"Turn my heart toward Your statutes, and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to Your Word." Psalm 119.36-37
I would like to think that in and of myself, I can turn my own heart and eyes. Focus them on Jesus and lose the nasty self-centered focus that tends to be my way of life. But I can't. Like the psalmist, I must cry out to the Lord. Ask for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to "turn" me away from selfishness that I might embrace the Word of the Lord and a self-less attitude that pervades my heart, my actions, my days. It's actually self-centered of me to think that I can do it. But how often do I try and live like I can do it all! How exhausted I find myself.
This morning was a fresh reminder to ask God to be my guide in the matter of heart changing and heart direction. That He would help me turn my eyes to what really counts today. I can't. But through His power, I can be changed and my heart re-centered on an eternal perspective. Maybe this will encourage some of you today as well.
***on a completely different side note - I am getting ready to start a sourdough starter that HomeJoys inspired me to do. I think I will blog about my failure/success in the upcoming days/weeks! Keep you posted ...***
3/30/10
3/17/10
Spring is just around the Corner!
The following is an e-mail (printed with her permission) from a good friend (& Sarah K.'s mother-in-law), Pam. I am always telling Greg that I have a riduculous "homemaker crush" on this woman. She is a walking library of tips and tricks to help things run a little smoother around the home, but above all she is a humble servant of the Lord and always so full of encouragement. Thank you for sharing this Pam!
I know you already know this, but thought I would pass along . . . sometimes I forget some of these quick little gifts from the Lord!!!
About 10 days ago (more or less, I have forgotten) I trimmed about 10 or so branches off our forsythia bush. It always needs pruning! I stuck them in my vase with plenty of water - I haven't even changed it as usual.
Now, I have this beautiful yellow bouquet of forsythia - just absolutely divine.
I have done this many times. Having flowers on the table is important to me. And there are all kinds of things I have done through winter - but this winter, all the flowers on the sunporch stayed rather dormant - maybe because of no sun? Really cold?? But it usually stays pretty warm out there except in evenings.
Anyway, the geraniums didn't even re-bloom much. I had very few blooms, so that made this even more wonderful!
You can do it with fruit trees, apple, cherry, peach have all worked for me.
The one really cool thing is that the branches even without anything on them are striking - and when they do bloom, the blooms last such a long time.
Sorry, for I am not sure how long it took, but I think I had some small yellow blooms in about a week.
Hope this helps with the cloudy weather.
Spring IS coming!!! luv ya all, pam
P.S. It really is fun for youngsters watching them come to life! Dead-looking limbs in the vase one day - and before you know it - blooms!
I know you already know this, but thought I would pass along . . . sometimes I forget some of these quick little gifts from the Lord!!!
About 10 days ago (more or less, I have forgotten) I trimmed about 10 or so branches off our forsythia bush. It always needs pruning! I stuck them in my vase with plenty of water - I haven't even changed it as usual.
Now, I have this beautiful yellow bouquet of forsythia - just absolutely divine.
Anyway, the geraniums didn't even re-bloom much. I had very few blooms, so that made this even more wonderful!
You can do it with fruit trees, apple, cherry, peach have all worked for me.
The one really cool thing is that the branches even without anything on them are striking - and when they do bloom, the blooms last such a long time.
Sorry, for I am not sure how long it took, but I think I had some small yellow blooms in about a week.
Hope this helps with the cloudy weather.
Spring IS coming!!! luv ya all, pam
P.S. It really is fun for youngsters watching them come to life! Dead-looking limbs in the vase one day - and before you know it - blooms!
3/10/10
Homemade Rice Cereal
I don't have a wonderful personal tutorial, or lots of pretty pictures. What I do have is this link. It will take you to a very easy to follow tutorial on making rice cereal. They recommend using a coffee grinder, but you could use a grain grinder, Magic Bullet(c), or even a blender.
The entire website is pretty helpful for those you wanting to make baby food at home. Though buying baby food off the shelf is pretty handy too!
3/8/10
Fun Things To Do!
We are fortunate to live near a university that offers lots of inexpensive and fun things to do! I found out today that KU shows movies in the Union that are open to the general public and only cost $3!! Click here to see the movie schedule!
Also, KU's Jaybowl offers specials throughout the week. Click here for all of the bowling deals...my favorite is the Friday $1 days!!
If you have any fun and inexpensive ideas for date nights or family nights, please share!
Also, KU's Jaybowl offers specials throughout the week. Click here for all of the bowling deals...my favorite is the Friday $1 days!!
If you have any fun and inexpensive ideas for date nights or family nights, please share!
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