The book of James, a call to true faith!

This book has been absolutely monumental for me to study this closely.  How often have I skimmed carelessly over these words and not applied them in my life?  How often have I neglected to be obedient to my precious Father who wants only my love?  How often have I rejected him by my lack of concern for His will?  And how often have I caused another to stumble, or worse, by my lack of discipline, my failure to realize how important His call really is?

I have struggled with writing in this blog.  I have wanted a way to share with others - but sharing personally was never my plan!  I just wanted to find great ideas on how to save money, or find a great recipe, and maybe even make a little money with an ad while I learned to make laundry detergent at home!!  (By the way - I sure save a lot of money with just that one easy thing...evey little bit helps!)

However - getting personal online - was not my plan.  But - it's really not about me.  It never has been.  I guess I've just been so steeped in a greedy culture of people afflicted with entitlement - that I didn't even know it.  It's always been about Christ.  From the moment God shaped this earth in His hands, from the first bite of forbidden fruit, to the nervous laugh of Sarai and her long awaited son's first breath.  This entire time - I've blundered through life; making mistakes, sharing tears and joy, suffering, and growing, while I never realized that the reason I was having such a hard time is because I put too much emphasis on my needs.  His plan has never been about me.  I am a part of a precious story, the story He is writing with every breath we take.

God has blessed me so abundantly.  Through my children, I have learned to love more deeply than I ever thought possible.  They are the first of many gifts God gave me so I could learn to love unconditionally and completely.  Yet even still - this story is so much bigger.  He loves us so much - despite our disobediance.  However - I have finally reached a place of true desire for obedience.  I truly want to do whatever His plan is; though it scares me since I know that may mean something I never wanted to do.  My pastor challenged us recently to search the scriptures to find a place that God has done BIG things without personal sacrifice.  I don't know what God may be asking of me - and sometimes I feels stretched so thin that I couldn't do another thing; but I want to obtain the righteousnesss He wants us to strive for.  But what has held me back until now?  Why have I never really felt ready to do His will.  I think I have been stuck by feeling unworthy.  I know that my many mistakes have left me feeling drained and unfit for His work.  Yet, He still offers mercy - He literally rains mercy down over us. 

Lord, I want to be your child; to depend on you fully.  I am so thankful for the freedom you have offered us and the amazing love you have for us, though we do nothing to deserve it.  My prayer today is that someone who is trapped in a life of sin.  Someone who may not even mind living in a lost, fallen world, will hear you now.  They will feel your whisper, and heed your call.  Maybe a young person who has not made the many mistakes as I have will fall in love with you and prevent a life of unneeded heartache that results from disobedience.  Maybe another who has never understood what it is you offer us will leave a life of lostness to cling to your promises.  Lord, I love you and I want you not to forget us.  It must be difficult for you to see the world as it has become so distorted from your original creation.  I pray that you will strengthen us to remember what You have done for us and stand up for the Truth that is Christ!  Breathe on us anew Lord, and awaken in our hearts a yearning for You.  In your precious, sweet son's name I pray. Amen.

Take the time to study this book...I have truly been convicted by the words of James and I pray that they will change you for God's Glory as well!

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."  James 1:2-27

Living Intentionally??

Just a quick link...I have been so overwhelmingly busy lately.

Here is my hope - that I can make more of my minutes count - really - I want all of my minutes to count.  I don't want to waste a precious moment of the life God has blessed me with doing something that will not glorify Him....so I stumbled on this and now I share it with you!!

http://www.upsidedownhomeschooling.com/learning-live-intentionally-challenge/

I found a giveway - check it out!

I know it has been so long since I have posted.  Life has been so busy with my home school, my new granddaughter, and my pre-schoolers!!

I did find a fun giveway so I wanted to let you know about it....

Here is the link to the page:

http://roomforatleastonemore.com/2012/09/30/giveaway-time/

And here is a link to the store the blogger has called Teachers Pay Teachers:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ldimom

Worth a look....Thanks for stopping by!  I've missed having time to blog - but I'll be back!

Ashley

Hubby's handwork! A brand new - made from recycled items - compost bin...

My husband has a knack at keeping things going just a little longer or using parts from something that has completely quit working to make something new.  Ok...so sometimes I guess you could say I don't always appreciate the way my husband can re-invent things.  Sometimes, I just want a new one!!!  But - with our budget, we just can't get a new one.  Sometimes his handwork means he can start it, but this 'used to be city-girl' just can't seem to make it work!  I tend to just want to cart it to the curb if it isn't functioning properly (like push a button and it works) - I am great with recycling - but I want to take it somewhere and let someone else deal with what to do with it!

However - we have had televisions that operated long past their years - if you only knew just where to touch the buttons to make the required function happen (I once put a strip of masking tape under the buttons to detail the instructions to a novice user).  He has fashioned planters benches, a rabbit hutch, dog pens, a playground fort, an art room, a dog door, toy boxes, shelves, and literally dozens of other things out of retired items.

Over the years - I've been developing a love for growing things.  I really enjoy the taste of home grown veggies and fruits (and the price).  I've learned that composting is so essential to fertile soil, and really minimizes what I dump into the trash.  I've even tested herbs grown in store bought potting soil and herbs grown in compost and seen an amazing difference in plants health and size!  However, our compost storage options have left me begging for improvement.  We started in an old boat shell - but I quickly complained that, though it contained the compost well, it was difficult to turn the compost in the awkward shape of the boat (in a word: back-breaking).  Then we started keeping it in old barrels, cut in 1/2,  but this too was not "easy" enough for me!  Remember - I was born a city girl - and hard labor is just not my favorite thing!  Not to mention, I babysit, home school, and volunteer with church, co-op, and our school district, so I tend to be short on time.  Well - now - he has come up with a design that I am really excited about!!  I told him he get's the hubby of the year award.

He has fashioned a compost bin from the following items:

1.) 4 casters
2.) A big sturdy piece of wood (casters bolted to this) and some boards for support under that
3.) An empty 55 gallon plastic barrel (sits on the casters)
4.) 2 hinges
5.) A slide hasp
6.) Some pipe insulation
7.) And - an old steering wheel

Take a look at this bin:

This is the opening:

And here is my sweet daughter, who has the daily chore of emptying our compost bucket, and is truly excited about the steering wheel feature he added for her to turn the bin!

I am loving this new invention!  I am so excited because now we can easily turn the compost - and I love easy!!  I am also loving that now I can place a small container under the bin, tilt it down, and retrieve the fertile compost soil when I am ready to use it!  No more digging it out of barrels! 

Now....what to grow....where will I plant my next garden...I'm thinking herb garden....rose garden....wildflower bed....strawberry pots....veggies....hmmm...

Honey?  I think I need you to make another bin just like this one!

First mother's day with my granddaughter!

I can hardly believe it's been almost 3 months since I met my grandaughter for the first time!  So sweet, so tiny, so perfect in every way!  Being a mom has been an indescribable blessing in my life.  Nothing could have ever prepared me for the way I felt for my children when they were first laid in my arms.  Then those first illnesses, bumps, scrapes, and bruises; who knew how strong you had to be to love them so much!  But it didn't stop there - there was first day of school, then there was elation when I realized I could keep them home to teach them.  There was my worry when they went to friends.  The worry got worse when they came home late.  Seeing them drive is really tough too - and then to watch them graduate - huge sigh - I can hardly hold back the tears.

Now...I have even more of a blessing.  One of those great kids has given me something I could have never expected to be so sweet.  It's like being a mom all over again, but different.  I just can't describe the joy I get when they drive up and bring her in.  When I pull back her little blanket to see her sweet face peeking out from her carseat.  When she smiles, when she coos, when she cries - that protective mommy inside me is now a protective grandmommy!

It's an amazing time when you become a grandparent - that little sweetheart is so special to me.  And - since I still have two kiddos who are in elementary school - it just adds to the joy to see them so thrilled with their tiny little niece.  They love to hold her and coo at her and it is truly precious to be a part of such a sweet experience as my children are now aunts & uncles too!

Happy mother's day to all moms, daughters, and grandmothers!  God has so richly blessed us everyday!

"I have no greater joy than to hear my children are walking in the truth." 3 John 4

Spring....in January?!

What a crazy winter it has been.  After a dreadfully hot summer, and an awful drought; winter has been so mild.  Yesterday was gorgeous, made me think of springtime.  Each evening when I walk outside there is a chorus of frogs everywhere.  Yesterday, while we worked in our school room, we were given a concert from a song bird perched in the tree next to the window.  It was so beautiful.  And yesterday evening, while I prepared dinner, the kids went with dad to walk the dogs.  As they came to the creek they found the most beautiful blooms!  Who would have thought these would be blooming in January?  Though my cell phone does them absolutely no justice, these truly are delicate, pretty blooms.  I can't help but take a moment to think of artist, that is our God!

I have no idea if winter has finished with Texas yet or not, but for now it sure feels like spring.

The Simple Things....Backyard Fun!

It has been terribly long since I have posted and for that I apologize.  I have been so busy with schoolwork and toddlers I babysit as well as a few other things I am trying to take care of (not to mention being a wife and keeping the house)!  Organization has been a big thing...I reached one of those points where the 'stuff' was really frustrating me - I'm sure you know how things tend to pile up and then it seems like every free space in your home is crammed with more than it should be. 

We have been cruising along with My Fathers' World 1st & CTG and I'll try to be better about getting some pics and posting more on what we are doing...I think posting something every week on my curriculum is unrealistic for me.  (Lately - posting every week has been unrealistic!) 

What I wanted to post today is really simply the best toy every invented.  Before I show you, let me begin with a few statements that many of you can probably relate to.  Things have been so rocky financially lately...raises weren't given for my husband again this year and I find myself cutting everywhere I can to make ends meet in this trying economy.  The kids have been fine with birthdays trimmed back even further and of course we told them Christmas will be even smaller this year.  Funny thing is that they really haven't complained - they really seem more content with less.  Not that they really have less with 4 older siblings...anything they want has been handed down and that includes plenty of great Legos, blocks, and PC or video games and board games...toys and games are in plentiful supply...too plentiful, thus the need for me to really spend time cleaning the past few weeks!  However - in spite of all they stuff they have to do when our schoolwork is finished the funny thing is that the toys they enjoy the most came from my husbands work and they were free!  I have most of the neighborhood playing with these new 'toys' every afternoon!  Take a look...

He brought home these wonderful plastic barrels...lightweight enough that two 10 year old boys can hurl them over the fence and display their machuvism...but sturdy enough to be walked on, ridden on, and rolled over!  They line them in rows and try to walk on them or the they each take a barrel and try to walk independently to see who can stay on the longest.  I can not believe the countless hours they have played with these barrels, sometimes well after dark.  It's amazing that  many times the funnest things in life are free!