HAPPY SATURDAY!!!

Hello everyone!  Sorry this week has been hit and miss. We are having some work done on our house and things have been very busy and messy.  I finally have everything cleaned up and furniture moved back.  I can even use the kitchen today.  Then they will be back on Monday to make another mess!

Today I just want to share another list from "Lists To Live By", compiled by Alice Grey, Steve Stephens, and JohnVanDiest.  I chose one about children, since our story this week was Elizabeth.

Page 267

QUALITIES TO PASS ON TO YOUR CHILDREN

 

DETERMINATION..........."Stick with it, regardless."

 

HONESTY.........."Speak and live the truth - always."

 

RESPONSIBILITY............"Be dependable, be trustworthy."

 

THOUGHTFULNESS............"Think of others before yourself."

 

CONFIDENTIALITY........"Don't tell secrets.  Seal your lips."

 

PUNCTUALITY.........."Be on time."

 

SELF-CONTROL......."When under stress, stay calm."

 

PATIENCE........"Fight irritability.  Be willing to wait."

 

PURITY.............."Reject anything that lowers your standards."

 

COMPASSION........."When another hurts, feel it with him."

 

DILIGENCE............"Work hard. Tough it out."

 

-Charles R. Swindoll

From "Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life"

 

 

Blessings,

Shannon

THIS WEEK............

MAIN DISH MONDAY

 

Baked Spasagna

 

http://www.plainchicken.com/2012/02/baked-spasanga.html

 

I am anxious to try this, as my kids LOVE spaghetti and lasagna.  Now I have to figure out how to make it diet friendly.

 

TASTY TREAT TUESDAY

 

White Chocolate Brownies

 

http://pinrecipes.blogspot.com/2012/12/white-chocolate-brownies.html

 

I love white chocolate, so I am sure these will be a hit.

 

WORDS OF WISDOM WEDNESDAY

 

WHAT IS LOVE?

 

Love delights in giving attenion rather than attracting it.

Love finds the element of good and builds on it.

Love does not magnify defects.

Love is a flame that warms but never burns.

Love knows how to disagree without becoming disagreeable.

Love rejoices at the success others instead of being envious.

 

From Lists to Live By - Alice Grey, Steve Stephens, and JohnVanDiest -  Page 66

ELIZABETH - Rejoicing

Scripture :  Luke 1:5-80

Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, is a wonderful example of having faith in the promises the Lord has made to us.  She knew that when God said she would bear a son, that it would happen indeed. We have had previous blogs about the promises God has made to us.  Go to the archives in the right column if you would like to view. Elizabeth was so excited when the foretelling came true.  She is also a model for having a rejoicing and thankful attitude. She showed her praise to the Lord with beautiful words.  When she found out that Mary was with child also, she praised even more!!!  It said she exclaimed in a loud voice.  How would you react if you were in her position?  Would you believe that God can make the impossible turn to possible?  Do you remember to praise Him for the blessings you have in your life?

Luke 12:45 - "And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."

Children are a gift from God and should be treated as such.  All children, whether your own or someone else's, are a beautiful blessing.  How do you appreciate your children?  What do you do to help children besides your own or if you are not a mother yet?  God is the giver of life and we must respect His creations.  God creates each little life in the womb and we are responsible for their keeping both in the womb and for the rest of their life.

Luke 18:15-17
"And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein."

Psalm 127:3-5
"Children are an inheritance from the LORD. They are a reward from him.   The children born to a man when he is young are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.   Blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them. He will not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the city gate."

May we all be like Elizabeth and Mary.  We need to believe in God's promises and praise Him for our blessings, especially children.  Take time now and each day to pray for your chidren, or for the children in your life if you have not been blessed with your own.

We always hear people say that children are the future, and they are.  Let's invest in them.

Blessings,
Shannon

ELIZABETH - THE STORY

Elizabeth

Name means "God is my oath"

Scripture :  Luke 1:5-80

Elizabeth lived in Judea and was a descendant of Aaron.  She was known by her faithfulness to God's word and for being called blameless for keeping his commandments.  She was called "upright in the sight of God".

She was married to Zechariah and they were both of old age.  They had no children, as she was barren.  Zechariah was burning incense before the most holy place and an angel, called Gabriel, appeared to him and frightened him.  The angel told him,

"Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.  (John the Baptist)
And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Because of his disbelief, Zechariah was struck mute, and would not be able to speak until the birth of the child.  Elizabeth conceived and hid herself for 5 months. In her sixth month the same angel, Gabriel, appeared unto the virgin Mary and told her of Elizabeth's pregnancy. They were cousins and this news excited Mary.  However, Mary was also told by the angel  that she would soon be mother to the Son of God.  She went to visit Elizabeth and tell her the good news.  When Elizabeth was greeted by Mary, the baby leaped in her womb.  They were both believers and knew that they had been greatly blessed among all women.