Verse for Thought

Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Q: What is "sacrifice"?
A: According to Wikipedia, Sacrifice is commonly known as the practice of offering food, objects, or the lives of animals or people to the gods as an act of worship. The term is also used metaphorically to describe selfless good deeds for others or a short term loss in return for a greater gain, such as in a game of chess. Recently it has also come into use as meaning doing without something or giving something up.

A: According to Dictionary.com,
–noun

1. the offering of animal, plant, or human life or of some material possession to a deity, as in propitiation or homage.
2. the person, animal, or thing so offered.
3. the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.
6. Also called sacrifice bunt, sacrifice hit.
–verb (used with object)
7. to make a sacrifice or offering of.
8. to surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the sake of something else.
9. to dispose of (goods, property, etc.) regardless of profit.

When we come into the knowledge of Jesus as our Savior and King, we come into a new way of life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." We no longer are to be who we used to be. We are to put our lives, hearts and minds and physical being, up against the Word of God. We are to get rid of that which is contradicting to God's Word and foster the things which are in line with his Word. It's not popular; it's not "cool", but it's the way of truth.

When you hear or read these words "do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind", what do you think of?

Preparing to Be a Help Meet Chapter 1

The book opens up with this:

There is a thread...

a bright thread running,

weaving, tying bows

and underlining our lives.

Sometimes the thread is

narrow and barely perceptible;

other times it is FLAMBOYANT,

creating showers of wide

dashing ribbons falling

from every corner of our lives,

bringing VIBRANT COLOR

to our otherwise ordinary existence.

And so your thread begins...

Chapter 1 Summary

In Preparing to Be a Help Meet, Debi Pearl shares her own love story and how she prayed for and fell in love with her husband. In the chapter she focuses on the importance of prayer in her pre-marital life and how it effected her marriage to Michael. She was thirteen years old when she started to pray for her husband.

She says about her prayers for her husband that "God was looking for a help meet that would pray, not for herself to have a wonderful prince, but for a help meet to start HELPING this warrior of God to do the job God had for him to do."

She talks about specific things we are to pray for and WHY God wants us to pray. In her focus on prayer, Debi says "God designed His Will to come through PRAYER...If you want a Thread to weave through your life and marriage, if you want a godly prince to hold you in his arms, loving you wtih all his heart, then know this: it starts with prayer!"

Daniel is an example of persistance and perseverance in prayer. Battles are happening in the heavenlies when we pray. The enemy doesn't want our answers to come from God to us through his messanger angels. We are to pray, but not to pray amiss. We are to pray until we have an answer. Matthew 7:7 says "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

Moral to the Story: God wants, no, he NEEDS us to pray.
A Caution: Don't pray amiss.

At the end of each chapter there is "Your Treasure Chest".

• Chapter 1 Treasure Chest:
• Pray for your future beloved; that he'll be strong and walk faithful.
• Establish lifelong habits of prayer
• Make a list of people you are committed to praying for and then PRAY for them.

My questions for you:

1. If Debi had not listened to God when He told her to pray, do you think she would have still married Michael, her husband? Why or why not?
2. Could it be that you are missing out on God's best option for you right now because you are not praying?
3. If God spoke to you, how would you answer?

My Challenge for you:

• Verses for meditation: Matt 9:38; Like 10:2; John 15:7; 2 Thessalonians 3:1&2; Matt 18:18; Matt 7:7 Luke 11:9; John 16:23; James 4:3-4
• Try to pray for someone who has made you mad or hurt your feelings for 1 week and see how God can change your heart towards them.
• Do a word study on prayer:
• Look up definition
• Look up the word on a computer program or on the internet such as on BIBLEGATEWAY or BLUE LETTER BIBLE
• Find out how many times the word is used in the Bible
• Read a few of the passsages so you know how God uses it in contex

Be sure to check out my other postings about this book HERE. You can also read the Chapter 2 summary.

Preparing to Be a Help Meet

I have decided to read a book by Debi Pearl called Preparing to be a Help Meet. I am really excited about the book in relation to this blog. As I go through it, I will post excerpts, thoughts, and summaries of each portion I read. Once I am done reading the book, I will be giving away a copy of it, at random, through my blog. So, if you like the postings I put about it and you want to read it for yourself, be sure to watch for the giveaway!

Silly Straw Glasses

SILLY STRAWS

Order your pair HERE

8 Terrific Topics for Conversation

8 Terrific Topics for Conversation

Reviewed by QualityHealth's Medical Advisory Board

Recent vacations. Talking about a trip you took could quite naturally then segue into crazy (and humorous) travel experiences you've had, or a trip that you've both taken and that you both really enjoyed.

A hobby you love. "This is a great way to connect," Kaiser says. "You may find that you both love going for long walks or something else that you might enjoy doing together..."

A recent news story...as long as it's not too politically or emotionally charged. You don't necessarily want to start talking about national politics, health care reform, or who you voted for in the last Presidential election. But if it's about a new smart phone application, the latest shenanigans of some celebrity, or some interesting sports news, that's perfectly okay.

What's happening around you. "I don't mean what is going on between the two of you, but with other people," Kaiser says. "Say you are in a restaurant and the waiter has an unusual quirk, or the menu is way too large. This might give you something to laugh about. You are trying to connect with the person on different levels." Talking about your surroundings and seeing if the other person has similar responses to a situation may clue you in as to whether the two of you share a similar sense of humor, and this can be very important in a longterm relationship.

A movie you have seen or want to see. Discussing a film keeps the conversation light at the same time that it lets you figure out if you have similar tastes and interests in cultural areas. And if there's a movie that you have both been wanting to see, it could make a great destination for your next date.

Siblings. Don't get into a discussion with your date about her or his parents (a divorce or separation might make this topic get depressing), but if you mention sisters and brothers, it shows that you have a caring side and an interest in her life. Plus a mention of sibs often can trigger positive feelings.

Food. Unless she's got issues surrounding food and alcohol, this is a fairly safe topic that can turn lively and enjoyable as you debate the merits of various types of cheese, what kinds of wine you prefer, and what your favorite types of cuisine are.

Friends. Most people enjoy talking about their friends, how long they've known them, where they met and how much their friends mean to them. With minimal prompting from you, your date will probably be able to talk endlessly on this topic. And let's face it, when it's your turn to share about your friends, you'll enjoy it just as much.


Topics to Avoid
Not every topic is so approacable. Here are some examples of what to remain mum on:

• Divorced parents
• Whether or not she wants a big wedding
• The fact that you've got 5 cats that you'll never give up
• How many children you want to have

How to Do a French Twist

How to Do a French Twist

Watch this video!

Food Facts: The Health Dangers of Diet Soda

The Health Dangers of Diet Soda

By Susan McQuillan

Reviewed by QualityHealth's Medical Advisory Board


I cut the article down to get out some of the main points, but you can read the entire article HERE.
Diet sodas have long been encouraged as a "free food" on many weight loss plans and are a staple for many people with diabetes. Now researchers are saying this sweet treat may be hurting some of the same people it's supposed to help.

Since 1976, more than 200,000 female nurses have volunteered to participate in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) at Brigham and Women's University in Massachusetts.

A look at the diet soda habits of more than 3,000 older women...revealed a link between artificially sweetened sodas and a weakening of kidney function over the course of a decade [about 10yrs]. These findings...revealed that women who drank two or more glasses, cans or bottles of diet soda every day were twice as likely to experience a significant decline.

Kidney function--how well the kidneys perform their job of filtering blood, excreting waste and maintaining the body's fluid balance-normally declines slightly with age.

Interestingly, a study present earlier in 2009...suggested that diet soda might be good for kidneys because they...helps dissolve and prevent the formation of calcium kidney stones. Since kidney stones result...from dehydration, however, the recommendation for people who form stones is to drink more water, not more diet soda.

Nor is the answer to turn back to sugar-sweetened sodas. In addition to an excess of "empty" calories (calories with no accompanying nutrients) from sugar, previous studies have linked regular sodas with increased protein in the urine, which can be an early indicator of kidney disease.

While health experts have never said "never" when it comes to drinking either sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened sodas, most agree that both types [either sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened sodas] are consumed in excess. And that, they say, is the real problem.


But since diet sodas are known to be higher in sodium than sodas made with sugar, and excess sodium has long been associated with kidney disease, sodium is certainly suspect, along with artificial sweeteners.

Consider these findings a jumping off point for further research to reveal what, specifically, we need to know about the effects of drinking too much diet soda.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sources:
Science Daily: Diets High in Sodium and Artificially Sweetened Soda Linked to Kidney Function Decline:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091101132543.htm

Science Daily: Drinking Diet Soda May Reduce Risk of Forming Kidney Stones:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090426075452.htm

Brigham and Women's Hospital: Nurses' Health Study
http://www.brighamandwomens.org/publicaffairs/NursesHealthStudy.aspx
Updated: March 3, 2010
Copyright © 2010 QualityHealth.com. All rights reserved.

Quote for the day (Money Doesn't Grow on Trees)

“Money doesn’t grow on trees.” If you’ve heard that phrase once from Mom and Dad, you’ve probably heard it a million times. And sure, you know it’s true. But how do you feel when you realize you’ve spent a bundle on an item that’s not worth nearly what you paid?

(Taken from Susie Magazine)

Gelatin

Gelatin is...

Wikipedia--is a translucent, colorless, brittle (when dry), nearly tasteless solid substance, derived from the collagen inside animals' skin and bones. It is commonly used as a gelling agent in food, pharmaceuticals, photography, and cosmetic manufacturing. It is found in some "gummy" candies as well as other products such as marshmallows, gelatin dessert, and some low-fat yogurt. Some dietary or religious customs forbid the use of gelatin from certain animal sources, and medical issues may limit or prevent its consumption by certain people. It is extracted from the boiled bones, connective tissues, organs and some intestines of animals such as domesticated cattle, pigs, and horses. Gelatin melts to a liquid when heated and solidifies when cooled again.

Uses--a gelling agent in cooking, in a wide range of food and non-food products: Common examples are gelatin desserts, trifles, aspic, marshmallows, and confectioneries (such as Peeps, gummy bears and jelly babies). Gelatin may be used...in foods such as jams, yoghurt, cream cheese, and margarine; it is used, as well, in fat-reduced foods to simulate the mouthfeel of fat and to create volume without adding calories.


Gelatin is used for the clarification of juices, such as apple juice, and of vinegar. Isinglass, from the swim bladders of fish, is still used as a fining agent for wine and beer. Beside hartshorn jelly, from deer antlers (hence the name "hartshorn"), isinglass was one of the oldest sources of gelatin. Gelatine was used for hardening paper in Colonial times.

I hope this has educated you well. If there's a food you want to know more about, just ask!

How to Reuse Empty Water Bottles

How to Reuse Empty Water Bottles

1) Make funnels. These funnels can be used for cooking, crafts, and whatever else you can think of!

2) Make plastic wire. This wire can be used to make stems for fake flowers, as well as bracelets and other jewelry.

3) Make vases. While this creation looks like a delicate glass or crystal vase, it is unbreakable and can still be recycled later if desired! Use these vases for flowers, pens/pencils, and give them away as gifts.

4) Use the caps to make pincushions. You can even wear this pincushion like a ring. How convenient!

5) Turn the caps into pill or jewelry cases. It's possible to make a pretty pill case with 2 plastic bottle caps. It can also make a good gift box or storage case for earrings.

6) Make candy dishes!

7) Do some science experiments:

• Make a Soda Bottle Volcano
• Make Fog in a Bottle
• Make a Tornado in a Bottle

8) Make wasp traps. This is a simple, inexpensive and environmentally-friendly way to discourage wasps from hanging around your neck of the woods.
 
9) Make a trash can. You can build one with only 54 bottles. For a great community project, collect 6,000 and build a school room!
 
10) Refill it. You can, of course, put tap-water in it and use it again. This is massively cheap compared to buying bottled water; and some people might prefer the taste of tapwater, depending on where they live.

My Testimony of Love pt. 3

If you've not yet read part 1 and part 2, you can read them HERE and HERE.

By the time I was 16yrs old and had been through a couple heart-breaks, I decided it was time to get serious about what I was looking for when I looked for "love" and companionship. I read an article in what was the Focus on the Family's BRIO & BEYOND magazine (now online HERE) about a woman who made a list of things she wated in a future husband. The young woman talked about how she prayed for the things on her list and prayed about the things that were important to her. Then while in college, I met a woman who was married and had done the same thing a teenager. At the time she was doing it for her youth leaders pleasure--putting down all the "good" things. Little did she know that the man she married would fill her list of 10 things until her old youth leader read it out loud at her wedding, surprising everyone, including her. So, when I was 16, I made my list. I added to it over the next couple years and prayed over it. I decided that I was going to really put my faith in God and not compromise my list--except for 2 that were compromisable to me: drinks coffee and can fix and build things. Those were not as important to me as a man's character.

In college I met boys I liked, staying guarded of my heart, until I got to know them better and realized they didn't value me for me or purity. It was my desire and heart to remain a virgin and pure until I was married. I recall once telling some guys that I was a virgin and proud of it after they made comments about me being a "party" girl. They were assuming I was nice on the outside and "wild" in secret. I was proud to tell them that was far from true. There was one guy I met in college who shared a mutual "crush" with me, but that didn't go beyond friends. I was sad, but kept praying. I settled for the idea that meeting "Mr. Right" wasn't going to happen at the junior college and would have to wait until I transferred to a Christian college for my B.A. degree. At least that's what I thought...

When I met Brandon he was new and shy. It was move-in day for the new residents on-campus and I was an R.A. (Resident Assistant) on the 3rd floor of one building. I was welcoming students on my own floor and those on the second floor. I was looking out over the balcony of my floor and saw a young man with a baseball hat on, a vest (or jacket...don't recall now), and shorts. When I asked him his name and where he was from he peered at me just enough to see me past the brim of his hat, "Brandon...New Hampshire." Shocked he'd come to a small school so far from home, I asked him "how did you find out about MVCC?" He told me he'd have to tell me later and that he had to go. With that, he left quickly; leaving me intrigued of him.

I randomly saw him around campus. There was a week that seemed like everywhere I was, he was. I recall choosing to go a different direction across campus one day just because I had already passed him once and was afraid he'd think I was stalking him. Towards the end of that first semester in 2004, I began to spend more time out on the floor with residents and had more of a chance to talk to him. I think I did most of the talking!! Trust me when I say that I can talk! (Side note: Brandon has helped me learn to listen more)

We spent a lot of time talking late at night on the second floor lounge. When the semester was over I recall going to look for him, but he had already gone home on winter break. I was really sad because I didn't get to say good-bye. Please know that at this time I had no desire to be more than friends with him. I was just so excited to have met another believer on-campus; even better was that he was in my building.

When he returned for the spring semester, we started spending a lot more time together. We would meet up at the cafeteria or dininghall (sometimes on purpose and other times by chance). I started going to his lacrosse games and holding up signs to cheer him and the team on. I recall the first practice I went to watch. He must have dropped the first 5 passes after I got there. I could tell he was nervous. Suddenly this quiet guy was talking to me, showing interest in me, and interest in the possibility of a future. We talked about marriage & knew we both liked the idea. We spent the next year getting to know one another more and spending as much time together as we could. We prayed together, went to church together, and worked out together. It wasn't until we'd spent some time together that I found out he had no intentions of getting married until he met me. Even his family will testify to that. It's quite profound to me.

Meeting Brandon was unexpected and I was at a place that I had grown tired of seeking out potential husbands. I was at a low place in my Christian walk and was so hurt inside that I didn't know what to do with myself. Brandon was a friend, an ear, an encouragement to me in a way that only God knew I needed. As my relationship with God grew, so did my relationship with Brandon.

After asking for my father's permission for my hand in marriage, on the day before Memorial Day 2006, Brandon asked me to marry him by my parents pond. The funniest part about it was that my mother kept calling while he was trying to ask me! Yes, we turned the cell phone off. We prayed with our parents after I accepted his proposal and my parents announced it to everyone who was there for the cook-out.

We were married by a Justice of the Peace in November 2006. With numerous changes in details and the influence of the Army, we moved our ceremony from June '07 to Dec '06. We moved to Texas in February 2007 to start our new marriage and our journey in the Army. I was so glad to have married the man that I did. Before getting married, I went back to re-read my list of things I desired in a man (about 42-45 of them) and realized that Brandon was all of them except the one's I was willing to compromise on (see above). God had truly given me the desires of my heart in a husband. I was so grateful!

He can do it for you too! Make your list, pray, and give it to God. He knows what you need more than you do. A list is a great way to keep yourself focused an not to just settle for something or for anyone. I shared about my list with a friend in college, who then went and made a list of her own. She is no engaged to be married within the next year to a man who filled everything on her list that she made, prayed over, and stayed faithful to. God is good & he is faithful. He knows what we need and what we want. If you are faithful to Him, He will be faithful to you.

For any help or suggestions about what things to put, just ask your mom, grandmother, other women you look up to, or myself. I would be glad to share some of the things on my list to you. Put the most important things first, be specific (don't just write "kind", write what you mean by "kind")!!

Romans 12:12 (KJV)  "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;"

Romans 12:12 (NIV)  "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."