Thoughts to Consider about Time Managment, Schedule and List Making- by Elizabeth Elliot from her book "Discipline"

The sum of our job here on earth is to glorify God.  This was the sum of Jesus’ task as well.  How did He do it?  Shortly before He was crucified He said to His Father, “I have glorified thee on earth by completing the work which though gavest me to do.”

                                          

There were endless demands on Jesus’ time…There must have been things, also, that Jesus Himself would have liked to do during those three packed years of His public ministry, but He was a man, with a man’s limitations of time and space.  Yet He took time to rest… Still He was able to make that amazing claim, “I have finished the work You gave me to do.”  This was not the same as saying He had finished everything He could possibly think of to do or that He had done everything others had asked.  He made no claim to have done what He wanted to do.  The claim was that He had done what had been given.

This is an important clue for us.  The work of God is appointed.  What was given to the Son to do was the will of the Father.  What is given to us to do is also His will.

There is always enough time to do the will of God.  For that we can never say, “I don’t have time.”  When we find ourselves frantic and frustrated, harried and harassed and “hassled,” it is a sign that we are running on our own schedule, not God’s. 

… “Thy list be done”… is a good prayer for a disciple to pray.  I am all for making lists of what needs to be done… But the list must be reviewed daily with the Lord, asking Him to delete whatever is not on His list for us, so that before we go to bed it will be possible to say, “I have finished the work You gave me to do.”

Speak Evil of No Man for the Edification of the Body of Christ

“Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people ... Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.”
- Lev_19:16, Lev_19:17

"Tale-bearing emits a threefold poison; for it injures the teller, the hearer, and the person concerning whom the tale is told. Whether the report be true or false, we are by this precept of God’s Word forbidden to spread it. The reputations of the Lord’s people should be very precious in our sight, and we should count it shame to help the devil to dishonour the Church and the name of the Lord. Some tongues need a bridle rather than a spur. Many glory in pulling down their brethren, as if thereby they raised themselves. Noah’s wise sons cast a mantle over their father, and he who exposed him earned a fearful curse. We may ourselves one of these dark days need forbearance and silence from our brethren, let us render it cheerfully to those who require it now. Be this our family rule, and our personal bond-SPEAK EVIL OF NO MAN.

The Holy Spirit, however, permits us to censure sin, and prescribes the way in which we are to do it. It must be done by rebuking our brother to his face, not by railing behind his back. This course is manly, brotherly, Christlike, and under God’s blessing will be useful. Does the flesh shrink from it? Then we must lay the greater stress upon our conscience, and keep ourselves to the work, lest by suffering sin upon our friend we become ourselves partakers of it. Hundreds have been saved from gross sins by the timely, wise, affectionate warnings of faithful ministers and brethren. Our Lord Jesus has set us a gracious example of how to deal with erring friends in his warning given to Peter, the prayer with which he preceded it, and the gentle way in which he bore with Peter’s boastful denial that he needed such a caution."
-Spurgeon's Morning Devotionals

This is a powerful sermon by Pastor Tim Conway from San Antonio, Texas.  

Very convicting!

Awesome Budgeting Program

Our family has used a budget for years.  However, in May we learned of You Need A Budget and began using it.  We absolutely love it.  Seth said he thinks they sell the program way to cheap.  It is worth lots more than they sell it for which is currently $60.  Although, we are glad they don't sell it for more.  If you purchase the program be sure to take advantage of all of the free educational material that they offer.  It is great and will be an inspiration and be a big help to you.

Today only they are running  a special and offering it for 35 percent off the regular price.

If you are looking for a great way to manage your money, check out this link.
They do not offer specials very often.

Click here to try YOU NEED A BUDGET for 35% off today only

Let us know if you give it a try!

Today's Excitement

Today was opening gun season here in Ohio.  The Lord blessed our family today with this lovely deer.  We are so looking forward to the meat going in the freezer for this winter.

  

Now of course to Tayte this is not just a lovely deer, but an 8 point trophy buck!  

 For those of you who are interested in the whole hunter's story you'll have to give Tayte a call.  :-)

What a blessing!!  Thank you Lord, for your provisions for our family.

Recipe of the Month

Greetings to everyone!  I hope you all are doing well.  Today we would like to share another favorite recipe with you.  This one was given to us years ago from a friend who knew a very good cook.  So, here it is- Chicken Croquettes.

Ingredients:

• 5 Tbsp. butter
• 3 Tbsp. flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 2 cups finely chopped cooked chicken
• 1 1/4 cups bread crumbs
• 3 Tbsp.  chopped parsley (fresh if possible)
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1.  In a medium-size saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat.  Add flour and cook, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes without browning.  Gradually whisk in milk and broth and cook, stirring constantly, until smooth and thickened.  Remove from heat; let cool for 5 minutes.
2.  In a large bowl, combine chicken, 1 cup of the bread crumbs, parsley, salt, and eggs.  Mix well.  Pour in sauce, blend, and cover.  Chill 2 hours,until set.
3.  Preheat oven to 350 F.  Combine Parmesan cheese and remaining 1/4 cup bread crumbs in a shallow dish.  Shape chicken mixture into 2 1/2 - 3 inch balls, then roll into ovals (makes about 8).  Roll croquettes in bread crumb mixture.
4.  Arrange croquettes in a greased pan.    Melt remaining 2 Tablespoons  butter and drizzle over croquettes.  Bake 30 minutes, until golden brown.
5.  Make additional cream sauce to serve over croquettes on a bed of rice or noodles.  Delish!  Wonderful dish to serve to company too.
Hope you all will try this one and enjoy it!

~Brittany~

The Blessing of Pears

Recently Grandpa and Grandma blessed us with some pears from their pear tree.  So, being inspired from An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott, that we read on Thanksgiving day, we made pear slump.  It was delicious.  It is always fun when they share a recipe in the back of a book.  Breanna altered the recipe a bit to make it a little less sweet and we used pears instead of apples because that is what we had.  Yum Yum!  Thanks for sharing the pears Grandpa and Grandma.  Here is the recipe to share with all of you.

Pear Slump
What you need:
6 cups sliced pears
1/2 cup sucanot or brown sugar
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour or white
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup evaporated cane or sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup melted butter


What to do:
1.  Pare, core and slice the pears.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9 X 13 baking dish with butter or cooking spray. 
3. In a small bowl, mix the sucanot, nutmeg, cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon salt.  Sprinkle mixture over the pears and stir to mix.
4.  Bake pears uncovered until thy are soft, about 20 minutes.
5.  While the pears are baking, sift together into a bowl the flour, baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and sugar.   Mix into this the beaten egg, milk, and melted butter.  Stir gently.
6.  Spread this mixture over the pears and continue baking until the top is brown and crusty ( about 25 minutes).
7.  Serve with milk or whipped cream. 

This recipe could be used with any fruit.  Enjoy and thanks again Grandpa and Grandma for sharing your pears with us!

How do you spend your time?

Recently in our family, a topic of conversation has been time management. Just this morning, Seth and I were talking about some areas that we see as time wasters and what the fruit of walking in the flesh in any area will produce given a little time.

I poured my cup of tea and headed upstairs to spend some time in prayer and reading in the Bible; as is my normal practice.

I usually start my computer and open up e-sword (an awesome free tool), review my memory work (currently I am working on memorizing James 1. I am on verses 5-9 right now).

I read Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotional, morning section only :-) and then proceed on to prayer.

Well this morning, I read the devotional and immediately went downstairs to share it with the family.

God is so good! When He wants to teach you something He is so faithful to show you in many ways. What a great teacher!

Anyways, I wanted to share it with all of you. Perhaps it will serve to encourage someone else in how you spend your time. Time is a gift from God and needs to be used wisely for His glory.

So on to the devotional . . .

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.”
- Ecc_9:10


“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do,” refers to works that are possible. There are many things which our heart findeth to do which we never shall do. It is well it is in our heart; but if we would be eminently useful, we must not be content with forming schemes in our heart, and talking of them; we must practically carry out “whatsoever our hand findeth to do.”

One good deed is more worth than a thousand brilliant theories. Let us not wait for large opportunities, or for a different kind of work, but do just the things we “find to do” day by day.

We have no other time in which to live. The past is gone; the future has not arrived; we never shall have any time but time present. Then do not wait until your experience has ripened into maturity before you attempt to serve God.

Endeavour now to bring forth fruit. 

Serve God now, but be careful as to the way in which you perform what you find to do-”do it with thy might.”

Do it promptly; do not fritter away your life in thinking of what you intend to do to-morrow as if that could recompense for the idleness of to-day. No man ever served God by doing things to-morrow. If we honour Christ and are blessed, it is by the things which we do to-day.

Whatever you do for Christ throw your whole soul into it. Do not give Christ a little slurred labour, done as a matter of course now and then; but when you do serve him, do it with heart, and soul, and strength.

But where is the might of a Christian? It is not in himself, for he is perfect weakness. His might lieth in the Lord of Hosts.

Then let us seek his help; let us proceed with prayer and faith, and when we have done what our “hand findeth to do,” let us wait upon the Lord for his blessing. What we do thus will be well done, and will not fail in its effect.

What is Black Friday?

Just in case anyone was as curious as I was...

Black Friday is a popular label attached to the Friday following Thanksgiving Day in the US. This day marks the beginning of the busy shopping season during which most consumers typically start their Christmas/holiday shopping.

While the word "black" often has a negative connotation, the use of black in this case alludes to profitability, which is traditionally noted in black ink (losses are noted in red). Traditionally, brick-and-mortar retailers see a surge in retail sales on this day as a result of the holiday shopping, putting their books "in the black".

-provided from investopedia.com


Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving, and that you are getting some good deals this weekend:-)

A Song for our Grandma

Ron Paul Highlights - CNN National Security Debate

Are You Doing God's Will or Your Own?

The Hard Sayings of Jesus Christ

Feelings for Assurance of Salvation?

 Your feelings are an easy place to look to gain false assurance, and an easy place to look to lose real assurance. 

-- What does this mean? 

It means those who have no assurance are looking to their feelings, and not Christ, and gain false assurance. 

It also means that the true believer starts to gaze upon his feelings and not Christ and loses real assurance because he does not feel "right." 

You want assurance?  

Look to the finished work of Christ and believe upon those Promises!

-James Jennings

illbehonest.com

What do you delight in?

Lam 3:24  "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."

Well may we “delight ourselves in the Lord” who makes us to drink of the river of his pleasures. Our faith stretches her wings and mounts like an eagle into the heaven of divine love as to her proper dwelling-place. “The lines have fallen to us in pleasant places; yea, we have a goodly heritage.” Let us rejoice in the Lord always; let us show to the world that we are a happy and a blessed people, and thus induce them to exclaim, “We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”
Charles Spurgeon

What Does It Mean to Walk in Christ?

Spurgeon’s Morning Devotional

“So walk ye in him.”

- Colossians 2:6

If we have received Christ himself in our inmost hearts, our new life will manifest its intimate acquaintance with him by a walk of faith in him.

Walking implies action. Our religion is not to be confined to our closet; we must carry out into practical effect that which we believe. If a man walks in Christ, then he so acts as Christ would act; for Christ being in him, his hope, his love, his joy, his life, he is the reflex of the image of Jesus; and men say of that man, “He is like his Master; he lives like Jesus Christ.”

Walking signifies progress. “So walk ye in him”; proceed from grace to grace, run forward until you reach the uttermost degree of knowledge that a man can attain concerning our Beloved.

Walking implies continuance. There must be a perpetual abiding in Christ. How many Christians think that in the morning and evening they ought to come into the company of Jesus, and may then give their hearts to the world all the day: but this is poor living; we should always be with him, treading in his steps and doing his will.

Walking also implies habit. When we speak of a man’s walk and conversation, we mean his habits, the constant tenor of his life. Now, if we sometimes enjoy Christ, and then forget him; sometimes call him ours, and anon lose our hold, that is not a habit; we do not walk in him. We must keep to him, cling to him, never let him go, but live and have our being in him.

 “As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him”; persevere in the same way in which ye have begun, and, as at the first Christ Jesus was the trust of your faith, the source of your life, the principle of your action, and the joy of your spirit, so let him be the same till life’s end; the same when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and enter into the joy and the rest which remain for the people of God. O Holy Spirit, enable us to obey this heavenly precept.

Have You Ever Thought the Lord has Forsaken You?

Spurgeon Morning and Evening Devotional 

November 7 ~ Morning

“Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.”

- Isa_49:16

No doubt a part of the wonder which is concentrated in the word “Behold,” is excited by the unbelieving lamentation of the preceding sentence. Zion said, “The Lord hath forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me.” How amazed the divine mind seems to be at this wicked unbelief! What can be more astounding than the unfounded doubts and fears of God’s favoured people? The Lord’s loving word of rebuke should make us blush; he cries, “How can I have forgotten thee, when I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands? How darest thou doubt my constant remembrance, when the memorial is set upon my very flesh?” O unbelief, how strange a marvel thou art! We know not which most to wonder at, the faithfulness of God or the unbelief of his people. He keeps his promise a thousand times, and yet the next trial makes us doubt him. He never faileth; he is never a dry well; he is never as a setting sun, a passing meteor, or a melting vapour; and yet we are as continually vexed with anxieties, molested with suspicions, and disturbed with fears, as if our God were the mirage of the desert. “Behold,” is a word intended to excite admiration. Here, indeed, we have a theme for marvelling. Heaven and earth may well be astonished that rebels should obtain so great a nearness to the heart of infinite love as to be written upon the palms of his hands. “I have graven thee.”It does not say, “Thy name.” The name is there, but that is not all: “I have graven thee.” See the fulness of this! I have graven thy person, thine image, thy case, thy circumstances, thy sins, thy temptations, thy weaknesses, thy wants, thy works; I have graven thee, everything about thee, all that concerns thee; I have put thee altogether there. Wilt thou ever say again that thy God hath forsaken thee when he has graven thee upon his own palms?

"I Want to Be Saved!" Then Come, Don't Wait! - Tim Conway

Don't Pursue Freedom from Pornography, Pursue Christ

Recipe of the Month ~ Pumpkin Harvest Muffins

Hello to everyone!  Hope you all are doing well.  We spent the latter half of last week in North Carolina at a conference put on by the National Center for Family Integrated Churches.  We were very blessed by our time there, and will probably be posting on the trip some time soon:-)
However, right now I am posting our recipe of the month.  I really should have posted this before our trip, but as you can see, I did not.  So, we'll just have to continue from here:-)
The recipe we want to share with you today is our Pumpkin Harvest Muffins.  This is definitely a family favorite of many years.  We got the recipe out of the cookbook From the Kitchen of Two Sisters, by Danielle and Lindsay Voeller.  We have, of course, modified it slightly, as we often do. 
The recipe makes about two and a half to three dozen muffins.  That use to seem like a tremendous amount, and that we would never get done baking.  But that was when there were only five of us:-)  (We laugh some times at how our family has grown as we remember little things.  Like only five plates at the table, or getting the five for five Arby Melt deal.  Of course that was when Tater was younger too;-)  Needless to say, now it doesn't seem like quite so much.  Oh how blessed we are that the Lord has added so many blessings to our family!)  So anyway, here's our recipe of the month.  Hope you all will try these and enjoy them.

Ingredients:

1 cup raisins

1 cup date pieces (or additional cup of raisins)

5 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 cups boiling water

1/2 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup applesauce

1/2 cup olive oil

2 cups milk

4 eggs

1 cup honey

2 cups mashed pumpkin

3 cups rolled oats

5 cups whole wheat flour

1 heaping Tbsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. salt

 First, measure raisins, dates, and baking soda into a large bowl.

 Next, add boiling water and stir well. 

 

 Now you want to get your butter melting.

 Next add the applesauce, oil, and butter.

 Now you can measure and pour in the milk.

 Next, add the eggs and honey...

 ...Then the pumpkin and rolled oats.

 Now add the flour, salt, and cinnamon.  (Make sure you heap that tablespoon high:-)

 Finally, stir add ingredients together very well, as demonstrated by my excellent little helper.

 Fill greased muffin cups almost full, and bake at 375 degrees for about twenty minutes.  (You can also store this batter in the refrigerator overnight.  We have tried this, and it works very well.)

And finally, the finished product - A wonderful, tasty, little morsel that is sure to delight everyone!

These are fantastic warm or cold, and freeze very well.

Have a wonderful day!

May the Lord guide you ever towards Himself throughout each step of the way!

Britt Ann

Recipe to Share

Seven Layer Tortilla Pie Recipe from allrecipe.com Rated: Submitted By: KDCG Altered by the Alexander's Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 40 Minutes Ready In: 55 Minutes Servings: 6 This was delicious!!!  We made two and put on in the freezer for later this month.  Ingredients: 1 1/2 cup salsa, divided 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 1/2 teaspoons dried cilantro 1 quart black beans 1 lb. ground hamburger 7 (8 inch) whole wheat flour tortillas 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese 1 cup salsa 1/2 cup sour cream Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). 2. In a large bowl, mash 2 cups of beans. Stir in 1 cup salsa and garlic. 3. In a separate bowl, mix together 1/2 cup salsa, cilantro,  remaining beans (not mashed). 4. Place 1 tortilla in a pie plate or tart dish. Spread 3/4 cup mashed bean mixture over tortilla to within 1/2 inch of edge. Top with 1/4 cup cheese, and cover with another tortilla. Spread with 2/3 cup unmashed bean mixture, and top with 1/4 cup cheese. Repeat layering twice. Cover with remaining tortilla, and spread with remaining mashed bean mixture and cheese. 5. Cover with foil, and bake in preheated oven for about 40 minutes. Cut into wedges, and serve with salsa and sour cream.

Enjoy!

Song of Solomon (Prayer as Communion) - Paul Washer

For All Sisters!

     

There is just something so sweet about the relationship between sisters!

I feel so blessed to have four sisters!

The above picture is of one of my very best friends with me!

I love you soooo much sis!

So... this post is for all sisters.  

Enjoy, treasure and cherish each precious minute you get together as sisters and best friends!

 

Sisters, Sisters

“The ‘Sisters, Sisters’ Unity Song for Home Schoolers”
(Modified lyrics by Doug Phillips with sincere apologies to Irving Berlin)

Sisters, sisters,
There were never such devoted sisters.
Never wander very far from “Sis,” no sir,
I’m there to keep my eye on her.

Caring, sharing,
Every little thing that we are wearing.
We don’t go on dates and that’s okay,
We’d rather stay home and play all day.

All kinds of weather, we stick together
The same in the rain or sun.
Two different faces but in tight places,
We think and we act as one. Uh-huh.

Those who’ve seen us,
Know that not a thing could come between us.
Many peers have tried to split us up but no one can.
Won’t help a mister to come between me and my sister,
And won’t help a mister to come between me and my clan.

Smile!

~Bree~