Why Church?

Something that has been on my heart and mind for a while, and also something we have been studying/talking about in Sunday School, is why do we go to church?  Why do we get up every Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday night and go to a building, sit in pews/chairs, sing songs and listen to a man speak.  What is the purpose of this?  Why do I feel like I need to do this?  Why would you need to do this? So many times, even with family, we have heard the church is full of hypocrites or they just had a bad experience with church and will not attend.  Some won't go because they won't make time to go...there is always something more important to do.  Others say they don't have to be at church to worship God.  They are absolutely correct...you do not have to be in church to worship God.  Many days I worship him in the shower, in my car, during my quiet time...I can worship him wherever I am.  Church is a place for you to come together with others and praise God...teach about God...learn about God...share God!  Plenty of people walk through the doors on Sunday morning because they feel that is what they are supposed to do...not because it is what they want to do.  I am not saying you have to be at church every Sunday...I am not saying that in order to be a Christian you have to be at church.  But, you should want to surround yourself with Christians and people who believe the way that you do.  You should want to learn!  I am a Christian but that does not mean that I know everything in the Bible.  I need to grow and learn and fellowship with other believers.  This is how I grow as a Christian!  I want my kids to be in the habit of going to church...not just when it is convenient or we don't have something else to do...but I want them to enjoy going and being at church.  Church for them is often a second home.  They want to go!  They want to be at church!  David and I choose to be very involved and invested in our church because (a) this is what God wants (b) we want to (c) our kids (d) we want to share Christ's love with others.  Not only do we need to surround ourselves with other Christians but we also need to surround ourselves with unbelievers who look at us and say "I want what they've got".  The peace of knowing when I pass from this world...it is not the end.  It is just the beginning!  The beginning of the life we are meant to have with our Saviour in Heaven!

"... but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" Joshua 24:15

This was given to me by my sister for Christmas!  And I LOVE it!

The FIRST of many...I am sure!

So my poor Noah had a little accident last night!  Can you believe that this is the first of my FOUR boys to need stitches, well actually dermabond!! Yes, we have been very lucky so far.  I guess we were due an accident, huh!  He is fine...and thanks to Dr. Chad for taking care of him and fixing his poor little head!  He was a trooper...scared...but a trooper! Bless him!

So, I have been reading Beth Moore's Praying God's Word.  It has really been great for me!  I often find myself praying "Lord do this, Lord do that, Please be with, Please watch over".  How often do I give God the praise for who he is instead of asking him for something that I want.  Very selfish of me!  Each chapter of the book has been devoted to, I guess you could say, obstacles you might encounter in you life.  Such as, pride, idolatry, unbelief, guilt, addiction...etc.  This gives you prayers to pray for any of the areas that come straight from God's word.  For example from Praying God's Word:

"Lord, according to Your wonderful Word, this is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1John 5:45) Help me to see that faith is crucial if I am going to be a victor and an overcomer."

"My Father and my God, You are seated on a throne high and exalted.  The train of Your robe fills the temple.  Above You are seraphs, calling to one another, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory. (Isaiah 6:1-3)"

"My Lord and my God, You are both a God nearby and a God far away.  No one can hide in secret places so that you cannot see them.  You fill heaven and earth! (Jer. 23:23-24)"

Needless to say, I am finding a new way to pray!  Before thinking of myself, my needs, my wants and desires...I am going to think of my heavenly Father first and the sacrifice and love that he has given me that I am so undeserving of!  He is the Almighty, The All Powerful, Maker, Redeemer, Everlasting Father...and he deserves to be praised!

God Knows Me...

In Sunday School this week...we have been studying Revelations...but we referenced to I Chronicles 29.  As I was reading there, a little side note in my Bible that read something like this. 

When God "tests" a heart, it is not to shame or manipulate, but to liberate and empower.  God wants to coach us into becoming the generous, teachable, honest and joyful people he designed us to be.  He is delighted when we live intentionally, choosing to cultivate a willing and happy attitude and behavior that demonstrates integrity and truthfulness.  Friends, family or associates may not take time to understand us - our vision, passion, spiritual desires or motives.  But God examines our hearts, and he knows the real you and the real me.  And even more remarkable, he loves us.

The life I want to live...I want to be generous, teachable, honest and joyful in all I do. I want to have a willing and happy attitude and behave with integrity and truthfulness for others to see.  Yes, my family and friends may not take time to understand me...truly know me.  But, GOD KNOWS ME!  He knows every aspect, ambition, love, failure and fear that I have.  Whether anyone else knows me GOD KNOWS ME!  God ...knows... you!  He knows every part of you inside and out!  He knows every thought and every action!  He sees you when no one else does!  I want every aspect of my life to be for his glory and his honor.  I want him to be a proud Father with everything that I do.  How about you?  I want my boys to know that no matter what happens in this life...God knows them...every hair on their head!  He is always a dependable force in their life!  Just say it out loud...God knows ME!   God loves me no matter what!  Am I going to mess up?  YES, every day probably! But no matter what I do in my life, no matter what happens each day, no matter how many times I mess up, no matter what...NO MATTER WHAT...God still loves me! God knows you...whether you want him to or not!  Let him be the dependable force in your life! 

Mason turns...9!

What a great few weeks we have had celebrating birthdays.  I can't believe that my Mason is 9!  Where did nine years go to.  Mason is my sweet, tenderhearted, very content child.  It was like pulling teeth just trying to get him to tell me something he would like for his birthday. That is just Mason ...he really just didn't want anything.  I finally came up with a few things to get him and then he will have some money to spend!  When all else fails...they like money and gift cards at this age!  We had been to Chucky Cheeses the week before for some birthday fun for both Mason and Dylan.  This weekend they went to a movie and then we had a little family combined birthday party for the two of them!  I think they had fun!  Sunday we had a house full of boys...oh the noise!  It was good noise but it was loud!  They had the biggest time! Mostly with nerf wars in the basement!  There were 7 boys here...not including Noah and David...that makes 9...I am REALLY outnumbered!  Noah can be as loud as they are...he feeds off their energy!  He was a little mad he couldn't participate in the nerf wars with the big boys...but it won't be long! 

I feel very blessed that God has allowed me to be Mason's mother for the last nine years!  I hope to cherish every moment that I get to spend with them and to never forget they are just on loan...they aren't really mine...they are God's precious gifts to me for a time!  I better enjoy every minute of it!

Always doing tricks on the trampoline...he is like a monkey!

Mason the mime...for Halloween!

Such a cutie!

Rock Island fun! 

Being goofy!

Lego man!

Some wintertime favorite treats...

Here are a few recipes that I love for wintertime.  I am all about making sweets and treats so here are a few!

Wassal (spelling...not so sure)

1 cup water
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
boil these three...I usually finish mine in the crockpot then
add 1/2 can cranberry juice cocktail
and 1/2 can pineapple juice
This is one of my favorite drinks of winter!!

I also make a lot of candy and goodies so here are a few you might like to try out!  Super easy of course!

Crockpot Candy

1 can unsalted peanuts
1 can salted peanuts
1 bar german chocolate
1 12 oz milk chocolate chips
1 chocolate almond bark
1 white choc. almond bark

Layer in above order in your crockpot.  Cook on high for 1 hour and DO NOT STIR.  Turn on low and stir every 15 minutes for about an hour.  Drop onto wax paper!

LuLu's White Trash

2 c. Mini Pretzels
2 c. wheat or rice cereal
2 c. peanuts
1 c. mixed nuts
2 pks. white bakers bark

Mix above ingredients minus the bark and spread on large wax paper lined cookie sheet or two small ones.  Melt bakers bark and pour over ingredients on cookie sheet...let it harden and break apart into desired size pieces.

Haystacks

5 oz. chow mein
12 oz. butterscotch
2/3 c. peanut butter
Melt chips and peanut butter over low heat.  Stir in your chow mein noodles.  Drop by teaspoons on wax paper until they harden.

Tiger Butter

1 white bakers bar
12 oz peanut butter
12 oz choc. chips

Melt all the above ingredients and pour onto wax lines cookie sheet...let it harden  in refrigerator and break apart.

Oreo Balls

Mash up 1 pack of oreo cookies and roll into balls...refrigerate for one hour and then dip with a toothpick in chocolate or white almond bark...A kid favorite!

Hope you enjoy!

New Years...

I am not big on New Years resolutions...mainly because I never keep them!  But, there are several areas I would like to work on in my life and I vow to make these areas better in 2012.  I plan to study harder in God's word and to gain a deeper understanding of what I do study!  If you have any suggestions for studies I am always open for a new one!  I have just started reading Beth Moore's Praying God's Word.  Sometimes I feel like I read but then I don't know what I have just read!  I want to change that!  I bought David a MacArthur Study Bible for Christmas...I must say I think I am a little jealous and will have to sneak it away from him!  He has really enjoyed studying in his new Bible!  I would also like to serve more in church.  I am not sure where or what I would like or what God would like me to do but I am sure with prayer it will come to me.  Our Loaves and Fishes is going to start a soup kitchen one day a month. I would LOVE to help with this.  I am hoping I can work my schedule out so that if they need me I can be there for sure.  I am really excited about VBS.  Just got the call today that our pack has arrived and I cannot wait to get started on it!  VBS is tons of work but it is what I love! 

I am trying to get into better shape...isn't that everyone's New Years thing.  I plan to lose the rest of the baby weight and work as hard as I can at becoming physically fit.  I would love to run but with my back history it scares me a little to even try!

I guess my last area I want to work on which I feel always has room for improvement is being the best wife and mother that I can possibly be!  Spending more time with the kids and doing more fun things.  With four kids my days at home are often spent cleaning and doing laundry.  I am sure I am not alone!  I want to work on not being so much of a pain to my family about the house being just how I want it.  it needs to be clean but it doesn't always have to be perfect. Most days it isn't anyways!  I also have been working on a particular verse over the past year!  James (one of my favorite books) 1:19-21  My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

I will leave you with this:

James 3: 13-18

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth,  Such "wisdom" does not come down from the heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.  For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Dylan turns 11...

 My boys!

 Dylan loves legos...he wants lots of pieces! This one had about 900 I think!  Thinking it might take him a few days to put it together...no...he had it together within a couple hours of starting it on Christmas Day!

 Love him!

Running!  Mason and Dylan have started running in 5K's this fall!  They seem to really like it!

Funny guy!

What a wonderful time we have had this weekend celebrating Dylan's Birthday!  I have been so very blessed with this precious boy!  Dylan is very sweet, great big brother, very strong willed, very smart, but most of all a very sincere and kind boy!  He is precious to his father and I!  I will never forget New Years Day eleven years ago when we finally got to meet that little red headed boy!  It was a long day but I wouldn't trade it for anything!  Precious memories!!!  This weekend we started with a little trip to Murfreesboro...we had some things to exchange at Toys R Us and decided to surprise the kids with Chuck E Cheese's.  We then went shopping most of the afternoon and ended the night at P.F. Chang's (my favorite)!  I really thought they would make it to ring in the new year with their daddy...momma cherishes her sleep right now with Noah still being a restless sleeper.  I knew I would be better off and everyone would like me more today if I went ahead to bed!  I think they made it to around 11 or 11:30.  This morning we got up and Dylan opened his presents.  More legos and some board games!  We headed to church and then ate at Outback (Dylan's choice) for lunch.  We came home to a very long afternoon of Monopoly!  Very very long afternoon of monopoly...and Dylan beat us all.  I am so thankful for Dylan! I am thankful for all of my kids and I hope not a day goes by that I don't tell God how thankful I am to be there momma and that he entrusted me with these precious boys!  I also hope not a day goes by that I don't tell them how important they are to me.  The most important thing to me is that my children come to know the Lord..so far three of the four have trusted their lives to Jesus which is huge to me!  There is not a more joyous or special occasion than the day your child accepts Christ as his Savior!  I pray that God will give me the strength, courage and guidence I need in the upcoming years of raising four boys!  We get to do this again next weekend for Mason's birthday!! Yes, we have another birthday in only a week!  So, I guess there will be more to come!