10/1/08 Bible, Autumn Crafts, Marriage, Spelling, MOPS, Sundays, Proverbs, All-Wise
Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for you with love by Lois Breneman
~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~
10/1/08 Bible, Autumn Crafts, Marriage, Spelling, MOPS, Sundays, Proverbs, All-Wise
~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~
I suggest you print out this newsletter to read at your convenience, but save the original e-mail for checking websites.
Feel free to share this complete newsletter with women and encourage them to e-mail me for a free subscription. Instructions appear at the very end of each newsletter. Thanks!
Prevent this newsletter from coming to you as SPAM. Add [email protected] and [email protected] to your address book to help guide these newsletters into your Inbox. Contact your e-mail service provider for instructions.
Please Send Address Changes to Remain on the E-mailing List - Reply to newsletter with name & old and new address.
THE ENTIRE BIBLE IN ONE E-MAIL - ALSO COMING TODAY!
DOUGH LEAF MAGNETS
PAINTED PICTORIAL PUMPKINS, and PERFECT PRACTICALITIES
MORE AUTUMN DECORATIONS
ACCEPT THE 21 DAY ROMANCE CHALLENGE
HUMOR IN MARRIAGE
SPELLING TIPS
EDUCATIONAL LINKS OF INTEREST
ENCOURAGEMENT FROM ATTENDING MOPS (MOTHERS OF PRESCHOOLERS)
SUNDAY PREPARATION - HOW TO HAVE MORE PEACEFUL SUNDAY MORNINGS
A HELPFUL LIST TO PLAN AHEAD FOR SUNDAY MORNINGS
PICTURE BOOK OF PROVERBS
SPARKLING GLASSES AND DISHES
TIPS AND TIDBITS
GOD IS ALL-WISE
DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN THIS CRITICAL ELECTION - OCTOBER 6!
LOOK FOR A NEWSLETTER ON QUICK AND EASY MEALS IN TWO WEEKS!
Thanks to Paula Archer in Nebraska for this most wonderful e-mail! Watch for yours today!
By Amanda Formaro - http://www.familycorner.com - Used by permission
Difficulty: Very Easy - Age: 4 and up
2 cups of plain flour
1 cup plain salt
1/2 cup hot tap water
<!--
This craft belongs to the following categories:
--><!-- Hide This For Now
-->
Now that the kids are back in school, the need for hanging things on the fridge has returned. Why not make your own magnets for hanging that precious artwork and those A+ papers with? A fun project for any age!
What You'll Need:
Leaf shaped cookie cutters
Acrylic paint in red, yellow, green, orange and brown
Paint brush
Toothpick
Acrylic spray sealer, matte
½" round magnets
Hot glue gun
- Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
- Mix together, salt, flour, and water until a dough is formed.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface until the mixture is elastic and smooth. If dough is too sticky, sprinkle with flour, continue to do so until stickiness is gone. Do not add too much flour, this will dry out the dough and will cause it to crack before you get a chance to bake it.
- Roll out the dough to about ¼" thick with a rolling pin that has been dusted with flour.
- Use different sized cookie cutters to create as many shapes and sizes of leaves that you want.
- For smaller children, use a single shape to make it easier at painting time. For older children, you can double up and even triple some of the leaves for a 3D effect.
- If desired, use the toothpick to draw lines in the leaves.
- Place all leaves onto an ungreased cookie sheet and place into the preheated oven.
- Bake for two hours.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
- Paint with acrylic paints and spray finished leaves with acrylic sealer.
- Hot glue a round magnet to the back of each leaf and hang on the fridge!
Tips:
- Parents should not allow small children to handle a glue gun as burns can occur. Older children should be closely supervised if allowed to handle themselves.
- Instead of a toothpick you can use the sharp edge and point of a small kitchen paring knife, but again, only parents should handle these types of utensils.
- Salt dough will not keep for a later project, it will get hard and crack. Depending on how many ornaments you plan to make, you can either halve the recipe or double it.
Step Two: Reaffirm your commitment
Did you know that marriage was the first human institution God ordained? The second chapter of Genesis describes this drama, which occurred just after God created the heavens and the earth.
Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:18-25)
The first thing to note from this passage is that Adam accepted God's gift totally—he received Eve as God's gift to Him. He trusted God totally, knowing this woman was God's provision for his needs.
Many marriages today are insecure and crumbling because the husband and wife have stopped accepting each other. They have stopped trusting God. Instead they are focusing on their differences and weaknesses.
The end of this passage includes a powerful verse that reads, "For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). In this one sentence we find three additional guidelines for building a strong and godly marriage: leave, become united, and become one flesh. These are not multiple choice; all three are required for success.
Leaving your father and mother means establishing independence from them, or from any others who may have reared you. It's amazing how many people have failed to do this. They may look very adult and act very mature and sophisticated, but deep down inside they've never really cut the apron strings.
The Hebrew word for "leave" literally means, "forsake dependence on." Many people get married, but continue depending on their parents for money or for emotional support. Dependence on parents undermines the interdependence you are to build as husband and wife. It's important for you to "leave" your parents while also obeying the fifth commandment, which calls us to honor them.
Being united to your spouse means forming a permanent bond. It means committing yourself to a lifelong marriage. Unfortunately, commitment is the missing ingredient in many marriages. Many people bail out of marriage when the relationship changes or becomes more difficult. But in God's original plan, there were to be no escape hatches, no bailout clauses in the contract. When God joins two people together, it is for keeps. As the marriage vows say, "'Til death do us part."
The final directive in this passage, to "become one flesh," refers not only to the physical union of a husband and wife in marriage, but also to every other area of life, including spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and social. The Genesis passage goes on to say that Adam and Eve were "...both naked and were not ashamed" (Genesis 2:25). They felt no fear or rejection. Instead they felt total acceptance by each other. Being bathed in the warmth of knowing that another person accepts you is what makes marriage a true joy.
When a husband and wife truly leave, become united, and become one flesh, they experience what I call "oneness," which is the opposite of isolation in marriage. This is a true unity of body and soul, a total commitment to God and to each other.
Remember what we said earlier about the world's "50/50 plan" for marriage? To experience oneness in your relationship you need to commit to the "100/100 plan." This plan requires a 100 percent effort from each of you to serve your mate. Rather than, "You do your part and I'll do mine," each spouse needs to say, "I will do what I can to love you without demanding an equal amount in return. I am committed to this relationship for a lifetime, and I will do whatever it takes to make our marriage work."
ACCEPT THE 21 DAY ROMANCE CHALLENGE
Chuck and Eileen Rife - http://www.iwanttomakemymarriagework.com - Used by permission
From time to time, every married couple needs a romance boost! The relationship gets stale, daily cares take over, and before you know it, the excitement and closeness is gone.
HUMOR IN MARRIAGE
An elderly gent was invited to an old friends' home for dinner one evening. He was impressed by the way his buddy preceded every request to his wife with endearing terms such as: Honey, My Love, Darling, Sweetheart, Pumpkin, etc. The couple had been married almost 70 years and clearly, they were still very much in love.
While the wife was in the kitchen, the man leaned over and said to his host, "I think it's wonderful that, after all these years, you still call your wife those loving pet names."
The old man hung his head. "I have to tell you the truth," he said, "Her name slipped my mind about 10 years ago and I'm scared to death to ask her what it is!"
On their 50th wedding anniversary, a couple summed up the reason for their long and happy marriage. The husband said, "I have tried never to be selfish. After all, there is no 'I' in the word 'marriage.' "
The wife said, "For my part, I have never corrected my husband's spelling."
Source: Mickey's Funnies at http://www.mikeysfunnies.com/
SPELLING TIPS
By Lois Breneman, Revised 2008, Heart to Heart Newsletter, [email protected]
Please Note: These stories are neither fact nor sensible fiction. They are silly stories strictly for the purpose of grouping spelling words together that apply to specific spelling rules for later recall. I wrote these while homeschooling. You could do this with any spelling rules for easier learning. Homeschoolers may want to give their children a list of these two sets of words and ask them to make up their own nonsense stories. I'd love to read them!
A Nonsense Story for "ei" Words
Spelling Rule: "I" before "E" except after "C" and in words that have a vowel sound as in "neighbor" and "weigh." All of the following highlighted words in this story are "ei" words.
The foreign heiress had to forfeit her reign at the height of her popularity, because of her conceited spirit. When she did, her people seized her veil, her weird counterfeit crown, and the receipt for all the royal freight. They carried everything away in their sleighs and received each other as neighbors. When she heard how they had deceived her, all her weight hit the ceiling and burst a blood vein! Neither of her eight children would lend her a hand. Her husband wouldn't either. So ends the story of conceit and deceit!
A Nonsense Story for Plurals
Spelling Rule: For "f" and "fe" words, usually drop "f' or "fe" abd add "ves," except in the following highlighted words, simply add "s."
The giraffes climbed up the cliffs onto the roofs with handcuffs on their hoofs, of which we have many proofs. They were caught redhanded by the chiefs and dwarfs.
The chiefs have documented beliefs about dwarfs in their safes. When dwarfs die, the chiefs show their griefs by blowing their noses in their handkerchiefs!
EDUCATIONAL LINKS OF INTEREST
Compiled by Debi Taylor-Hough, Editor of Bright-Kids - http://brightkids.wordpress.com
Used by permission
Geography Bee
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee
National Geographic sponsors a "Geography Bee" each year. They also have a fun website containing several geography questions that change each day. Great practice for your
Geography Bee participants, or just for a bit of educational fun.
ScienceMaster
http://www.sciencemaster.com/
From their home page: "At ScienceMaster, each major science category has its own page, chock full of information, news, links, pictures, products and services, with the best content from NASA, the USGS, the EPA, NOAA leading colleges & universities. ScienceMaster is the place to learn about the universe, or space, find information on volcanos, and global warming, explore plants, animals or DNA, and study physics or chemistry."
Meteorites Don't Pop Corn
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast27jul_1.htm
"A fireball that dazzled Americans on July 23rd was a piece of a comet or an asteroid, scientists say. Contrary to reports, however, it probably didn't scorch any cornfields." This webpage contains educational information about the July meteorite, fireballs in general, and scientific explanations for why meteorites don't actually scorch the ground when they hit the earth.
View from Space
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/index.html
I thought this was interesting -- a simulation of seeing our sun from far out in the galaxy, then closer, and closer until you're looking at an oak tree on Earth ... then narrowing the view until
you're looking at the DNA strands of a leaf, seeing the protons, etc. (Submitted by: Marilyn B.)
ENCOURAGEMENT FROM ATTENDING MOPS (MOTHERS OF PRESCHOOLERS)
Thanks to my daughter-in-law, Rachael Breneman, for sending this e-mail from her sister-in-law, Brittney Walton. Brittney has given consent for her e-mail to be included in Heart to Heart.
Seach for a MOPS group in your area at http://www.mops.org/ MOPS is such a wonderful encouragement to mothers of preschool children, and there's a place for your little ones while you are being encouraged.
Rachael: Brittney went to her first MOPS meeting and came home reassured that she is "normal" and that her kids are worth it! I laughed and cried when I read her email. I was having a rough day yesterday when I read this and God spoke to my heart. It's good to have reminders like this. Here it is:
Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.
The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.
- Ruth Hulbert Hamilton
I guess sometimes we get consumed with "doing" what needs done. And there are legitimate things that need to be done, but if we get too involved at figuring out how much we have to do or how it'll all get done we might just miss the little moments that make being a mother so special. So today, I'm going to play kitchen with my Grace and let my little boy slobber all over while he scoots across the floor and appreciate this time that is going to leave so fast. I'm going to Thank God for giving me these 2 beautiful kids to love and to kiss and to hold in my arms and I'm going to ignore the laundry and the dishes, I'm going to order a pizza for supper and, just for now, I'm going to play, play, play...........and I'll pray God sends a housekeeper to pick up my mess that I'll deal with tomorrow!!!!! Just wanted to share, for what it's worth.
SUNDAY PREPARATION - HOW TO HAVE MORE PEACEFUL SUNDAY MORNINGS
By Lois Breneman, © 1999, Revised 2008, Heart to Heart Newsletter, [email protected]
As many of you already know, Sunday mornings can be quite stressful, especially for families with small children, however, there is help through simply planning and delegating!
After our second child was born, I immediately noticed that it was a lot more hectic in
our home as we prepared to go to Sunday school and church. I had to dress our two year old, nurse the baby, dress the baby, get dressed myself, feed us all breakfast, put dinner in the oven, get the diaper bag packed, and nurse the baby on the way to church (before seat belt restrictions like today). It can be overwhelming! You've been there, haven't you?
Something had to change, so in a calm and quiet moment, I let my husband know that
it was just too much for me to handle on a Sunday morning. I let him know where I could use some help and asked him what he would like to do to help. He was very willing to help and offered to be in charge of getting our two year old daughter dressed, making the bed, as well as making a nice breakfast for the family. That helped immensely and he's been making breakfast on Sunday mornings for more than 34 years now, even for just the two of us, now that the children are all married and living on their own. I let him know how much I still appreciate his help. When we have company, he's the Sunday morning chef! What a treat that is for me, and he seems to enjoy it as well! His specialties are orange-vanilla French toast, pancakes, or eggs with coffee cake or toast.
A HELPFUL LIST TO PLAN AHEAD FOR SUNDAY MORNINGS
By Lois Breneman, © 1999, Revised 2008, Heart to Heart Newsletter, [email protected]
In order to make Sunday mornings even more stress-free, I tried to think of additional short
cuts to simplify our lives - anything that could be done ahead of time. Here is a list of things
we did the day before that may help your family to have more harmonious Sunday mornings, if you're not already doing them.
*Pack diaper bag. (Keep a list of necessary items to pack on an index card in the pocket of the bag. This makes packing the bag each time quick and easy).
*Help children memorize any scripture verses for Sunday school class during the week.
*Plan everybody's clothes for Sunday the day before. Have them clean, pressed and hanging out ready to put on, down to underwear, shoes, socks, jewelry, etc.
*Have older children help plan with you the day before.
*Polish shoes, if needed.
*Put items by the door as soon as possible that you need to take along, such as Bible, notebook, purse, diaper bag.
*Stick a Post-It note by the door, listing additional last minute reminders, such as "bottle of milk," and "Put dinner in oven."
*Plan a meal to bake in the oven while you are in church, adjusting the temperature for 3 to 4 hours. A 250-275 degree temperature works for most dishes. Try this out on weekdays first.
*Plan dishes you can prepare ahead of time and stick in the oven before you leave the house.
*Make a list of "Sunday Meals" that will work for you.
By Lois Breneman, © 2005, Heart to Heart Newsletter, [email protected]
Recently because of drought conditions, our water source was diverted. As a result we suddenly had very hard water, and our glasses, silverware and dishes were coming out of the dishwasher very cloudy and terrible looking. The only way I could remove it was to wash them by hand in vinegar, but there's a better solution below. Our dishwasher also had a mineral coating inside, which is harmful, and will shorten the life of a dishwasher.
2. Fill the small detergent compartment in your dishwasher with baking soda.
Cash in on "Free" Heat when the temperature drops! Drying clothes in the dryer, running the dishwasher, water distiller, dehumidifier, or oven will all give off heat. By doing these jobs at strategic times, you may be able to hold off on starting the heat a bit longer.
One hot day a young seminarian was taking it easy in the shade of a walnut tree. After a time he started eyeing speculatively the huge pumpkins growing on vines and the small walnuts growing on a majestic tree.
'Sometimes I just can't understand the ways of God,' he mused. Just 'fancy letting tiny walnuts grow on so majestic a tree and huge pumpkins on the delicate vines!'
Just then a walnut snapped off and fell smack on the seminarian's bald head. He got up at once and lifting up his hands and face to heavens in supplication, said:
"Oh, God! Forgive my questioning your ways! You are all-wise. Where would I have been now if pumpkins grew on trees!"
-- Cited on WITandWISDOM by Richard Wimer - http://www.witandwisdom.org
DEADLINE FOR REGISTERING TO VOTE IN THIS CRITICAL ELECTION - OCTOBER 6
If our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, does not return before 2009, we will have a new President
with our country facing gigantic problems (gas and food, terrorism, finances, immorality, crime,
etc.). Please be sure to vote for the team who is closest to God's standards, according to His
Word. Every vote matters!
Commit to pray as you have never prayed before for previous elections. Pray as you watch the
news, when you see signs in yards, or anytime the Lord brings the future of our country to mind.
Pray without ceasing!
God whispers in your soul and speaks to your mind.
Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, he has to throw a brick at us.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face
and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will
heal their land. - II Chronicles 7:14
Top Ten Predictions for 2009
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.
LOOK FOR A NEWSLETTER ON QUICK AND EASY MEALS IN TWO WEEKS!
(Along with the next part of the continuing article on marriage)
Pray for the thousands of people who suffered loss from the last few hurricanes!
Please remember to pray for each dear Heart to Heart lady and her family as you receive this.
Many ladies are going through very tough times and need our prayers!
Pray each day for the protection of our troops, as well as for their families left at home!
(¨`·.·´¨) God bless you and your family and keep you in His loving care!
`·.¸(¨`·.·´¨) And remember, I love to hear from you dear ladies!
`·.¸.·´ Your Heart to Heart friend,