If you missed Sunday's sermon, let me recommend that you listen to it online. Very good message for the earthly situations we are facing right now.
Read Matt. 6:25-34. This is the "Don't worry about tomorrow" command. It is so true. God knows what we need, when we need it.
As was suggested a couple of weeks ago, read a Psalm every day. Tonight he read Psalm 121 and 123.
Psalm 121 begins; "I lift my eyes to the hills; where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord; the Maker of heaven and earth." (Sound familiar - Praise You in This Storm)
Psalm 124 begins; "I lift my eyes to you"
Notice that in both, the psalmist is "lifing his eyes". We should focus our eyes upon God; lift them toward Him. Instead we lift our eyes to the thing of this world. We focus on the things of this world. DO WE EXPECT THE EARTH TO HELP US WITH OUR PROBLEMS; THE SAME EARTH THAT ONLY HAS CONTEMPT FOR GOD?
And always remember, we make time for the things that are most important to us. Where is your time spent?
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
EXCUSES AND COMPLICATIONS (subtitled SLOW DOWN)
How many times has your alarm gone off on a Sunday morning and you hit snooze and began thinking of reasons to stay in bed and skip church?
{I think} my throat is a little sore. I stayed up too late last night. I’ve been going non-stop for a week; I need a break. I can read my bible at home and get as much as I would get at church. (And yes, those excuses came way too easy to me while writing this.)
Now, how many times have you gone ahead and gotten up and felt fine…not tired at all? Probably most of them if you didn’t let the excuses win.
Think about how tired Paul must have been as he travelled. Think about how tired he was while in prison. Nothing stopped him from telling others about Jesus. He knew that God would sustain him with what he needed to continue.
We are a society that is caught up in the captivity of activity. We feel we must be busy or we are failing. Perhaps the reason that we are craving “busy-ness” is really because God is causing us to feel a craving for Him; we just will not stop long enough to listen.
Redirect your focus to seek God first and He will direct your paths (Matt 6:33).
Rethink your motivation. Are you trying to please people or God? (Gal 1:10)
Rest in God’s will (Heb 4:10) “Anyone who enters God’s rest also rest from his own work.”
And “Whatever you do, do it all for the Glory of God!” (1 Cor. 10:31)
I have the above for lines written on an index card on my cubicle wall at work. I see them every day.
Additionally I have the following verse right above my computer monitor. We really need to pray for our nation!
“If my people who are called by my name will humbles themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.”
Don’t let excuses and complications keep you from you going to church and hearing God’s word for you that day.
Beth
{I think} my throat is a little sore. I stayed up too late last night. I’ve been going non-stop for a week; I need a break. I can read my bible at home and get as much as I would get at church. (And yes, those excuses came way too easy to me while writing this.)
Now, how many times have you gone ahead and gotten up and felt fine…not tired at all? Probably most of them if you didn’t let the excuses win.
Think about how tired Paul must have been as he travelled. Think about how tired he was while in prison. Nothing stopped him from telling others about Jesus. He knew that God would sustain him with what he needed to continue.
We are a society that is caught up in the captivity of activity. We feel we must be busy or we are failing. Perhaps the reason that we are craving “busy-ness” is really because God is causing us to feel a craving for Him; we just will not stop long enough to listen.
Redirect your focus to seek God first and He will direct your paths (Matt 6:33).
Rethink your motivation. Are you trying to please people or God? (Gal 1:10)
Rest in God’s will (Heb 4:10) “Anyone who enters God’s rest also rest from his own work.”
And “Whatever you do, do it all for the Glory of God!” (1 Cor. 10:31)
I have the above for lines written on an index card on my cubicle wall at work. I see them every day.
Additionally I have the following verse right above my computer monitor. We really need to pray for our nation!
“If my people who are called by my name will humbles themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.”
Don’t let excuses and complications keep you from you going to church and hearing God’s word for you that day.
Beth
Take the Challenge
Contribution from Tiffany...isn't she the best!!
The kids in Club 56 were challenged to memorize Matthew 25:34-36 this week. Below is the complete passage in Matthew that was the focus of Wednesday's lesson. I'm going to try to memorize this along with the kids. Will you do the same?
Matthew 25:34-40
34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Tiffany
The kids in Club 56 were challenged to memorize Matthew 25:34-36 this week. Below is the complete passage in Matthew that was the focus of Wednesday's lesson. I'm going to try to memorize this along with the kids. Will you do the same?
Matthew 25:34-40
34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Tiffany
Monday, October 12, 2009
Do you have a mentor?
From Tiffany:
I have found one in Mrs. Therolene Beachem. I got to know her through the Apples of Gold ladies' Bible study class. Then about a year ago during a Wednesday night prayer service, I heard her pray... REALLY pray. I knew at that moment that she was the one who God wanted me to learn from. I began to find ways to be around her more often. Now we are great friends, and she takes every opportunity to teach me about being a Godly wife, mother, and servant. She is truly a blessing to me.
Who are you learning from? If you can't name anyone in particular, I strongly encourage you to begin looking around you. Who strives to be obedient to God? Who is faithful and submissive to their husband? Who is a sincere and mature Christian? Who is God leading you toward? A Godly mentor can bless your life!
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home; to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.—Titus 2:3-5, NIV
Tiff
I have found one in Mrs. Therolene Beachem. I got to know her through the Apples of Gold ladies' Bible study class. Then about a year ago during a Wednesday night prayer service, I heard her pray... REALLY pray. I knew at that moment that she was the one who God wanted me to learn from. I began to find ways to be around her more often. Now we are great friends, and she takes every opportunity to teach me about being a Godly wife, mother, and servant. She is truly a blessing to me.
Who are you learning from? If you can't name anyone in particular, I strongly encourage you to begin looking around you. Who strives to be obedient to God? Who is faithful and submissive to their husband? Who is a sincere and mature Christian? Who is God leading you toward? A Godly mentor can bless your life!
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home; to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.—Titus 2:3-5, NIV
Tiff
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Working on being a good steward
Proverbs 31:15
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
So how can I buy $108 worth of groceries for $44 including tax? Well for starters I subscribe to southersavers.com blog. AND I check the website throughout the day. Because I do that, I was able to get in on a deal on Friday to get two B1G1 coupons for eggs.
So here are the basics.
First-go to southernsavers.com and read the Getting Started Guides (drop down at the top of the banner). No sense in me repeating what someone else already has typed and you've got to learn the lingo.
Second - Expect to pay a little more than what you budgeted to start with as you build up your stock-pile. (And by stock-pile I don't mean WWIII stock-pile, just extra staples.)
Third - It will take a lot of time at first to get organized and figure what the best method of organization is for you. Google will be your best friend. Google "couponing organization" and search around to see what might be something you use.
Here are some blogs that I subscribe to. Some post the same things since they feed off of each other.
Deal Seeking Mom
Freebies 4 Mom
For the Mommas
I heart cvs (or I heart walgreens)
And some of the blogs have links to other blogs but don't get into too many of them.
Southernsavers.com posts the ads on a schedule each week. For us, Publix is posted early Wednesday morning. I normally shop Monday afternoon so I can get the penny item. Always read the comments. You can get a lot of useful information from them and they help with the learning curve.
Most of your home and beauty items can be gotten super cheap at Walgreens, CVS or Rite Aid. I use Walgreens for the most part because my OOP (Out of pocket) can be so low when I roll the Register Rewards.
For example, today I bought 4 boxes of Quaker granola bars ($2.50 each); one bottle of Walgreens hydrogen peroxide ($0.29); one bottle of John Frieda conditioner ($5.99). Total $16.28 before tax. Paid with register rewards (RR) from two weeks ago ($13.00); 1 $1/1 John Frieda from this Sunday's coupons; 1 $1/2 quaker granola. Total OOP was $1.52 and I got $5 RR from the granola bars and $3 RR from the John Frieda to use on my next trip. The RR usually expire in two weeks from their issue date. Also, since I had 6 coupons (2 manufacturer and 4 RR) I had to have 6 items; hence the hydrogen peroxide. Anything that you can get for free, get it. If you don't use it, donate it to the church or elsewhere.
Next Walgreens trip (WAGS) will be 2 Ban deodorant (3.00 get $1 RR); 2 Nyquil (10.00 get $5 RR) and 3 Halloween cups ($0.18 each) - these are my "fillers" for the coupon vs item count. I will pay with the $5RR and $3RR from the previous transaction plus $1RR from two weeks ago.
NOTE: You can't use a RR to pay for the same manufacturer purchase if you want to get more register rewards (i.e. I couldn't use the $5 RR from Sunday's trip to buy more granola bars if I want to get that RR again. But I can use the $5 RR from the 2nd transation to buy the 4 boxes of granola on trip #3)
Second transaction estimated OOP = less than $3.00 will get a total of 6 RR for next trip.
It took me about 4 weeks to get where I could save about 50-60% off my weekly bill. And it takes some patience to make multiple trips (Walgreens is usually a lunch time quick trip). Wal Mart is still a thorn in my side. It is hard to feel like I'm saving any decent amount of money there. I do buy most of my meat there since they price match (best way to save at WM is pricematch). I stocked up on meat today and paid $80 but got 9 meals worth of chicken; 3-4 meals from smoked turkey sausage; 2 packs of lunch meat; 2 packs of diced and 2 packs of chunk ham; 3 gal milk; 1 can bread crumbs; and addl Sunday paper (3 inserts this week); 2 oil candle refills and 1 3-wick candle. I will not need much meat for a while (plus it is almost deer season).
That is enough for this message. More to come...
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
So how can I buy $108 worth of groceries for $44 including tax? Well for starters I subscribe to southersavers.com blog. AND I check the website throughout the day. Because I do that, I was able to get in on a deal on Friday to get two B1G1 coupons for eggs.
So here are the basics.
First-go to southernsavers.com and read the Getting Started Guides (drop down at the top of the banner). No sense in me repeating what someone else already has typed and you've got to learn the lingo.
Second - Expect to pay a little more than what you budgeted to start with as you build up your stock-pile. (And by stock-pile I don't mean WWIII stock-pile, just extra staples.)
Third - It will take a lot of time at first to get organized and figure what the best method of organization is for you. Google will be your best friend. Google "couponing organization" and search around to see what might be something you use.
Here are some blogs that I subscribe to. Some post the same things since they feed off of each other.
Deal Seeking Mom
Freebies 4 Mom
For the Mommas
I heart cvs (or I heart walgreens)
And some of the blogs have links to other blogs but don't get into too many of them.
Southernsavers.com posts the ads on a schedule each week. For us, Publix is posted early Wednesday morning. I normally shop Monday afternoon so I can get the penny item. Always read the comments. You can get a lot of useful information from them and they help with the learning curve.
Most of your home and beauty items can be gotten super cheap at Walgreens, CVS or Rite Aid. I use Walgreens for the most part because my OOP (Out of pocket) can be so low when I roll the Register Rewards.
For example, today I bought 4 boxes of Quaker granola bars ($2.50 each); one bottle of Walgreens hydrogen peroxide ($0.29); one bottle of John Frieda conditioner ($5.99). Total $16.28 before tax. Paid with register rewards (RR) from two weeks ago ($13.00); 1 $1/1 John Frieda from this Sunday's coupons; 1 $1/2 quaker granola. Total OOP was $1.52 and I got $5 RR from the granola bars and $3 RR from the John Frieda to use on my next trip. The RR usually expire in two weeks from their issue date. Also, since I had 6 coupons (2 manufacturer and 4 RR) I had to have 6 items; hence the hydrogen peroxide. Anything that you can get for free, get it. If you don't use it, donate it to the church or elsewhere.
Next Walgreens trip (WAGS) will be 2 Ban deodorant (3.00 get $1 RR); 2 Nyquil (10.00 get $5 RR) and 3 Halloween cups ($0.18 each) - these are my "fillers" for the coupon vs item count. I will pay with the $5RR and $3RR from the previous transaction plus $1RR from two weeks ago.
NOTE: You can't use a RR to pay for the same manufacturer purchase if you want to get more register rewards (i.e. I couldn't use the $5 RR from Sunday's trip to buy more granola bars if I want to get that RR again. But I can use the $5 RR from the 2nd transation to buy the 4 boxes of granola on trip #3)
Second transaction estimated OOP = less than $3.00 will get a total of 6 RR for next trip.
It took me about 4 weeks to get where I could save about 50-60% off my weekly bill. And it takes some patience to make multiple trips (Walgreens is usually a lunch time quick trip). Wal Mart is still a thorn in my side. It is hard to feel like I'm saving any decent amount of money there. I do buy most of my meat there since they price match (best way to save at WM is pricematch). I stocked up on meat today and paid $80 but got 9 meals worth of chicken; 3-4 meals from smoked turkey sausage; 2 packs of lunch meat; 2 packs of diced and 2 packs of chunk ham; 3 gal milk; 1 can bread crumbs; and addl Sunday paper (3 inserts this week); 2 oil candle refills and 1 3-wick candle. I will not need much meat for a while (plus it is almost deer season).
That is enough for this message. More to come...
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Baby Steps...Day by Day
From Tiffany:
Attached is Life Action's "Put Off, Put On" list. I'm committing to read 2-3 of these per day which will: 1- help me to pick up my Bible and read it daily, and 2- keep my mind focused on becoming more like Christ. Unless I flood my mind with the things of Christ, Satan's worldliness creeps in & tries to make a home. I'm kicking him out.
Philippians 4:8
8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Tiffany
Note from Beth:
I couldn't attach the pdf (new to this blogging world) so...
Below is the link. I'm not sure it will work by clicking but you can copy and paste into your browser. You will need to scroll down to find the Put Off Put On pdf.
http://www.lifeaction.org/revival-resources/pdf-downloads/#
Attached is Life Action's "Put Off, Put On" list. I'm committing to read 2-3 of these per day which will: 1- help me to pick up my Bible and read it daily, and 2- keep my mind focused on becoming more like Christ. Unless I flood my mind with the things of Christ, Satan's worldliness creeps in & tries to make a home. I'm kicking him out.
Philippians 4:8
8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Tiffany
Note from Beth:
I couldn't attach the pdf (new to this blogging world) so...
Below is the link. I'm not sure it will work by clicking but you can copy and paste into your browser. You will need to scroll down to find the Put Off Put On pdf.
http://www.lifeaction.org/revival-resources/pdf-downloads/#
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Answering the call
When God talks, we should listen. Sometimes we don't slow down enough to really listen and if we do listen, we don't always act. We can come up with excuse after excuse to keep from answering the call. Obstacles are obstacles if we let them be.
I choose to listen. I choose to support my fellow women of God with encouragement, accountability, friendship, a listening ear.
Email me with suggestions, ideas, etc. that you want to share and I'll enter it into a post. We can "talk" through the comments.
I choose to listen. I choose to support my fellow women of God with encouragement, accountability, friendship, a listening ear.
Email me with suggestions, ideas, etc. that you want to share and I'll enter it into a post. We can "talk" through the comments.
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