Wedding Day

Wedding Day
Enjoy EVERY moment in your wedding gown. You can't stay in it forever...SO UNFAIR!!!!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

SPAM BLOWS

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Seriously, just putting it out there. I hate comment spam. BUG OFF PEOPLE! SPAMBOTS! Whatever you are!
BLECH

Points of Power: Discover a Spirit-Filled Life of Joy and Purpose

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!


Today's Wild Card author is:


and the book:


Points of Power: Discover a Spirit-Filled Life of Joy and Purpose

FaithWords (January 5, 2010)

***Special thanks to Valerie M. Russo of Hachette Book Group for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



Yolanda Adams is listed among the artists who have achieved the greatest critical and commercial success in blending R&B styles with gospel music. She has released twelve albums, two of which were certified platinum, one gold, and has won over twenty awards for her music. She currently hosts The Yolanda Adams Morning Show and makes her home in Houston. You can find out more about Yolanda at

Visit the author's website.

Product Details:

List Price: $19.99
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: FaithWords (January 5, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446545783
ISBN-13: 978-0446545785

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:


Wednesday, January 27, 2010

How Important Is My Middle Finger? Because It HURTS!!!!!

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I cut my finger somehow while at work today. I don't even know how I cut it exactly. Yes, I was using a scissor which has of course a scissorish sharp edge, but I didn't do anything weird. I didn't slip. I didn't feel a jab or anything of the sort. I didn't even know I cut my finger until I went into the kitchen to get tea and saw that my finger was bleeding. It didn't even sting! How does a cut not sting? Actually it did sting. It stung like crazy AFTER I saw the cut. Apparently my brain operates on visual cues.


The reason I mention this at all is, because I now am having a heck of a time with my hand, and I am just annoyed. It isn't that I am just looking for something to write! I swear it isn't. It is just aggravating, and I really needed to share. It is kind of a P.I.T.A. to even type this. It is just funny how you don't know how important something is or how much it impacts other things until it isn't working the way it should or it is gone.



Anyway my finger hurts, I need to write (I have to work on stuff for work tomorrow), and I need to cook. How do I cut up french fries with this snaggy finger? AND...I hate handling meat when I have a cut on my hand. I feel like I need to wash it about two dozen times or more. Maybe I can baggy up my hand or something.



Oh well...off to curse my middle finger. :)

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher - Book Review



I picked up Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher about six our eight months ago at Costco. I read it right away, but I chose not to blog my review too quickly.

A Bit About The Book:


Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker--his classmate and crush--who committed suicide two weeks earlier. On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.


Check out the website: Thirteen Reasons Why

My Review:

"Thirteen Reasons Why" is one of those books that drew me in from the back cover. I really thought the premise was intriguing. It was a compelling but difficult read emotionally. I kept hoping that somehow things would change for Hannah, a girl who I could so easily relate to. I know many girls who have been in Hannah's shoes. I had been there. I think many teenagers can relate to the pain that Hannah went through. I also think that many have probably added a little salt into some wounds here and there. I see this as a story that gives the readers an opportunity to see how seemingly simple happenings can work together for good or not so good.

Seeing how each incident brought Hannah closer to the choice she made is something that I think can be a helpful read for a teen, but more so if shared with an adult who is willing to talk about the issues that come up. I think there are many points that should be discussed as well as alternatives to each reaction and to each action. Also it is important to note that anyone can take their life. No one is immune to stings and barbs.

I definitely got a lot out of this book and though long out of high school, am very glad I read it. This is a book that could really go a long way. I wildly recommend it!

Monday, January 25, 2010

Menu Plan Monday - January 25th and beyond


I am posting this kind of late, and I really have no idea why. I just love Menu Plan Mondays. I know you would too. Check it out at I'm an Organizing Junkie! Last week I stuck to our menu plan, but forgot to come back to say what we made on Wednesday for my son's menu day. Alex took a while and actually my husband had dental work so we pushed Alex's menu day down to Thursday and bumped up our Mahi Mahi Tacos. The tacos were really good! The roast was awesome and it really was nice to be able to turn the left overs into a simple beef stroganoff (though the recipe I had needed more sour cream).


This Saturday I picked up my order from Angel Food Ministries. I am specifically going to try to incorporate what I received for my $32 (30 for the food and I think 2 for the service). The food you get from Angel Food Ministries is suppose to feed a family of four for a week. My husband took a picture of the food for me, and I am going to try to add that when he gets home.


MONDAY
Breaded Chicken Patty Parmesan with spaghetti (chicken patties came in the Angel Food package).

TUESDAY

Beef Stroganoff left over from last week with green salad and wheat rolls (from Angel Food).


WEDNESDAY

Sloppy Joes (with the 1 pound of hamburger from Angel Food) along with homemade
french fries (using some of the 3 pounds of russet potatoes from Angel Food) but baking not frying.

THURSDAY

Small
Garlicky Pot Roast I am using a much smaller roast than the recipe calls for. I received a 1.5 pound roast from Angel Food so I am incorporating it into this recipe. We will also have mashed potatoes (using potatoes from Angel Food), and corn (Angel Food) and pumpkin pie (also from Angel Food).

FRIDAY

Roasted chicken breasts (Angel Food) with stuffing and carrots (carrots from Angel Food).

SATURDAY Beef Macaroni (premade package from Angel Food) with salad

SUNDAY
Baby Back Ribs (using pre-seasoned ribs from Angel Food), corn (Angel Food) and wheat rolls (Angel Food).

Monday Mayhem - I am exhausted from trying

the 3 minute meme

[ Saturday, January 23, 2010 | 0 comments ]
Welcome to Monday Mayhem- the place where nothing matters and we can all have fun on a Monday.
Today's meme is the 3 minute meme. In this meme you have 3 minutes to complete the prompts. No cheating! Answer with the first thing that comes to mind.





Ready-set-go



1. What color socks do you have on? (no peaking)

Black knee socks with little skulls and cross bones on them in an argyle pattern.


2. What color underwear do you have on?

Bright Yellow


3. What did you eat for breakfast this morning?

Oatmeal with cinnamon

4. Who is the most annoying person on TV?

Katie Couric

5. When was the last time you kissed someone?

5 minutes ago


6. What 'starlet' has had too much plastic surgery?

Barry Mannilow

7. What ingredients would you use to make a home made pizza?

Premade dough, sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella and peppers.

8. Who won the World Series last year?

The Yankees


9. What is your weather like?

Cold. No more snow though.

10. Visit Thom's Blog and steal an image to post here.








11. Visit GlitterBabe's Art Shop or her blog and 'borrow' a drawing or an image to show off here.





12. Visit Bud's Blog and steal a meme question to ask right here.





4. If you could take the train from anywhere to anywhere, where would 'anywhere' be? Right now I'd settle for any city in this country that you wouldn't freeze your ass off. I'll go with San Diego. I've never been there and my son James has called it home since the summer of '06.

Might as well give some face time to Bud's son's band. Am I supposed to answer the question?
















How long did it take you to complete this meme?

A LONG TIME. About 5 1/2 minutes. I was doing great until all the running around from blog to blog. :)


Sunday, January 24, 2010

Sunday Stealing - The Negativity Meme



Today we ripped this meme off blogger named Flea from the blog Flea's World. She states that she stole it at Warty Mammal. But, it was probably stolen there as well. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Tracing back our theft's thieves might take some time. Link back to us at Sunday Stealing!

Cheers to all of us thieves!

Sunday Stealing: The Negativity Meme


Foods which disgust the crap out of me:

Scalloped potatoes (my mom made them a lot when I was a kid, and they disgust me simply because they are too rich) or anything covered in cheese. I should say that I like nachos and I like pizza. Certain foods are fine with cheese in my opinion. WAIT!!!! You know what I really hate? Well, I have never tasted it, but when I look at it, I kind of throw up in the back of my throat a little. It is the KFC chicken bowl thing. In general, it is kind of like a KFC shepherd's pie, but they add freaking cheese. I just simply cannot get behind this. I think that sometimes you just need to say no to cheese.

TV show I loathe:

I haven't seen it yet, but I am thinking I am going to hate Survivor Heroes vs Villains. This is mainly because I really like Survivor, but I am really tired of specific players and do not care to see them any more. I just think that they have gotten more than their share of their 15 minutes. I am sure that in the real world some of these people are probably not horrible. Then again, maybe they are. I simply do not care to see them on Survivor again. I got to wonder who picks these returning contestants, because so many times there are definitely people I would like to see again, but it never happens. *sigh* Honestly, I am not sure if I can watch this next round.

Movie I loathe:

Silent Hill

I am a huge horror fan. I love scary movies and thrillers. This movie drove me batty. It was like watching a very long Tool video. Here is a clip that kind of makes my point of why I didn't like it (if you watch it don't stop until the nurses get moving at least) and why it was like a Tool video. If you know who Tool is anyway.




Music genres I loathe:

There is a certain type of country music that I am not fond of. I can't think of any of the songs other than "Sideways" by Dierks Bentley. I don't even not like Dierks Bentley. I just hate that song. I hate the video even more. It bugs me. Nothing personal meant by this if you do like it. More power to ya. I honestly do not want to see fist pumping country acts. That is just how I am.

Magazine which annoys me:

Cosmopolitan.

I started reading Cosmo when I was like 17. I learned everything that it could teach me in about three years. It simply does nothing for me anymore. The information is just way to recycled. Oh I also hate magazines that continually talk about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's relationship meltdown and anything related to that. I am pretty sure we all are wise to their BS.

Makes me cranky at restaurant:

I am rarely cranky at restaurants. I simply do not get to go to them enough in order to get cranky about anything happening around me. OOOOH!!!! Wait! I hate that the wine glasses are now freakin' goblets which makes it look like I am totally getting the short end of the stick on wine. This usually makes me order more which gets me drunk, because I can handle my beer and my mixed drinks, but I cannot handle wine.


Makes me cranky in public:

People who gab on their cell phones constantly while basically ignoring the person they are with.

Makes me cranky in general:

People who drive like asses.

EXAMPLE:

I live off of a little two-lane highway. Many people do in my area. We have to wait for traffic to go by before we can enter the road, because more often than not, there is a freakin' parade of cars that drive in the right lane rather than the left lane. This is not a metropolitan area. Most of the people who travel this little highway are people who live in the general vicinity. They see a line of us waiting to get out, but give us the whole "screw ya" and travel enmass in the right lane. I understand not getting over if you simply can't as there is someone in the left lane, but there will be like ten cars in a row who could move over but choose not to. I hate starting my commute getting pissed off over this.

I also hate people who use an exit lane as a passing lane, and the dorks who let them.

Really, driving in my town is a nightmare plain and simple. I never thought I'd miss driving back East.

Pisses me off at home:

I have some creepy neighbors. They don't piss me off as much as kind of creep me out. They are just a little on the weird side. They have little warning signs on their doors and when you drive by them, they look at you like they are part of the cast of Deliverance. Seriously, you can almost hear the banjos.

Pisses me off at work:

When I first arrive at work, I have a pile of stuff to do. It takes me a good hour to get certain tasks taken care of in the morning. I work from 7:45 am to 2:00 pm four days a week. When I come in the door on Tuesday, I have to hit the ground running as I have a lot of work to take care of. Literally I am busy the entire time I am at the office from simply answering the phones to working on finding and booking guests for our Monday morning interview program, lining up volunteers for our concerts and pledge drives, entering information into our database, doing show prep for my on air spot on Thursdays, checking our station's Myspace page, and taking calls for song requests or questions about songs. People call me and think they can just take up 20 minutes of my time at a time because I am a receptionist. They know about my on air work and other prep that I am doing, but they seem to think that if they do not hear the phone ring, I can just shoot the breeze with them! Then when the phone does ring, they wont shut the heck up so I can get it. They just say "Oh I'll let you go, I hear your phone ringing" but they don't shut up! They proceed to say how they appreciate my listening to them and blah blah blah, meanwhile my system goes to voice mail if not picked up by the second ring! DRIVES ME CRAZY! I am not speaking about family either. These are listeners. I love to talk to them, but not the moment I walk in and certainly not for 20 minutes at a stretch.

Pisses me off in general:

When people call my cell rather than my home phone or work phone depending on where I am. I hate having to hunt down my cell phone at home or work, and I certainly do not like talking on my cell phone when I am at the front desk. It looks shabby.

Makes me impatient at home:

Waiting to use the one bathroom we have, but what can you do?

Makes me impatient at work:

When someone uses the bathroom in the front foyer and they spray Lysol or something else designed to clear up stink but really only clouds it over with a fragrance that is more often than not overly sweet and strong. Please...just turn on the fan and shut the door. Heck, light a match even!



Makes me impatient in public:

Grocery shopping behind a person who parks their cart in one part of the aisle and proceeds to block most of the remaining space with their bod basically standing beside their cart covering the aisle completely as they look oh so slowly at what is on the shelves. For a nice definition look at this link at Urban Dictionary - Aisle Whore

Celebrity I hate:

I can't even come up with a celebrity I like. Okay...I lie. I like a few. The rest simply do not concern me enough to conjure up hate.

Music artist I hate:

Madonna annoys the crap out of me. It all began with her fake British accent, and snowballed from there.

I could care less about:

Trista and Ryan Sutter. I should not know their names at this point, let alone anything else about their lives, but every year or so they are on People magazine. OOOOH I hate you People!

Annoys the crap out of me weekdays:

That I DVR two soaps and one is recycling the same freaking storyline again. I am just glad that I do use the DVR, because I get to fast forward through the tripe.

Annoys the crap out of me weekends:

They end.

Blogger's habit that annoys you:

? I simply do not get the point of this question and that annoys me.

Feature on your blog you hate:

I don't have a feature. I just go.

Movie star you despise:

Will Smith. No, not really, I just picked the first name that came to me.

Politician that you hate:

I don't hate any politician. I may hate their policies and their views, but I don't hate any one politician.

Join in if you dare!

Sunday Stealing

Saturday, January 23, 2010

NoiseTrade Matthew Perryman Jones

About four or so years ago, I was banging around Myspace, and I stumbled on Matthew Perryman Jones. His album Throwing Punches in the Dark immediately became my MUST HAVE music CD (I also love Swallow the Sea but Throwing Punches in the Dark is my first fave). Refuge is still one of my most favorite songs. I still am absolutely crazy about him, and absolutely thrilled when I hear any piece of his music out there. If you haven't checked him out, here is a great opportunity through Noise Trade. I highly recommend you give Matthew Perryman Jones a serious listen. He has some amazing music out there.









I LOVE FREE THINGS


I think it all began when I was about 4 years old and would climb under the booth when we went to restaurants. Booths were always a great place to find money. Kind of like the couch or your washer. Because money was tight when I was growing up (still is really), we didn't dine out often, but when we did, the last thing I would do before we left was slide down under the booth and see if anyone dropped any change. I discovered this hidden treasure when I had dropped a spoon and went down to retrieve it. I don't recall exactly what I found as far as the actually cash value, but it must have been a delight to me, because I NEVER left an eatery without looking for more coin. Anyway, my point is I love freebies. I like them for several reasons. I like the try before you buy idea. If I don't like something, I am not losing by getting a free sample, but if I do like it, yay for me and for the company. Here are a few freebies that I thought I would share with anyone who might pop by.
Free Samples of Sun Crystals
One of these days, I am going to get myself a Stevia plant. I keep hearing how great it is for an alternative to sugar. Try this sample out and see what you think. :)
Free Mariani Dried Plums
I have never tried Mariani Dried Plums. They say they are a super fruit. My experience with dried plums in the past have not been as frightening as I thought. Seriously, I always thought these were best for older individuals or little ones. Then again, I am 42 now. Getting up there. Enter this code for your sample: ADSUPER Thanks to Arlana's Corner for this heads up!
Ten Song Downloads from Spin's 10 Artists to Watch
Free music is always a big thing for me. I thrive on Amazons music downloads. Since I work at a Christian radio station, it gives me the opportunity to hear music that I may not ordinarily get to check out.
Christian Music Downloads from Gotee Records
- They have music downloads for Abandon Kansas, Ayiesha Woods (saw her at Women of Faith, and she was amazing), B. Reith, Reliant K, Storyside:B, I Am Terrified, Stephanie Smith, House of Heroes, John Reuben, Family Force 5, and more. Seriously check it out. One thing...YOU DO HAVE TO BE A MEMBER (free). I joined ages ago, and I never have a problem. I love getting their music news.
FIRE - Rock Your Face Off For Jesus
Yep another download. I like it. As the title states, this is some Christian Rock. I hope you check it out. This is definitely the kind of music I like to listen to in the car. :) You can get little previews before downloading too. :) They really don't go far from the intro though. Okay...I am outa here. :)

Friday, January 22, 2010

Be Authentic by Warren Wiersbe

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!


Today's Wild Card author is:


and the book:


Be Authentic

David C. Cook; New edition (January 1, 2010)

***Special thanks to Audra Jennings – The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


A man who has given his life to a deep examination of the Word of God, Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe is an internationally known Bible teacher, former pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago and the author of more than 150 books. For over thirty years, millions have come to rely on the timeless wisdom of Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe’s “Be” Commentary series. Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary and insights on Scripture have helped readers understand and apply God’s Word with the goal of life transformation. Dubbed by many as the “pastor’s pastor,” Dr. Wiersbe skillfully weaves Scripture with historical explanations and thought-provoking questions, communicating the Word in such a way that the masses grasp its relevance for today.

Product Details:

List Price: $12.99
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook; New edition (January 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1434766306
ISBN-13: 978-1434766304

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:


Like Father , Like Son—Almost

(Genesis 25—26)


Isaac was the son of a famous father (Abraham) and the father of a famous son (Jacob), and for those reasons he is sometimes considered a lightweight among the patriarchs. Compared to the exploits of Abraham and Jacob, Isaac’s life does seem conventional and commonplace. Although he lived longer than either Abraham or Jacob, only six chapters are devoted to Isaac’s life in the Genesis record, and only one verse in Hebrews 11 (v. 9).


Isaac was a quiet, meditative man (Gen. 24:63), who would rather pack up and leave than confront his enemies. During his long life, he didn’t travel far from home. Abraham had made the long journey from Haran to Canaan, and had even visited Egypt, and Jacob went to Haran to get a wife, but Isaac spent his entire adult life moving around in the land of Canaan. If there had been an ancient Middle East equivalent to our contemporary “jet set,” Isaac wouldn’t have joined it.


However, there are more Isaacs in this world than there are Abrahams or Jacobs, and these people make important contributions to society and to the church, even if they don’t see their names in lights or even in the church bulletin. Furthermore, Isaac was a living part of the divine plan that eventually produced the Jewish nation, gave us the Bible, and brought Jesus Christ into the world, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of.


Isaac wasn’t a failure; he was just different. After all, the people in each generation have to find themselves and be themselves and not spend their lives slavishly trying to imitate their ancestors. “Men are born equal,” wrote psychiatrist Erich Fromm in Escape from Freedom, “but they are also born different.” Discovering our uniqueness and using it to the glory of God is the challenge that makes life what it is. Why be a cheap imitation when you can be a valuable original?


No generation stands alone, because each new generation is bound to previous generations whether we like it or not. Isaac was bound to Abraham and Sarah by ties that couldn’t be ignored or easily broken. Let’s look at some of those ties and discover what they teach us about our own life of faith today.


HE RECEIVED HIS FATHE R’S INHERITANCE (25:1–18)


Abraham recognized his other children by giving them gifts and sending them away, thereby making sure they couldn’t supplant Isaac as the rightful heir. Along with his father’s immense wealth (13:2; 23:6), Isaac also inherited the covenant blessings that God had given Abraham and Sarah (12:1–3; 13:14–18; 15:1–6). Isaac had parents who believed God and, in spite of occasional mistakes, tried to please Him.


Abraham’s firstborn son, Ishmael (chap. 16), wasn’t chosen to be the child of promise and the heir of the covenant blessings. God promised to bless Ishmael and make him a great nation, and He kept His promise (17:20–21; 25:12–16); “But my covenant will I establish with Isaac” (17:21;

Rom. 9:6–13). Ishmael was on hand for his father’s funeral (Gen. 25:9), but he wasn’t included in the reading of his father’s will.


Ishmael pictures the “natural” or unsaved person (1 Cor. 2:14), who is outside the faith and hostile to the things of God. But Isaac pictures those who have trusted Jesus Christ and experienced the miraculous new birth by the power of God (1 Peter 1:22–23). “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise” (Gal. 4:28). Ishmael was born a slave, but Isaac was born free (4:21–31; 5:1–2); and Ishmael was born poor, but Isaac was born rich. Every believer in Jesus Christ shares all the blessings of the Spirit in Christ (Eph. 1:3) and is part of Christ’s glorious inheritance (vv. 11, 18).


From the moment of birth, we’re all dependent on the older generation to care for us until we can care for ourselves. We’re also indebted to previous generations for guarding and handing down to us the knowledge, skills, traditions, and culture that are extremely important to daily life. Imagine what life would be like if each new generation had to devise the alphabet, invent printing, discover electricity, or design the wheel!


The most important part of Isaac’s legacy wasn’t the great material wealth his father had left him. Isaac’s most important legacy was the spiritual wealth from his father and mother: knowing and trusting the true and living God and being a part of the covenant blessings that God had graciously bestowed upon Abraham and Sarah and their descendants. How tragic it is when the children of devout Christian believers turn their backs on their priceless spiritual heritage and, like Ishmael and Esau, live for the world and the flesh instead of for the Lord!



HE PRAYED TO HIS FATHER’S GOD (25:19–34)


Genesis is a record of ten successive “generations.” Generations come and go, but the Lord remains and never changes. “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations” (Ps. 90:1 NKJV).


A devoted home (vv. 19–20). When Isaac was forty years old, God selected Rebekah to be his wife (chap. 24; 25:20), and we have every reason to believe that they were both devoted to the Lord and to each other. The record indicates that Rebekah was the more aggressive of the two when it came to family matters, but perhaps that’s just the kind of wife Isaac needed. Whatever mistakes Isaac may have made as a husband and father, this much is true: As a young man, he willingly put himself on the altar to obey his father and to please the Lord (chap. 22; Rom. 12:1–2).


A disappointed home (v. 21). Isaac and Rebekah waited twenty years for a family, but no children came. The entire book of Genesis emphasizes the sovereignty of God and the wisdom of His “delays.” Abraham and Sarah had to wait twenty-five years for Isaac to be born; Jacob had to labor fourteen years to obtain his two wives; and Joseph had to wait over twenty years before he was reconciled to his brothers. Our times are in His hands (Ps. 31:15), and His timing is never wrong.


Like Abraham, Isaac was a man of prayer, so he interceded with the Lord on behalf of his barren wife. Isaac had every right to ask God for children because of the covenant promises the Lord had made to his father and mother, promises Isaac had heard repeated in the family circle and that he believed. If Rebekah remained barren, how could Abraham’s seed multiply as the dust of the earth and the stars of the heavens? How could Abraham’s seed become a blessing to the whole world (Gen. 12:1–3; 13:16; 15:5; 17:6)?


It has well been said that the purpose of prayer is not to get our will done in heaven but to get God’s will done on earth. Even though every Jewish couple wanted children, Isaac wasn’t praying selfishly. He was concerned about God’s plan for fulfilling His covenant and blessing the whole world through the promised Messiah (3:15; 12:1–3). True prayer means being concerned about God’s will, not our own wants, and claiming God’s promises in the Word. The Lord answered Isaac’s prayer and enabled Rebekah to conceive.


A distressed home (vv. 22–23). One problem soon led to another, because Rebekah’s pregnancy was a difficult one: The babies in her womb were struggling with each other. The Hebrew word means “to crush or oppress,” suggesting that the fetal movements were not normal. Since Rebekah wondered if the Lord was trying to say something to her, she went to inquire. Isaac was fortunate to have a wife who not only knew how to pray, but who also wanted to understand God’s will for herself and her children.


In salvation history, the conception and birth of children is a divinely ordained event that has significant consequences. This was true of the birth of Isaac (chaps. 18, 21), the twelve sons of Jacob (29:30—30:24), Moses (Ex. 1—2), Samuel (1 Sam. 1—2), David (Ruth 4:17–22), and our Lord Jesus Christ (Gal. 4:4–5). Conception, birth, and death are divine appointments, not human accidents, a part of God’s wise and loving plan for His own people (Ps. 116:15; 139:13–16).


Imagine Rebekah’s surprise when she learned that the two children would struggle with each other all their lives! Each child would produce a nation, and these two nations (Edom and Israel) would compete, but the younger would master the older. Just as God had chosen Isaac, the second-born, and not Ishmael, the firstborn, so He chose Jacob, the second-born, and not Esau, the firstborn. That the younger son should rule the elder was contrary to human tradition and logic, but the sovereign God made the choice (Rom. 9:10–12), and God never makes a mistake.


A divided home (vv. 24–28). Esau probably means “hairy.” He also had the nickname “Edom,” which means “red,” referring to his red hair and the red lentil soup Jacob sold him (vv. 25, 30). The twin boys not only looked different but they also were different in personality. Esau

was a robust outdoorsman, who was a successful hunter, while Jacob was a “home boy.” You would think that Isaac would have favored Jacob, since both of them enjoyed domestic pursuits, but Jacob was Rebekah’s favorite. Rebekah was a hands-on mother who knew what was going on in the home and could contrive ways to get what she thought was best.


It’s unfortunate when homes are divided because parents and children put their own personal desires ahead of the will of God. Isaac enjoyed eating the tasty game that Esau brought home, a fact that would be important in later family history (chap. 27). Isaac, the quiet man, fulfilled his dreams in Esau, the courageous man, and apparently ignored the fact that his elder son was also a worldly man. Did Isaac know that Esau had forfeited his birthright? The record doesn’t tell us. But he did know that God had chosen the younger son over the elder son.


A friend of mine kept a card under the glass on his office desk that read: “Faith is living without scheming.” Jacob could have used that card. Before his birth, he had been divinely chosen to receive the birthright and the blessing; thus there was no need for him to scheme and take advantage of his brother. It’s likely that Jacob had already seen plenty of evidence that Esau didn’t care about spiritual things, an attitude that made Esau unfit to receive the blessing and accomplish God’s will. Perhaps Jacob and his mother had even discussed the matter.


The name “Jacob” comes from a Hebrew word (yaaqob) that means “may God protect,” but because it sounds like the words aqeb (“heel”) and aqab (“watch from behind” or “overtake”), his name became a nickname: “he grasps the heel” or “he deceives.” Before birth, Jacob and Esau had contended, and at birth, Jacob grasped his brother’s heel. This latter action was interpreted to mean that Jacob would trip up his brother and take advantage of him. The prediction proved true.


The fact that God had already determined to give the covenant blessings to Jacob didn’t absolve anybody in the family from their obligations to the Lord. They were all responsible for their actions, because divine sovereignty doesn’t destroy human responsibility. In fact, knowing that we’re the chosen of God means we have a greater responsibility to do His will.



HE FACED HIS FATHER’S TEMPTATIONS (26:1–11)


True faith is always tested, either by temptations within us or trials around us (James 1:1–18), because a faith that can’t be tested can’t be trusted. God tests us to bring out the best in us, but Satan tempts us to bring out the worst in us. In one form or another, each new generation must experience the same tests as previous generations, if only to discover that the enemy doesn’t change and that human nature doesn’t improve. Abraham is mentioned eight times in this chapter, and you find the word “father” six times. Isaac was very much his father’s son. Abraham Lincoln was right: “We can not escape history.”


The temptation to run (vv. 1–6). When Abraham arrived in Canaan, he found a famine in the land and faced his first serious test of faith (12:10—13:4). His solution was to abandon the place God had chosen for him, the place of obedience, and to run to Egypt, thus establishing a bad example for his descendants who were prone to imitate him.5 The safest place in the world is in the will of God, for the will of God will never lead us where His grace can’t provide for us. Unbelief asks, “How can I get out of this,” while faith asks, “What can I get out of this?”


When Isaac faced the problem of a famine, he decided to go to Gerar, the capital city of the Philistines, and get help from Abimelech.6 Isaac and Rebekah were probably living at Beer Lahai Roi at that time (25:11), which means they traveled about seventy-five miles northeast to get to Gerar. Even after arriving in Gerar, Isaac and Rebekah may have been tempted to go south to Egypt, though God had warned them not to consider that possibility.


God permitted Isaac to remain in Philistia and promised to bless him. God had promised Abraham that his descendants would be greatly multiplied and one day would possess all those lands. Thus Isaac had a right to be there as long as God approved (12:2–3; 13:16; 15:5; 17:3–8; 22:15–18). God blessed Isaac for Abraham’s sake (25:5, 24), just as He has blessed believers today for the sake of Jesus Christ.


We can never successfully run away from trials, because God sees to it that His children learn the lessons of faith regardless of where they go. We can never grow in faith by running from difficulty, because “tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character” (Rom.

5:3–4 NKJV). Like David, we may wish we had “wings like a dove” so we could “fly away and be at rest” (Ps. 55:6 NKJV), but if we did, we’d always be doves when God wants us to “mount up with wings as eagles” (Isa. 40:31).


The temptation to lie (vv. 7–11). Isaac could flee from famine, but when he put himself into a situation that offered no escape, he had to turn to deception to protect himself. Abraham committed this same sin twice, once in Egypt (Gen. 12:14–20) and once in Philistia (chap. 20). Remember, faith is living without scheming, and telling lies seems to be one of humanity’s favorite ways to escape responsibility.


Isaac was asked about the woman who was with him and, like his father Abraham before him, he said she was his sister. But when Abimelech saw Isaac caressing Rebekah, he knew she was his wife. Why did Isaac lie? Because he was afraid his pagan host would kill him in order to obtain his beautiful wife. His lie was evidence of his unbelief, for if he had claimed the covenant promise when he prayed for children (25:21), why couldn’t he claim that same covenant promise to protect himself and his wife?


The English poet John Dryden wrote, “Truth is the foundation of all knowledge and the cement of all societies.” When people don’t keep their word, the foundations of society begin to shake and things start to fall apart. Happy homes, lasting friendships, thriving businesses, stable governments, and effective churches all depend on truth for their success. The American preacher Phillips Brooks said, “Truth is always strong, no matter how weak it looks; and falsehood is always weak, no matter how strong it looks.” Truth is cement; falsehood is whitewash.


When he found himself in difficulty, Isaac was tempted to run and to lie, and we face these same temptations today. Isaac succumbed to temptation and was found out. It’s a sad day when unconverted people like Abimelech publicly expose God’s servants for telling lies. What an embarrassment to the cause of truth!


HE DUG AGAIN HIS FATHER’S WELLS (26:12–35)

Isaac inherited flocks and herds from his father, who had lived a nomadic life, but now the wealthy heir settled down and became a farmer, remaining in Gerar “a long time” (v. 8).


The blessing (vv. 12–14). Isaac and his neighbors had access to the same soil, and they depended on the same sunshine and rain, but Isaac’s harvests were greater than theirs, and his flocks and herds multiplied more abundantly. The secret? God kept His promise and blessed Isaac in all that he did (vv. 3–5). God would give a similar blessing to Jacob years later (chap. 31).


But Isaac was a deceiver! How could the Lord bless somebody who claimed to be a believer and yet deliberately lied to his unbelieving neighbors? Because God is always faithful to His covenant and keeps His promises (2 Tim. 2:11–13), and the only condition God attached to His promise of blessing was that Isaac remain in the land and not go to Egypt.


God also blessed Isaac because of Abraham’s life and faith (Gen. 26:5), just as He blesses us for the sake of Jesus Christ. We’ll never know until we get to heaven how many of our blessings have been “dividends” from the spiritual investments made by godly friends and family who have gone before.


The conflict (vv. 14–17). In spite of his material blessings, Isaac still suffered because of his lie, because the blessings he received brought burdens and battles to his life. Seeing his great wealth, the Philistines envied him and decided he was a threat to their safety. (A similar

situation would occur when the Jews multiplied in Egypt. See Ex. 1:8ff.)


“The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it” (Prov. 10:22 NKJV). Had Isaac not lied about his wife, God would not have disciplined him but would have given him peace with his neighbors (Prov. 16:7). Because of his sin, however, Isaac’s material blessings

caused him trouble.


The Philistines tried to get Isaac to leave their land and settle elsewhere, and to encourage this they stopped up Abraham’s wells and deprived Isaac’s flocks and herds of the water they desperately needed. Water was a precious commodity in the Near East, and adequate wells were necessary if you were to succeed in the land. The crisis came when the king commanded Isaac to move away, and Isaac obeyed.


The search (vv. 18–22). No matter where Isaac journeyed, the enemy followed him and confiscated his father’s wells and also the new wells that Isaac’s servants dug. To find a well of “springing water” (v. 19) was a special blessing, for it guaranteed fresh water at all times, but the Philistines took that well, too. The names of the new wells that Isaac’s men dug reveal the

problems that he had with his neighbors, for Esek means “contention,” and Sitnah means “hatred.” But Rehoboth means “enlargement” because Isaac finally found a place where he was left alone and had room enough for his camp and his flocks and herds.


Whenever Abraham had a problem with people, he boldly confronted them and got the matter settled, whether it was his nephew Lot (13:5–18), the invading kings (chap. 14), Hagar and Ishmael (21:9ff.), or the Philistines (vv. 22ff.). But Isaac was a retiring man who wanted to avoid confrontation. Since he was a pilgrim, he could move his camp and be a peacemaker.


In every difficult situation of life, we must use discernment to know whether God wants us to be confronters like Abraham or peacemakers like Isaac, for God can bless and use both approaches. “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom. 12:18 NKJV). Sometimes it isn’t possible, but at least we should try, and we must depend on the wisdom from above that is “pure” and “peaceable” (James 3:17).


Looking at Isaac’s experience from a spiritual point of view, we can learn an important lesson. In the Bible, wells sometimes symbolize blessings from the hand of the Lord (Gen. 16:14; 21:19; 49:22; Ex. 15:27; Num. 21:16–18; Prov. 5:15; 16:22; 18:4; Song 4:15; Isa. 12:3; John 4:14).9 The church keeps looking for something new, when all we need is to dig again the old wells of spiritual life that God’s people have depended on from the beginning—the Word of God, prayer, worship, faith, the power of the Spirit, sacrifice, and service—wells that we’ve allowed the enemy to fill up. Whenever there’s been a revival of spiritual power in the history of the church, it’s been because somebody has dug again the old wells so that God’s life-giving Spirit can be free to work.


The assurance (vv. 23–25). Beersheba was a very special place for Isaac, because there his father had entered into a covenant with the Philistine leaders (21:22ff.). Beersheba means “the well of the oath.” The Lord comes to us with His assuring Word just when we need encouragement (Acts 18:9–11; 23:11; 27:23–24; 2 Tim. 2:19). No matter who is against us, God is with us and for us (Gen. 28:15; 31:3; Rom. 8:31–39), and there’s no need for us to be afraid. In response to God’s gracious word of promise, Isaac built an altar and worshipped the Lord. He was ready to meet his adversaries.


Like his father Abraham, Isaac was identified by his tent and altar (Gen. 26:25; see also 12:7–8; 13:3–4, 18). Isaac was wealthy enough to be able to build himself a fine house, but his tent identified him as a pilgrim and stranger in the land (Heb. 11:8–10, 13–16). A fugitive is fleeing from home; a vagabond has no home; a stranger is away from home; but a pilgrim is heading home. The tent identified Isaac as a pilgrim, and the altar announced that he worshipped Jehovah and was heading to the heavenly kingdom.


Like Isaac, all who have trusted Jesus Christ are strangers in this world and pilgrims heading for a better world (1 Peter 1:1; 2:11). The body we live in is our tent; one day it will be taken down and we’ll go to the heavenly city (2 Cor. 5:1–8). Life here is brief and temporary, because this tent is fragile, but our glorified body will be ours for eternity (Phil. 3:20–21; 1 John 3:1–3). While we’re here on earth, let’s be sure we build the altar and give our witness that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.


The agreement (vv. 26–33). Isaac’s strategy paid off, because the Philistine leaders came to him to settle the matter of the property rights (21:22ff.). Fortified by God’s promises, Isaac was much bolder in his approach, and he confronted the Philistines with their misdeeds. It’s worth noting that Isaac’s conduct during this conflict made a great impression on them, and they could tell that the Lord was richly blessing him. More important than possessing his wells was the privilege Isaac had of sharing his witness with his pagan neighbors. (For a contrasting situation, see 1 Cor. 6:1–8.)


Isaac and the leaders were able to reach an agreement. To seal the treaty, Isaac hosted a feast, for in that culture, to eat with others was to forge strong links of friendship and mutual support. That same day, Isaac’s servants found one of Abraham’s wells (Gen. 21:25–31) and opened it, and Isaac gave it the original name, Beersheba. “The well of the oath” now referred to Isaac’s treaty as well as Abraham’s.


More conflict (vv. 34–35). Isaac was at peace with his neighbors, but he had war at home. His worldly son Esau had married two heathen wives who caused grief to Isaac and Rebekah. (Later, just to provoke his parents, he married a third heathen wife. See 28:8–9.) In view of Esau’s sinful lifestyle, we wonder that Isaac wanted to give him the patriarchal blessing (chap. 27).


All of us would like to find our Rehoboth (enlargement) where we have plenty of room and no contention, but Isaac’s Rehoboth was found only after he endured conflict. It’s through difficulties that God enlarges us for the larger places He prepares for us. “Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress” (Ps. 4:1). When the troubles of our hearts are enlarged and we trust God, then the Lord can enlarge us (25:17) and bring us “into a large place” (18:19). If we want room, we have to suffer, because that’s the only way we can grow and feel at home in the larger place God gives us when we’re ready for it.



©2010 Cook Communications Ministries. Be Authentic by Warren Wiersbe. Used with permission. May not be further reproduced. All rights reserved.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Repost from My Day Job

Here is a reposting from my day job. :) I figure if I am taking the time to write it, I might as well give it legs. :) If you like Christian music, feel free to check us out. You can find Radio Shine online at www.radioshine.org. We have a really cool music survey group too called Club Radio Active. This group is pretty cool. We send out I think two surveys a month. You listen to the music, give your opinion, and get entered into a drawing for prizes. Each month there is a drawing for three winners out of the people who did the surveys. It is pretty cool. Truly...I wish I could join Club Radio Active. :)


Photobucket

Man oh man! I have to say that this week is not really a great week at the grocery stores. There were a few good deals. Hopefully, you are stocking up on the best deals when they are out there. This is a week that reminds me of why I shop the bargains when I see them and stock them up for leaner shopping weeks. Still, there are a few pretty good deals to share. Today I am starting with my grocery top picks.

Safeway - Remember all coupons are still worth a dollar. I do not know how long that is going to last so be sure to cash in on it while you can.

-- Honey Suckle White Whole Turkey Breast - 99 cents a pound (I am learning to work with all dark meat in my poultry, but back in the day, I would have jumped for this)
-- Broccoli Crowns - 99 cents a pound
-- Yellow Onions 3 pounds for 99 cents

Fry's

-- Quaker Instant or Simple Harvest Oatmeal $1.88 (A dollar printable coupon found here - Thanks to For the Mommas)
-- Boneless Half Pork Loin $1.77 pound
-- Cook's Spiral Half Ham 99 cents a pound

Albertsons

-- Pork Sirloin Chops $1.99 a pound
-- Zucchini 69 cents a pound
-- If you need to stock up on cereal, syrup, granola bars and pancake mix, you will want to check out the deal at Albertsons for several Quaker and Aunt Jemima products.

Buy 7 and each will be $1.88
Aunt Jemima Syrup
Aunt Jemima Complete
Aunt Jemima Buttermilk
Quaker Oatmeal Squares
Quaker Quick Oats
Quaker Instant Oatmeal
Quaker Chewy Granola Bars
Quaker Life Cereal

(Look about online, because you might find more printables)

Don't forget to load up your Cell Fire and Shortcuts.com!

FREEBIES!!!!

Cream of Wheat - If you like a quick instant hot breakfast, Cream of Wheat is your answer. Well...at least the freebie is. Pick the flavor you would like to try.

LINK: Cream of Wheat

FREE MUSIC

Free CCM has downloads currently for Building 429 "Not Gonna Let You Down" and Disciple's "Southern Hospitality."

iTickets.com has a free download of Above the Golden State's song "The Golden Rule."


FREE COUPONS!!!!

I love Betty Crocker's newsletters, I love Betty Crocker's products, and I love their coupon books. There is a new $10 coupon book making the rounds. All you have to do is click on the link and sign up for one of their newsletter deals. Too easy!

Link: Betty Crocker $10 Coupon Book

Thanks to fabulous blogger STL Mommy for this heads up!

FREE EDUCATION

And on to FREE EDUCATION or what I like to refer to as 2010 Self Improvement. It has been one of my goals. You aren't going to get a degree with these education freebies, but you definitely will learn something.

Check out some of the free online education you can get from University of Washington. The website does state that these are courses provided for personal enrichment. Here are a few free courses they offer:

The American Civil War
Energy, Diet & Weight
Hamlet
HTML Basics

This one site had me busy for a while. You can learn some American Sign Language with help from Michigan State University and their American Sign Language browser. They have some awesome free resources! Simply click on Take Me To the ASL Browser. When there, click on the words and watch the recording to learn the signs for those words. It gave me a download option, but rather than dowloading anything, I simply clicked on the link that said "view larger sign language videos on Signing Savvy."

Lastly, you can check out the free Christian based education at Christiancourses.com from RBC Ministries. They have free courses like Old and New Testament Survey, Know Why You Believe, and Christian Apologetics.


Even if you aren't getting college credit, it is so good to always keep learning. Have a wonderful week!

Step Out on Nothing: How Faith and Family Helped Me Conquer Life's Challenges

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!


Today's Wild Card author is:


and the book:


Step Out on Nothing: How Faith and Family Helped Me Conquer Life's Challenges

St. Martin's Press (September 29, 2009)

***Special thanks to Paula Krapf of Author Marketing Experts, Inc. for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


BYRON PITTS was named a contributor to 60 Minutes and chief national correspondent for CBS News in Jan. 2009. Pitts was one of CBS News' lead reporters during the 9/11 attacks and won a national Emmy award for his coverage. As an embedded reporter covering the Iraq War, he was recognized for his work under fire within minutes of the fall of the Saddam statue. Other major stories covered by Pitts include the Chicago train wreck in 1999, for which he received a national Emmy Award, Hurricane Katrina, the war in Afghanistan, the military buildup in Kuwait, the Elian Gonzalez story, the Florida Presidential recount, and the refugee crisis in Kosovo. He garnered recognition as NABJ Journalist of the Year Award in 2002 for his coverage of the 9/11 attacks. He is also the recipient of four Associated Press Awards and six regional Emmy Awards. Pitts graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a B.A. in journalism and speech communication. He lives with his wife in Montclair, N.J.

Visit the author's Facebook Fan Page.

Product Details:

List Price: $24.99
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (September 29, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312577664
ISBN-13: 978-0312577667

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:


New York City


“In five, four, three, two . . .” This wasn't the first time a floor director had ever counted me down, but it was the first time I ever choked back tears. It was August 25, 2006, my first on-camera studio open for the CBS News broadcast 60 Minutes. Moments earlier I'd been in makeup with famed artist Riccie Johnson. She'd done up the likes of Mike Wallace, Harry Reasoner, Morley Safer, Dan Rather, Ed Bradley, Lesley Stahl, Steve Kroft, and every other big-name correspondent who ever worked for 60 Minutes. And the Beatles. And now she was putting powder on me.


Executive Producer Jeff Fager poked his head in the dressing room, "Good luck, Brotha! You've come a long way to get here. You've earned it." I think Jeff was talking about my ten years of covering hurricanes, tornadoes, politics, the September 11 disaster, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and every other sort of story for CBS News during those years.


If he only knew. My mind flashed back to elementary school, when a therapist had informed my mother, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Pitts, your son is functionally illiterate. He cannot read."


Months earlier, another so-called expert had suggested I was mentally retarded. Perhaps there was a "special needs" program right for me. Here I was some three decades later sitting in the "special" chair of the most revered show in the history of broadcast news. Musicians dream of playing Carnegie Hall, astronauts work a lifetime to take their first mission in space, and every broadcast journalist worth his or her salt dreams of 60 Minutes.


Engineers generally keep television studios icy cold to prevent the equipment from overheating. The 60 Minutes studio is no different. But in this age of high-tech sets with massive video walls and graphic trickery, Studio 33, where 60 Minutes is taped, looks more like a throwback. You can almost smell the cigar smoke from decades past. Black-covered walls. Bright lights hanging from the ceiling. There’s one camera and one chair. As a correspondent, you sit in the chair, cross your legs, look into the camera, and tell a story.


"Take two. In three, two, one!"


Seven takes later I finally recorded one that everybody liked. It took a while—not so much to settle my nerves as to get everyone settled in that one chair. Sitting with me were my mother, Clarice Pitts; my grandmother, Roberta MaeWalden; my sister, Saundra; and my brother, Mac. We had made the journey as a family, with the help of a few friends and even a few strangers.


What an overwhelming feeling it was and the symbolism was not lost on me.


That afternoon, to all who could see, I was seated alone. But I knew better. Some thirty-seven years before I would ever hear the phrase "Step Out on Nothing," God was writing those words to cover my life. How many times has each of us been in a difficult place and thought we were alone? Standing on nothing. Perhaps it is only in the empty space of those moments we can truly feel God's breath at our necks. His hands beneath our feet. Step out on nothing? Yes. Step out on faith.


So where did I get the title for this book? Step Out on Nothing. What does it mean and how does it fit into my life? Most important, how do you find the courage to try it?


I first heard those fateful words on a Sunday in March of 2007, Women's Day at St. Paul Baptist Church in Montclair, New Jersey. My wife was excited. She'd helped with the weekend program. Me, not so much. As usual I was running late for service and she was getting annoyed. We arrived at church in time. The place was packed. Women all dressed in white and black. The guest preacher that morning was Reverend Benita Lewis. She began her sermon by talking about the pain women will endure to be beautiful. She talked about pedicures, high-heeled shoes, and women's sore feet. I thought to myself, This is going to be a long service. Nothing here for me. And it got worse. She moved from pedicures to massages and spa treatments. Body wraps to skin treatments. At that point I was drifting away. It felt as if we'd been in church for hours. But Reverend Lewis was just warming up, and I soon discovered that she wasn't speaking only to the women in the congregation. She was telling all of us about overcoming pain and obstacles in our paths. She was talking about a belief in God, a faith so strong that anything is possible. Then Reverend Lewis uttered four words that took my breath away. "Step out on nothing." She encouraged the congregation to "step out on faith" in this journey we call life. To put your life and its challenges in God's hands. To believe in a power greater than yourself.


Step out . . . on nothing . . .


In the time it takes to say those four words, a lifetime flashed before me. She was speaking about my life. How had I overcome my childhood inability to read when I was nearly a teenager? It was my mother stepping out on nothing, despite the doubts she must have had during the nights around the kitchen table when I "just wasn't getting it."


And how do you explain an inner-city kid who stuttered until he was twenty years old becoming a network television news correspondent? Let's start with a college professor who didn't even know my name. She stepped out on nothing and believed in a young man who didn't believe in himself.


Then there's Peter Holthe: a stranger. A college classmate from Minnetonka, Minnesota. "Why's your vocabulary so limited?" he asked. He stayed around to find out why and helped expand it.


Those Franciscan Friars at Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore, Maryland, who heard I was in a gospel choir at a church across town. These were white men who'd never ventured into a black neighborhood or set foot in a Baptist church. They too stepped out on nothing, figuring that being supportive of one of their students after hours might actually make a difference in his life.


We all have those defining moments in our lives. Moments of great joy. Moments of unspeakable sadness and fear. We usually think we're alone. But if we look into the corners of our memories, we'll find them—those people who had faith in us. Those times when a grace beyond earthly understanding touches us.


This is a story of those times. Those people. And the lessons they taught me. We've all had such people in our lives. If not, it's time to find them.


And for me, this story is my "step out on nothing," revealing a childhood shame that I've hidden from all but those who are closest to me, in hopes that my leap of faith will inspire some young child, or even an adult, who is living with a secret. It took me years to discover my shame was actually a source of strength.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Menu Plan Monday - January 18th



This is my third week of Menu Plan Monday, and again I just love it. If you haven't yet, you should totally try it out. Head on over to I'm An Organizing Junkie and see what all the planners are up to! You can seriously get some wonderful ideas! Last week, I made two lemon chicken (loved it), chicken garlic lettuce wraps (amazing!), and a white chicken chili (so easy my son could have made it!). One of the cool things is that I was able to take that one chicken and make three dinners for my husband, son and myself and two lunches for me (left over garlic chicken lettuce wraps), and lunch for my hubs and myself on Sunday (left over white chicken chili). The best part was that for most of the three meals, I already had everything I needed. I spent less than $10 on what I didn't have on hand.

Now on to this week!



MONDAY

Pot Roast
with carrots and mashed potatoes -- This will be a nice treat for my husband to come home to. I feel bad because he has to work tomorrow. :( Poor hubs.

TUESDAY

Beef Stroganoff (using left over pot roast) I am basing it on this recipe, but I am also adding fresh mushrooms, because my husband loves them. :)

WEDNESDAY

Alexander's Pick - This is the first meal my son, Alexander will pick and prepare (with my help). He is searching out the recipes tomorrow. I will be adding a link when he gives me his inspiration.

THURSDAY

Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos (using corn tortillas not flour)

FRIDAY

Spicy grilled chicken breasts with green leaf lettuce salad

SATURDAY

Ranch Beans and Franks

SUNDAY

Barbecue Chicken Pizza