Congratulations...

Congratulations, Mrs. Lori B.

Thank you, everyone, for participating
and for all of your kind comments!

Delicious Lemon Bars

As I was at my friends' house yesterday,
we decided we'd make some lemon bars.

They turned out really good, so
I thought I'd share some photos and the recipe...

2/3 cup margarine
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
4 eggs
4 Tbsp flour
6 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 Tsp baking powder

Beat margarine with electric mixer on high for 30 seconds.
Add 1/2 cup of sugar. Beat till combined
Beat in the 2 cups of flour till crumbly.
Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13-inch pan.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 16 minutes or until just golden.
Meanwhile, combine the remaining ingredients.
Pour over hot baked layer.
Bake about 20 minutes more or till lightly browned around edges.
If desired, sift powdered sugar over the top.
ENJOY!

Here we were making them...

Here's how they turned out...
They were delicious!

Live Each Day As Your Last

Do you ever feel like you’ve been a failure?
Like you try hard but it seems like you can
never be the person God wants you to be?
Or feel like you’re wasting time and

aren’t doing anything for the Lord?
I have!
There are so many times I know what I should be doing,
but I do what I want to do instead,
thinking “I can do that later” or “I can quit doing this later”.
Twice in the Bible it talks about redeeming the time.
(Ephesians 5:16 and Colossians 4:5)
Because when this life is over,

only what’s done for Christ will last.
We only have one chance to do the Lord’s will.

A while ago in Sunday school, we had read:
“For God shall bring every work into judgment,

with every secret thing,
whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

~ Ephesians 12:14

EVERY thing we do will appear at the judgment seat of Christ.
Now that’s kind of a scary thought!
I think sometimes we get so wrapped up in ourselves,
we don’t keep it straight in our minds

that God is watching us, always.
He knows EVERY thought, action, desire, & imagination.
And sometimes, when the Lord reveals what we have been doing,
we may say “Oh, I’m sorry, forgive me Lord!”

and then go and do it again!

The fact is, we don’t know how long we are going to be here.
God can take us whenever He pleases.
So, the challeng is to live each day as your last.
If this was your very last day on earth,

how would you spend it for the Lord?
Life is only so long-

made up of so many days, hours,
and minutes to make the right choice.
Once that time goes by, there’s no pushing rewind

and redoing it the way it should have been done.

Now, death isn’t the only thing

that will end our chance.
Jesus says,
“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day
nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”

~ Matthew 25:13

He also says,
“Watch ye therefore, and pray always,

that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all
these things that shall come to pass,

and to stand before the Son of man.”

~ Luke 21:36

We are commanded to watch, for Jesus may come anytime!
Before we do something, we might want to think,
"Would I want to be doing this when Jesus comes back?”
Sometimes we think, “I just can’t! I’ve tried! It’s too hard!”
But God tells us that,
“I can do all things through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”

~ Philippians 4:13

Just ask Him for the strength

and He’ll give it to you.

I have had struggles, specifically with my thought life,
but hadn’t been experiencing real success

until I started turning my battles completely over to the Lord.
God gives us the strength to do what He commands.
He doesn't want us to feel like failures.
All we have to do is admit that we can’t do it without Him,
and ask Him for victory daily.
“Ask, and it shall be given you…”

~ Matthew 7:7a

This ‘shall’ is a promise.
If we ask in faith, we will receive.
As one of my favorite songs says,
“The battle is His, the victory is mine; And victory is sweet!”

He will give us the victory!
"But thanks be to God, which giveth us
the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

1Corinthians 15:57

I encourage you to live each day as your last.
Watch for Jesus, He’ll be here any time!

Isn't God's Creation Interesting?

Outside of our church

there are black-eyed susans growing in abundance.

(Black Susans, as my lil' sisters call them)

We all love to pick them after the service.

Wednesday evening, after church,

we found quite an interesting one.

It had petals growing from it's 'eye'. ;o)

Isn't God's creation interesting??

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

and the firmament sheweth his handywork."

~ Psalm 19:1

Romantic Dreams… Taking Every Thought Captive

(Transferred from my previous blog)

In continuation of my notes...

Many of us maidens have spent, at least, a few times
thinking, dreaming, wondering, imagining, &
asking the Lord about our futures.
While it is completely normal to wonder and think
about what might be in store for us,
we often find that the enemy
will use this area to distract us
from our focus on Christ.
In addition to our own struggles with our thoughts,
not to mention the influences around us,
is the fact that sooner or later
we're likely to meet a young man that we 'like'.

The problem isn't so much as having a 'crush',
but how we respond to it.
One of the annoying things about 'crushes'
is that they happen so quickly.
We can meet a young man,
and before we ever really know him,
we can find ourselves daydreaming about him,
possibly attaching our first name
to his last name to see how it sounds,
and maybe picking out colors for our bridesmaid's dresses.
And when we finally notice what we're doing,
we feel disgusted or embarrassed,
and purpose not to think about it anymore.
But 5 minuets later,
we suddenly realize we've just been
dreaming of "so and so" all over again...
wondering what our children would look like,
or listing good places to go on a honeymoon, and so on.
So what should we do?

It's a really good idea
not to talk about him with friends,
give any indications that you might be
interested in him or dwelling on thoughts of him.
One of the best ways
is to talk to your parents about it.
Though this may seem to be
difficult, scary, or embarrassing,
they likely already know how you feel anyway.
This way they will be better able to
pray for, protect, and advise you.

Another idea would be
to say a quick prayer for this particular young man,
(and not to pray that he would be God's will )
but that he would be strong in the Lord
and be faithful in bringing forth fruit in his life.
But I, also, recommend NOT praying for
this particular young man often or in detail.
Whether or not he really is God's will,
which he will reveal to you in His timing, if he is)
our responsibility is to trust God in the area of marriage;
treat the young man in the same way
we would treat any other brother in Christ,
and focus on the Lord and doing His will.


"Casting down imaginations,
and every high thing that exalteth itself
against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity
every thought to the obedience of Christ"
~ 2 Corinthians 10:5

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,
think on these things.
Philippians 4:8

First Day of Summer Giveaway...

Today is the official first day of summer!

To bring in the new summer season,

I thought it would be fun to have a

First Day of Summer Giveaway.

The prize will be a new 'summery' purse

that I crocheted this week.

The purse is an orange sherbert theme

with summer daisy pockets and straps.

To participate:

1. Leave a comment on THIS post

2. Please link this giveaway

in a post on your blog.

If you'd like,

you can use the above graphic. ;o)

To use the graphic,

you'll need to click on it

to bring it up in a new window

and then save it.

If you don't have a blog,

you can still participate

by leaving a comment with your name

and then check for the winner

on next Saturday. ;o)

Contest will end

Friday, June 29th, 2007 at midnight.

Winner will be announced that Saturday morning.

Below are some photos of the purse.

It's such a cutie!

Happy Summer!

Is He The One?

(Transferred from my previous blog)
In continuation from my notes from reading
"Before You Meet Prince Charming"...


While many young maidens have chosen not to date,
many of them seem to think
that the 1st man who asks to court is 'the one.'
Just because a young man approaches Father the right way,
and he says that he's 100% sure you're the one!...
doesn't make him the right one.
You must have peace in your mind and heart,
and not respond in fear that there might not be another.
We need to be honest and wise, and if he isn't the right one,
we must tell him no.

When a young man expresses interest in you,
it's quite flattering, and naturally you don't want to hurt him.
But it is neccesary to realize the Satan might offer his "best"
before God brings His best.
And God makes it plain that we, as Christains,
are not to marry an unbeliever.
Because when we get married,
our goal becomes to please our husband.
How miserable it would be to marry a man
who did not want his children in church,
or didn't make decisions based on the Bible.

Yet, while it is very important not to marry an unbeliever,
it's just as neccesary to marry a strong Christain.
Our husband needs the same vision,
commitments, and life purpose we have.
And vice versa.
When wondering if "he's the one",
it's a good idea to list some qualifications he should live up to.

A few qualifications could be*

- Does he have assurance of eternal life?
- Does he faithfully share the gospel with others?
- Is he always truthful?
- Is he commited to never being divorced?
- Does he honor his parents?
- Has he applied diligence in spiritual disciplines
such as Bible reading, prayer, fasting, memorization, and giving?
- Does he make all decisions based upon the Word of God?
- Would you be excited to have him as father of your children?
- Is he diligent in his work and wise in his use of money?
- Is God calling you in the same direction of ministry?
- Does he ask forgivness when he is wrong?
- Is he humble and willing to be a servant?
- Is he kind, thoughtful, and gracious?
- Is he generous with others?
- Does he respond to criticism in a Christlike way?
- Is he willing to stand alone?
- Do you see spiritual fruit in his life?

(* qualifications quoted from the book)

Most importantly, look for fruit in a young man's life.
It's not enough that he just says he wants to serve the Lord,
we need to see spiritual fruit in his life.
It is also important to know if we're ready for marriage as well.
It's good to think 'what kind of godly character traits would
the man I'm looking for look for in a wife?'
Try to come up with ideas and start preparing now.
It's never too late or too early to prepare.

Three words to remember in this area...
"Saved, Separated, and Serving"


"Be not unequally yolked together with unbelievers:
for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrightousness?
And what communion hath light with darkness?"
2 Corinthians 6:14

Fun At the Church Picnic

Saturday was our annual church picnic,

and it was SO much fun!
There are about 300 photos I have to choose from,

but I'll try to only post a few;0)
My Mom posted some on her blog,

so I'll try posting ones she didn't.

It started out with a few games.

First, we had to throw a football through boxes.

Then we kicked a ball into a tarp.

After that, we shot paintballs with a slingshot...

which was really funny because

the picture on the target

was of the youth pastor,

which he put up himself!

Afterwards, we tossed frisbees

and spit watermelon seeds.

Then, my personal favorite, we shot hoops!

Carolynne used the tires for her hoop...

Beth...

Will...

Me...

Mommy...

Then we headed over for some really great food...

After the food, we went out to play a game of frisbee...

Then everyone wanted to go fishing...

The lil girls also fished.
I thought this was a cute picture of them...

After fishing, we got out in the paddle boat...

We started splashing some,
but the girls didn’t like it.
So we dropped them off
and headed out to get a little wet!

We had a great time!
And in that great time,
I caught Mom in some of her candid moments…

Hee hee! I love you Mom!
I hope you all enjoy your week.

Our Puzzling Puzzle

We have owned a very challenging puzzle

for quite some time now.
It's only 9 pieces, but very difficult...

My daddy and I have done it once,
years ago,
but no one has been able to put it back together...
until now;0)
We would spend long amounts of time
on it and couldn't figure it out.
But for some reason, Thursday,
I grabbed it out of boredom and decided to try it, again.
Around 2 minuets later... viola!

I couldn't believe it!
After so much time of being puzzled by it,
I put it together! I was thrilled!

I know that I haven't been posting much lately.
My health has been a bit down again.
But I hope to do some posting on Monday
about our day today!
It was a great church fellowship,
that we spent over 6 hours at!!
And I can't wait to share!
Have a blessed Lord's Day tomorrow.

Count It All Joy...

Below is a song
that is in a book that we own
from The Wilds.
The Lord has been showing me how
He uses trials to bring us closer to Him.
The words to this song
speak to my heart in a special way.


Count It All Joy

When the ways of God
unequal seem to be,
And the trials He sends
appear too hard for thee,
He has promised you His wisdom
shall be given lib'rally:
If you ask in faith with patience,
soon His purpose you shall see.


(Chorus)

Count it all joy
when darkness clouds the path you've trod.
Trust in His Word
that the secret things belong to the Lord our God.
Count it all joy
and for the crown of life endure.
Let you patience make you
perfect and complete in all His will,
And the grace of God employ
to count it all joy.


As with Job,
the Lord doth often hid His face;
Still He's faithful
to provide a secret place
To escape from each temptation
thru His all sufficient grace,
So rejoice in tribulation,
and your trial now embrace.


(Chorus)
Count it all joy
when darkness clouds the path you've trod.
Trust in His Word
that the secret things belong to the Lord our God.
Count it all joy
and for the crown of life endure.
Let you patience make you
perfect and complete in all His will,
And the grace of God employ
to count it all joy.

Guarding Our Hearts

Transferred from my previous blog:

In continuation from my notes...

In order to keep completely pure and focused on

God's will, we need to guard our hearts.
The heart isn't just emotions,

it's the internal force in everything we do.
What the heart desires is the most powerful force in our lives.
Therefore, we really need to guard it from any influences
seeking to distract, pollute, or steal our hearts.
Throughout our lives, we will obviously come across all sorts of men.
It's important to know how to have friendships while still guarding our hearts.
It's good to keep in mind that it is OK to be friends with young men,
but there are essential cautions to keep in mind...

1. Keep the friendship casual.
There are different kinds of friendships;

aquaintnaces, casual friendships,
close friendships, and intimate friendships.
If we purpose in our hearts to keep pure,
then we need to keep it at an aquaintance or casual level.
We can do this by not opening up and sharing personal information,
and keeping conversations short.

2. Avoid situations that will create emotional bonds.
When talking with young men, it should be in the

company of parents or other families.
Being alone or talking a long 1 on 1 talk will make it

tempting to open up and share your heart with him.

NOT GOOD!
We want to give our husband our full heart...

without any peices missing.

3. Don't seek attention for yourself.
Yes, most of us desire to get attention from guys...

And it's very hard not to try.
But the same attentions we desire,

God is waiting to give them to us!
He's waiting for us with open arms, and attentive ears,
and He cares about us more than we could ever understand.

4. Ask parents for guidance.
God knows our family situations, and He planned and picked out
every family member custom-made for each of us!
He'll help us and guide us through our parents.
If you're not sure how to respond friendly with

guys, ask your parents for advice.
If you're worried about a guy liking you and don't

know how to respond, discuss it with your parents.
I've learned there's nothing I can't talk to my parents about.
And I find that it really helps and I feel MUCH better!

5. Avoid influences that pollute thoughts
If we truly desire to guard our hearts,
then it's obvious we need to avoid any influences distracting our thoughts,
or causing us to desire wrong things.

-Movies and television
TVs full of evil concepts, words, actions,

and pictures that can easily pollute our minds.
"I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:" Psalm 101:3a

-Music
Listening to certain things, like worldly music,

can easily sway us off God's path without us even noticing.
Lyrics that aren't pleasing to God shouldn't enter into the heart.
"I hate the work of them that turn aside;

it shall not cleave to me." Pslam 101:3b
"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" Ephesains 5:19

-Dress
Dressing worldly or 'like everyone else' can definately distract us.
As Christains, we're the children of the King of Kings,
and we need to separate oursleves from the world's ways and fashions.
We can do this by not wearing anything that

brings attention to ourselves,
or makes us imagine sinful imaginations.
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good,
and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2

-Internet
Be vigilent in guarding the eyes!
Be very careful about whom you come in contact with online,

avoid chat rooms, and if you're allowed to surf,

do so with great discernment.
Be sure to tell your parents if you run into

anything you didn't intend to see.
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil,
as a roaring lion, walketh about,

seeking whom he may devour:" 1 Peter 5:8

Finally, we must leave no vacancies!
Purpose that we cannot let the enemy in and protect ourselves from it
by allowing our minds to be filled with God's thoughts.


"Keep thy heart with all diligence;
for out of it are the issues of life."
Proverbs 4:23