Recipe Exchange - J. Wyatt

Here are Jennifer's Recipes... ENJOY!

CHILI DIP
1 PACKAGE REDUCED FAT CREAM CHEESE
1 CAN HORMEL TURKEY CHILI-98% FAT FREE
SHARP CHEDDAR CHEESE- PROBABLY 1 1/2 CUPS
LAYER ALL THREE INGREDIENTS STARTING WITH CREAM CHEESE, THEN CHILI AND TOP WITH CHEESE. BAKE ON 350 FOR 30-40 MINUTES OR UNTIL CHEESE NICE AND MELTED. SERVE WITH TORTILLA CHIPS OR CUT VEGGIES.

V8 STEW
1-2 LBS BEEF STEW MEAT
2 LG CANS V8
ONION
CARROTS
POTATOES
1 TBSP TAPIOCA PEARLS (OR CORNSTARCH AND WATER) TO THICKEN
PLACE ALL INGREDIENTS RAW IN CROCKPOT. COOK ON HIGH 6-8 HOURS.

PINEAPPLE ANGEL FOOD CAKE
I LARGE CAN CRUSHED PINEAPPLE
1 BOX ANGEL FOOD CAKE
MIX BOTH INGREDIENTS TOGETHER. DO NOT DRAIN PINEAPPLE. BAKE ON 350 FOR AN HOUR OR UNTIL THE TOP IS A LITTLE BROWN. LET COOL AND ENJOY :)

Next Study Announced- THE PATRIARCHS

I am so excited to share with you this next study! Here are some details:

The Patriarchs:
Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
by Beth Moore

Provides a personal study experience five days a week for this in-depth women's Bible study of Genesis 12-50. Discover God's pursuit of a relationship with man, and marvel as His plan to bless all people unfolds. Full of twists and turns, ruin and redemption, revelation and mystery this Bible study keeps participants captivated by the God who stars in it! Explore concepts such as blessing, covenant, and promise, and the bearing each has on a New Testament believer's life today. Group members will also study the Hebrew names of God introduced on the early pages of Scripture.

Throughout 10 weeks of exciting, engaging intrigue, participants will plunge into the heart of Genesis, to God's remarkable pursuit of relationship and to the unfolding of His earthly plan: that through one nation—and ultimately, one man—all people on earth will be blessed. Many of the most profound and enduring concepts in the whole counsel of God's Word are initiated in this marvelous book of beginnings.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED A BOOK - THEY ARE $16 AND I CAN HAVE FOR YOU AT THE FIRST STUDY!

Clue 3

This study is based out of the first book in bible....

Clue 2....

There are 5 days of moderate homework for each DVD session...

Clue #1

The best-selling author is an dear fashionable friend with great big hair....

July 13 - Purity

Jesus - Today we come before you and pray for our children's purity! We pray that you create in our children a pure heart and we pray that you let that purity of heart be shown in their lives. Lord, in your name we pray - AMEN!

Virtue - Purity

Scripture - "Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

Calendar was provided by Community Bible Church NextGen Department, San Antonio.

Much Love!
M

July 12 - Courage

Lord - today we lift up our children and pray for them to always be courageous! We pray that our children always be strong and courageous in their character and their actions. Lord we pray that you always guide their path and that they never stray! In Your name we pray - AMEN!

Virtue - Courage

Scripture - "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Calendar was provided by Community Bible Church NextGen Department, San Antonio.

Much Love!
M

July 11 - Faithfulness

Lord - today we come before you to pray for our children's faithfulness. We pray that it never leaves them and that it is the base for all they decisions. We pray faithfulness never leaves them but insteads leads and guides them. In Your name we pray - AMEN!

Virtue - Faithfulness

Scripture - "Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart." Proverbs 3:3

Calendar was provided by Community Bible Church NextGen Department, San Antonio.

Much Love!
M

July 10 - Self-esteem

Lord, we pray today for our children's self-esteem. We pray as they encounter the world and its views that they develop a strong self-esteem rooted in You! Lord, help our children develop a strong self-esteem based only on the truth that they are Your workmanship. In Your name we pray! AMEN!

Virtue - Self-esteem

Scripture - "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

Calendar was provided by Community Bible Church NextGen Department, San Antonio.

Much Love!
M

July 9 - Respect

Lord, Today we lift up our children to you and pray for you to instill in their hearts and minds respect. Lord, please help our children to show proper respect to everyone just as Your Word commands. In Your name we pray - AMEN!

Virtue - Respect

Scripture - "Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor." 1 Peter 2:17

Calendar was provided by Community Bible Church NextGen Department, San Antonio.

Much Love!
M

My first little man....

Five years ago today I was blessed with my firstborn....perfect in every way! He has continued to be an amazing blessing who teaches me more about love than I could ever imagine. Thank you Lord for entrusting me with your child, I pray that I am a good steward of your gift. I promise to raise him in your way and to teach him Your Word. Lord, thank you for my first little man who today turns 5 and is ready to conquer the world. Thank you Lord, for my first little blessing he really is your reward! Thank you Lord for sweet "J", I could never put into words how much I treasure this amazing guy!

Thank you Lord for "J" and Happy 5th Birthday to my firstborn! I love you and I love watching you grow up!

Much Love!
M

July 8 - MERCY

Lord... As we lift up our children today we pray for them to be full of mercy and compassion. We pray for them to seek you as a role model and for you to the ultimate guidepost in their lives. We pray for You to grant our petitions oh Lord. In your name we pray... AMEN

Virtue - Mercy

Scripture - "We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy." James 5:11

*This calendar was provided by Community Bible Church NextGen Department, San Antonio.
Much Love!
M

July 7 - JUSTICE

Lord, we pray today that You show our children to love and endure justice in their lives. We pray for their actions to reflect a justified decision and for them to always glorofy You! In Your name we pray... AMEN

Virtue -Justice

Scripture - " For the LORD is righteous,
he loves justice;
the upright will see his face." Psalm 11:7

"No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

*This calendar was provided by Community Bible Church NextGen Department, San Antonio.
Much Love!
M

July 6 - LOVE FOR GOD'S WORD

Lord, today we lift up our children and ask for You to instill in their hearts and minds a love not only for You but for Your Word. We pray that You show them the words they need to hear to make good choices and decisions. We pray that our children lean on Your Word and Your Word alone for direction and guidance. Lord, as Your scripture says we pray that Your Word be more precious than gold and sweeter than honey. Lord, we praise You for the little blessings in life and we lift them up to You! In your name we pray.... AMEN

Virtue -
Love for God's Word

Scripture -
"They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb." Psalm 19:10

*This calendar was provided by Community Bible Church NextGen, San Antonio.

Much Love!
M

July 5 - SELF-CONTROL

Lord - Today we pray for our children to learn and apply self control in their lives. We pray for you to help our children not be like many others, but to be alert and self-controlled in all they do. Lord we lift up our children and pray your will be done in their lives. In your name we pray.... AMEN

Virtue - Self-Control

Scripture - "Accordingly then, let us not sleep, as the rest do, but let us keep wide awake (alert, watchful, cautious, and on our guard) and let us be sober (calm, collected, and circumspect)." 1 Thessalonians 5:6 Amplified Version

*Calendar was provided by Community Bible Church, NextGen Department, San Antonio.

Much Love
M

July 4 - INTEGRITY

Lord, today we come to you with hearts of praise for the freedom we have. We praise you for our country and for our rights, we praise you for your will to be the guidepost for our lives. We pray today for our children. Lord, may integrity and uprightness protect our children because their hope is in you. Lord we pray for our children to show integrity in their decisions and their choices. Lord we pray you instill this into our children and that we can be good role models. In your name we pray... AMEN

Virtue - Integrity

Scripture - "May integrity and honesty protect me,
for I put my hope in you." Psalm 25:21

*Calendar was provided by Community Bible Church NextGen, San Antonio.

Much Love and Happy 4th!
M

July 3- LOVE

Lord - We praise you for our children and our unconditional love for them. Lord we pray that you grant my child the ability to learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who lives in them. Lord, we pray that we are models of this love and they know no different. In your name we pray....AMEN

Virtue - LOVE

Scripture - "Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us[a] and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God." Ephesians 5:2 NLT

*Calendar was provided by Community Bible Church NextGen, San Antonio.

July 2 - God's Grace

Lord - Today we pray for our children to have your amazing grace. We pray for your gift of grace and knowledge to be set within our children's hearts. We pray ultimately for your will to be done. AMEN

Virtue:God's Grace

Scripture:
"but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." 2 Peter 3:18

*Calendar was provided by Community Bible Church NextGen, San Antonio.

Much Love!
M

July 1 - Salvation

Lord today we lift up the children in our lives and we pray they would obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. I pray that we surround our children with those who will plant the mustard seeds of salvation. I pray that our children be nurtured in an environment where this is apparent and welcome. Lord, I pray salvation for our children and I pray your will to be done in their lives! Its in your name we pray - AMEN

Virtue - Salvation
Scripture - "Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." 2 Timothy 2:10 NKJV

Much love girls!
M

*Calendar was provided by Community Bible Church - NextGen Department

Prayer and Running....

Its no secret around here that I love to run, its been a true place for me to get quiet and have some peace! I used to run before I had kids but now its a big part of my quiet time with the Lord. I run to mostly praise music and spend most of the time talking to God. I like to think that God is just running right beside me and we are in constant contact!

I mean after all, isn't that what God wants most from us.... constant contact? He loves that we involve him in our life, I mean after all he gave us life and we are an image of Him. He loves that we call on him in times of good and bad, and he loves that we talk to him while at a traffic light or while laying in bed.

The bottom line is that we have the world's most powerful weapon within us... PRAYER! It doesn't mean that what we pray for we ultimately get, but it does mean we have a direct line to God.

My challenge to you (and myself) over the next month is to enhance your (mine) prayer life. I yearn for the solid hour or two when I can be one with him in silence and just prayer.... but I have three little ones who have a different plan for our time. So do what you can, keep a journal and make it intentional. I love making prayer a proactive approach to life instead of a reactive action to something that's in our way.

Colossians 4:2 (NLT)
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

James 5:16 (NLT)
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

I look forward to this month with all of you!

Much Love!
M

The plan for July....

We are blessed to attend Community Bible Church. We dedicated the two youngest kids together last year and were required to attend a class. I have to admit I was not excited about spending two hours of my Sunday afternoon in a class to learn about something I was pretty sure I already knew alot about.... but it was such a sweet time of blessing. As it turned out my husband was out of town so I went with my bestie who was also dedicating her youngest!

We were given so many wonderful tools to encourage and empower us to strengthen our children's walk with the Lord. My favorite by far is the calendar. This amazing calendar gives you a single verse and attribute to pray for each day! So for the month of July we will walk through the calendar and pray for our kids!

We have been talking ALOT ABOUT PRAYER in bible study lately, specifically the power in praying scripture. So let's give it a go! We will start Friday!

I love all of you and cannot wait to share this time with you! Forward this to your friends who would enjoy it!

We prayed and studied through Proverbs on this blog and now let's pray for the little ones we were blessed with!

Much Love!

Seriously Easy Chocolate Cake... and super low calorie!

I made this cake for bible study a few weeks ago and it was a hit. Its a traditional dessert at our house but this was my first time bringing it to bible study. Now I need to preface this by saying we girls on Wednesday night are serious about snack! I mean, Its almost worse than a hungry 2 year old who can see the Cheez-Its but not reach them!

There are only three simple ingredients to this yummy Lo-Cal cake:

1 box of Devil's Food Cake Mix

1 Regular size can of Pumpkin

1 Cup of Chocolate Chips (Dark Chocolate is BEST)

Here are the easy directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 Degrees

Generously grease a bundt pan

Combine the cake mix, pumpkin and chocolate chips together.

Pour the thick mixture into the bundt pan

Bake for 35-40 minutes
Let cool for 10 minutes

Place a plate on top of the bundt pan and flip your cake over

Now to make it look super fancy - dust top with confectioner's sugar

I serve with lo-cal, lo-fat ice cream and fresh sliced strawberries!

Now the important part... ENJOY!

Team Jaxon

Hey Girls...

We have been praying for a three year boy from CBC who had major brain surgery last week. His name is Jaxon Davis and you can read his full story here http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jaxond

Last week his parents recieved devastating news on his prognosis. They are very kind people, I have met Lenzie once at a baby shower she threw for a mutual friend. I can't say that I know her very well but its times like this when you need your sisters in Christ, whether you 'know' them or not. They are going to be traveling a fair amount either between San Antonio and Houston or San Antonio and NYC (as I understand from her blog). I was thinking we could pool our money and send a VISA gift card to this family. So if you feel moved to contribute please bring me your donation by Wednesday and I will get it to the family asap. They are also going to be setting up a care calendar for tasks and meals. Also they are selling these super cute t-shirts and I thought we could consider all buying them? The family gets a good portion of the money and it would be a good daily reminder of a very urgent prayer request. Please let me know if you want a shirt and I will order. They are $10.

Proverbs 30

Proverbs 30
Sayings of Agur
1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an inspired utterance.
This man’s utterance to Ithiel:

“I am weary, God,
but I can prevail.[a]
2 Surely I am only a brute, not a man;
I do not have human understanding.
3 I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
Whose hands have gathered up the wind?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is the name of his son?
Surely you know!

5 “Every word of God is flawless;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words,
or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

7 “Two things I ask of you, LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.

10 “Do not slander a servant to their master,
or they will curse you, and you will pay for it.

11 “There are those who curse their fathers
and do not bless their mothers;
12 those who are pure in their own eyes
and yet are not cleansed of their filth;
13 those whose eyes are ever so haughty,
whose glances are so disdainful;
14 those whose teeth are swords
and whose jaws are set with knives
to devour the poor from the earth
and the needy from among mankind.

15 “The leech has two daughters.
‘Give! Give!’ they cry.

“There are three things that are never satisfied,
four that never say, ‘Enough!’:
16 the grave, the barren womb,
land, which is never satisfied with water,
and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’

17 “The eye that mocks a father,
that scorns an aged mother,
will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley,
will be eaten by the vultures.

18 “There are three things that are too amazing for me,
four that I do not understand:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a young woman.

20 “This is the way of an adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth
and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’

21 “Under three things the earth trembles,
under four it cannot bear up:
22 a servant who becomes king,
a godless fool who gets plenty to eat,
23 a contemptible woman who gets married,
and a servant who displaces her mistress.

24 “Four things on earth are small,
yet they are extremely wise:
25 Ants are creatures of little strength,
yet they store up their food in the summer;
26 hyraxes are creatures of little power,
yet they make their home in the crags;
27 locusts have no king,
yet they advance together in ranks;
28 a lizard can be caught with the hand,
yet it is found in kings’ palaces.

29 “There are three things that are stately in their stride,
four that move with stately bearing:
30 a lion, mighty among beasts,
who retreats before nothing;
31 a strutting rooster, a he-goat,
and a king secure against revolt.[b]

32 “If you play the fool and exalt yourself,
or if you plan evil,
clap your hand over your mouth!
33 For as churning cream produces butter,
and as twisting the nose produces blood,
so stirring up anger produces strife.”

Proverbs 31

Hey GIrls!

Well we did it, we read through Proverbs and now we get to the final chapter, Proverbs 31. I love this chapter and its what I hold close everyday to remind me of what type of woman I am called to be.

Here is the scripture:

Proverbs 31
Sayings of King Lemuel
1 The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.

2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
3 Do not spend your strength[a] on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings.

4 It is not for kings, Lemuel—
it is not for kings to drink wine,
not for rulers to crave beer,
5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6 Let beer be for those who are perishing,
wine for those who are in anguish!
7 Let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.

8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 [b]A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

My thougts and take-aways:
I hold verses 10-31 very close to my heart, its the picture of a perfect wife and mother. Its what we as woman are called to do. We are called to support our husbands, raise up Godly children, work hard, clean, cook, do laundry, study the Word, speak wisdom... So what part speaks most to you?

Also don't let this be your last visit with Proverbs, its a great book full of wisdom and discernement. I get a daily email from Proverbs31 http://www.proverbs31.org/ that encourages me.

Love to all!
M

Proverbs 29

Proverbs 29
1 Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes
will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;
when the wicked rule, the people groan.

3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

4 By justice a king gives a country stability,
but those who are greedy for[a] bribes tear it down.

5 Those who flatter their neighbors
are spreading nets for their feet.

6 Evildoers are snared by their own sin,
but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.

7 The righteous care about justice for the poor,
but the wicked have no such concern.

8 Mockers stir up a city,
but the wise turn away anger.

9 If a wise person goes to court with a fool,
the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

10 The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity
and seek to kill the upright.

11 Fools give full vent to their rage,
but the wise bring calm in the end.

12 If a ruler listens to lies,
all his officials become wicked.

13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.

14 If a king judges the poor with fairness,
his throne will be established forever.

15 A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,
but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.

16 When the wicked thrive, so does sin,
but the righteous will see their downfall.

17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;
they will bring you the delights you desire.

18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.

19 Servants cannot be corrected by mere words;
though they understand, they will not respond.

20 Do you see someone who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.

21 A servant pampered from youth
will turn out to be insolent.

22 An angry person stirs up conflict,
and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.

23 Pride brings a person low,
but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

24 The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;
they are put under oath and dare not testify.

25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

26 Many seek an audience with a ruler,
but it is from the LORD that one gets justice.

27 The righteous detest the dishonest;
the wicked detest the upright.

My thoughts and take-aways:
Well its almost impossible today to not speak about the royal wedding but I find no place where it fits in with this scripture. Instead I see the following verse and it strikes me as so important:
17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;
they will bring you the delights you desire.
As parents its the part of the job I don't like. I don't particularly look forward to disciplining my children as it tends to be harder on the one who hands down the punishment. Its also hard with children of different ages and genders - according to James Dobson each child needs to be disciplined according to their needs. So I urge to you seek advice and look to the bible for direction and encouragement. We are told to discipline our children (in love, not anger).... just as we are to love them. What do you think?

Leave a comment....

Love to all!
M

Proverbs 28

Proverbs 28
1 The wicked flee though no one pursues,
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

3 A ruler[a] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
but those who heed it resist them.

5 Evildoers do not understand what is right,
but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.

6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than the rich whose ways are perverse.

7 A discerning son heeds instruction,
but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

8 Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor
amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.

9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,
even their prayers are detestable.

10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path
will fall into their own trap,
but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

11 The rich are wise in their own eyes;
one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;
but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.

13 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,
but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,
but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

16 A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,
but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.

17 Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder
will seek refuge in the grave;
let no one hold them back.

18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe,
but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.[b]

19 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.

20 A faithful person will be richly blessed,
but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

21 To show partiality is not good—
yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.

22 The stingy are eager to get rich
and are unaware that poverty awaits them.

23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor
rather than one who has a flattering tongue.

24 Whoever robs their father or mother
and says, “It’s not wrong,”
is partner to one who destroys.

25 The greedy stir up conflict,
but those who trust in the LORD will prosper.

26 Those who trust in themselves are fools,
but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.

27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,
but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.

28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;
but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.


My thoughts and take-aways:
I am most striken with verse 9, "If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable." That is right in your face, no questions asked. It brings such emotion to think that I was given the gift of Christ and his knowledge and there are times when I make choices that go against his instructions. I know we are not perfect but we do tend to follow the rules, right? I mean we stray but always try to find our way back. Never do I want my LORD to detest my prayers because I have choosen to ignore his instructions. What do you think?

Leave a comment....

Love to all!
M

Proverbs 27

<em>Proverbs 27
1 Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring.

2 Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
an outsider, and not your own lips.

3 Stone is heavy and sand a burden,
but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

4 Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
but who can stand before jealousy?

5 Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.

6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.

7 One who is full loathes honey from the comb,
but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

8 Like a bird that flees its nest
is anyone who flees from home.

9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of a friend
springs from their heartfelt advice.

10 Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,
and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you—
better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;
then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.

12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

13 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.

14 If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning,
it will be taken as a curse.

15 A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping
of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
16 restraining her is like restraining the wind
or grasping oil with the hand.

17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.

18 The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,
and whoever protects their master will be honored.

19 As water reflects the face,
so one’s life reflects the heart.[a]

20 Death and Destruction[b] are never satisfied,
and neither are human eyes.

21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but people are tested by their praise.

22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar,
grinding them like grain with a pestle,
you will not remove their folly from them.

23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;
24 for riches do not endure forever,
and a crown is not secure for all generations.
25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26 the lambs will provide you with clothing,
and the goats with the price of a field.
27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family
and to nourish your female servants.

My Thoughts and Take Aways:
Todays scriptures have three main groups that it speaks to and about - neighbors, friends and spouses. I love the important Proverbs places on neighbors and friends, especially since we are blessed in both regards. I grew up moving alot but we always had some great neighbors. We always made a point to meet and take the time to get to know our neighbors. My parents always bought a house based on the neighborhood and not the house alone. So when Jeff and I moved from Castle Hills to Stone Oak we naturally did the same thing. We were torn between two houses: House #1 was in a prestigious neighborhood, had all the features and was 400 sq ft bigger. HOuse #2 was in a very kid oriented neighborhood and the house had what we needed. We decided to drive by both houses at dark to see what the neighborhood looked like at night and it was the best advice we have ever taken. House #1 was in a gated community, we struggled to get in and at 8pm at night it was silent. Not a peep to be heard. HOuse #2 was easy to get to, and when we drove up the neighbors were all outside enjoying each other's company and the kids were all playing. We sat the end of the street for minutes watching them, truely speechless. Then we noticed that one of them was making his way to the car.... it was Greg! He is our now neighbor and the Hauglands are our rock! Jannine is awesome, she is my neighbor and sister in Christ. She is always there for me and is always willing to help. She is the best cook and can freeze anything! She always has what I forgot at the store and is just the neatest person! I love our neighbors! HOw about you.... Leave a comment!

Love to all!
M

Proverbs 26 and THE SONG

Hey There!

Good afternoon girlies! I am so excited for our time together tomorrow night and I look forward to seeing all of you there! Its Beth Moore's turn to speak and the video is 35 minutes long. I know we will all be captivated by her words!

So many of you have been trying to help me figure out the name of THE SONG that brought me to tears this past weekend at service. Phil Vega sang..... are you ready for it..... "Arms Wide Open" by Hillsong United. It was incredible and the amount of people who poured forward to be saved was incredible. Needless to say we were way off on our google searches.... I am listening to it now with goose bumps and a lump in my throat! I love how worship songs can move us in this way!

Quick note... my kids heard the music blaring and have come in to dance and have bible study! I love this moment.... can I freeze it??

My whole life is yours....Have your way....Have your way! Lord we cry out to you today with this petition!

Today we look at Proverbs 26.... let's read the scriptures!

Proverbs 26

1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you yourself will be just like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling
is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so fools repeat their folly.
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.

13 A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road,
a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven people who answer discreetly.

17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

18 Like a maniac shooting
flaming arrows of death
19 is one who deceives their neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”

20 Without wood a fire goes out;
without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.

23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
are fervent[a] lips with an evil heart.
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,
but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them,
for seven abominations fill their hearts.
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it;
if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.

My thoughts and take-aways!
I know we are reading through Proverbs and usually my take-aways are from the scripture but today I want to do something a little different. I know that worship is a sweet aroma to the Lord and I want to you to have the opportunity to stand in silence and pour out to God your desires. Stand with your arms opened wide, invite Him in, and let him know your are his and he is yours! Is there a worship song that you love or one that stirs your soul? Please share your story with us.... Leave a comment!

Love to all!

M

Proverbs 25 - More Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 25
More Proverbs of Solomon

1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

4 Remove the dross from the silver,
and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
5 remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,
and his throne will be established through righteousness.

6 Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
and do not claim a place among his great men;
7 it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”
than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.

What you have seen with your eyes
8 do not bring[a] hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
if your neighbor puts you to shame?

9 If you take your neighbor to court,
do not betray another’s confidence,
10 or the one who hears it may shame you
and the charge against you will stand.

11 Like apples[b] of gold in settings of silver
is a ruling rightly given.
12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.

13 Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
he refreshes the spirit of his master.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
is one who boasts of gifts never given.

15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

16 If you find honey, eat just enough—
too much of it, and you will vomit.
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—
too much of you, and they will hate you.

18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
or like vinegar poured on a wound,
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the LORD will reward you.

23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.

24 Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

25 Like cold water to a weary soul
is good news from a distant land.
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
are the righteous who give way to the wicked.

27 It is not good to eat too much honey,
nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.

28 Like a city whose walls are broken through
is a person who lacks self-control.

My Thoughts and Take-aways:
There are several things that stand out to me - only a few that I am going to choose to comment on. I have been staring at this book called "Made to Crave" for two months now. CBC is getting ready to launch several online bible studies surrounding this topic. As I read several verses about not eating too much 'honey' I am reminded of the premise of this study. You see it is about 'Satisfying your deepest desire with God, not food'. I am probably more reminded of this right now since I have just choosen to eat 5 peanut butter cups for lunch rather than the yummy salad in my fridge. We are not to glutten ourselves with 'stuff' to fill our souls, we should be content and full with Jesus Christ within us.

http://madetocrave.org/

For more information on the "Made to Crave" online studies through CBC
email me
michellepbingham@yahoo.com

Also I am drawn to the verses about wives - in verse 24 we are reminded 'it is better to live alone in the corner of the attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home'. Yikes - I hope and pray that I am never this wife. I know I am not perfect but to think that my sweet and amazing husband would choose to live in a hot, stuffy, unfinished, stinky, attic instead of with me....well it makes me really want to show him my respect and love for him.

What are your thoughts about today's reading?

Can't wait to see all of you Wednesday at 7:30p at Wendy's!

Love to all!
M

Proverbs 24

Proverbs 24
Saying 20

1 Do not envy the wicked,
do not desire their company;
2 for their hearts plot violence,
and their lips talk about making trouble.

Saying 21

3 By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;
4 through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.

Saying 22

5 The wise prevail through great power,
and those who have knowledge muster their strength.
6 Surely you need guidance to wage war,
and victory is won through many advisers.

Saying 23

7 Wisdom is too high for fools;
in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.

Saying 24

8 Whoever plots evil
will be known as a schemer.
9 The schemes of folly are sin,
and people detest a mocker.

Saying 25

10 If you falter in a time of trouble,
how small is your strength!
11 Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
12 If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?

Saying 26

13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.
14 Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:
If you find it, there is a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.

Saying 27

15 Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous,
do not plunder their dwelling place;
16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.

Saying 28

17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,
18 or the LORD will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from them.

Saying 29

19 Do not fret because of evildoers
or be envious of the wicked,
20 for the evildoer has no future hope,
and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

Saying 30

21 Fear the LORD and the king, my son,
and do not join with rebellious officials,
22 for those two will send sudden destruction on them,
and who knows what calamities they can bring?

Further Sayings of the Wise
23 These also are sayings of the wise:
To show partiality in judging is not good:
24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,”
will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.
25 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and rich blessing will come on them.

26 An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.

27 Put your outdoor work in order
and get your fields ready;
after that, build your house.

28 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause—
would you use your lips to mislead?
29 Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me;
I’ll pay them back for what they did.”

30 I went past the field of a sluggard,
past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
31 thorns had come up everywhere,
the ground was covered with weeds,
and the stone wall was in ruins.
32 I applied my heart to what I observed
and learned a lesson from what I saw:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
34 and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.

Proverbs 23

Proverbs 23
Saying 7

1 When you sit to dine with a ruler,
note well what[a] is before you,
2 and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to gluttony.
3 Do not crave his delicacies,
for that food is deceptive.

Saying 8

4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
do not trust your own cleverness.
5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

Saying 9

6 Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,
do not crave his delicacies;
7 for he is the kind of person
who is always thinking about the cost.[b]
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.
8 You will vomit up the little you have eaten
and will have wasted your compliments.

Saying 10

9 Do not speak to fools,
for they will scorn your prudent words.

Saying 11

10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone
or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 for their Defender is strong;
he will take up their case against you.

Saying 12

12 Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge.

Saying 13

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
14 Punish them with the rod
and save them from death.

Saying 14

15 My son, if your heart is wise,
then my heart will be glad indeed;
16 my inmost being will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right.

Saying 15

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.
18 There is surely a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.

Saying 16

19 Listen, my son, and be wise,
and set your heart on the right path:
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine
or gorge themselves on meat,
21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

Saying 17

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth and do not sell it—
wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
24 The father of a righteous child has great joy;
a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
25 May your father and mother rejoice;
may she who gave you birth be joyful!

Saying 18

26 My son, give me your heart
and let your eyes delight in my ways,
27 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,
and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Like a bandit she lies in wait
and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

Saying 19

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaints?
Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who linger over wine,
who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup,
when it goes down smoothly!
32 In the end it bites like a snake
and poisons like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange sights,
and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
lying on top of the rigging.
35 “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!
They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up
so I can find another drink?”

Proverbs 22

Proverbs 22

1 A good name is more desirable than great riches;
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

2 Rich and poor have this in common:
The LORD is the Maker of them all.

3 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

4 Humility is the fear of the LORD;
its wages are riches and honor and life.

5 In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,
but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.

6 Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

7 The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the lender.

8 Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,
and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.

9 The generous will themselves be blessed,
for they share their food with the poor.

10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
quarrels and insults are ended.

11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
will have the king for a friend.

12 The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge,
but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

13 The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside!
I’ll be killed in the public square!”

14 The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit;
a man who is under the LORD’s wrath falls into it.

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.

16 One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

Thirty Sayings of the Wise
Saying 1
17 Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;
apply your heart to what I teach,
18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
and have all of them ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the LORD,
I teach you today, even you.
20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you,
sayings of counsel and knowledge,
21 teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,
so that you bring back truthful reports
to those you serve?

Saying 2

22 Do not exploit the poor because they are poor
and do not crush the needy in court,
23 for the LORD will take up their case
and will exact life for life.

Saying 3

24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
do not associate with one easily angered,
25 or you may learn their ways
and get yourself ensnared.

Saying 4

26 Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge
or puts up security for debts;
27 if you lack the means to pay,
your very bed will be snatched from under you.

Saying 5

28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone
set up by your ancestors.

Saying 6

29 Do you see someone skilled in their work?
They will serve before kings;
they will not serve before officials of low rank.

Proverbs 21

Proverbs 21

1 In the LORD’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
that he channels toward all who please him.

2 A person may think their own ways are right,
but the LORD weighs the heart.

3 To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.

5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit
as surely as haste leads to poverty.

6 A fortune made by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.[a]

7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
for they refuse to do what is right.

8 The way of the guilty is devious,
but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

9 Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

10 The wicked crave evil;
their neighbors get no mercy from them.

11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.

12 The Righteous One[b] takes note of the house of the wicked
and brings the wicked to ruin.

13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
will also cry out and not be answered.

14 A gift given in secret soothes anger,
and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.

15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.

16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence
comes to rest in the company of the dead.

17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.

18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
and the unfaithful for the upright.

19 Better to live in a desert
than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.

20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
but fools gulp theirs down.

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity[c] and honor.

22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty
and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues
keep themselves from calamity.

24 The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name—
behaves with insolent fury.

25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,
because his hands refuse to work.

26 All day long he craves for more,
but the righteous give without sparing.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—
how much more so when brought with evil intent!

28 A false witness will perish,
but a careful listener will testify successfully.

29 The wicked put up a bold front,
but the upright give thought to their ways.

30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the LORD.

31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the LORD.

Proverbs 20

Good Afternoon Girls!

Its almost Easter, one of my favorite times of the year. I love the little opportunities to share Jesus with everyone. This year we seem to be on Easter Egg Hunt overdrive. We have been to three and its only Wednesday, we have a few more to go before Easter even arrives. On the surface these "Egg Hunts" can be all about the egg and what's inside, candy - stickers - etc but what if for one minute we focus our attention on the reason for this holiday. What if we had a "Jesus Hunt" - what if we sought HIM out just as much as we sought out the bright colored plastic eggs we hid. What a difference that would make.... so I leave you with a quick opportunity to share Christ with others at Egg Hunts. Remember when you can plant a mustard seed for Christ someday it will bloom!

We use Resurrection Eggs here to teach the story of Easter and they are easy for little ones to understand. Here is a link to the story and how to make your own -
http://www.teachkidsthebible.com/biblelessons/resurrectioneggs.htm

Today we look at Proverbs 20 -
1 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

2 A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;
those who anger him forfeit their lives.

3 It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
but every fool is quick to quarrel.

4 Sluggards do not plow in season;
so at harvest time they look but find nothing.

5 The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,
but one who has insight draws them out.

6 Many claim to have unfailing love,
but a faithful person who can find?

7 The righteous lead blameless lives;
blessed are their children after them.

8 When a king sits on his throne to judge,
he winnows out all evil with his eyes.

9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;
I am clean and without sin”?

10 Differing weights and differing measures—
the LORD detests them both.

11 Even small children are known by their actions,
so is their conduct really pure and upright?

12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—
the LORD has made them both.

13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;
stay awake and you will have food to spare.

14 “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—
then goes off and boasts about the purchase.

15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

16 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.

17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,
but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.

18 Plans are established by seeking advice;
so if you wage war, obtain guidance.

19 A gossip betrays a confidence;
so avoid anyone who talks too much.

20 If someone curses their father or mother,
their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.

21 An inheritance claimed too soon
will not be blessed at the end.

22 Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”
Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you.

23 The LORD detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales do not please him.

24 A person’s steps are directed by the LORD.
How then can anyone understand their own way?

25 It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
and only later to consider one’s vows.

26 A wise king winnows out the wicked;
he drives the threshing wheel over them.

27 The human spirit is[a] the lamp of the LORD
that sheds light on one’s inmost being.

28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
through love his throne is made secure.

29 The glory of young men is their strength,
gray hair the splendor of the old.

30 Blows and wounds scrub away evil,
and beatings purge the inmost being.

My Thoughts and Take-Aways:
Proverbs is so great to read and there is so much good stuff! There were a few verses that jumped out to me and so I am going to just comment on those...

15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
I love this verse because its right in your face! Gold and rubies are so openly beautiful. Rarely do they look ugly or unpleasing to the eye. Your lips however have a choice - they can be chapped and cracked, thus spilling out ugly speech, gossip and negative thoughts. They can be moisturized with God's word and speak thoughtfully, intelligently and from the heart. You see its just like the main principal in business 101 (here is my Baylor Eduction hard at work) GIGO - Garbage In, Garbage Out. This is also Christianity 101 - GIGO: God In, God Out. Whatever you pour in, pours out of your lips and your heart.

17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,
but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.

This is one that I can be really guilty of... Most of you know that I like to run. I usually run 6 miles and its usually after I put my kids to bed. I love this time, its my quiet time, my God time, my alone time - all very important to me. Around mile 4 I start to get hungry (I usually don't eat dinner before hand) and so I start planning my feast. By mile 6 I have such a large meal planned that I need to probably run another 6 miles to break even. On really hungry nights I will make up an excuse to go to the store and then somehow my car ends up at Orange Leaf (usually Friday night). Just imagine if I went through all of that and the yummy Fro Yo tasted like gravel.... Ummmm way not cool!

Lastly - verse 23
The LORD detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales do not please him.
I think next time I grace the office at Northeast OBGYN I will share this verse. You see they have two scales, one to the right when you taken back and one all the way down the hall to the left. I always get weighed on the one to the right - WHICH IS ALWAYS 5 LBS HEAVIER! How unfair! This is all in jest and I love my OB and all of her colleagues, the office is amazing and her staff is the best! I just wonder if I think of this in terms of my God Scale - does my commitment to him sometimes differ depending on which way I go, Right or Left? And to know he detests that makes me cringe.... You?

Leave a comment and we can chat!

Love to all!
M

Proverbs 19

Good Afternoon Girls!

Well J is at school and when I called to check on him they said he was doing great - Praise the Lord. He woke up this morning and did not want to go, so not like him. He's real tired of the cast and I am hoping this will pass. I am praying for quick healing and hopefully a water proof cast at somepoint.

Let's read Proverbs 19 today:

1 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than a fool whose lips are perverse.

2 Desire without knowledge is not good—
how much more will hasty feet miss the way!

3 A person’s own folly leads to their ruin,
yet their heart rages against the LORD.

4 Wealth attracts many friends,
but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and whoever pours out lies will not go free.

6 Many curry favor with a ruler,
and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.

7 The poor are shunned by all their relatives—
how much more do their friends avoid them!
Though the poor pursue them with pleading,
they are nowhere to be found.[a]

8 The one who gets wisdom loves life;
the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.

9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and whoever pours out lies will perish.

10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury—
how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!

11 A person’s wisdom yields patience;
it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13 A foolish child is a father’s ruin,
and a quarrelsome wife is like
the constant dripping of a leaky roof.

14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,
but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

15 Laziness brings on deep sleep,
and the shiftless go hungry.

16 Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life,
but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.

17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,
and he will reward them for what they have done.

18 Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;
do not be a willing party to their death.

19 A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty;
rescue them, and you will have to do it again.

20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,
and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

22 What a person desires is unfailing love[b];
better to be poor than a liar.

23 The fear of the LORD leads to life;
then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

24 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he will not even bring it back to his mouth!

25 Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence;
rebuke the discerning, and they will gain knowledge.

26 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother
is a child who brings shame and disgrace.

27 Stop listening to instruction, my son,
and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice,
and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.

29 Penalties are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.

Instead of me posting my thoughts and take-aways I am curious about yours... leave a comment and we can share!

Much Love -
M

Proverbs 18 - Friends

Happy Monday to you ?!?!

Well this morning was overwhelming - we had the first of four Easter Egg hunts with some of J's school friends at the Park. J was all over the place and having so much UNRESTRICTED fun! My nerves were on edge and I had a hard time focusing on conversations and my other two kids. We left after about an hour and on the way home I called the Orthopedic Surgeon to get better guidelines on what he can and cannot participate in. Basically they informed me he is 100% physicial activirty restricted - specifically playgrounds. Then they started telling me how awful playgrounds are for him with the gravel, sand, mulch and not to mention the heat which creates more itching - ugh! I have been praying since then that we have not incurred any additional stress on the healing of his arm. We go Thursday for an xray and the permanent fiberglass cast.

Ok - well enough about my drama over here let's read - I know I can find comfort in the WORD!

Proverbs 18
1 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.

2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions.

3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
and with shame comes reproach.

4 The words of the mouth are deep waters,
but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.

5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked
and so deprive the innocent of justice.

6 The lips of fools bring them strife,
and their mouths invite a beating.

7 The mouths of fools are their undoing,
and their lips are a snare to their very lives.

8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.

9 One who is slack in his work
is brother to one who destroys.

10 The name of the LORD is a fortified tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.

11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;
they imagine it a wall too high to scale.

12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.

13 To answer before listening—
that is folly and shame.

14 The human spirit can endure in sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?

15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,
for the ears of the wise seek it out.

16 A gift opens the way
and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.

17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,
until someone comes forward and cross-examines.

18 Casting the lot settles disputes
and keeps strong opponents apart.

19 A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city;
disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.

20 From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled;
with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.

21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.

22 He who finds a wife finds what is good
and receives favor from the LORD.

23 The poor plead for mercy,
but the rich answer harshly.

24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

My thoughts and take-aways:
So much good stuff for todays reading. We continue to be told to stay away from fools and what their characteristics look and sound like to us. We are strongly reminded of the importance and significance of our mouths, words and tongues. There is so great information of law suits, wives, and friends. Its the later that is so significant to me right now. You see I always knew that I had great friends and I always knew that they would be there for me. I am blessed to have friends as neighbors, friends as bible study companions, friends at church, truly friends all over the place. I was reminded of the blessing of friends last week, specifically Wednesday. J had broken his arm at 2:50pm, at 3:00pm I took the babies next door where my friends asked no questions and told me to go to the er, at 4pm my friend came to my house and watched my kids for me, at 5pm my friend brought us dinner, at 6pm my friend brought over some goodies for the patient.... you see our friends came out in crowds to help us. They fed us, watched our kids, sat with us during surgery, let us cry, helped us laugh, took over bible study, took over chores at the house, but most importantly they prayed! YOU PRAYED! I made one phone call and in minutes I had over 15 texts from people praying for my little man! As I sit here and write this I am so overcome with emotion. You don't realize how blessed you are until you need to be reminded of it. So thank you all for everything - you are amazing. We have no blood family here in San Antonio but we do have a wonderful family of friends that we adore. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Leave a comment...

Love to all!
M

Proverbs 17

Happy Sunday!

Officially my favorite day of the week - a true all around family day. I am sitting here in the office while the crew naps smelling the yummy "Pulled Pork" cooking the crock pot. I love how the scent overtakes the whole house and everyone waits all day to eat. I think about GOD and how he overtakes our souls when we invite him in. Ahh what a sweet smell of salvation!

Let's read:

Proverbs 17
1 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
than a house full of feasting, with strife.

2 A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and will share the inheritance as one of the family.

3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but the LORD tests the heart.

4 A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

5 Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;
whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.

6 Children’s children are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.

7 Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
how much worse lying lips to a ruler!

8 A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
they think success will come at every turn.

9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,
but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person
more than a hundred lashes a fool.

11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
the messenger of death will be sent against them.

12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool bent on folly.

13 Evil will never leave the house
of one who pays back evil for good.

14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—
the LORD detests them both.

16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
when they are not able to understand it?

17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
and puts up security for a neighbor.

19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.

20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.

21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;
there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

23 The wicked accept bribes in secret
to pervert the course of justice.

24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
and bitterness to the mother who bore him.

26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,
surely to flog honest officials is not right.

27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,
and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues.

My Thoughts and Take-Aways:
During the second year of this bible study we had the priveledge of having a sweet young single gal named Brittany join us. We quickly learned her gift was discernment and that it was a steadfast prayer of hers to have it and use it. She would pray that over people and was always a shining example for the Lord when she spoke and acted. So anytime I read a verse speaking about discernment my thoughts go to sweet Brittany. She has since gotten married, moved a few times and has enhanced her role on earth as God's true disciple.

Discernment is defined as (by Merriam Webster):
: the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure : skill in discerning
2: an act of perceiving or discerning something

Synonyms: wisdom, insight, perception, perceptiveness, perceptivity, sagaciousness, sagacity, sageness, sapience

Do you have someone in your life who is a shining example of discernment? Leave a comment here to share....

Love to all!
M

Proverbs 16: Soul Fast

Good Afternoon Girls -

Ahh Saturday! I love a day at home with the family. We have started going to church on Saturday night and then to dinner some friends! Its a great way to end the day. J is doing so much better and the cast does not seem to be holding him back anymore. I wish he was a little more cautious, but boys will be boys. I will be a little more laid back when the permanent cast is put on Thursday.

Let's get into the word:

Proverbs 16
1 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue.

2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
but motives are weighed by the LORD.

3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.

4 The LORD works out everything to its proper end—
even the wicked for a day of disaster.

5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the LORD evil is avoided.

7 When the LORD takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
he causes their enemies to make peace with them.

8 Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with injustice.

9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the LORD establishes their steps.

10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
and his mouth does not betray justice.

11 Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD;
all the weights in the bag are of his making.

12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
for a throne is established through righteousness.

13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value the one who speaks what is right.

14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
but the wise will appease it.

15 When a king’s face brightens, it means life;
his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
to get insight rather than silver!

17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their ways preserve their lives.

18 Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.

20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,[a]
and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.

21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
and gracious words promote instruction.[b]

22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,
but folly brings punishment to fools.

23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,
and their lips promote instruction.[c]

24 Gracious words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

25 There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.

26 The appetite of laborers works for them;
their hunger drives them on.

27 A scoundrel plots evil,
and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.

28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends.

29 A violent person entices their neighbor
and leads them down a path that is not good.

30 Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity;
whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
it is attained in the way of righteousness.

32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
one with self-control than one who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the LORD.

My Thoughts and Take-Aways:
My sister attends North Point Church in Atlanta and they did a 24 hour "Soul Fast" a few weeks ago. Let me explain - it is not a tradition fast - there is plenty to eat and drink with this fast. The "Soul Fast" is a 24 hour fast from negative thought and words! They were truely challenged and she loved being challenged to grow in this are.

So my challege to you - will you do a "Soul Fast". I would love for us to do this as a group and encourage one another.

Our memory verse - Proverbs 16:24

Gracious words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Leave a comment if you are in!

Proverbs 15

Good afternoon girls - Thank you all so much for the out-pouring of love for me and my family. We are beyond blessed with such wonderful friends who love us and take care of us. Its always a challenge when something unexpected comes up and you have no family in town. It means the world to us to have all of you in our lives! Let's get into the word:

Proverbs 15
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
3 The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
4 The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
5 A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
6 The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings ruin.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright.
8 The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
9 The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
10 Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die.
11 Death and Destruction[a] lie open before the LORD— how much more do human hearts! 12 Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise.
13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. 14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.
17 Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred. 18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.
19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Folly brings joy to one who has no sense, but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.
22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
23 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!
24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.
25 The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.
26 The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight.
27 The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.
29 The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.
31 Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.
32 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.
33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honor.

My thoughts and take-aways:
I am sure you are all wondering why the some of the above verses are bolded. I shared with all of you earlier last week that I have been in two bible studies (at the same time) learning about the Power of a Woman's Words. So the bolded verses above all have to do with our words, mouths and how we speak. We are the only creature that God created that have the gift of words. Its a powerful tool and I know I am not using my mouth, words or tone to glorify God all the time. If I just think back to this morning, I have already failed and need to ask forgiveness. I am working on it and I know its part of the onion that the Lord is peeling back.

I ask you to read the last verse again - WOW - Its such an amazing reminder from the Lord.

Have any thoughts on this topic?

Leave a comment!

Love to all! M

Proverbs 14

Good Afternoon Girls - I am sorry that this didn't get posted yesterday, the day just seemed to get away from me. J is recovering well but it will take some definate time to get used to the cast. He is already complaining that its itchy and that he can't do anything. I am still stressed that he will somehow re-injure it, so I need to probably calm down a bit. This is going to be quite a learning experiance.

Today we look at Proverbs 14 - let's read:
Proverbs 14
1 The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
2 Whoever fears the LORD walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways.
3 A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.
5 An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.
6 The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
7 Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.
9 Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.
10 Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief.
14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good rewarded for theirs.
15 The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.
16 The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.
17 A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.
21 It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.
22 Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find[a] love and faithfulness.
23 All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The wealth of the wise is their crown, but the folly of fools yields folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful.
26 Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.
28 A large population is a king’s glory, but without subjects a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.
30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
32 When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.
33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known.[b]
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.
35 A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant arouses his fury.

My thoughts and take-aways:
This is one of my favorite chapters because as a Christian, Wife, and Mother I feel that the Lord is talking directly to me. I could go verse by verse but for the sake of time I am going to focus on three. This chapter starts with verse 1 stating, " The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." WOW - What an incredible statement. As I read that I ponder my position. I want to be the one who builds up my husband and my kids. I would never want to 'tear them down'. So my first thought goes to my words - did I choose the right words and tone to talk to them? Did I do everything in love or did I let my emotions control the conversation? My second thought goes to my actions - Do I always show them my love? Do I always put them first? I don't want to be a 'hold on for a minute' type wife or mom. I know that I need to be reminded of this everyday.

The next verse I love is verse 26, "Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge." I have mentioned before that it took me a while to realize that we should not only love our Lord but we should fear Him as well. This verse tells me that if I fear the Lord (Which I do after studying Revelation at length) I am safe in Him and for my children it will be a refuge. How comforting this is as a mother. What are your thoughts?

The last verse that speaks to me is verse 29, "Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly." Patience is something I understand that I have but it is a 'fruit' that I need work on. Sometimes I let my emotions determine my actions, and I need to be "Slow to anger, quick to listen and quick to resond."

Tell me your thoughts in the comments!

Love to all!
M