Be

I came across this song this morning.  Selah is one of my absolute favorite christian artists.

I couldn't help but notice how appropriate it is to my previous post about the apostle Paul.  It's truly touching.  I hope you enjoy.

Happy Monday!!

Powerful Words

I just love Sunday's don't you?  We are truly blessed to live in an area where there are many many great churches.  Real churches.  I happen to think that my family attends one of the best around.

I was really touched this morning not only in the sermon, but also in the music worship.  So many talented people!!  Makes me jealous, but glad that I can be spiritually fed through them.

Our Pastor has been speaking and just today finished in the book of Acts.  We've been learning about the apostle Paul and his journey and sacrifice for Jesus Christ.  I think the following verse sums up Paul's life.

Philippians 1:21

For to me to live is Christ

and to die is gain.



Wow!!  I have always been able to understand the "to die is gain,"  but to get to the "for me to live is Christ" that is the hard part.

Our lives are not to be about us.  They are to be all about Him.  Oh I already know this, but still fail.  Miserably.  This verse and message today struck a cord with me.  How does one get to that point in their life?  The point where we are fully living for Christ?  Like the apostle Paul.

I guess we can look to I Corinthians 15:31b for help.

I die daily.



Simply put.  It's dying to ourselves.  Simply put, but hard to do.

The Help

Happy Saturday Night.

Well, with my husband out of town the country and the boys tucked in their beds, it seems I couldn't come up with anything better to do, so I watched a movie.  Just flippin through the channels I came across the movie "The Help."

There are few "words" in the movie.  **I don't know why they have to put language in movies.  Drives me nuts.**  Despite this I must say I have throughly enjoyed the movie. 

The movie is so well done.  One minute you're crying and the next laughing.  Anything I can say wouldn't do it justice.  This is not a christian movie.  There was no Bible lesson, no teaching, preaching or scripture reading.  There was however one BIG valuable lesson to be learned.  And that is LOVE.

Can't say anymore.  Just go see it.

Why blog?

This is a question I have found myself asking now for quite some time.  Why do I blog?  Why do you blog?  Why does anyone blog?  I'm not really sure yet why I do.  I hope if you are reading this and you have a blog that you know why you blog.

Is it because I want people to know me and see how I live?  No, I don't think so.  If you haven't noticed I haven't even posted a photo of myself on this here blog.  (ahem Bevy, I see you noticed.)  Anyway, I am a very private sort of person.  It's not that I want to keep secrets from people, more that I don't think people really care what is going on in my life or others for that matter.  I don't even have a facebook account.  Do people really care what others are doing every moment of the day?  Or, is it just plain nosiness?  I don't know, just sending out the question.

Do I blog because I have something really important to say that everyone needs to hear?  No, that can't be it either, because I really don't have much that is worthy of hearing.  I really am just learning life as I go.  You would think at the age of ....nevermind let's just say at my age I should have a lot more figured out by now.

I once saw on another persons blog something about how she was trying to pick up traffic on her blog.  I found myself asking why?  I'm not really sure I want to "grow" my blog, if you know what I mean.  Because with a bigger audience becomes more pressure right?  And as a working mother, wife, sister, daughter and on the list goes, I certainly don't need any added pressure.  So, if that is the case than why blog?

I guess the real reason I started this blog was for my boys.  I am not a very talkative person...usually.  What I mean by that is, I don't tend to share my feelings outwardly.  I am not very affectionate either.  Don't tend to give a lot of hugs and kisses.  Wow, I just aired a lot of my dirty laundry on the world-wide-web.  Oh wait, nobody reads my blog anyway.  Shew!!  I'm good.  : ]

Anyway, back to the topic of discussion here.  I guess my hope is that someday my boys will want to read this blog and in doing so will see inside of my heart those things I was never able/willing to share.  Good and bad.  And know how I felt and what I was thinking.

So, while my blog may grow I will still be here spilling out my thoughts.  And while no one cares, I'll still do it.  For them.  After all, they are pretty much the reason I do everything I do.

So, tell me why you blog.

What's in a name?

I am going to try to revive this 'ol blog of mine.  I have had so many things going on in my head, but just couldn't get them on "paper."  I know what you're thinking, "this is a post about how a person "fits" their name, or why they were given a name."  Well, I'm sorry to say you are incorrect.  This is just something I haven't been able to let go, so I thought it must be worthy of a post.  We'll see.

Anyway, I overheard a conversation last week between a father and his son.  It was slightly disheartning.  I don't know this particular family very well yet, and may be a little presumptuous in my thoughts.  I'll give a quick version.  This boy made a comment about someone calling him a name, and his father said something to the affect of "I'm glad I don't call you that."  The son went on to say to his father that he did call him a name.  Mind you, this is not even a word I use, let alone call my child it.  Well, the step-mom went on to tell him what the word means, but we all know the father never intended that to be the purpose behind the name.  To end the conversation (or atleast what portion I heard) his father went on to say that his son was too sensitive and needed to stop taking him to heart.

That's the part that got me.  Here is this boy basically asking his dad not to call him a certain name, and his father tells him to stop being sensitive.  Let me ask, is it okay to call someone a name as long as it doesn't hurt their feelings?  This is a conversation I had with my husband last week.  I have been told that I am too sensitive to other peoples thoughts and opinions.  Another question, do I need to stop being sensitive and feeling hurt, so that the other person can have the freedom to state their thoughts?

As someone who is sensitive and hurt rather easily, I tend to bite my tongue when I sometimes so desperately want to say something.  Something I know could/would hurt someone else.  I can't imagine deliberately bringing pain to another individual.  And then, telling them to stop being sensitive to my hurtful words. 

I just wish people understood the power of words.  Both good and bad.  They can have a lasting impression on someone, and I'll add, if said enough those words could start to be believed.

Maybe we do need to be less sensitive, not to give others "freedom of speech" but because we as christians aren't to fear others, only God.  In other words, it's only important what God thinks of me and not others.  Right?  Then why do we take it to heart?

Maybe the kids have it right.  "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me."

A recipe: Homemade Granola

A few years ago a friend of mine made this granola for a morning MOPS meeting.  It was so delicious and she graciously shared her recipe with me.  Well, lately I've been getting a hankerin for some granola.  Here is what you need:

Homemade Granola

4 cups Old Fashioned Oats

2 cups coconut

1 cup sliced nuts

3/4 cup oil

1/2 cup honey



Stir together the oats, coconut and nuts.  (I used about 3/4c sliced almonds and 1/4c sunflower seeds.  Just use your favorite, or what you have on hand.)

Mix together the oil and honey.  This can be a little tricky because the honey does not incorporate well with the oil, but it doesn't matter.  Trust me, if I can make it work, you can!!

Next, you pour the wet ingredients over the dry and mix together till coated well.

Spread the mixture onto a cookie sheet.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.  Stir and return to oven for 15 more minutes.

There you have it.  Homemade Granola!!  *You can change the cooking time based on how brown you like yours.  Just remember to stir every so often.

Enjoy!!

Blogland

I am amazed at the power of blogland.  One short year ago, if you would have asked me about blogs I wouldn't have known of any, or even knew what they were.  But, I started reading the blog of a real-life friend and needless to say, I was hooked.  I am now a blog follower.  I love to read what is going on in others lives.  The strange thing is, I can see a little of myself in almost all of the blogs I read.

It's funny how I've never met any of them (ahem, except you Bevy) and I feel as though I know them personally.  I find myself pulling out the computer when I have a free minute to check on my "friends."  Most of them don't even know I exist, as I'm not "officially" following them, or if I am, I'm just a little blog and another name on their list of numerous followers.  I am ok with that, I like to blend in and not really make my presence known.

I have discovered in these few short blogging months just how much I've come to lean on my fellow bloggers.  For those bloggers that are the crafty DIYers, they are a great distraction to the real of life and an inspiration to make my home a little better.  The blogger mommies of little ones, their writings take me back to those baby days of my own.  Oh how I wish I could have those days back.  Than there are the fashionista bloggers, boy am I jealous, but they have opened my eyes to many things I didn't know about fashion and beauty.

But, I must admit, in my heart of hearts that the bloggers who share their life through the pages and pictures in their blogs are my favorite.  I've learned so much from them and have found so very many words of encouragement from each of them. 

At a time in my life when I'm transitioning from something old into something new (and sort of scary) these "friends", all of them have been just what this girl has needed.  I wish I could send a big hug to all of you out there, and thank you for being my friend.

So, from this little blogger to you.  Thank you!