What's on Your Nightstand?

Jennifer over at 5 Minutes for books has started hosting a monthly carnival-What's on Your Nightstand. I missed it last month but wanted to jump in this month. Basically it's a chance for everyone to see what others are reading and maybe even find out why.

I have a pretty steep stack of books but a couple are books with study guides so it really isn't nearly as daunting as it appears.

Adam by Ted Dekker- this is my first Dekker book and I love it. I'm really into the "mystery-murder-mayhem" stuff. I've had a hard time putting this book down. The first afternoon I think I read 160 pages! A friend at church recommended Dekker and I'm glad he did.

Skin by Ted Dekker- gonna start this one as soon as I finish Adam.

The Extraordinary Mrs. R: A Friend Remembers Eleanor Roosevelt by William Turner Levy and Cynthia Eagle Russett- a biography of Eleanor Roosevelt. Not really sure why I picked this up at the library the other day but I'm looking forward to reading it.

Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper: Our church is doing this Bible Study. We're using it in Sunday School classes, Life Groups, Small Group studies and as a sermon series. I think it will be really interesting.

The Remarkable Women of the Bible: and Their Message for your Life Today by Elizabeth George: I'm using this in my daily devotional time each morning. Lately, I've just really had a desire to dig deeper into the stories of different Women of the Bible and this was one of the resources that I discovered.

When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin- our reading group is reading this book for September. I've already read it twice but will read it again. I've loved all of his books so far!

The Kite Runner- by Khaled Hosseini: yes, it's been around for a while and I'm probably one of the few that hasn't read it yet. Well, I'm not really "reading" it now anyway, I'm going to listen to it on my iPhone. I'm thinking we may try it out for our reading group at church.

So that's it- want to see what others are reading? Check it out over at 5 minutes for Books!

What's in a name!

It's not the specific name- but it's who is calling the name that matters.

Click on over to BigMama's blog and read this post. I was so touched when I read this post!

Thanks Melanie- your words were beautiful!

A Hedge of Protection

As I sit here writing this post I have a pit in my stomach that just won’t settle. I know it’s ok to feel this way- but at the same time I feel kind of silly being this upset.

Why am I upset you ask- well let me tell you why- my “baby” (ok, really he’s my oldest but still) is starting Middle School tomorrow.

I’m not upset because he’s growing up and moving on to new endeavors. What is bothering me is that it’s –Middle School-! I’m terrified for him. He’s entering what I view as the “real world”.

When he was in elementary school, he was “loved on” (well by most elementary school teachers). He wasn’t- for the most part -faced with the many temptations that are going to be in front of him daily. It’s a scary thought. I thank God that He has allowed us and guided us as parents to direct Mark’s feet along the path of Godly instruction and I pray that He will continue to be a light on the path before him.

Already at this age, Mark is a young man of strong conviction. He knows what he believes and how important it is to live up to and stand by those beliefs. I pray that he will feel our Lord Jesus Christ standing right there beside him during those times when he needs it is especially hard stick to those convictions. One of his teachers from last year told me in a conference that she saw Mark as a role model for her two boys- She told me she would be blessed if her children grew to be the type of young man that Mark is. The boy makes his parents proud.

So, why it so hard for me to watch him take this step? I know that the only thing I can do is to pray a hedge of protection around him that Satan can not penetrate. Satan even complained about the hedge of protection that God placed around Job- “Have you not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has on every side?” Job 1:10.

As I searched the Internet for prayers for children I found this information about praying for a hedge of protection:

1. Ask God to bind and rebuke the power of Satan in the life of each one in your family. Be mighty through God to pull down strongholds. “No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man” (Mark 3:27)

2. Pray in the same and through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. “And I will do whatever you ask in My Name, so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in the Son.” (John 14:13). Christ’s name is Protector, the Good Shepherd that gives His life for His sheep.

3. Claim the Scripture that relates to the kid of protection that is needed. For example, for protection from sin, you can claim a verse such as Romans 6:14, “For sin shall not have dominion over you”. For protection from discouragement, you could claim the promise, “…for He Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will no in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down.” (Hebrews 13:5)

My Prayer for Mark:

Precious Heavenly Father, I ask You, in your infinitely love and grace, to bind and rebuke the power that Satan may attempt to have over Mark. I pray a hedge of protection around this precious child of Yours. Lord, because You are Mark’s rock and fortress lead him and guide him in his steps. Lord, guide his steps that he may be a light that leads others to You. Dear Lord Jesus- though Mark may fall, he will not be utterly cast down, for You, Lord grasps his hand in support and You uphold him.(Psalm 34:24) InYour most gracious and loving name I pray- AMEN!

Menu Planning 8/18

ok, wait- don't faint Laura (that's my SIL who used to read my blog to find menu ideas-maybe she'll come back now!) I really am posting an actual menu!

The boys start back to school this week and baseball practice starts up next week so it's time to get it in gear and get some planning done!

So- here goes:

Monday- grilled pork chops marinaded in Soy Sauce and Lemon Juice, salad, and green beans.

Tuesday- hot dogs (ff for me), leftover mac-n-cheese

Wednesday- spaghetti, salad, garlic bread

Thursday- grilled bruschetta chicken, new potatoes, field peas

Friday- grilled hamburgers, fries (sweet potato fries for me) and corn

So that's it-pretty simple- I really need to get on Laura's (not my sil but another one) and get some new ideas!! You can go there too and find tons of recipes and food ideas!

Simple Saturday

Ok, let me start off by saying that if my Grandmommy was still alive I believe she'd have a hissy fit if she read this post. You see she was the type of woman that always seemed perfectly dressed. Her bed was always made- I swear sometimes I wasn't even sure she and Grand-daddy even slept in it. We weren't allowed to pour milk out of the container into our cereal bowl- she had to pour it into a pitcher first, then pour it into our cereal. I can still remember one time when we were visiting- she actually rolled each individual piece of lunchmeat before placing it on a platter so we could make sandwiches. And goodness knows she -NEVER- served anything out of the pot!!!

So, anyway- it is now 6:38 P.M. and I am still in my pajamas! Yes, that is right. I have not changed clothes at all today. I got up and after reading the paper and eating my breakfast I decided I'd clean out the boys dressers and closests. After I finished that task- I promptly came downstairs and laid down on the floor and took a 2 hour nap. Then I proceeded to lay in the recliner for most of the afternoon and finish reading The Shack for the second time.

See why I say - Simple Saturday- I simply did pretty much nothing- and enjoyed it!

Now, I am getting ready to do something productive- I'm gonna go run/walk a couple of miles and then go swimming. So at least I can say I wasn't a total slug today!!!

Wordless Wednesday- are we redneck or what!

gotta add that this was ONLY for the beach! They are back to "normal" now!!

Sshh- they're listening!

Ok, the title was really supposed to represent the fact that I think my Pastor has bugged my house because the prayer below was sent out in a mass e-mail this morning and yesterday was not a day where I was careful with my words:

Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, Thank you for this day and for the instruction you provide through your Word. Please help me to always have a soft answer to turn away wrath, not harsh words that stir up anger; help me to use knowledge rightly, not to speak foolishness. I pray that my tongue would build up others as a tree of life giving shade and shelter and never speak perverseness that would break the spirit. Let me always receive your instruction and correction with an ear to hear, a mind to accept, and a heart that is humble. (Based on Proverbs 15:1.) I thank you and offer this prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.

But as I read the prayer over and over I started thinking that I shouldn't have focused on the fact that maybe someone outside of my house heard my words- but two certain people inside my house.

How can I possibly expect my children (both tweeners) to speak respectfully to each other and to me when I don't speak respectfully to them. It's all in the tone of voice I tell them- as I say the words in an extremely harsh tone of voice.

I don't want to be one of those "do as I say not as I do" parents! I want to be a Christlike example!

Pray for me will ya??!!

It's a God Thing!!

Do you ever find it amazing the way God works?? Not surprised mind you, but amazed. I KNOW He works in mysterious ways and I KNOW He can do anything- but sometimes it just amazes me how things just come together.


For example- I've really been struggling with my prayer life. I pray- or rather I "pray". Do you know what I mean? I'm talking about the type of "praying" that consists of a few "thank you"s, a few "please"s and maybe a few "If you would only"s. I know that I need to learn to do some real PRAYING!! Well here is how the Lord has been working in my life....


***I just helped start a Reading Group at our church. We held our first meeting and I came armed with a long list of books I thought we could consider reading. As I sat in the meeting talking I suddenly had a thought- "This group needs to read The Yada Yada Prayer Group book". Even though I've read that book at least 3 times - I felt drawn to it again. And as I re-read it I was reminded of the power of prayer. I loved reading about Avis and Noni and how they prayed God's word out loud many times. I was reminded of how long it has been since I was on my knees praying and how much I needed this.


***I decided to start reading a Psalm a day while doing my quiet time (and as Jodi says in the Yada Yada book-why do they call it QUIET time- we need to be praising the Lord). I've been inserting my name in the Psalms as I read them and boy is it making me more aware of the words. Sometimes I do read them out loud and that makes it even more personal to me.

***I am using the book That I May Know Him More for my daily devotions and part of the study is about how God heard the prayers of Hagar and Hannah as they cried out to Him. Some of the verses that I have studied have truly touch my heart and have opened my eyes and heart to the importance of prayer and laying it all out there for God to hear.

***And then Tuesday night I attended my first Women's Ministry Council meeting and found out that the topic of the Fall Women's Retreat is ---None other than PRAYER!!!

Yes, it's truly a God thing! I love discovering God things in my life- don't you!!

Wordless Wednesday-Like Father Like Son

And the winners are...

Thanks to everyone that left comments for the giveaways!!

I hope that you'll keep coming back!!



Winner of the Hungry Girl Cookbook is WindyCindy! Couldn't find a blog for her, but I hope she and her DH enjoy the cookbook!

Winner of the 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels DVD is Missy! I checked out her blog- she has two beautiful twin girls! You should check out her blog! Missy, hope you enjoy the DVD- but girl ya don't look like ya need it at all! You're family is gorgeous!!!

I've sent you both e-mail! Will get these in the mail as soon as I get your mailing addresses. Hope you both enjoy them!!!