Connection, Acomplishment, and Jam!

A week or so ago I invited a few friends over to learn how to make jam.  They seemed excited about it and were looking forward to learning something new.  All day long I  kept thinking to myself, why did I do this?  This jam isn't difficult to make, the instructions are right in the box.  Why would they want to come here to do something they could so easily do at home?  But the date was set and I was looking forward to forward to seeing them and helping them do something they hadn't done before.
As they arrived we took some time to chat and get better acquainted.  As each woman came she joined into the conversation and we were all getting to know one another better.
We finally moved into the kitchen and I began explaining what to do and had each of them do the steps so they could be familiar with it.  We chatted while we took turns measuring ingredients, checking instructions, mashing berries, heating the syrup, mixing it with the berries and pouring the jam into the jars.  It didn't take long and our mission was accomplished. 
As we talked I shared with them my thoughts of the day - why would they want to come when they could read the instructions for themselves?  Their response was that it was nice to have someone show them and remove the fear of "what if I'm not doing this right?  What if it doesn't turn out?"  Being hesitant myself about trying something new on my own I could understand that.
One of the greatest clues I received concerning the true validity of the evening was when one dear friend said as she left, 'It was so nice to visit and chat with some ladies I don't often get to see and to leave with a sense of accomplishment - her 2 jars of jam!
Connection and accomplishment.  Enjoying friends and sharing in an activity that was beneficial for their families.  Wonderful!
I'm so glad the Lord didn't let me get caught up in my 'off track' thoughts.  I would have ruined a great evening and missed a wonderful lesson!
He knows we need connections with one another - and I'm so glad He reminded me of this.  I can hardly wait until we learn to can peaches together!
Join us if you like - Friday night, July 13th, 7-9pm or Saturday morning, July 14th from 9:30-11:30am.  Contact me if you want to come!

The Purpose of our Families

 There is much talk today about values and high on the priority list of values is the subject of our families.  How are we to raise our children?  How are we to live?  With so many opportunities and so little time, how do we make wise choices about what our families do, or don't do, how we spend our time, etc.?  These are hard questions.
Let me share with you an article I just read that I believe will help us gain a proper perspective.  


"Real help comes when we see that the family exists for a purpose outside itself. Our families are healthy only to the degree that they understand their primary function in this world is not to be fulfilled within themselves. True family solidarity is a by-product of together exalting Christ, obeying His word, and being spiritually vigorous.
The family that knows its spiritual and redemptive purpose does not need external props. It has a supernatural cohesion. Its members have no option but to stay together and build meaningful relationships, not for their own sakes, but because they are compelled by the highest of goals.
Put another way, people who understand that their family’s chief aim is to testify of Christ and His life-changing power have no option to get divorced, commit adultery, abuse one another, or otherwise self-destruct. Do you want to keep your children from rebelling? Begin by teaching them from the earliest age that the family’s most important calling is to exalt the name of Christ in the community by living in obedience to Him.".      Dr. John MacArthur
I do hope this is helpful, dear friends.  We must not lose sight of Whose we are and what He asks of us.
Blessings,
Paulette

Thank you, dear husband!

As I was putting things in order around my home this morning, I thought of how thankful I am to be able to do all the things I do - made possible by a husband who is willing to work hard to take care of his family.  Then I thought of those days where I don't really feel too much like doing those things I know I should do - plan nice meals, make sure the laundry is done, cleaning the house, tend to my appearance, etc.  Sometimes, I even choose not to do what I know I should do....because I can.  My husband, however, doesn't have that choice to make.  He goes to work, whether he feels like it or not, and does his job.  How do I thank him for that.....or, perhaps the better question is, do I thank him for that?  Does he know how much I appreciate what he does, day in and day out, whether he feels like it or not?  This is something I need to work on.  If, as I believe, he is my first human priority, how am I communicating that to him?  It is such a privilage to be at home and care for him and the family God his given us.  I need to refocus and truly see it as a career - which it is - and treat it with the thankfulness and loving care it deserves. 
So, what is my 'action plan'? 
Tell him how much I appreciate him for who he is - all that work he does every day to care for us is an outworking of his character.
Do special things to let him know he is truly my 1st human priority - notes in his lunch, dinners he likes, needs cared for and met, etc.
Making sure he can come home to a 'haven' after those long, hard days at work.
Yes, this will take time, and there are probably a few things I want to do that I will need to put on hold, but they aren't my highest priorities, he is.  And how perfect that this is the season of Valentine's day!!  Have fun with this - I'm going to!  Would anyone like to join me?
I'll be praying we will all be blessings to our husbands - you are all blessings to me!
Paulette

Christmas - Day 25

 Merry Christmas!

Here is the day we have all been thinking about since the beginning of the month.  This is the celebration of Jesus birthday!

As you gather around and begin to give and receive gifts, may I suggest that you pray, even before you open even one gift, and thank the Lord Jesus for everything  He has already given you as well as for the gifts of love you are about to receive?  “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).  “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that no of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works that no one should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

I love you all….have a wonderful celebration!

Blessings.

Christmas - Day 24

Christmas Eve – The reading of the Christmas story

This has always been one of my most favorite times.  Our family gathers around and my husband reads the Christmas story from Luke 2.  We all listen quietly and think about the words he is reading.  We have been doing this for 37 years now, and we never tire of hearing the account of Jesus birth.  What an amazing event.

I hope you all will take the time to do this if you don’t already.  Then after the reading is completed, take some time to talk about what you just heard.  Did you notice something you hadn’t noticed before?  Did something really impress you?  Share your views, questions and insights with one another.  

The Christmas Story brings such wonder - how could it be that God would humble Hiimself, become a man who would give His life on the cross for people who were against Him?  Truly this is beyond our understanding....but though we can't understand, we are forever grateful.  He was born to die - that we might live.  "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

Have a wonderful time rejoicing in this truth,  May your hearts overflow with love and gratitude for Jesus our Lord!

Blessings.

Christmas - Day 23

Share Greetings of Meaning

Merry Christmas!  What does it mean?  Merry means “pleasant” or “Joyful.”  Christmas comes from an old English word which means the “feast of Christ.” 

A “Feast of Christ” was a worship service where people would take bread and wine and celebrate the Lord’s Supper – the last meal He ate with His disciples before He went to the cross.

Why would we remember the death of Jesus on His birthday?    If Jesus hadn’t been born, He couldn’t have died on the cross to take away our sins.  If He hadn’t died on the cross, He couldn’t have risen from the dead and defeated death.  If He hadn’t risen from the dead (His resurrection), there wouldn’t be any reason to celebrate – anything – ever.

Because He did do these things, we can be pleasant and joyful as we remember His great love and sacrifice for us and we can share with others how they, too, can be pleasant and joyful – because of what Jesus has done for them.  We can encourage them to accept His forgiveness and give their lives to Him.  So – let’s be sure to say “Merry Christmas”!

Blessings.

  

Christmas - Day 22

The Christmas Stocking

Do you have a Christmas Stocking hanging someplace in your home at Christmas time?  Well, there is a story that goes with this tradition, too.

A long time ago there was a hard working man who worked as a shoe cobbler and had three daughters. One day, a stranger came into his shop and the cobbler was telling him about his daughters who all wanted to get married but he didn’t have enough money to pay the ‘bride price’ which was expected in those days. 

Some time later as the cobbler and his daughters were at home one evening, an expensive gold coin came in through an open window!  The cobbler ran outside to see where the coin had come from but he didn’t see anyone around.  This would be enough for the first daughter to get married.  This happened again, and again he ran out to see who had thrown the coin….but found no one.  Now the second daughter could be married.  And then, once again, another coin came in through the window.  This time when the cobbler ran out he saw a man hurrying away and called out to him.  To his surprise, it was the stranger who had come into his shop some time before.  The cobbler was so surprised!  He asked the man why he had given so much to his family when they didn’t even know him and didn’t deserve such expensive gifts.  The man replied that he knew what Jesus had done for him by coming to earth and dying on the cross to pay for his sins.  He said he hadn’t deserved that either.  But because Jesus gave him a very expensive gift that he didn’t deserve, he wanted to follow His example and give expensive gifts to others who didn’t deserve them either.  This is how he showed his love for Jesus. 

This story makes a good point.  One of the greatest things we can do to show our love to Jesus is to love other people – that is an expensive gift that we can give to others…..just as Jesus loved us so much that He was willing to give His very life for us.  Let’s see how much love we can share with others!

Blessings.