During my morning study today.. I was touched by what I read..a gentle reminder if you will……

No, this is not to bash folks who watch unholy programing with violence,adultery, promiscuity and homosexuality the alike..

It is more to make you stop, think, and pray about what you are viewing, reading and listening to.

Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Isaiah 1:16

I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. Psalm 101:3

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  Isaiah 5:20

What are you exposing yourself to?

Do not let the media, your work place or even school/college dull your moral and spiritual senses. If you are not careful..it will!

If what you are partaking in… unglorifies Jesus and is not edifing to you ,then you are rejoicing in sin. It really is that simple. I know, OUCH!

This was very convicting to me. I will admit, There are times when I am channel surfing and I stop on a show and allow the show to “entertain me” for a few minutes before continuing on..That in itself is wrong and very unglorifing/sinful to Christ and I need to deal with it as such.

It does not stop with just the TV though..with so much on the news, check out lines,magazines, videos and books…. Are they Christlike? Are they Educational in a “righteouus way?”

Do we need to read novels about witches and warlocks and homosexuality to know that it is wrong?

NO! we certainly do not!

Lets take a stand from this day forward….Let us stand for Christ and be sure that in “all things” we will strive for holiness and goodness.

These were very good with coffee! They are not sweet because you are using syrup not sugar. You can use sugar free syrup too. That will make then more healthy.

2 cups of wheat flour

2 teaspoons of baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

1 cup of apple sauce

1 cup of blueberries (We used fresh but frozen works great too) I actually used 2 cups but this was wayyy to much so I would try only 1 cup next time.

1 Tablespoon of oil (I used coconut)

2 Tablespoons of vanilla extract or the imitation stuff!!

2 eggs

 3/4 cup of maple syrup

This made 8 Jumbos

Mix all the dry and then the wet and combine.

350′ 30 minutes until toothpick comes out dry.

I made some muffins this week and thought to post. These were super yummy and VERY moist.

2 cups of flour  (We used  1/2 wheat 1/2 white)

3/4 cup sugar (We used splenda but I have used sugar before.)

2 teaspoons of baking soda

1 teaspoon of ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sour cream (This makes it super moist!)

1/4 cup of oil (I use coconut)

1/4 cup milk (any kind)

2 eggs

2 cups of grated carrots (I bought the bag that was alredy grated.)

2 Tablespoons of honey

This made 8 jumbos!

You mix the dry first and then the wet in a different bowl and then combine.

Bake at 350 for 25mins for the jumbos. Maybe 20 mins for the smaller ones or minis.

I then mixed 1/2 block of cream cheese with powdered sugar and a tad of milk. This is optional of course.

A mama turkey have birth to nine babies, Could have been more but we are only seeing nine at the moment.

Then we have a baby male Eastern bluebird. I should have kept it inside. Its fate was death 2 days after this picture..due to a big old storm..:-(

Lastly, we have these huge moth cocoons all over the place. I heard on the news that I should be destroying them because they cause much damage.

There were three of them but only one would feed at a time. I think they are a different breed then eharts. 

I finally finished this book. My DH bought it for me to read and wanted me to cliff note it over to him which I did last night….;-)

It is circling the newsgroups and internet as a “must read.” Well, I thought it was not all that. Maybe because I have read dozens of parenting books before and I am comparing it with others…. My first problem with it was that the author… Dr. Kevin Leman is a Christian yet failed to quote one verse throughout this book. To me I am going to call this a secular book. Dr. Kevin Leman has written many books with the most well known being “Sheet Music” I have this one, but have not read it yet. I am going to try to read it this coming week though and post a review for it next week. It is regarding S*x though so I will probably make it password protected. I will send anyone the password who wants to read the review.

Ok, The book…

He also states right off the back that homeschooling is not for everyone… which I disagree with. I mean, if we truly believe in Deuteronomy 6:7 and Philippians 4:13 then I do not see any wiggle room in teaching your children at home Even if they are handicap etc. I was just told the other day that if you have a child with Down Syndrome or Autism then you need only teach *life skills* to them..that is all that is needed legally. More importantly though is that YOU CAN do all things..because Christ WILL strengthen you..He will be your rock to lean on and build amazing character in you along the way… believe me, I once said that I did not have it in me to be a teacher/mom and have cried out to the Lord many a night for wisdom and patience. The Lord holds my hand every step of the way and he will hoild yours too. You CAN be a teacher mom if you submit to Christ for strength.

Ok,getting back to the book..Your suppose to start this book on a Monday and it is set up by the weekdays being the chapters. You will be finished on the second to the last chapter which is titled Friday. Then there is a bunch of questions and Answers in the back that are suppose to touch every area that you may be stumped in regarding your strong willed child.

I did not find much new in it because I have found that I do most all that he says to do…I did however have to really read “in neon” to my DH the part about what to do when your 4 yr old continues to cry..DH and I both handle this differently regarding my son..Now DH will be handling it differently. This is good!

 OK, Dr. Leman says that if a child is outright disobeying you..to only give the command ONCE and then walk away..do not stay and try to barter or bribe the child in any way shape or form..this is only set you up for failure in the future. He writes it like this..

1. Say it once.

2. Turn your back.

3. Walk away.

This is supposed to dissolve the naughty behavior in most cases.

That was Monday in a nutshell. Tuesday he really gets into YOUR attitude and how it affects your children’s attitude. This really hit home because I am noticing more and more my 9yr olds “tude” is very much like my “tude” at times.

Wednesday discusses what your children think about you as a mother and a human being..What they think about you will drastically affect the way they will treat you. It also has a little quiz for you take to determine whether you are a permissive parent, a authoritarian parent or Disneyland parent. Some of you who know me well will probably already know what I scored on the quiz.lol

 It then shows you how to adapt your parenting style to be more balanced.

Thursday teaches you how not to damage your kids psyche…after all every child will eventually live up to the expectation you have of them. It teaches you how to become interested in things that they are interested in, whether that is a heavy metal rock band or best friend etc. whom you are not particularly fond of.

(I strongly disagree with everything he says regarding this area.)

Then there is an area called the ABC’s

.Acceptance

.Belonging

.Competence

ABC’s being the 3 pillars  of self worth for any person. From there is states that you should NEVER do anything for your child that he or she can do for themselves.

I know, it is so much easier to pour the cereal and milk for them, but you should really let them do it to build there independence at a young age.  (I agreed with him on this…I don’t recall the last time I poured a bowl of cereal for one of my children.)

I do make the hot breakfasts though..

Friday was the best chapter where it sums everything all up.

1. Respond, don’t react.

2. Count to ten..ask yourself what would the old me do that never seemed to work and what should the new me do in this matter regarding your child?

3. Never threaten your kids.

4. Never get angry-as soon as you get angry you will be back to square one. Don’t let your children control your moods. (I know, easier said then done.)

5. Don’t give any warnings because if you are warning your child..this is like telling them that they are stupid…”Oh, I have to tell you twice do I?”

6. Don’t think that this is just a phase and the behavior will go away on its own. It won’t!

7. Be 100% consistence with your behavior.

8. Always follow through on what you say.

9. Ask yourself, “Whose problem is this?” Don’t own what isn’t yours.

1. ALWAYS keep a happy face on, even when you want to..do something else.

(I do this all the time and think it is a good thing to do. Why let your child think that they stold your joy and that you are out of control by raising your voice and being ugly to them?)

SO there you have it folks!

Any questions regarding any of these notes…Just ask.

“The neat thing about God is that He is not like us. We tell our children to clean their rooms and, by golly, they better clean their rooms !! God tells us to clean up our act, then offers to come in and help us.”  By: Cheryl Carter

I can name several things that I would love for my kids to do for themselves..Because sometimes I get dazed and confused because I have enough of my own work to do. 

BUT….

 I can’t imagine what my life would be like if God had that attitude toward me….

I just wanted to share this with you all and encourage you to be patient with your little ones.

YOUR BABY NEEDS YOU!

I always thought that once you gave birth and saw your own flesh and blood gazing up into your eyes that something magical and remarkable instantly happens. I like to think with most mothers..this is how it is. However, I realize reality is that there are some mothers who give birth and feel nothing. Not that this phase lasts forever although I suppose it could and that would be very devastating. Then there is something called postpartum depression that can bring a mother through the winger and back several times before that magical remarkable can take place between mom and baby. I have read skeptics say that Postpartum is not real, while others say it is a demon. I am no expert on this matter but with five children and one severe case of postpartum that I myself had to go through..I would not wish it on my worst enemy. Mine lasted for 5 months and treatment was needed. It is not something that I really like to talk about in depth but I know it is real and want to encourage others that it is real and it is completely OK to seek medical help if you ever find yourself with any such feelings as those listed below..following a birth.

1.    Disconnection from your newborn.

2.Feelings of anger or rage.

3.Feelings as if you want to get rid of your newborn.

4.Feelings of suicide and you don’t know why.

5.Feelings like YOU want to run away and never return.

  I have not experienced all of these in this list above, but have experienced a few and that was enough for me to seek help ASAP!

My experience with postpartum depression was nine years ago so I know all too well what it feels like.. and with each pregnancy I have had since then, which has been 3..I have spent many nights praying to the Lord that he would cast out any demon of depression or anything that may hinder me to fall into anything that was not holy and right regarding the birth of all my future babies. There has been times where I prayed a hour straight that I would never have to experience depression again in my life especially after having a child. I can testify right now that Prayer works and the Lord has answered my prayers/cries in abundance. With my last three children I have had that magical remarkable *in love* feelings.Praise God!!

If you or anyone you know has recently confided in you that they are not feeling quite right since giving birth..PLEASE, be more then a friend too them and urge them to make a doctors appointment or offer to make them one yourself and drive them there for support. It is such an incredible feeling to be able to fall in love with your child at birth..but this is not always the case and that is Ok..just as long as you seek some help..Sometimes the help is nothing more then discussing it with a support group of ladies who have been there themselves…and sometimes medication is needed for a short while. I have found St. Johns Wort which is over the counter to be equivalent minis the side effects to Prozac and Zoloft. Whichever you choose..talk to your doctor first and find a support group in your hometown or even online…You do NOT have to feel disconnected to your newborn or child…The Lord trusts you to care for your little one and love him or her unconditionally and to fulfill all there newborn needs. It will not be too long before they do not need such demanding 24/7 care..it goes by very quickly…You were once a newborn yourself..and someone was caring for your needs just as you are caring for your little ones needs..We seem to forget this sometimes when baby won’t stop crying and you are only going on a couple hours of sleep yourself..

If your newborn is crying, and you know that they have a clean diaper on, have been fed, and there is nothing medically wrong with them such as gas or reflux or worse..then they may just need their mom to cuddle them…and there is nothing wrong with that..Yes, maybe timing is the pits, but these times will NOT be forever and just as sometimes you feel sad and upset at certain hours of the night or day and expect your husband to talk with you or even a friend..your baby NEEDS YOU! I can not stress this enough. Babies do NOT cry for no reason..I know many folks will tell you that but this is not true…Babies need Love 24/7..and love nothing more then to feel the warmth of there mothers chest…Don’t deny your little ones ladies…

If anyone ever needs to chat about this with me personally..Please leave me a message and I can email you.

Love in Christ

~Michelle

Planting a Biblical Garden

Has anyone ever planted one? I have read about this a few years ago and thought of how lovely it would be to honor the Lord with planting a biblical garden. Perhaps next year I will not only read about this but partake. We are not in the right zone to grow all these things but to grow as many as we can to bring glory and honor to our king is the purpose!

For those interested….

 Cucumbers-  Grown only in fertile land that has been overflowed by the Nile, cucumbers are said to be the coolest and most pleasant fruit in the East… 

Numbers 11:5 - We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic:

Isaiah 1:8  - And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

Melons – Many varieties were grown, as they were a favorite fruit in Egypt and Palestine. Plant varieties of the muskmelon or watermelon to eat on a hot day as they did some 4000 years ago….

            Numbers 11:5 - We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic:

Dates– Grow in clusters about the leaves of the date palm throughout Palestine. Better suited as a tropical houseplant in all but the most tropical of locales, a date palm could be placed in the garden during the warmest summer months….

            Exodus 15:24 – And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and three-score and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

            Deuteronomy 34:3 – And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.

            Judges 1:16 – And the children of the KēnÂ’īte, Moses’ father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Jūdah into the wilderness of Jūdah, which lieth in the south of rad; and they went and dwelt among the people.

Apples – Both the fruit and the tree, “tappauch”, are alluded to or mentioned throughout the Bible. There are varieties to grow in just about all the states…

            Proverbs 25:11 – A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

            Song of Solomon 2:3 – As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

            Song of Solomon 2:5 – Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.

            Song of Solomon 8:5 – Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee.

            Joel 1:12 –The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from sons of men.

Figs – a common fruit tree found in Palestine. Can be grown in zone 7, quickly reaching 30 feet tall and producing tasty fruits early in life….

            Deuteronomy 8:8 – A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees…

            1 King 4:25 – And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree

            Matthew 21:19 – And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

Gourds – The climbing variety grow rapidly in the East. Bible may have been referring to the pumpkin or other fruit in the squash family. Plant one or two climbing varieties and be “glad of the gourd”….

            Jonah 4:6 – And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.

Grapes – Many varieties were cultivated throughout the Orient for fruit and wine. The vine is used metaphorically throughout the Bible, over forty times. A Biblical Garden would not be complete without at least one grape vine…

            Genesis 40:10 – And in the vine were three branches: and it was though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:

            Leviticus 19:10 – And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.

            Job 15:33 – He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive.

Olives – Exported from Palestine to Egypt in Biblical times, the olive tree bears a plum like fruit that is prized for its oil. The tree is also used as a figure for Israel…

            Genesis 8:11 – And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.

            Deuteronomy 8:8 – A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;

            Psalms 128:3 – Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round thy table.

Onions- Is mentioned only  as one of the good things of Egypt of which the Israel regretted the loss. Onions have been from time immemorial a favorite article of food among the Egyptians, The onions of Egypt are much milder in flavor and less pungent than those of this country.

 Numbers 11:5
We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic;

Leeks-The leek was a bulbous vegetable resembling the onion. Its botanical name is Allium porrum. The Israelites in the wilderness longed for the leeks and onions of Egypt.

Numbers 11:5
We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic;

Garlic -Is the Allium sativum of Linnaeus, which abounds in Egypt.

 Numbers 11:5
We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic;

For furthur study on cooking with the bible…

http://www.cookingwiththebible.com/default.aspx

Also, Check out the Smiths Bible dictionary.

http://www.christnotes.org/dictionary.php?dict=sbd