Where Are You Lord in the Midst of My Pain - A Study of the Story of Lazarus

I cannot tell you how many times in life I have cried out to the Lord “Father where are you?”  Even though we do not always tangibly sense his presence he truly never abandons us.  In our minds he is delayed or seemingly too late to help us.  However, God’s sense of timing is in light of his eternal perspective something we are unable to grasp.  While reading through the story of Lazarus I was reminded about God’s perfect timing, how we often feel he has abandoned us, and how in the midst of our suffering he has compassion on us.

John 11:1-4        

Now a man named Lazarus was sick.  He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.   This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.  So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”  When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death.  No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.

In life we are not always exempted from going through the process.  In Lazarus case the process was sickness that would ultimately lead to death.  Nothing seems more final than death but God always has the last say in any situation.  “This sickness will not end in death …” Christ saw and knew the outcome of Lazarus’s situation however, he still allowed it to happen. 

10 Simple Ways to Teach Your Young Children Hospitality

1.      Be hospitable yourself.

2.      Have guest over for dinner at least once per month.

3.      Allow them to have special friends over for sleepovers.

4.      Have them make lunch for Dad.

5.      Teach them to keep a clean room.

6.      Let them see you getting to know your neighbors.

7.      Allow them to participate in your weekly meal preparations.

8.      Ask them how they would like to be received at a friend’s home.

9.      Teach them to greet their father when he comes home from work.

10.  Teach them what God says about hospitality (Romans 12:13, Hebrews 13:2, 1 Peter 4:9)

If you have any more suggestions I would love to hear from you.  Let me know!

November Menu Ideas - Week of November 14th-20th

November Menu Ideas - Week of November 14th-20th

Sunday - Chilli, Texas Toast, Salad

Chilli

1 pound of ground beef, browned and drained

1 1/2  cups chopped onion

4 cloves of minced garlic
2 cans of dark kidney beans

2 cans of diced tomatoes with onions and green peppers

1 can of tomato sauce

1 cup beef broth or water

1 1/2 teaspoons of chili powder

1 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teasopoon of black pepper

cheddar cheese

sour cream

Directions: In a pot cook ground beef, garlic,  and onion until meat is brown and onion is tender; drain fat.  Stir in kidney beans, undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, chili powder, basil, and pepper.  Bring to boiling.  Simmer for at least 20 minutes.  The longer it simmers the better.  Top with sour cream and cheddar cheese.

Don't You Hate It When ...

Don't you just hate it when ...

1. You forgot you turned on your dishwasher and then realize you've been putting dirty dishes in a clean dishwasher.
2. Your son takes off his poopy diaper then proceeds to sit on the sofa.
3. Your son takes off his poopy diaper then proceeds to chase his sisters around the house with it.
4. You forget about the poopy diaper you left in the back of the minivan over the weekend until Monday morning when you are rushing off to the bus stop you open the door and remember it was there.
5. You snap at your kids for saying poopy in public after you've said it a million times at home.
6. After days of wearing sweats, t-shirts, and mom jeans you decide to put on a little make-up before your husband comes home just to hear your oldest say, in front of your husband, "Mom why did you get all dressed up for where are you going?"
7. You have to sneak and lock yourself in your bedroom closet to eat your stash of Hostess cakes before the kids notice you are missing.
8. Your daughter notices some personal female products you have at home in Walmart and then proceeds to yell out very loudly for all to hear "Mom don't you have that at home!"
9. You are half way sleep and go to brush your teeth only to realize after about 30 seconds that your daughter replaced your toothbrush with the one you clean the mildew out the shower with.
10. Your daughter comes to you and ask, "Mom why does it look like you are always having a baby?"

Well such is life.  Anyway if you have any more don't you hate its I would love to hear them.  Take care.

Like this post check out:
What Was I Thinking

See This Back Up Dancer Go

There are those times that happen in life where you just have to sit back and laugh.  Last year my daughter was in her school talent show.  At that time Justin Bieber's song Baby was really popular so you guessed it every kid wanted to sing it including my daughter.  The funny part of this video was that she was so oblivious to my son who was trying to steal the show.  I think this is hilarious.

If you like this post check out:

What Was I Thinking?

Menu Ideas - Week of October 10th to 16th

Week of October 10 - October 16, 2010

Sunday - Leftovers

Monday - Spaghetti with Meatballs

There's nothing special here.  I just buy the frozen premade meatballs and some Ragu and call it a day :-)

Tuesday - Leftover

Note: I was suppose to have a new recipe tonight - Spinach Chicken Roll-ups but we had so much spaghetti left that I skipped it.

Welcome to the Church at Laodicea?

I would like to introduce an awesome writer, my sister.  Below is an article she wrote on her website www.graceandstrength.com about the Church of Laodicea and the American Church today.  This was such a revealing article I asked her if I could post it on my blog.  Enjoy! 


Welcome to the Church at Laodicea?
I love reading the book of Revelation. In fact, throughout the entire bible, I enjoy reading any scripture that is in reference to God’s plan for His children in the last days before His Son returns.


14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:  These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."While I truly believe that the American church actually falls under more than one of the churches described in Revelation 2 and 3, unfortunately in many ways, the American church most closely resembles the church in Laodicea.

Our Lord accused the Laodiceans of being “lukewarm,” that is, neither hot nor cold. Out of the seven churches described, did you know that the church in Laodicea was the only church which had nothing positive said about them by our Lord? In fact, this church was such a bitter taste in our Lord’s mouth that He threatened to spit them out if they did not change!  I shutter to think of just how unpleasing this behavior is to our Lord.

What Was I Thinking!

It is crazy how busy we get sometimes.  I mean really we rush our kids off to school.  Then rush back home to start our housework.  We make a quick stop at the grocery store to pick up a few items then rush back home to get the kids back for nap.  Then we hastily cook dinner.  Before we know it time has come to pick the kids up from the bus.  We rush their homework and then get dinner in front of them before it's time for practice.  Then we rush out to practice. 

Up until about 3 weeks ago I had an activity going on every night of the week except Friday.  My daughter had an activity 3 nights out of the week.  Finally, she told me "mom I think I want to just stay home and play."  I thought, "What? you don't want to go to cheerleading and you want to miss AWANA?"  She said, "yes really all I want to do is play."  I thought for a minute and then realized I had allowed myself to do one of the things I said I would never do.  Become entrapped by busyness. Thank God for the wisdom of children to bring us back down to earth when we become wrapped up in the things of this world.  How reasonable is it that a child would just want to play at age 6.  I think sometimes we feel like our child is missing out on something if we don't have them involved in every activity out there.  However, the best investment we can make with our children is time and allowing them to be children.

Menu Ideas - Week of October 3rd to October 9th

Week of October 3 - October 9, 2010

Sunday - Eat Out :-)

Monday - Leftovers (Basically find whatever is in the fridge - sorry kids)

Tuesday - Chicken Pot Pie

1/4 cup butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 to 1/2 cup chopped onion

1 to 1/2 cup chopped celery

1 to 1/2 cup chopped baby carrots

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons white sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

4 cups chicken broth

1 (15.5 ounce) can peas, drained

2 to 4 cups diced, cooked chicken meat

Menu Ideas - Week of September 26th - October 2nd

OK I know I am going back in time but since I had the blog crash I wanted to at least post the recipes for the last two weeks. 

Week of September 26 - October 2, 2010

Sunday - Baked Potato Soup and Salad

3 to 5 Large Potatoes

2/3 cup butter

2/3 cup flour

6 cups milk

1 to 2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

8 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 onion, sauteed in bacon grease until tender

Directions:  Bake potatoes at 400 degrees for about 1 hour our until done.  After cooling cut lengthwise and scoop out potatoes. Melt butter over low heat.  Add flour and stir until smooth.  Add milk gradually, cooking over medium heat until thickened.  Stir in cheese.  After cheese melts, add bacon, onion, and potatoes.  Heat thoroughly. 

Monday - Turkey Burgers and Salad
I purchase the Jennie O Frozen Turkey Burgers from Walmart.  Serve on bun and add salad on the side.  Normally I buy premade salads.  I know they are terribly expensive but I can't stand making salads.

Oops! I Can't Believe That Happened

Well I am glad to be back online.  After many hours of creating my blog I accidentily erased my HTML code!  So all that was on my blog was lost.  I was pretty upset about the whole thing.  However, needless to say I am glad I am back and looking forward to posting each week.  So here is my first but not really my first blog post.  Hope you all enjoy what's to come.