God Doesn't Move

If you feel a distance between you and God, ask yourself: WHO MOVED?

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
~~Hebrews 13:8

Word-Filled Wednesday ~#16~ 12/29/10

PASSAGE: Luke 17:11-19 ~ Now on His way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria & Galilee. As He was going into a village, 10 men who had leprosy met Him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"


When He saw them, He said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.


One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet & thanked Him - & he was a Samaritan.


Jesus asked, "Were not all 10 cleansed? Where are the other 9? Was no one found to return & give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then He said to him, "Rise & go; your faith has made you well."

LESSON LEARNED: "New Year's Day" ~ the annual Day of New Beginnings! And don't we ALL need new beginnings?


But at the end of the Old Year, have you given thought to how the Lord has blessed you in this year? It's been a hard, hard year for many of us, but God is still on His throne. Do we appreciate that? Do we tell Him that we appreciate that?


Or are we like those 9 lepers who, after being healed (or after having food on our table, a home to live in, a car to drive, a job, good health, loving family, a church where we fit in & enjoy the teaching & leadership of faithful pastors) simply go on our way? Saying nothing & taking it all for granted? We enjoy the blessings but often forget to say "thank You" to the Lord Who blessed us so. Things are not easy in this economy & in this point of HIStory, but we are still blessed beyond what we deserve & should show our gratitude for the Lord's care & blessings.


While we are praying for the Lord's blessing upon the New Year, let's not forget to take stock in all that He, by His grace & mercy, has brought us through THIS year. And, like that ONE leper, let us bow at Jesus' feet & thank Him for all He has done.


Blessings from Ohio...Kim<><

{Be sure to leave a link to YOUR Word-Filled Wednesday!}

CHRISTmas is Jesus

{Words by Brian Duncan; Music by Chuck Barth}

Scented pine...dreams of snow
Candlelight...colors glow
Family...hold me close
Thoughts of home...and heaven

CHRISTmas is Jesus
A Child for all men
Gone from the manger
And tomb He lay in
CHRISTmas is Jesus
God's love coming true
A Star from the heavens
Has fallen for you

Crowded streets...passers by
Children smile...beggars cry
"Peace on earth"...rings a bell
Choirs will sing the story

CHRISTmas is Jesus
A Child for all men
Gone from the manger
And tomb He lay in
CHRISTmas is Jesus
God's love coming true
A Star from the heavens
Has fallen for you

Join wise men and kings
Worship this Child tonight
Such a precious offering
Pleasing in His sight
And keep the peace
In this CHRISTmas time
The Prince of Peace
Keeping your heart and mine

CHIRSTmas is Jesus
A Child for all mean
Gone from the manger
And tomb He lay in
CHRISTmas is Jesus
God's love coming true
A Star from the heavens
Has fallen...for you

God's richest blessings to you & your family for a Merry CHRISTmas & a happy, healthy New Year ~ Kim<><

Hallelujah Chorus -Quinhagak, Alaska

Simply HAD to share another video with you. This one is SO wonderfully creative & fun that it brought tears of joy to my eyes!

Enjoy!

Blessings & Merry CHRISTmas from Ohio...Kim<><

THE DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY

This is so cute & very well done. Worth seeing.



Blessings from Ohio...Kim<><

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~#103~ 12/21/10

For Today...

Outside my window...snow...a few new flakes over-night. Dreary skies but it's still pretty.

I am thinking...of all the things I still need to do for Christmas.

I am thankful for...happy grown children.

From the kitchen...cookies, homemade gift mixes.

I am wearing...jeans, red sweater.

I am remembering...to get a Secret Santa gift for a co-worker today.

I am going...to take DD#2 to work, pick up a gift certificate, work the closing shift tonight.

I am reading...Bible; don't have time for anything else but devotions this time of year. But that's best, anyway.

I am hoping...for a 'friendly', respectful Christmas afternoon at my brother's house.

I am creating...a peaceful, Christ-centered home.

am hearing...radio, DD#2 getting ready for work.

I am noticing...that I need to stop tensing up when I think of Christmas w/my brother.

Around the house...the loveliness of Christmas, the messiness of making Christmas gifts! lol

One of my favorite things...hugging my DDs after not seeing them for a while. All of their lives, I can hardly walk past them w/o reaching out to just touch their shoulder or stroke their hair as I pass. I love my girls!

Plans for this week...family time, work, LOTS of rehearsals for CHRISTmas Eve singing & Sunday worship.

Pondering these words..."Knowing ABOUT Jesus ends in hell; KNOWING Jesus ends in heaven."

Scripture thought...James 2:19 ~ "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that ~ and shudder." Along w/'Pondering these words', it's a totally different thing to know about Jesus & know Him in a love relationship between yourself & your Savior. Such a huge difference between 'head knowledge' & 'heart knowledge'...I would hate to die w/o accepting Jesus as my Savior, go to hell & have all the opportunities I had to act upon what I knew about Him & suffer in torment FOREVER for being too proud to act upon it. Jesus WANTS to be in relationship w/us BECAUSE He enjoys us. Wonderful! Marvelous!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Mmmm...I can almost smell the fire, can't you? :-)

Enjoy 100's of other Daybooks at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook!

Blessings from Ohio...Kim<><

The 12 Days of CHRISTmas ~ Explained

Luke 19:40 ~ "I tell you," He [Jesus] replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

Has this cute, fun little CHRISTmas ditty ever puzzled you? What in the world do these Old World objects have to do with CHRISTmas?

I have your answer...

From 1558 until 1829, truly committed Christians & Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. In the early days of this time period, the Catholic church even chained the Bible to the pulpit & forbade parishioners to own &/or read their own Bible. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a secret way to publicly celebrate the tenants of the Christian faith in a culture dominated by a tyrannical secular government.

It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to the committed faithful. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which even their children could remember.


-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.-

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

Blessings from Ohio...Kim<><

Homemade CHRISTmas Gift Ideas

I'm at a loss for blogging time today, but I would like to direct you to some of my older posts for ideas for your homemade CHRISTmas gifts & treats ~ especially for some of you newer readers.

So, as you are considering what to make for your loved-ones, before you go over the river & through the woods to Grandma's house...

here are the links...

Candy Cane Bark

Homemade Castile Soap Bars

Homemade Glycerin Soap Bars

Homemade Foaming Hand Soap

Homemade Herbal Body Wash

Homemade Dill Dip Mix

Homemade Seasoned Salt

Homemade Knitted Dish Cloths

Connie's Farmhouse Granola

Homemade Air-Freshener Spray

Homemade Brown Sugar Scrub

Homemade Bath Salts

Have fun making & enjoying all of your homemade CHRISTmas goodies!

Blessings from Ohio...Kim<><

Word-Filled Wednesday ~#15~ 12/15/10 ~ The Shepherd's Good News

PASSAGE: Luke 2:8-20 [selected verses] ~ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a Baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."


Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,


"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests."


So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby, Who was lying in the manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word...and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

[all emphasis mine ~ KW<><]

LESSON LEARNED: How precious is our Lord in not only choosing a carpenter's young family to raise His Son, but to have chosen the lowest of the low, shepherds, to announce His birth?


Our Lord wasn't born into a palace of kings, nor even into a wealthy family. God didn't send His angels to the Town Crier, nor did He announce Jesus' birth on beautifully written stationary. But He chose a lonely, tired, uneducated, smelly little band of shepherds. When the Bible tells us that "they were terrified", I'm sure that would be an understatement! But whatever they saw, whatever they heard, whatever they were told, was so startling & so important that they couldn't wait to go find the new-born King.


And when they saw Him...oh, and when they saw Him...they worshipped. In all their humility...they worshipped. In all their astonishment that what they saw had been no dream...they leaned forward on trembling knees...and saw...and worshipped.


What would you do? What WILL you do? Will you see? Will you worship? Will you go tell?


Blessings from Ohio...Kim<><

{Be sure to leave a link to YOUR Word-Filled Wednesday!}

Mary, Did You Know?

~Luke 1:26-38~

"In the 6th month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her & said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The LORD is with you.'


"Mary was greatly troubled at his words & wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child & give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The LORD God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end.'


"'How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'since I am a virgin?'


"The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God...For nothing is impossible with God.'


"'I am the LORD's servant,' Mary answered. 'May it be to me as you have said.' Then the angel left her."


Mary, did you know
That your Baby Boy
Would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
That your Baby Boy
Would save your sons & daughters?
Did you know
That your Baby Boy
Has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered
Will soon deliver you.


Mary, did you know
That your Baby Boy
Would give sight to the blind man?
Mary, did you know
That your Baby Boy
Would calm a storm with His hand?
Did you know
That your Baby Boy
Has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little Baby,
You've kissed the face of God
O Mary, did you know?


The blind will see,
The deaf will hear,
The dead will live again;
The lame will leap,
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb!


Mary, did you know
That your Baby Boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
That your Baby Boy
Will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your Baby Boy
Was Heaven's perfect Lamb?
And the sleeping Child you're holding
Is the great I Am!
{Words by Mark Lowry; Music by Buddy Greene}

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~#102~ 12/14/10

For Today...

Outside my window...snow...snow...snow...SNOW! (Sorry, been watching "White Christmas" one-too-many times! lol) And it's incredibly cold! Brrrr...

I am thinking...of all the CHRISTmas things I need to do...w/$$ the way it is (or in our case...isn't), I'm making everything; on top of now having a job. I don't have the time I've had in the past.

I am thankful for...the ability to be able to make things & that I enjoy doing it.

From the kitchen...baking cookies, making herb mixes, etc.

I am wearing...jeans, multi-colored turtle neck sweater, warm socks.

I am remembering...CHRISTmas Eve of 2004 when we had 21" of snow!

I am going...to take DD#2 to work, do some baking, try to read my fav blogs & see what's up on Facebook, go to work.

I am reading...Bible; just got the new issue of Country Sampler magazine. :-)

I am hoping...that those relatives who think love = a-very-expensive-store-bought-gift will at least pretend to like what I'm making them.

I am creating...a peaceful, Christ-filled home. I'm having fun making the homemade goodies.

I am hearing...radio, typing fingers, morning sounds.

I am noticing...that this is definitely a day for layers!!!!!!!!

Around the house...laundry, running the sweeper, dusting...other things mentioned above.

One of my favorite things...all the bunny tracks that I saw laced all over our back yard when I took Maggie out for her morning potty run.

Plans for this week...family time, work, CHRISTmas Eve ensemble & trio practice, the Wolf CHRISTmas, worshipping w/some friends at their church this weekend.

Pondering these words..."Mary, did you know...?"

Scripture thought..."But Mary treasured up all these things & pondered them in her heart." ~Luke 2:19.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Enjoy 100's of other Daybooks at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook!

Blessings from Ohio...Kim<><

Lesson Planner: Weaving a Beautiful Tapestry of Learning (Bible-based Unit Studies)

{Originally printed in the Winter 2008 issue of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine}

As homeschoolers we are constantly looking for that “perfect curriculum.” Well, after 15 years of homeschooling, I hate to burst your bubble, but it just isn’t there. However! There are those that meet family needs more than others.

Would you be interested in a curriculum that teaches all levels of Social Studies/History/Government, Science, Language Arts, Geography, Writing, Art and even Worldview…AND…it’s based on the Bible? Well, read on, because I have two great unit studies that will interest you!

The Weaver and Tapestry of Grace have become the standards in unit studies. Both are tried and true and have the Bible solidly as their foundation for all of their subjects.

The Weaver

As like so many new homeschoolers, when we began our adventure we were scared, confused and on a very tight budget. A friend of mine told me about this great unit study that had everything I would need for the whole year (except Grammar, Spelling and Math), including worksheets, projects, suggested field trips…and…it was all based on the Bible! As a bonus, it was constructed in such a way that several grade levels could be taught at the same time with assignments then being given according to those levels.

The Weaver (available through Alpha Omega) is constructed of six Volumes, including a preschool program. In completing all six volumes you will have thoroughly examined, and learned from, the entire Bible. The Weaver Interlock is the preschool program. This study sets the pace for the rest of The Weaver by taking the entire school year to cover Genesis 1-10. Using Scripture as it’s base, and according to what your Scripture lesson is for the day, your children will then use that as a springboard for what they will cover in social studies, science, language arts, beginning arithmetic, art, physical education, health and music!

Then your students will move into the Volumes. It must be noted here that you will still benefit from all of The Weaver volumes even if you didn’t start out in preschool with the Interlock program. Each of the Volumes are self-sustaining and can completely stand alone. Also, each original Volume that you purchase is designed for grades K-6. For a substantially smaller price you may purchase supplements for grades 7-12. In that way, if your students range in age/grade ANYWHERE from K-12, you can teach your lessons once and then give them assignments at their own age/grade level! Each Volume covers a whole year’s worth of lessons Bible, science, geology, history, geography, language arts, health and art. Aren’t unit studies great?!

Volume 1 brings us right into some of the most important Doctrinal foundations of the Bible; Genesis 11-50 (ALL Volumes include teacher’s notes). In the process of coving all the base lessons above, in Volume 1 your children will cover such topics as: City, Architecture, Language (these are tied into the Tower of Babel…see how that works?), History, Transportation, Water Cycle, Life Cycle, Character, Insects, Slavery (Life of Moses…), and others. You will find reproducibles and other items included in each Volume.

Volume 2 will usher us in the world of Exodus and the Books of the Law. This Volume will cover areas of Royalty, Families, Deserts, God’s Sovereignty, Miracles, Celebrations, Egyptian Civilization, U.S. History (1600-1790), and more.

Volume 3 follows that up with Joshua, Judges, and Ruth by teaching on the topics of Exploration, Espionage, Communication, Forts, Music, Thinking Skills, Time, Ancient Civilizations, U.S. History (1790-1860), to name a few.

Volume 4 then brings us into the time of the Old Testament Period of Kings and People. Your children will love getting involved in learning about Giants, World Missions, the Civil War, Biology, Captivity, Reconstruction and The Period of Silence between the Old and New Testaments; and more.

Volume 5 caps off this five year study or can stand alone. Volume 5 covers the Life of Christ. In this study of Christ’s life and ministry your students will draw closer to our Lord by learning about Covenants, Government, Ancient Rome, Reproduction, Solar System, the Human Body, Miracle, Biographies, Agriculture, Geology, Map Skills and World and U.S. History (1895-present).

As a bonus, to save you countless trips to the library, Alpha Omega has made so much more available to you by offering resources that can be used with The Weaver. A few of those are the Day by Day which was one of my favorite items. This is basically a daily lesson plan book; everything is totally laid out for you. Wisdom Words was another favorite. This is a step-by-step grammar and composition program for grade K-6. If you purchase this with your first Volume, you won’t need any other grammar/comp program until after sixth grade! Please note that this can be used with or without The Weaver program. There are great resources for spelling, penmanship, reading and other teacher’s helps. Very thorough.

Tapestry of Grace

In the few short years that Tapestry of Grace (TOG), by Lampstand Press, has been available, it is quickly becoming a favorite with many. As you know, it seems that the longer so many of us homeschool, the more eclectic we become. Some of us have favorite methods that we rely on, or return to, over and over again. So, if you are a person who loves the Classic model of learning, but you also love the convenience and ease of using unit studies with your multiple ages of children, then you will feel that Tapestry of Grace was written just for you! And, indeed, it was written by mom, Marsha Somerville, for her own children. After years of success with her own fine family, she decided to publish it for the rest of us.

As in all Classical education, TOG follows the rule of Lower Grammar (K-around 3^rd grade), Upper Grammar (around 4^th – 6^th grade), Dialectic (roughly Jr. high level) and Rhetoric (Sr. high level). Jam-packed with teaching notes, reproducibles and lessons notes, Marsha has left hardly anything out.

As with The Weaver, TOG is designed to cover the entire Bible in a multi-age/grade format; however, TOG covers all of this in four years. Each well noted, well researched unit is laid out in notations of Threads. Contained within each Thread is your basic lesson plan divided up by Historical, Geographical, Literary, Law and Government Studies, Fine Arts/Hands-on, Writing, Church History and Bible Survey, and Worldview Studies. Each of these topics are covered thoroughly. Students, especially older students, need to not only know what the Bible (Truth) says about what we believe, but they also need to know at least a working knowledge of what false faiths and cults believe. For example: TOG, year one, covers the History of Redemption; as part of that Unit 2 is “All Governments are Established by God.” As part of this study it must be understood that between Creation and around 960 BC, God called one nation out of a pagan existence unto himself. As part of the process of learning about those ancient civilizations, your students will also learn about past and present pagan religions so as to not only understand the falsehood of what they believe, but to impress upon them just how much the world needs Jesus as their Savior.

TOG is replete with sidebar notes, tables, worksheets, reading lists and suggested resources. If you have been homeschooling for long, many of these will already be on your shelves. If not, TOG offers outstanding savings on complete or partial resource packages. So, all of us “whole book” learning lovers can get excited about this unit study!

Now, I know what you’re asking, so I’ll tell you more about what each yearly unit consists of. As mentioned above, Year 1 is History of Redemption; covering the units of: The Books of Moses, All Governments are Established by God, Preparing the World for it’s Savior, and In the Fullness of Time.

Year 2 is titled From Ancient to Modern and covers Middle Ages, Renaissance and Reformation, Colonial America, and Age of Revolutions.

Year 3 brings us to The 1800’s. This busy and interesting year covers Napoleon’s World, The Birth of the Modern, Nations Uniting and Dividing, and The Gilded Age. Very exciting.

Year 4 will end in the study by bringing us right into The Twentieth Century. Your students will be amazed at how full that century was! This year covers The Century Opens – WWI, The Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression, The WWII Era, The Post-WW – the 50’s and 60’s, and The 70’s, 80’s and 90’s and a Look Ahead. This is a fun one to do with our kids because we get to cover some of the craziness – and fashion faux-pas – that we lived through!

And, just like The Weaver, if you wish you may start the study over and re-do the entire study from the viewpoint of your children’s higher grade levels. If you wish, once you have bought these studies, they may well be all you will ever need for your children’s entire school careers!

Contact Information

The Weaver is available through Alpha Omega Publications ~ 1-800-622-3070 or www.aophomeschooling.com.

Tapestry of Grace ~ http://www.tapestryofgrace.com/tog_fast/index.htm or contact Lampstand Press at 1-800-705-7487. You can also find support & get your questions answered by finding TOG on Facebook.

Blessings from Ohio...Kim<><

Home Remedies for Pink Eye

With colds & flu season upon us, many times ~ especially w/children ~ pink eye, a.k.a. conjunctivitis, comes along w/it. Sadly. It is so hard to keep our kleenex-polluted hands & fingers off of our itchy eyes...especially for children. And step #1 to NOT getting pink eye comes w/keeping our hands as clean as possible & not wiping our eyes.

But...just in case...here are some tried & true home remedies for pink eye:

1) One of the very best remedies is also one of the simplest: Steep 1 ts of chamomile flowers (found in any health food store's bulk area) in 1 cup of boiled water. Let it steep for about 10 mins, strain & let cool. Use as an eye wash &/or an eye compress.

2) Cut a few slices of raw potato. With clean hands, pinch the slice used for each eye a little to release some of the juice. Place a slice over each eye for about 15 mins. OR grate some potato & place a few of the shavings over the eyes (make sure they are closed!) for about 15 mins. Potatoes are natural astringent & will reduce swelling.

3) Use 2ts of Tumeric powder (you can empty out capsules or buy in bulk), steep for 10 mins in boiled water. Soak into a soft, clean wash cloth & use as a compress.

4) Cut out all sugar from the diet; this helps your immune system fight the infection.

5) Remember to keep your hands, & the patient's hands, as clean as possible.

6) One of our daughters was a teenager when she had pink eye &, unfortunately for her, learned the hard way that she HAD to now throw away that new mascara she had just bought. Yes...if you have used mascara or any other eye make-up products & applicators at the time that you noticed symptoms of pink eye, you MUST (must, must, must) throw them all away. Sad but true...especially for all of us who like to play in the pretty colors! '-)

Blessings from Ohio...Kim<><

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~#101~ 12/8/10

For Today...

Outside my window...snow on the ground, bright sunshine in the blue morning sky. C-c-c-c-cold!! 10 degrees!

I am thinking...of all the things I need to do for CHRISTmas; since I had to go back to work I have so much less time then I'm used to having.

I am thankful for...still having a home & 2 cars after my DH being laid off in 4/09 & then being so drastically under-employeed. With his lowered income combined w/mine & our DD#2's, we're making almost 1/3 of what he made before the lay-off. But God is still on His throne & we are getting through this! Also, yesterday was our little dog, Maggie's, 3rd birthday ~ thank You, Lord, for making this sweet 'little girl' just for us.

From the kitchen...potato soup!

I am wearing...gray sweat-syle 'yoga' pants & a burgandy sweat shirt. It's COLD!

I am remembering...deep, deep snows of my childhood.

I am going...to take DD#2 to work, do some blogging, do some heavy cleaning (since it's my day off), put up the Nativity scene, have supper w/some dear friends tonight.

I am reading...Bible: Psalms & Luke.

I am hoping...for a pleasant CHRISTmas w/my extended family.

I am creating...a peaceful, Christ-centered home. A safe haven for my dear husband & family to always want to come home to.

I am hearing...radio, washer rinse cycle starting, DD#2 puttering around in the bathroom.

I am noticing that...I need to replace some lights on the CHRISTmas tree. :-( I'm hoping I can still find some of the regular white lights...I detest those nasty, bright LED lights that are being forced upon us.

Around the house...Mid-week cleaning, laundry, mop the kitchen floor.

One of my favorite things...our old Nativity scene. It's been in my family since I was 3 or 4.

Plans for this week...family time, work, CHRISTmas Eve music practice, my DH's birthday (!) & Sunday worship w/the saints!

Pondering these words..."God's idea of advancement is far different than ours...it may involve suffering." ~from Sunday's sermon.

Scripture thought...Phil. 2:6-8 ~ "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality w/God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled Himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!" ~~The Incarnation is about servanthood...the greatest power. (from Sunday's sermon)

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Enjoy 100's of other Daybooks at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook!

Blessings from Ohio...Kim<><

Guest Blog ~ Perfect Pantry: The Well-Stocked Kitchen

Marcia Green, at Organizational Management was kind enough to offer a guest post link to her great post: Perfect Pantry: 80 Essential Ingredients for a Well-Stocked Kitchen. This looks great, ladies.

Be sure to click over & take advantage of her advice.

Enjoy!

Blessings from Ohio...Kim<><

Even Geese Need a Shepherd

"...He calls his own sheep by name & leads them out...and his sheep follow him because they know his voice...I [Jesus] am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep...I am the Good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me...They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd." ~Selected verses from John 10:3-16 [emphasis mine ~KW<><]

Yesterday, as my husband & I were making the country drive back home from church, we saw one of the largest gaggles of flying geese we've ever seen. It was amazing & beautiful. I could hardly take my eyes off of it.

However, something unusual caught my attention. As there were SO many geese, their pattern kept changing; going from a huge V, to several smaller Vs, to more fluid forms that looked like swirling eddies in the sky. I made the observation to my husband that it appeared that there were "too many chiefs & not enough Indians"! lol Have you ever heard that old saying? It means that there are too many people wanting to be the leader & so, even though the job eventually gets done, not knowing who to follow & getting so many mixed messages makes the job harder to do & takes longer to accomplish.

That seemed to be how their flight pattern was going. I thought how they looked more like ducks than geese!

Have your ever noticed how flying geese are usually so seemingly calm & fly so effortlessly? While ducks seem to fly all over the place & all their honking & quacking seems to say, "Excuse me! Pardon me! Ooops, sorry! Excuse me, I can't stop, here I come! Get outta the way!" They can be pretty comical, if you watch.

But yesterday's geese were losing their 'pattern' & were flying more like ducks. It seemed they were trying to hear the call of a real leader. Oh, I have no doubt that they will eventually get to wherever they're going, but the trip will probably be fraught with lost time, honks of ingratitude & some ruffled tail feathers!

Sounds like us, doesn't it?

Everyone needs the leadership that only God, through His Son Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd, can give. Oh, we might 'follow' certain favorite writers, favorite T.V./radio/internet preachers; but if we are not being 'good Bereans' (Acts 17:11) & weighing everything by the measure of Scripture, we will be flying haphazardly like those geese who were listening for the leader while those other wanna-be leaders are greedily honking, "follow me!"..."No! Follow me!", & we end up being just like a bunch of awkward ducks...or those geese, listening for someone ~ anyone ~ to follow & taking our family along for a rough ride filled w/lost time & feelings of failure & mistrust.

Silly goose, there's only One true Leader, only One true Shepherd. Let us train our ears to hear His voice & follow.

Blessings from Ohio...Kim<><

I Wonder as I Wander

I wonder as I wander out under the sky
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on'ry people like you and like I;
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.


When Mary birthed Jesus, 'twas in a cow's stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God's heaven, a star's light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.


If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God's angels in heav'n for to sing,
He surely could have it, 'cause He is the King.


{Words & Music by John Jacob Niles c 1960}