Where do I go when I need inspiration? Say it together now: pinterest! And I came across this cute snowman ornament:
After making the countdown to Christmas calendar, we were both in Christmas craft moods. My son decided that we need to make a Christmas craft every day until Christmas. Well, I don't know about every day, but I will try to have more days of crafts than usual.
Where do I go when I need inspiration? Say it together now: pinterest! And I came across this cute snowman ornament:
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I found a cute thanksgiving-themed food a couple weeks ago and have been waiting for the perfect time to make it. Then our church had a fellowship and I was asked to bring something. So I decided to make these turkey cheese balls. I got the idea from here. Her turkey was made out of a bent piece of slim jim, a spaghetti noodle soaked in red food coloring, and yellow food coloring-dyed eyes. I didn't have any of that, but I decided not to worry about what I would make the head out of until I got to that point. I also didn't have a clue how to make a cheese ball, and there is not a recipe for it on that lady's blog. All I did have were the feathers:
Sunday--Ezekiel 29. How many times am I tempted to claim something that I haven't done? Well, maybe not as much anymore, what with all of our President's claims to things that aren't his and all the facebook pictures and cartoons condemning him for it. But isn't making people think I'm one way when I'm really another just as bad? I fear I am guilty of this. God destroyed Egypt for it.
Monday--Ezekiel 30. By the time God is finished with the different countries, it is amazing that anyone could not believe in Him! Everything that happens to everyone happens so people may know that God is the Lord. This seems to be a theme running through the book. Tuesday--Ezekiel 31. There is probably a reason the sweetest people, who seem the closest to God, have some superficial flaw--they aren't very pretty, or they have health problems, or something. The Assyrians were seemingly perfect. They were the biggest, prettiest, best tree in the garden, and they were proud of it. And God cut them down for their pride. Wednesday--Ezekiel 32. There is a lot of going down into pits being slain with swords in this chapter. From what I can tell, most of it is to show Pharaoh a lesson. Maybe instead of ignoring, laughing, or judging wicked people whose lives are destroyed, I should pay attention to see if I can learn anything from it--even if it's what not to do. Thursday--Ezekiel 33. This chapter has the watchman verse in it. In college, our "sororities/fraternities", if you will, were four groups with sort-of biblical names. Several of my friends were in the Watchmen league. Their shirts were blue. I'm sure if I had been in that league, this paragraph would probably be a little different, but either way, whenever I read this verse, all I can think of is how blue it is. Friday--Ezekiel 34. Wow, I knew the phrase "showers of blessings" was in the Bible, I just never expected it to be in the middle of all the doom and gloom prophesies in Ezekiel! That was a pleasant surprise to read. Saturday--Ezekiel 35. Ezekiel is prophesying against a mountain in this chapter. A mountain! Kinda strikes me as funny, but when I think about it, the trees clap their hands and the rocks cry out, the wind and sea obey Jesus. Maybe it's not so crazy that a mountain shouldn't be judged. Growing up, we had a countdown to Christmas calendar. It was less a calendar and more a, something else, I'm not sure. It was this big house, with lots of rooms, with 25 buttons sewn various places around the house. And every morning, whoever was the first kid downstairs (the only 25 days out of the year I made a concerted effort to get up early) got to move the little bear to the next button. As I was trying to explain the bear/button/house thing to my husband, this is how I started: "The bear starts in the chimney, because that's the top of the house, and he makes his way through the house, visiting all the bedrooms, and he ends up by the fireplace, because the tree is right next to it." Oh man! We counted down to Christmas with something starting at the chimney and ending at the fireplace? I didn't realize that until the other day as I was explaining, so maybe my parents didn't either? Oh well, I guess no harm done. :-) (It's okay Mom and Dad, I know you weren't trying to incorporate Santa into our celebrations!)
At any rate, I loved that countdown. I wanted my own son to be able to make happy memories counting the days til Christmas also. Of course, he doesn't have to race any siblings downstairs. I searched the internet (ie, pinterest) and found some cute ones made completely out of felt. I decided this one would be my inspiration: Most people have heard about Advent, the name. I always thought it had something to do with Lent, which ironically I didn't really know what that was either. It wasn't until last year that I learned anything about what Advent was (and that wasn't much). As this Christmas season approaches, I've been thinking about last year and what my new family member introduced me to and what I would do with that new information as it pertains to this year. Before you wonder why I'm talking about Christmas in October, let me tell you: I want to make a countdown to Christmas calendar for my son, so I need it finished before Dec. 1, meaning I need to start making it soon, meaning last night I was browsing my favorite idea site (pinterest) and this word Advent kept coming up. A little research later, and I decided to write about it. You may be interested, you may not be able to care less. Either way, here are some things I learned:
I have been thinking about writing a post on Halloween, and after seeing several posts by my (Christian) friends excitedly posting on facebook their upcoming plans to parade around their costumed children in search of candy, and after reading another person's blog post about the evils of this day in question, I decided I did want to write about it. (I would just share that other blog post I read, because it was written from a first-hand experience of someone growing up in a Satanic coven, but in my personal opinion, it was poorly written and the logic was less than sound for those of us who did not grow up in a coven.) The longer I thought about this post of mine, however, the more I realized that I know someone who could do a much better job tackling this issue. So I asked my husband. (I actually told him I wanted to write a post, then I looked at him with puppy-dog eyes and said, "Too bad you couldn't write it for me.") He reminded me that three years ago, when he was in a secular job, he wrote a note on facebook on just such a topic. He said I could copy and paste his note, so today, without any further ado, my husband guest blogs. :-)
A couple weeks ago, I wrote about talking to Jesus--taking Him my worries and cares and trusting that He knows best. Jesus is good like that. He's been here on earth, He knows all the things we have to worry about, and He can comfort us like no other.
But there's also nothing like climbing into your Father's lap to tell him about a little pain in your heart. My Pastor has been preaching a series on prayer this last month, and one of my blogger friends posted today about what she got out of the message yesterday. I was feeling quite unwell, so I wasn't at church yesterday, but her post further encouraged me to not stop talking to God. Her post title is the title of this song (which made me remember this song). Sunday--Ezekiel 22. We all know this verse at the end of the chapter, "And I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none." For some reason, listening to all the sermons I've heard on this verse, I thought that it was saying that God needed someone important, someone like Ezekiel in a leadership position, to stand up and make a difference. But that's not what this verse is saying at all! God just wanted someone, anyone, to stand up and say, "I will do what's right." I'm basically a nobody, but I can determine to do what's right!
Monday--Ezekiel 23. Two interesting phrases in the middle of the chapter: first, because of her wickedness, it says of Jerusalem that "her mind was alienated from them [the wickedness]." Isn't it amazing how we can start off enjoying bad things, but eventually we can't stand to actually think about the bad stuff, even though we still do it? And the second phrase: talking about God, "then my mind was alienated from her." Even if we don't like to do bad stuff, if we still do it, God isn't going to want to dwell His thoughts upon us. Tuesday--Ezekiel 24. So there's another reason God didn't call me to be a prophet. "So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded." Similar to martyrs--I don't know if I could do that, have that much trust in God. I would hope so. Wednesday--Ezekiel 25. Poor Ammonites...wouldn't want to be them... Thursday--Ezekiel 26. It's always so neat when scientists find ancient cities underground or underwater. We learn so much from them. I wonder why here, God said no one would ever find this city again. Friday--Ezekiel 27. Tyrus sounds so wonderful. Its outside was amazing, with all the colors, and the cities round about praising it. But God destroyed them because of their inside. I know it's not wrong to look nice on the outside, but I don't ever want to get so caught up in making my outside more than presentable that I forget about my inside. Saturday--Ezekiel 28. God talks so beautifully of Tyrus, and other cities, then BAM! they're dead. And you almost want to feel sad for them, but then the last verses of the chapter melt away any soft feelings you may have had for these other cities. God so eloquently speaks of Israel, and how safe she can be now. In my mind I see parents doting over their sleeping baby, making plans to keep her safe her whole life. God loves His children! Now don't let the title fool you--while these are cookies, there is not one shred of pumpkin in or on them.
1. Start with oreos. I took a few writer's liberties, but mostly this is how it happened. This is how I remember it, anyway. The Construction of Hope
written October 19, 2012 |
Who am I, you ask?
In 2006 I had a stroke, and every day my husband encourages me to use my remaining brain cells to the best of my ability. I love to organize, make crafts, and go on adventures (safe ones). I hope that through my blog posts, you will be encouraged to accept and make the best of challenges God throws at your life. Categories
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