Quote from Forum Archives on July 4, 2006, 3:54 pm

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HEART TO HEART NEWSLETTER
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for you with love

 by Lois Breneman

~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~
7/4/06 BLESS GOD, MULTI-TASKING, BEAUTIFUL SCARS, STRESS      ~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~

IN THIS ISSUE:

AMERICA, BLESS GOD!
A MULTI-TASKING MOTHER'S LESSONS LEARNED

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SCARS

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES

CHRISTIAN WAYS TO FIGHT STRESS

MORE PRACTICAL TIDBITS TO FIGHT STRESS

"T'S" TO TAME TENSION
THE LORD IS MY PACE SETTER
ICE CREAM TO GO

YOU'RE NEVER TOO YOUNG TO BE A TITUS 2 WOMAN TO THE YOUNGER  
INFLAMMATORY BREAST CANCER

SCRIPTURE CAKE

 

AMERICA, BLESS GOD!
©2004 Linda J. Stevenson - Used by permission
 
We have asked God to bless our land from His rich storehouse above;
Some will think it be our right saying, "America He loves."
We've sung "God Bless America" while believing He is here;
But now it is time we bow our heads and seek His face in prayer.

America must bless our God for His hand of love He's shown
Protecting us through per'lous night as His flag of mercy's flown.
His grace He has extended us like a banner hanging o'er;
We must express our gratitude and then praise Him evermore.

America must bless our God for His sure protecting hand,
For walls of safety He has built all around this blessed land.
For as we humbly bless our God and we turn to Him in prayer,
He's assured us by His Living Word His presence will be there.

Our words and deeds let's dedicate to uplift His holy name,
That America not lose her light, her glory turn to shame.
For God said, "If my people will humbly seek my face and pray,
I'll hear from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land today.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray
and seek my face and turn from their wicked way, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (II Chron. 7:14).  

 

Note from Lois: Realizing that ladies from fifty countries, other than the United States of America, are represented in "Heart to Heart," this poem, of course, would apply to every nation on earth.  So let us all take this scripture verse and poem to heart!

 

 

A MULTI-TASKING MOTHER'S LESSONS LEARNED

Written for the Heart to Heart Newsletter by Alison Buck - The Catalyst Church - Ohio

Sitting down to the computer to do anything but type immediate e-mail messages is a luxury for a mother of preschoolers. Playing the piano for enjoyment and not just cramming in an hour of rehearsal for Sunday morning song leading is a piece of heaven. Yet no matter what time frame I’m allowed, I will constantly be reminded of how God’s grace and protection allowed this mother to have the ability to compose anything with all ten fingers intact. 

It was a day like every other day in my house. I had just finished feeding my 7-month-old her bottle and a jar of baby food, cleared the lunch table of my own dish, and continued to coax my 3-year-old daughter to finish hers so we could go outside to play before naptime. I figured I could squeeze in the prep work for a dessert I was making for that evening’s company, and use one of our new kitchen tools we had received from my in-laws at Christmas – a Cuisinart Hand Blender. (Now, you can see where this is going.) As I was trying to clean the whipped butter out of it, while simultaneously telling my 3-year-old to hurry up, I did not remember to unplug it. My hand bumped the switch and chopped my index finger down to the bone! Thankfully, after quite a stressful afternoon and 3 hours in the ER, I still have my finger, and it’s doing well. I lost most of the nail, but I have almost complete feeling again, except for the scar tissue. 

My excuse for the accident? I was “multi-tasking-mothering” it, as I like to call it.

My reason for tremendous gratefulness? God spared my finger. He also taught me a huge lesson in humility, along with a lesson in how to slow down and spend more time with my children. Really, it was a miracle that I didn’t lose it entirely, and even the doctor that did the stitching said that it healed much better and more quickly than he thought it would.  

But what a lesson for my 3 –year-old, and eventually, my baby, because the scars will always be there. “Don’t put your fingers in the blender,” is the most prominent message, of course. Yet the bigger picture comes out of a couple of previous devotionals shared in this Heart to Heart newsletter: 

       “The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go.” (The Scars of Life, March 10, 2006) 

I had to laugh when I read another article entitled, If Only I Had a Maid in the March 24, 2006 edition where Martha Matthews talks about the Proverbs 31 woman:  

      “I remember when it hit me that the Proverbs 31 woman had maids working for her. I thought, ‘"How unfair it is that she had maids and I have to do all this work on my own (pout, pout). Then the Lord opened my eyes. He helped me realize how many maids I actually had! There was the washing machine and dryer, the vacuum cleaner, the dish washer, the microwave, the slow cooker, the oven, the toaster, the coffee pot and my favorite -- the bread machine. When I stopped to think about it, all my appliances were performing services just like the maids of the Proverbs 31 woman. No more pouting for me! Now I use all my maids, I mean appliances, to their full potential. I finally realized that I needed to work smarter not harder. Delegation was the key. After all, the Lord had blessed me with these machines.” 

Now, if I could just pull that piece of broken toast out of the toaster…

 

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SCARS

By Lysa TerKeurst - [email protected]  - Used by permission
Taken from her book, "The Bathtub is Overflowing But I Feel Drained,"

due to be released July 1, 2006, copyrighted by Harvest House Publishers.

To contact Lysa or to order this book, go to www.Proverbs31.org.

 

"Mommy, what are those silvery lines on your hips?" Brooke was inquiring about the stretch marks that are plentiful on my body; the result of birthing three of my five kids. She was studying them with intense curiosity, mixed with great concern as to what kind of horrible animal could have scarred me so severely. Even though I described the beauty of what the stretch marks represented to me, she couldn't get past how unsightly they were to her.

 

"Good thing those marks aren't on your feet where everyone would be able to see them," she quipped. Again, I stressed that the stretch marks were a beautiful reminder that my body was used in a sacrificial way to make her birth, and the birth of her two sisters, possible. It's the mark of the ultimate servant who gives her life to make new life possible for others. Not that I actually died in the process, but my unblemished body died during the rigors of pregnancy. Impressed with my own answer I responded, "Now don't you think they are beautiful?"

 

She wasn't in tune with my spiritual correlations and clever metaphors. "Mom," she started slowly, "you are beautiful; those marks -- not so beautiful." Oh, the honesty of a six-year-old! Really, she's right in one sense. The marks themselves are not so beautiful. They are jagged, uneven, discolored signs that my skin was stretched almost beyond what it could bear. It was stretched so thin that it will never be the same.

 

I stood in front of the mirror and continued to examine the stark evidence of my past pregnancies. A strange sense of pride welled up in my heart as I realized these scars made me like Jesus in a way. I gave my life to make new life possible. I carried these new lives and took on their weight. I was stretched almost beyond what I could bear. My experience left me scarred and forever marked. But the product of these scars is a joy I could not have gotten any other way.

 

It still moves me to tears to think about Jesus' scars. It is amazing that the God of the universe would care so much for me that He would allow His Son, Jesus, to give up His life for me.

 

While I have not been called upon to physically die for my children, I have been called to die to the selfishness that characterized my life before kids. Life was about me back then. My  schedule, my needs, my wants, my time, my money, my desires, my dreams and my plans dictated how I spent my life. But that is not what God wanted for me. He wanted my life to be about Him and His plans for me. In marched not one, not two, not three, not four but five little beings to make sure I am reminded on a daily basis that the pathway to joy is paved with little stones of service that when carefully laid one right beside another lead to great places.

 

Braiding this one's hair. Tying that one's shoes. Fixing this one his favorite cookies. Changing another's diaper. Taking one out for coffee. Cheering another at her sporting events. Praying this one through a hard time. Washing that one's clothes. Dusting this one's room. Cleaning up that one's spilled drink. Teaching this one to roller skate. Planning this one's birthday party. Helping another one catch a frog. Putting a Band-Aid on this one's scraped knee. And that's just one day in the life of a mom.

 

I am convinced there is no greater way to model the heart of God for our kids than to serve our families with a happy heart. Not that we are to become our children's slaves. That would teach
them laziness and disrespect. But to model for them the joy that can be found in giving our lives in service to our Lord and others. When we model this joy for our kids, we set the standard for what we expect from them. I expect my kids to have a good attitude when serving family members and others. I want for them what I have discovered - when you serve, you look a lot like Jesus.

 

Jesus gave His very life so I could find new life. My scars therefore, are precious reminders, real treasures of my service that started the moment of my children's conception and continues to this day. Giving my body gave my kids a chance at life. Modeling Jesus' example of service points them to the new life they can have in Christ. They don't have to fall prey to the selfishness that reigns in this world.

 

I don't have to be a victim to the selfishness that screams for attention either. I become a giving person by giving. I become a caring person by caring. I become like Jesus by acting like Jesus. Not by thinking about it. Not by making promises to do it.  But by the act itself.

 

Just as these acts change me permanently, my scars also are a permanent marking. Trust me, I know how permanent they are. Before I came to appreciate their beauty, I tried all kinds of creams and lotions that promised to reduce the appearance of scars. Some even boldly claimed to heal stretch marks. I became a marketing statistic as I bought their empty promises. No amount of cream, no amount of rubbing, and no amount of wishing them away worked. They've become permanent residents on my hips. So, since I can't change it, I have chosen to embrace these symbols of my courageous attempt at motherhood.

 

Jesus embraced His scars as well. And now for all of us, they are symbols of His courageous success of becoming the Savior of the world. After His resurrection, He could have come back without the pierced scars on His hands, feet and side, yet He left them there. The rest of His body was whole and healed, so why leave these scars? While theologians could argue this question, I think He left them because He wanted to. He came to love not the scars themselves, but what the scars accomplished. He was called to be the Savior of the world and He did it. I am called to be a mom, and I'm doing it.

 

Let's face it - motherhood is a stretching experience whether we are talking about our physical bodies, our mental capacity or our spiritual outlook. But it brings me such joy to see the correlations between my service to my children and what Jesus has done for me that I thought it worth pondering. Whether you birthed your children through your body or through your heart by adoption, you have served . you have sacrificed . you have been stretched.

 

Ponder today the gifts behind the markings and scars of motherhood.

 

I looked at the older woman and wondered what it meant. Do we tell with our body about the life we've spent? The wrinkles on her face, the posture of her back. The fingers softly bent, and the joy in her laugh. I'd seen other faces marked with a frown and scorn. Their presence seemed quite harsh and their spirit very worn. But in this woman there was beauty despite the evidence of time. The peace in her cloudy eyes and laughter behind the laugh lines. She had a grace about her though her body was now slow. For she had learned the joy of being and in her heart she knows, she spent her life in celebration choosing joy to be found. In whatever life gave her she stood on His solid ground. Lord, may the markings on my body be like hers in some way, That I lived and loved and laughed and celebrated every single day.

 

 

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES

These kids' quotes were all sent by "Heart to Heart" ladies.  Please send yours to share!  Thanks!

 

Quote from an anonymous "Heart to Heart" lady:

While in the swimming pool with my little grandson, he looked at a skin tag on my body and said, "You have a button here!"  Then he told me, "You are all bumpy and scaly!"  But that's not all.  Later he looked at my thigh and whispered, "Spider!"   Well, I still love the sweet little guy!

 

Thanks to Barb Campbell in Mississippi for sending this quote, which is perfect to follow the one above!

A two-and-a-half-year-old walked into the bathroom while her mother was putting on make-up.
"I'm going to look just like you, Mommy!" she announced.
"Maybe, when you grow up," her mother told her.
"No Mommy, tomorrow.  I just put on that 'Oil of Old Lady' you always use."

 

Thanks to Debbie Crocker in Michigan for sending this cute kid's quote:

Our family has a pet hamster that the children named "Muffin."  One morning, I offered my two-and-a-half-year-old son, Malachi, a muffin (something he had never had before).  He looked at his plate with a terrified and confused look, and said "Muffin? This is muffin?!"

 

Thanks to Linda Bahn in Pennsylvania for sending these two kids' quotes:

        After one particularly cold winter all the adults in our family were looking forward to spring. We could hardly wait. Finally the 'big day' was about to arrive. That night I tucked our five year old son, Dave, into bed. I told him, "Tomorrow is the first day of spring!" The next morning he hurried to the window and looked outside. Then he looked at me and was quite disappointed when he said, "I don't see any springs."

        Our four year old son, Dan, had a similar experience. One morning I commented, "My goodness, but it's foggy outside!"  Dan looked outside and said, "I don't see any frogs."

 

 

CHRISTIAN WAYS TO FIGHT STRESS
Author unknown - Thanks to Marlene Beckner in Virginia for sending this!

1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time, don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the kid in you everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try to pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus!"
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can.)
31. Be kind to unkind people they probably need it the most.
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.  God has a way of turning things around for you! 
If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

 

 

MORE PRACTICAL TIDBITS TO FIGHT STRESS

 

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Find a Zip Code - Just type in any address at  http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp

Cloth Baby Carrier - The latest research says that parents should not let babies cry a lot.  Pick them up and cuddle them!  Through the years this advice has bounced back and forth, but consoling a crying baby is what I had always thought was best.  In fact, I used to rock my babies to sleep for naptimes and bedtimes as long as they would allow it.  When my babies were fussy, and I needed to do things around the house, I used a soft cloth baby carrier (no metal bars) to give security to my little ones and get housework done at the same time.  It was a lifesaver while trying to get dinner ready, often an hour when babies get fussy.  I've even heard that hour referred to as "arsenic hour," because of moms wanting to pull out their hair in all the frustration.  A baby carrier will help alleviate the stress.  The baby carrier I used was designed to carry a baby either in the front or the back.  It was also great for shopping, hiking or walking around the neighborhood, while at the same time giving the baby close contact with mother or daddy.  There are many brands of baby carriers available these days - a lot more than when my children were babies!  Do a search to find a good one or check out yard sales or consignment shops such as Once Upon A Child for a used baby carrier.  I saved ours for the grandchildren! J

"T'S" TO TAME TENSION
By Brenda Nixon ~ Used by permission
Note from Lois: These tips would work for any age!  Good as marriage tips as well!
 
At times, we’ve all sensed rising tension as we discipline an unruly child. Kids can get cantankerous, we feel frustrated and get angry, arguments explode and reckless words can be said on either side. Here are tips to help ease the tension so you can successfully confront and correct behavior:

1. Talk in a quieter voice. Children, of any age, can easily misinterpret an adult’s higher volume as “being mad” at them. Then they become defensive, yell, and voices spiral into a shouting match. By lowering your voice, you display self-control and help children feel psychologically safe during times of conflict. With my daughters, I found that my calm, assertive voice weakened a storm on the homefront. Remember, you don’t have to scream to discipline.

2. Teach emotional literacy. If you’re annoyed, say so, and if worried, identify that feeling too. Naming your emotions helps children learn about you and to recognize their own feelings as well. Often I’ve said to my daughters, “I’m feeling disrespected” as a forewarning and to teach them about emotions. When kids are “emotionally literate,” they’re more able to tell you how they feel, rather than act out their feelings.

3. Take time out. During a disagreement with my children, I’ve occasionally removed myself briefly from the situation. By going to my room for a pause, I’m able to gain perspective, think through my response, and rejoin my daughters to skillfully correct their behavior. Rather than remaining in a tense situation, engaging in an angry outburst you may regret, and comprising your discipline skills, take a short time out.

©copyright 2006, Brenda Nixon. For helpful articles, books, resources, Brenda's bio, calendar, news and contact info, go to http://www.brendanixon.com/.
 
 
THE LORD IS MY PACE SETTER
A version of the Twenty-third Psalm from Japan as quoted in Mother Teresa's Life in the Spirit

The Lord is my pace setter ... I shall not rush.
He makes me stop for quiet intervals.
He provides me with images of stillness which restore my serenity;
He leads me in the way of efficiency
Through calmness of mind and his guidance is peace.
Even though I have a great many things to accomplish each day,
I will not fret, for his presence is here.
His timelessness, his all importance will keep me in balance;
He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of my activity
By anointing my mind with his oils of tranquility.
My cup of joyous energy overflows;
Truly harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruits of my hours,
For I shall walk in the Pace of my Lord and dwell in his house forever. 

 

 

ICE CREAM TO GO

Thanks to Julie Druck in Pennsylvania for this recipe!  To receive Julie's monthly newsletter, A Heart for Home, send a blank e-mail to: [email protected].

Here’s a recipe for summer fun from “Homespun Gifts from the Heart” by Ehman, Hovermale, & Smith.    (Note from Lois:  Honey may be substituted for sugar.  This idea would be lots of fun for a child's birthday party, a youth group, a date, or any type of get-together!  A fun idea!)

 

For each child, you’ll need:
1/2 cup whole milk
1/4 cup whipping cream (the stuff in the small “milk” carton, NOT in the can!)
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 qt. size reclosable bag & 1 gal. size reclosable bag
2 cup ice & 1 tablespoon coarse or rock salt

Carefully pour the milk, cream, sugar and vanilla into the quart-size bag.  Seal tightly, removing excess air.  Place ice and salt in the gallon-size bag.  Place the sealed quart-size bag inside the gallon bag with the ice and salt.  Let the kids shake, knead and jiggle the bags for AT LEAST 15 minutes.  Soft ice cream will begin to form in the smaller bag.  Tell the kids that the longer they knead/shake the bags, the thicker the ice cream will be.  They can eat it from the bag with a spoon or pour it into a small mug.  The ice cream is delicious!! 

 

 

YOU'RE NEVER TOO YOUNG TO BE A TITUS 2 WOMAN TO THE YOUNGER  
Dear Lois ~ I always appreciate your encouraging comments!  God has been working in my heart regarding being a Titus 2 woman.  He keeps bringing younger ladies to my doorstep!  I have to chuckle at this because, though I'm almost 35 years old, I still feel like I'm 19 or 20!  Anyway, I'm so thankful for ladies like you who go before me and show me what Titus 2 ladies look like.  Thanks for being obedient to the Lord - if more of us were, it'd be a whole lot more encouraging world to live in.  You're my hero!! ~ Love, Julie

Used by permission from Julie.  To receive Julie Druck's monthly newsletter, A Heart for Home, send a blank e-mail to: [email protected]. 

 

 

INFLAMMATORY BREAST CANCER

Thanks to Mary Cunningham in Ontario, Canada for sending this.

 

Ladies, you may not be aware of this so I wanted to share it with you.  I personally had never heard of this type of aggressive breast cancer, not shown on a mammogram.  This television report is from KOMO, the ABC affiliate in Seattle/Tacoma Washington.

http://ww3.komotv.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?ClipID1=785456

http://www.snopes.com/medical/disease/ibc.asp

 

 

SCRIPTURE CAKE

1 1/2 cups butter — Psalms 55:21
2 cups granulated sugar — Jeremiah 6:20
6 eggs — Isaiah 10:14
4 1/2 cups flour — I Kings 4:22
1/8 teaspoon salt — Luke 14:34
2 teaspoons baking powder — I Corinthians 5:6
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg — II Chronicles 9:9
4 teaspoons cinnamon — II Chronicles 9:9
2 teaspoons allspice — II Chronicles 9:9
2 teaspoons ground cloves — II Chronicles 9:9
2 tablespoons honey — Judges 4:19
1/2 cup milk — Judges 4:19
2 cups raisins — II Samuel 16:1
2 cups chopped figs — Song of Solomon 2:13
2 cups blanched, slivered almonds — Numbers 17:8

 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.   Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then beat in eggs, one at a time. Sift together flour, salt, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and ground cloves and add alternately with the milk to the batter.  Stir in the honey and fold in fruits and nuts; mix well.  Bake in two greased 9 x 5-inch loaf pans for one hour or until done. Cool for 30 minutes before removing cakes from pans to rack to finish cooling.

 

 

When we die we will leave behind all that we have and take with us all that we are!

Dr. Adrian Rogers

 

 

                           Many Heart to Heart ladies and their families need our prayers, so

              please remember to pray for each Heart to Heart lady as you receive your newsletter.

(¨`·.·´¨)                          God bless you and your family and keep you in His care!

 `·.¸(¨`·.·´¨)                                           

      `·.¸.·´                                              Your Heart to Heart friend,

                                                                                                 Lois

                

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].

 

Disclaimer: Various web sites are given as credits or to supply additional information for readers.  However, all the views and advertisements represented by web sites given in this newsletter are not necessarily the views of the editor.  Please use your own discretion.

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