I don’t know how often you dust, but for me, it’s not very often. I don’t dust until it becomes a rather obvious eye sore.

For a few weeks I noticed my computer making rather laborious noises while running. One of the fans was running unusually loud.

Recently I decided to take the outer cover off to get a peek inside. This is what I found…click here to read more

It seems whenever I have a really difficult day, I don’t have a hard time making it known. True, I pray for help and strength to get through whatever the obstacle might be. But the last thing I need is for someone to snap at me or push me through the day without encouragement of some sort. Typically what we expect from loved ones is encouragement and patience through a hard day.

But, are we doing this for our children when they have difficult days? Or are we dismissing their feelings of struggle and generally expecting them to handle such situations as an adult would (or should)? I will be the first to admit, the Holy Spirit smacked me in the head with this one.

To read more please visit me over at Heart of the Matter {Online} today!

38. good books

39. resources for nurture

40. provision

41. homemade chicken pot pie

42. hardworking love

43. good friends

44. good coffee

This week has been a little off since my 2-year old was sick for a couple of days…but it hasn’t been too bad. Just a lot of tv which really annoyed be by the second day. I couldn’t stand the constant NOISE.

I’m glad he is back to his playful self and now playing with his older siblings. Silence is golden!

As of today all our formal lessons are on Thanksgiving break. Woot! LOL

However, since I’m hosting Thanksgiving, I have some cleaning to do in the house.

That aside, I am reading two books right now that will be put up for review in a couple of weeks. They are The Language of Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, and Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce A. Ware. So stay tuned in for those (you won’t be sorry).

I look forward to reading how some of you are doing (trust me, I wish I had time to read all of your posts!)

In a more personal note, God is really dealing with me on some things (isn’t he always!?)

Throughout the week I wrote about memorizing scripture, capturing moments (and holding on to them), and really trying to get this selfish heart to understand there is something bigger than me.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving friends–and remember to give thanks all year!
Please visit these fabulous blogs to which this randomness is linked with!

{Journey with me?}

The book is called Overcoming Sin and Temptation by John Owen. Quick! Visit Crossway’s Blog to enter before tomorrow morning, when they will pick the winner!

Before the house rises, I wake to meet with my Father. Pen in hand, journal comfortably cradled in my lap, I begin to scribe…

The stillness of the morning hours are sweet.I long to enjoy my kids MORE and learn LESS on all the “how to’s”. I think I’ve learned plenty at the moment. I just need to reflect on what I’ve learned thus far.

Father, I hear you saying…lie down in green pastures so I can restore your soul. Take in your surroundings rather than looking for something more on the outside; you won’t find it. Read less; drink it in more. Do not be afraid of what is going on in the world – be comforted. I am always with you. Pray so that you will not fall into temptation. Resist evil & selfish desires; they will flee. Be consistent. And lean on ME!

Later in the day, I logged a blessed moment…

I was having a pain in my ribs and it’s been pretty obvious that it bother’s me–Ben (4) walked up, put his arms around my legs, & prayed over me.

I used to read the Bible because it was my duty as a Christian.

As I grew and realized my Bible study was fruitless, God began to change my perspective and my motives.

Even now I am still learning the importance of memorizing scripture in order to cultivate deep in my heart and really learn what it means to live it out.

Last week I was challenged to memorize Psalm 119 by Traci at Ordinary Inspirations. Psalm 119 is my favorite Psalm and one of my most favorite passages of the Bible.

In the below pictures you will see the first 8 verses, which I’m challenged to have memorized by tomorrow. I wrote some notes and ideas I’ve come across.

I am using this tool which was graciously shared by Ann of Holy Experience. It converts your text to just the first letter in each word. At first I was skeptical it would work…but it does. Even my 7-year old is using it as a means to memorize passages. It is amazing how the human brain works!

Below you will see some notes I’ve taken in order to further personalize the passage.

When I am in the heat of my day, I need something to cling to…a reminder to what God has asked of me and promised to help me do.

I want to s-l-o-w down so that I can think before I act. To think of what I remembered from God’s Word.

Memorizing takes work. Yes. It takes time. True. It is certainly a sacrifice…but not to memorize is an even greater sacrifice – but not a pleasant one.

Please, visit the Walk With Him community and join us.

This series is changing my life.

This is the foundation for our home school.

If we don’t have a fear of the Lord, all the wisdom and head knowledge we could possibly gain would mean nothing. It would be meaningless.

Please visit Christy at Critty Joy for more WFW.

{Journey with me?}

{

Yesterday I really had a battle on my hands…well, actually, in my spirit. In fact, Ann sums it up rather nicely here. I was amazed to find this post after what I dealt with yesterday.

I was looking for motivation, inspiration, anything to snap me out of it.

I even tweeted, looking for help!

Anyone have any inspirational motivators this morning?!?!

I then heard the soft whisper,

There is something bigger than me.

Even though it appears I’m talking to myself, I really believe it was the Holy Spirit trying to tell me something.

It began to work.

It motivated me because I looked past myself and looked over at the needs of my children. Not the need to be fed physical food, but spiritual food. Not to be clothed in physical clothing, but supernatural covering. The need for nourishment, even on a day I was struggling to keep my own self together. Even in the midst of warring on the inside. I still have yet to figure out what I was warring. I know for certain it went beyond the flesh, because even when I denied the flesh it’s desires, I was still fighting inside.

It didn’t stop until I wrote in my journal:

27. thankful for pen and paper

28. babies who need me

29. a husband who adores me, and his family

Whatever was plaguing me was chased off by the cultivating of a thankful heart.

Wow.

Is

being

thankful

really

that

powerful?

In light of this, I am going to join the Gratitude Community @ Holy Experience. I want need to practice regular thanksgiving to produce true joy and to help fight off the war within.

I am still learning that whether I want to do some things or not, I need to.

There may be days I don’t want to pray. {And why would anyone not want to pray. Simply because everything else is allowed to get in the way and I replace prayer with other things}. But I need to pray.

I need to eat the Word daily. I need to pray with my children because they need it.

I am constantly reminding myself: it’s not about what I want.

{Journey with me?}