It is a start of a new year and I am feeling excitement and looking forward to see what God has install. I usually don't set new year resolutions, this year there are a few things I want to concentrate and work on.
1. My relationship with the Lord, I yearn to get closer to him.
2. Study the word more and start to memorise scriptures and passages.
3. Pray, I am feeling such a call to prayer again.
4. My weight, this journey I have started on again but this time I have invited a friend. I am going on the journey with God by my side, not by myself as I have done in the past.
5. Joshua 24v15
Monday, January 5, 2009
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Way of Agape situation:)
This weekend I was having a bit of a pity party in my head. I had not told anyone how I was feeling and pushed it down deep, I still was doing all that I had to, but was just doing the motions I had lost my spark.
You see my husband has been working long hours and long weeks and I can't remember the last time my husband had a day off. So after a long and hard week with the children I was looking at me and how hard it had been. I was being sooo selfish. Then on the Saturday my husband came home 2 hours later than he should have and I was not upset just feeling neglected.
He started sharing what was going on at work and how tired he was and later he saw something else that needed doing at home and made the comment that he would add it to the ever growing list. Then the penny dropped and I started looking at him and seeing how tired he was and that he had more to deal with than I. He is working long hours (5am to 8:30pm most days) dealing with parent/children issues, has assignments due plus his other usual work duties. Once I changed my attitude and took it to God, I felt a huge weigh being lifted.
I then decided that the next day I would bless him my plan was to clean the house, cook him a nice meal and start doing some of his jobs. The first job I though I would do was to mow the lawn. So the next day I got up early and cleaned the house, set the table for dinner with extra care, put candles out and used the best table cloth. Then at 3pm I decided I would go and start the mowing. I got the mower out and it would not start, then I checked the fuel and found that the little boy I look after had filled the mower up with leaves and sticks again. I was so disappointed that I sat in the back yard and cried. Not long after my husband rang and said they had finished early and he was heading home. (the mower is now fixed and I plan to mow tomorrow). I did however go and make him one of his fav desserts instead of mowing.
The point of this story is to share with you that yes at times life can get us down, and it only takes one thought to start a pity party. I was so busy feeling miserable and looking at me that I could not see my husband and what he was going through. Once I did and took it to the Lord and dealt with my attitude and started putting my husband first. I felt sooo free, no longer was it all to hard, I was having fun thinking of what I could do to bless him. Even though I did not get the mowing done my husband was blessed, he saw my change in attitude and that I was happier.
It is so easy to look at ourselves but it is so freeing to look out for others. But we need to do this with God's strength if I had done it out of my own strength and had not handed how I was feeling to the Lord and dealt with that, (done the steps that I have just learnt) it would have been so much harder and the mower thing could have been a bigger issue that it was. I have just finished the Way of Agape study and this was the perfect time to put what we learnt into action.
You see my husband has been working long hours and long weeks and I can't remember the last time my husband had a day off. So after a long and hard week with the children I was looking at me and how hard it had been. I was being sooo selfish. Then on the Saturday my husband came home 2 hours later than he should have and I was not upset just feeling neglected.
He started sharing what was going on at work and how tired he was and later he saw something else that needed doing at home and made the comment that he would add it to the ever growing list. Then the penny dropped and I started looking at him and seeing how tired he was and that he had more to deal with than I. He is working long hours (5am to 8:30pm most days) dealing with parent/children issues, has assignments due plus his other usual work duties. Once I changed my attitude and took it to God, I felt a huge weigh being lifted.
I then decided that the next day I would bless him my plan was to clean the house, cook him a nice meal and start doing some of his jobs. The first job I though I would do was to mow the lawn. So the next day I got up early and cleaned the house, set the table for dinner with extra care, put candles out and used the best table cloth. Then at 3pm I decided I would go and start the mowing. I got the mower out and it would not start, then I checked the fuel and found that the little boy I look after had filled the mower up with leaves and sticks again. I was so disappointed that I sat in the back yard and cried. Not long after my husband rang and said they had finished early and he was heading home. (the mower is now fixed and I plan to mow tomorrow). I did however go and make him one of his fav desserts instead of mowing.
The point of this story is to share with you that yes at times life can get us down, and it only takes one thought to start a pity party. I was so busy feeling miserable and looking at me that I could not see my husband and what he was going through. Once I did and took it to the Lord and dealt with my attitude and started putting my husband first. I felt sooo free, no longer was it all to hard, I was having fun thinking of what I could do to bless him. Even though I did not get the mowing done my husband was blessed, he saw my change in attitude and that I was happier.
It is so easy to look at ourselves but it is so freeing to look out for others. But we need to do this with God's strength if I had done it out of my own strength and had not handed how I was feeling to the Lord and dealt with that, (done the steps that I have just learnt) it would have been so much harder and the mower thing could have been a bigger issue that it was. I have just finished the Way of Agape study and this was the perfect time to put what we learnt into action.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Attitude Check
Do you find that when you are sick and tired, it is a time that other things pop up like attitudes, being short with your Children.
I have been struggling with this the last few days. I have been sick with the flu, had to get my daughter ready for her big ballet concert and still do the day to day things. Well I got home last night and the house was a mess. And attitudes like why is it when I am sick the bottom falls out, why this and why that and woe is me. (all in my head of course) Then trying to catch up on a week worth of house work then the kids play up and give attitude, which they are just probably feeding off me.
So I have been re-challenged on why I do things and the state of my heart. So that things don't fester and attitudes take root. Yes we all get sick and we all have lots on our plate and life happens but what happens when we are not at the top of our game. Does our true nature come out. How do we handle this, do we take it to the Lord or does it fester under the surface and then bang things blow up.
Our Children are always watching us, how we handle things greatly impacts of their lives. They follow our example. I want to use these times to teach my Children how to deal with stress and life God's way, and have him the center of my life. Sure I will make mistakes and blow it but by being honest and open and teaching my Children how to go to God, repent and move on is worth more than giving them the latest toys or gadget. It is giving them life skills that they will take with them.
I have been struggling with this the last few days. I have been sick with the flu, had to get my daughter ready for her big ballet concert and still do the day to day things. Well I got home last night and the house was a mess. And attitudes like why is it when I am sick the bottom falls out, why this and why that and woe is me. (all in my head of course) Then trying to catch up on a week worth of house work then the kids play up and give attitude, which they are just probably feeding off me.
So I have been re-challenged on why I do things and the state of my heart. So that things don't fester and attitudes take root. Yes we all get sick and we all have lots on our plate and life happens but what happens when we are not at the top of our game. Does our true nature come out. How do we handle this, do we take it to the Lord or does it fester under the surface and then bang things blow up.
Our Children are always watching us, how we handle things greatly impacts of their lives. They follow our example. I want to use these times to teach my Children how to deal with stress and life God's way, and have him the center of my life. Sure I will make mistakes and blow it but by being honest and open and teaching my Children how to go to God, repent and move on is worth more than giving them the latest toys or gadget. It is giving them life skills that they will take with them.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Christmas Tips and Ideas
Today I hosted Christmas info session designed for mums. Here is some of the things I touched on. If you would like more info on anything please email me or leave a comment.
Topics covered were
How to establish Christmas Traditions in your family
Child proofing Christmas - ideas on how to decorate you home with young children
How to involve Children in Christmas
Christmas on a budget
Gift Ideas
Books and Music Suggestions
Question time
How to establish Christmas Traditions in your family.
Tradition ~ opinion or belief or custom handed down, handing down of these from one generation to another especially orally, artistic, or literary principles.
I would like to encourage you to think about what traditions you would like to pass onto your children and what traditions you have taken from your parents or your husbands parents.
The main tradition I would like to pass onto my Children and what I would love for them to take on when they have children is to celebrate Christmas as Jesus's birthday, as a time of celebration, worship and a time of reflection and a time of family. This is a tradition both my husband and I have taken from our parents we may do things slightly different but the core ideals are there.
In our family we do not have Santa, this is a personal decision and every family needs to decide what they are going to do for themselves.
The main reason why we do not have Santa is that it takes away from the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Christ. I have told my children from a young age that Santa is a story from Greenland where a man would make gifts for Children in need and give them out on Christmas eve. The story of Santa can be told to Children as an example of someone who gave. Santa was just a man.
Another reason why we don't have Santa is that we like to teach our Children principles of giving and encourage them to give, it is not the gift but the heart behind it that counts. My children do not miss out on the excitement of Christmas day they still wake up early and excited, I did not have Santa and I don't think I missed out on anything if fact I came away with a greater appreciation of Christmas, it is not just another holiday is it a celebration and a time we can use to instill values and teach our Children.
Also I feel Santa adds to the commercialism of Christmas and I don't want my Children caught up in that.
Here are some links to give you a background about Santa.
We have also started a few of our own Christmas traditions like having a special meal on Christmas eve with just my husband, myself and our 3 Children. We always have a healthy breakfast with fresh fruit and set the table nicely.
We have taken a tradition from my husbands family and changed it a bit to suit us. My husband grew up with stockings (I never had this) his mother use to be up to all hours in the morning wrapping gifts for 6 children so she would make a Christmas stocking for each of the children with a box of breakfast cereal, a Popper, something else to eat, and other bits and pieces to keep them amused while she slept in. I have taken this idea minus the breakfast and have made a Christmas bag for each of our children and I fill it up during the year and each of the children get it in the morning it helps keep them busy while we are getting ready for the day as we don't open presents until all the extended family are together. The children know the bag is from us and look forward to jumping in our bed Christmas morning so they can be presented with their Christmas bag.
We have other traditions that will be touched on in the other topics.
Child proofing Christmas - ideas on how to decorate you home with young children
How to involve Children in Christmas
I will do these two topics together as I have found the best way to decorate your home and keep looking good is by involving the children. (my children are now 3, 4 and 6)
If you have really young Children it may pay to put a playpen around the Christmas tree or put it up high.
When we decorate the Christmas tree I explain that this is something that once we have finished decorating it they are not to touch they can look as much as they like but are not to touch. Just to be on the safe side I put all the good decorations up higher.
I have purchased quite a few glass baubles that you can fill yourself. Every year I empty them and the Children fill them up again with pretty things. I also buy paper ones that they decorate.
I also let the Children fill my vases (or pretty bowls etc) with coloured baubles. These 2 examples were done by my 3 year old. This is a cheap decoration idea as you use what ever you already have and can buy cheap baubles from a $2 shop, or use old ones you already have. 
My Children and I also make a manger, angles. a stable and a star, we find animals from the farm box and set up a play area on the lamp table. I encourage the children to play out the story of Jesus's birth. This is something that is hands on for them and out during the whole of December. I have found these cute little figurines of Mary, Joseph and the 3 wise men that the children can play with all I need to do now is find shepherds. (I will post of photo of it all set up and instructions when we do it in December)
I put out a selection of Christmas picture books on the coffee table for them to read.
These are some of the Christmas fake Cupcakes and shortbread I make.
I put out a selection of Christmas picture books on the coffee table for them to read.
We also make lots of Christmas decorations during December and to add to the tree or house.
Having things for your Children to do and be involved is the key here, Christmas cooking with Children is such fun and a great way to spend time together. I will be posting some good child friendly Christmas cooking ideas soon and some links to alergy free festive cooking.
I have found the Better Homes and Garden mags full of great Christmas ideas without all the gossip and star news. The adds are ok and I can let my children look through the mags without worrying about what they may see.
These are some of the Christmas fake Cupcakes and shortbread I make.
Aren't these Angles lovely my friend Shannon from paint mine pink made them. Shannon has a shop where you can find them she also lists on ebay.
Christmas is a great time to teach your Children about Jesus.
Will be posting more Christmas info over the coming weeks. Have fun with your Children and remember Christmas does not have to be a time of stress.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
blog
You may have noticed my blog is looking very bland. Well I tried to put some pretty wall paper on last night and I lost everything except my post:) And the wall paper did not work properly anyway.
Hope to have it all fixed up soon.
Hope to have it all fixed up soon.
True Woman 30 Day Make Over
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Halloween
This post is a bit of a long one, so grab a tea of coffee:)This year I have noticed Halloween alot more it seems to becoming more and more common or the norm. There have been more children's programs on television more Halloween things in the stores, last year we even had our house toilet papered. (In Australia Halloween has only been popular about the last 10 years it is growing in popularity every year). I can't remember doing any Halloween craft at school or even talking about it when I was a child.
Also this year my eldest who is 6 has been asking me about Halloween and why don't we celebrate it. A few days ago she came home from school wanting a Halloween party, she had no idea what it was other than lots of lollies and you get to dress up and have scary things around. (She goes to a Christian School, must have picked it up from friends) So this started my research into what is Halloween what is the history behind it so I can give an informed answer to Mikayla. I was always told as a child that Halloween was evil and we don't celebrate it, and back then it was not in your face as much.
As a mother I try and give answers that are as correct as possible I like to know all the facts so I can answer my children as best as possible. This is why I have been researching Halloween I did not know enough about it to answer all of my daughters questions so I asked her if I could have a couple of days to find out more and then we will have a chat about it.
The info I have here is only an outline to give background to Halloween. I have not included everything I read or found out. From what I have read Halloween has strong links to in paganism.The History of Halloween.
The term Halloween is shortened from All Hallows' Even (both "even" and "eve" are abbreviations of "evening", but "Halloween" gets its "n" from "even") as it is the eve of "All Hallows' Day", which is now also known as All Saints' Day. It was a day of religious festivities in various northern European Pagan traditions, until Popes Gregory III and Gregory IV moved the old Christian feast of All Saints' Day from May 13 (which had itself been the date of a pagan holiday, the Feast of the Lemures) to November 1. In the ninth century, the Church measured the day as starting at sunset, in accordance with the Florentine calendar. Although All Saints' Day is now considered to occur one day after Halloween, the two holidays were, at that time, celebrated on the same day. Liturgically, the Church traditionally celebrated that day as the Vigil of All Saints, and, until 1970, a day of fasting as well. Like other vigils, it was celebrated on the previous day if it fell on a Sunday, although secular celebrations of the holiday remained on the 31st. The Vigil was suppressed in 1955, but was later restored in the post-Vatican II calendar.
Halloween, or Hallowe’en, is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31. Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, ghost tours, bonfires, costume parties, visiting "haunted houses", carving Jack-o'-lanterns, reading scary stories and watching horror movies. Irish immigrants carried versions of the tradition to North America in the nineteenth century. Other western countries embraced the holiday in the late twentieth century. Halloween is celebrated in several countries of the Western world, most commonly in the United States, Canada, Ireland, Puerto Rico, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom and occasionally in parts of Australia. In Sweden the All Saints' official holiday takes place on the first Saturday of November.
Halloween was perceived as the night during which the division between the world of the living and the otherworld was blurred so spirits of the dead and inhabitants from the underworld were able to walk free on the earth. It was believed necessary to dress as a spirit or otherworldly creature when venturing outdoors to blend in, and this is where dressing in such a manner for Halloween comes from. This gradually evolved into trick-or-treating because children would knock on their neighbours' doors, in order to gather fruit, nuts, and sweets for the Halloween festival. Salt was once sprinkled in the hair of the children to protect against evil spirits.
Human and animal sacrifices were held and other paigan rituals.
I also found this site written by a Christian, it has alot of helpful information about Halloween.
http://www.jeremiahproject.com/culture/halloween.html
I also found this site written by a Christian, it has alot of helpful information about Halloween.
http://www.jeremiahproject.com/culture/halloween.html
Halloween looks like so much fun to children, blind fun while celebrating the very thing we as Christians try and keep away from. It is marketed to Children. More and more children's shows are having Halloween specials (and I am very fussy about what my children watch) just this morning my son was singing a Halloween song that he heard on a kids show while I was having a shower.My family will not be celebrating Halloween, to us it will be just another day. Now that I understand it more I can give reasons why we do not celebrate Halloween, my answer will not be because empty learnt responses like it is evil or our Church does not agree with it or as a Christian I don't think we celebrate that. My answer will be because it goes against God and everything the bible tells me. It celebrates satan and all that is evil, it invites evil spirits. I do not want any of these things in my house or my life. I have found some bible verses that clearly show us where we should stand on Halloween. As my children get older I will be able to share these verses with them as I explain why we do not celebrate Halloween.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 ("Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.")
James 1:27 ("keep oneself from being polluted by the world")
3 John 1:11 ("do not imitate what is evil")
Romans 12:9 ("abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.")
Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (do not learn to imitate detestable ways, including spiritists, sorcerers and witchcraft)
Ephesians 5:11-12 ("Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness" / "live as children of light")
1 Timothy 4:1 (don't "follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons")
1 Corinthians 10:21
2 Corinthians 6:14-17 ("what fellowship can light have with darkness?")
Philippians 4:8 (think about pure, lovely, noble things)
1 Corinthians 11:1 ("follow the example of Christ")
1 Corinthians 10:31 ("whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God")
James 4:7-8 (submit yourselves to God / resist the devil / purify your hearts)
Ezekiel 44:23 ("…teach my people… to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.")
Proverbs 22:6 ("train a child in the way he should go")
Matthew 18:6 ("if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin…")
Hosea 4:6 ("My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.")
John 3:19-20 (people love darkness instead of light)
Romans 13:12 ("put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.")
Ephesians 6:11-18 ("take your stand against the devil's schemes.")
1 John 5:19
2 Chronicles 7:14
These two youtube links are interesting especially the second one I would suggest you watch the second link when there are no children around.Great blog post
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