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Lest we Forget

I am so grateful for the brave men and women who headed the call and left what was familiar and comfortable for a life of upheaval and uncertainty. Today I pause with reflective prayer to honor those who gave their all…the fallen brave who courageously breathed their last breath defending the country and the people they so loved.

To the families who gather around a grave rather than a grill-my prayer is that our Heavenly Father will fill them with grace, peace, and healing. That they would find comfort in each other and that the sweet memories of their loved ones will sustain them until they are reunited in Heaven. Thank you, for your great sacrifice also!

As you enjoy your 3 day weekend please remember and pray for all the brave men and women in our military. Pray for the mothers and fathers who will never hold their precious boys and girls in their arms again, for the wives and husbands who will never get to live out the hopes and dreams they planned together, and for the precious children who will never feel the tickle of daddy’s whiskers on their cheek or the soft embrace of their mother’s arms again. The burden is too great to let this weekend go by without a heartfelt sense of gratitude for the meaning behind our three day weekend.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Photo credit: Google Images

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Categories Faith, Family, Homeschool

The Day our Music Died

22 Apr

It was a day that will become an “Where were you when” iconic conversation.

The news that Prince had died pulled the heartstrings of people from around the world.

Someone asked, “How can millions mourn a man they never knew?”. Good question and I think it’s because music is nostalgic. No one did it bigger or with more influence for this generation than he did.

Nothing has the power to move us and to transport us to a single moment quite like music. Music helps us to retell our stories and helps preserve our memories. These moments all come together as a unique soundtrack, different like a finger print and it becomes our storyteller.

When he died, of course we mourned the man but also we mourned a piece of our youth that died that morning.

Being Minnesotan we love our own and he felt like ours. His death brought out a unity in our city that we haven’t seen in a long time. That day where once stood an enemy became a friend and where once stood a stranger became a brother and sister. We put our petty differences aside and came together shoulder to shoulder and hand in hand in unity to honor a man passionate about his craft, his city, and his people.

The young and young at heart took to the chilly Minnesota streets to celebrate music, love, life, and humanity.

We were all moved by his talent, his presence on stage, and his quiet thoughtful nature off stage.

Let our own lives reflect the goodness that brings people together and may we live in such a way that when our curtain falls for the last time that our music will also live on.

Thanks for reading.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Photo Credit: Bing search https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/13062403_10209557057268140_7435579437116981243_n.jpg?oh=fa949b3b98e7037d6dc798213a12f973&oe=57A24E93

Tags: actor, album, believers, Bible, blessed, blessing, Chanhassen, childhood, children, christ, Christian, Christian blog, christian blogger, Christian family, Christian Homemaker, Christian mom, Christian mother, Christian wife, Christian woman, christianity, curtain call, death, died, enemy, Eternal Vaue, faith, family, First Avenue, friend, God, Holy Spirit, home education, homemaker, homemaking, homeschool, housewife, husband, husband and wife, Icon, Jesus, Joy, love, Minnesota, motherhood, mourn, mourned, music, nostalgia, Paisley Park, parenting, performance, Prince, sad, sadness, scripture, singer, sister and brother, soundtrack, tigetherness, unity, weary, wife, wisdom, Woman, women

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Categories Family, Homeschool

For Anna

21 Aug

I grieve so deeply for you and your children. I pray you have the strength you need to get through these very hard days and months to come. It’s a terrible weight you and your children have to bear and to do it under the magnifying glass of the judging world is incomprehensible.

I pray you run to Jesus and He showers you with His tender mercy and you feel His loving presence so profoundly.

As you grieve for a life that was built on great expectation, I pray you remember that this is not your fault and there is nothing you could have done to save him from his undoing.

You will feel inadequate, unattractive, confused, angry, foolish, and an array of other ways you couldn’t fathom unless you walk through this mine field. But precious one, you are enough, because you are who God says you are…nothing more nothing less.

This will undoubtedly be a season where you will feel alone in your despair, abandoned in a jungle of humiliation, all the while trying to discern sincerity from sin. This is a journey of time, even though time doesn’t really heal all wounds, it does help draw you closer to One that does.

This is not your sin even though the burden of it lies heavily on your heart. Don’t hide away in shame and grief and don’t let bitterness own you. In due time, when the world sees you again, let them see that your pain birthed strength, grace, perseverance, beauty, compassion and character….let them see Jesus…the Jesus you always intended for the world to see. Leave the shame and burden at the foot of the cross.

When the hot healing tears dry, lift your head high and remember who you belong to…..you will be OK and Joy will find you again!

My heart just aches for the magnitude of sin that is penetrating our culture under the guise of love, fun, opportunity and happiness. The enemy knows how to romance us. He sees where our armor is weak (even if we don’t) and offers us snippets of our weakness and presents it to us in a pretty box labeled “curiosity”. When we open that box the invisible seed of destruction is planted. Then, he has you- and what was once romance is now burden and bondage.

This destroys seemingly good, faithful people and turns them into hypocrites, cheaters and liars.

Sin holds you in bondage and you will become a slave to it!

Friends, our sins are always seen (Jeremiah 16:17) and when we chose to continue to water our seed of destruction our secret sins will eventually be brought to light (1 Corinthians 4:5) and when they do are you prepared for the consequences?

The world is out to destroy you but Jesus came to save you. Real freedom and joy is found in Christ and Christ alone.

I leave you with Galatians 5:1, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Image courtesy of [hohoholand] at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Tags: 19 kids and counting, and a sprinkle of love, Anna Duggar, baking, believers, Bible, birthday, blessed, blessing, blog, blogger, bondage, burdened, cheap meals, children, christ, Christian, Christian blog, christian blogger, Christian mother, Christian wife, Christian woman, christianity, comfort, cooking, cooking with kids, daughter, deceit, destruction, devil, Duggars, easy, easy recipes, Encouragement, enemy, Eternal Vaue, faith, family, forgiveness, Freedom, fun, Galatians, God, grace, gratitude, heart, Heaven, Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, home education, homemaker, homemaking, homeschool, hope, housewife, hurt, husband, husband and wife, hypocrites, Jesus, jesus christ, Josh Duggar, Joy, kitchen, learning, liars, lies, life, Lord, love, mama, marriage, meal ministry, media, mom, mother, motherhood, parenting, peace, Pinterest, praise, prayer, precious, recipe, respect, Savior, scripture, Servant, servants heart, serving, simple recipes, sin, sins, slave, summer, teaching, transformation, trust, Truth, weary, wife, wisdom, Woman

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Categories Faith, Family

A Letter to my Daughter…

13 Oct

The world will tell you that beauty can be found in a certain bra size or certain jean size but the truth is is that beauty is found in your heart size. Let me be honest, you will be judged on these and so much more and it will sting. The enemy uses those weak spots, those areas we are most conscious about to wiggle his way in and whisper destruction to your soul. Don’t be fooled or transformed by the vainness of the world but rather inspire true beauty even when it is hard or ignored or mocked.

Women, in particular, are digging themselves into pits so vast that they can’t find their way out. Their struggle to conform is killing them. Maybe not always physically but emotionally. Searching for that one magic thing that will all of a sudden transform their lives from mediocre to magnificent.

It’s amazing the depths we will go for vanity or pleasure and how shallow our efforts are toward the Lord. Proverbs 31:30 reminds women that our physical beauty will fail us all eventually.

We are so busy chasing someone else’s best 10 seconds that we lose sight on how terrific our life can be. Until we center our focus on the Creator and let Him lead us through the beautiful mess of life we will never find the magnificent we are looking for-it doesn’t exist apart from the Lord!

When you start to see yourself and your life through the eyes of our Creator you will be transformed by the marvelous creation you are. It is then that you will truly see and understand your gifts, talents, and the greater purpose of your life. Matthew 10:39 reminds us that if we are only concerned about finding ourselves first you will never will but if you pursue the Lord first you will find both Him and you. So pursue the Lord with eagerness and expectation!

Fill those cracks and gaps in your armor with the life giving words of God and focus your efforts on becoming who He says you are! Surround yourself with people who will encourage you and hold you accountable. God never intended us to make this journey alone. Female friendships in the media are always portrayed as conniving, selfish and, jealous. Women using and abusing each other in hopes of gaining power and popularity. Don’t buy into the lie. Sisterhood, when Christ centered, can be one of the biggest blessings of life.

It’s not always easy but with that foundation of Christ in place whatever the stumble, you have that compass always pointing you back to the arms of the one who makes everything beautiful….even the broken and messy.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

You can find me on Pinterest

“Image courtesy of [Stuart Miles] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net”.

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Categories Faith, Family, Homeschool

Can you Relate?

13 Aug

For much of my life my weight determined my quality of life. What I mean by that is, the heavier I was the less social I became. I would whole myself up hoping to just become a name without a face. I would slowly draw away from the circle so it would slowly swallow up my gap. I would become a whisper and a wonder. I truly felt my self worth was wrapped up to what the number on the scale dictated. With curtains drawn tight I spiraled into a pit of self loathing.

I have spent my whole life in a death spiral of one crash diet after another. Those consuming diets that steal all your thoughts and leave you watching the hands on the clock tick, tick, tick, ever so slowly waiting for the miserable days to pass. When a diet would finally stick, slowly the sun would begin to shine and I would again emerge vibrant much like a caterpillar breaking free from its cocoon. Life was mine to enjoy once again. I would seize every opportunity until it was time to repeat the cycle again.

I really needed proper perspective in order to reclaim my life and find joy regardless to what the scale said. Psalm 139:4 says, I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful. If God’s works are wonderful than so must I be. I am God’s workman, created to do good works, which Christ prepared in advance for me (Eph. 2:10). How am I to follow Christ if I am unable to allow His will on my life? I must recognize the voice of the enemy when he is whispering his sweet lies in my ear and remind him that I don’t walk of the flesh but of the spirit (Romans 8:1). For God has plans for me to prosper (Jeremiah 29:11). Do you see, there are no conditions to that. He doesn’t say I will prosper when I am 110 pounds, He says I will prosper because He says so! I just have to be a willing vessel for His love and goodness.

Being at a place right now where I would normally hide, I am pushing myself to keep letting the sun shine on my face. Letting God work through me for His glory. I am grateful that God’s grace is given to me in abundance. I pray for victory!

Can you relate? I would love to hear from you!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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Categories Faith, Family

Being Intentional

26 Jul

I am one of those gals that needs to be very careful and intentional with my faith.

I didn’t grow up in a Christian home so I lack a lot of the discipline and understanding that happens when you grow up in a faith filled family. Being honest here, I struggle immensely with my worldliness because I have lived and tasted that life, while shallow and lacking in substance, was still thrilling and fun. I sometimes, maybe much like an addict, will see or hear something that gives me a hunger for a lifestyle long (mostly) forgotten. It just sneaks in there without much cause or warning and I am left battling my heart against my flesh. The enemy is tricky and knows where I am weakest. Lucky for me, my God is stronger than my worst temptation and I know the more I seek Him the easier it will become to rely on the promises of our living God.

Romans 12:2 says-“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”. Sanctification can begin as soon as I surrender and seek the will of God in my life but I can’t do this unless I am intentional with that relationship because it doesn’t come naturally-but as time goes on it does get easier. Staying faithful requires endurance, much like a seasoned athlete, it takes careful preparation, training, and focus on the ultimate goal-which for me is having everlasting life.

What do I do to be intentional and remain in the Word? First, I have to keep my Bible in plain sight along with a devotional or Bible study. Why is reading the Bible important? Ephesians 6:11 says-“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” and Ephesians 6:17 goes on to say-“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”. We have to be ready to face the enemy (Ephesians 6:17) and unbelievers (1 Peter 3:15) we do this by knowing the word of God. In Matthew 4:4 Jesus says, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”

It is important that I get involved in church and ministries. God wants believers to come together in fellowship. Proverbs 27:17 says ” Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” When the body of Christ comes together we can restore each other (Galatians 6:1 and James 5:19-20), to love and encourage each other (I Thessalonians 5:11 and Hebrews 10:25-27), and to bear each others burdens and to forgive one another (Galatians 6:2 and Cololassians 3:13). By coming together as the body of Christ we become more refined, effective in our calling, and have brothers and sisters in Christ directing us away from temptation.

Finally, I need opportunities to serve and love my neighbors. Romans 12:13 says, “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” By doing this, I can be a reflection of Christ’s love. A concrete reminder that being the hands and feet of Christ demonstrates His love for all in a way that is selflessly sacrificial.

My brothers and sisters, how do you stay intentional? I would love to know!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Tags: believers, Bible, blessed, blessing, body of Christ, christ, Christian, christianity, church ministries, Encouragement, enemy, Eternal Vaue, faith, fellowship, God, hospitality, intentional, Jesus, Lord, love, neighbors, prayer, scripture, Servant, servants heart, serve, sin, teaching, temptation, transformation, Truth, unbelievers

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