The Real Me

Ok.  That's it!  I've had it!  I AM JUST GOING TO BE ME!!!!

Yes, I struggle with wanting people to approve of me.  So much so that I have only been writing what is safe, politically correct Christian type writing. 

Well, no more!  I am going to write what I want.  I am going to share what is on my mind and heart even if there might be someone out there who doesn't approve! 

It is time for me to be really just me.  So I hope I don't offend you, dear reader, but this is my blog and I am going to say things as I see them. 

Aaahhh.  What a relief to finally just be me.  I have some interesting posts in mind as soon as I find some time to get them written. 

So for now, have a great evening!

What a Friend

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

What a friend we have in Jesus all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?  Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged;  Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior still our refuge, Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?  Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He'll take and shield thee;  Thou wilt find a solace there.

If you have no friends or they have forsaken you, Jesus is your friend.  He will care for you and sustain you.  You never have to walk alone. 

Never alone,

Really Great News!!

The details are finally in place so that we can announce that we are now vendors for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine in their ebook store online!! 

This is a really big magazine in the homeschool arena.  The ebooks will be listed soon.  We just signed the contracts so everything is ready to go.  We are really excited because they liked all of our ebooks and wanted to sell them in their store! 

What is so amazing is that a year ago, I contacted them and asked if they would sell our Battle Book and Armored Glove Book (that was all we had back then).    They said no and that was fine. 

Then at the GHEA conference a reviewer for their Homeschool Blogger saw our materials and suggested we have it reviewed for more exposure.  We checked into it but the cost was beyond our meager budget.  So no go there. 

Then just the other day I get an email from The Old Schoolhouse asking us to sell in their ebook store as things had changed and they were adding new products!  Wahoo!  Yes!  So we filled out all the forms and sent them the necessary docs and we are on the way! 

Will you please pray that they sell well?  It would be so awesome to see our children prosper, as they get all the proceeds of the ebooks. 

Just for your information, you can buy the ebooks directly from our websites.  We get all of the money from our website and we get a royalty from TOS.  (But we are so happy with the exposure from TOS!!)

Julia's site is Jewels by Julia and she is selling her How to Create series.  Check it out HERE. 

My sons' website is Warfare by Duct Tape and they have 4 books for sale.  Check it out HERE. 

AND, the other big news is that Julia has her jewelry in a local shop now!  It is a very nice shop with high end clothing and shoes.  They bought the jewelry outright instead of consignment which is so good for Julia. 

Here it is displayed at the store.  If you are local, please email me or leave a comment and I'll tell you where it is.  :) 

We are rejoicing here as a family!  We are so blessed and we are so grateful.  God truly is good!

Rejoicing,

When There is Just Too Much

Some days there is just too much to do.  You feel overwhelmed.  You begin to get stressed out.  There is no way it will all be done in time. 

Yes, we all feel that way sometimes.  Julia has written a post for a devotional blog, Meditations of His Love.  She speaks to that very thing.  Click HERE to read it.  I think you will be blessed! 

Answering His call,

Room Makeover

Julia has posted about her new room makeover.  She designed the whole thing.  We had so much fun shopping online for the fabric from Fabric.com.  I was able to help her by sewing the curtains and the bedspread.  It was part of our birthday present to her, really. 

It is so exciting to see her grow up and mature.  She is growing into such a fine young woman.  So hop over there to see all the pictures and descriptions about her room.  Her blog is HERE.

Have a blessed day,

One Word

I overheard Julia ask her brothers,  "How would you describe Reginald?"  (Reginald is a fictional character in a story that she is writing.)  They started naming off things and then she said, "One word."

One word.  That really struck me.  Now it took longer for the boys to answer.  Eventually they named some traits. 

One word.  It stuck with me.  How would I describe myself with one word?  How would someone else describe me with one word?   How would you describe yourself with one word?  How do others see you?

Would the word be negative or positive?  Am I characterized by good things or negative things?

As a Christian, my life should exhibit more of the fruits of the Spirit than the works of the flesh.

Gal 5:1921 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

The "do" here means habitually, practise, perform repeatedly.  I understand that none of us are perfect.  We all have a bad day now and then.  But this is referring to something that happens all the time, something we are characterized by.  

And in the very next verse....
Gal 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.


Oh, Lord, may my life reflect your character.  May I daily become more like you in every aspect of my life.  May those around me see you in my life, my words and my actions. 

Rom. 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Seeking to be more like Him,

Pray for Your Man

Our husband, our men, need our prayers.  It is easy to get focused on the day-to-day things, sometimes forgetting the importance of praying for those right in front of us. 

But it is important, even vital to pray for our husbands.  They need the support and the encouragement that our prayers provide.  God is able to touch them, mold them and refine them in ways that are beyond our understanding. 

We, as wives know our husbands better than anyone.  Their strengths and weaknesses are apparent to us.  Let us avoid the trap of dwelling on their flaws.  It is not our place to fix them.  That is God's place.  Be on guard against nagging.  Better to bring those things to our Heavenly Father and intercede on our husbands behalf.  God will move and change as we pray for them.  Maybe the best remedy for weaknesses in our men is to get out of the way and let God work in them! 

God has a plan for our men that is above what we can think.  We may have ideas on how they should be, but God knows what is best for them. 

If (when?) those little things they do frustrate you, pray.  Don't simmer in negative thoughts, pray.  When he does things in ways you would have done differently, pray for him.  Pray blessings on him.  Pray Ephesians 3 for him.  Pray that he would have wisdom, be hungry for God's Word and desire to do the right thing above all else.  Pray that he would fulfill his role as leader of the family.  Pray he be filled with the fruits of the Spirit.  Avoid manipulative prayers, like "God make him see my way..."  But pray Biblically. 

As you pray, your heart will be refreshed and you will gain a heavenly perspective of your mate.  You will begin to see him as the Father sees him.    Praying will bring you peace and help you to be sweet and peaceful to him. 

Then stand back and watch God faithfully answer your prayers, in His time and in His way.  Your life together will blossom and your relationship will take on new meaning. 

1Thess 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

May your be blessed as you pray for your man.

Praying,