Achieving Proverbs 31

Yet Will I Rejoice

2012-02-20T23:30:00.005-06:00

This morning a tragic car accident happened and a sweet 3 year old girl entered the arms of Jesus. Her family and friends are heartbroken, but amidst the tragedy, there is still hope. God is STILL in control, and He makes no mistakes. I thought this daily devotion put out by Pastor Thomas Smith in St. Clair, MO was SO timely.

YET WILL I REJOICE
Devotion for February 20, 2012

"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation."
Habakkuk 3:17, 18.

The word happiness is defined as being "favored by luck or fortune." In other words, happiness is understood as being dependent upon circumstances or happenings. We all enjoy and appreciate it when circumstances are favorable and things are happening which are in our favor. It is easy to be happy when we have our health, our needs are met, and things seem to be going our way. However, Habakkuk speaks of a place of joy that is not the result of these things. He speaks of trees failing to blossom, vines being barren, fields yielding no fruit, flocks being lost, and yet being able to rejoice.

I think we all long for a place of constant joy that is not affected by every problem of life. There is no question about this; God wants our lives to be filled with joy. However, our rejoicing must be in something that is constant, not constantly changing. For instance, if we can only rejoice when the sun is shining, what shall we do on rainy days? If we can only find joy when we are feeling well, what are we to do when we are in pain? Circumstances will change, but some things never change. Our rejoicing can be consistent if we are finding joy in things that remain the same. Habakkuk says, "I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation." We can always rejoice in the Lord because He never changes. His character and attributes never change. God's love for us is constant. His promises to us are unchanging.

Notice also that the prophet speaks of rejoicing in the "God of my salvation." We can always rejoice in our salvation because this is also something that does not change. We can be joyful because our sins are forgiven and Heaven is our future home. Nothing can alter that. We can rejoice every day that God is our Father and Jesus is our Lord. The kind of rejoicing that we find in our text is not based on feelings or fortune, but it is the result of Bible faith. By faith, we can rejoice because of the blessings that are ours in Jesus Christ. Even when the way becomes difficult, through faith we are able to find reasons to rejoice.

Thank YOU!!!

2012-02-16T22:07:00.002-06:00

Yes, I know that this Thursday is almost over but it's not too late to get one quick "Thankful Thursday" post up!

We just want to take the time to sincerely thank each and every one of you for being a supporter of this blog!! Each moment you spend reading our posts, means a lot to us!

Our goal is for this blog to be a place where women can be edified in the Lord, encouraged to stay faithful to Him, learn some great recipes to wow their families, discover quick tips to make their lives easier, to be inspired with DIY projects and crafts, and to be reminded of life's many blessings.

We are SO thankful for YOU....each and every one of you!

Much love,

Lauren & Page

Panko!!

2012-02-15T10:00:00.000-06:00

This is probably going to be the quickest tip EVER!! Use Panko Bread crumbs when breading fish, chicken, etc. Your local supermarket should carry them.

What are they, you ask?

Panko (パン粉^?) is a variety of flaky bread crumb used in Japanese cuisine as a crunchy coating for fried foods, such as tonkatsu. Panko is made from bread baked by passing an electric current through the dough,^[1] yielding bread without crusts, and it has a crisper, airier texture than most types of breading found in Western cuisine.^[1] Outside Japan, it is becoming more popular for use in Asian and non-Asian dishes, is often used on fish and seafood, and is often available in Asian markets and specialty stores. Increasingly, it is also available in many large supermarkets. Panko is produced worldwide, particularly in Asian countries, including Japan, Korea, Thailand, China, and Vietnam.

There ya go, that's straight from Wikipedia! :-)

They are so good and light and yummy and delicious and crunchy. I think you'll love them...

Have a quick tip to share? Simply comment below and perhaps we'll feature YOUR quick tip on the blog!

~Lauren

No Greater Love

2012-02-14T20:38:00.005-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day!! We hope each and every one of you had a most special day, whether single, married, young or old! :-) I know I sure did! Yes, I'm about to get pretty sappy - but my hubby and I try to live each and every day as if it were Valentine's Day. We are all for showing love and appreciation EACH and EVERY day of the year! With that being said, it's still a fun holiday that gives everyone a good excuse to get a little romantic.

Anyway, I just wanted to take the time to say how thankful I am for the love of God! He loves me, even though I'm so undeserving and has blessed me more than words can say! What a privilege to be loved personally by the God of the universe! Think about that!

"We love him, because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19

He paid the price for my sin and YOURS on Calvary, when He died and shed His precious blood. There redemption from sin was made possible. Through repentance and faith in Him, we can be FORGIVEN and live eternally with Him in Heaven!

"But God commendeth His Love toward, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom 5:8

There is no greater love than this!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!!!

~Lauren

One Small Choice

2012-02-13T09:07:00.009-06:00

You can choose your sin but not your consequence.

Talk about a profound truth. We never really know the full extent of our choices until it's too late. Think about how scary that is! One small choice can lead you down a path of forever change, and it often does! You can choose your sin, but not our consequence.

James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Pride tells us that we are in control, that we "know what we're getting ourselves into" when in reality - we don't have a clue what the consequences will be. Lust = Desire and Death = Separation. When you choose to pursue the desires of your wicked heart, it will always result in separation - from family, friends, God's best, a life of blessing, etc.

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

How many people do you think would honestly tell you that they have no regrets from their choice to sin? It is true that there is pleasure in sin for a season as the Bible tell us, but that season is SO short and the scars, regrets and consequences are for a lifetime!! Sin robs us of God's best for us, of true joy, and of wonderful blessings.

Pr 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Now why wouldn't you want to have the blessing of the Lord, to be rich in Him and to have pure joy that only He can give?! Let's consider our choices and pattern them after God's Word!! Submission to God and His Word will save us from the consequence of sin and a life full of regrets.

I sure want that, don't you?

~Lauren

Hook & Loop

2012-02-08T12:17:00.003-06:00

This quick tip Wednesday is brought to us by one of our readers, Ashley. She shares with us that when sewing Hook & Loop aka Velcro onto your item, keep it secure with double sided tape instead of pins! Works great!! Brillant!!

Have a quick tip to share? Simply leave us a comment and perhaps we'll feature you on the blog!

Have a wonderful week,

Lauren & Page

6 Wonderful Months

2012-02-08T09:12:00.012-06:00

Today our precious baby boy turns 6 months old! The months have flown by, but his Daddy and I have enjoyed every single moment of having him in our lives. I still remember when we found out about this sweet miracle from God (it was on his Daddy's birthday!) and we were completely overjoyed! We've savored each smile, each milestone, each of his many expressions. We're in awe of God's wondrous gift, and privileged that we have the responsibility of raising this amazing little boy for the Lord.

This "Thankful Thursday" I'm praising the Lord for the blessing of my precious son!! I truly don't have words to describe how grateful I am to be a mother to my sweet Landon Justus! He has filled our hearts with more joy than we could ever describe, we are SO thankful for him!

~We love you, Landon!!! Happy 6 month birthday, baby boy!

Mommy & Daddy

Salted Caramels

2012-02-07T09:23:00.003-06:00

My sister and I are crazy for caramel! Seriously, if you say caramel - you have our attention. ;-)

We came across this recipe on Pinterest, (one of our other addictions), and decided to try it out. Let's just say it was a huge success!!

Warning to those of you who will attempt this recipe at home - once made, these buttery, salty, creamy caramels are impossible to stop eating!!!!

Thanks to Baking Bites for this fabulous recipe! Check it out- they have lots of other yummy inspiration to choose from!

Note, when making these: Any coarse sea salt that you like will work well. The recipe recommends flaky Maldon Sea Salt, which has a great flavor, excellent texture and a beautiful look. After all, you do eat with your eyes!

Once the caramel is prepared, you can pour it into a 9×9 glass or pyrex baking dish. The 9×9 makes caramels of a nice thickness (which I highly recommend), but if you want to make your caramels smaller (or just make a lot more of them), you can also use a 9×13 pan and get thinner caramels. Do not forget to grease the pan with butter before adding the caramel! Remember to use a very sharp, warm (run under hot water and dried) knife for best results when slicing and removing caramels from pan.

Salted Caramels

Homemade Sea Salt Caramels
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup corn syrup
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/2 tsp salt
1 – 2 tbsp sea salt (rec. Maldon brand)

Lightly grease a 9×9 -inch glass or pyrex baking dish with butter or a thin coat of vegetable oil.
In a large saucepan, combine water, corn syrup and sugar. Bring to a boil over high heat, then continue to boil until caramel turns a deep honey color (10-14 minutes).
While sugar cooks, combine cream and butter in a microwave-safe bowl and cook for 1-2 minutes on high heat, until butter is melted. Set aside.
When sugar is a deep honey color, pour in cream mixture. Caramel will bubble up vigorously. Stir until bubbles subside slightly, then stir in salt. Attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan and continue to cook, stirring regularly with a silicone spatula, until caramel reaches 260F (5-10 minutes).
Pour caramel into prepared dish. Allow caramel to cool completely, then sprinkle evenly with sea salt.
Cut caramels into small squares or rectangles with a warm, sharp knife.
Caramels can be served immediately or wrapped in small squares of wax paper. Caramels will keep for a few weeks at room temperature.

Makes about 3-4 dozen, depending on the size of your caramels.

Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

2012-02-06T09:42:00.005-06:00

Ps 27:8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

I love the verse above and thought I would share it as part of our "Monday Meditation". What better to way to start off the week than with God's Word?!

Is it the desire of your heart to seek the Lord? To seek the face of the Lord requires humility on our part and a desire for holiness, for the Lord is holy!

For those of you who don't have a personal relationship with Him, the Lord desires a relationship with YOU!
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Whether saved or lost, it's pretty clear that we're to seek the Lord. Are we really serious about our soul's condition? Are we really seeking to become more Christ like? A good test is whether or not our heart is seeking the face of the Lord. I pray that is our desire!

Happy Monday!

~Lauren

Lemon Chicken Soup

2012-02-02T10:21:00.002-06:00

I love watching Food Network and happened to be watching one of my favorite chefs, Giada De Laurentiis, making this yummy soup. I wasn't sure what I'd think of the lemon juise in the soup, but after making it I have to say that it might be one of my favorite chicken soups ever! The lemon truly brings a freshness and enhances all the other flavors. This soup is a perfect example of how you can use your Parmesan cheese rind, as seen in this post from earlier this week.

Try it, I think you'll really enjoy it!! For me, a recipe is simply a guideline and this recipe is no exception. I tweaked it to my liking, used pasta shells and made a double batch.

Lemon Chicken Soup

6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
1 dried bay leaf
1 (2-inch) piece Parmesan cheese rind, optional
2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch pieces
1 cup (about 2 1/2 ounces) spaghetti, broken into 2-inch pieces, *see Cook's Note
2 cups diced cooked rotisserie chicken, preferably breast meat
1 cup grated Romano cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Kosher salt

Directions

In a large stockpot, bring the chicken broth, lemon juice, bay leaf, and Parmesan rind, if using, to a boil over medium-high heat.

Add the carrots and simmer until tender, about 5 to 8 minutes.

Add the broken pasta and cook until the pasta is tender, for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the chicken and heat through, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and the Parmesan rind and discard. Stir in 1/2 of the cheese and the parsley. Season with salt, to taste. Ladle the soup into serving bowls and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

*Cook's Note: You can use any short pasta from your pantry as a substitute for spaghetti.

Italy's Secret Ingredient!

2012-02-01T09:26:00.007-06:00

This "Quick Tip" Wednesday is actually two tips in one. :-) I LOVE Italian food, and have found that using REAL Parmesan cheese is KEY to authentic flavors in my Italian cooking. Maybe it's because almost every Italian recipe calls for it? ;-) I truly believe it's their "secret ingredient". ha!

Anyway, what I'm saying is - don't cut corners by buying the el cheapo green can that I'm not sure is even real cheese. I buy my Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese at Sam's Club and find that they're most reasonable.

Ok, second tip - you can use the rinds of your Parmesan cheese! I know Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese is kind of spendy but I'm here to tell you that you can use every last bit of this cheese! How cool is that? I simply freeze the rinds (exterior of the cheese) and then when I make a pot of soup, I throw a rind in my soup and it flavors it beautifully!! The salty, nutty, buttery cheese still on the rind flavors the soup and gives it an added dimension that is absolutely delicious! Simply remove the rind before serving, or if it happens to completely dissolve in the soup - that's fine too!

Have a quick tip to share with us?? Leave a comment below and perhaps we'll choose your quick tip to be featured!! :-)

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

~Lauren

How Profound!

2012-01-30T08:02:00.002-06:00

"It is not the absence of sin but the grieving over it which distinguishes the child of God from empty professors of faith." Arthur Pink

I recently read this quote and could not help but share it!! How many people do you know who claim the name of Christ as being "Christians" yet live a life full of sin? You might say, "well nobody's perfect" which is true, but the Bible clearly says that if we're in Christ we're a NEW CREATURE!!

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Does your sin grieve you? When you have that negative attitude, jealous thought, lustful eye, gossiping tongue, prideful look - do you repent and ask the Lord for His forgiveness? Does it grieve you when you sin against your Lord?

I pray that you'll take the above quote to heart and meditate on it this week. The world claims Christ, yet so many live a life of sin and have empty professions. This is what the Bible says in reference to the above quote:

1 John 1:6 "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth:"

1 John 2:4 "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."

Praying you all have a blessed Monday!
~Lauren

Green Goodness!!

2012-01-28T17:15:00.001-06:00

How many of you have resolved to become more healthy this year?? How many of you have determined to lose weight, especially those stubborn last 10lbs? Well, what if I told you that I have the perfect breakfast smoothie for you?!?

Many of you might read this and think to yourself "there is no way that this can taste good", but please don't knock it until you've tried it! My hubby and I have become quite fond of this green concoction and actually find ourselves craving it each morning! We feel pretty good about ourselves too because it's as if we're having a salad for breakfast! ;-)

What you'll need - a blender!

-Orange juice
-Handful of salad greens ( I buy the huge tub of organic greens from Sam's for $2.98!)
-1-2 Bananas (I like to freeze mine for added thickness)
-Frozen fruit of your choice
-Honey to taste

I eyeball everything, so keep that in mind as you might like to tweak it according to your taste.

I pour approx 1 cup of orange juice into my blender, then pile the organic greens into it (1-2 generous handfuls) next (the more, the healthier obviously, but if you wanna start out slow, I understand). Make sure they have combined well, then add your bananas one at a time and allow them to combine. Once smooth, Add 1/2-1cup of frozen fruit. After all has incorporated, I add honey to taste. I simply squeeze it into the mixture for about 5 seconds while it's blending. :-)

Once done, you will have a delightfully GREEN smoothie that is not only delicious, but quite nutritious! The recipe above makes enough for both my husband and I.

Go ahead, be brave - try it! I guarantee it'll be MUCH better than you think, and you probably will find yourself truly enjoying it.

Here's to a healthy 2012!

~Lauren

Destructive Pride

2011-10-10T10:08:00.001-05:00

This devotion is such a powerful reminder of the dangers of pride in one's life. May we strive to live like Christ, in a spirit of humility and repent of the sin of pride in our lives.

DESTRUCTIVE PRIDE
by Pastor Thomas Smith, St Clair, MO

"Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility."
Proverbs 18:12.

None of us want to see our lives destroyed. We do not want to experience spiritual and moral ruin, or see our dreams and worthy goals disappear. We do not want to see reproach come upon the Name of the Lord and His work due to our spiritual collapse. Is it possible there could be some indication of self-destruction before it occurs? Are there warning signs that might make moral bankruptcy avoidable? According to the Scripture, there is something that often precedes the fall of mighty men: "Before destruction the heart of man is haughty."

One of the most destructive forces in a person's life is pride. Many great leaders have been destroyed through personal pride. People of tremendous spiritual influence have seen their ministries ruined because of pride. It was pride that led to Lucifer's revolt and expulsion from Heaven. Pride is not a problem for a pitied few of God's creation, but rather it is present in every heart. Children begin to exhibit pride in their earliest years. It is a part of the sinful nature we inherited from Adam and remains a dreaded foe throughout our lives.

One reason pride is so dangerous is because it is very deceptive. We can easily be blinded to its presence in our hearts and minds. Because it is such a powerful force, when it has a stronghold in our lives, its very presence resists attempts to rid the heart of its influence. Pride rebels against the acknowledgment and removal of itself. We must be aware of the destructive nature of self-reliance and self-exaltation, and treat pride as an enemy.

Is there any antidote for such a harmful condition? The Bible declares that "before honour is humility." Just as pride can bring destruction, humility can bring blessing and honor. The cure for the poison of pride is having a humble attitude and spirit. As pride wants to exalt self and refuse correction and instruction, humility recognizes how undeserving and incapable we are. While pride is a natural part of man's fallen nature, humility must be chosen and developed in our hearts.

We are told in the Word of God to humble ourselves. We are responsible to keep ourselves humble and to repent of the wicked sin of pride. This is the way of God's blessing: He actively resists the proud, but pours out His grace on the humble.

Crock Pot Apple Crisp

2011-10-09T14:08:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I LOVE using my crock pot. Problem is, I don't use it nearly often enough!! One of my goals this Fall and Winter is to use it once a week. I love the convenience of simply tossing ingredients into ONE pot and coming home to the aroma of an already cooked meal. It's like having someone cook dinner for you and only dirty one pot (which is very endearing when you do NOT have a dishwasher).

Anyway, I came across this recipe from the blog "Get Crocked" and am dying to try it!! Partly because I have a gazillion apples to use from my beautiful little apple tree. Also because it tis' the season for APPLES! Do you have a favorite apple recipe?? Leave it in the comments below and perhaps we'll feature your recipe in the coming days!! :-)

Enjoy!
~Lauren

Crock Pot Apple Crisp

1 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. light brown sugar
1/2 c. white sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 pinch salt
1/2 c. butter, cut into pieces
1 c. chopped walnuts
1/3 c. white sugar, or to taste
1 T. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
6 c. apples - peeled, cored and chopped
2 tsp. lemon juice

1. Mix flour, brown sugar, 1/2 cup of white sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt together in a bowl.

2. Combine butter with the flour mixture using fingers or a fork until coarse crumbs form. Stir in walnuts and set aside.

3. Whisk together 1/3 cup sugar, cornstarch, ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.

4. Place the apples in a crock pot, stir in the cornstarch mixture; toss with lemon juice. Sprinkle the walnut crumb topping on top.

5. Cover. Cook on High for 2 hours or Low for 4 hours, until apples are tender. Partially uncover the crock pot to allow the topping to harden, about 1 hour.

6. Serve with vanilla ice cream or drenched in cream or milk for breakfast.

Where We've Been....

2011-10-08T14:21:00.003-05:00

Hello Everyone,

So sorry we've been MIA! We really haven't forgotten about you, in fact we've been saddened by our lack of blogging. However, part of our goal in becoming more like the Proverbs 31 woman is WHY we have not been blogging. As most of you know, Page and I have recently given birth to precious babies as well as keeping up with our homes, families and photography businesses. To say our Summer has been busy would be a HUGE understatement. :-) With Fall/Winter approaching, we're hoping to get back into the swing of things, especially since our photography businesses will be slowing down somewhat.

We have SO much we want to blog about, so stay tuned for upcoming recipes, devotions, quick tips, crafts, things we've learned, and so much more!

Thanks for your patience and continued support!!

~Lauren & Page

Where Is Your Treasure?

2011-08-01T11:12:00.005-05:00

Enjoy this wonderful devotion by Pastor Thomas Smith from St Clair, MO. As you begin another week, start by asking yourself where your treasure is. "As we obey the Lord and invest in heavenly things, we will find our hearts will be there also."

WHERE IS YOUR TREASURE?
Devotion for August 01, 2011

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Luke 12:34.

Jesus teaches us to train our hearts and minds to think more in terms of eternal things than earthly things. We are either laying up treasures on this earth, or we are laying up treasures in Heaven. This is not the natural way for men to live, but it is a part of the transformation that is taking place in the sincere child of God. It only makes sense that we be thus minded. This life is brief, and the older we get, the more real this becomes. However, we are going to live eternally in the place that God is preparing for us. Treasures that we lay up on this earth will remain here after we are gone and will one day perish. Treasures that we lay up in Heaven will last forever.

This important question, "Where is your treasure?" should help guide us in our decisions and priorities. Just prior to this verse, Jesus told a parable about a man that was rich, whose farm was prospering abundantly. He had no room to store the harvest of his land, so his only solution was to build bigger barns. Jesus said this man's reasoning was foolish, because he was going to die and leave it all behind. He then instructed His disciples to live more for the world to come than for this present world. This does not mean that we are not to earn money or provide for our families, or even leave an inheritance to our descendants. These things are not wrong; they are indeed our responsibilities. However, this world is not our priority. Jesus told these followers that if all we do is live for material things, we are no different from the world.

How is it then, that we lay up treasure in Heaven? Jesus instructed the listeners that by giving rather than hoarding, they would be laying up treasures in Heaven. The more we invest our resources in eternal things, the more treasure we will have in Heaven. What things are eternal? The first things we think of are the eternal souls of men, women, boys and girls. As we give to the work of God, as we pray for souls to be saved, as we teach and train others to serve the Lord, and support the work of missions and our local church, we are investing in eternity. And the more of our treasure we have in Heaven, the more our hearts will be there. The reason our hearts are so fixed on this world and on temporal things is because that is where our treasures are. As we obey the Lord and invest in heavenly things, we will find our hearts will be there also.

Oh, Pinterest -How We Love Thee!

2011-07-29T16:37:00.016-05:00

No, as much as we love Pinterest -it isn't the cause of our lack of blogging. It would be a huge understatement to say that Page & I have been busy. We're both prego mamas with photography businesses and homes to take care of. Summer just happens to be peak season for us, so we've not had much time at all to blog. We miss all of you and are looking forward to getting back into the swing of things soon! Thanks for your patience!

In any case, we have discovered a wonderful addiction...ahem...website that truly appeals to us and those of you who love all things creative. In actuality it appeals to anyone who loves good recipes, crafty ideas, fashion sense, brilliant concepts....need I go on? We can't stress enough how neat this site is, we've gleaned so many great ideas!! We wanted to share it with all of our readers so you too can become addicted....I mean, INSPIRED! ;-D

Many people wonder what it is exactly. By it's own definition:

Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard.

Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.

Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests. To get started, request an invite.

Simply put, it's a great place to gain inspiration and organize your ideas accordingly so that when you're "ready" to try that idea, you can easily find it by locating your "pinboard" (place to neatly compile your ideas).

Here are a few "pins" that we've found that we thought we'd share with you on this Crafty Creations Friday....

Avocado Chicken Salad

Creative Cookie Tins - (we're thinkin' Christmas!)

Porch Swing - made from a door!

These are just a FEW of the many neat ideas you can find on Pinterest. Simply link it to your Facebook account and follow friends and their pinboards too if you wish. *Just like any public site, there are bound to be inappropriate pictures/pins - thankfully we've not come across many ourselves, but just be aware when searching.*

We hope this inspires YOU to get creative this weekend!

~Lauren & Page

Mmmm....COFFEE!!!

2011-06-29T11:00:00.002-05:00

How many of you LOVE coffee?!?! I DO, I do, I do!!! I even drink decaf for the sake of my little guy and still love it!

Well, did you know that you can actually use it as an odor neutralizer?? Have a stinky fridge? Place some grounds (please use cheapo coffee for this and not your good stuff!) on a shallow tray and place inside your fridge. You'll soon notice that those darling coffee grounds have absorbed all of those icky odors!

For more intensive smells - such as a room that has just been painted (aka my nursery), recently stained furniture, etc. You can simply take an open container of fresh coffee grounds to absorb the odor. BUY a cheap brand for that purpose, but then make sure you throw it out afterwards. ;-) It really works!!

See, I bet you didn't realize that coffee had more than one delicious purpose?!

Have a Quick Tip to share? Please leave it in the comments below and we'll feature it on our blog!!

~Lauren & Page

GOD IS PERSONAL

2011-06-27T09:14:00.001-05:00

This is such a wonderful devotion, I pray that you all take the time to read it!! What a privilege to know the Lord and to be able to call Him my friend! He wants to have a personal relationship with YOU too!

GOD IS PERSONAL

Written by Pastor Thomas Smith, St Clair MO

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
John 17:3.

This is one of the most wonderful and frequently misunderstood attributes of our eternal God. He is personal. He wants us to know Him. As a matter of fact, this is the primary purpose of man: to know God. He knows us individually and completely. He wants us to fellowship with Him. We see this characteristic in action in the Garden of Eden. God is seen walking with the first man, Adam, and talking with Adam. This is the nature of God. When Adam sinned, that fellowship with God was broken, but our personal God came into the garden calling for Adam. Because sin separated man from his Creator, God made provision for man's sin in the sacrifice of His Son. God's love for the human race is so strong that no price would be too high to pay to redeem sinners to Himself. God wants all mankind to be saved, and God saves us that we might fellowship with Him. Our Scripture says, ""that they might know thee the only true God."

How is it that we can know God? How might we have a personal relationship with the Lord? God has designed that we know Him by faith. We have not seen God, and we have not heard His audible voice. However, because He loves us so much, He has given us the record and revelation of Himself in the Bible. We can know about God through the pages of the Scriptures. We know how God is because of what the Bible, God's Word, teaches us. However, it is not enough to know about God. He wants to know us personally. The only way we can be brought into a personal relationship with God is through Jesus Christ. It is through faith in Jesus Christ that our sins are forgiven, and the enmity between our Holy God and us is removed. When we repent of our sins and receive Christ as Savior, we are born into God's family. Immediately we have the capacity to know Him personally. We can talk to God and know that He hears us. God can communicate with us through His Spirit and His Word. We can walk with God by faith.

It is our great privilege to know God. Abraham was called the friend of God. Just prior to His death on the cross, Jesus told His disciples that He would no longer call them servants; instead, He would call them His friends. What a joy it is to know that God is personal and can be our Friend!

Baby Nursery {Part III- My Artsy Changing Table Redo}

2011-06-24T11:00:00.003-05:00

As I was planning my nursery, I shopped around for various pieces for my nursery that fit my taste AND my budget. That's tough to do because I have expensive taste yet I'm super frugal.
I was SO excited to find this changing table on my local online yard sale site for a steal of a deal- $20!!! Most of you probably would've liked it just the way it was, as it really wasn't too bad. However, I wanted something unique, with character that was fun, artsy and colorful. I bought a $15 quart of Sherwin William's paint (on sale) and for a total cost of $35 (plus my brother's time) -I now have a changing table that was totally what I envisioned! My bro did such a great job, he made the ordinary into extraordinary!! I LOVE how this piece turned out!!

Now, I'm gonna blame it on the prego brain, but I failed to take a good "Before" picture. :-P Forgive me!! Please use your imagination and pretend like the drawers are still in place.

My brother removed all the drawers and hardware and did some light sanding to it, but because of the awesome primer we used (see pic below), it really required no sanding (my favorite kind of project!)

The key to good priming is to have a lot of fun.... oh and to cover all areas that you'll be painting. :-)

Once primed, we let it dry and then began to apply the 1st coat of paint - in my accent color, Sherwin William's Refresh - once that dried, we (meaning my brother) applied a 2nd coat.

As you can see, it's looking good but doesn't have any real dimension to it yet. Some people MIGHT be ok with this as it is, but not me! ;-)

My brother then proceeded with the "fun" part. He used several tools to distress it. When doing this - try to think of places that would naturally be distressed. Don't forget the drawers! It's the details that really gives a piece that extra "wow factor".

Afterwards, we went down to the basement and found some dark wood stain in my collection of paints. Using a rag, he dipped part of it into the stain rubbed it in the cracks and edges of the piece, wiping off the excess. This is where your creative, artistic side comes into play. You can apply however much you'd like, but the goal is for it to look natural and not overdone. Rubbing the stain into the grain of the wood and cracks really gives it that distressed look. Be careful not to apply too much! You must wipe the excess off!

Once we were satisfied with how much "distressing" had been done, he put the hardware back on and drawers back into place. Thankfully I liked the original hardware and didn't have to do a thing to it!

Here is Baby Shaffer's super artsy and one of a kind changing table, refinished with love by his Uncle Caleb.

I hope this inspires you to look past the outward appearance of a piece of furniture, and envision creating it into something you love. Don't be afraid to take a piece and transform it to your liking, it really isn't that hard (especially when your brother does it for you! haha) With a little bit of effort, you can transform "junk" into something AMAZING!

~Lauren

Thankful Thursday: Crazy Weather Blues!

2011-06-23T09:59:00.004-05:00

Mark 4:36-45

³⁶And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

³⁷And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

³⁸And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

³⁹And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

⁴⁰And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Let me just tell you... The weather around here has been crazy! In the last month or so, we have had massive hail damage (think ping pong ball to baseball size hail) to all of our vehicles, lost 3 windows in our house, and our metal roof and exterior log walls looks like a giant toddler took a hammer to them.

One of these storms, we were actually in our car. It was one of the most incredible, yet scary things I have ever seen...

It would be really easy for me to be discouraged by all of these things--but... I'm not. I know God has a plan, a great plan, for all that He has allowed to happen.

I have seen some of His Greatness and Mercy unfolding already, and I am really looking forward to how He will take care of the rest!

So, this is my quick Thankful Thursday. God is great!

A side note... Here is a verse that has meant a lot to me the last few days...

Proverbs 21:30 "There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD."

So, tell me, what are you thankful for today? : )

~Page

Cleaning Shoes!

2011-06-22T11:00:00.005-05:00

This Quick Tip Wednesday might seem a little strange, but it really works!
We women know that a woman's work is never really done, there's always SO much to do around the house. Why not try cleaning in some supportive, tennis shoes?? They will motivate you to get moving and will support your back in the process. My friend, Ashley, mentioned this great tip and I agree - I definitely notice a difference when I have my "special shoes" on. :-) I'm much less likely to just feel like sitting down on the job.

Do YOU have a quick tip to share? Comment below and we'll gladly feature it in our Quick Tip Wednesday posts!

~Lauren & Page

God Is Just

2011-06-20T11:00:00.004-05:00

GOD IS JUST

by Pastor Smith in St Clair, MO

"He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."
Deuteronomy 32:4.

In a world overtaken with corruption and compromise, there is a source of truth and justice; it is found in the living God, "just and right is he." Words that help explain the meaning of just are right, lawful, and equal. God is morally right and righteous in all that He does. Friendships, fears, flatteries, or false information may influence men and thus pervert justice. However, God - because of His holy character and perfect nature - will always act justly. The Lord God is a righteous Judge. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25).

Because God is just, He establishes and imposes just laws and then executes them righteously. He will give to everyone what is due. Because He is just, He is impartial in His judgment. God cannot be deceived, and it would be futile to attempt to bribe Him. "God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34). We may not always understand or fully agree with God's judgments, but we can have complete confidence that what He does is always right.

God is just in the penalties He exacts for transgression. "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Because He is just, He requires that proper payment be made for sin. Also, He allows a substitute to pay for the sin of another. Thus, His Son made the just payment for our sins through His death on the cross and completely satisfied the just judgment of our sin. The penalty has been paid in full and God can and will forgive the sins of those who accept His payment. He is at one time "just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Romans 3:26).

One of the common cries of the Old Testament prophets was the lack of justice among the corrupt leaders of Israel. The moral character and weakness of men today have resulted in a dearth of justice. In our current political climate, many government leaders are for sale and will champion any cause that wins them favor. Even in the arena of professing Christians, truth has fallen in the streets. There is a great need for men and women of justice and integrity who look to the Rock for wisdom. Thank God, there is a day coming when Jesus Christ will return to this earth and will judge the world in righteousness.

Baby Nursery {Part II- the Transformation & Book Page Wall}

2011-06-17T09:00:00.003-05:00

No, I haven't forgotten about my Baby Nursery blogging - however, I have been super busy finishing up this darling room for our little boy. Now that I just have the finishing touches left to do, I feel much more comfortable in taking the time to catch everyone up on the progress made so far. :-)

In case you missed my first post, you can go here to view "my inspiration" for the color palette and overall feel of the space.

I chose these three paint colors based on my inspiration fabric seen in my first post. I used Sherwin Williams Embellished Blue for the walls, Refresh as the accent color used to transform my changing table (stay tuned!) and Alabaster for the trim and doors.

Here is the Nursery - BEFORE we even began the transformation. Notice the light pink walls (eek!).
And here it is getting it's beautiful coat of Embellished Blue by my beautiful decorating crew!

We live in a charming 1920's home, I really do love it - however, the walls are a bit different in our upstairs bedrooms (as you can see from the above pic)- making it kinda difficult for any type of creative paint job, mural, etc. That's ok though, because I was feeling lazy and totally unmotivated to do anything too extreme. :-P

Instead, I decided to do an infamous "Book Page Wall". Many of you have probably seen this idea on countless blogs, and I'm telling you - it is SO fun and SO easy!

Sean & I both loved to read as kids (still do!) and hope our little guy will enjoy it just as much. Yes, we were those naughty kids that stayed up reading with a flashlight underneath our covers well after our parents told us lights out (because the book was THAT good). So....that's part of what led me to create this "Book Page Wall". I knew it would be artsy, fun, totally unique, and reflect our love of reading.

I used these classic storybooks to give it a vintage vibe. I purchased them for 50 cents each at a thrift store and since the binding wasn't in the greatest shape, I didn't feel so bad tearing out all the pages.

Once torn out, I simply had my lovely crew apply a *strong* spray adhesive to the back of the pages and randomly place them on the wall. We learned the hard way that it must NOT be a flexible hold, but a strong hold (best purchased at a craft store vs a hardware store). That's why this is considered** Decoupage (or découpage) is the art of decorating an object by gluing colored paper cutouts onto it in combination with special paint effects, gold leaf and so on.**

With true decoupage you apply a sealer on top, but I didn't want to make my pages THAT permanent. As it is, these pages are perfectly adhered to the wall and if one or two pages should try to escape, I still have my spray adhesive and can easily reattach - so far so good! Definitely make sure you use a strong adhesive spray, found at most craft stores - my fav being, Hobby Lobby. :-)

As you can see, these randomly placed book pages create a lovely accent wall that is truly artistic, unique, vintage inspired and an incredible point of interest, as seen here in my nursery. It turned out soooo perfectly!

**A special thanks to my sister, Heidi, friend, Morgan, brother, Caleb, and last but not least - my hubby, Sean for all the hard work you put into this wonderful nursery!! I couldn't have done it without you!!

Stay tuned for the final stages of the nursery transformation and the Grand Reveal coming SOON!!

~Lauren

True Friends

2011-06-16T16:44:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 18:24 "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."

This "Thankful Thursday" I'm thinking about how grateful I am for good friends. Most of us have quite a few acquaintances, but good friends are few and far between. This past week I was reminded of how blessed I am. My sweet friend, Missy, helped me SO much by helping me finally get my garden in (it was long overdue and next to impossible for this prego girl). Missy is always willing to lend a helping hand, always there for me, and never fails to let me know that she's someone I can count on. I know the Lord has placed her in my life and I'm so thankful for her! By God's grace I want to be the right kind of friend for her as well.

What about you? Do you have special friends in your life that you can depend on? Why not take a moment to let them know how thankful you are for them? While you're at it, thank the Lord for placing these dear ones in your life and ask Him to help you to be the right kind of friend for them.

Have a Thankful Thursday, everyone!

~Lauren

Hobby Lobby, How I LOVE Thee!!

2011-06-01T20:49:00.002-05:00

This week's "quick tip" might be pretty exciting for those of you addicted to Hobby Lobby (like me). I frequently fail to print out a HL coupon and find it frustrating to realize it AFTER I am in the store and filling my cart with wonderful goodies.

Did you know that you can pull up a Hobby Lobby coupon on the internet via your cell phone and show it to the cashier at checkout? They simply need the coupon code from the online coupon. I was SUPER excited about this fact and have already done it twice (thank you Page, for informing me about this!).

Have a quick tip to share with us? Comment below and we might just feature your quick tip in next Wednesday's post!!

~Lauren

Baby Nursery {Part I- The Inspiration}

2011-05-27T11:00:00.003-05:00

Baby Nursery Part I :- The Inspiration

Ahh yes, I'm going on 32 weeks pregnant and have been brainstorming about our baby boy's nursery since day 1! I'm SUPER excited that my "painting crew" aka friends and family will be beginning the nursery transformation the 1st wknd of June! Yay! I will be sure to take pictures and share with all of you.

As I began thinking about what kind of nursery I wanted for our little guy, several adjectives came to mind - artsy, eclectic, vintage, unique, light and airy, fresh, and still baby appropriate. I have very expensive taste, but just like many of you - I had no intention of spending tons of $$ on this decorating excursion. In fact, I find GREAT satisfaction in finding exactly what I want for a steal of a deal or making it myself. I guess that's the treasure hunter in me, maybe I'm part pirate? Argghhh, matey. Ok, lame....anyway....I am thrilled to report that I've found exactly what I envisioned at the exact cost I envisioned. I'll be blogging about these various stages of the nursery decorating and hope you enjoy the transformation.

This is a "Crafty Creations" post because my inspiration fabric just happens to be a tablecloth! Yes, you heard right! How cool is that? It's just the right material, fits precisely with my color scheme, and exactly what I could NOT find in the fabric stores. This tablecloth is the inspiration fabric that the rest of the nursery will be designed around. Enjoy this sneak peek and stay tuned for "Crafty Creation" posts of the work in progress. I guarantee there will be lots of creativity going into this space. Turning a tablecloth into crib bedding is just ONE of the many ideas.

Be inspired by what you see around you and don't hesitate to turn the ordinary into extraordinary!

Stay tuned for more Baby Nursery posts in the coming weeks!!

~Lauren

"Puttin' on the Ritz"

2011-05-25T10:13:00.001-05:00

It's time for another "Quick Tip Wednesday".

Don't you just love how you discover something by accident, or just be truly needing to be creative? I have discovered that I prefer crackers - Ritz crackers to be exact, in the place of bread crumbs. I realized this some time ago, when I discovered I was out of Italian bread crumbs while trying to make some delicious Eggplant Parmesan (Mmmm!). I simply crushed the Ritz crackers, added my favorite Italian seasoning and voila' -my husband LOVED it!! Now I can't even imagine making Eggplant Parm without using my Ritz crackers!

Have a recipe that calls for bread crumbs? Try substituting crackers instead (especially the buttery kind aka Ritz). I use them to top my homemade Mac n' cheese, to bread chicken, eggplant, etc. Next time you make dinner, consider "Puttin' on the Ritz" - I think you'll find it very satisfying!

Have a "Quick Tip"? Comment below and we might just feature your tip in next week's "Quick Tip Wednesday"!

~Lauren

Frosty Toffee Bits Pie

2011-05-24T21:59:00.006-05:00

I came across this delicious recipe in one of my Taste of Home magazines and just HAD to share with all of you. This pie is light, easy, delicious and the perfect cold treat to accompany your next Summer cookout. In fact, Memorial Day is coming up....not a bad time to give this wonderful pie a try.
Frosty Toffee Bits Pie Recipe

6-8 Servings

Prep: 10 min. + freezing

10 fF 10 F

~Frosty Toffee Bits Pie~

Ingredients

1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup half-and-half cream
1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 package (8 ounces) milk chocolate English toffee bits, divided
1 graham cracker crust (9 inches)

Directions

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in cream until blended. Fold in whipped topping and 1 cup toffee bits.
Spoon into crust; sprinkle with remaining toffee bits. Cover and freeze overnight. Remove from the freezer 10 minutes before serving. Yield: 6-8 servings.

Enjoy!!!

~Lauren

Such Were Some Of You....

2011-05-23T15:34:00.004-05:00

What a great reminder for us as Christians! We must never forget the pit from which we were dug, and the sins that were forgiven us! Only because of God's grace, we are where we are today. Thank you, Lord!!

SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
I Corinthians 6:9-11.

The Bible teaches the absolute necessity of the new birth. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" God is holy, and none of us are righteous within ourselves. Every person is in need of salvation. In our unregenerate and natural state, none will qualify for Heaven.

People are deceived about the seriousness of sin, the nature of salvation, and the requirement of rebirth and imputed righteousness. False teachers assure their listeners that good works or moral reform will gain an entrance into God's holy Heaven. This is not true. That is why the text says, "Be not deceived."

Thank God for salvation that brings forgiveness of sin and the new man of righteousness. God's gift of eternal life produces transformed lives in those who are redeemed. Only God can create a new person through the miracle of the new birth. We can identify with Paul's statement, "And such were some of you." We may not be all that we should be, but thank God we are not what we once were. God can change anyone. When we are born again, we become new creatures in Christ. Our past is exactly that; it is our past.

Sometimes new believers have a hard time putting their past behind them because of guilt over past sins. It is important that we take God at His Word concerning our former lives. Our sins are under the blood; we have been justified by His grace; and we have peace with God.

Because we remember what we once were, it should help us have compassion on the unsaved and a desire to reach them with the Gospel. Nothing could have changed us like the power of salvation. We should never look, with a critical, judgmental eye, at others still bound in sin. But for the grace of God, we would still be there. The next time we get irritated or frustrated with the behavior of lost sinners, remember this: "And such were some of you."

This devotion was written by Pastor Thomas Smith, St. Clair MO

Pastor Smith's daily devotions may also be read by visiting www.straightpaths.mzbc.com.

Quick Tip Wednesday: Try it!

2011-05-18T05:20:00.000-05:00

So, this "quick tip" is not anything uber amazing-but just some thoughts and ideas to help save in the calorie department! Who can't use a little help in these areas? : )

Try It: Without Butter

Hold on--I think Paula Deen just fell off her chair and half the south wept at the thought! : )

In all seriousness, I have learned to love so many things without butter--that I once thought couldn't come without it!

Some of the biggest culprits? Corn on the cob and restaurant bread/rolls. I rarely have butter on these items any more. Honestly, (to me) they just don't need it. Just give it a try (or two)--you'll learn to love these items for what they are--which is wonderful--without all the added calories.

Try It: With a little less or no salt.

Is Paula Deen crying now? (Ha ha! No worries, Paula! I still love your cooking shows!)

I don't think most realize just how much salt they eat in a day! (Or how much comes in the food they order!) It can be just out right ridiculous!

All I'm saying is--just give your foods a try with less (or without)! Some things may take some adapting--some just may not be edible with out some salt. But, just try it! You may surprise yourself at what really doesn't need much, if any, salt on your plate!

Try It: Veggies you've always hated--or ones you've been afraid to try!

My tastes have changed so much since I was younger. I used to cringe and gag at the thought of greens or pinto beans--but now, they are things that I love or maybe even crave! (No--this is not just a prego thing! : )

Just try a little--here and there. You may still hate these items--or you may surprise yourself with a new item to love!

Do you have any other "Try It" tips? Let us know!! Every little bit helps! : )

~Page

His Compassions Fail NOt

2011-05-16T12:13:00.003-05:00

I'm thankful for the Lord's mercies and love. Praying this devotion will help you start the week off right and be a blessing to your heart!

HIS COMPASSIONS FAIL NOT
By Pastor Thomas Smith, in St Clair, MO

"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."
Lamentations 3:22, 23.

How much does God care for His children? This is a question that defies a complete and suitable answer. We are not able to fully comprehend His love and concern for us. Considering any of God's attributes can stretch our imaginations, but some are harder than others for us to grasp. I can more easily understand His wrath because I know how much we have violated His commands. His jealousy is comprehendible because He deserves our complete love and devotion. But, His compassion is somewhat harder for some of us to wrap our minds around. Why would God so care for us?

His compassions never fail and they are new every morning. As hard as this is to imagine, that God persistently and consistently cares for us, it is nonetheless true. Not only is it true, but also it holds the key to much in the Christian life. We are challenged, first of all, to come to the awareness of God's great love, but we also need to learn to accept that love for our lives personally. The Scripture testifies to the great care God has for us. We must personalize the fact that this abounding love from the Eternal God is directed specifically toward us. He not only cares immeasurably for others, He cares equally for us. His compassions never fail. His kindness knows no end. He meets us every morning with new and tender mercies. This is the nature of our God. These words describe His care for His children.

By faith, we learn to see Him as the compassionate God that He is. No matter how much we come to receive His loving kindness, we know that we will never explore the depth of His care. This truth has the power to minister to every heart in a profound way. We can come to God when we fail because we know that He cares so deeply for us. We can ask Him for the things we need because we know He loves us and wants what is best for us.

When we begin to doubt His care or when the devil brings destructive accusations, we can know that God's mercies are real for us. When we think we are alone and no one is there for us, we are reminded that there is Someone who will never leave us nor forsake us. His faithfulness is great, and never changes. He will never cease to care. No one will ever care for us like Jesus.

Quick Tip Wednesday!

2011-05-11T11:37:00.005-05:00

This "Quick Tip" comes from one of our readers , Ashley, who has a great little cooking blog. You can check it out here.

She tells us that you can FREEZE RICE!! Neat, huh? You can make your own little steamer bags and just pull them out when you need them.

"On a day with spare time pull out your rice maker, or whatever you use to make rice, and make a batch of rice. I like to do a large batch, 6 cup water 3 cup rice. Once it is done cooking I fluff it up, and fill up a Qt size freezer bag and seal it removing all the air. Be sure to label it "Rice Heat 4-5 min, High" then when you are ready to use it. just pull it out and plop it right into the microwave frozen and sealed.. the ice crystals will help it steam right up just like the store bought ones, When it is done place in a bowl and fluff it with a fork and there you go 5 min rice ! I hope you find it as useful as I do! "

Thanks for this great tip, Ashley!! :-D

Do you have a "Quick Tip" to share with everyone?? List it below in the comments with your name, and perhaps we'll blog about it in your honor!! ;-D

~Lauren & Page

The Gospel At Work

2011-05-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

Enjoy this "Monday Meditation" about the importance of maintaining a Christ-like testimony in the work place. We CAN be a witness to those around us!

Devotions from Pastor Thomas Smith

ADORNING THE GOSPEL AT WORK

"Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own master, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity: that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things."
Titus 2:9, 10.

How can we influence those we work with for Christ? One of the greatest mission fields many will ever see could be their place of employment. The majority of workplace associates are probably unsaved or unchurched. For many, the environment is very worldly, the philosophies humanistic, and the language deplorable. What can we do to help them see their need for the Gospel? What can we do that they might see the difference Jesus has made in our lives? The Bible speaks clearly about the relationship of the servant to his master. These principles are easily and accurately applied to our place of employment and our relationship to the boss or supervisor. Our testimony before those we work with and work for will be influenced by our obedience.

Paul told Titus to exhort servants to "be obedient unto their own master." If we want to make a good impression on the boss and on those we work with, let's begin by doing what we are told. We are to follow instructions and obey commands. Be on time and give an honest day's work for a day's pay. Too many in our day are always looking for a way to get out of work or doing the least amount of work possible. Find out what is expected of you, and do everything that you are told, if not more than you are told. We are to "please them well in all things." This should be our goal, not to please ourselves, but to please the one we are working for.

Paul further mentions, "not answering again." Christians should speak respectfully on the job, not arguing or talking back. Our work associates should know that we are honest and trustworthy. Purloining means "to hold back or embezzle." Literally this could mean taking things home that belong to the company, or even taking a salary when you have not done the work. We are not to take from our employer what is not rightfully ours. We are admonished to "adorn the doctrine of God" on the job. Witnessing and sharing gospel tracts when possible are important; these are ways we can direct others toward the Lord. However, along with those things, our work ethic will speak loudly of our faith in Christ.

Sick Days...

2011-05-06T10:46:00.000-05:00

My poor hubby and I have been battling the flu and it is NO fun! We hate having to miss church, but alas - we know that nobody wants our sick germs. The wonderful thing about technology these days is that we know of several Biblically sound churches that stream their services via the internet!!

Now, this should in no way be a replacement for going to church, as the Bible tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. However, on those sick days, or when your kids are sick, etc - this is a great thing!

It never occurred to me to BLOG about these wonderful churches, but I have several I'd like to share with you - in different time zones no less! Simply click on the link and you'll quickly find a link to their "live services" on each website.

Those of you in Central time zone, click here for Fargo Baptist Church with Pastor Tony Scheving

For those of you on EST click here for Temple Baptist Church with Pastor Clarence Sexton

or here for Lehigh Valley Baptist Church with Pastor Ron Hammet

or if you're PST click here for Lancaster Baptist Church with Pastor Paul Chappell

I pray this is a blessing to you, for the next time you're home on a "sick day" or are simply able to tune in to one of these live services. Sadly, I can't recommend just ANY church, but am thankful that I can safely recommend each of the above to you. They are Scripturally sound and base their teaching on GOD'S WORD alone! What a blessing!

~Lauren

Quick Tip Wednesday!

2011-05-04T11:28:00.006-05:00

This Quick Tip comes from one of our Readers - thanks, Katrina!

For those of us who use Stainless Steel pans, this is an invaluable tip!!

"I use lemon juice to clean my stainless pans - it works even better than soap! You just squirt a little bit in the pan while the pan is still HOT and the mess cleans right up (but you MUST do it while the pan is HOT). I learned this handy little tip at a Japanese Steakhouse, where they cook right in front of you...works like a charm :) "

Do YOU have a quick tip worth sharing? Comment below and your tip might just be featured on our blog. :-)

Have a Happy Wednesday, everyone!

~Lauren & Page

Make Your Momma Happy!

2011-05-02T12:00:00.004-05:00

Do you realize that Mother's Day is just a scant week away (actually less than that -yikes!!)?? The official count-down has begun, so my question is - do you have that perfect gift for Mom taken care of yet??

Sometimes I really struggle with finding that "perfect gift". Perhaps I over-think, or just over-complicate things, but I really like to give a gift that's meaningful, practical and something the person will really love.
Here's a wonderful gift idea for the Mom that loves jewelry (what girl doesn't?)- a custom Jewelry Organizer! Now, I made my sister one of these for Christmas and my Mom one for her birthday and I have to tell you that they were a HUGE hit! My Mom LOVES having a beautiful place to neatly store all of her "bling". She enjoys being able to display it in such a way that she doesn't have to dig through a jewelry box, only to realize that she can't find that other earring. I'm sure you've seen several tutorials done on various blogs about the infamous framed jewelry organizer, but this is one I especially love because it has ample space for earrings!!

Jewelry Organizer Tutorial

What you will need:
-Frame of your choice - spray painted to your liking (optional)
-Crafter's board to attach to the back of frame (and fasten fabric to)
-Fabric of choice, enough to cover the size of your board
-Glue gun
-Heavy Duty Staple Gun
-Hooks for top of organizer (optional)
-Chicken wire - 1/2" mesh
-Hanging bracket hardware

Now I will tell you that I did not exactly plan too well for this craft. This was completely a "fly by the seat of your pants" craft, and my husband was the one to save the day. However, despite my lack of planning, the results were wonderful. These organizers turned out exactly how I envisioned. Yes, sometimes I'm a better visionary than I am a crafter. :-P

This craft can really be as inexpensive or expensive as you'd like it to be, it really depends on what kind of frame and fabric you choose to use. I purchased two oak frames at a garage sale for $.25 cents each and opted to spray paint them a beautiful glossy black. I used fabric that I already had for one, and purchased the other piece of remnant fabric at Hobby Lobby. This really helped to keep the cost down!

I purchased my chicken wire at my local home improvement store, be sure to wear gloves and have some kind of metal snips to cut the wire - it will hurt you otherwise!! I think the chicken wire was the most frustrating to work with, but if you're careful it definitely adds a special touch and a place to organize countless pairs of earrings! (totally worth it in my book)

To Assemble:

Take an ugly frame and spray paint it! (optional)

Cut your board to fit snugly inside your frame, you will need enough room to fit the board with fabric AND chicken wire and still fit it inside your frame. It takes a bit of measuring, eye-balling, and tweaking to get it right. This is the part that my hunky hubby really came in handy. ;-) I could never have safely cut this board on my rug without totally destroying it. Ha!

Take your fabric and cut enough to overlap around the board, securing with hot glue.
(sorry, no pic - should be pretty self-explanatory)

Cut the chicken wire large enough to fold over the edges of the board. WEAR GLOVES and use wire snips that stuff is sharp.

Take your fabric covered board and carefully wrap with chicken wire (remember to wear gloves!!). Now firmly fit your fabric and wired board into the frame. Staple edges to frame to secure. This chicken wire is a PAIN to work with, but is SO worth it to provide place for all those earrings! It's so convenient.

Screw hooks for necklaces and bracelets along the top. If needed, spray paint them to match your frame, or purchase in the color of your choice.

*Attach a hanging bracket to the back of the frame to hang it on the wall.

The end result will be unique, functional, and beautiful! Take it a step further and buy your Mom some new jewelry to display on her new organizer!

Head over to my Etsy shop for beautiful handcrafted jewelry and take advantage of the Mother's Day special going on now. FREE SHIPPING and 10% off when you enter the promo code MOTHERSDAY2011. You have until Sunday, May 8th to take advantage of this special offer!

Let's celebrate Mom and let her know how important she truly is!

~Lauren

FORGIVING OTHERS

2011-05-02T09:59:00.003-05:00

This is a subject that is so crucial and yet one of the most "justified" in the Christian life. We all need countless reminders from God's Word to encourage us to be more Christ- like and FORGIVE! It is SO important! Enjoy this well written devotion by Pastor Tom Smith from St Clair, Mo. His daily devotions can also be read here.

FORGIVING OTHERS
Devotion for April 30, 2011

"Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD."
Leviticus 19:18.

God's ways are above our ways, and He wants to teach us godliness. He knows what is best for us and the kind of character He wants to develop in our lives. In doing so, God gives us clear and direct commands about certain responses, that often go against our natural tendencies. He tells us to humble ourselves because our natural inclination is to exalt ourselves. He tells us to give and share because we are selfish by nature. He commands us to serve others because it is normal behavior to want to be served instead.

In God's Word, there are numerous requirements or commands, forbidding us to take revenge or "bear any grudge" against others. The Lord knows our inclination to hold grudges, harbor ill feelings, or carry resentment toward those who have wronged us or offended us. He also knows how damaging these feelings or attitudes can be to us. Therefore He commands us, with no exceptions, to forgive others.

We are very capable of justifying grudges and making ourselves comfortable with a lack of forgiveness. Unforgiveness, however, is inconsistent with God's character. It has been said that we are never any more like Christ than when we forgive. God wants to forgive, and He wants us to forgive. Because God, in His wisdom, knows how beneficial it is for us to forgive others and how harmful it is to carry bitterness or unforgiveness in our hearts, He makes this a major issue in our spiritual growth and obedience.

Many of God's people are troubled with a lack of forgiveness toward those who have offended or wronged them. That lack of forgiveness will prove to be a source of spiritual defeat and an emotional drain until it is resolved. How can we forgive those who have hurt us so deeply? Because God requires it, we know He is available and able to help us forgive those we have not forgiven. We are also taught in the New Testament to forgive others as we have been forgiven. The forgiveness we have experienced becomes the pattern for the forgiveness we offer others. We did not deserve forgiveness, but received it freely through Christ. Because we have been forgiven of so much, we are able, by faith, to forgive others. It may seem impossible for us, but not for God.

Feeling Thankful...

2011-04-23T05:00:00.001-05:00

Colossians 3:15-17

¹⁵And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

¹⁷And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

I just wanted to write up a quick post today about how I've been feeling the last few days... The big word that sums it up? Thankful.

God has been doing so many amazing things in my life and in our home. I just can't help but tell it! : )

Psalm 9:1-2

¹I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

²I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

I've been reading a great book that deals a lot with just trusting the Lord, resting in Him and His plans. There is no better place to be. It has been wonderful to see Him work and see His blessings.

Psalm 105:1-3

¹O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

²Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.

³Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

I just want to thank the Lord--for everything. He's causing my family and I to grow in every circumstance. Thank you!

1 Thessalonians 5:18

¹⁸In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

And, of course, I'm ever thankful for the most special gift ever given--celebrated especially this weekend.

John 3:16-17

¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

¹⁷For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Ephesians 2:1-9

¹And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

²Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

³Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

⁵Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

⁶And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

⁷That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast.

: )

What are you thankful for today?

~Page

Easter Dinner

2011-04-22T09:34:00.007-05:00

This recipe is brought to us by my sister, Hannah. As an aspiring gourmet chef who is pretty brilliant in the kitchen, she never ceases to please the bellies of all who partake in her fabulous meals! This meal is NO exception, in fact I'm craving it right now!! (Thanks Hannah :-P )

Are you trying to figure out an exceptional Easter dinner? Then look no further!! Read this recipe, jot down the ingredients and then make a mad dash to the store!! It will be sure to impress your family, guests and all who have the privilege of eating it. This meal would make the perfect "special occasion" dinner."

SlowCooked Lamb Shanks with Roasted Almond, Parsley and Lemon Gremolata

This recipe comes from one of my favorite chefs, Tom Kime. I find his food to be comforting and elegant as well as down right delicious! If you ever have company to impress this is surely the meal to do it with! Lamb is one of my all time favorite meats to prepare. It has a tangy somewhat earthy flavor that makes one savor each and every tender bite! My mouth is watering already! Make sure you have plenty of time to prepare this decadent meal...as the cooking time is quite a bit, but the end result is worth it!

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

4 trimmed lamb shanks

2 T. Olive Oil

4 garlic cloves, halved, green shoot removed

1 dried chile, crushed

3 sprigs rosemary

6 ripe plum tomatoes

2 large onions, sliced

4 strips orange zest

2 bay leaves

1 tsp. brown sugar

Generous 1/3c red cooking wine

2 1/4 c water

2 c. prepared white or brown rice

Salt & Pepper

Gremolata: ( Gremolata or gremolada is a chopped herb condiment typically made of lemon zest, garlic, and parsley. )

¾ c blanched skinless almonds

2 garlic cloves

Zest of 2 lemons

Small bunch or flat-leaf parsley

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350*. Season the meat well with salt and pepper. Heat a little oil in a skillet. Add the meat and brown for 3 minutes on all sides, remove from the heat. Chop the garlic, chile, and rosemary together. Set aside.

Cut the tomatoes in half and spoon out the seeds. With the skin side in your hand grate the flesh on a cheese grater to form a rough tomato pulp. The skin will be left in your hand.

Remove the meat from the skillet and add a little more oil. Return to the heat and add the garlic, chile, and rosemary and fry for 2 minutes until fragrant and aromatic. Add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes, until softened. Season with salt and pepper.

Return the meat to the skillet with the orange zest, bay leaves, sugar, tomato pulp, wine and water.

Cover the dish, place on the stove and bring to a simmer. Then transfer to the preheated oven and cook for an additional 2 ½ hours, basting regularly.

Meanwhile make the Gremolata. Roast the almonds in the oven until golden brown. Finely chop the garlic…chop very finely since this will be eaten raw. Add the cooled almonds and the lemon zest. When ready to serve, chop the parsley, add to the gremolata.

Place a good amount of prepared rice on each plate followed by a succulent lamb shank then scatter the gremolata over the lamb and the rest of the plate. Serve with a salad of choice and Enjoy!

Marinated Baked Ricotta with Roasted Vegetables in a Lemon and Basil Dressing

This salad is so light and refreshing. All the flavors mingle well and the outcome is incredibly delightful! I love serving this salad with the roasted lamb shanks posted above. Both dishes compliment each other beautifully. Try either recipe to impress some picky eaters or catch up on some brownie points. ; )

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

2 whole ricotta cheeses, 7 ounces each

2 medium sweet potatoes, washed and cut into cubes

1 butternut squash, peeled and cut into cubes

2 fennel bulbs

½ c pine nuts or slivered almonds

2 handfuls mixed bitter and peppery salad greens…I love arugula!

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

Marinade for ricotta:

½ red chile

3 T. olive oil

Juice of 1 lemon

Dressing:

½ garlic clove finely chopped

Pinch of salt

Small bunch of basil, roughly chopped, plus extra for garnish

Juice and zest of 1 lemon

4 T. olive oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400*. For the marinade, seed and finely chop the chile, then mix with the olive oil and lemon juice. Add the whole ricotta cheese to the marinade. Turn the cheeses regularly in the mixture.

Season the cubes of sweet potato with a little oil and salt and pepper. Place in a roasting pan and roast in the oven for about 20 minute, until caramelized and golden.

Roast the butternut squash in the same way, until golden brown and caramelized. Halve the fennel bulbs, removing the tough outside layer, cut each half into thin wedges.

Dry-roast the nuts of choice on a separate baking sheet until golden brown in color.

For the dressing, crush the garlic with the salt to a fine puree. Place the garlic and most of the chopped basil in a food processor and blend to a paste. Add the lemon juice and zest and work until smooth, stir in the olive oil. Check the seasoning. It should be sharp and a bit salt to work with the sweetness of the vegetables.

Heat an ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the whole ricotta cheeses and brown on one side for 2-3 minutes on one side. Gently turn over- if they’re too fragile to turn just brown on one side. Scatter the fennel around the skillet, season well with salt and pepper, and transfer to the oven for 5 minutes.

When the sweet potato and squash are cooked (they should be soft to the point of a knife), let cool slightly, then place in a bowl and dress with two-thirds of the basil dressing. Add the salad greens, tearing any that are too big. Tear in the extra basil leaves. Add the fennel and then gently break in the ricotta cheese. Mix together lightly to avoid it turning to a pulp.

Place salad mixture on each plate pour remaining dressing over the salad and garnish with some torn herbs and roasted nuts. The cheese and the roasted vegetables complement each other brilliantly, and are brought to life by the tangy dressing!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We hope you enjoy this extraordinary Easter menu, pair it with your favorite dessert and you'll have quite the feast!

Enjoy this guest post? Head over to her Food Blog for more amazing recipes at http://raesgourmet.blogspot.com/

Wishing everyone a blessed weekend thinking on the REAL reason for Easter, our Saviour's glorious resurrection from a death on Calvary's cross for all mankind! Praise God for the shed blood of Christ that has the power to wash our sins away!

~Lauren

The One Way of Salvation, C.H. Spurgeon

2011-04-18T10:12:00.003-05:00

Acts 15:11 "But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they."

So, I had it all planned out what I was gonna post today--but I just couldn't get a peace about it. And this is where I ended up... : )

765. The One Way of Salvation

This is a great message by C.H. Spurgeon titled "The One Way of Salvation". Someone is supposed to see this today--please don't wait to accept the wonderful, free salvation offered by the Lord.

Romans 10:9-10 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

~Page

Creamy Caramel Dip!!!!

2011-04-12T10:05:00.011-05:00

(photo courtesy of Taste of Home)

I LOOOOOOVE this recipe, in fact - I'm craving it right now!! It's cool, creamy and absolutely delicious!! I love to serve it with apples and strawberries, and every time I make this for a party - it's ALWAYS a huge hit! I think this is the perfect addition to any Summer BBQ or get together. It's light, fresh, and ....somewhat healthy? Ok, the dip is completely UN-healthy, but the fruit is good for you anyway! ;-D Try it and let me know what you think!!! Oh and just so you know, this stuff goes FAST - I would recommend making a double batch just in case. ;-)

~Creamy Caramel Dip~

Ingredients

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 cup cold milk
1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
Assorted fresh fruit

Directions

In a bowl, beat cream cheese and brown sugar until smooth. Add the sour cream, vanilla, lemon juice, milk and pudding mix, beating well after each addition.
Cover and chill for at least 1 hour. Serve as a dip for fruit. Yield: 3-1/2 cups

Enjoy!!

~Lauren

What Guys Think About Modesty - (Modesty Part II)

2011-04-07T09:31:00.002-05:00

‎"We are to be people who are different & distinctly different, not self righteously distinct, but humbly distinct for our brothers who are saved, for the lost yet to be saved, & ultimately for the SAVIOR who SAVED us."

Ladies, we pray this is a blessing to you and cautions all of us to dress in such a way that brings glory to the Lord!

~Lauren & Page

Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss "Spring Jacket Refashion"

2011-04-06T11:35:00.002-05:00

Ok--so, if there is a blog I LOVE to follow--it's Julie's "Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss". She is an uber creative, wonderful christian woman. Her creativity just kills me...

Seriously--if you've never visited her blog, I just want to prepare you... IT ROCKS!! You won't wanna stop looking at all of the great crafts, whether large or small. Hhhhmmm... What I'd give to step in her house and just look around!! : )

Anyways--when I saw one of her latest posts, "Spring Jacket Refashion"--I just had to share it with you all! The makeover made my heart swoon... So cute, so easy, super chic!

"The before"

Click here to check it out!

You'll love it--no doubt!

~Page

1 Corinthians 10:31 "Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

UNRESOLVED CONFLICTS

2011-04-04T18:03:00.002-05:00

Such a great devotion about the importance of forgiveness!!!

Devotions from Pastor Thomas Smith, St Clair MO

UNRESOLVED CONFLICTS
Devotion for April 04, 2011

"Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him."
Genesis 37:3, 4.

What causes the kind of violence and acts of hatred that are so common in our culture? Even among family members, heinous crimes are becoming more commonplace. What causes the malicious treatment often witnessed among professing Christians? The story of Joseph and his brothers has at least one answer to these questions. The ill treatment of Joseph by his brothers was the result of pent up resentment and bitterness. Joseph had reported some of his brothers' mischief to their father. Then they were jealous over Jacob's preferential treatment of Joseph. Added to that, they resented the dreams that Joseph shared with them. One thing led to another, and eventually they sold him into a life of slavery. Afterwards, they lied to their father, causing him to believe Joseph was dead. Thus, they sentenced their father to a life of grief.

All of this behavior serves to teach us the way ill feelings can compound. It is doubtful that the bitter brothers would have banished their younger brother to a life of slavery after only one issue of disagreement with him. But what often happens is that one issue that is not resolved becomes the ingredient that future conflicts are mixed with. With each added bit of envy or anger, the hatred only grows stronger. If the brothers had been diligent in confessing and reconciling with each individual occurrence, it is highly improbable the eventual separation would have ever materialized.

The damaging results of envy, bitterness, and unresolved conflicts are real and they are serious. When we allow resentment or envy to reside in our hearts, it will eventually cause great hurt. It will harm us as well as others. Even small differences, which we might think are unimportant, if they are not dealt with properly, can contribute to very serious problems. All of us have been hurt, or have had things happen to us that we just do not understand. Unresolved conflicts can be the ammunition Satan uses to destroy. The only way to avoid being corrupted by bitterness is to forgive others in the same way our Savior has forgiven us.

Quick Tip Wednesday!

2011-03-30T09:10:00.005-05:00

I learned about this nifty little tip a couple of years ago and felt SO stupid for never realizing it before!!

I'm sure we've all grabbed the aluminum foil, plastic wrap, etc, and accidentally yanked the entire roll out of the box in the process! That is SO annoying!!

However, did you know that there are these neat little tabs at the end of each box to lock the roll into place?!? I know that many of you probably already knew about this and are pretty brilliant to have avoided yanking the entire roll out of the box because of it. ;-) However, for those of you who were like me a few years ago....please take this "quick tip" to heart! It's so useful!!

Do you have a "Quick Tip" to share with everyone?? List it below in the comments with your name, and perhaps we'll blog about it in your honor!! ;-D

~Lauren

Bearing a Loss and Learning His Will...

2011-03-29T06:59:00.011-05:00

I'd like to start this post with a passage from God's Holy, Perfect Word...

2 Samuel 12

¹⁶David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

¹⁷And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

¹⁸And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?

¹⁹But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.

²⁰Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

²¹Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

²²And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

²³But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

²⁴And David comforted Bathsheba his wife...

Just recently, I had a dear friend who lost a child.

The words don't hardly come to me on how to express my sorrow for their loss...

My heart broke deeply over this little one, as I had spent many a time in prayer about her--morning, through out the day, and sleepless nights thinking and pleading to The Almighty, Perfect God about her. She had been very sick for a while...

It was actually just right before her passing that The Lord led me to the above passage. I had never read it until then, or at least read it with someone deeply burdened on my heart this way before... And was comforted to hear it again at her funeral... So I wanted to share it with you.

I want to say upfront that I have not personally experienced the loss of a child. And I don't want to come across as an "expert on the matter". I can never fully comprehend what any parent that has experienced the loss of a child has gone through. I don't ever want to. I would not wish that for anyone. But, I do hope that if anyone that has experienced this hardship in their lives, they can see what God's Flawless Word says about it... It's just something that has been on my heart...

God is an Amazing God. His ways are higher. His thoughts are pure, righteous, and flawless.

Isaiah 55:8-9

⁸For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD.

⁹For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

We can't always understand why God allows certain things in our lives and the lives of those close to us. That's because we are not perfect.

Romans 3:23

²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God

God knows everything--from start to finish. He is omniscient (all knowing), omnipresent (always present), omnipotent (all-powerful). He is perfect. His way is perfect. His will is perfect.

Psalm 18:30

³⁰As for God, His way is perfect: the Word of the LORD is tried...

God has a plan and purpose for all things.

Ecclesiastes 3

¹To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

²A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

³A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

⁴A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

⁵A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

⁶A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

⁷A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

⁸A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

¹⁰I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

¹¹He hath made every thing beautiful in His time: also He hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

¹⁴I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before Him.

Because God is perfect, we have to trust His plan and His will for our lives.

Psalm 31:14-15

¹⁴But I trusted in Thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.

¹⁵My times are in Thy hand...

God loves us. And nothing can separate His Children from Him.

Romans 8:35, 37-39

³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

³⁷Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.

³⁸For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

³⁹Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

He guides and provides.

Proverbs 3:5-6

⁵Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

⁶In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

Romans 8:32

³²He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

He is God.

I can't say that I have never struggled with some of these things. Accepting something that I believe should be a certain way--but isn't. But, I am a sinner--imperfect, flawed, and blemished... God is perfect. His Word sets the standard--and clearly tells me that it's not my will be done, it's His. And there is NO better way for ANYTHING to be done.

I am learning to trust God and His plan for my life. It sounds scary--but remember, when you give your life over to God--you're giving your life to a PERFECT, HOLY GOD, that loves us in ways we can't even understand and wants the best for us--not just now, but eternally.

Trust and believe in God. In every situation and circumstance, rest and find true peace in Him.

Some past posts that may help:

"The Joy of the Lord is my Strength" For verses that remind us about keeping our joy--always, in every situation.

"How Big is God?" There is nothing to compare to God. HE IS GOD. There is none bigger, nothing greater.

"Lord, Thank You" A biblical reminder of what the Lord has done for us and for you...

"Why I Believe in Jesus" Foundation of belief in Christ. Are you one of those in doubt?

"I'm SO very thankful..." Have YOU experienced this so great salvation? The salvation that ONLY Christ can give? Do you know that your sins are forgiven? Do you know where you will spend eternity? There is nothing in and of ourselves that we can do, it is ALL through Jesus Christ, for He is the only way!

Just one last thing before this post ends... A measure of comfort for those who have experienced loss and for those who will... From the verses above:

²²And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

²³But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again?I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

"I shall go to him." How powerful. How beautiful. For those of us who have experienced salvation--that only comes from God through Jesus Christ--we shall go to them.

God is Amazing. Gracious and Holy. Perfect and Righteous. Loving and my Father.

Amen.

~Page

"Burger BBQ Buffets Blizzard Blues"

2011-03-23T11:37:00.014-05:00

Now, for most of you all out there - Spring has sprung where you live. For us here in Northern America aka NORTH DAKOTA.....we experienced quite the Winter storm yesterday. However, we are the "Frozen Chosen" and because the calendar says it's Spring, many of us have decided to think of it as really being Spring despite ALL the white stuff still on the ground. Ok, so it's not really as bad as the picture above indicates (I just like to be dramatic at times)

What better way to battle the blizzard blues, than to have a burger BBQ?!? Sean & I decided to spend this blustery blizzard day with friends and AMAZING food. I'm here to share a couple of delicious recipes with you.

First off, this prego lady was craving homemade gourmet burgers.

My FAVORITE recipe is as follows: Homemade Burgers

Ground Beef - we used 7lbs and made quite a few GOOD size burgers
Famous Dave's Steak & Burger seasoning (my fav!!) - I never measure, so eyeball it
Worcestershire sauce -liberal amounts, this stuff is great in burgers!

Form into nice sized patties, keeping in mind that they WILL shrink in size once grilled.

Next, have your hunky hubby grill the burgers to perfection (yes, my husband is the ultimate grill master!!) I LOVE that guy!!

No burger is complete without your choice of toppings and we certainly had quite the selection yesterday! That is something I LOVE about homemade burgers, there are SO many options to make your burger exactly what you want it to be.
Our toppings were:
**Variety of cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, avocado (a MUST!), sauteed mushrooms and onions. Of course ketchup, mayo, yellow mustard, and spicy mustard. We had quite the "create your own burger buffet" going on!

Pile your burger so high that you'll have to eat it with a fork - that's when you KNOW it's gonna be amazing! haha

Now, a Burger BBQ isn't complete without a satisfying dessert. This is where the magic comes into play. Have any of you ever made homemade CUSTARD ice cream?? Once you've had this dreamy concoction, there really is no going back to "normal ice cream". It is OUT OF THIS WORLD GOOD!!!! Serve this to your guests, and you will truly create a memorable experience for all involved. It takes a little extra time, but is SO worth it!!

I used the Pioneer Woman's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream recipe which you can view here. She has many wonderful recipes you'll wanna check out while you're over there, not to mention some great illustrations on how to make this decadent dessert. For those of you who would rather view the recipe here, it is as follows:

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Ingredients

1 whole Vanilla Bean, Split And Scraped - REAL vanilla makes ALL the difference!
3 cups Half-and-half
2 cups Sugar - I might try 1/2 cup less next time, just my preference.
8 whole (up To 9) Large Egg Yolks
3 cups Heavy Cream

Preparation Instructions

Heat half-and-half and 2 cups sugar in a saucepan over low heat, adding vanilla “caviar” to the mixture. (You can also drop in the scraped vanilla bean, just to extract all the flavor. Make sure to discard the bean before moving to the next step.) Turn off heat when mixture is totally heated.

Beat egg yolks by hand or with an electric mixer until yolks are pale yellow and slightly thick. Temper the egg yolks by slowly drizzling into the 1 1/2 cups of hot half-and-half mixture, whisking constantly. After that, pour the egg yolk/half-and-half mixture into the pan containing the rest of the half-and-half mixture. Cook over low to medium-low heat (depending on how hot your stove gets) until quite thick, stirring constantly. Drain custard using a fine mesh strainer, (I skipped this step, and it turned out perfectly fine),then pour into a bowl with the heavy cream. Stir to combine.

Chill mixture completely, then freeze in an ice cream maker until thick. Place container in freezer to harden for at least eight hours.

My parents gave us one of those uber cool ice cream makers that can make ice cream in 20-25 minutes! I'm not sure if I should thank them a million times over or blame them for the undeniable pounds I'm sure to gain from this spectacular little machine! Ha!

I love homemade ice cream and love that it can be so simple to make....not to mention that you know EXACTLY what's in it. Try it, you won't regret it!! (although, your waistline might!)

I hope our Blizzard BBQ inspires you to go fire up the grill and enjoy the warmth that this season is SUPPOSED to be bringing. Please, for those of you who have green grass and budding blooms, enjoy them for ME! I know ND will catch up in a month or so, until then - long live the Blizzard BBQ's!!

~Lauren

Almost....is not enough.

2011-03-21T12:38:00.007-05:00

Last Sunday our Pastor preached a message entitled "Almost". It was so profound, I continue to think about it. I supposed you could say I've been meditating on it ever since I've heard it. How simply obvious to say that if you ALMOST have something, you DON'T have it. I think there are so many people who "almost" have salvation, and think they're ok....yet they miss the boat entirely!

Matthew 7:14 "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT! I think one of the most heartbreaking stories in the Bible is that of King Agrippa. He was SO close to turning to Christ, he was one of those that ALMOST had it, yet the Bible never gives account of him actually getting saved. The following phrase is one that breaks my heart, because I know that just like King Agrippa, many people have essentially said this very thing!

Acts 26:28 "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian."

King Agrippa, like many in this world, are almost persuaded, almost saved - but even being so close they are still ENTIRELY lost! If you have 80% of something, you still do NOT have it!! I know of people who have come so close to getting saved, yet they end up rejecting Christ and deciding to live for self and remain lost in their sin. How tragic!! The power of sin and self is very real. It takes the Word of God to pierce the soul of man.

I'm reminded of this sobering Hymn written by Philip Bliss.

Almost Persuaded

(1) "Almost persuaded" now to believe;

"Almost persuaded" Christ to receive:

Seems now some soul will say,

"Go, Spirit, go Thy way;

Some more convenient day

On Thee I'll call."

(2) "Almost persuaded," come, come today;

"Almost persuaded," turn not away:

Jesus invites you here,

Angels are lingering near,

Prayers rise from hearts so dear,

O wanderer, come.

(3) "Almost persuaded," harvest is past!

"Almost persuaded," doom comes at last!

"Almost" cannot avail,

"Almost" is but to fail!

Sad, sad, that bitter wail,

"Almost," but lost!

Almost, but lost. Don't be that person who is "almost persuaded" to take salvation seriously. Don't be that person who is "almost persuaded" to seriously examine your soul's condition. Don't be that person who is "almost persuaded" to turn your back on your sin and turn to Christ in repentance and faith. Don't be that person who is almost....but lost.

Think on these things as you go throughout your week...

~Lauren

Breaking the Hard and Haughty Heart

2011-03-03T08:03:00.005-06:00

Philippians 2:1-11
" ¹If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
²Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
³Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
⁴Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
⁵Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
⁶Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
⁷But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
⁸And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
⁹Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
¹⁰That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
¹¹And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

I heard a story this last week that really touched my heart--and reminded me of the importance of having a humble, Christ-like attitude in my every day life.

A dear friend and missionary to Africa, Yohannes Gatenah (John for short), is an amazing man. If you ever have the privilege of meeting and speaking with him, your life would only be richer for it. His ministry is to the deaf people of Zambia. God has blessed his ministry in huge and awesome ways. As I could talk on and on about John--I'll try to keep it to just this one story, but he has so many amazing and wonderful stories of the miracles, mercies, and love of God that I could fill this blog up!! : )

Part of the ministry John has is a deaf school for children. The deaf in Zambia are actually considered lower life forms than dogs in Africa. Many children come to this school--unloved and unwanted--not even having a name, because their parents did not deem them worthy or acceptable as a living being. The stories of most of these children would leave us shocked, appalled, and deeply heart broken. Just the thought of some of the things I know of some brings me to tears instantaneously.

One child John talked about the other night was a very young deaf boy, in the neighborhood of 5-7 years of age. One day--he had an accident in his clothes. The teacher, whose heart was had lapsed into hardness over the situation, decided to teach the boy a lesson by stripping him of all of his clothing and making him stand outside in the cold for all to see. Her goal was to shame him--hoping this would cure him of ever making the same mistake of having an accident.

Take a moment (before I tell you what happened to the boy), if you will, to examine this situation from all sides. It's easy to think that this teacher was just malicious and calloused... But the point of the story is not to judge the boy's teacher--but to examine ourselves, our hearts, our motives... We may not strip a child and shame him in front of countless others, but what has my hardened, sinful heart caused me to do? Did we lose heart and grow irritation over an "annoying kid at church"? Did we try to avoid him/her because "we just can't stand them"? Did we look down our nose at a struggling believer? Did we offend? Did we forgive? I hope you see what I'm saying... Hard and haughty hearts ruin our relationship with Christ, and in turn--our relationship with other believers... Remember the above verses:

²Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

³Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

⁴Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

These verses and countless others call us to be humble--to be a servant--to let go of self-love and pride and render our lives to Christ--to care for others, and see them as the wonderful gifts from God that they are. EVERYONE.

Now, back to the boy... Can you imagine what it was like, standing there--with accident still on you--cold and naked--friends and peers staring? His little heart was broken. John was in his office, and looked out his window and saw the boy. He immediately went to see what was going on. The teacher told him about the accident and how she was teaching him a lesson. John's heart was broken. This godly man handled the situation, with all of the love and humility of Christ. He did speak with the teacher--to remind her that although she truly had no obligation to clean the boy--her commitment to God and her need for Christ-likeness and servanthood was much greater.

John took the boy, cleaned him and gave him clean clothes to wear. The love this child felt--that welled up inside his little soul--was great. His heart was knit to John. This child experienced true, Christ-like love and servanthood, and it had deeply rooted in him and impacted him greatly.

Sadly, just a few, short months later, the boy was hit by a car and killed. John's heart broke again, right before us, as he relayed this to us. But that was not the end of this little boy's story!

When the boy had went home, the day he had his accident on his clothes, he told his father about John and what John had done for him. When they had the boy's funeral--the father talked with John, about how the boy felt for him, and about how he (the father) felt for John as well because of his kind, loving actions toward his son. As a result, the father began attending John's church--and was SAVED.

Do you see? John, humbling himself, cleaning a mess that he did not have to clean--helping a child that he could have left to learn a harsh lesson--representing the very core of Christ in His ways--was a major part in bringing a lost father to the Lord.

What if John hadn't? What if he just didn't want to deal with "an accident" that day? What happens when we don't?

Please remember. Our actions, whether Christ-like or not, impact and impress upon others. And, as believers in Christ, we are to be Christ-like. Whether it's the man on the curb, the driver in the car in front of us, the child on the bus who hasn't showered in a week, "that kid" at church, that person who offended me... EVERYONE. We are to do as the verses above say...

~Page

Weight Update and a Surprise!

2011-02-16T10:06:00.004-06:00

Hebrews 13:20-21 "Now the God of peace...Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Well--long time, no blog!! : ) It has been waaaay too long (which will be explained shortly)--and I have been so ready to get back in the game!

I have had many things on my heart the last several weeks, which I will share over the next several days, but today--I'm keeping it to just 2 things. So here goes...

1. A Weight Update.

Bwa ha ha ha! So funny!!

I have been so encouraged by the loving and caring response I received about my weight blog posts.

I introduced myself here, explained the biblical views on weight loss here, and talked about "a plan" here.

I am so happy to say, that in my first month, I lost around 10 pounds! Woot woot!! Eating healthy and exercising... It's been really great--learning to rely on God and His help. And He does help. Thank you, Lord!

How have you all done? I am looking forward to hearing!!

2. A Surprise.

I almost don't know what to say. We are shocked, yet very happy and excited. The verse above is so reassuring to me--knowing that even though it wasn't our plan--it is God's plan, which is perfect and wonderful... "working in you (and me!) that which is well pleasing in His sight". even quite literally!! : ) *Sigh of comfort and relief*

Needless to say--this is one reason why I haven't blogged in so long. This little, blueberry-sized wonder has been rather rough on his/her mommy. : ) As I'm sure many of you mommy's out there know all too well about!

3. So how does this affect the weighty issues?

Well--I'm so glad you asked! : ) Let me just say that, all though this does change the plan somewhat--in the way of the amount of weight I can loose... It doesn't mean that I will stop!

I had a great talk with the baby doc about the subject of weight... You know, when I had Little Red, I fell into the trap of "eating for two". And, I DID. Ugh. Now--I know better. I won't make that mistake again.

Part of me is a little scared about the weight and body effect this little one will have on me... But, God is in control--as ALWAYS--and I'll rely on Him and His help. : )

Hhhhhmmmmmmm... What a crazy month this has been... : )

Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

~Page

Love One Another

2011-02-14T15:59:00.003-06:00

It's far too easy to think of Valentine's Day as only a "romantic holiday". In fact, it's a holiday that promotes the idea of "Love" itself. God IS love and this devotion so aptly explains the importance of it. We thought it would be appropriate to share this wonderful devotion with you on this very special day. Enjoy and be encouraged!!

LOVE ONE ANOTHER
Devotion for February 14, 2011
written by Pastor Thomas Smith, St Clair MO

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
I John 4:7, 8.

There are many adjectives, or descriptive words that readily come to mind when we think of God. Words such as mercy, judgment, power, holiness, and peace, are just a few. However, there is one word that perhaps comes to mind more often than all others. That word is love. "God is love."

Love is the attribute that God is most consistently known for. It is the nature of God to love. Love is an expression of the essence of His person. His love is not partial. The Word of God says that He loves the entire world. Each of us can personalize this life-changing truth. We are deeply loved by God. His love is not passive, for it is the motivating factor in His sending His Son to die on the cross for our sins. As the song writer said, "No one ever cared for me like Jesus."

Because God is love, it is only reasonable that we would be expected to love. We can love in a godly way because we have experienced divine love and because we are indwelt by His supernatural love. No one is capable of loving like a Christian. There is a kind of love and a depth of love that those outside of Christ are not familiar with and are unable to express. This love is the result of God's love being a part of our lives. We have been introduced to a level of love from God that challenges us to love others more powerfully, unconditionally, and sincerely. The Bible says that a person who does not love properly does not know the Lord. The more we experience the love of God in our lives, the more qualified and capable we are to love others.

When the fruit of the Spirit is listed in the Word of God, the first word used to describe the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in a believer is love. We are at the same time recipients of and conduits of the very unique and extremely needed love of God. Each of us can be motivated to love others as we have been loved. We are repeatedly encouraged to love each other in the family of God. This is a trademark of true believers. We also need to express and experience God's love within our families: loving our parents, siblings, children, and of course, our spouse. Every person has a basic need to know he is loved. That need is met as we receive God's love and share His love with others.

Romans 8:28

2011-02-10T10:38:00.003-06:00

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

All things work together for good.......don't they? We read the verse, we quote it, but do we really believe it? Sometimes when you're having "one of those days" it's truly hard to live this verse, but it doesn't take away from the truth of it.
All of us have had the days where nothing seems to be going right, and when that happens it's SO easy to morph into "crabby patty". Car troubles, fussy kids, home maintenance problems, unexpected financial burdens, illness, spiritual battles, wayward children, marital issues, friendship strife, and the list could go on and on! These are all things that can easily cause our day to spiral out of control. What a blessing that we can cling to the promises found in God's Word, more specifically Romans 8:28!

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

The key to this verse is that "all things work together for good to them that LOVE GOD". This isn't a verse for the lost, but rather the saved. Christian, have you checked your love for God lately? Do you love the Lord? Love is a choice, and an action. Do your actions prove that your love for God is what it should be?

This "Thankful Thursday" I'm thanking God for the truth found in this verse and for His provision time and time again. He never fails to bring people along to help encourage us, or to help us in time of need. My friend had quite the interesting day yesterday, and I kind of did too. The Lord has a reason for everything and allows the "hardships" for a reason. We may not know why they happen, but our job is to trust God, despite what's going on around us! We are to remember that when our love for the Lord is correct, then there will always be a Romans 8:28 situation behind every trial. Maybe it's there to bring us closer to Him, or maybe it's there to open an even bigger window of blessings.

Deuteronomy 6:5 "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."

Have a Thankful Thursday, everyone!!

~Lauren

A Sure Foundation

2011-02-08T10:48:00.003-06:00

Enjoy this wonderful devotion from Pastor Thomas Smith, St. Clair, MO. May it encourage you and give you comfort as you go throughout your week!!

A SURE FOUNDATION
Devotion for February 08, 2011

"Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste."
Isaiah 28:16.

What glorious and inspired language the prophet used in describing the coming of the Messiah, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Rock! He is the Solid Rock on which every life should be built. To those who believe, He is precious. To others He is a rock of offense. Those who are not built upon Him and upon obedience to His Word are building their lives on sand and will not withstand the storms of life.

He is the Chief Cornerstone of the New Testament church. The stone which the builders rejected became the head of the corner. He is the stone cut out without hands Whose kingdom shall destroy all other kingdoms. Those who fall on this stone will be broken, and those who the stone falls upon will be ground to powder.

He is "a sure foundation." There is no more sure foundation than Jesus Christ. So many are building their lives and families on that which is shifting and uncertain. The safest and surest place to be for time and eternity is trusting in the Lord, resting on the "sure foundation."

"He that believeth shall not make haste." Believing on Him means having absolute confidence that Jesus is the way of salvation and the giver of eternal life and trusting entirely in Him and His sacrificial death for one's redemption. He that has his faith in Christ will not be forced to flee in fear and shame, but is eternally secure in the Lord. Our faith in Christ is not a passing fancy. We are not looking for another way because we know we have found the only way.

This assurance is not based on any merit of our own. Bible salvation is not earned by religious works or human effort. Our complete confidence is in Him, His divine person, His sinless life, His vicarious death and bodily resurrection, and His exceeding great and precious promises. We know with certainty who He is, what He has done, and what He can do for others. For this reason, we are not ashamed of Him. We can boldly say that the Lord is our Helper. We can point others to Calvary with absolute assurance that He is the answer for the needs of the world. We see such uncertainty and confusion in our generation. What a joy to know that in Christ we have found "a sure foundation!"

Rockin' Relics

2011-02-07T20:48:00.014-06:00

I'd like to introduce you to the cutest little 40's diner located in Rugby, North Dakota. Rugby just so happens to be the geographical center of North America! No, seriously!
My Mom and sisters decided to visit this little known diner last Summer and I really felt like I should've been hosting "Diners, Drive-In's, and Dives" on FoodNetwork. You know the show? Guy Fieri explores little known places with lots of charm and great food. Anyway....back to my story. We girls decided to do a bit of exploring and had such a great time together!
We walked into this charming cafe' and felt as though we had stepped back in time! Antiques greeted us at every turn and the entire feel of the place was so old fashioned and comforting!
Red and chrome spinning stools, vintage Coke A Cola items, and a Juke box all lent itself to the memorable experience.
This little diner even had some fabulous antiques for sale! What girl doesn't love shopping? :-D
Isn't this little vintage car so cute?!? I was so tempted to buy it for a photo prop!

The menu was quite varied and we had a tough time making up our minds on what to get that hot Summer day (typical girls). Amidst lots of talking, we finally decided on several delicious sandwich melts and of course classic ice cream floats! Mmm...good!

We had a great time together, and isn't that what it's all about? Creating special memories with your family is so important!! Explore new places, try new things, just make sure you do it together. You will never regret taking time to enjoy your family. One day you'll realize that the years have gone all too quickly and the memories you've made are all you have and are so very precious. Don't let the insignificant things of life become more important than your loved ones. Cherish them while you can!

So....if you're EVER in the small town of Rugby, North Dakota....make sure you take the time to visit this quaint little diner. You might just make some special memories of your own while you're there!

~Lauren

Valentine's Day "Love Jar"

2011-02-01T09:52:00.003-06:00

Ahh yes, February 1st - the "official countdown" has begun!! Some of you may be brainstorming about the perfect gift for your Valentine, and I am here to give you a wonderful gift idea! It's called the "Love Jar" or for a longer version "The Many Reasons Why I Love You" jar.
I created one for my husband a couple years ago and it was a huge hit! It's an incredibly edifying gift that's straight from the heart, and can be given to any loved one ANY time of the year! Give it to your spouse, grandparent, parent, child, etc!

*What you will need: Jar of your choice - I used a mason jar.

*Things you'd like to decorate it with - ribbon, scrapbook letters, beautiful paper, etc.

*Strips of paper to write on

*Label for the outside -you can be creative -"Many Reasons Why I Love You", "Love Jar", "I Love You Because...", "So Glad You're Mine", etc.

Next, simply write down the many reasons why you love your Valentine. Think of funny, creative, edifying, specific, and loving things to say. Anything and everything works! Everything from "I love the way you make me laugh", to "I love your cute freckle on your left ear". ;-)
It can take some time and thought to come up with so many unique and different reasons to fill your jar. However, I can assure you that once you get started, it'll just flow and be lots of fun! Not to mention that it's well worth it because you're taking time to think on all the positive things about your Valentine! What could put you in a better mood for that special day? This is a very thoughtful gift and if you use a large jar like I did, you can easily fit over 100 pieces of paper inside.

I hope this inspires you to begin your very own "Love Jar", it will mean the world to whomever you decide to give yours to. So, what are you waiting for?? Go get started! ;-D

~Lauren

Valentine Cake Pops

2011-01-31T13:49:00.008-06:00

How adorable are these cake pops!? Seriously, what a yummy bouquet of sweet goodness! I'm sure many of you have heard of these infamous "cake pops" as they've become quite the rage, but just in case you haven't - we wanted to share a quick "how to" on our blog! The great thing about these cute lil' treats is that you can be as creative as you'd like and decorate them to your heart's desire. Kids and adults alike will fall in LOVE with them!

What you will need: 1 box cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake) 1 can frosting (16 oz.) Wax paper Chocolate of your choice for dipping -white, dark, etc. Lollipop sticks *Sprinkles, hearts, etc.

After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl.
Mix thoroughly with 1 can frosting. (I use the back of a large spoon, but it may be easier to use fingers to mix together. But, be warned, it will get messy. Also, you may not need the entire can of frosting, so start out by using almost the entire can and add more if you need to.)
Roll mixture into quarter size balls and place on wax paper covered cookie sheet. (Should make 45-50)
Melt chocolate in the microwave per directions on package. (30 sec intervals, stirring in between.)
Dip the tip of your lollipop stick in a little of the melted candy coating and insert into the cake balls. (Insert a little less than halfway.)
Place them in the freezer for a little while to firm up.
Once firm, carefully insert the cake ball into the candy coating by holding the lollipop stick and rotating until covered. Once covered remove and softly tap and rotate until the excess chocolate falls off. Don’t tap too hard or the cake ball will fall off, too.

So what will it be? Double chocolate, Strawberry Vanilla, Red Velvet, German Chocolate, Lemon, Carrot Cake - the possibilities are endless!! Mmmm, can't you just taste them now!!
**These would make a great gift - for a teacher, students, party favors, centerpiece, etc.

Stay tuned for more Valentine's Day ideas!!

~Lauren