Using your time

Hello dear friends!
I'm thinking tonight about achieving goals and dreams. Some people really do the things they dream of, while others continue to dream. What separates them? Just the doing.

I was reading (upon recommendation from a fellow homeschooling mother) Susan Wise Bauer's blog. http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/ I must say, I was truly inspired. She is living out dreams. Now, it appears to be a LOT of work. And I'd like to know what time she goes to bed- but, it was impressive and inspiring.

On the topic of dreams- my friend Wendy (along with her hubby Paul) will be traveling to Ethiopia next week to pick up their son JT whom they are adopting! Follow their journey at http://journeytojt.blogspot.com/.

On a parallel note to achieving dreams, the topic of boundaries came up in Bible study today. I need to dig out Boundaries by John Townsend and Henry Cloud and reread it. Having clearly defined boundaries means more people win in my life more often. This sounds like a good idea! Here's a link to the book./http://www.amazon.com/Boundaries-When-Take-Control-Your/dp/0310247454/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209604986&sr=8-1

By the way- I link to all these books and stuff- I don't make any money off that- FYI- I just like recommending resources, plain and simple. However, if you KNOW of a way I can profit from these links... ah, just kidding! :)

How have you drawn boundaries in your life and how does it help you keep everything in place and create a more win-win environment for more people in your life?

A Mother's Legacy

Good Evening!
I have just watched a video online of Kristen (see previous post from a couple days ago) speaking at a MOPS meeting about "A Mother's Legacy". I was so blessed by this presentation! How Kristen can thank God for cancer is really just beyond my comprehension, but I have not walked with Him through that trial. Kristen has, and she thanks God- maybe not for getting to have cancer, but for the many, many blessings He has brought about because of it! You can watch this video here http://uncensored.citadel.org/igtube/MarchMeeting.html .

I was remiss in my previous post to not point you to www.inheritanceofhope.org. This is the website for Kristen and Deric's non-profit organization to reach out to other families who have a terminally ill parent. Her book is available there as well as more information about this much needed ministry- so check it out and see how you can support them!

Love to you all-
katherine

Serve the Lord with gladness...

I had a great experience today practicing a seldom presented skill. I got to practice interpretation of a dream. And as I practiced and then worked with a more gifted and experience interpreter and subsequently shared the interpretation with the dreamer, I was so blessed!!! (And, she was blessed as she received it- which is probably why I felt so blessed!)

All this to say, that it feels really good to be open to serving the Lord in whatever capacity, familiar or unfamiliar, when He has a job and we're available to do it!

If you haven't ever taken Lifekeys or SHAPE (or Network or... ) Check out the book and consider discovering more about the supernatural gifts that are still very much being bestowed upon the church today...
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=lifekeys

http://www.amazon.com/S-H-P-E-Finding-Fulfilling-Purpose/dp/031027009X/ref=pd_bbs_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209090973&sr=8-3

A charismatic approach to the gifts with good definitions can be found in
http://www.amazon.com/Experiencing-Spirit-Developing-Living-Relationship/dp/0830723617/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209092159&sr=1-1
This book is my husband's recommendation :)

Serving the Lord in the way He created you is one of the most fulfilling things on this earth... what is your calling and are you finding joy in fulfilling it?

Worship... part of the inspired life!

Good Evening friends!

Just wanted to give you a couple links for inspirational worship music!

first- http://www.worshiptogether.com/ look on the left hand side near the top for the purple button "New Music Jukebox". Great stuff!

Also- there's some good music at SovereignGrace.com (or sovereigngracemusic.org). My personal favorite right now is "O Great God". Find it here... http://www.sovereigngracestore.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=M4175-07-51 You can listen to a sample, read the lyrics- and if you like it- buy it for $1 :).

Pray for Kristen

Please Pray

for Kristen!

Dear Friends,

My friend Kristen received discouraging news from her doctor this past week. She has been fighting a rare lung cancer and it is being stubborn and is growing rapidly again- not responding to the horrible chemotherapy she has been doing. Would you please pray for her? Specific things to pray:

• Direction in next stage of treatment
• Encouragement and strength
• Peace of mind and trust in the Lord's good plan
• Strength for her husband Deric and children
• of course... complete removal of every cancerous cell from her body!!!

"13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." From James 5

This morning the Lord said through Pastor Ray "Trust me". I believe that was for us to cast off our worry and anxiety- and be reminded that God in control. He is working for Kristen, Deric, Ashlea, Luke, and Rebecca's good. We can trust Him with Kristen! Praise You Lord! We pray in faith! Thank you for praying- I know she appreciates it.
Blessings,
Katherine

Staying Focused

My last post was about counting my blessings rather than getting bogged down in silly self-pity or wrong thinking. I'm feeling so much better, personally- and I wonder what YOU do to keep yourself focused on what you want to accomplish- personally, as a parent, whatever. How do you "live the inspired life" and KEEP ON living it?

This image is called "Finding Inspiration"- seemed appropriate :)

Counting My Blessings

Good morning!
After experiencing some discouragement and warfare last night- I feel the Lord called me to "Count my blessings"- literally. There are so many in our world- really everyone- is suffering in some way. I have been so blessed in so many ways and needed to see in black in white what others are dealing with. It doesn't happen often, thankfully, but occasionally I go into a self-pity mode. (Please tell me I'm not the only one!) Not usually over anything big- but just a defeated countenance where I brood over imperfections or struggles. Undoubtedly I have someone in mind who does not struggle with the same things. (I omit in my thinking that they have their own struggles- everyone does!) I am including my basic format and verses so you can copy it (into Word perhaps) and count your own blessings! May you see how fortunate you are- to be a deeply loved child of God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. (If you don't feel that way- please email me and let me share the best news in the world with you!)

Happy Counting!
Katherine

It’s all in how you look at it...

2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. ~Psalm 103:2-5

16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.. ~John 1:16-17

My innumerable blessings...	Burdens that others bear...
Faith Family Home Erase these and make them specific to your life- and then contrast what some are going through

Refreshing Perspective on the Proverbs 31 Woman

Good Evening- well, good morning, actually(12:18am EST)! I just read a wonderful devotion- a preview of a book I ordered. CBD (Christian Book Distributors) has this Fab Friday sale they do each week and this week "Speaking Mom-ese" by Lisa Welchel was featured. The first devotion is on the Proverbs 31 woman- pretty standard topic- didn't really pique my interest. (Why I kept reading, I don't know...) but her perspective- which came from a word from the Lord, was just awesome!!! Here's the link- read it- then buy the book this weekend while it's only $1.99! (I'm going to have to unsubscribe from the Fab Friday email- it's pretty dangerous!) Great gift for all the moms in your life, too, with Mother's day just around the corner.
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product_slideshow?sku=289302&actual_sku=289302&slide=3&action=Next

See yourself as your Heavenly Father sees you through the work of Christ- perfect... He's a proud Father- and He's proud of you! Praise His Name!

Sweet Dreams,
katherine

Financial Self-Control

I have another resource for you! :) I think I have finally- on about the 3rd try- gotten Mvelopes set up and running and working for me! Mvelopes is an online program that takes the concept of using cash envelopes for family budgeting and brings it into the 21st century where it's all about plastic- be it debit or credit. In this program- which is reasonably priced at $10/mo.- you are able to see ALL your spending-be it checking account, credit cards, whatever (ok- if you pay cash, they can't track that- but who uses cash anymore?!?!). Each day- you have a list of transactions and you drag them to the appropriate "envelope"- for example- I bought a gift on Amazon for $15. I have an envelope that says gift- and we've budgeted a certain amount for gifts each month. When this transaction shows up on my list- I drag it to the gifts envelope. Now I paid with my credit card (because I earn 3 points for every dollar spent on Amazon!) and the program sees this and keeps track of how much I owe the credit card and where in my budget that money came from. It subtracts the $15 from the Gifts envelope and moves it to the "Pay to the Credit Card" envelope. Brilliant!

The ONLY drawback to the whole scenario is... you have to actually log in and assign the transactions every day- or every other day- or at the very least once a week! Otherwise, it looks just like another bank statement and is too overwhelming- nor do you remember what you bought at Amazon, why, and with what money you intended to pay for it! (been there, done that!) But, this time- I'm really making a go at it!

Here's my tip for remembering to log in and assign my transactions- I set my homepage to Mvelopes. And when I get online each day- there's just one or two transactions- not overwhelming in the slightest- and- as I make purchases now, I'm thinking "what envelope is this going to come out of?" - and it is inhibiting my spending with reality. This is a good thing :)

Try it out at www.mvelopes.com. Let me know how much debt it saves YOU from going into! :)
Blessings!
Katherine