Thoughts for Life and Direction.

Just a verse that I have been pondering this morning.  

The preceding words are....

And the Lord replied, "I will personally go with you, Moses.   

I will give you rest - everything will be fine for you." vs.33

I truly love Moses' response.  I have read it no less than 50 times this morning.

I want his response to be my response for me personally

as well as our family. 

"Lamby Wreath"

Today I made what my daughter called a "Lamby Wreath".  I guess she thought the texture looked like a lamb.  I have been trying to make this since December 1, when I purchased the materials, but it did not happen until January 12th!

I saw a wreath similar to this in Pottery Barn Kids this past Christmas.  It was not an item for sale.  Just one of those "things" that they put on their set that you wish you could buy but NO fat chance.  So here is my rendition.

You will need:

Wreath form (I used a small one)

Straight pins

Cotton Balls (I used less than 200)

I chose to adhere them with straight pins

because I thought hot glue and cotton would not mix well.

I just kept layering it until I covered the entire 

front/sides/inside of the wreath

Oh...and you are going to need a thimble 

or your fingers are going to be dying!

Here's my "Lamby Wreath"

I put it in our kitchen above our chalkboard

Finished project.

Adds a sweet touch of winter to a house that has seen NO snow this year

and high 70's today.

Where is winter?

What Did He Write In the Dust?

I started my morning off by reading the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11).  I have read this story many times.  The story where the Pharisees bring a women into the temple who has been caught in the act of adultery and set her up for death by stoning.

I am captivated by Jesus response, as the Pharisees tried to trap him, in stooping down to write in the dust with his finger.  What did he write?

The Pharisees did not like his writing in the dust and they demanded an answer from him concerning what should be done to this woman.  He stood up from the sand and said, "All right, stone her.  But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones!"

Then he stooped back down and continued to write in the sand.

It drives me crazy that scripture does not say what He wrote.  All we know is it was powerful enough that each of the accusers slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest.

There are many thoughts as to what he wrote.  Did he write the personal sins of the Pharisees standing in that crowd?  Did he write the law out perfectly bringing great attention to the detail they had purposely left out of the law?  Did he write each of the Pharisees names in the dust?

Once the room cleared it was just Jesus in the middle of the room with the woman caught in adultery.  I wonder what she thought?  I wonder if she was scared?  I wonder if she was in awe?  I wonder if she feared to look him in the eye?  I wonder if she was even educated enough to know what was "theologically" occurring around her?

Jesus stood up and said to her, "Where are your accusers?  Didn't even one of them condemn you?"  "No, Lord," she said.  And Jesus said, "Neither do I.  Go and sin no more."  

I read this story and I think I would react the way Jesus did.  FULL. OF. GRACE.  But, the truth is..... more times than I care to admit, I am on the other side of Jesus' writing in the dust.  Most of the time it is not over issues as deep as adultery.  God continues to press into me and remind me of HIS FULLNESS OF GRACE and how I fail often to extend it on many occasions.

I encourage you to read this story from John 8:1-11 and allow the Lord to unpack some thoughts that will stir your heart.  I hope you will be reminded, as I was, that as His follower, I have been washed clean and stand before Him blameless FULL OF HIS GRACE.  I, am no different from the woman who looked him full in the face across the dust floor of the temple.

I will leave you with my friend Michele's recipe for a homemade laundry detergent that I LOVE! 

 (Hint: all of these things can be found in the laundry aisle of your grocery store.  

You won't find Fels-Naptha Soap at Target,)

 

2 cups Arm and Hammer Washing Powder

2 cups Borax Powder

2 scoops Oxi Clean

2 bars of Fels-Naptha Soap (grated)

Mix it all together

Just takes 2 Tablespoons for each load.

It's H.E. friendly.

My front loader washer loves it (no mildew-y smell with this detergent)

It's cheap to make.

Winner of the New Year Give Away

Michele from GA

You are the winner of the New Year Give Away

A

Lush French Kiss Bubble Bar!

And if you haven't visited a LUSH store yet, 

I HIGHLY recommend it.

Leave your kids at home and spend some "You" time in this store.

You are sure to find something you will LOVE!

Some of my favorites

(click on the links below)

Wiccy Magic Muscles Massage Bar

Melting Snowman

Coalface

Big Blue

So White

Honey I Washed the Kids Soap

Ickle Baby Bot (my kids loved this one)

New Year Give Away!

I promised you that December would have ONE giveaway and here it is..... ( if you have previously won a giveaway on this blog you are ELIGIBLE to win this giveaway as well).

I am giving away a special treat from LUSH!  This is one of my most favorite stores, EVER.  They just recently put one in close to my house.  All of their products are fresh and handmade.  They have such yummy treats!  

I thought this little treat would be especially nice to giveaway after the Christmas season.  I am sure there are a lot of people who need to relax in a long hot soak and start the New Year off right.

French Kiss Bubble Bar: The fresh herbal fragrances of lavender, rosemary and thyme with essential oils from the hills of sun-soaked Provence go into our swirly love letter inspired by the warmth and beauty of the French countryside. It's even topped with a sprig of lavender. Lay back and relax into serene purple waters and soak up all of its relaxing benefits.

Enter to Win By.......

1.  Placing your name and state in the comment section below
2.  You must enter by 12am EST on Friday December 4, 2013

Good Luck!  I can't wait to give away this LUSH treat!

Mary

"Don't be frightened Mary," the angel told her, "for God has decided to bless you! You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  And The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.  And he will reign over Israel forever, his Kingdom will never end!"  Luke 1:30-33

Mary repsonded, "I am the Lord's servant and I am willing to accept whatever he wants. May everything you have said come true."   Luke 1:38

"Oh, how I praise The Lord.  How I rejoice in God my Savior!  For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation will call me blessed.  For he, the Mighty One, is holy, and he has done great things for me." Luke 1:46-49

So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there.  He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, "Lord, now I can die in peace!  As you have promised me, I have seen the Savior you have given to all people.  He is the light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel."

Joseph and Mary were amazed at what was being said about Jesus.  Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, "This child will be rejected by many in Israel and it will be their undoing.  But he will be the greatest joy to many others.  Thus, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.  And a sword will pierce your soul." Luke 2:27-35


Did she know all of the story when she met with the angel who told her she would bear the Son of the Most High and call him Jesus?  She praised the Lord and rejoiced in God her SAVIOR.  But scripture says she was amazed at what was being said by Simeon about her child, Jesus.  Could she fully grasp the meaning of his words in verse 33, "Thus, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.  And a sword will pierce your very soul."

She knew standing at the foot of her son's cross, when Jesus himself acknowledged her standing next to the disciple he loved.  He said, "Woman, he is your son."  And he said to the disciple, "She is your mother."  And from then on this disciple tool her into his home.  John 19:25-27

Mary trusted God enough to bear his son.  She may not have known all of the pieces to the puzzle.  But she had enough faith to know that she made a promise to the Most High and she stood by her words "I am the Lord's servant and I am willing to accept WHATEVER he wants." Luke 1:38.

Aren't you thankful for Mary?  I am.  Today, I ponder her life and her precious walk with the King of Kings, Emmanuel!

Angels

Tonight we had a time of prayer and remembrance for the children and the school workers who lost their lives on Friday.  Amelia and I made 26 angels today and wrote each person's name on an angel.  Tonight we hung them on our tree as a family.

My heart is heavy for parents who lost greatly on Friday.  My heart is heavy for families who Christmas seasons will forever be marked by the death of their loved one.  The best way I know to honor these lost lives is to pray for their families and to remember their loved ones as angels on our family tree.

Matt read the lyrics to O Holy Night before we hung these angels on our tree.  These words seem so fitting for a time like this.

O Holy Night!

The stars are brightly shining,It is the night of our dear Saviours birth;Long lay the world in sin and error pining, 'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;

Fall on your knees,Oh, hear the angels voices!O night divine, O night when Christ was born!O night, O holy night,O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand;So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,Here came the wise men from Orient land.The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,In all our trials born to be our Friend;He knows our need, To our weakness is no stranger. Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;His law is love and His gospel is peace; Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,And in His name all oppression shall cease.Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,Let all within us praise His holy name;Christ is the Lord,Oh, praise His name forever!His powr and glory evermore proclaim!His powr and glory evermore proclaim!