Loving everyone, as Jesus does

 

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." - 2nd Peter 3:9


I'm not sure what the hold up was but there was a lot of waiting at the little Costa Rican church. We were all sitting around watching the church custodian sweep the floor. A little later restlessness showed up and some of us began to walk down the road, Spanish gospel tracks in hand, looking for someone to hand them too. I think I encountered two people. The traffic was speeding by on the dirty, uneven road. Pedestrians had no rights on the road, so we stayed a safe distance from the danger. Which as a Christian is what we tend to do. We sit safely in our churches, which are clean, off the beaten road and wait for the lost to come in. I was guilty for years of playing church until the Lord showed me on that hot and humid day in Costa Rica that I needed to do more than just go on a week long mission trip and then return to my comfortable home. He wanted me to step out and make myself or more so the Lord's presence known.

What struck me that day is what I witnessed. Everyone needs to hear this, as a Christian this should pierce us right through the heart. I watched one of the pastors walk right into a bar. When he came out the Costa Rican pastor asked him "What did you go in there for?" His comment was pretty much "They need Jesus too." This bar was filthy looking, a tiny building with an open door. Sitting in the slums of San Jose. But he was right, they did need Jesus. A white man casually walking into the bar sharing the gospel of Jesus, was a little dangerous. But God protected him. God has no boundaries.

Later that week one of the other missionaries who had a gift working with handicapped children asked the Costa Rican pastor if he could stop and set up a time so that we could talk to the special needs school right across the street from our hotel. He kept driving past.  She tried to explain that no matter their mental state, they still needed Jesus. Later our group walked down and talked to the school principal. He was very receptive and asked us to come back in the morning. The experience was amazing, many of those children, their teachers and parents received the gift of salvation.

"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 19:14

Why was the pastor so hesitant, I don't know. But I've been just as guilty to be so reserved when it came to who I talked about or showed Jesus' love with. We have to open our eyes and see that salvation is for everyone, not just for who we see as a lesser threat to our self esteem. Jesus teaches us a very valuable lesson found in the 22nd Chapter of Matthew.

³⁶ Master, which is the great commandment in the law? ³⁷ Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Sometimes we love ourselves a little too much, we downright spoil ourselves. If we stopped and looked around and gave a moment in time to helping someone else, listening to their problems, sharing your bounty, it is then we are loving our neighbors.

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." - Philippians 2:4

 

Holding onto God's lifeboat

 

 

 

It's amazing cleaning out a house or in my case a townhouse from top to bottom. I actually like looking at an almost empty house. It's only empty in material possessions, but this home is still filled with love and laughter. It's still filled with a family. Will & I began sending out our support letters and the response back has been such a blessing. It's very humbling knowing that people trust you and see the potential in you that sometimes we forget ourselves. We've even gotten an invite to be on the radio to spread the word farther. Amazing!

I keep getting asked about how we are transitioning or is it hard to clean out? If I wasn't truly into this mission maybe it would be overwhelming. I'm no super woman, with no feelings or attachments, but what good will it do for me to dwell on the things of the world that do not matter. The devil wants to plant seeds of doubt in all of us. Too many times he wins, you have the capability to achieve so much, but the devil's tactics of fear, anxiety and doubt stop you flat. It's a firm decision a person needs to make to say, "I'm going to follow Jesus, no matter what others think or say." Even now we have family who tries to discourage Will & I. These are Bible believing Christians. What is it that makes them say the things they do? Doubt! Once, I found myself starting to feed into their hesitation. We have to stay on our toes and be alert to these defenses the devil throws up from the most trusted sources.

 

My favorite Bible story is based upon trust & belief.......

 

22And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away
23And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
33Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Matthew Ch. 14: 22-33

 

 

Remember he will catch you once you believe!



The Lord asks us to trust him......don't we owe it? I believe even if there aren't enough funds visibly to support the way, he will give us all we need.


You see......Jesus is the lifeboat God said was coming.




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decluttering and Detoxing!

I know I'm slow about keeping up with this blog. But I have great excuses for it. Since we are moving to Japan next summer I've had to clean out the house and sell most of our furniture off and give away alot. I've never been one to store alot of unneeded stuff and could never be accused of being a hoarder so the challenge has been more with giving away things I was using. I'm still okay with all of this however. I like seeing the stuff go, I eventually want to live simply with only what I need or what my hobbies consist of. We are currently sleeping on air mattresses, ours kept losing air until my husband fixed it. Trust me, waking up every night half sunk into the mattress isn't a treat!

The only things left to sell are our recliners, table, washer and dryer. I have some trusted family and friends who have offered up to store the things I can't part with, heirlooms and photo albums and the like. But soon it will be what we can carry in our suitcases and on our backs. Wow, how we truly must trust the Lord!

This week I went on a detox that was long overdue. No this isn't a silly fad diet, it's extremely realistic. It changes from a temporary thing to a permanent lifestyle if you let it be and that is my goal.  For months I've been slowly weaning my family off processed foods, gmos, chemical perservatives and the such. My goal is to switch from eating a majority of processed foods to a majority of raw fruits and vegetables, fish and chicken. Minimizing the intake of fake food, because I know there will be times or situations when that may be all I have. I'm no expert but I think I could write my own book about how awful today's food is, including the pesticides sprayed on our food. I firmly believe what is in our food is the reasons for many many many cancers and obesity....but I will jump off that bandwagon for now. Now, I'm no skinny minnie, I've got a curve here or there but I'd rather be healthy than a ridiculously pencil thin woman subjecting herself to every diet known possible. If loose some weight that's just an added bonus.

Day 1 started out fine, the cooking required alot of prepping and I like a few recipes here and there. This 7-day tune up by no means deprives you of food, it even offers healthier dessert alternatives. I haven't been able to eat all the recipes the book offers. By the end of Day 1 I felt weak, sore and sick to my stomach. I didn't realize the releasing of unhealthy toxins would take effect so quickly. So I went to sleep and woke up feeling fine, but not long on Day 2 I started to feel sluggish but I trucked on through and kept up with the meal schedule. As I was preparing lunch I felt like a snail. This is not typical of myself so I decided to look up why I was feeling this way. Sure enough my idea of body ridding of toxins was supposed to be happening. Now the book recommended supplements, but I hate taking pills and I was firm about not adding them into this diet, but by the end of day 2 I caved and picked up the recommendation for Spiralina, which supports the immune system and a varied supply of health benefits. So now we are at Day 3, I woke up again with my stomach hurting a little, but very tired. Even though the dosage is 2 pills, I took one and watched some television (Rare Indeed!) thinking this isn't going to work. After about 30 minutes I started feeling a little better, my body seemed to wake up fully and here I am blogging like I would normally do. I read something last night that struck me, the statement was this. "During detox, after ridding the toxins and sugars your body is going to show you how tired it really is, since processing the fake ingredients take alot of extra work." Hmmmm. It makes alot of sense.

So I will continue this detox and turn it into a lifestyle. We had some delicious cod with veggies last night so there is hope........

 

Thankful for life!

Recently I jumped on the wagon of thankful posts on facebook but I slacked off. Mainly because I skipped town and then as I always do I throw myself into a project or task never allowing myself much rest until it's finished. That was the case until today. The Lord convicted my heart and told me to slow down! I mean realllllllllll sloooooooooow! This is a foreign concept to me! How do you do it? Someone tell me please!

So here we are in November! Moving closer to our calling from God. It hasn't hit me quite yet that we are moving to a new country. Even as I type I've got furniture lined up to deliver to their new rightful owners. It feels great to clean up & clear out our belongings. I've never been too materialistic so when people ask me how it feels to be giving away and selling our things, my answers is simple. "It's fine." It's almost liberating. Things do not define us, but our actions might. The Lord provides our needs always, sometimes we are just too spoiled to realize that it's not by our ability that we have our needs and wants but by his.

Last week Emmaly and I hopped on an airplane heading to another place we had never touched before. My mom has lived in San Francisco for 6 years now and finally got hitched! She knew I was coming out but Emmaly was a surprise. At the airport I had Emmaly walk behind me so the secret wasn't out until I was standing right in front of my mom. It worked, she was shocked, but excited.

 

I'm thankful that the Lord provides the means so we can travel and see how majestic his creation is.

 

I was told a rental car wasn't necessary but I'm what you can call an adventurer, I like to go out away from a central location and explore. Plus, I wanted to be able to say I've driven across the Golden Gate Bridge, so I drove right on across it. I also drove the crookest road in the world (Lombard St.) at night, took a historic cable car ride and visited Fisherman's wharf and listened to the seal lions bark.

 

 

 

It was a fantastic trip, full of being a complete tourist. Most times I like to blend in with the locals, but this was one town in which it wasn't possible.

 

I do want to remark more on being thankful. Will, Emmaly and I have been blessed with an abundance of support on our quest to become the missionaries that God has in store for us. I may not know the Bible from front to back and one day I hope too but God will equip me as long as I'm faithful in learning the scriptures at my pace. I'm thankful that God has given me my own talents and Will his. I'm thankful for my sweet little daughter who I can call my own, a gift from our heavenly father. She completes us. Her exciting personality and love for life is enough to want to make things better for any child. When I thank God in my prayers, it's not long and drawn out. I thank God for everything I have because I deserve nothing.

 

 I thank God for life.



 

 

 

 

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him" Colossians 3:17

 

 

Crafting in October!

This has been a busy month, but fun! The Edmond Home Educators group held a craft fair for kids to venture out and sell things they've made. So some friends I encouraged our kids to get out there and become informed of how free enterprise works.  For the last month we've had crafting parties that were held well into the night with lots of laughter, creativity and cookies! The turnout was so-so, but they did sell some of their items and had a blast! As seen below, Emmaly and Kyla made bags, hair bows  hair bands, coasters and sugar scrub. We had a lot of people commenting that we must have been busy, but in reality we knew about this sell over a month ago and instead of working at the last minute, the girls produced each craft one by one.

Aaron and Joel made the cutest and softest homemade pillowcases. They were little troopers and did very well!

You must check out the cornucopias Emmaly and I made. Courtesy of Pinterest!

Besides crafting, Emmaly and I took a day to visit the Parkhurst Pumpkin Patch located in Arcadia. Afterwards we dined and took in a movie! It was a cool, slightly misty day with lots of cloud coverage. Just how I love the fall!

The cow snuggled us like a dog! It was so sweet!

She wasn't too sure about having her back to the pig! LOL!

What a beautiful month it has been with God's blessings surrounding us.

Quilting for Necessity, Quilting for Fun

"She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands." Proverbs 31:13

The butterfly quilt was sewn in 1940. My grandma had just gone off to college in Lawton and worked on this quilt a little at a time with her mother back home in Granite. One thing I love about this quilt is the fabric. You can see a shift in taste of print from the 1930's & 1940's until......well....now! I love the fact that it is yellow. Very inviting and happy! My grandma was jubilant to see my interest in quilting. I loved asking her about the good ole' days just to see the differences between what we experienced at the same ages."You're quilting for fun", she quoted "We quilted out of necessity." 

It wasn't until after her death that I finally began to learn how to quilt with a machine. 

Though this isn't the group (obviously) that taught me how to quilt, I can see why they seem to be having a great time. I'm guessing this quilt was being made for someone. Sometimes, women had large quilting bees to provide a heirloom for an upcoming bride, or expecting mother, or a home-bound widow. I heard it best last year when someone in my Sunday school class mentioned that most women have lost the ability to create with their hands. That comment struck me in the heart, she was right. 

So I picked up 8 months ago where I wanted to start in the first place and finished my first quilt, and then my next, then the next and so on. I'm happy to say I've recently finished my 8th quilt and am half way finished with my 9th.  Some of these quilts were inspired by others, some I actually came up with on my own. I've lain in bed at night thinking of great color sequences. I'm not obsessed, not yet at least. But I think I've found the ability to create with my hands. 

These are the quilts I've finished!

The one that started it all......

My daughter and I made this one for her "Charlotte's Web County Fair."

Surprise Mother's Day gift to my momma. Even though this is American inspired, the French flag kept popping up in my head as I made this.

Once I saw the inspiration for this, I told myself " If you can do this, you can do anything!" This turned out to be a gift to our Japanese hosts.

 This little lady turns the big 27 today!

 

Yep! That's me! I was 6 months old here.

 

 

Born the youngest child to my folks in Ardmore, Oklahoma late at night!

 

I'm not at the age yet where I dread my birthday! Maybe I never will be. I've definitely changed my views and likes over the years and have settled into my own ways. I like to love and laugh and sit down with a good book. I listen to bluegrass music and travel any chance I get. I'm a born again Christian.  I've been blessed more than I deserve. I've learned to take the storms of life and thunder through them holding the Lord's hand. I love to sing, but it's going to take a lot to get me to sing in front of people.  And...........I don't care for how fast the world moves.

 

Now, isn't that the face of an optimist or what?

 

 

Want to know what makes me smile so much?  It's because I've been redeemed by my Lord. There were dark days in my life before and still are but remembering that I'm not alone in it makes the light overcome the darkness. The Bible tells us that:

 

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. - John 1:5

 

So if you are currently having a rough morning or haven't had that first smile, dust off the Bible, have a cup o' joe and reconnect with the one who breathed life into you! Remember that if God brought you too it, he will bring you through it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Homemade Laundry Soap

 

Making Laundry Soap Tutorial

Yes, I've now made my own laundry soap. Was it difficult? Time consuming? The answer is no and I, myself was quite surprised at how quickly it was made.

Ingredients:  The prices listed are a guess on the high end because I didn't keep my receipt.

Borax Laundry Booster  ($ $4.00)
Arm & Hammer Washing Soda  ($4.00)
Fels-Naptha bar soap (Zote or, Ivory...etc.) ($.97) (don't try bath soap; they contain oils and perfumes that can stain clothes and become an irritant to sensitive skin)


You can find these 3 items on the laundry aisle at your local Wal-mart, usually they are grouped together.

Make sure you specifically get Washing Soda, this is different than baking soda so please do not try to substitute it.
The purpose of the Washing Soda is to help remove odors and dirt.

Borax is a natural mineral otherwise known as sodium decaborate tetrahydrate and is used as a deodorizer and whitener. In case you are ingredient suspicious such as I am, it is also found in toothpaste and hand soap.

The Recipe!

1/2 bar Fels Naptha  (Ivory, Zote or Sunlight will also work)

½ cup washing soda

½ cup borax powder 

2 gallons water

A bucket (2-5 gallon) ( found near paint in Wal-mart)

Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan.  Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts.  Add the washing soda and the borax, stirring until dissolved.  Once dissolved remove immediately from the heat.  Pour 4 cups hot water into your bucket Next, add your soap mixture and stir. Add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. You will need to let your soap sit for 24 hours until it becomes a gel. Use 1/2 cup per load.

Next, you need a cheese grater to grate your bar of soap. I enlisted the help of my 8 year old.

Measure out the Borax and Washing Soda into a bowl, while you melt the soap along with 6 cups of water on the stovetop.

 

Once soap mixture is melted pour into your bucket and then add the 4 cups of hot water.  Stir

 

 

Now add 1 gallon; plus 6 cups of water and stir!

 

 

Notes: Low sudsing. It is the ingredients in the soap, not the suds, that does the cleaning.

               Clumping and geling of the detergent is normal.

 

 

Best Homemade Iced Coffee Ever!

There is no hiding it..................I like coffee and it likes me back!

 

I'm almost ashamed to admit that this quote is representing me! My husband says I should quit but you know what? That's like me telling him, stop eating sweets! Is it going to happen? Heck no! You know what he ate the other day? That big ole' hunk of man I call my husband ate 4 ice cream bars, and then after I sent him a homemade meal to work, he brings it back and tells me that someone at work brought cookies and he ate 6 of them! Anyways, I'm chasing rabbits so back to the main topic. My friend Rachel gave me this recipe for Iced Coffee so I decided to be nice and share it.

I'm part visual learner so I find that explaining in pictures is best!

Ingredients:

Instant Coffee of your choice

Milk

Turbinado sugar (this is raw sugar) or regular white sugar.

Disclaimer: The format in which I give my recipes sometimes will reflect my style and not a textbook! So if you see any misspellings (it's how I talk) or informal directions it's on purpose and because I believe in getting to the point! No stick in the mud here! Living life shouldn't be filled with up-tightness!

First, get yer blender out! Toss a 1 cup of water in there,

Second, measure 3 tsp. of instant coffee, toss that in there,

Third, add in 5 tsp. of turbinado (or sugar of choice) in there,

Fourth, pour 2 cups of milk in there,

Last but not least add 2 cups of ice.

I have a setting that is called Ice Crusher or something of that nature and it breaks that ice into practically nothing. Depending on the strength of your blender you may need to blend once more.

It may be foamy on top at first, but that will go away! Enjoy!