Sunflower Faith

Archive for November 30, 2008

30 Nov 2008

Sunday Praise and Worship

: To find out more on how to participate in Sunday Praise and Worship, come here.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

Praying that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a powerful reminder of not only the importane of giving praise to our Heavenly Father, but just a reminder that no man is an island.
I remember reading a story about a family that posted on craiglist for those who were in need of “family” to share Thanksgiving to come share Thanksgiving with them and let them be a family for the day.

Shouldn’t that be the way everyday and not just because of a special event.

It’s discouraging to think as Christians that there are brothers and sisters whose time for fellowship is usually only on Sundays and even then, there are many who may not know their fellow member as well or even at all.

There was a powerful devotional that was a strong reminder to me and I pray to all of us, that we need to remember that everyday is a Thanksgiving and time to give and to be with others and not just because of a designated time, day or event.

As the devotional would go,

“Jesus often spent unhurried times of fellowship with the disciples. They shared countless meals together. It is often during such times we get to know others at a deeper level.

Love for one another is one of the greatest signs of faith in Christ. However, the pace of life often contributes to a life being lived for the next event instead of a relationship rooted in the love or Christ.

How many relationships do you have in your life that would allow you to fellowship simply because you cared for one another?”

That is a good question.

For many of us, even in our faith, we tend to slip into a competitive, it’s all about me, not about them mode. We’re human, we make mistakes, however as brothers and sisters in Christ, we are expected, either consciously or subconsciously, that if we are to emulate Jesus Christ and to allow Him to live in and through us, part of that is to shed our old lives and allow His light to shine through us.

Some of that includes puting aside ourselves and what we have to gain and instead think of what Jesus Christ will have to gain in and through us by putting aside selfish desires and instead see what we can do for others and in our community so that others will come to know Him.

As the devotional ask, I challenge you to ask yourself as well this Sunday Praise and Worship,”How many relationships do you have in your life that would allow you to fellowship simply because you cared for one another?”

Sunflower Faith | One comment | Tags: Devotionals, faith, God, Jesus Christ, Memes, praise, scripture, sermons, Sunday memes, Sunday Praise and Worship, worship

27 Nov 2008

Uncategorized

Happy Thanksgiving

From my family to your’s, Happy Thanksgiving.

Sunflower Faith | 6 comments

26 Nov 2008

Word-Filled Wednesday

Word Filled Wednesday

Thanksgiving is coming up. I think about the food and the pies.

Okay…I really think more about the pies.

Alright. You got me. I ony think about the pies.

The turkey.

The dressing.

The rolls.

The side dishes.

: 1 Timonthy 6:7-8;Image Copyright: Heartlight Gallery

The people who are standing in my way.

All mere obstacles to my ultimate goal.

The pies.

If we could just skip everything else and just go straight for the pies, I would be a happy camper.

It is Thanksgiving and I have to be on my best manner.

So I grudgingly eat one or two plates of turkey, dressing, mash potatoes and all the other goodies, and manage a smile here and there as I plan my attack landing on the pies and who I have to elbow out the way, “Sorry Granny”, to get to the pies.

Through it all though, I don’t forget (except when Granny lands a sharp one right below my ribs to get me out of the way), we have a lot to be thankful for.

This has been a rough year, everywhere. Recently we help someone out who was starting from nothing to help build their life to something.

There has been hurricanes, wildfires, elections, book chewing dachshunds, oh wait, that was at my house, never mind the dachshund, and right at this moment, we have men and women who are sacrificing their lives in foreign countries, so that those countries, so that we, so all of us, can still have the today, we are having….today.

The biggest thing though, despite how appetizing and enticing the pies are, or how there is way too much turkey that even the dogs are complaining they have had enough, we are blessed, not as a country or a nation but as a world, that we have a loving Father who loves ALL of us so much, He gave His one and only Son, so that we will be free from the slavery of sin.

Some days, we complain that our clothes are good enough or new enough, or wow, it was washed wrong, and yet there are those who are lucky to have access to fresh clothes. We have a food of bounty and for many, it’s a blessing that they have a bowl of rice.

We lock our doors and others sleep outdoors.

We can’t find time for our bibles,but there are those who can’t have access to a bible.

We have many things to be thankful for Thanksgiving day.

So as Granny helps me up from the floor where she tripped me up to get that last piece of pie, it really brings things to perspective.

Not that there is a feisty Granny who knows how to elbow when she needs to, but that each day, more and more, is a blessing to each and everyone of us, that we have, ultimately, our Heavenly Father.

We live in uncertain times. Maybe we won’t have a home anymore. Maybe we will lose our jobs today. The trees may burn and the winds will blow, but through and through, let’s praise God, for Him and we have Him and each other; Together in fellowship and faith….unless a piece of pie is involved.

Sunflower Faith | 3 comments | Tags: scripture, the 160 acre woods, Word-Filled Wednesdays

25 Nov 2008

Uncategorized

Take that extra mile…..

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Heb 10:36-37).

It’s so easy tojust give up, don’t try, don’t bother, sweep it under the rug, pretend it’s not there, look the other way than to just simply….try.

Remember what it was like trying to learn how to read for the first time? The words were unfamiliar; The markings were just scribbles that held meaning to someone, but not for us and we try to sound out the words but that little voice in the back of our head, kept telling us…why try.

“Give it up”

“It’s too hard”

“No fun”

Remember though, when you had that first major breakthrough and you realize you could read, but then there were the big kids books. “Oh wow,” you’ll never go there, but you did, maybe not today, but eventually you did.

Remember the feeling?

We live in a society where everything is fast and easy. If it takes time and effort, it’s too hard and not worth it but then we look in awe at those who do take the hard way and accomplish the impossible but then we tell ourselves, we can’t do that.

That’s not us.

We’re just not like that.

Then we fall into the “I wish” mode.

The holidays are coming up and it’s a reminder of how bless we are that we could when many thought we couldn’t.

Remember the Pilgrims?

I wondered how many of their family members waved them off goodbye and when the ships were out of sight, started chuckling that they weren’t going to make it because it was “too hard” and they had to “start from scratch”.

Granted, they didn’t have an easy go of things and they didn’t have big turkeys sitting on their table like we do today, but they still pushed forward and perserve.

There are no picture perfect stories and we may not always feel like there is a happy ending but the truth is that there is; If we have faith in our Heavenly Father and more than just sitting around, twiddling our thumbs, but have that active faith in Him and realizing that sometimes things do work out through and in Him but it’s a matter of perspective.

Things do happen but not often how we want it to happen or want to control how to happen, but what we are willing to give and do.

What we may keep seeing as close opportunities are really just possiblities for new opportunities.

It was comforting to read a devotion about hinderances and just realize that sometimes, we can’t expect everything to always happen in OUR time frame and definition. God IS perfect and will always deliver us but just not the way WE want to define and control it.

Happiness and prosperity does exist under our Heavenly Father but it takes being willing to give up trying to define it by how WE want to see it and how the world wants to define it.

There are a lot of things to be grateful, this Thanksgiving and not for anything material; Material comes and goes, but a life and faith in and through our Heavenly Father is forever.

Next time you feel like giving up, take an extra deep breathe and go to God; Call to Him; Talk to Him; Ask HIM to show you and open your heart and mind to what He has to say and not try to excuse everything as to hard, to difficult, no way.

Maybe He is just redirecting you to something different and in the meantime, wants you to use this time, this break to seek Him, call to Him and allow Him to lead you.

Sunflower Faith | One comment

25 Nov 2008

Uncategorized

Bookworm Award

Thank you to Laurie of Magnolia Heart Beats for this fun award.

The rules of this award are simple.

This award has a fun twist … find the book closest to you, turn to page 56, and type in the fifth sentence plus a couple more after that.

“I said,”Yes,Lord, You know that I love You.”

“He said to me,”Tend My sheep.”

“And yet a third time, He said,”Simon, son of Jonah,do you Love Me?”

from, “The Jesus Chronicles: Mark’s Story,A Novel”

I’m going to have to tag AmyDeanne of “The 160 Acre Woods” because she always has a great read posted on her site and Becki of “A Walk Through the Valley“.

Sunflower Faith | No comments

25 Nov 2008

Uncategorized

Thanksgiving Tag

*Disclaimer* My deepest apologies; This had been posted without, well, the post, the other night. Here is the actual post that should have been posted.*

With deep appreciation to Joy of “Joy of Desserts” for this fun Thanksgiving Tag.

There are only two easy rules:
1. Post these rules when you participate in this meme.
2. Link to the people you tag as well as the person who tagged you.

Now on to the FUN!!

1. Which do you like better: hosting Thanksgiving at your home, or going elsewhere?

We trade off with other family members on who hosts Thanksgiving each year; It’s a great way to make sure everyone has a turn at sharing their own Thanksgiving, with the rest of us and it helps distributes cooking duties.

2. Do you buy a fresh or frozen turkey? Organic? Free-range?
Mostly frozen just out of convenience, but usually when it’s our turn to host Thanksgiving, we tend to do frozen and organic.

3. Do you make stuffing or dressing? What kind?

Dressing. Due to the the way we make the turkey and also just out of personal preference, we make dressing.

4. Sweet potato pie or Pumpkin pie?
Pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie, cheesecake, sweet potato, chocolate and key lime are the normal pies that we make.

5. Are leftovers a blessing or a curse?
That’s the part of Thanksgiving that is awesome! Lol, when the kids are put to bed, the adults are usually back in the kitchen for second helpings. Okay, it’s really fourth helpings,but that’s the best part of Thanksgiving, THE LEFTOVERS!

6. What side dishes are a must-have in your family?
All the standards; Cranberry is an iffy thing; Sometimes it’s a must, sometimes its a nut; My mil always makes sure we bring spinach dip.

7. What do you wish you had that might make Thanksgiving easier?
Extra pots and pans; an extra blender, another stove and oven, several mini choppers, two more sets of mixing bowls and lots of coffee. LOL

8. If/when you go to someone else’s house for the holiday, do you usually bring a dish? If so, what is it?

We always try to bring several dishes to just add to the meal and helps make making a meal for a large group of people a little bit easier.

9. What do you wish one of your guests would bring to your house?
An empty stomach is a must; a readiness to laugh, eat and just be with good company is a must need to bring to.

10. What do you wish one of your guests would NOT bring to your house?
Fleas? Lol, that’s a hard one because it’s hard to think of what not to bring to the house.

11. Do you stick with a particular menu from year to year, or do you mix it up?
We do a mix of traditional but with an addition of a new recipe or two each year to see what works, what doesn’t and what becomes a new part of the family tradition.

12. Is Thanksgiving a religious or secular holiday in your home?
It’s more of a religious holiday than secular; For us, Thanksgiving is a time of just remembering and focusing on the blessings that our Heavenly Father has given us and to remember that no matter what, the people who are around us, the blessings that we are blessed to have food on our table that day and that life is fleeting and that we can’t focus on what we don’t have but rather, on what we do have, is what is important.

13. Share one Thanksgiving tradition.
Letting the kids help is a major part of Thanksgiving for us; It lets them know how important they are to us and it helps them feel a part of the “tradition” making; There are always simple tasks that the kids can do around the kitchen; Let’s them know how important and a blessing they are to us and just reminds us, that after everything in life, we are blessed to have them in our lives. They are a gift from God.

14. Share one Thanksgiving memory.
Seeing the kids really get a taste of Thanksgiving for the first time is the best Thanksgiving memory; It’s a wonderous time for them, along with Christmas, and to see all the food, this big turkey and tasting the new flavors and texture for the first time; It’s really just a reminder of seeing things for the first time and seeing their eyes light up is wonderful!

15. Name five things you’re thankful for.

Join in the FUN!! If I didn’t tag you, please feel free to participate anyway! Add a link to your replies in the comments below.

AmyDeanne of “The 160 Acre Woods“
Lori of “All You Have to Give“
Denise of “Shortybears Place“
Melly of “I am Never Alone“
Becki of A of A Walk through the Valley and Blogmommas
Laurie of Magnolia Heartbeats
Elisa of Extravagant Grace.
Denise of Shortybear’s Place.
Amy of In Pursuit of Proverbs 31
Pam of Beyond the Red Door
Melly of Mini Pauses
Melanie of “
Angie of The Knightly News
Melanie at “The Fruits of the Spirit“
You gentle Reader, love to hear from you about you

Sunflower Faith | 3 comments

22 Nov 2008

Memes • Sunday Praise and Worship

Sunday Praise and Worship

: To find out more on how to participate in Sunday Praise and Worship, come here.

“John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light” (John 5:35).

There are people that you just know has Christ living in and through them. There are people who call themselves Christians and yet when one is around them, rather than feeling our Father’s love and life through and in them, instead we feel rejection and hurt.

In a daily devotion, I read,

“

A diamond is designed to reflect the light to reveal its true value. The cut of a diamond determines its brilliance. There is no single measurement of a diamond that defines its cut, but rather a collection of measurements and observations that determine the relationship between a diamond’s light performance, dimensions and finish.

Jesus came to bring the light of His love and grace to each of us. However, we are born into a world dulled by the sin created by Adam and Eve that makes our lives dark until we meet Jesus. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Rom 3:23-24).”

It’s silly to use as an example, but think of an engagement ring and how everyone in the room seems suddenly drawn to the newly engaged girl’s display of her promise to be married. The oooo’s and the aaaah’s but more than anything, it’s hard not to get caught up in the joy and excitement of the newly engaged and the soon to be married.

As Christians, do we show that ourselves daily in our lives to everyone we meet and I mean truly and honestly and not when we just feel like the spotlight is upon us.

It’s hard to do so, to be honest, if we have had a bad day, but it’s food for thought…when people cross our paths, what do we want them to remember not so much us by, but our Heavenly Father by?

That despite the storms that may rumble in our lives, do we want them to see us as sour faced testament to our Heavenly Father that should they see us in any other day, may instead of embracing us…turn from us and our Heavenly Father, or as human beings who knowing they are not perfect, gave their life and trust to our Heavenly Father and allowed Him to lead us and to guide us how to act and react.

We are the diamonds that reflect our Heavenly Father and how do we allow Him to live in and through us so what is reflected is Him and not us or our moods that change.

Sunflower Faith | 4 comments | Tags: Devotionals, faith, God, Jesus Christ, Memes, praise, scripture, sermons, Sunday memes, Sunday Praise and Worship, worship

19 Nov 2008

"Light" Musings

The family that gets sick together….

So yes, the entire family has succumbed to being sick.

It was a valiant fight with lysol, hand sanitizer, and medicine but unfortunately the bug or whatever it is, was stronger and me, hubby and the kids are down for the count to recuperate.

This was bound to happen, and at least it happen now rather than next week, although right now, I really don’t want to try to think about next week at the moment.

Unless it’s liquid, food just really isn’t appetizing and crackers and sprite taste like the best things in the entire world.

It’s actually kinda funny, that I’m able to get into a schedule of homeschooling, taking care of daily household duties and slip back into blogging, that we get sick.Lol, sigh.

It’s an unexpected break…So my apologies, Gentle Reader, but we’re going to be taking a break as we work to recover from this.

Sunflower Faith | 4 comments

19 Nov 2008

Word-Filled Wednesday

Word Filled Wednesday

I was set on posting a different picture for Word-Filled Wednesday, but when I was browsing, my heart became convicted on posting this verse instead.

: Deuteronomy 11:19; Image Copyright: Heartlight Gallery

A lot had to do with the fact that I was homeschooling, but a lot had to do with the fact of how convicted I’ve become about homeschooling.

As Christians and as parents, we live in a topsy turvy world where even the cartoons are questionable and the promoting of ideas and lifestyles that are contrary to a life that our Heavenly Father calls out for us to lead.

God’s word is for everyday, every situation, every moment, 24/7 of our lives and we don’t just occassionaly water the plants and pray that they grow?

We nurture them, we check on them each day, we give them nourishment each day, knowing that the basics and foundation of a strong, God-filled life starts in what is laid down and not what is built afterward as an afterthought.

Everyday belongs to our Heavenly Father and our children belongs to our Heavenly Father and we are rewarded with a heavy but rewarded stewardship of these precious cargos.

As I spend my days teaching the children and preparing to start teaching them God’s word as part of their curriculum, it hit me. Other than us and church, our children really won’t be getting this anywhere else.

In the retail stores, as I see clotheswear and accessories marketing for a popular singer and geared toward toddlers who barely know who this singer is, I think of whose attention do we want our children to have? That of a stranger who sings and dresses in a way that ages rather than promote innocenence, or do we wish for the attention of our children to look not at that, but at our Heavenly Father instead.

Everyday is a teaching opportunity; We are the first teachers and the most permanent teachers,along with our Heavenly Father, when it comes to guiding them in our lives.

Sunflower Faith | 8 comments | Tags: scripture, the 160 acre woods, Word-Filled Wednesdays

18 Nov 2008

Homeschooling • Printables

Free printable for homeschool planning for the year

If you’re like me, it helps to plan out and get an idea of what to expect for the next year of homeschooling and it makes writing lesson plans (if you’re required or just like to do that) easier, on top of just getting a general idea of what to gather material and book wise.

This is just one of those “tools” that is helping me out with planning out my curriculum for homeschooling and maybe for others, this can be an asset.

For us, it helps us get an idea of what we want to explore the next year and what we will need to either buy, get from the library, download or just prepare for and it’s created in a way, to not be an absolute by the book, but more of a curious glance at the year ahead.

Due to us planning to home school with a year round schedule, I have it set from July to June and broken into four quarters but if you home school using a different method, or by themes, I left the blocks empty to be filled in as needed.

Hopefully this can be of some help to someone out there,otherwise, it’s just a fun read. LOL

To download the long range planner, you can get it: <a href=”http://h1.ripway.com/twinklemom/longrangeplanner.doc”>Long Range Planner Template</a>