Be Still. Be Silent. Then Act and Speak Up!

Last Thursday I read a post by Amanda over at A Brownie World which really got the ol' brain waves moving.  She talked about just praying about something vs taking action in her post "Pray to be Stirred and Shaken".  I couldn't stop thinking about what she said.

Scripture tells us that sometimes we need to "be still".  And that sometimes "The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent". However I believe that the "be still" and "be silent" come just before the action.

That hurt... that frustration... that sickening feeling inside that Amanda talked about which we all feel when it comes to certain things?  I believe that is the beginning of God trying to use us. 

And that is the moment we need to be still, be silent, and listen.  Then - MOVE.  Step out in obedience and do something.Anything.  Something you think of as "small" might be the beginning of something BIG that God is going to do.

And the prayer?  That should be an ongoing part of the process.

 

Prayer is the part that helps us see when we should move.  Prayer is the part that keeps us going when we feel like giving up.  Prayer is the part when we offer praise for what God is doing through our actions.

So when something stirs your soul - Be still.  Be silent.  And then Act!  And never stop praying about it. 

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Friday Favorites - The Tim Tam Slam

Maybe you're like I was not so very long ago.  Maybe you're not familiar with the chocolately treat known as a Tim Tam.   Let alone ever heard of a Tim Tam Slam.  Well, let me tell you - we've been missing out!

I first became acquainted with the concept thanks to Good Mythical Morning.  And if you're not familiar these guys either - check them out!  A couple of Carolina boys who make my family laugh, and inspire some amusing, but slightly disturbing, games around our house.  But I digress... this isn't really about Rhett and Link.  It's about the wonder which is the Tim Tam!


How best to describe the Tim Tam slam?  Well... you could watch the above video. But in a nutshell... you bite off the opposite corners of the Tim Tam, use it a straw to suck up your coffee until it gets nice and mushy soft, then slam the whole thing in your mouth before it falls apart.

After seeing the video of the GMM guys learning the correct way to do a Tim Tam slam, I was intrigued by it.  And wanted a package of Tim Tams for my very own!  Sadly, I could not locate the treats at any of my local stores.  And that's where the  amazing fellow known as The Man of the House stepped in and provided me with Tim Tams as part of my Christmas presents.  (yeh, he's pretty awesome!!)

It. Was. On!! (No.  There is no video footage of me doing a slam.  Because.  There's just not.  Honestly, I didn't even think I would ever be writing about this)

Sadly, once my package of Tim Tams was gone - the fun had to end.   After searching everywhere he could think of, the Man of the House had to order them online.  And the price was well.. not cheap for a little package of cookies.  But - it's an Easter miracle! I just found them in the seasonal section at my local Target!  YES!!!

I grabbed two packages that day. And I will be heading back for more. Can we say "stock-piling"?

Have you ever had a Tim Tam?  Or done the Tim Tam Slam?  It's one of my current favorite things!

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Three Things I Love About Spring

Spring has sprung!

I'm not one of those who complain about winter or the cold weather.  But that doesn't mean I don't look forward to the springtime.  There are plenty of  reasons to adore the spring.  The Man of the House gets happy about softball season starting.  My Dad comes home from Florida.  Flip Flops. Easter. It's a great time of year!  And here's a few more reasons why...

1) Perfect temperatures - I am not a fan of the hot weather that summer brings.  I just can't take the heat anymore.  If I ever find a place on earth where the climate is consistently between 60 and 75 degrees all year - I am moving there!  Immediately.  Fortunately for a brief month or two, I get to enjoy that sort of weather right here.

2) The blooming trees and flowers - I just love the flora of spring time.  The daffodils. The tulips.  The dogwoods and lilacs.  Some of my favorite flowers! All here to herald the arrival of spring.

photo - publicdomainpictures.net

3) Not having to run the heat OR the air conditioner.  Spring and fall are the two friendliest seasons when it comes to the ol' electric bill.  Gotta love that.

What do you love about the springtime?

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We're All The Same

We are all the same in God's eyes.  Beloved prodigal children.  Wanted wanderers.  Sinners in need of redemption.  He loves all of us.  Deeply.  Freely.  Completely.

He died for all people.  The people you love.  And the ones you don't like very much.  He died for the ones who make you smile when you think of them.  And the ones who make you cringe.  He died for ALL of us.  Every single one. Because He loves each of us just that much.

(Yes.  Even that person you're thinking of right now.)

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A Spirit of Gratitude - March 23

Took a week away from the blog last week.  Spend some time with my sister and neices while they were in town.  Enjoyed the first days of Spring.  Renewed my Spirit a little bit.  It was wonderful.  It also means an extra long, two weeks worth of blessings, gratitude list!

I Am Thankful For

  Orders completed and ready to mail

Returning Customers

The Man of the House NOT working late

Ordering a new postal scale

The Man of the House helping me with new product ideas

Rainy mornings

A sale on one of my favorite yarns

New pillowcases

Clean bathrooms

JellyBeans

photo- publicdomainpictures.net

Time with the Man of the House

Swedish Fish

The family pitching in with housework

Babysitting the Grand Baby

Waking up to the cat biting my toes

Preparing for my sister's visit

Pi Day

Sleeping late

Grocery shopping with the Man of the House

Drying a great new chicken place (Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack)

Lazy Sunday Dinners

Bite sized chocolate bars

Great starts to the week

Getting all my errands done

Sister and neices arriving

Selling a "big" item

Girl Scout Cookies

Supplies for a new project

Staying up late talking with my sister

Lazy afternoons

Laughing until I can't catch my breath

Spring

Playing Apples to Apples with the whole gang

Playing outside with the Grand Baby

The Man of the House making dinner while I nap

Afternoon naps on the couch

 

 

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They All Weigh The Same

Jesus didn't just die for some of us because our sin wasn't too bad. And he didn't die for some of us because our sin was bad enough.  He died to redeem ALL of us from the prison of our sins.  The "big" sins, and the "small" sins.  He didn't pick and chose which sins he would carry up to the cross.  He felt the weight of each and every one of them. 

photo - publicdomainpictures.net

Sin is sin.  It's all the same in God's eyes.  We can play the justification game in our head.  You know the one... "well, at least I've never done that!"  But my sin was nailed up on that cross right along with yours - and everyone Else's.

We don't like to think about it.  We like to look at the Cross and focus on the after.  What came next.  The redemption.  The salvation.  That's all well and good.  It's great, in fact.  BETTER than great.  But especially during this Lenten season - until we acknowledge the sin and all the judgement and justice which it deserved, how can we fully appreciate the fullness of the gift of the forgiving?

 

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A Spirit of Gratitude - March 9

Ever just go through a period when you felt completely overwhelmed by gratitude?  Like you were just compelled to praise God, but even when you did it just didn't feel like enough?  That's pretty much right where I am right now.  It's as if blessing after blessing is being heaped into my life.  And yeh... it's a pretty great feeling. 

I AM THANKFUL FOR

Marking off the To Do list

Breakfast for Dinner (brinner)

2 Etsy sales within <2 hours="" p="">

Finding a good deal on a new dress

Fresh bed linens

Etsy orders ready to ship

Amazing Spring-like day

Surprise news from my sister

Mom's birthday

Business dinner with the Man of the House

Trying delicious new foods

Birthday lunch with my mom

New pj pants

Sushi

Clean house

Pizza night

Starburst jellybeans

New dishwasher

Nathan making dinner

Waking up early despite time change

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Feel Busy Getting Nothing Done

This week has felt - well... odd, somehow.

On one hand it has felt as if I have been a busy little bee.  On the other, it feels as if I have gotten next to nothing accomplished.

photo credit - publicdomainpictures.net

I have a strong suspicion that it might be the second of these.  One look at my weekly To-Do list seems to confirm this.

How can I feel as if I stay so busy, constantly working and moving - and yet get so little done?

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Been There, Done That

Friends, Jesus isn't just sitting up in Heaven on His throne looking down at us (literally or figuratively).

He knows.  He gets it.  He's been there.  Or here, as the case may be...

photo credit - publicdomainpictures.net

He was one of us.  He has worn the restraints of being human.  He fully understands and sympathizes with every weakness we battle.  Every temptation we face.  Every time we fall.

He understands.

And He WANTS TO HELP.  He wants to pour mercy and grace over us because He loves us.  All we have to do is open our hearts and ask for His strength.  His wisdom.  His love.  His mercy.

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A Spirit of Gratitude - March 2

This Week I am Thankful for

The grand baby asking me to play

The male offspring playing with his nephew

SunButter toast

Tiramisu latte (oh MY!)

Snow falling as the sun rises

Yarn on sale

Adorable hats

Greek yogurt with blueberries for dessert

Story time at the library

Having my items included in beautiful Etsy treasuries

Homemade chicken noodle soup

Turning off the alarm and going back to sleep

The quiet after a snow

Clean laundry

Date night

Potential (probable?) BIG future work prospects for the Man of the House

The grand baby showing an interest in using the potty (for about 5 minutes)

Old music videos (like, from when MTV really was MUSIC television)

The Man of the House reminding me to drink my water

The female offspring taking care of dinner

March coming in pretty much like a lamb

A pot of chili simmering on the stove

A new month

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