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.

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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.

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