The Bread Project

I've taken on a new project. On my part this project takes diligence and determination. It takes strong organization skills. It takes daily work on my part. The project? Amish Friendship Bread.

Oh, it started out innocently enough. I friend offered me some delicious chocolate sweet bread. After I complimented her, she asked "Would you like a starter?" Oh sure! I'd love to make some chocolate bread. However, that was before I realized it was a 10 day obligation. Say what? Oh yes, I must daily knead the bag. I must (on the correct day mind you) add sugar & flour & milk. Then I have to find 3 friends to take starter bags from me. But I'm continuing the project, work though it may be, in hopes of the delicious chocolate bread at the end.

You know, being a Christian can take work too. It starts out innocently enough someone asking you if you'd like to have eternal life, if you'd like to know Jesus. Oh sure! You'd love to know Jesus. But just like the friendship bread, this Christianity project should take diligence and determination too, and daily work on your part.

See, once you know Jesus, you should desire to be more like Jesus. I don't know about you, but in my life that takes real work! That gossip I just heard? I need to hold it inside, or even better refuse to hear it in the first place. That snide remark on the tip of my tongue...bite it. And don't even get me started on submission. Honey, that takes diligence, determination, and work!

Daily I should be reading the Bible and praying. You know this project, like my Amish Friendship Bread, isn't easy. So why do I keep it up? For the bread.

Just like the hope of the reward of that chocolate bread, I have an even bigger hope in Jesus, the "bread of life." The hope of eternal life. And not only does Christianity offer me that long term hope, but short term I have the hope that now Jesus is with me every step. The Holy Spirit lives in me, helping me with my life on earth.

I could buy a box cake mix, and be done in an hour. But at the end of these 10 days I will have not only the chocolate friendship bread, but the pride that I stuck it out and I did it. At the end times, I hope I have the pride that in my Christian walk I also stuck it out. With the help of Jesus, I did it!

John 6:35 -- Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry.

John 6:48-51 -- I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.

Thankful Thursday - 9/17

Five things I'm thankful for this week:

1. I'm thankful that God is with me, even when I don't "feel" Him. (I started Beth Moore's Esther Bible study yesterday, and that is the intro topic.) Sometimes we don't feel His presence, but we believe that He will never leave nor forsake us.

2. I thankful I live in a free country where I can openly study God's Word, then blog, facebook or twitter about it. No underground church house for me. Friends, that is something to be hugely thankful for.

3. I'm thankful for my husband. Whether its bouncing ideas off of him, or getting a backup in my parenting decisions, I'm thankful that I'm not in this life single.

4. I'm thankful for my kids. I love my kids so much it makes my heart hurt. And to think that my Heavenly Father loves me MORE THAN THAT?? Amazing.

5. I'm thankful for blogging. Who would have thought that this little thing called blogger could have lead to so many friendships, prayer partners, and fellowship. Thanks y'all!

The Real Housewives of....

Okay, full disclosure, I've never actually seen any of the Real Housewives television shows that appear on the Bravo Network. I have, however, seen ads and comments enough to know a little about these ladies. One allegedly has money issues, has been evicted from her home and looted it in response. Another allegedly keeps company of a married man called "Big Poppa." On the season finale, one housewife cursed out another and flipped a table...with children in the room.

Well, the photo above is of the real housewives that I know. We are the real housewives of our community.

We too may have experienced money problems from our husband's lost jobs or pay cuts and a suffering economy. But we pray for one another, and believe that God will provide for our needs.

We may not have perfect marriages. But what we do have is a belief of a covenant between our self, our spouse and God. We strive to make our marriages work, even when times are tough.

Sometimes we even hurt one anothers feelings. We're may mis-speak or take things the wrong way and get our feelings hurt. But we work to resolve those issues amicably. We know we are forgiven, so we forgive...even when its hard.

We real housewives may not have a television show about our lives, but we have eternal life. We're not that different from the other "real housewives" in that we have issues in our life. But how we are different is that we have Jesus in our life. And that one difference makes a huge difference. We are the real housewives of our community. We serve a real God. Bravo!

Remembering 9-11

Eight years ago today, our world was rocked as the twin towers fell after a terrorist attack. Soon we learned the Pentagon had also been attacked, and another plane was derailed from its attack plans by the passengers aboard...giving their lives to save others.

Lives were lost that day. Those lives that remained were changed. My own sister (My ADHD Me) became a Volunteer Firefighter in tribute to the firefighters who lost their life that day.

But what about the rest of us? I know I'm not firefighter material! But we can all do something.

Today is the National Day of Remembrance, and all Americans are encouraged to "do something" in memory of those lives lost. Visit my article HERE to get ideas on what you can do. Like my sister, we can all make a difference.

John 15:13 -- Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Matthew 7:12 -- So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Thankful Thursday - 9-10

5 things I'm thankful for this week:

1. I am so thankful to God that my children had a wonderful first day of school and both love school. They have great teachers. We are blessed!

2. I am thankful for my girlfriends. There is nothing like a sister in Christ to share happiness, sadness, fun & failure! Love my friends!

3. I am thankful for my new Bible study group which starts next week. Excited to meet new sisters in Christ and be mentored in my faith.

4. Thankful for the healthy of my family. And praying for Andrew in the same breath as I am praising God for our health. He is only 12 yrs old and has an inoperable stage 4 brain tumor. His mom, "Bella-Mella" is claiming healing and glorifying God through this process. Have you prayed for Andrew?

5. I thank God that all our needs are met. We are full, dressed, healthy, happy and hopeful about the future. God lives & reigns forever and ever, amen!

Fearless, by Max Lucado - Book Review

"In this world you will have trouble." Jesus tells us that in John 16:33. What is troubling you? Whether it's the economy, war, disease, or fear of your child being sick or abducted, we all have something that pushes our fear button.

Max Lucado's new book, Fearless, challenges us to live a life based on faith, not fear. He shares the one statement that Jesus made more than any other, "Don't be afraid."

In his smooth style of story telling, Lucado weaves modern anecdotes with Biblical principals leaving the reader encouraged. "Worry is the darkroom where negatives become glossy prints." Lucado tells us. He moves on to say "Be a doer, not a stewer." This could become a motto for life.

Each chapter of his book covers a different area that may be causing you stress, and ways to increase your faith, not fear. He shares that it isn't a "Pollyanna" faith of everything will be perfect. No, Lucado says "Real courage embraces the twin realities of current difficulty and ultimate triumph. Yes, life stinks. But it won't forever. As one of my friends likes to say, 'Everything will work out in the end. If it's not working out, it's not the end.'"

As for John 16:33, Jesus continues, "But take heart! I have overcome the world." Take heart. Or as Max Lucado says, "Fear will always knock on your door. Just don't invite it in for dinner."

For more information on Fearless, visit Thomas Nelson Publishing. I give this book 5 stars. It was excellent.

Christianese

In honor of Labor Day, I am completely stealing my blog post from another blog. (In other words, I am taking the day off like everyone else does, but still providing entertainment to you my followers).
Thanks to Lady Lighthouse, where I copied this from.

Please know this is humor and not intended seriously.

Translating Christianese
The Evangelical Press Association (EPA) website recently shared the following: Christianese is a language used in the Christian subculture and understood easily only by other practicing Christians. As Christian communicators it's important to avoid words in our writing that could be misunderstood or fail to communicate — terms that have meaning only in the Christian subculture.

As a public service, here are some common phrases used in the church, along with their English-language equivalents:


Christianese: "If it be God's will."
Translation: "I really don't think God is going to answer this one.
Christianese: "Let's have a word of prayer."
Translation: "I am going to pray for a long, long, long time."
Christianese: "That's not my spiritual gift."
Translation: "Find someone else."
Christianese: "Fellowship"
Translation: "Organized gluttony."
Christianese: "The Lord works in mysterious ways."
Translation: "I'm totally clueless."
Christianese: "Lord willing . . ."
Translation: "You may think I'll be there, but I won't."
Christianese: "I don't feel led."
Translation: "Can't make me."
Christianese: "God led me to do something else."
Translation: I slept in instead of going to church.
Christianese: "God really helped me with this test."
Translation: "I didn't study but I guessed good, so I'm giving God credit in the hope that He helps me again."
Christianese: "She has such a sweet spirit!"
Translation: "What an airhead!"
Christianese: "I have a 'check' in my spirit about him."
Translation: "I can't stand that jerk!"
Christianese: "I'll be praying for you."
Translation: "There's an outside chance I'll remember this conversation later today."
Christianese: "Prayer concerns"
Translation: "Gossip"
Christianese: "In conclusion . . . "
Translation: "I'll be done in another hour or so."
Christianese: "Let us pray"
Translation: "I'm going to pretend to talk to God now, but I'm really preaching at you."
Christianese: "You just have to put it in God's hands."
Translation: "Don't expect me to help you."
Christianese: "God wants to prosper you!"
Translation: "Give me all your money."
(Author Unknown)