Tips: Watermelon, Strawberries, & Peace Lilies

Solutions in the Kitchen
by Lois Breneman - 2016

1.  What can you do when you have a watermelon with a less-than-desirable flavor?  Not sweet enough?

Chop it up and put it in the blender with a bit of stevia!
Delicious solution!

2.  How can you make quick work of slicing strawberries? 

 Cap the strawberries.  Then slice them quickly and effortlessly using an egg slicer!




3.  What can you do when a houseplant, a peace lily that you love, blossoms and drops powdery white dust all over the green leaves?

Cut off the blossom, shake off the powder, stick the blossom in a vase, and put it on the windowsill, so you can enjoy it every time you wash dishes, and pray for the friend who gave you the plant!  This blossom lasted over a month and is still as lovely as ever.  I love the beautiful shade of green.

And to my sweet friend, Beatriz, thanks again!  The beautiful peace lily you so kindly gave me several years ago is still going strong!

Precious Gems

Compiled by Lois Breneman
Thanks to the ladies who allow me to include their children's precious quotes and actions!

Olivia (6) was so precious this morning. We had a lighter "school day," so I was letting the girls play while I was trying to get some cleaning done. Some days I tire easily (expecting 4th child) and today was one of those days. I would work a little bit, then sit down. Livy could tell I was tired so she came and offered to mop the floors for me, then she said, "Mama, can I vacuum? I'd love to vacuum!" Then she proceeded to vacuum cheerfully. Also, yesterday we started reading out of her "Bible reader" for her phonics lessons. I had prayed so much about using this curriculum because I didn't want her to get frustrated with reading, and thus, have a bad attitude towards the Bible. However, it has had the opposite effect. She is SO excited about her Bible. She wags it around everywhere, she even sleeps with it. :) She begs to read it to me, and wants to learn new words so she can read the upcoming stories. :) I praise God for this sweet girl, and the obvious ways I see Him at work in her life. To Him be glory!!! ~ Lori in Virginia

So it was back to school night for Jacob (14). I noticed as we went into each class Jacob's seat was in the front of the room...being my child I knew exactly why (talking).
As we walked out of the last class I said, "Jacob, you need to stop talking so much."
He asked, "How do you know I'm talking too much?"
I said, "Because you are in the front of every class and you are my child."
We got home and that boy of mine came to me and gave me a big hug and said, "Mom, thanks for understanding." ~ Jill in Virginia

Malakai (8), flabbergasted: "Mom... Is it REALLY true you get paid for your work!?"
Me: "Yes."
Malakai: "So why don't you come home with LOTS of dollar bills!??" ~ Danielle in Alabama

Parenting Insight You Can Use Now

by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joann Miller, RN, BSN
http://www.biblicalparenting.org/
Used by permission 

In 1 Corinthians 4:4 Paul says, “My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t make me innocent.” The reality is that just because the conscience prompts a person, doesn’t mean that it’s right. Children need to be careful to obey God first in everything they do.

The conscience looks for convictions in order to prompt a person to do what’s right. Most children already have convictions, but many of those convictions are inappropriate or need some adjustment. For example, some children believe that if they're playing with a video game and Mom asks them to do something, they should be able to wait until they get to the next level to obey. Your daughter may believe that she has the right to hit her annoying brother. After all, he deserves it.

You have convictions and part of your God-given responsibility is to pass those convictions on to your child. One of the greatest ways to do that is by analyzing your family rules. Each rule, whether it’s written down or just understood, has a conviction behind it.

Spend some time evaluating the convictions behind your rules and then talking with your kids about them.

Children may be tempted to rebel against rules but sharing them as convictions makes them easier to accept. “Son, we don’t allow that kind of movie in our home. The reason is because we have a conviction that what goes into our minds affects our hearts. We’re Christians. That’s who we are and this movie isn’t consistent with the conviction we have. So, we have to say no. I’m sorry.”

As much as possible, tie your convictions to God’s Word. After all, you can’t let your conscience be your guide. It’s the scriptures that are our authority in life. The determining factor as to whether something is right or wrong rests on the authority of God’s Word.

For more information about training the conscience to develop internal motivation, take a look at the Motivate Your Child book.   Hero Training Camp is the conscience develop program for kids, using Bible stories, games, and crafts to empower kids to be heroes. To listen to the live seminars with this material, or to lead a small group with this teaching, consider the Everyday Parents Can Raise Extraordinary Kids series.

The Joy of Photography

 "Taking an image, freezing a moment, reveals how rich reality truly is." ~Anonymous

Twelve Rules for a Happy Marriage

Author unknown

1.  Don't both be angry at once.

2.  Don't yell at each other unless the house is on fire.

3.  Yield to the wishes of the other as an exercise in self-discipline, if you can't think of a better reason.

4.  If you have a choice between making yourself or your mate look good, choose to make your mate look good.

5.  If you must criticize, do it lovingly.

6.  Don't bring up a mistake of the past.

7.  Neglect the whole world rather than each other.

8.  Don't let the day end without saying at least one complimentary thing to your life's partner.

9.  Don't allow your life's partner to come home without an affectionate greeting.

10. Don't go to bed mad.

11. As soon as you realize you've made a mistake, talk it out and ask sincerely for forgiveness.

12. Remember, it takes two to make an argument.  In most cases, the one who is wrong is the one who will be doing most of the talking.

Life Principles to Live By

A Message from In Touch Ministries

Do you ever wonder what God is doing in your life?  Do you wrestle with doubt when your prayers seem to go unanswered?  Almost every believer can relate to the struggle you may feel during challenging times.  While the Christian life is an amazing adventure, it is not without suffering at times.

Even in the midst of difficult seasons, we can be grateful for the wisdom and encouragement found in God's Word.  Over the years, Dr. Stanley has discovered biblical lessons that have helped him navigate the challenges of his life and ministry.  It is our pleasure to share these Life Principles with you on the enclosed bookmark (see below).

Of course, these principles are not shortcuts to knowing God or replacements for in-depth Bible study.  And there is no substitute for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  However, we pray these Life Principles will become tools that God will use to teach you more about His character, draw you closer to His heart, and bring powerful transformation to your life.  May God bless you as you obey Him and leave all the consequences to Him.

Twelve Principles to Live By
by Dr. Charles F. Stanley

1.  Our intimacy with God--His highest priority for our lives--determines the impact of our lives.

2.  Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.

3.  God's Word is an immovable anchor in times of storm.

4.  The awareness of God's presence energizes us for our work.

5.  God does not require us to understand His will, just obey it, even if it seems unreasonable.

6.  You reap what you sow, more than you sow, later than you sow.

7.  The dark moments of our life will last only so long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us.

8.  Fight all your battles on your knees and you win every time.

9.  Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees.

10. If necessary, God will move heaven and earth to show us His will.

11. God assumes full responsibility for our needs when we obey Him.

12. Peace with God is the fruit of oneness with God.

13. Listening to God is essential to walking with God.

Faith-filled Fragments

                      by Jalisa Wenger - Used by permission

With mother-eyes I see a multitude—

Five thousand hungry, longing to be fed.

The daily needs that dance across my list

Stare hungrily—they’re underlined in red.

I need to cook and laundry simply waits.

The children need their mother’s listening ear.

While spiders spin their webs above the door,

I pause to give a hug and dry a tear.

If I could soothe the pain of grieving friends…

Or meet some pressing need across the sea…

“Two hundred penny worth” —so small a sum—

When measured with the surging needs I see.

“Today I come with loaves and fish, dear Lord.

In faith I lay them in your able Hands.

For with Your blessing, they will grow

To meet—and far exceed—the crowd’s demands.

I give out jobs so each child has a part

In making dinner special for their Dad,

And while we work we sing their favorite songs

Then make a list of reasons to be glad!

"I want to reach and help the poor I can,"
I muse while hanging laundry on the line.
"But is the good I'd do in other lands
More noble than within these walls of mine?"

Twelve baskets full of fragments by my side.
I pause a moment to reflect and rest.
"Oh, Lord, I never dreamed of such as this!
In serving You, how richly I've been blessed!"

Vintage Dictionary Southern Sayings

by Lois Breneman - 2016

One of these sayings reminds me of two of my nieces. Years ago their mom told them, "Grandma is coming to visit in two weeks!" One of the young nieces asked, "Is it the 'Bless your Little Heart' grandma or the 'Hum, hum, hum' grandma?"

Also, after John and I visited our daughter's home one week several years ago, I mentioned to her how I noticed our granddaughter (5 at the time) was saying, "Oh my goodness" a lot, and I thought it was so cute. Joy said, "Well, you know, Mom, she just started saying that since you're here!"

Sweet Tea and Cornbread

https://www.etsy.com/…/…/vintage-dictionary-southern-sayings

God's Amazing Intervention and Healing Power

Shared with permission from Rochelle Jones

This is the family of Tom and Rochelle Jones today, but several years ago, they faced a dilemma of possibly losing both of their twin girls, who are happy and full of life today! 

Click here to see their amazing story of God's amazing grace, and how they openly give Jesus Christ the glory!  Below are some photos seen in the videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um6_-sJoHHY

Multiplied Moments

Whatsoever thy hand finds to do, do it with thy might. ~ Ecclesiastes 9:10

Every year each person has 8,760 hours, or 525,600 minutes to spend.  Most of us will spend about one third of the time sleeping, another third working, and a generous percentage eating.  We will be busy, but even so, all of us will have spare moments.  These are ours--to waste or to use to enrich our lives.

On a sundial in Tunbridge Wells are the words, "You can waste me, but you cannot stop me."  How true!  And you can waste your spare moments or you can give them to the Lord.

One way to stop wasting time is to study the things in your life and correctly evaluate them.  Is the time you devote to them out of proportion to their importance?

Even in this rushing world you can find a wealth of moments in which you can pray.  Those times when you wait for others, you can pray.  Or if you walk to work, to church, or to school.  And at night when sleep comes slowly, prayer will soothe.

You can enrich your life by making the moments valuable.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, only one life, it will soon be past.  Only what is done for You will last.  Show me how I can make my moments count for you.

--Dorothy C. Haskin in "God in My Home"