Welcome

Teach Preschool

Saturday, May 29, 2010
Parachute play in preschool: "

Parachute play is a great way to promote teamwork and to get those large muscles moving.

The children gather around the parachute and hold on to one of the parachute handles. There are more children then there are handles on the parachute so the children who are not holding a handle become the ball fetchers.

The balls are all placed in the center of the parachute and then the children begin to wave their arms up and down causing the balls to pop up and off of the parachute. The balls are very light weight so they pop up very easily.

One game I like to play with the parachute is called the popcorn game. When all the balls are in the middle, the children say together, “Pop, Pop, Popcorn!” The children lift their arms up high whey they say word “popcorn” and then bring their arms back down. Repeat the activity again.


Circle games are also fun to play with the parachute. All the children hold onto the edges of the parachute and then play “Ring Around the Rosie.”

When planning your lesson plans, don’t forget to give your students plenty of Large Motor activities to master. Children who are in full time childcare really need teachers to spend the time helping them practice such skills as skipping, jumping, marching, balancing, running, stretching, and more."

Wild Olive Tees - Get Your Verse On!

Saturday, May 29, 2010
follower… and free shipping!: "

Follower is here!



And in observance of Memorial Day, we’re offering free shipping on all orders of 3 tees or more! Just enter the code ILOVEUSA2010 at checkout and free shipping will appear!


Offer applies to regularly priced tees shipped to continental US addresses only. Hurry… free shipping starts now, but ends as soon as Memorial Day is over!


SHOP NOW!

"

Home Sanctuary

Saturday, May 29, 2010
Company Girl Coffee 5.28 and Hair Dilemma: "

Coffee I'm a Hair Girl. There are Shoe girls and Trendy Girls and Fitness Girls, etc. but "good hair" has always been my thing. I decided long ago that if I had to choose between good clothes and good hair, I'd go with the hair. I mean, the whole reason I ever started my art business in the first place was so I could have enough money to get my hair done without dipping into grocery money. That hasn't exactly worked out, because I still feel like I'm robbing the family piggy bank for foil highlights every now and then. This information is all backdrop to my current hair dilemma.



So I've recently become bored with the hairstyle I've had variations of for the last five years. I've been very happy with its general style, even though I've had to "fix" the back each and every time I came home from the hair salon to get it the way I've wanted it. Ya'll know I've been super busy the last couple of months, and I've missed a haircut or two. But rather than hating it longer, like I usually do, I'm now toying with growing it out.



This wouldn't have been an issue for me in earlier times. Oh, the carefree days of my pony tailed youth. But now that I'm, let's just say, "over 40," I hesitate to go for something that will look ridiculous. I truly don't desire to look like cougartown. Yuck. But this might be my last stab at long, glorious hair before I succumb to drab middle age. My heart breaks.

I need hair advice.

Here is what I want: fresh and hip




Picture 6

Here is what I'm afraid of: overdone and too much drama




Picture 8

Here's what I have: It's right at the length that bugs me because it's too short for a pony
tail/clip, but too long to leave it alone. Here it actually looked pretty good just before a cooking party (note the apron). This was a few weeks ago and it no longer looks this cute, trust me.


Picture 9
Here's my question: what thinkest thou? Cut it? Grow it? Change it?



And whilst you kindly ponder my hair conundrum, let's do a "Hair Themed Small Thing."

Today's Small Thing is to tidy up the hair accessories at your house. Wrap the cords around hairdryers and curling irons and put them away. Wow! That looks great already. Clean and organize combs and brushes, put clips, hairbands and ribbons neatly into drawers or containers. Done! That was easy.



POINTS: 40 for straightening up the hair tools and accessories. Finished? Good.



Now, back to my hair. Can women in their 40's get away with longer hair,
or is that only for movie stars? Be honest. My kleenex is handy.



And hey! Link up for our weekly coffee time below! Add your blog URL to invite friends over to visit your blog so we can discuss YOUR hair. Or whatever you want. Non-blogging Company Girls can chat in the comments...we love that, too. Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!



"

Health Tips

Saturday, May 29, 2010
Doing sit-ups? Make them count!: "When you're doing sit-ups, it's important to isolate your abdominal . . ."

Feast on the Cheap

Saturday, May 29, 2010
Memorial Day Menu Options: "Mary Anne here. I took a gander at last year’s menu for Memorial Day and realized that we’ve added a boatload of family-friendly recipes for this year’s memorial feast! So without a whole lot of bragging, here’s an eye-popping, mouth-watering, do-as much-as-you-can-ahead-of-time list of choices. Oh, and Happy Memorial Day! Let us all remember those [...]"

Crosswalk.com

Saturday, May 29, 2010
Memorial Day Remembrance: "For more than two centuries, America has produced generation after generation of extraordinary young men like Ryan Adam Miller who have answered the call to defend freedom. Some, like Ryan, have paid the ultimate price. It is these that we honor on Memorial Day as we celebrate those loftier virtues that have secured some measure of peace and liberty in a fallen world."

Children's Book Press

Saturday, May 29, 2010
Children and the immigration debate: A sneak peek at FROM NORTH TO SOUTH: "

Lately, it seems as if immigration is all over the news. Yet despite all the debate going on, the experience of children who are caught up in this issue is often overlooked.



That is, until now. The
recent incident at a Washington DC-area school, in which a second grader told First Lady Michelle Obama that her mother was here illegally, has sparked quite a buzz among the talking heads in the media.


Author René Colato Laínez knows about this issue all too well. His new book with Children’s Book Press, From North to South / Del Norte al Sur, deals with the experience of family separation due to a parent's precarious immigration status. The book will be released in September of 2010.


read more

"

Bloggin' 'bout Books

Saturday, May 29, 2010
Starting the Summer Off Right (With a Winner): "So, yesterday was my older kids' last day of school. My preschooler's been out for a week. I think classes had been out for a whole hour before I heard the first 'I'm bored.' At that second, I realized: this is going to be a verrrrryyyy long summer.

At least I got to sleep in this morning, right? Um, no. My husband's getting over pneumonia, so he was coughing up a storm last night. After tossing and turning for an hour, I decided to let him hack it up in peace. I had just settled in on the game room couch (that's how it seemed, anyway) when I heard a loud banging noise. The clock said 6:15 a.m. The banging was actually frantic knocking coming from the front door. Since my 8-year-old had threatened to run away last night after not getting the DVD she wanted at Blockbuster (no, she's not dramatic AT ALL), you can imagine the kind of thoughts that were running through my head as I dashed down the stairs. Thankfully, it was just my little drama queen. She locked herself out when she went to get the newspaper. Why she decided to fetch the paper at 6 in the morning, I couldn't fathom. As I made my sleepy way back upstairs, I cursed the idiot who created summer vacation. Seriously, was it created just to make my life miserable?

A couple hours later, I made my way back downstairs. My 11-year-old was busily sweeping the kitchen floor, my 18-month-old was chattering adorably, and there on the kitchen table sat a plate of cookies with a handmade card from my 8-year-old telling me sorry for her behavior at Blockbuster last
night. Next to the cookies lay the newspaper. It made me all sniffy to think that my little girl had locked herself out of the house while trying - in her sweet and innocent way - to apologize. I don't know if I made the stinkers feel super guilty for acting out at the movie store or if they're just good kids. Either way, I win. Maybe this won't be such a bad summer after all ...

And what better way to start off the summer than to announce the winner of Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt? It's ... drumroll, please ...

Congratulations! If you'll get me your mailing address, I'll send the book to you ASAP.
Have a great Memorial Day, everybody!
"

Bible Gateway's Verse of the Day

Saturday, May 29, 2010
Psalm 103:17-18: "“But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.”"

$5 Dinners

Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Grilled Balsamic Chicken: "

grilled balsamic chicken Grilled Balsamic Chicken


So it’s almost 90 today here in Ohio. I’m sure it’s some sort of heat record. And if it’s not it should be. It’s making me tired. And cranky. And the bazillion little cottonwood seeds drifting through the air, and some other pollen are wrecking havoc on my allergies. (I just took a Benadryl, so if the end of this doesn’t make sense, you’ll know why.)


I turned the A/C on this week. We can normally hold out until the first week of July. But not this year!


All this to say, I have a new obsession with my grill. Or is it Steve’s grill. I say it’s mine. He says it’s his!


And a new love for cooking outside. Dreaming about an “outdoor kitchen”…or at least some sort of countertop where I can put my plates and ingredients that I need when cooking on the grill.


Ingredients

3 chicken breasts ($2.53)

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar ($.25)

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil ($.40)

Salt and pepper

1 cup brown rice ($.40)

4 ears corn ($.80) Yeah for $.20/ear sale…looking forward to the days of $.10 ears!


Directions

1. Marinate the chicken breasts in the shallow baking dish or plastic freezer baggie with the balsamic vinegar, olive oil and some salt and pepper.
I placed the chicken into freezer baggies with the marinade and then froze the chicken. Just remember to pull it out early and let it thaw in the fridge…best way to marinate!!!

2. Cook the brown rice as directed on the package.

3. Boil the corn for 4 to 5 minutes. Don’t want to heat up your kitchen,
grill your corn!

4. Serve Grilled Balsamic Chicken with Brown Rice and Corn.


Cost $4.38


(Someone recalculate that for me…I’m starting to feel sleeeeeeeppppppyyyyy.)


Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.

Grilled Balsamic Chicken is a post from: $5 Dinners
(c) 2009
$5 Dinners. Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you see this post anywhere other than your email subscription or RSS reader, then the site might be guilty of copyright infringement.



Grilled Balsamic Chicken was first posted on May 26, 2010 at 5:59 pm.



"

Cake, Batter and Bowl

Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Ad Hoc Giveaway: "

When my parents visited Boston over Mother‘s Day weekend, my mom and I got up early on Saturday morning so we could head over to Williams Sonoma. We weren‘t just going to check out all their gorgeous cookware though – we were on a mission to meet Thomas Keller at his Ad Hoc cookbook signing! I‘d heard many bloggers rave about the book and I’d been wanting to pick up a copy for awhile, so I figured this was the perfect opportunity.


We arrived in plenty of time and spent about an hour and a half in line before being escorted over to have our books signed. Chef Keller was very warm and down to Earth. My mom asked about his Bouchon Bakery Nutter Butter recipe and he metioned that a cookbook featuring items from the bakery would be out in the fall!

The book itself is gorgeous and full of pictures and recipes that make my mouth water. I‘m having a hard time deciding what to make first, so if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know! And of course I wanted to share a bit of this experience with you, so I’m giving away a signed Ad Hoc cookbook!

There are two ways to enter to win:
1. Leave a comment on this post telling me what your experience was like at one of Thomas Keller’s restaurants or let me know which of his restaurants you’d most like to try.
2. Tweet about this giveaway (using @cakebatterbowl) or post about it on your blog or Facebook page. Please leave a separate comment for this entry.

Entries must be in by Tuesday, June 1 at 11:59pm EST. Good luck!

"

Professors' Guide

Monday, May 24, 2010
Capping It Off: 7 Tips for the Senior Thesis: "It's not too early to start thinking about this requirement. Here's our advice."

Take Root & Write

Monday, May 24, 2010
In the Quiet of the Morning: "

Letters From the King

Dear Child,


Hear Me calling in the quiet of the morning. I am waiting to spend time with you. Don't rush past Me. I have been watching you sleep. You are so beautiful to Me. Think of Me as you awake. I am always here. . .waiting for you.

Before the chatter of the day, talk with Me. I have so much to say and I so want to hear your heart poured out to Me. I want to not only listen but to help you sift through to know what is important. . .to lighten your load.

There is a small window in the morning that can be just for Me and you, but you have to rise to meet Me. As soon as you wake, you have to turn your thoughts to Me. I am thinking of you. Wont you think of Me?

So much good, wonderful blessings I want to start you out with for your day, but I can only give them to you if you come to me. Don't skip the quiet of the morning with Me. Speak, I am listening. Listen, I am speaking. Open, I will fill you up with a fresh anointing of My Spirit.

I am everything you need. Nothing can compare to Me. No one can provide for you as I can. I know your thoughts before you speak them. I anticipate your desires. I long to be your everything, your One - Go-to-source!

Listen - do you hear it . . .the still quiet of the morning. . .there is still time. Come to Me. I am waiting.

Letter From the King, Lindy Abbott


Lindy Abbott 2010"

White House.Gov Blog Feed

Monday, May 24, 2010
Today's Youth Protecting Tomorrow's Environment: "

Last week I was proud to join President Obama to honor the 2010 President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA)winners.


These young people could be our next clean energy innovators and environmental advocates and they’re setting the bar for environmental stewardship in every corner of our country – from places as far apart as Westerly, Rhode Island and Homer, Alaska.


As Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency I was proud to honor each and every one of them – and glad to thank them for making our jobs at EPA a little easier.


The projects focused on everything from environmental education, recycling and conservation to clean energy, local cleanups and international outreach.


In these ten projects, chosen out of more than 140 entries, we see a future filled with healthier, cleaner communities, and a safer planet for today's generation and generations to come.


This year's PEYA award winners and participants put in lots of hard work and showed amazing dedication. Most importantly, they made an impact in their communities and inspired change in the places they call home. I’m excited to see what’s in store for our country with all of these young people as our future leaders.




Lisa Jackson and PEYA winner

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson meets with Presidential Environmental Youth Awards winner Maggie O'Brien. Lisa P. Jackson is the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

"

Internet Cafe Devotions

Monday, May 24, 2010
Girlfriends Will Come and Go: "

I often throw out questions on the Praise and Coffee Facebook page that give me a glimpse into the lives of women. Some are thought provoking, some are just fun. A while back I asked, “Who’s your favorite girlfriend to have a cup of coffee with?”


Women left names of their best buds with exclamation points and smiley faces (of which I am a chronic over-user), but I also received several inbox messages from women whose hearts were broken because they don’t have a close girlfriend to share coffee or life with.


They wrote notes laced with shame as if they were not worthy of such precious relationships. It made me sad and my former co-dependent self wanted to jump on a plane with a Praise and Coffee mug in my carry-on and wipe away all their tears over a grande caramel-macchiato.


But I knew better. Even if it were possible for me to be there with them, it would only be a temporary fix.


I’ve been in that place of loneliness. When it feels like the whole world has walked out and the quietness screams that you’re not worthy of the joy that a good friendship can bring. At times the enemy of our souls puts a spin on circumstances and leaves us with a feeling of abandonment at every turn.


When it happened to me, I cried helplessly to God for comfort and hope and realized that He was waiting for that the whole time. So often He thwarts our attempts to find solace anywhere else while relentlessly pursuing us to show that a relationship with Him far surpasses any relationship this world has to offer.


When I asked the question on Facebook, it highlighted what seemed to be a loss in the lives of many women, but I believe that most often there is a reason that the Lord allows us to come to that place of emptiness. He longs for us to run to Him so He can breathe life into the dry, desperate corners of our heart.


Next time you’re feeling lonely, I encourage you to see it –not as rejection- but instead an invitation to a relationship that offers life and hope, love and laughter.


1 Cor 1:8-9, NLT


He will keep you strong right up to the end, and He will keep you free from all blame on the great day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 9 God will surely do this for you, for He always does just what He says, and He is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.


Girlfriends will come and go, but our Lord stays and longs for us to stay too. Will you?


Praising Him,
Sue Cramer


"

Bible Gateway's Verse of the Day

Monday, May 24, 2010
Romans 12:10: "“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”"

Ya Only Live Once......

Sunday, May 23, 2010
Early Detection Does Save Lives: "Sara,

You are living proof that mammograms really do save lives. We wish you many healthy years ahead. May God bless you on your journey and congratualtions on completing your treatments.

Amy

Hello, my name is Sara and I am a breast cancer survivor. On Dec 15, 2009 I was diagnosed with DCIS breast cancer stage 0. I realize I am very blessed. I had my yearly mammogram in Nov of 2009 and then a biopsy. I had my lumpectomy Jan 7, 2010. All went well they removed the cancer and two lymph nodes. I started radiation treatment on Feb 11, 2010 and finished March 31, 2010. I started the tamoxifen pill on April 1, 2010. At the end of radiation is when my breast began to burn. I am a black female and the radiation turned my breast really dark. I'm told the color will come back in time. Through all of this my support group has been great, from the time I told them and now. My job was and still is fantastic. I had just started there in July 2009, but the way they stood by me you would have thought that I had been there for a very long time. I thank God for allowing this to be caught in a timely manner. I thank my daughter for her caring, love and support. I thank my friends old and new for being with me, caring for me and always showing concern for me. Mammograms can and do help save lives.
"

Tabitha's Team

Sunday, May 23, 2010
A Sweet Fragrance: "A Sweet Fragrance This blog is where I share quotes from Christian books Im reading, reviews of books I like, and some of my own thoughts and day-to-day"

Max Lucado Daily

Sunday, May 23, 2010
Hidden With Christ: "

“Your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3, NIV


“Your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

The Chinese language has a great symbol for this truth. The word for righteousness is a combination of two pictures. On the top is a lamb. Beneath the lamb is a person. The lamb covers the person. Isn’t that the essence of righteousness? The Lamb of Christ over the child of God? Whenever the Father looks down on you . . . He sees His Son, the perfect Lamb of God, hiding you."

JournEzine

Sunday, May 23, 2010
A God Remedy: "Fear is one of the strongest emotions to control. Fear comes in many forms. It causes nervousness, timidity, procrastination, intimidation, tears, laughter, and the list goes on and on. Fear can cause physical problems, while at the same time, physical problems can cause fear.
Fear is a tool in the enemy’s hand, but we have [...]"

Home Sanctuary

Sunday, May 23, 2010
Company Girl Coffee 5.21: "

My busy week of working on signs and banners for a client ended with this exciting occurrence in our town:


Picture 27
This photo is from my friend, Connie, taken from her porch. My son snapped a photo of it from the high school parking lot, too, and there were tons of photos and video on the l
ocal news. Wow! For a family of weather junkies, a tornado is something we'll be talking about for a long time! I believe it even made it onto yahoo. That's pretty Big Time, for our little town.

But enough bragging about my town's tornado. It's time to link up for Company Girl Coffee! Simply add our blog URL to the linky tool below as a way to invite people to visit you. Then, over the weekend try to get around to visit other blog that have linked up. Non-bloggers can chat in the comment section so we can get to know you there. It's a fun and easy way to get out and expand your circle of online friends!

I'll post a "Weekend Small Thing" later this morning....so be sure to check back in for it!

SAT. UPDATE: Obviously, I did not get a Small Thing posted. Once my day got underway, I never made it back to the computer! I'll save it for next week - until then, have a GREAT weekend!

"

Here's My Cup Lord

Sunday, May 23, 2010
Your Rear Guard—Your Healing: "

*Please click here for Web/Blog development.



“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.” Is. 58:8 NIV


For more great WFW posts, visit our host Amydeanne of The 160 Acre Woods via the link below.



Click here for latest post and details.


ginsig"

Happier, Healthier You

Sunday, May 23, 2010
5 Foods that Boost Your Mood: "Since what's good for your brain is also a boon for your body, incorporating these five mood boosters into your diet may improve not only your outlook, but also your energy and your figure. Eat up and lighten up!"

Faith Imagined

Sunday, May 23, 2010
Ruby for Women Guest Post: "

I'm a guest writer at Ruby For Women, edited by Nina Newton. This is an extensive site and magazine for women that offers yummy recipes, great craft ideas, devotionals and more. I would definitely check out the recipe for Hot Cross Buns. I'm eager to make them!

God-Confidence & God-Worth

I’ve always struggled with self-confidence. For much of my life, I allowed the Enemy’s arrows to strike through the heart of my self-worth and value. I thought I had to prove myself. I needed to be fit, smart, well-liked, productive and esteemed. When something in my life wasn’t going right, I would crumble into a big, mushy pile of insecurities. I would take my failings and wear them, unable to live in victory in any other areas of my life.

I couldn’t be a good example of a righteous child of God because I allowed my feelings to dictate who I was in Christ. I was like a ship on the waves, going back and forth depending on the external forces. Who in their right mind would want to emulate my insecurity-driven life? Shouldn’t Christians be brimming with confidence and worth because of the cross?

Finally, God brought me to a place in my life where He cut everything that I tied my self-worth and confidence to. I wallowed in my self-defeat, until I looked to God for help. I realized that I placed very little value on the fact that I am a child of God and placed great value in what the world deems as worthy. God showed me that when I form roots of self-worth to areas other than the Trinity, they become idols and distract me from loving Him most.

During that time, God helped me... read the rest at
Ruby for Women!


"

Ed.gov Blog

Sunday, May 23, 2010
We Cannot Afford Teacher Layoffs: "Five school visits in two cities underscored the importance of saving teacher jobs."

Desiring God Blog

Sunday, May 23, 2010
Don’t Waste the Sound of Sirens: "

(Author: Jonathan Parnell)


 We hear sirens all the time. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the day, at some point, we hear the sound of an ambulance or fire truck or police car. What do you think when you hear them?



We have become so accustomed to the sound that we typically ignore it. We go about our activities uninterrupted. But wait, that sound means something! It means that there is an emergency. Someone is in need, and that's not something to ignore.



Sirens come into our day loaded with significance. Whether they are heard faintly in the distance or close enough to disturb our ears, they come into our day as an invitation to get out of our bubble of self and remember that there are 6.8 billion people in the world. They invite us to remember that the world is in need and that opportunities are emerging everywhere for God to glorify his name and make his goodness known.



Next time there is the sound of a siren, we don't want to waste it. Would you consider a simple prayer for the person in need? Would you pray for the driver and team who are rushing to help? Would you pray that Jesus be embraced and that God be glorified, somehow at some point? And would you pray that the day be hastened when the sound of sirens will be no more?









"

Breast Cancer News

Sunday, May 23, 2010
Study Explores Risk of Invasive Breast Cancer in Women with DCIS: "Among women with breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), evaluation of three molecular markers in a sample of DCIS tissue may provide information about the subsequent risk of invasive breast cancer. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute."

Bible Gateway's Verse of the Day

Sunday, May 23, 2010
Romans 15:2: "“Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”"

America Diabetes Association

Sunday, May 23, 2010
Bran Reduces Heart Disease Deaths: "People with diabetes who eat bran-rich whole grains may have lower cardiovascular risks, according to a study from Harvard University."

Healing Hearts Renewing Minds

Sunday, May 23, 2010
May 21, 2010



HouseKeeper
by Darlene


Do you really know how God's mercy and love and grace drip from my soul? Can you see the trail of suds and bubbles that fall from my bucket, the one He put into my hands? I pray that something here at this ministry site is a blessing you...


You are God's very own precious daughter. He dwells within you and He yearns for you to open your windows and doors, to expose the mess within your soul's rooms and closets.

Are there any doors you leave shut or windows you leave closed, firmly trying to keep something locked away or neatly shelved or hidden from view? Why?

Recently a friend shared the following scripture with me. It really stuck with me, for it seems to have a variety of meanings tucked into its reassuring words. Today as I thought of those looking for peace and comfort and Truth, it came to mind again. Let His divine Words wash over you...


"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth
and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands,
as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth;
and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him
and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.


~ Acts 17:24-27 (NIV)


I am a new person in Christ. I knew that when I accepted the Lord as my Savior. But I admit, I didn't willingly invite Him into all of my rooms. Golly, no.

Why would I ask Him into my dingy and disorganized and disheveled places? Wouldn't He flee from me?

Uh, no. No He did not flee from me. Rather, He did the initial sudsing and mopping and organizing. Then God handed me the bucket of soapy water. And amazingly, He refills it with His powerful cleaning solution. Time and again.

When a friend let me show her all my nooks-n-crannies that were filled with clutter and junk, she actually enabled me to wildly fling open once-locked doors and stuck windows. And when I invited God inside, He just came a waltzing right into those dungeon-like rooms and simply flicked on the Light of His Truth and love and mercy and grace and forgiveness. Then He scrubbed the sticky places, mopped the confusion, and left a fresh scent of Truth. With God as my HouseKeeper, I am a new person. All of my doors are freely flung open. Everything is right in plain sight, for all to see.

And just like our real brick and wood and mortar homes, things can get all messy, even after we've invited Him in. But now I know that when the messy things (fear, doubt, depression, guilt...) of me get too big, I open His Word and reach for that which calms the chaos and directs the disaster. And if needed, I willingly (not begrudgingly, but willingly) call upon some friends, some sisters in Christ. They help me to organize and sort and re-shelve the mess that I have become.

Friends, it is Spring. A time of new growth and blossoms and sweet scents. Prop open your doors and lift up your windows and let His healing and renewing rush in.

For you are His house and He is the best Housekeeper you will ever find.

Let us humbly pray:


Father God, there are women today who need Your touch in their lives. And there are some who keep doors tightly shut and windows bolted down. As You fill the earth with the wonders of Spring, fill hearts with healing and minds with renewing. Enter our beings and make us new. Wash us in all that is Truth and love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Can I pray for you today? Leave your request right here. I have my soap, bucket, and a sponge...but mostly, I have God.

Health News

Sunday, May 23, 2010
Processed Meat Products Increase Health Risks: "

This morning, HealthNews reported that canned food might bring an additional risk to your health due to the addition of bisphenol A (BPA) as a can liner to prevent food-borne bacteria from forming. On the heels of that news is that processed meats have become more of a health risk that previously believed. That’s right bacon lovers, that rasher in the refrigerator elevates your risk of both heart disease and diabetes.

bacon

read more

"

Lynn Mosher - Heading Home

Sunday, May 23, 2010
Heading Home