4/23/04 PRAYER, CHAPLAIN FROM IRAQ, GAINING 2 HOURS, CAKES
Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for YOU with LOVE by Lois Breneman
MOTHERS COVERS
31 WAYS TO PRAY FOR OUR CHILDREN -- A SPECIAL PRAYER FOR EACH DAY
TEACHING PRINCIPLES DURING FAMILY TIME OR MEALTIME
THE REAL STORY IN IRAQ AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM AN ARMY CHAPLAIN RECENTLY BACK FROM FALLUJAH
MARRIAGE VOWS
APPLESAUCE CAKE
HAWAIIAN PINE-ANGEL DREAM
MOTHERS COVERS
By Dona Maddux Cooper
When you were small and just a touch away,
I covered you with blankets against the cool night air.
But now that you are tall and out of reach,
I fold my hands and cover you with prayer.
31 WAYS TO PRAY FOR OUR CHILDREN -- A SPECIAL PRAYER FOR EACH DAY
Author unknown ~ contributed by Barb Campbell, Mississippi
1. Pray for a spirit of Humility. "The willingness to submit" (James 4:10)
2. Pray for a spirit of Reverence. "The fear of the Lord." (Proverbs 9:10)
3. Pray for a spirit of Purity. "A desire to be clean." (Matthew 5:8)
4. Pray for a spirit of Purpose. "A wisdom to set goals." (Proverbs 4:25)
5. Pray for a spirit of Simplicity. "A lifestyle uncluttered." (Romans 12:8)
6. Pray for a spirit of Commitment. "A dedication to the cause'." (Josh. 24:15)
7. Pray for a spirit of Diligence. "A willingness to work hard." (II Peter 1:5)
8. Pray for a spirit of Servant hood. "The ministry of helps." (Galatians 6:9,10)
9. Pray for a spirit of Consistency. "The quality of faithfulness." (James 1:8)
10. Pray for a spirit of Assurance. "A depth of faith." (Hebrews 10:22)
11. Pray for a spirit of Availability. "A willingness to go." (Isa. 6:8)
12. Pray for a spirit of Loyalty. "A zeal for fidelity." (Ruth 1:16)
13. Pray for a spirit of Sensitivity. "Openness of heart." Luke 10: 30-37)
14. Pray for a spirit of Compassion. "Love in action." (Mark 8:1,2)
15. Pray for a spirit of Tenderness. "A willingness to weep." (II Kings 22:19)
16. Pray for a spirit of Maturity. "The capacity to grow." (Hebrews 5: 12-14)
17. Pray for a spirit of Holiness. "Christ-like behavior." (I Peter 1:16)
18. Pray for a spirit of Reliability. "A depth of dependability." (I Cor. 4:2)
19. Pray for a spirit of Revelation. "Learning to listen." (Ephesians 1:15,18)
20. Pray for a spirit of Denial. "A sacrifice to surrender." (Luke 9:23)
21. Pray for a spirit of Confidence. "A baptism of boldness." (Philippians 4:13)
22. Pray for a spirit of Integrity. "The quality of truthfulness." (Rom. 12:17)
23. Pray for a spirit of Repentance. "A willingness to change." (Luke 3:8)
24. Pray for a spirit of Trust. "A fearless reliance." (Psalm 125:1)
25. Pray for a spirit of Submission. "Choosing to yield." (Ephesians 5:21)
26. Pray for a spirit of Teachability. "A quality of meekness." (Titus 3:2)
27. Pray for a spirit of Prayer. "A longing to wait." (Isa. 40:31)
28. Pray for a spirit of Unity. "A respect for others." (I Corinthians 1:10)
29. Pray for a spirit of Restoration. "A ministry of healing." (Isa. 61:1,2)
30. Pray for a spirit of Authority. "A capacity to command." (Matthew 16:19)
31. Pray for a spirit of Generosity. "The desire to give." (Matthew 10:8)
TEACHING PRINCIPLES DURING FAMILY TIME OR MEALTIME
By Lois Breneman ~ 2004 ~ Heart to Heart Newsletter ~ [email protected]
The prayer list above contains a brief prayer for every day of the month, but the possibilities for this list don't stop with being a prayer guide for parents. Not only is this list a good guide for parents to invest their time wisely by praying for their children every day, but young people who desire to glorify the Lord in their lives may want to pray these prayers for themselves and their friends as well.
This 31 day prayer list is also an excellent Bible study guide for parents and children together - a perfect tool for Family Nights. Stories in the Bible can be chosen to reinforce each principle. Many times a story is found within the scriptures given above. Other life stories (maybe even your own) could be read or told as well to support these principles. End with prayer for these principles to be lived out in the lives your children - and in the lives of their parents.
Another idea is to use one principle each day at mealtime - whichever meal works best for you. Simply state the principle, read the verse and pray. This will speak volumes to your children and they will remember it into adulthood, if you do it consistently. During the meal you may want to discuss the principle further by having a Q & A session. This is also a wonderful "Scripture Memorization" tool. If you choose to use this plan each month, those 31 verses will be read twelve times each year, and those scriptures will be stored up in your children's hearts as long as the live. I realize that life gets so busy sometimes that a good intention is dropped. Well, just pick up and start again. Be persistent. The benefits are worth it!
THE REAL STORY IN IRAQ AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM
AN ARMY CHAPLAIN RECENTLY BACK FROM FALLUJAH
By Chaplain (CPT) Todd Hollins
82D Airborne Division, United States Army
If you watch television, read the newspapers, or listen to the radio, you will gain a different perspective on the war in Iraq than what is actually occurring. Many great things are happening across Iraq that years ago were inconceivable. A ruthless dictator and his two evil sons are no longer in power. Saddam Hussein has been captured, Uday and Qusay Hussein have been killed, and a brutal dictatorship has been replaced with a government that has at its centerpiece a constitution that places the power into the hands of the people. Today in Iraq the people are enjoying utilities that are exceeding prewar levels. Electrical power, water systems, and reliable telephone service has in some cases been established or upgraded for the benefit of the people. Children and young people can now pursue an education as many schools, colleges and universities have been reopened. Many young girls who before could not attend school now enjoy a formal education complete with books and supplies, in some cases donated by the American people.
In prewar Iraq Saddam spent approximately 19 million dollars a year on healthcare. While this seems like a large sum of money it translates to 1 dollar per Iraqi per year. Bear in mind that the Iraqi people do not enjoy insurance, clinics, or doctors offices like you and I. Under the new government several hundred million dollars per year has been budgeted for the healthcare needs of the people. Common illnesses which in the past could have been life threatening are now treatable and even preventable in a new Iraq. Under the old regime terrorists were tolerated, harbored, and even trained. Many of these terrorists desired to attack the United States of America for no other reason than we are Americans. Today we are carrying out President Bushs promise of September 21, 2001, We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive them from place to place until there is no refuge or no rest. And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation in every region now has a decision to make: Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists . We will not tire, we will not falter and we will not fail .
In Iraq today terrorists training camps have been shut down, terrorists have been captured, and terrorism worldwide has been put on notice that America will keep its word. The greatest advance in the nation of Iraq today, however, is not political, economical, or social, but rather spiritual. Today the Iraqi people are tasting a freedom that you and I have enjoyed for years, religious freedom. Our 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 325 Airborne Infantry Regiment was able to assist two underground churches in Baghdad. During their time there they were able to help one of these churches erect a meeting place where they can gather and worship without fear of reprisal or persecution. Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Iraq as they continue to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ in their nation.
God was also at work at our forward operating base in the shadow of Al Fallujah Iraq. During our time there we were able to see approximately 125 paratroopers and soldiers come to Jesus Christ with many other decisions made as well. God's hand of protection was upon our Brigade combat team. Many times paratroopers would tell me, Chaplain I was in the right place at the right time, or I sure was lucky today. On one occasion, after a combat patrol was hit with an Improvised Explosive Device in Al Fallujah a paratrooper told me, We sure are lucky that it blew straight up instead of towards the humvees. It was through situations like that I was able to share with the paratroopers that it wasnt luck. They werent in the right place at the right time. The rockets or mortar rounds didnt miss us by accident, but rather Gods hand of protection was upon us. Throughout the 7 months that we were engaged in combat operations, God continually watched over us and protected us from those who desired to do us harm. God was and is in control. I attribute His divine protection directly to the prayers of individuals like you who continually interceded on our behalf. For this we say, "Thank you." Please continue to lift up our Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and Sailors who are continuing this great effort in Iraq. Remember also their family members here stateside that God would grant them peace during these days.
QUOTES
"I believe in the Holy Scriptures and whoso lives by them will be benefited thereby. Men may differ as to the interpretation, which is human, but the Scriptures are man's best guide. Yes, I know, and I feel very grateful to the Christian people of the land for their prayers on my behalf. There is no sect or religion, as shown in the Old or New Testament, to which this does not apply. God gave us Lincoln and liberty. Let's fight for both." -- Ulysses S. Grant
"People always ask me to list my greatest accomplishments, expecting me to rattle off a bunch of movies I've made, but what I'm proudest of is my kids." -- Mel Gibson
"The joy of motherhood: What a woman experiences when all the children are finally in bed." --Barb Johnson
HOMESCHOOL HELPS
By Julie Druck of York, Pennsylvania ~ Used by permission
Julie writes a monthly newsletter, "A Heart for Home." Ask for it at [email protected].
Though the school year is winding down, I wanted to include some fun ideas to finish your year with and/or to do in the summertime. A lifestyle of learning never ends!
* A fun (and delicious!) way to teach your child fractions is to use chilled chocolate bars. A Hershey bar is divided into small rectangles - simply break them apart and use them to teach your children some simple fractions.
* "Mad Libs" is a hilarious and painless way that teach parts of speech. Remember those silly fill-in-the-blank books from when you were a kid? "Mad Libs" contain stories which are missing various words. You ask your child to name a random noun, verb, etc. When you read the story later, the words that they chose make the story silly.
* For a little writing/geography project, list the letters of the alphabet vertically down the side of a sheet of paper. Have your child use a globe and find a country for each letter of the alphabet.
* Using packing peanuts for projects is a great way to recycle as well as have some fun! We have made packing peanut sculptures with toothpicks. The boys have also wet the ends of them and stuck them together for unusual sculptures. Caleb wet the ends and stuck the peanuts together to form the whole alphabet. Besides making things with them, theyre fun to use as a simple science experiment: Most packing peanuts are now made of cornstarch which will dissolve in water.
* Ben likes to play the "Letter Value Game" that covers language arts as well as math. Down the left-hand side of a piece of paper, list the ABCs in order. Then write 1 cent beside the A, two cents beside the B, etc. Next, give your child a word - for example, "dad." Have him figure out "how much" the word "dad" costs - which would be 9 cents. Start with small words and work up to bigger ones.
* An interesting lesson on geography can be done in the produce section of your supermarket. I have occasionally allowed the boys to choose a piece of fruit that they have never tasted. We buy it, take it home and try to find out where in the world that fruit grows. Of course, we then
sample it! This is how Eli discovered that he loves mango.
FINDING TIME; TIPS FOR GAINING 2 HOURS EACH DAY
By Colleen Langenfeld - Copyright (c) 2003 - Used by Permission
Would you be interested in finding two extra hours each day in your schedule? Here are some ways to do just that.
First - DECIDE what is most important to you. Then decide to spend most of your time pursuing it! If you fail to do this, frustration will be your constant companion.
After you commit to your main time focus, look for possible time leaks such as the following:
- Did you spend time waiting somewhere today? In traffic or at the doctor's office, for example? In traffic, plug an educational audiotape in and learn, learn, learn. It's been estimated that many people could get a whole college degree's worth of education in just a couple of years in their car. In the doctor's office do strategic planning, brainstorm problem areas, catch up on mail, write that letter you've been putting off. The key here is to always keep simple, convenient-to-carry tasks with you in order to take advantage of unavoidable wait times.
** Possible Daily Time Savings: 15 minutes - 2 hours.
- Plan your meals for the week. It's unbelievable how much weekly time I save when I spend only ten minutes planning out a weekly menu and shopping list. It means I go to the grocery store once, not five times, and I spend NO time during the week fussing over what's for dinner. If something comes up and we change our plans, fine, tonight's menu simply rolls forward to tomorrow night.
** Possible Daily Time Savings: 30 minutes - 1 hour.
- Do fifteen minutes more when it is time to quit. After the kids go to bed, get into some cozy clothes and do one fifteen-minute task. The key here is to make it a simple job that doesn't require much physical or mental energy. For example, enter the day's receipts into your budget
ledger, answer one or two pieces of mail, pick up the clutter and dust one room in your house. How does this save time? These are now tasks that WON'T have to be done on the weekend or some other time.
** Possible Daily Time Savings: 15 minutes.
- Consolidate tasks. Bake two casseroles and freeze one. Save laundry to iron once a week. Run errands all on one day. Put a shopping list on the fridge and train family members to write down needed items when they open the last one. Buy bread for a month and freeze it so you don't need to make unexpected trips to the grocery store.
** Possible Daily Time Savings: 15 - 30 minutes.
- Arrange a play date co-op. If you have small children, arranging a weekly play date with one to three other moms can be a real timesaver and put smiles on your little ones' faces, as well. Choose one time per week and take turns hosting the play date. When it's your turn, you watch the kids have a great time and the other parents take off for a couple of hours. Then on the alternate weeks, you have time off! Really make your day hosting the group special and everyone will enjoy themselves.
** Possible Daily Time Savings: 24 minutes (based on 2 hours per work week).
- Train everyone to help with laundry. Your children can do their own if they're old enough, or help you, if they're too young to do it on their own (then they will be ready to do their own laundry when they ARE old enough!). Even toddlers can help fold and put away...and they love helping!
** Possible Daily Time Savings: 15 - 30 minutes.
- Family time. Do you have a daily family time? If not, you are underestimating the power of this tool in binding your family together as well as in saving time. Dedicated time each evening spent going over homework, discussing the day, reading together, playing games, etc. The whole family starts to FEEL like a team and that leads to ACTING like one. You can avert problems (that eat up time), answer questions (instead of being tracked down later), and encourage mutual interdependence on each other (instead of primarily on you).
** Possible Daily Time Savings: 30 - 60 minutes.
- Gather all supplies for tomorrow, tonight. Make sure everyone has a space (like a bin) to plop his or her stuff in for the coming day. Spend part of that family time (above) signing permission slips, doling out necessary cash and marking important upcoming school/extra-curricular dates on your schedule. After all, fifteen minutes tonight getting ready for tomorrow isn't a big deal, but fifteen minutes racing around tomorrow morning trying to accomplish the same stuff could be a disaster.
** Possible Daily Time Savings: 15 Minutes
There you have it. Using conservative time measurements, another two or more hours in your day. Once you get started with these ideas, you are sure to find more. Now your time truly belongs to you!
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Colleen Langenfeld delivers deals, tips and creative resources to working moms who want the most out of their homes, families and careers at http://www.paintedgold.com . Sign up for our free newsletter and get an online Creativity Toolkit as our gift to you!
MARRIAGE VOWS
As seen on Sermon Fodder and Joke A Day Ministries. http://www.sermonfodder.com
Bill and his fiancé Mary met with the minister to discuss their marriage vows.
"Pastor," said Mary, "I wonder if we could make a change in the wording of our ceremony."
"Yes, Mary," replied the pastor, "It is sometimes done. What do you have in mind?"
"Well," said Mary, "I'd like to alter the 'until death do us part' section to read, 'Substantial penalty for early withdrawal.'"
APPLESAUCE CAKE
Delicious! Nutritious! Yields one 9 inch square cake, made into two layers.
3 eggs 1 tsp. ground ginger
1 cup unsweetened applesauce 1 1/2 cups ground almonds
1/4 cup vegetable oil 2 McIntosh apples, peeled and minced
1 cup frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 3 Tbsp. sugar free apple butter
1 tsp. baking soda 2 Tbsp. frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour one 9 inch square baking pan. Beat the eggs until they drop like ribbons from the beaters. Continue beating and add the oil in a thin stream. Beat in the 1 cup applesauce and the 1 cup unsweetened apple juice concentrate. Beat in the flour gradually until well blended. Add the baking soda, ground ginger, ground almonds and apples, mix to combine. Pour the batter into the batter into the prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees F. for about 40 minutes or until the cake tests done. Let cake cool on a rack for 15 minutes before turning out of pan. Cool completely before frosting. Carefully slice the cake in half horizontally, spreading with half the icing, put other half of cake on top and frost top, sprinkling the top with some chopped almonds.
To Make Apple Butter Frosting: Beat the cream cheese until soft and fluffy. Gradually beat in the remaining apple butter and apple juice concentrate. Makes 1 -9 inch square cake.
HAWAIIAN PINE-ANGEL DREAM
Very easy, delicious and diabetic friendly, but healthier for everyone than most cakes!
Contributed by Barb Campbell of Mississippi
Angel Food Cake Mix (the one-step kind)
1 - 20 oz. - can crushed pineapple in its own juice
Mix the cake mix and the pineapple (with all the juice) in a large mixing bowl. Pour into an ungreased tube pan, 13 x 9 pan or 2 loaf pans. Bake for 30 - 40 minutes at 350-degrees. If baking in 2 loaf pans, shorten baking time. Cool and serve with Cool Whip.
As I was walking down life's highway many years ago,
When I got a little closer the doors swung open wide,
I saw a host of angels. They were standing everywhere.
Everything a human needed was in that grocery store
I got a box or two of Wisdom and Faith - a bag or two.
And Charity of course, I would need some of that too.
I couldn't miss the Holy Ghost, It was all over the place.
For I thought I had everything to do the Master's will.
The purpose of the Heart to Heart Newsletter is to bring godly and practical encouragement to women through creative ideas for the Christian family regarding homemaking, marriage, children and much more. You may receive this bimonthly newsletter by sending your name, city, state, country and the name of the person who referred you to Lois Breneman at [email protected].
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