2/1/09 10th Heart to Heart Anniversary, Tidbits, Kitchen Tips, Jobs for Children of All Ages, Humor
Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for you with love by Lois Breneman
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2/1/09 10th Heart to Heart Anniversary, Tidbits, Kitchen Tips, Jobs for Children of All Ages, Humor
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IN THIS ISSUE:
THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY FOR THE "HEART TO HEART" NEWSLETTER!
10 COMMENTS FROM "HEART TO HEART" LADIES
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
TIPS AND TIDBITS
26 KITCHEN TIPS
OVEN FISH 'N' CHIPS
I'M NOT ________ ENOUGH
FOODS THAT FIGHT CANCER
BUBBLE PRINT PICTURES
PARENTING TIP: A GAME TO RAISE THE AWARENESS LEVEL
APPROPRIATE JOBS FOR CHILDREN (BEGINNING AT AGE ONE)
THE DANGERS OF TV AND VIDEO GAMES
HELP FROM A HOMESCHOOLING MOM
CLASSICAL CONVERSATIONS
CHILDREN AND HUMOR
WELCOME TO NEW BABIES
The following is a sampling of just a few of the messages sent by Heart to Heart ladies, and printed with the permission of each one.
Some of the e-mails tell how an article they read affected their lives. I trust these notes will bless your heart as they have mine. These comments are a testimony of what the Lord is doing through Heart to Heart, all because of His starting this ministry ten years ago, with me only as His instrument. To God be the glory! Great things He has done!And as you read each newsletter, please remember to pray for the needs of our Christian sisters, for we are one in the body of Christ. Also, if you would, please pray that I will always be tuned in to the Lord's leading for each newsletter - to include what He would have me to include, and nothing else. Thanks so much! ~ Lois
10 COMMENTS FROM "HEART TO HEART" LADIES* I wanted to let you know that the article "Don't waste brain space" (1/5/09 newsletter) about casting our cares on the Lord was exactly what I needed to hear today. As soon as I began reading it, I started crying and felt the Lord using it to speak to me. I have a 9 month old (I think I sent you the email & pics) and am a stay at home mom and I really struggle sometimes to know how God wants me to order my time. I have been trying to get Josiah on a schedule and have been feeling discouraged. I also feel like so many days go by and I think, "What did I really accomplish today?" My prayer is that I can cast my cares on Jesus, that He will order my time for me and help me to truly enjoy each moment. Thanks for letting me share with you, and thanks so much for the newsletter you send out. It is always so encouraging and helpful. ~ Michelle Neff in Ohio
* Thank you once again for bringing me a great spiritual lift by way of your newsletter. Several of my closest friends and I are blessed every month by your willingness to allow God to use your talents. I have 15 brothers and sisters (that's correct - 15) and some are not Christians. I am the eldest daughter. Our parents are deceased, and my husband and I want to be a good influence to all of them and their children. We also have children and grandchildren. The reason I am going into all of this is to say I look for ways I can reach out and share with many of them without being preachy. Please know there is rarely a month that goes by that I do not copy, paste and send something from your newsletter to one or more of them that seems to fit. I love all of them so much and desire to see them living their lives for God. I know I have said it before, but it bears repeating, God bless You for this newsletter. Please pray for my huge family and for me that I would be the witness that God would have me be. Thank you for your help in being there with exactly something I am looking for to gently say. Sometimes our lives and these things are the only Bible they read. I am sure many lives are touched by this newsletter. You and your husband are lights in a world of darkness. ~ Linda in Alabama
* Just had to share this when I saw "Looking for Mr. Right" (8/4/08) in the last newsletter. Our daughter is getting married to Mr. Wright in October. I had a cap embroidered for her that says, "I found Mr. Wright." (I've attached a photo) By the way, he also qualifies as Mr. Right, praise the Lord! Thank you for such a wonderful, helpful newsletter! God bless you! ~ Miranda in Hawaii
* Your newsletter is always a welcome sight in an overfull Inbox! I look forward to what great ideas you offer. I don't usually get to read it all in one setting so I leave it in my Inbox as "new mail" and read bits at a time if I have too. Thank you for reaching outside yourself and sharing in this way. You are a blessing to me (& many others too I know). Thanks for your always helpful newsletter! ~ Susan Brown in Wisconson
* As always, I am so appreciative of you and your ministry with H2H -- it's a blessing to receive every issue! When we're on the mission field it's also one of the ways I stay "connected" with all that is going on in the states! :0) ~ Tracy Coupe in Ecuador
* I am writing to give you two more names of ladies I teach who would love to receive the H2H Newsletters. I have been sharing mine with them and since we are coming home in November for the holidays they didnt want to miss any future issues. Thanks again for the great newsletters as they are a cool breath of fresh air on a hot African afternoon. God bless you always. In Christ, Karen Chance (Uganda)
* Thank you for your encouraging newsletter. I really appreciate the joy and wisdom found therein. ~ Jen Holst in Indiana
* Thank you again for your newsletters. It is always a pleasure seeing them in my Inbox and I learn so much from each one and always take away a few good tips. I especially enjoy getting new recipes. I love to cook and bake so I am always looking for good recipes. The newsletters are such an encouragement and I appreciate the effort you into them! - Andrea Dooley Spears in Virginia
Put your mouse on a city anywhere in the world and the first page of the newspaper headlines will pop up.
Lemon Drops ~ If your recipe calls for a small amount of lemon juice, pierce a lemon with a skewer and squeeze out only the amount you need. You can wrap and store the lemon for later use.
Thanks to Rachael Breneman in Ohio for this recipe!
Chips:
I'M NOT ________ ENOUGH
By Sharon Jaynes - http://www.sharonjaynes.com/ - January 28, 2009 - Used by permission
Today's Truth
"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV)
Friend To Friend
I'm not _______ enough. You can fill that blank in with smart, talented, gifted, spiritual, or any number of positive attributes, but the root source of each one of those lies is "I'm not good enough." It is one of the enemy's favorite weapons and he uses it to keep God's children in bondage to feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy. The bottom line is that the enemy wants you to believe that you are "not enough." Period. But you are enough. You are enough and have been equipped and empowered to do everything that God has called you to do.
It seems the message of "I'm not good enough to earn my way to heaven on my own," has been transformed into I'm not good enough ... period. God created man and woman and said, "It is good." We are so valuable to God that He gave His only Son to restore our brokenness.
To be honest, I could have been the poster child for this lie. If feeling inadequate was an Olympic event, I would have been on the Wheaties box. It was the undercurrent of my entire existence until I finally realized who I was in Christ. Bible teacher Beth Moore said, "In the dead of the night when insecurities crawl on us like fleas, all of us have terrifying bouts of insecurity and panics of insignificance. Our human natures pitifully fall to the temptation to pull out the tape measure and gauge ourselves against people who seem more gifted and anointed by God." That was me.
Many women are living in silent defeat, comparing themselves to other women who are living in secret defeat. I'm not a good mother. I'm not a good wife. I'm not a good Christian. I'm not a good witness. I'm not a good housekeeper. I'm not a good decorator. I'm not a good cook. I'm not a good .... Women are caught in a cycle of the "I'm not good enoughs." One by one, the petals fall from the beautiful flower God created us to be. Like ticker tape, our fragmented pieces of confidence litter the streets like the Macy's parade passing by.
Unfortunately, I wasted many precious years held captive by the enemy's lies before I held up my chained hands to God and said, "I'm ready for you to set me free."
Consider this: Jacob was a liar. Moses was a stutterer. Gideon was a coward. David was an adulterer. Rahab was a prostitute. Esther was an orphan. Balaam's donkey was ...well, a donkey. Yet God used each one of them to impact His kingdom.
God doesn't call us because we are particularly gifted or talented. He uses us because we are obedient and dependent on Him. He doesn't call the qualified -- He qualifies the called.
The truth is, if you have experienced new birth in Christ, when God looks at you, He sees Jesus. And friend, Jesus is good enough.
Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You today. Because of Jesus Christ and His work of redemption in me, I am deeply loved, completely forgiven, fully pleasing and totally accepted by You. Because of Jesus Christ in me, I am equipped and empowered to do all that You have called me to do. Now, LORD, help me act like it. In Jesus' Name, Amen
Now It's Your Turn
Go back to that first sentence in today's devotion. What would you put in that blank? Is that the truth? What do you think God would say to you about what you have written in that blank?
More From The Girlfriends Are you ready to begin walking in the truth rather than stumbling over the lies? Are you ready to begin seeing yourself as God sees you? Then you'll want to read Sharon's new book, I'm Not Good Enough...and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves. Visit her website to read an excerpt. But be warned. This book could change your life!
FOODS THAT FIGHT CANCER
Compliments of American Institute for Cancer Research - http://www.aicr.org/site/PageServer?pagename=dc_foods_home
No single food or food substances can protect you against cancer. But scientists believe that the right combination of foods in a predominantly plant-based diet may. Evidence is mounting that the minerals, vitamins and phytochemicals in plant foods interact to provide extra cancer protection. This concept is called synergy.
In addition, vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans are low-energy-dense, low calorie foods and probably protect against weight gain. According to the Second Expert Report, experts believe that weight gain particularly obesity and overweight are implicated in the development of cancer. Eating a predominantly plant based diet can help prevent weight gain and therefore protect against those cancers whose risk is convincingly increased by higher body fat (namely cancers of the colorectum, esophagus, endometrium, pancreas, kidney, and breast in postmenopausal women).
That is why AICR recommends that at least 2/3 of your plate should be filled with vegetables, fruit, whole grains and beans.
The majority of the laboratory research on diet and cancer suggests that eating vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans will lower your risk of developing the disease. Scientists are trying to determine precisely how and why these foods may prevent or stop the development of tumors.
Here is a list of foods we at AICR get asked about most often. Click each one to learn what current science can tell us about its role in protecting our health.
By Sherri Osborn - http://www.familycrafts.com - Used by permission
Materials Needed:
Tempera Paint Paper
Liquid Dish Soap Drinking Straws
Copyright 2006 Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller - All rights reserved - Used with permission.
http://effectiveparenting.org/ - For free e-mail parenting tips sign up: http://www.biblicalparenting.org
Heres an interesting and enjoyable game that can be played over several hours or a few days. You may choose to play this game on a car trip or when hanging out at home together on a Saturday afternoon. The game is the "Whoops" and "Ahhh" Game. Playing it can be a lot of fun and it helps you recognize common forms of speech that arent very honoring. Choose a few hours when you'll all be together interacting.
Announce the beginning of the game and explain how it's played. "We'll look for five types of dishonoring speech: arguing, boasting, whining/complaining, talking too much, and being bossy. Anyone who hears dishonoring speech from children or adults says 'Whoops!' Everyone then tries to guess which type of dishonoring speech they heard. The family then works together to offer honoring suggestions."
When Bill says, "Aren't we there yet," in that whiny voice, his sister, Karen might say "Whoops!" You can identify that as whining and suggest that Bill ask his question in a more honoring way.
At the same time everyone is on the lookout for honoring speech that includes praise, gratefulness, compliments, and affirmation. If Karen says, "Thanks Dad, for taking us on this trip." Dad can say, "Ahhh."
To keep it fun, you might occasionally say something dishonoring on purpose to earn a "Whoops!" You might say, "I sure am a good driver." This will earn you a "Whoops!" for boasting followed by an interesting discussion of your alternatives.
Be sure to set an end time to the game. Although the evaluation can be helpful for a time, too much analysis can get irritating and loses its fun.
By the way, if you try this game, let us know how it went. We enjoy the responses from these tips and like to hear what things work best.
For more ideas on teaching honor in your family, youll want to consider the book, Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes, In You and Your Kids by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller RN, BSN.
Pick up toys
Ages 4 to 5
All of the above, plus:
Help unload part of the dishwasher
All of the above, plus:
Keep bedroom picked up
All of the above, plus:
Help paint inside or outside of house
Parents need to carefully monitor what is seen on TV. It is shocking that a typical child in the United States watches 28 hours of TV a week and sees 8,000 murders by the time he finishes elementary school! What's worse is the killers get away with the crime 75% of the time and show no remorse. So what effect does this have on children? Some kids become immune to brutality, some become fearful, and others become aggressive. We see the evidence in the news every day. It's no wonder that so many kids are on prescriptions for depression. It has caused more than 850,000 worried Americans to join the Parents Television Council, which monitors TV content. This conservative-learning PTC rates shows to indicate violence, foul language or sexual content. It also pushes networks to move explicit shows to later time slots.
A "Heart to Heart" mom to eight children writes stories about her crazy life as a homeschool mom, and also does product reviews for The Old Schoolhouse magazine. She calls herself "Crazy Mom." You know how it can be when you receive a catalog in the mail and everything seems so great? Well, as a homeschooling mom herself, it may be helpful to you as she rates educational items that homeschoolers and other moms use. Many of the items shown on her site are also good for moms who are not homeschooling - such as CD's of Bible story songs, sung by kids, shown at the top of her blog. She asked that you please leave a comment on her blog and let her know how you heard about her site (H2H). No charge for her service and no compensation for my referral - just a benefit to you! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crazyhouse
Here is a link to the website for Classical Conversations: http://www.classicalconversations.com/. There is a lot of info that would be helpful to homeschooling parents who are following the classical model of education. There is a book that can be downloaded for free. Hope you will check it out. I'm also going to include a link of my 5 year old reciting some memory work that she learned in just 5 weeks in the program this year. Feel free to share it with others. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFx_K0_W3mg
There is currently a Classical Conversations group meeting in our area of southwest Virginia, but there is a waiting list, so I am starting a new group. If interested you may contact me for details at [email protected] or 540-397-3311. ~ Laura Griffith in Virginia
CHILDREN AND HUMOR
Should children witness childbirth? Due to a power outage, only one paramedic responded to the call. The house was very, very dark, so the paramedic asked Kathleen, a 3-year old girl, to hold a flashlight high over her Mommy so he could see while he helped deliver the baby. Very diligently, Kathleen did as she was asked. Heidi pushed and pushed, and after a little while Connor was born. The paramedic lifted him by his little feet and spanked him on his bottom. Connor began to cry. The paramedic then thanked Kathleen for her help and asked the wide-eyed 3-year old what she thought about what she had just witnessed. Kathleen quickly responded, "He shouldn't have crawled in there in the first place.. smack his bottom again!" - Thanks to Karen Coughlin in Florida for sending this!
Please remember to pray for each dear Heart to Heart lady and her family as you receive your newsletter.
So many ladies are going through very tough times and need our prayers!
Some have lost loved ones and others have lost jobs, homes or their good health.
Pray each day for the protection of our troops, as well as for their families left at home!
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