Take Root and Write

Welcome Christian Women to Take Root and Write

 

Welcome to Take Root and Write!

If its your first time here, come on in! You can click to expand all of our Columns & Categories to your right. Want a sneek peek as to what the descriptions are for each? Open the slide show below. Then go read & subscribe to your favorite columns separately in your fav feed reader. You can also sign up to receive via email and or our Interactive Digital Magazine! You can see the current issue below along w/the sign up box to receive it in your inbox every Sunday Morning. You will continue hearing all about the excitement brewing here at TRW. Connecting Christian Women is what we are about. A whole new branch of TRW will be at Christian Women Affiliate. Click and you can go read more about what's to come with CWA & even sign up to receive notice when all is ready for you! Pray for us as we dive into all God has for us, for you, in 2009!  Don't forget to click on our Christian Women's Community that has close to 700 women & growing everyday! Getting Real, Getting Encouraged and Getting Rooted together to continue to Grow and be all God has created us to be! Christian Women Take Root!

Blessings to each of you!

The Take Root and Write Team

More Information About Our Ministry

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More information on Our Ministry...

We have our Private Community that you can join and connect with other Christian Women, Christian Women Take Root. If you have noticed around Take Root and Write a lot of us connect through Twitter. We have Christian Women Tweet Up! You can click and read all about it. Christian Women Affiliate is now open to read a little about it and sign up to receive updates. So click on over and sign up to get those!

Thanks to Patricia Warren, our Digital Magazine Publisher, Our Brand New Digital Version of Our Take Root and Write magazine is well under way! I hope you are signed up to receive those. They are delivered via your inbox once a week on Sunday Morning. Easy to Read and all links are active and will bring you right back to the site so you can comment and engage!

We do have some openings on the Take Root and Write Team. Writer's positions are listed on the Potential Writers page on TRW. There is also an opening listed there for a Christian Women Tweet Up Cordinator. We are always looking for women to become involved over in the community ministry. Let me tell you what a blessing it has been to serve with this team of women! And to make it even better we are connecting with other teams of Christian Women too! We are not about being separate or trying to make ourselves stand out over other Christian Women Ministries online. We are about connecting. How much stronger are we united?

We are non-profit and very much consider all branches of TRW to be ministry. As our other branches open, more positions become available. So! Do not hold back, if you have a desire to get involved. Come on in!

Please contact via email in far right corner.

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Current Magazine always posted on Monday Morning. Last 2 Issues Below!

Open Magazine; June 29-July 3rd

Open Magazine; July 6-9th,2009

JEHOVAH-JIREH: The Lord Will Provide for the Grieving Heart

It was the first day of Bible school and I was running late to pick up my nephew, Griffin. I had wanted to arrive at the church a little early to register him and take care of any details before the program started. So, when I say I was running late, it really meant that we would arrive just in time. However, when I got to Griffin's house, he was still in bed! I decided that it would be alright if we arrived late because, after all, it was a three hour program. Griffin's mom ran upstairs to wake him up and within five minutes he was ready to go.

We hopped in the car only to be stopped in a traffic jam due to an accident. Unfortunately, it was a pretty bad one. The police and ambulance had not yet arrived and people were running from car to car to check on the injured people. Then it occurred to me: if Griffin had been awake and ready to go when I arrived at his house, we would have been in the accident. That five minutes it took him to wake up saved us from a calamity. I took advantage of that teachable moment to point out to my nephew that God had provided for us in that situation and saved us from harm. It was a God sighting and we praised Him for his provision.

It is part of the character of God to provide for His children. In the Old Testament, Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son Isaac on an altar. Confused, he chose to obey God and trust that He would take care of him. Because of Abraham's faith and obedience, God provided a ram to be sacrificed instead. This was Abraham's God-sighting. I can't begin to imaging the relief he felt as he recognized the faithfulness of God in that moment. With a grateful heart, Abraham then named the mountain JEHOVAH-JIREH, which means "The LORD Will Provide".

So Abraham called that place the LORD Will Provide, and to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided." (Genesis 22:14 NIV)

What's In A Name?

Do you know the origin or meaning of your name? Is there a significance about the name you are known by? My name, Mary, seems like a rather plain, unexciting name, but my parents obviously thought it was a wonderful name! Not only is my first name Mary, each of my three younger sisters received that as their middle name. I just realized that I have never asked my parents why we all were given that name. We were reared in the Roman Catholic Church and I know Mary, the mother is Christ, is revered in Catholicism. I guess I always just assumed that was behind their decision. I'm going to ask my mom about this the next time I talk to her!

When I researched my name, of course the reference to that Mary was first! I didn't know, though, that "Mariology" is the body and belief of the doctrine concerning the Virgin Mary." Nor did I know "Mariolotry" is an excessive and proscribed veneration of the Virgin Mary." (http://www.faqs.org/ologies-isms/). Well this makes my name a bit more interesting I think.

Throughout life we acquire names or labels or images of ourselves. From a very early age we begin to develop a self-image that is usually reflective of the messages we receive from others. If we are told we are "daddy's little girl" and receive attention and affection from our fathers when we play that role, we may never grow out of that role. If our intelligence and ingenuity are praised and valued, we more than likely will excel in academics. If we are born into a family that is emotionally distant and undemonstrative, we may never learn to develop healthy relationships with others.

Keeping the July Garden a Show-Stopper

“He gave them drink in abundance like the depths.” (Psalm 78:15b)

Water is the most crucial element of your mid-summer garden. In July, as rainfall levels drop off, supplemental watering is the only way to keep your garden at peak performance. We’ve already discussed mulching and composting to keep your garden growing. A thick layer of well-rotted compost or other mulches is the secret to a healthy garden and keeping your flowers putting on their show.

Newly planted trees and shrubs will need special care through July and August to survive the hot, sunny days. A layer of straw will keep the soil under them shaded and therefore moist. Stick your hand through the mulch at mid-day to feel the difference in temperature between mulched and unmulched ground.

 If you planted your flower (or vegetable) garden using a modification of the French intensive method, you will see that your perennials and annuals have grown together enough to help shade the soil around each other. This helps slow the daily evaporation of water from the soil. This time of year your plants are working at top speed to do what they were created to do: “yield seed according to its kind” (Genesis 1:12 NKJV).

From The Calendar of Organic Gardening © 1973: “Your plants…are sucking up water from the soil to fill the needs of every cell, while evaporation and transpiration are at peak on the dry, clear and breezy days…make sure you have plenty of mulch.”

YES, You Can....

 

Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." (Numbers 13:20 NIV)

Beautiful One, did you know that it’s not who you are, but, who you think you are not that will alter the course of your life?

Let's face it. We all have issues. Some of us have a lot more issues than others. Because of the pain and pressure issues can bring, it can be so overwhelming and seem impossible to gain a victory.  

 

My friend, it is one thing to have an issue and it is another to let it have you.

 

Have you ever been identified by your issues? You don’t have a name anymore. You're a label. In this life we are going to face certain oppositions.  May I suggest to you that even though we may be hard pressed today, we don't have to stay that way.

The battle is fought and won in our minds. Perception is everything. It's not the problem that keeps us down; it's how we see ourselves in it. The Bible says; "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he"(Proverbs 23:7 NIV).

Welcome to Focus on Your Finances!

Making color copies yesterday at Office Max (because they were only 29 cents!), I was horrified to discover that I had left my money, checkbook, and credit card at home.  Standing at the cash register, I hunted throughout my purse for money that had dropped out of my change purse or been tossed in.  After several embarrassing moments, I scrounged together enough money to sheepishly pay the patient young man.

Lately, it may feel like you are scrounging around in the same way at the end of the month to pay your bills.  The economy has hit our family business hard.  Many of our friends are looking for jobs or find themselves in jobs that don't pay the bills. Maybe your family has taken a hit too.  Maybe there has always been a little more month than money.  Or maybe you are simply fearful, worried about what MIGHT happen to your family's finances.

The economy is a huge topic of discussion this year!  More importantly to you, though, is the condition of your personal finances and how the economy is affecting you.  This is important to God too!  He cares about us.  His heart is for us and longs to give us good gifts. Our Heavenly Father LAVISHLY provides for our enjoyment!  Yes, He does! 

Dealing with the Weeds

My husband planted a flower garden in our backyard for me to enjoy this year. However, he planted and left me to tend it. I simply wanted to enjoy it, not work it. It didn't take long for me to notice how quickly weeds will invade an unattended garden. I also discovered that I had a hard time telling the difference between what Eldon planted and the invaders. Some weeds look like pretty wildflowers.

Pretty weeds grow all around my town. I like the pretty blooms some of them produce. They are beautiful and inviting, but in reality these weeds compete with the good plants for space in the garden; they steal the light, water, and nutrients. If left in the garden to grow, the weeds will eventually choke out the domestic plants.

As believers in Christ, our walk with God is like tending to a garden. If we set it aside and just hope it looks pretty without tending to it, weeds will sprout up in our lives choking out the space, light, water, and nutrients we need to grow in our walk with the Lord. Our hearts are the fertile soil where the Lord plants His seed (His Word). In order to live Totally Transplanted lives, we need to purposefully commit to weeding the unwanted blossoms from our lives.

One day while driving around town thinking about weeds and taking pictures, I noticed a new housing development near my home; brand new homes, built, and waiting for residents. Observing the yards, I noticed the neglect; no one there to take care of the lawns. It reminded me of a proverb about a lazy person. Our own homes can become this way if we're too lazy to take care of them.

Not Just a Number

Numbers have always fascinated me. I find quantum physics extremely interesting because of the idea of particle-waves and different dimensions. The word quantum is Latin for "how great" or "how much." Most quantum physicists believe that other dimensions exist; they are researching the possibility of entering or returning from another dimension. This notion is light-years away. Wave-energy has carry-on baggage called quanta that behave to some extent like small particles with atomic and subatomic orderliness, the particles or baggage attach to the wave-energy and seem to organize themselves into a kind of system. The discovery of particle-waves opened a new branch of physics we call quantum mechanics. We cannot see subatomic particle-waves but we know they exist and have a distinct and powerful purpose.

A collider is an accelerator in which two beams traveling in opposite directions are steered toward each other (like a car crash) in order to provide a high energy collision between the particles in each beam. That is how we know they exist. When particle-waves crash they can be dangerously explosive in very small quantities.

Pondering: Have you ever wondered about the purpose of some experiences or events you cannot understand? Life is filled with changes and unanswered questions; life never just stays the same. Seasons in our life unexpectedly shift altering our purpose, crashing, changing course, and disturbing what we thought was truth or reality. Can you imagine our great grandparents understanding quantum mechanics? Everything changes. So does knowledge and so do we. Because of Adam and Eve's original sin it is physiologically impossible not to change as we grow older. That is just the way that living things function.

Teaching Apologetics in High School

When I first heard the term apologetics, I immediately thought of apologizing. It sounded like Christians were saying, "I'm sorry for what I believe." But the term apologetics refers to intellectually defending the faith. As believers in Jesus, we are commanded to give a reason for the hope that we have, to answer the intellectual questions of our day. The Bible does have an answer for the questions the world is asking.

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of your slander." (I Peter 3:15-16 NIV)

People will ask you and your Christian teenager questions such as "Why do you believe the Bible?" or "Why do you think Christianity is the only right way to believe?" Is your teen ready to answer those questions? Maybe you are thinking, "Golly, I'm not ready to answer those questions." That's okay. You and your teen can learn together.

Where do we start in teaching our teens to defend their faith? Set apart Christ as Lord. Set Him aside as the Supreme Master of your life and home. Whatever He says goes! His Word is Truth. His commands are obeyed. He is the One we live to please, not the world, our friends, or our college professors.

Next, we receive preparation or training so that we can be prepared to give an answer to those who ask. This preparation can be in the form of a class with you or your husband. There are many wonderful books available on the subject of apologetics such as More than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell or Know Why You Believe by Paul E. Little. My husband taught an apologetics Sunday School class that we have adapted for our teens. It covers the following topics.

Reality and Uniqueness of the Bible

Creation and the Evolution Scam

The Flood

Archeology

Prophecies of Cities' Destruction

Prophecies of the Coming Messiah

The Trilema:  Is Jesus, Liar, Lunatic, or Lord?

Jesus' Resurrection

The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner

I've been conflicted as to how to begin this column and decided to just start typing;  seems the best way to break the silence.  I'm going to be reviewing books and CD's here. The majority will be Christian based and some might just be excellent books or music I want to draw your attention to. I hope you'll feel free to leave me your comments good or bad.  Let me know if you've read the books and your opinion. Keep an eye out for Give Aways with My Reviews!

And so let me kick off this inaugural column with one of the books I've been reading that I've really liked. One of my favorites that I read earlier this spring was The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner, published by WaterBrook Press (September16, 2008).

The Shape of Mercy

When Lauren Durough, who was raised in a life of luxury, strikes out on her own and is determined to make her own way. She takes a part-time job from a retired librarian named Abigail Boyles, who hires her to transcribe some journal entries of her ancestry Mercy Hayworth who was a victim of the Salem Witch Trials.

Lauren finds herself drawn to this girl, Mercy, who lived and died so long ago. As the fervor surrounding  the witch accusations increases, the journal indicates how Mercy becomes trapped in what is going on around her. As Lauren reads on she finds that the secrets of Mercy's story extend beyond her diary and live on in the mysterious Abigail.

Lauren feels for Mercy force her to take a look at her own life, including her relationship with Abigail, and others in her life.  As Lauren works towards the end of the diary she finds that in the story as in her life, it is built on misconceptions that have shaped her life, and she has to make the decision whether or not to change her attitudes towards them.

Which Comes First? Recieving or Giving

Dear Child,

I am the great Giver. It is who I am and what I do. I am all-sufficient. I have everything to give. I have what you need. You must become a receiver. You were created to be a taker. When you were born, your spirit was destitute. Regardless of the affluence of your birth family, you were in absolute poverty in your spirit. You needed life, not physical life on earth but spiritual life that lasts forever. Just as the earth needs the sun to have life, you need Me to have life.

I call out, "Come to me, all, and I will give to you." I want to give eternal life, and when you have it, you will never perish. No one can snatch you from Me; neither can anyone ever take eternal life from you once you have received it. You see, I give, and you must first receive from Me in order to be a giver in life. When you ask in faith, with no doubting, I will give to you liberally. It is never wrong for you to ask Me for anything you lack. I want you to receive all that I have to give to you. As the sun continually pours out its light at all times, I am always giving.

I gave My only Son to bring light into the world. I did not send Jesus to condemn the world, but so that everyone in the world might be saved through Him. After you believe in and receive Jesus, you will be drawn into the light. You will be glad to have your deeds, done in Me, a clear testimony of what I haven given You. By being a receiver, you can give Me great glory. As you receive from Me, you will blossom and bloom just as the earth does under the sun.

It was My desire to send Jesus to do My will. What I say may sound confusing to you, but Jesus came down from heaven to give life to everyone who believes in Him. I give you to Jesus who will raise you up in the last day. This is My will that everyone who sees Jesus and believes in Him may have everlasting life. You are not able to see Jesus with your physical eyes. The Holy Spirit through grace allows you to see Jesus in your spirit, to know Him. Jesus gave himself for the life of the world. He freely gives you all things.

Trust Me, commit your ways to Me, rest in Me. I want you to delight yourself in Me, and I will give you the desires of your heart. Yes, I will always give you what is good. Come to me and by receiving, you too will become a giver like Me. By being a receiver, you can announce to everyone how great and glorious I am.

Go ahead, Ask Me. Take, receive, and then give.

 

Lindy Abbott 2009

Materialism and the Artist

 

I recently attended a "meet the artist" show featuring polymer clay artist Kathleen Dustin at a gallery in Albuquerque called The Wooden Cow. Kathleen has been working in polymer clay for twenty-five years, and you can see the lifetime of talent and the countless hours of dedication. I was awestruck by the beauty of her work. Because I do some work in polymer clay myself, I recognized the complexity in each piece, but at the same time I was floored by each piece's deceptive simplicity. It's no wonder she's world-renowned, that her limited-edition polymer clay purses and jewelry sell on Madison Avenue, and that she teaches workshops throughout the U.S. and Europe. She is the picture of the successful artist.

Yet, even Kathleen has questions about her role as an artist. After spending a day with friends in New York City and attending a fashion show during Fashion Week, they strolled Madison Avenue where she saw seven of her purses displayed in one of the shop windows. She says in one of her blog posts, "It seems trite to say it, but the whole Fashion Week experience was shallow. Is this what life is all about? To some people it is--paying attention to the latest must-haves. And actually I am quite ambivalent because this is the market I sell to." She goes on to say that though she feels uncomfortable about her work at times, she has a passion for what she's doing. She wonders if her conflicting feelings are a result of her Christian faith and Christian teachings about materialism.

But what is materialism, really?

If anyone would know, it would be King Solomon of "everything is vanity" fame. Solomon says, "As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them? The sleep of the laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep" (Ecclesiastes 5:11-12, NIV). Based on these words, it doesn't seem as if Solomon had much respect for indulgence in the arts. And yet Solomon later says, "Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him--for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God" (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19, NIV).

Kindergarten Basics Review

After homeschooling for 18 years, I have come to the conclusion that you can spend a ton of money homeschooling your children or you can be very frugal, cutting homeschooling costs to a minimum. Truthfully, I haven't seen any correlation between the spending of money and the quality of education.
What makes homeschooling such an amazing way to educate your children is that it uses the one-on-one tutoring/mentoring method which is so very effective. 

With the turbulent economic times we are living in, it makes sense to be cost-effective in your homeschooling. So, when I find a homeschooling resource that helps us to keep the price of our homeschooling to a minimum, I want to check it out and pass it on! For those of you who will be homeschooling kindergarten, this is a resource to help you homeschool frugally.

Kindergarten Basics: Building a Solid Foundation by Kim Kargbo is the help you need to face homeschooling kindergarten with confidence! There are no bells and whistles here. Just a wise homeschooling mom passing on to you what works in her home. Kim believes that kindergarten should be fun, not a burden. She expresses concern that many people try homeschooling at this level and decide that homeschooling is just not for them. Why? Maybe they are making it too hard!

Kim starts by explaining the six basics of kindergarten: Bible knowledge, basic math skills, basic phonics skills, early writing skills, general skills, and general knowledge.  She takes each of these basics and explains how to teach these kindergarten basics for almost free.

Kim's next step is to give you a sample schedule that is practical and workable.  The rest of the book is devoted to all kinds of hands-on-activities that you can do with your child to teach the six basics.  The activities are, of course, divided up under these kindergarten basic categories.  I love her hands-on ideas--they are fun and easy! 

Kim gives a blank weekly lesson plan sheet that you can use at the back of the book.  She also has a list of  helpful resources:  books and websites. Let me give you an example of her suggestions on teaching kindergarten.

The goal for young children in the area of Bible knowledge is to learn "The Story" of God's Word from Genesis to Revelation. This is not to be cluttered up with lots of facts and information, but let your kindergartener see the flow of the big story that starts with Creation and ends with Jesus coming back to take us home. People and places will become familiar, as stories are listened to each day. Kim encourages parents to read a passage from Scripture or to read aloud a Bible story from an accurate storybook. Afterward, your child just tells you about the story (Narration!) and then you (the teacher) explain how this story is part of a bigger story. The total time involved is probably 10 to 15 minutes. Kim also encourages Scripture memory work too. The only cost involved here is to purchase a Bible or Bible storybooks, but most of us already own both!

Plagued By Plagues? Part One

The bubonic plague was a horrifying disease that swept through fourteenth century Europe killing a large portion of the population. It was dubbed the "Black Death" because its victims were marred with black boils of blood that festered beneath the skin due to internal bleeding. Symptoms of the insidious disease also included swollen lymph nodes called buboes, hence the name "bubonic."

Much like the bubonic plague, the spiritual realm is swollen with negative forces that, if left untreated, can become ugly black boils in a believer's life. Today, the bubonic plague is treatable because of medical advances if its victim recognizes the symptoms and takes advantage of available antibiotics. Likewise, Christians need to recognize the symptoms of spiritual plagues that infect their lives and administer  "spiritual antibiotics" to treat the disease.

Exodus 8 provides a pitre dish of three plagues that Christians may identify in our owns lives. They are revealed because of Moses' quest to free the Israelites from their oppressive existence in Egypt. The epic battle between Moses and Pharaoh involved as series of plagues that came, oddly enough, compliments of idols the Egyptians worshiped.

The Plague of Overabundance

One of the deities the Egyptians worshiped was Heka, a frog-headed goddess. As long as frogs kept their place in the mighty Nile and frog-appropriate water holes, they were considered somewhat sacred. However, when this slimy idol of national worship overran their water boundaries and invaded neighborhoods and home, the Egyptians didn't think the amphibians were so delightful after all. When Heka's hippity-hopping buddies invaded every nook and cranny of dry land, her misguided admirers were plagued by the object of their idol worship.

Summer Switch

 

Summer is here again. Long, warm days and staying up way too late because it doesn't get dark until bedtime! I love summer. I hate to be cold. Summer also gives kids vacation from school. That is so unfair that the whole world does not take vacation too don't ya think? Sometimes it is so hard and expensive to keep them entertained! It is summer time that makes me wish I would have become a teacher all those years ago. 

For single parents summer sometimes also means sending the kids to the other parent for a part or maybe even all of the summer. Every family situation is different and each custody situation brings about its own joys and hardships. One of my best friends in the world has been fighting with her ex for nine years. He did not want to be a part of his daughters life until she was two and since then, he has not wanted anything more than to make her mother's life miserable. So much so she had to pay an insane amount of money to an attorney for her daughter to attend her own wedding! Sounds crazy right? Sadly this is an all too familiar reality. While it is great he is now in her life, what price is she paying for it?

I am blessed enough to say my ex does not cause these problems for the kids and I. His mentality is if the kids don't want to be with him, they are just going to be miserable while they are there so why make them come? Of course this is also an easy out on his part. That's okay. I love having my kiddos around all the time. Okay, Okay, most of the time! I do make them go up once in a while for grandma's sake. They also need to develop their own relationship with their dad even if it's not the greatest.

I am sure most of us remember the movie The Parent Trap. If you have not seen the original I am sure you have seen a remake. These girls were so desperate to meet the parent they never knew they switched places. At summer camp! Of course that had a fairy tale ending of the parents falling back in love when they come to switch the kids back. Well, I have heard of couples getting remarried after getting divorced! I am sure the kids always have a huge role to play in those situations. They are possible! "With God All things are possible" (Mark 10:27 KJV).

Chicken Stew for The Soul

Okay, I'm going to be really real here. I didn't have my photography article ready for this week until I was down to the wire. The real deal: past the wire.

I've had a lot going on the past couple of weeks, and I have been mulling over some ideas, but for some reason (pardon the pun) nothing was clicking. I could have succumbed to the writer's block (or was it a fogged lens?),  but since God let me know (because I had asked)  on Independence Day that I needed to declare my independence from self-imposed limitations, I knew I had to do something.
So I did the only thing that I knew could help me at this point. I asked the Lord ---"Help! I need wisdom to write this article,and according to James 1:5, if I need wisdom you'll give it to me."

So I'm going to share with you what transpired in the evolution of an idea, and how you can use just a thought to begin a creative exercise. Now I'm not talking about creating some masterpiece, but about using things you have readily available  to exercise and develop your own creativity. This is the behind-the-scenes, non-glamorous type of stuff.--you know like sweating on a treadmill.

Back to the evolution. For some reason, I then thought of potatoes. I don't know if it's because I recently saw the movie "Faith like Potatoes"  or if it's because I'm going to cook some today in a chicken stew, or just because they were readily available.  So I said, 'alright, potatoes it is' and I got the bag, put it on the front porch swing, and photographed it. (photo at the top) Nothing too exciting about a bag of potatoes.

Intro: Full Hands, Fuller Hearts; Large Family

A large family, one with more than  the publicly-accepted 2.5 children, faces much social criticism and practical challenges. You must admit, though, many of the comments and preconceived ideas are humorous! Let's take a lighthearted approach to having a large family because it's a wonderfully blessed thing and something to be proud of! In this column and group, we'll tackle some practical issues; we'll be honest about some of the difficult things; and we'll see what God has to say about all of it.

By, Nicole O'Dell

Baking Soda as the Ultimate Beauty Remedy

 

The last few years I have tried to find natural and inexpensive ways to accomplish everything from scrubbing my floors to shampooing my hair. Baking soda is just one of those things pantry staples that you'll find, if you do a little research, can perform just about any task and do it well. I compiled a list of all the different ways I use baking soda in my beauty routine.

Facial Scrub - Apply as a facial scrub in the morning or at night and follow with a good facial lotion if you have dry skin. Baking soda is a great exfoliator, and if you have any skin condition like acne breakouts or excema, you can even use a mix of baking soda and water as a nighttime mask. It depends upon the severity and type of skin condition, and it may be too harsh for daily use if you have sensitive skin, but I use it occasionally as a scrub in the mornings.

Teeth Whitener - A paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda will brighten teeth and will slightly whiten them. This paste is also a good germ killer for your mouth. I recommend using this method of whitening no more than once a week as baking soda is an abrasive cleaner and can lead to tooth sensitivity if used too often. Oh, and baking soda should never be used on braces.

Deodorant - I have personally used this on a couple of occasions when I ran out of deodorant and didn't have time to run to the store. Either that, or hubby's deodorant will do the trick for a day too. If you are looking for a natural deodorant and antiperspirant, simply mix four teaspoons of baking soda with eight fluid ounces of rubbing alcohol and you have a long lasting, completely chemical free deodorant that will help your underarms stay dry.

Pilgrimage

Life is a journey! In every journey there are twists and turns along the way until finally the destination is reached. Each twist and turn can be seen either as an obstacle or adventure. How we choose to see them makes all the difference in the world for it determines whether you are going to stay on a journey or go on a pilgrimage. If you choose to see the twists and turns as obstacles, then you are making the  choice to simply travel on the journey of life. That's a journey that all people are on. On the other and, if you choose to see the twists and turns as adventures or opportunities to go with God, then you are making the choice to go on a pilgrimage, a holy journey where you go with God on the path He wants for you.

My family and I are currently on an adventure. We recently made a major move because my husband was transferred with his job. We left my parents behind and headed to a new town without family or friends. When we found out we were moving, I described this new route in life as an adventure. We were choosing to go on an adventure with God – a pilgrimage. At that time, I knew it would be hard to leave my parents. Yet my husband and I were both surprised as to how hard it really was when it hit me the day we arrived at our new home. I grieved hard. Not for a long time. But for the short time I grieved – it was really painful. I cried out to God and He heard my cry. He helped me get the right perspective back concerning this path He has us traveling on. He helped me to remember that this is an adventure He's taking my family and I on.

Nestled in the book of Psalms is an encouraging passage that speaks about pilgrimage. Psalm 84:5-7 says, "Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion" (NIV).

Protecting Against Satan

Then the Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. (Genesis 2:15 NLT)

Beautiful One, did you know that to offend means to cause difficulty, discomfort, or injury? To cause pain to. Offend means to cause one to sin or fall and  offend also means to violate a divine or moral law.

So, what do you do when you realize that you are being repeatedly and consistently offended and wounded? What do you do when you realize that a plot has been hatched against you? Ultimately the plot is to render you ineffective and separate you from your Father; to paralyze and to destroy you.

The plot is run by the CEO of Hell; a guy by the name of Satan. He is relentless in his pursuits and he doesn't play fair. He breaks all the rules, and he is cunning and crafty. He lies to and about you. He steals anything he can from you. And because of his nature, he will appear as something good and even wants to befriend you for a time. 

Beautiful One, this isn't new news. Evil has been in the world since the Garden of Eden. In fact, when God formed man and breathed the breath of life into him, evil was there.

I know it is not a popular subject to talk about and there are many opinions and beliefs about this subject. Even Christian' views differ. But the truth is, God has an enemy and so do we. The Bible speaks of Satan and calls him a roaring lion, accuser, adversary, and father of lies. Painting a descriptive portrait of the one we are dealing with, whether you believe in Satan or not, is not the issue. The truth remains that he is real and he is formidable. If you and I don't know who we are and what power we have in Jesus Christ, we will have a hard time escaping the devil's schemes.

Control Your Harvest: Eat Flowers!

You already have six loaves of zucchini bread in the freezer, you can’t think of any more stir-fry combinations, and your neighbors are ducking you… your zucchini and yellow squash plants are doing beautifully. How are you going to manage your excess harvest? Try nipping it in the bud – eat the flowers before they make too many fruits!

Not Just a Pretty Face

From the orchard to the flower beds, the choices for edible flowers are extensive. Here some options with a description of the flowers’ taste and how to use them courtesy of The Heirloom Gardener, Summer 2009 issue.

Apple Blossoms (Malus species): Slightly sweet and floral in taste. Add to green and fruit salads, sprinkle over sorbets and French toast. Caution: Do not use blossoms from sprayed trees.

Bee Balm (Monarda didyma): A bit minty and spicy. Garnish summer drinks, fruit and green salads. Use the petals and leaves in herb tea.

Calendula (Calendula officinalis): Tangy and a little bitter. Use petals from fully open flowers. Add to salads for color and as a saffron replacement in cooking (the taste will be different from saffron).

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum): Similar to mild sweet onions. Pick right after petals open and use the florets with any recipe calling for onions.

Cilantro (Coriandrum savtivum): Earthy, pungent, and slightly sweet. Add with cilantro to salsas and quesadillas. Great as a garnish for rice and beans.

We Reap What we Sow on Purpose

"And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption" (Eph.4:30 NLT).

This verse means there is a seal placed on you by God Himself. Whoever believes in and has faith in Christ is regenerated, baptized into the Body of Christ, indwelt forever, sealed eternally, and continuously filled with the Holy Spirit of God. The Spirit makes every effort to teach us (Genesis 6:3). He instructs, restores, sanctifies, and comforts believers with an eternal purpose. The Spirit baptizes the believer into a union with other believers and into union with Christ (Romans 6:3-4). This is one of many distinct purposes of the Spirit during this age of dispensation. The Holy Spirit continually indwells every believer (John 14:17) and seals us for the day of redemption.

Pondering: Christian women recognize each other through their spirits, it happens all the time we meet someone and recognize the filling of the Spirit of God in them.

"Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit" (I Cor. 12:13 NLT).

The Greek translation of the last part of the verse means, we are all given one spirit to drink. Are you drinking in the One Spirit? Are you listening to His sweet whisperings voice of love?

Coaching: The previous two weeks we talked about how the Holy Spirit works in our life. He is the breath of life to those who desire Him. We talked about the consequence of sin in that it distorts or blurs the line between right and wrong. The result of sin leaves a veil of blindness that captures our spirit. Therefore, we are making a deliberate decision to live blind to God's truth while hiding in a spiritual foxhole; or we take hold of truth and live by it. The enemy searches the world-over for those vulnerable to his influence. He is looking for those who live in spiritual foxholes afraid to step into the spiritual purpose God designed for them in eternity past.

"Peter finally came to his senses. It's really true! The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me" (Acts 13:11 NLT).

How Can our Homeschooling Family Make Disciples? II

"And Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely, I will be with you always, even to the end of the ages'"  (Matthew 28:1-20 NIV).

We've talked about building godly character and habits in our children's lives. Now, it's time to mentor our children, be planted in a local church, and reach the lost.

Mentor Your Children

Take your children under your wing and teach. Spend lots of time talking and listening to your children. Each child will be different and blessed with varied gifts, talents, strengths, weaknesses, and quirks. Learn to give thanks for each child and make it your ambition to truly know and love them all. Give your child positive feedback as often as possible, affirming and encouraging your child to be the best he/she can be. Look at Jesus and try to imitate his style of mentoring. Take your children with you (one at a time) when you run errands, minister to others, go to conferences or workshops, make lesson plans, and any other thing you can think of. While you are doing what you do, explain why and what you are doing. "I'm reaching out to Sandy because she just had an operation and she feels so lonely. I want to encourage her. I bought her this gift because..." This may sound silly but mentoring is taking someone alongside you while you do what you do, eventually having him/her do the same thing. This is the best way to instill a love of learning, a heart for the lost, a passion for Jesus, healthy relationships, and godly behavior. Your children will be so blessed if they experience a friendship, parenting, and mentoring relationship with you.

I hear voices, Am I crazy? (Part 3)

Most people don't go from living a happy life to wake up one morning hearing voices. People who hear voices often deal with a mental illness that developed over years of abuse. Hearing voices terrifies a person because it feels like you are drowning in a sea of conflicting messages and emotions.

This third and final part of the series "I Hear Voices, Am I Crazy?" clarifies the different voices of mental illness, conscience, and demonic influence. Part One explained the reasons why people hear voices; Part Two explored what God says about hearing voices.

Scientific research shows that people with high intelligence tend to develop alters (other selves) as a defense mechanism to survive during horrific childhood experiences. In the last 12 years, brain scientists have discovered capabilities, structures, and functions of the brain through ground-breaking research using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pictures of brain. Often when a person hears voices, the words of a child at different ages emerge. While hearing the voice, she also feels emotionally like the child speaking. The more brutal the abuse endured, increases the possibility that more stages of voices have formed within the hurting soul.

People whose brains improperly matured and developed, have different stages of inner child memories solidified into segments around horrific abuse. The various stages of segmented "inner child" selves develop depending on both the severity of abuse and the length of time a victim is abused. These selves, also called alters, have specific voices, thoughts, feelings, problems, experiences, and needs. The voices emerge when triggered, and are not caused by the adult suffering from the results of childhood violence.  Often the adult who hears voices will be diagnosed as bi-polar, dissociative identity disorder, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, and several others similar disorders.

Let's Dance!

Dear Child,

Take my hand, come close, let me lead. Yes, let's dance.

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: ... a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance! (NKJV Eccl 3:1,4)

Have you ever noticed how intimate it can be for a man to take a woman into his arms? For him to firmly place his hand along her body. He takes his first step. She follows his lead, flowing into his direction, willing to be led, wanting to move as one in a harmonious walk with rhythm. A perfect picture of one delighting in the total surrender of another. Yes, let's dance!

I long to hold you, to lead you, to show you each step of the way. As you learn to wait for my direction, you will flow in complete harmony to My heart's desire for your life. This is how I plan for our timed together. One enjoying the other. I am the One who gives joy. Grasping for the happiness of the world is like grasping for the wind.

I make everything beautiful in its time. I put eternity into your heart. Know that there is nothing better for you than to rejoice, and do what is good in My eyes in your life. I want you to enjoy the good of your labor - it is My gift to you. Expect the best from what you do, rejoicing that it will have eternal value. As you pursue what is good both for yourself and others, rejoice, it is my will for you.

Come take My hand, trust in Me, Your living God, who gives to you all things to enjoy. Follow My steps as I lead you to be rich in My good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for yourself a good foundation, that you may embrace your eternal life in Me. Let's Dance, being of the same mind, that I may refresh your heart. My joy will surprise you like a rushing river welling up in your heart from My Love for you. Come know Me intimately, rejoicing in the richness of My Love. In Me you are perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Oh, beloved child, save your first dance for Me, your first Love!

 

Lindy Abbott 2009

Express Yourself...With Power, Effectiveness, and Wisdom

I'm getting the distinct impression that God is getting a chuckle out of me writing a column about relationships. Maybe I'm just more aware of my blunders since having started writing about it, but it sure seems at times that I am failing miserably at the very thing I'm commissioned to write about. I am learning though; and growing too, so all is not lost.

Meryl Runion of Speak Strong says, "Express yourself powerfully and effectively: say what you mean, mean what you say, without being mean when you say it." To me, that ideal seems just out of reach at times; usually it's the part about not being mean that gets lost somewhere between my brain and my mouth; at home anyway. Home is where it all comes out, uncensored and chock full of meaning. Home is where my husband points out my error and prefaces it with, "Hey, Relationship Lady".

I don't know about you, but outside of my home I generally filter what I say to people. I admire and envy the ones who can just speak their mind and everyone finds it endearing. Oh, to be able to just speak my mind! I've thought about the subject a lot, because it gets tiresome always parsing your words. I've entertained fantasies about just letting it go to the wind and completely being myself and leaving the results for everyone else to worry about. Why can't I seem to just do that? It sounds so liberating!

So far, I've come to the conclusion that filtering can be a good thing, at home and abroad; and that the benefit of being able to bluntly get my point across is overshadowed by the hurt I would inflict on the relationships that mean so much to me. As far as the relationships that don't mean so much: well, it's become a habit to bite my tongue now so those folks just get a bonus.