Modest Mom's Sweet Giveaway!

 

Looking for a sweet giveaway? Head over to Modest Mom Blog where they are giving away a $16 certificate to Lilla Rose! Enter for your chance to win.

Children Are A Blessing! Growing Home Blog

Looking for some good, godly reading material? Just go on over to Growing Home blog! There Jacinda has an awesome give away going on. Here's the link!
http://www.growinghomeblog.com/ 

Little Natural Cottage Give away!

http://www.littlenaturalcottage.com/2012/07/homesteading-for-beginners-dvd-vol-4-canning-preserving-giveaway/

Cultivating Peace

I've been teaching my Sunday school class (which now consists of two students. YAY!) the Fruits of the Spirit. In order to help me along, I began reading a book on that very subject, written by Tom Ross. Today I read about Cultivating and Promoting Personal Peace. And wouldn't you know, this reading has helped me far greater than I thought it would. Its a blessing to learn as you strive to teach.

Five Ways to Cultivate Personal Peace

 

1. Read, Love, Obey and Apply God's Word.
2. Meditation On God's Truths. (What is our mindset? Is it on sin, fear or worry? Or is it upon spiritual things?)
3. Trust God. Be confident in Him! 
4.  Prayer is a Refuge.
5.  Be obedient and righteous.

 

All of the points are challenging, but there were two I NEED to work at. I MUST meditate on spiritual things. My mindset can be so off =(. And I MUST have a better confidence in God. I am a sinner. I think that I can do it all on my own. BUT I CAN'T!! God is in control, not me. This passage was extremely encouraging to me. Hope it is for you also! =) 

 

In Him,

Claire

 

 
ISAIAH 26:3-4

³ Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.⁴ Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:

One Of Histories Most Wonderful Love Stories

 

The two books of the Bible that I've read the most are Genesis and Romans. Genesis is one because I've tried many times (and failed) to read the Bible in a year. Almost all of the reading plans start with Genesis. So I at least make it through one book. When it comes to Romans I just plain love reading it over and over. Its funny though. Even though I've read these books several times, I'm often reminded about how much I miss when I read. I'm so very happy God knows just what to put into my Pastor's heart and mind to preach. He has just started a series that is basically a slow, verse by verse study in Romans. I love it! Also he has recently been shown much more about Genesis that many don't know about. I'm greatful God has shown him these things and that he has shared them with us!

I enjoy reading the "love stories" of the Bible. For example, my favorite, Isaac and Rebekah. But Pastor Graber (My Pastor is my father-in-law!) pointed out an even more wonderful love story! Of course the #1 love story is of Christ and His bride, but I think this one comes in 2nd for sure. Most know that Adam is a type of Christ, but most of us fail to realize to the great extent he was! 

As a child and honestly only a few months ago I saw Adam and Eve as two ignorant sinners. Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the Serpent. MAN WAS I WRONG! Adam was made in God's likeness and image. Adam was SMART. He in no wise was ignorant. 


What do you think when you see this verse?

   Genesis 3:11-12

¹¹ And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
¹² And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

I use to think Adam was blaming Eve. "THE WOMAN!" Well, look again. In verse 11 God asks Adam TWO questions.  So it goes like this...
God-"Who told you, you were naked?"
Adam-"Eve"
God-"Did you eat of the tree?"
Adam-"I DID EAT."


Eve was Adam's wife. Think of how much you love your spouse. Eve was tricked, Adam was not. Adam was caught between a rock and a hard place. He knew Eve and him would be separated forever...UNLESS! There was only one thing he could do. He gave up his life by choosing to eat the fruit to save Eve. If he hadn't eaten the fruit, Adam and Eve couldn't of been together. Therefore the line to Jesus, out savior never would have been. Adam was smart HE KNEW THIS! By him giving up his life by purposefully eating the forbidden fruit, he saved his wife and got the line to Jesus going. 


This makes me realize how horrible of a wife I am. Look what Adam, and more so Jesus, gave up for their bride, their love. They gave their lives. This encourages me to keep on keepin' on to becoming a better wife and child of God. Would you give up your life for your love?
 

Joy or Discontentment? Its Your Choice!

I'd be lying straight through my teeth if I were to tell you I'm always a perfectly content stay-at-home wife. In all honesty, there are days I want to break through my front door and full out sprint away from home. Is this a right attitude? No =(. Lately, the Lord has been really pressing the lesson of contentment upon me. Yes, I get lonely at home. Yes, I do get bored too. BUT just because I get lonely and bored, does that mean its not what I'm suppose to be doing? Not at all. On the contrary, its usually the tougher things that are the right things to do. Instead of living in discontentment, I need to learn to choose to be thankful. I've been reading through the book (for the 4th time) Created To Be His Helpmeet by Debi Pearl. Today I read a chapter on choosing to do just that, have a thankful heart. A thankful heart creates a joyful heart. But it won't just happen. We must CHOOSE to have a thankful heart. So, here I am, alone and still awaiting for my man to get home. What will I choose? I think its time to be thankful=) 

PHILIPPIANS 4:11

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

A Lesson On Patience

 ROMANS 8:25

"But if we hope for that we see not, 

then do we with patience wait for it."

Teaching!

Before I was married I contemplated and prayed much on going to college for Early Childhood Education. The Lord knows how I struggled in this decision. But my God is faithful and good. He eventually showed me His will. And right now, I believe I'm living that will of His, as a stay at home wife. 
The fall before I married I helped out a woman (whom I'm close to and who goes to my church) by doing school with her daughter. Since I've been married I've helped her children a few more times with school. Teaching started to become a lot of fun for me. I can't wait to have my own children (Lord Willing someday!) to teach! =) 
My thoughts go to these past times of teaching because I was recently given a great opportunity by my Pastor/Father-in-law. One not to be taken lightly. I have been asked to become a Sunday School Teacher at my church, Faith Missionary Baptist. After a few days of praying I felt peace to say, "Yes!" Now I'm just full of pure excitement! Last Sunday I sat in on a class to see how it all goes. Then I spent the afternoon choosing what I'd teach on and organizing my new teaching room!  I will only have one student of course (Our church is truly an old fashioned, SMALL Baptist Church lol). And believe it or not, she is the same little girl I taught school to. I take this as such a wonderful opportunity from the Lord! I pray He gives me the wisdom and patience to do well where he has placed me.

The Next Chapter

Its 3:55 pm. I find myself looking at the clock often these days. I haven't always done this, but since the beginning of a new chapter in my life my eyes cling to the teller of time. Before paying attention to the clock, I more payed attention to the day. I longed for weekends when I could see...you know...him =). He worked all week, but had most weekends off. I treasured Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays. My longing for weekends decreased soon after though, when  I Married...him =). Now each day when my love is at work, I spend my days as an ordinary young woman and wife. I clean, read, paint, take photos, get the mail, cook, write and anything else that presents itself to me. It is quite a new experience compared to previous times in my life. I thought once I graduated I was onto a new chapter, but God had an even bigger experience in store for me. And that was marrying my best friend! This new chapter is surely one I am still getting used to. But my husband continually reminds me, "Philippians 4:13! Through Christ you can do it, Honey." What a wonderful promise. With out my Lord, this new chapter wouldn't even exist. May I learn to not only adjust, but grow and bloom in this new chapter. So here I am, looking at the clock again. Waiting for him to get home=)