Chew on this...

Do you feel like you are going down into the belly of the ship hiding from God and what He is calling you to do? Jonah tried that and it didn't work. He went down into the ship, and then was thrown overboard down into the sea. Down is not the direction we are to go, we are to be going upward! Pray this week that we are going upward as a church and that we are going upward in our walk with the Lord. If we are trying to hide from God, come out of hiding because it doesn't work. God is there to redeem us, not hurt us. Pray for a fish named Grace to swallow us up and allow us to have time to repent, pray, and prepare for what God is calling us to do. ~ Frances

Chew on this...

Jonah 1:1-3 It doesn't take Jonah long to say no and run the other way does it! Are we quick to say no when God asks us to do something? Or do we pray about it as Nehemiah did? Do we run the other way as Jonah did or do we wait like Nehemiah? Pray this week for God to speak to us, to give us a task, to use us as He would use us. Then pray that we will be more like Nehemiah with our response no matter what God calls us to do. Remember Isaiah 55:8, God’s ways are not the same as our ways. ~Frances

Searching Etsy

While searching Etsy I found these sweet items!

 

Thankful Thursday...glow in the dark bracelet

Last week, I got an email from my daughter's teacher about a parent's concern regarding their daughter needing to get a bracelet from my child that glows in the dark.  The other little girl is hysterical cause her mom will not give her $5 and she is scared my child will run out of these bracelets.  My first instinct when I read this was fear! Fear that I was creating waves, they always say don't rock the boat.  I did not want to create any drama or even make my kids a target at their school because of these bracelets. The teacher asked me to email and explain to the mother what the bracelets are about.  I was nervous and scared but let it go and gave it to God to handle.  "The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." Exodus 14:14 was a verse God gave me weeks before that I have been clinging to tightly.

After my ladies bible study ended, I typed an email addressing the mothers concern.  I apologized for creating the hysteria in her child.  Explaining that my daughters took them to school to sell to teachers, staff, and close friends. Then told her I was going on a mission trip to Costa Rica in June.  The bracelets were to be a reminder of prayer for those who purchase one.  All of the money from bracelets goes back to the trip which we will be working on a church during the day and VBS at night to local children.  I apologized one more time, prayed, then sent that email on it's way!

When I woke up the next morning, I had a bit of concern over that email, how would it be received, would she understand or would she persecute me.  I thought this is the denying of Christ Jesus talks about. "And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved" Matthew 10:22  We might not be accepted for what and who we believe in.  We will be made fun of or things even worse.  Then I thought we are to follow Jesus at all cost, because He is worth it! "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent." Acts 18:9

I let it go to God once more for good this time. (Some things are so hard for me to not try to take back from God once I give it to Him.)  The response back was received by that mother and she wished me luck on my mission.  My ladies bible study the night before spoke on when we get divine anointing, we can expect big things from the results even if they are small in our eyes.  These bracelets are small in cost but the big results that will come from them, through others money used to purchase them and the prayer that will come from them will be HUGE.  Like Jonah's speech from God to Nineveh.  Jonah said to the whole city "40 days from now, Nineveh will be destroyed." That's all he said, those few words! But those small words had God's anointing on them and it sparked one of the biggest revivals in history.  That's a really overwhelming thought to just how great our God is and to how if we were only more willing and obedient to obey Christ!

I sometimes use my Bible app so that I can flip to different versions of the same verse easily. As I was waiting for the app to open, I began thinking how that mom probably thinks I'm some crazy fanatic or worried she might be passing judgement on me or my kids.  I looked down to the app now open and the verse for the day read...

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10

I burst into tears because in that moment I felt His great love for me and for all people.  My reassurance from my heavenly father! Thank you Jesus! 

 

Homemade bag ice cream

The kids made homemade ice cream from zipper bags!  

This was a fun and exciting treat for my kids.  Even the youngest could do this, with a little help from mom. 

What you need to gather for EACH serving you are making:

-3/4 cup half and half (next time I'm going to try using our kefir milk)

-1/4 cup whipping cream

-2-3tsp honey granules or sugar

-1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

-gallon zip bags

-quart zip bags

-ice

-rock salt 

We were making 3 servings, one for each of my kids.

First add the half and half, whipping cream, honey granules, vanilla into the quart zip bag and seal up tightly.

Next add fill gallon zip bag about half full of ice along with 1/2 cup rock salt.  Place the quart bag with ice cream ingredients into the gallon bag with ice. 

Seal tightly then shake, shake, shake! 

The kids hands were getting cold so I told them to hold the bag from the top and keep shaking! 

Don't stop now, we are almost there!

It took about 5 minutes to get a thick consistency, depending on how many times your kids stop, it might take a little bit longer for the shaking process.

Time for the reveal...it was very yummy!

The kids thought it was so cool to eat from the bag.  They were quite messy toward the end so beware. :)

Want some?  

We added chocolate syrup to ours. You could add anything you like to change the flavor, strawberries, crushed Oreos, chocolate chips, etc. There are tons of possibilities!

Enjoy!

Chew on this...

General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, once said to a group of new officers, “I want you young men always to bear in mind that it is the nature of a fire to go out; you must keep it stirred and fed and the ashes removed.” Is your fire blazing for God or has it died down a bit or a lot? Let’s pray this week for the flames of each member to be stirred and fed. Feed your fire daily with God’s word and prayer. Pray for God to stir the church fire. Pray that all members will stay together in unity for His work because a coal cannot stay hot by itself. Pray for God to give us the words to encourage each other to stay on fire for the Lord! ~ Frances

Searching Etsy

While searching Etsy I found these sweet items!