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I recently came to listen to the music of Christian Artist, Twila Paris..... and all I can say is "wow"! This Christian Woman truly has been given the gift of music! She clearly uses her music to glorify the Lord! If you have not listened to twila's beautiful music and heard her lovely voice...... you need to!

Currently my favorite song is " Keepin' My Eyes on You".... beautiful!

~ gloria ~

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Last night I went to bed with a heavy burden on my heart...... crying out to God to help me to see what I needed to do to resolve this challenge -- the Lord led me to this passage in the Bible. It was exactly what I needed to read!  Isn't God great? He gives us the answers we need right from His word! Thank you Lord!

Jehoshaphat found himself in a predicament when he was told that a "vast army was coming against his people and was already at En Gedi" ( 2 Chronicles 20:3) . Alarmed, Jehoshaphat immediately turned to the Lord God and proclaimed a fast for all the kingdom of Judah.  The Bible tells us that "the people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord, indeed they came from every town in Judah to seek Him."  (  20:4 NIV)

And this is what Jehoshaphat told the people:

" O Lord God of our Fathers are you not the God who is heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. ... if calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgement, or plague or famine we will stand in your presense ... and will cry out to you in our distress and you will hear us and save us... O our God, will you not judge them?  For we have no power to face this army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do , but our eyes are upon you."    2 Chron. 20 : 6-12 NIV

So many times in life, when faced with a particular challenge, " I don't know what to do"...... but will my eyes "be upon Him"?  Will I seek His help as Jehoshaphat did for the kingdom of Judah? Will I seek His help when my family is faced with a particular trial or challenge?  I pray that I will do just as Jehosphaphat did and turn immediately to the Lord God for guidance!

As I fell upon my face seeking God' s help with a particular challenge I was having with one of my children --- the answer came so very clearly from the Lord.......

" Take up your positions, stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you ... Do not be afraid ; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow and the Lord will be with you. " 2 Chron. 20: 17 NIV

Will I take my "position" and "stand firm" and see God's deliverance?  Shall I be afraid? Shall I be discouraged because the battle seems so overwhelming? Shall I not go out and realize God will be with me to fight my daily battles?

And Jehoshaphat's response  to this counsel was:

" Jehosphaphat bowed with his face to the ground and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down to worship before the Lord.... then some levites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel with a very loud voice. Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehosphaphat stood and said, " Have faith, in the Lord your God, and you will be upheld ; have faith and you will be successful. After consulting the people Jehosphaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and praise Him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out ..." 2 Chronicles 20: 19-21 NIV

So shall I not do the same?  Shall I not gather all my children and bow down before the Lord with our face to the ground and worship Him? Shall I too not have faith in the Lord God that we will be upheld in our challenges and trials we face?  Shall I not appoint some of my children to sing to the Lord and praise Him????

I know that I am not facing an huge army -- but I am .. and "we are all" facing the enemy in some aspect in our lives.... for we fight not against  "flesh and blood" but against principalities and powers....against "spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" ( Ephesians 6:12)

Shall I not do as Jehosphaphat did and call my children together and fall down before the Lord, having my eyes upon Him and then go forth without fear knowing full well He will fight the battle for me/us!

So take courage my heart! Do not be discouraged o soul! The Lord our God does continue to fight the battles of His people -- whether that be armies and legions or whether that be the daily battles that face us in our homes as we raise our children and live with the flesh.

Oh God please help me to be like Jehosphaphat! Help me O Lord to keep my eyes upon you Lord! Let me praise your name in the midst of the 'army' that stands before me! Let my children and I lift up our voices in praise of your Holy Name!

~ gloria ~

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I remember singing this song at church-kindergarten and learning all the motions. I’m not sure if we sang it in front of the church or not, but I know we learned several. At night (er early hours of the morn) when the Littles just won’t rest we get out the Wee Sing kids song book and try to woo them to sleep with songs of praise.

The relationship between Christ and those who believe in Him can be portrayed in many ways, but this is one of my favourite ways to explain to even the Littlest who doesn’t quite understand who He is and just how precious we are to him.

His Banner Over Me Is Love

He is the Shepherd and we are the sheep,
His banner over me is love.
He is the Shepherd and we are the sheep,
His banner over me is love.
He is the Shepherd and we are the sheep,
His banner over me is love.
His banner over me is love!

He is the Vine and we are the branches,
His banner over me is love.
He is the Vine and we are the branches,
His banner over me is love.
He is the Vine and we are the branches,
His banner over me is love.
His banner over me is love!

He calls us to His Banqueting Table,
His banner over me is love.
He calls us to His Banqueting Table,
His banner over me is love.
He calls us to His Banqueting Table,
His banner over me is love.
His banner over me is love!

Lord is mine and I am His,
His banner over me is love.
Lord is mine and I am His,
His banner over me is love.
Lord is mine and I am His,
His banner over me is love.
His banner over me is love!

Jesus is the rock of my salvation,
His banner over me is love.
Jesus is the rock of my salvation,
His banner over me is love.
Jesus is the rock of my salvation,
His banner over me is love.
His banner over me is love!

Blessings!

Please join me and do the Saturday Psalm & Praise meme today. Add your SP&P link:

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I posted this almost a year ago, but I am re-posting it because the recipe has been requested again.

The Truth about Thrift Stores
by Rachel Muller
Could a thrift store be dangerous to your financial health?

When it comes to flea markets, thrift stores, and garage
sales, are you a shrewd shopper or a junk collector? The
answer may impact more than your finances, as I realized when
I examined my own behavior in this area.

Don't get me wrong; I'm a big fan of secondhand purchases.
Enter any room in my house, and most of what you'll find was
pre-owned. I dress well, but I pay only a fraction of what my
mall-shopping friends pay for their wardrobes. My home is both
comfortably and attractively furnished, and I didn't have to
go into debt to do it. Besides saving a significant amount of
money, I have the satisfaction of knowing that I benefit the
environment when I re-use perfectly good items and help keep
other people's cast-offs out of the landfill. When I shop at
thrift stores in my area, I'm also supporting worthwhile
charities.

This sounds like a win-win-win proposition, but there is a
potential downside. Garage sales and thrift stores can be as
addictive as malls. I'm more likely to get into financial
trouble if I'm buying new items recreationally, but even
thrift store purchases can add up. If I'm really going to wear
the three skirts and four blouses I picked up for a song, then
I can be proud of my bargain hunting abilities. If I'm going
to use the cast-iron apple peeler, or the battered mandolin is
going to add to the decor in my living room, then I have every
reason to be pleased with my purchases. But if the clothes are
just going to take up space in an already-crowded closet, and
the apple peeler is going to gather dust in a cupboard, then
not only have I wasted money on things I didn't need, but I've
also cluttered up my home. Whole books have been written on
how clutter costs time, money, and peace of mind.

I've recently taken stock of my secondhand purchasing
patterns. More than half of what I bring home can genuinely be
classified as useful. However, many of my "bargains" duplicate
things I already have, and some of them are downright useless.
In an attempt to become a wiser secondhand shopper, I've come
up with the following strategies:

1. Inventory what you own. If you have a weakness for kitchen
gadgets, then inventory what you already have, and what you
actually use, in your kitchen. If, like me, your weakness is
clothes, then check what you have in your closet. I tend to be
drawn to the same things over and over again, like black t-
shirts and denim skirts. Counting how many I already had was
an eye opener and will prevent me from making further
duplicate purchases.

2. Make a list of what you want or need. Keep track of the
items in your home that need to be replaced so that you
remember to check for them each time you're at a garage sale
or in a secondhand store. With your inventory in mind, keep
track of your children's present and future clothing needs.
Plan for upcoming events, such as occasions that call for
dressing up, holidays and celebrations that require
decorations or gifts.

3. Set spending limits. Plan how much you're willing to spend
on your "shopping spree" before you set out for the flea
market or enter a thrift store. Take cash with you instead of
a debit or credit card. If you find something you absolutely
must have that exceeds your spending limit, you can always ask
to make a deposit on it while you run to the bank machine.
Instead of seeing this as an inconvenience, see it as a gift
of additional "reflection" time.

4. Recognize your own second-hand shopping patterns. I am much
more likely to buy things I don't need at the cheapest thrift
store in my area than anywhere else. If an item is only a
dollar or two, I'll buy it without thinking. On the other
hand, I give a lot of thought to the items I buy at more
expensive consignment shops. Cheaper items aren't a bargain if
I don't use or wear them. I'm learning to be a more conscious
shopper wherever I am.

5. Eliminate clutter at its source. Check over your purchases
as soon as you bring them home, and you may see them in a
different light. Return unwanted items for a refund if you
can, donate them for a tax credit, sell them, or pass them on.
Just don't let them take up valuable space in your home!

Saving on Your Heating Bill
by Justin Ripley
You don't have much choice. You must heat your home.

With gas, heating fuel, and electric prices rising more and
more every day, many people are finding that the cost of
heating their homes is reaching astronomical proportions.
Unlike other monthly expenses that can be cut out of a
person's budget, home heating expenses are not an area where
we have much choice. We have to heat our homes during the cold
winter months just in order to survive. It's a simple as that.

Despite the fact that this is an expense we can not remove
from our budgets, there are a number of things that can be
done to trim those heating costs throughout the winter. Many
articles point to expensive remedies, such as installing
energy efficient windows or installing new insulation. While
these solutions work, it can take years to realize the savings
in lower heating costs. Conversely, most of these ten tips are
cheap, easy, and quick to implement. I hope they will save you
some money while keeping you warm throughout those cold winter
months!

1. Install a "smart" thermostat. While it may cost you
somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 to purchase a
programmable thermostat, it should pay for itself within a
year. Personally, I bought a 7-day programmable thermostat as
soon as I moved into my new house and I love it. It was
relatively easy to install myself and now the temperature in
my home fluctuates throughout the day per my plan. The heat
drops down to 62 during the day when I'm not home (why keep
the place warm when nobody is home!) then charges back up to
70 degrees shortly before I get back from work. At bedtime, it
drops down to 62 again, and then it heads back up to 70
shortly before I need to get out of bed in the morning. It's
great!

2. Throw some extra blankets on the bed. Following the thought
from above, I sleep in a relatively cold environment. I find
it to be better for my lungs, and frankly, once you're nestled
under a bunch of warm blankets, it's quite enjoyable. Not
heating the house to 70 degrees throughout the night will save
a bunch of money on those heating bills.

3. Consider buying a humidifier. Moist air feels warmer than
dry air, and it's better for your skin and lungs, too.

4. Wear wool socks in the house. The floors in your house get
cold in the winter as heat rises and colder air moves down.
Cold feet make cold people. Wool socks are cheap, comfortable,
and will keep you and your feet warm.

5. Wear a sweater. Like the socks, this is a cheap and easy
way to stay warm throughout the winter and allows you to set
the thermostat at a lower temperature. I've noticed that in
today's modern world people seem to think they should be able
to wear shorts and t-shirts in their homes throughout the
winter. This is fine if you want to pay for it. I'll take a
lesson from my ancestors and just bundle up a little bit.

6. Let the light in. Be sure to open the window shades and
blinds during the day. Sunlight coming in will act as passive
solar heat and can make a significant difference in the
temperature of your home.

7. Turn the ceiling fans on. This one may sound a little
crazy, but it works. Most ceiling fans have a switch on them
that allows them to run in reverse. By running the fan in
reverse at a low speed, it will actually help circulate warm
air throughout the house.

8. Seal the leaks. At the beginning of winter, go around your
home and seal up any potential air leaks with caulk or weather
stripping. Most of the heat that leaves your home escapes
through cracks around the windows and doors. To the extent
possible, seal these up!

9. Service your furnace. A dirty furnace is not efficient and
will cost more money to run than a furnace that receives
annual cleaning from a professional. In addition to periodic
servicing, be sure to replace those air filters.

10. Cook a big Sunday roast. Growing up in Maine, my Mom
always cooked a Sunday roast. Pork or beef with carrots,
potatoes, gravy, and all the other good stuff. It was a great
tradition to bring the family together at least one day a
week, and of course, the food was great, too. Coming from a
frugal ilk, there was another reason she did it. Cooking a
roast meant having the oven on for a few hours, and all that
heat definitely escapes into the house. It doesn't cost much
to run the oven, and it's also a nice way to spend a quiet
Sunday in the winter with family.

I hope these simple tips prove useful and help you save some
of your hard-earned cash this winter!

Take the Next Step:
- Try a few of these simple tips and save some of your hard-
earned cash this winter.

Get an envelope, cookie jar, coffee can or whatever   
you like and set aside the same amount every week.   
Whether it's $5 or $20, after a couple of weeks   
you're going to have a nice start on an emergency   
fund. The trick: don't count it, don't spend it and   
remember to hide it where no one -- including your-   
self -- will be tempted.   

Drums Along the Mohawk is a very good movie about a period in American history that not many movies have been made about. Set during the Revolutionary War, the story is about two newlyweds and their new life in the Mohawk Valley. The couple is trying to establish themselves with a home and farm of their own, but are interrupted when the British and the Mohawk Indian tribe begin to raid all along the valley. The settlers must deal with the raiding Indians while also trying to survive.

We borrowed this from the library the other day. It is an excellent movie. 

I went on Amazon to see if they have copies still available (this movie was made in 1939) and they have it on DVD and VHS.

It is so nice to find good movies, that don't edit out the Christian contribution that was made when this country was founded. This movie really gives you a look into the frontier families that were making this land their own during the revolutionary war.

Bless all who pass this way!

Amanda <><
II Corinthians 5:7

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Going through some previous posts that I had written, I came across this one and decided to re-post. 

I remember reading an article from  ”The Daily Telegraph” newspaper a few months ago that prompted me to write today’s posting.

This article was about a mother who was standing over her children watching them painstakingly writing “thank you” letters and complaining that they had to do and the fact they had missed their television programme. Does this ring any bells!

I remember from a very early age having to write “thank you” letters from presents received at Birthdays, Easter and Christmas and getting so stroppy as I had to write these letters.  I was not allowed to do anything else until these were done and trust me if my handwriting wasn’t perfect then my parents made me do them all over again - boy how I hated doing this and resented this every time.  Now I am so pleased that my parents made me do this “resentful” task.

Now it is much easier, as there is the telephone, internet cards and packs of “thank you” cards that you can buy in the stores.  I do still think though that writing your own “thank you” cards/notes adds a much more personal touch………though I have to say that I am guilty of not doing this nearly as often as I should and I tend to pick up the phone as it is so much easier nowadays to do this but I do intend in getting back to the art of saying thank you properly.

I have also noticed that children especially growing up in today’s world do not have the same values installed in them that our parents installed in us - and it is such a shame.  This is particularly relevant in today’s secular world.

We (myself included here) need to get back to the art of saying “Thank You” properly and installing this lost art back into our children’s lives too.

This is what I woke up to yesterday--UGH!  I am NOT ready for this!  I am never ready for it, but especially not the week before Thanksgiving!!

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