Blogs of Beauty Awards

Sallie at A Gracious Home announced today, "It is time to begin nominations for the 2006 Blogs of Beauty Awards! These awards are given to honor women who bring the beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ to the blogosphere."

I've only been blogging for about 5 months and I'm amazed at what I have learned through women I've never met! I'm submitting my nominations for women who have blessed me through their blogs by pointing me toward Jesus. Who has blessed you?

Go over to A Gracious Home to check out all the categories and submit your nominations, too.

"Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart." ~Psalm 119:2

Blessing

This new banner was a gift to me by a dear fellow blogger, who wished just to bless me and not be named here. I am overwhelmed by her generosity, talent, and humility.

From way down deep in my heart, thank you.

(Isn't it beautiful??!!??)

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. ~Numbers 6:24-26

Submission

Jetty Betty has some great thoughts on submission over at her blog. She leads a Bible study at work on Tuesday and this issue came up. She's looking at God's design for marriage in preparation for discussing this tomorrow, and here are some of her thoughts from part 3 of a study on submission/marriage:

"Marriage is not all about me. I might have gotten married because I found someone that made me feel good and enjoyed the same things I did. What I have learned (and am still learning) after marriage is that God wants me to put what makes my spouse feel good, what he likes way ahead of what I want and like. Marriage is an opportunity to learn some intense lessons in serving.

God designed marriage as a part of his bigger love story of Jesus. If my response in my marriage is one of love, grace and mercy back to my spouse--I think not only will I be amazed at the wisdom of God and how I am blessed--but if another person observes--s/he should understand a little more of THE love story."

Amen!

The Amazing Shrinking Mom

Mel, The Amazing Shrinking Mom, posted this on her blog and I had to put it here too. Luckily as I was reading this I was eating cottage cheese and a peach for lunch. Whew! And to think I could have been eating Marie Callender's Herb Roasted Chicken with Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli Florets & Carrots (as they say, "You'd never guess that the "Complete Dinner" has 530 calories, 12 grams of saturated fat, and 1,270 mg of sodium"). YIKES!!!

Go check it out and stop by Mel's place often!

That's an order.

Everyday Things

"...For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."

Philippians 4:11

True friends are hard to come by. Those people you allow into your life and trust enough to share what's really on your heart--they are special people. It is always a blessing when I meet someone I connect with and form a lasting relationship. You know, most of my close friends over the years have been people I thought I wouldn't have much in common with. But when we share a love for Christ and a desire to raise our families to know Him, personality differences don't seem so important. We may not have everything in common, but we have the most important thing in common. We share the same goals. In Jesus, we are one.

A phone call from a good friend can make my day. When a friend lets me know what I can pray for, I am honored. Spending time with friends is a blessing.

Great friends...few or many, I am content.

I thank my God every time I remember you. ~Philippians 1:3

Thanks to Jules at Everyday Mommy for starting this great column. Head over to her place for more Everyday Things.

Works for Me Wednesday 3

My tip for "Works for Me Wednesday" is how I organize my silverware in the dishwasher. I put all the small forks in one section, small spoons in another, knives in one, big forks in another, and so on. When I unload the dishwasher, it saves a lot of time sorting silverware...each section of silverware I pull out of the dishwasher has its own section in the silverware drawer organizer. (This doesn't always work as efficiently if I've cooked several things that day and have lots of "odds and ends," but it still saves time by sorting somewhat-like things together.) Works for me!

Disclaimer: You might get the idea that I am super-organized. This is not the case. I have very few things that "work for me" and most of them I didn't not think up on my own--this one included! I am perfectly okay, however, stealing other people's organizational tips and trying to apply them to my semi-organized life! :-) Thanks to my friend Rhonda at church for this one...

Go check out all the other great tips at Shannon's blog

Longing

Mary at Owlhaven had this quote on her blog and I thought it was interesting.

If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

The comments were really interesting, especially PastorMac's...he won an award for it!

What do you think about the quote? How can we apply it to our everyday lives?

Let me know and then go check out what the others had to say over at Mary's.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Dad,
Growing up, I never had to wonder how much you loved me. It wasn't always because you said it, but you showed it. I know there must have been activities of mine that you missed, but I can't remember a single one. You were always there. You worked so hard to give us a wonderful life, and I am so thankful for that.

I think most of the guys I dated were scared of you :-), but that "tough guy thing" is only skin deep. (Remember when you told me I'd have to paint the whole fence by myself when I got that speeding ticket??? You didn't actually make me do it...thanks!) Inside you are one of the most tender people I know whose not afraid to be emotional about the people he loves. I know that you are proud of me because you've never been afraid to tell me. That means a lot.

To see you now in your new role as "Poppa" to Caleb is so special to me. I get to witness how excited you are when you see him and that fills my heart with joy. I promise I'll let him go fishing with you when he's older, but NO four-wheelers until he's at least 20, okay? :-) You're a big kid, Dad, and I love that about you.

God truly blessed our family by giving us a Dad like you. I'm so excited that next year you'll be Poppa to K's little one. I can't wait.

I love you, Dad. More than you know. 

Quiet

I've been quiet here in blogland for a while...at least on this blog. I've been involved in some pretty heavy discussions on other blogs about serious spiritual matters, and I feel God is leading me through and to something. I don't know what yet. I'm just trying to listen. I'm exhausted from everything that is going on in my head and I'm just asking Him to sort it all out and show me His Truth. Until then, I'm still reading blogs and commenting occasionally, but I can't seem to formulate any complete thoughts for this one.

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a croddked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me." ~Philippians 2:12-18

"Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!...Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne." ~Psalm 47:1-2,6-8

Is HE worth it?

6[Jesus],Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. ~Philippians 2:6-11

2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. ~Hebrews 12:2-3

9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
10In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. ~Hebrews 2:9-10

"Christ reached the goal (our salvation and His exaltation) through suffering. His road to greatness was a rocky one. A painful one. He knew it in advance, and yet He set His face resolutely toward the goal and accomplished it. Simply put, we were worth it to Him.

No matter how resistant we may be to the call, our road to true greatness is also the highway of humility. At times, it, too, will involve suffering, rejection, betrayal, and yes, even death--to self. The question becomes, "Is He worth is to us?" ~Beth Moore, Jesus, The One and Only (emphasis mine)

Is He worth is to me? Am I willing to humble myself, to die to my selfish desires daily--all for the sake of my call? Am I willing to put aside my pride and my self-absorption to take care of my family the way God intends? Can I climb out of the pit of self-pity when things don't go my way?

The highway of humility is painful at times.

A rocky road, indeed, made so by my "self-stuff."

But it is worth it.

However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him"
~Philippians 2:9

Welcome Home

It's time to celebrate! MomRN2's little girl is coming home from the hospital!! It's been a long couple of weeks, but the Lord has answered our prayers.

Welcome home, little one...We thank God for your recovery thus far and ask His continued blessings on you as you head home. We PRAISE HIM for his faithfulness! We know you will rest much better at home in your familiar surroundings. We're SO happy for you!

More surprises await you at Carol's place!

Anyone wanting to leave a note of encouragement for this family, head over to Carol's to register your own post or leave a comment at My Quiet Corner

Answered Prayer

Well, as you can tell from reading this blog the last week or so, I've been thinking a lot about Titus 2. And God has already answered a prayer I've had.

Today I went to a Bible study at the home of a lady from our church (she and her husband are the mentor couple for our Life Group). What a blessing she is! She had arranged childcare for all of our children (7 of us, 15 kids), provided us lunch (taco salad--yummy!), and prepared an awesome intro study on the names of God. She is truly living out Titus 2 for us, and I am so thankful to God for a mentor like her.

(Oh, and apparently it's raining again, or at least I assume it is because a kid outside is yelling "Raindrops keep falling on my head" at the top of his lungs!! Too cute.)