Hearts in Service

“There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no independence quite so important, as living within your means."  ~ Calvin Coolidge I haven't done a Frugal Friday post in quite a while so thought that it was a good choice on this last day in November. We've had a very tight few months and it's hard not to feel anxious about finances. I don't have much control over things like cars breaking down. With cars that have over 200,000 miles on them has been happening more and more. I can't control the cost of medical expenses or other fixed bills. One of the few areas of our finances I have control over is our grocery budget. I went grocery shopping the week before Thanksgiving so my refrigerator is really pretty bare. However, I've been able to be creative, plus use my pantry items and the bit of meat that's left in the freezer to come up with some good dishes. I'm going grocery shopping tomorrow so there will be rejoicing among the sna...

The way that I feel connected and loved is through words of affirmation. All it takes is just a word or two and I'm good to go for a while. It's amazing how much that does for my spirits and desire to keep moving forward and serve. Yesterday afternoon I received some words of affirmation and I went from feeling very down and discouraged to being upbeat, excited and ready to continue in my ministry. It's like a dose of adrenaline for me. All of this lead to some reflection about my own children and their particular love language and then it lead to a lightbulb moment about a situation I've been dealing with. One of my children is a lot like me which is probably why we clash from time to time. When I ask this one about something, in their ears it's coming across as me treating them like they are still a child. When I make a suggestion, they hear, "You can't do anything right." It's a vicious cycle that we've been going around and around f...

Exodus 34:1-7 (NIV) ~ The Lord said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai. Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain; not even the flocks and herds may graze in front of the mountain.” So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord . And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord , the Lord , the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilt...

At the moment, my house looks like an explosion happened. There is the normal mess and then added to that are bins of Christmas decorations, piles of fabric, piles of finished product waiting to be tagged, piles of baking supplies as Christmas cookies are being cranked out on a daily basis. There are piles of laundry waiting to be put away and piles of books waiting for me to crack them open. Chaos abounds! A regional shop messaged me last week and placed a custom order, but then also asked they could carry my items. So yesterday afternoon I took a drive there to deliver the order but then to check out the shop. It's really very cute and my items will fit well so I'll be making a delivery on Friday. I'm also prepping for a craft fair on Saturday. Our town has a huge Christmas event each year called, Christmas in Mexico. There is a tree lighting ceremony, a parade, and the shops and homes all decorate for Christmas. There are craft fairs in the school...

Exodus 31:1-11 (NIV) ~ Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills — to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze,  to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.   Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent— the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand— and also the woven garments , both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the ga...

It has been such a busy weekend and today is going to be busy as well. We have church this morning and then we are taking Emily back to college so will have a 6 hour round trip. When Emily found out we were going elsewhere for Thanksgiving, she wasn't happy. So she asked me if we could at least do our own Thanksgiving dinner when we got back home.  I asked her why and her response made me laugh. She said, "I like the smell of turkey when I wake up in the morning." And then later on she said, "I like when you set the table with pretty china and candles!" I think I may have spoiled my children! But I truly understand what she meant. She wanted the special touches that I usually do during the holidays. She wanted our meaningful traditions. We go around the table and say what we are thankful for, and then we pray for our meal. We set up the tree and decorate for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. There are certain foods we ...

We had a good Thanksgiving with Dan's family. We got up early and drove the five hours to Dan's sister's and then spent the night at his parents' house and came back home yesterday. It was a long couple of days, but I'm glad I went. It made me reflect a bit on family and what it means. Dan's side of the family has many, many differences. There are religious differences, political differences, and personality differences. At times, there are hurt feelings and feelings of anger towards the words of another. Not everyone gets along perfectly, and not everyone wants to get along. There are those who click well together and those who do not. This can probably be said about every family on the planet. I know it is true about my side of the family as well. No family is perfect or perfectly communicates. But from Dan and my point of view, this is what a family does. As a family we work hard to find the common ground at these get togethe...

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, priasing God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him--and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go, your faith has made you well." Luke 17:1-19 I love Thanksgiving. I love the meal, the friends and family, but most of all, the reminder to give thanks to the Lord for my blessings. It is so easy to remember all the things I'm thankful for during thi...