers; their beauty does not last. Just as nothing on this earth ever will. However, we can look forward to eternity where nothing will ever fade away!

I hope you take the time to enjoy the beauty around you today, remembering the Maker of all things!

The Best Apple Pie I've Ever Had!

A month ago I had the best Apple Pie I have ever had! We had gone to a party celebrating the end of my husbands sand volleyball summer league season. There were two of these pies setting on the counter. I came upstairs from watching my son play with all of the older kids in the basement when I heard all of the men in the kitchen raving about this pie (that tells you how good it was)! I fixed myself a piece and topped it off with some vanilla icecream. I was not ready for what I was about it encounter. It was so amazing! I like Apple Pie, but it is not my favorite dessert. However, if this pie was in the line up...I would have to have a piece.

I made this pie this weekend for a Labor Day Barbeque that we attended. The recipe is from the Pioneer Woman website. She has some amazing recipes. If you make this Apple Pie, be sure to also make the crust from the recipe link she has included. It is the best, most flaky crust I've ever had! Enjoy!

Psalm 92:4 "For You Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands."

I am so excited to have the blog up and running! I want this to be a place that will inspire and encourage you on in the faith. Our God is so good and it is so easy to get bogged down by the everyday issues, circumstances, and responsibilities of life. We need to make sure that no matter what our circumstances or mood is this day, that we rejoice in the Lord, for He has made me glad!

I have many exciting ideas for the blog that you will see unfolding in the coming weeks. Everything from guest columnists, parenting tid bits, recipes, tips on how to be an effective manager of your home, how to love on your family, how to balance the responsibilities of life, etc! If you have anything that you would love to read more about or see featured please send me an email (katew806@hotmail.com) or leave a comment and I will research/check into it!

Welcome!

Welcome to Fall Bible Study! This semester we will be studying Me, Myself, and Lies by Jennifer Rothschild. I am very excited not only for this study, but to get to know all of you.

Here is some information on the study, Me, Myself, and Lies.

Adapted from the trade book, Self Talk, Soul Talk, in the Bible Study, Me, Myself and Lies, Jennifer shares practically and helpfully from her own life and from Scripture to show how every woman can turn her words—and her life—around for good.

This six-week Bible study for women encourages them to clean out the junk in their thoughts and replace these hidden negative thoughts and failures with positive truths from God’s word. Rather than struggling with self-esteem, body image, stress and other unhealthy thoughts and emotions learn to replace the lies you may have been telling yourself with the truth from God’s word.

Information you might find helpful!

The Me, Myself, and Lies Bible Study will start Tuesday, October 6, 2009 and run until Tuesday November 17, 2009.

Time: 9:00-11:00 am

Where: Lenexa Baptist Church in room 244

Books are available in the Lexena Baptist Church Bookstore anytime church is in session.

Invite Friends! Please feel free to invite friends to this study. If you have someone who would like to join our class please encourage them to come!

Childcare: Childcare runs from 8:50-11:00 am. I will make sure that we are done with the video and discussion so you can pick your little ones up by 11:00 am. If you would like to continue chatting after 11:00 am please pick your little ones up and them come back and stay as long as you would like!

I can't wait to meet you. See you soon!