Cooking Owl Day Apron at ModCloth $27.99

That’s why I’m LOVING this apron from ModCloth.  First of all, it’s FULL-LENGTH.  What’s the point in those small things you just wrap around your waist? Sorry, June,  but what about the top-half?  Or am I the only one with spattered grease stains on the shirt?  Anyway, it’s the perfect coverage for mixing, baking, cooking, frying, etc.  AND well, it’s just stinking cute.  Who can resist a cute owl on the pocket?

If you love the vintage aprons like me, but not really a fan of the owl motif, you need to check out  VintageAprons.com-YES! It’s a website totally devoted to my obsession.  Here’s a couple of samples that I’m loving.

Summer Lemons Laminated Apron at VintageAprons.com $34.95

Woven Houndstooth at VintageAprons $32.95

Thanksgiving Gumballs. Yep, they come in a variety of flavors, including turkey, cranberry, and pumpkin pie. 

Inflatable Turkey Here’s a turkey imposter for your holiday table.  Just remember to keep the carving knives away.

Turkey Jello Mold Here’s a bird of the jiggly sort.  Choose whatever flavor or color you want this year’s turkey to be.  The possibilities for this one are endless.

In November we set aside a special day to gather with family and friends and give thanks.  But what about the other 364 days of the year? 

Through the day-to-day grind of hectic schedules, unexpectancies, and disappointments, giving thanks doesn’t always seem to be that easy.  However, gratitude is a powerful weapon that can change your attitude even in the most difficult situations.

That’s why 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us that in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (NKJV)  Why? Because our natural instinct is to feel sorry for ourselves and live dissatisfied.  These negative attitudes can lead to jealousy, bitterness, depression, and countless other attacks from the enemy, robbing us of the life God purposed.

As we begin to thank God for His daily provisions and focus on His many blessings, our thought process begins to change.  We notice more and more of His wonderful blessings.   Disappointment turns to hope, sorrow turns to joy, and jealousy turns to compassion.

May we give thanks to God in everything, not only in November, but 365 days of the year.

Still suffering from a candy rush?  Well, it’s time to push that bucket of treats aside as we forge ahead toward Thanksgiving.  Now is the time to make some important preparations.

The first on our To-Do list, of course, is our beautiful bird.  Which turkey do you intend serving to your family and friends?  And no two birds are the same. 

So here’s a few thoughts to help you decide.

• Size-  Smaller birds tend to be more tender.  Consider buying two small birds if feeding a larger crowd.
• Hen or Tom?- Though they taste the same, Toms (males) have a greater meat/bone ratio.  Food for thought.   Hens (females):  you should plan for about 1 lb. per person       Toms: you should plan for about 3/4 lb. per person 
• Fresh- supposedly never kept below 26 degrees (How can this be when these birds are processed months before November?  Labels can be tricky.)
• Frozen- cheapest option, but needs to be purchased several days ahead for sufficient defrosting.
• Basted  a.k.a The Botox Bird- these are injected to increase juiciness and flavor.  My advice?  Choose your own basting.
• Organic- turkeys never given growth hormones/antibiotics, guess we’ll call him Free as a Bird, free of artificial flavors and minimal processing.

Fresh or frozen, Tom or Betty–sorry, couldn’t resist, no matter the choice, today’s the day to begin your hunt for the perfect turkey.

 I thought I’d share this great recipe for my own version of a Chicken Noodle soup that I cooked up for our rainy evening spent indoors.  Add a slice of skillet cornbread and you’re in for one hearty meal.

Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

about 12 servings

My hubby had leftover chicken and stock from the previous night’s grilling, but if not, 2 quarts of water with chicken bouillon granules will do. 

Bring chicken stock to boil and add a bag of wide egg noodles.  Cook about 10 minutes, then add 3 cups of cooked chicken and 2 cans of condensed cream of chicken soup (undiluted).  Heat through.

I then added a cup of sour cream just before serving.  Yummy!

In this story, Wren Evans is raising her gifted son, Charlie, as a single parent, struggling with the choices parents face as they strive to provide what’s best for their children.  Along with these struggles, she also must deal with past hurts and find a way to heal in hopes for the future.  Not to mention a new handsome friend, Paul Callahan, thrown into the mix! 

The book is a great journey from strained relationships to God’s healing and restoration.  It’s a wonderful story that is sure to strike the heart-strings of any mother. 

 I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

The other evening while in a discussion over Scripture, my son asked, “Why don’t people get it?”  Although he was referring to those outside the Christian faith, I began thinking of those who claim to be Christians, but don’t seem to get it, either.  I think we all fall into that category from time to time.

When a newspaper posed the question, “What’s Wrong with the World?” G.K. Chesterton simply replied, “I am.”

As Christians, may we get it–taking hold of the message of Jesus to live it out.

that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.–Colossians 2:2-3NKJV

Time is an amazing concept.  Our lives revolve completely around it.  Appointments, deadlines– time to be here or there.  Time to do this or that.

We wake up at this time or go to bed at that time.  Often we feel our time is stretched to the maximum. 

For some of us it’s about time that has gone– THE PAST.  We remember fondly our past years as the greatest times, sadly wishing we could relive those moments.  OR we may be living with the regrets of the past, allowing our past to consume our thoughts, keeping us from enjoying the PRESENT. 

For some of us it’s about time in the FUTURE.  We live for when our kids are grown and out of the house– or say I’ll do that when I’m retired or even I’ll go on that diet on MONDAY or NEW YEAR’S DAY. 

And then some of us are just living in THE MOMENT. We are so stretched with deadlines and meeting the needs and wants of our children, husbands, parents, friends, that we can only focus on the task at hand right now, putting off everything else– many times putting off our health, exercise, sleep, diet– thinking about only these things in the moment. 

2 Peter 3:8 tells us, But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  NKJV

Here Peter tells us that our idea of time and God’s are not the same.  We see time as a linear progression.  We post our calendars, check our schedules daily–or maybe hour by hour– to make sure we are where we need to be when we need to be there.

But God sees time without boundaries, limits, or schedules.  Can you imagine one day being as a thousand years?  It boggles my mind!

God’s definition for time does not fit into our neat box of calendars, clocks, and sunsets.  As Christians we must learn to live on God’s timeline NOT OURS. We must surrender to His timing in all things and we must be careful not to think that we have control over time.

WHO ARE YOU?  Are you living right now the life God wants for you? Forgetting the past and without worry of the future, what does God have for you in this moment?

Winter Jam line-up for 2012 has just been announced and with Kari Jobe–for me– and Skillet –sons and hubby’s fave–part of the crew, this house is happy.  Of course, no tickets required with only $10 at the door, so check out www.jamtour.com to find date and location for your WinterJam experience.

Here’s a great article I found by John Piper about the importance of Scripture Memorization.   It’s one worth reading and taking to heart.

Why Memorize Scripture? by John Piper

By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org

First, a few testimonies: I have it third hand, that Dr. Howard Hendricks of Dallas Seminary once made the statement (and I paraphrase) that if it were his decision, every student graduating from Dallas Theological Seminary would be required to learn one thousand verses word perfect before they graduated.

Dallas Willard, professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California, wrote, “Bible memorization is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation. If I had to choose between all the disciplines of the spiritual life, I would choose Bible memorization, because it is a fundamental way of filling our minds with what it needs. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. That’s where you need it! How does it get in your mouth? Memorization” (“Spiritual Formation in Christ for the Whole Life and Whole Person” in Vocatio, Vol. 12, no. 2, Spring, 2001, p. 7).

Chuck Swindoll wrote, “I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture. . . . No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified” (Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994], p. 61).

One of the reasons Martin Luther came to his great discovery in the Bible of justification by faith alone was that in his early years in the Augustinian monastery he was influenced to love Scripture by Johann Staupitz. Luther devoured the Bible in a day when people earned doctorates in theology without even reading the Bible. Luther said that his fellow professor, Andreas Karlstadt, did not even own a Bible when he earned his doctor of theology degree, nor did he until many years later (Richard Bucher, “Martin Luther’s Love for the Bible“). Luther knew so much of the Bible from memory that when the Lord opened his eyes to see the truth of justification in Romans 1:17, he said, “Thereupon I ran through the Scriptures from memory,” in order to confirm what he had found.

So here are a few reasons why so many have viewed Scripture memorization as so essential to the Christian life.

1. Conformity to Christ

Paul wrote that “we all, . . . beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18)) If we would be changed into Christ likeness we must steadily see him. This happens in the word. “The Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord” (1 Samuel 3:21). Bible memorization has the effect of making our gaze on Jesus steadier and clearer.

2. Daily Triumph over Sin

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. . . . I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:9, 11). Paul said that we must “by the Spirit . . . put to death the [sinful] deeds of the body” (Romans 8:13). The one piece of armor used to kill is the “sword of the Spirit” which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). As sin lures the body into sinful action, we call to mind a Christ-revealing word of Scripture and slay the temptation with the superior worth and beauty of Christ over what sin offers.

3. Daily Triumph over Satan

When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness he recited Scripture from memory and put Satan to flight (Matthew 4:1-11).

4. Comfort and Counsel for People You Love

The times when people need you to give them comfort and counsel do not always coincide with the times you have your Bible handy. Not only that, the very word of God spoken spontaneously from your heart has unusual power. Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” That is a beautiful way of saying, When the heart full of God’s love can draw on the mind full of God’s word, timely blessings flow from the mouth.

5. Communicating the Gospel to Unbelievers

Opportunities to share the gospel come when we do not have the Bible in hand. Actual verses of the Bible have their own penetrating power. And when they come from our heart, as well as from the Book, the witness is given that they are precious enough to learn. We should all be able to sum up the gospel under four main headings (1) God’s holiness/law/glory; 2) man’s sin/rebellion/disobedience; 3) Christ’s death for sinners; 4) the free gift of life by faith. Learn a verse or two relating to each of these, and be ready in season and out of season to share them.

6. Communion with God in the Enjoyment of His Person and Ways

The way we commune with (that is, fellowship with) God is by meditating on his attributes and expressing to him our thanks and admiration and love, and seeking his help to live a life that reflects the value of these attributes. Therefore, storing texts in our minds about God helps us relate to him as he really is. For example, imagine being able to call this to mind through the day:

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:8-14)

I used the word “enjoyment” intentionally when I said, “communion with God in the enjoyment of his person and ways.” Most of us are emotionally crippled—all of us, really. We do not experience God in the fullness of our emotional potential. How will that change? One way is to memorize the emotional expressions of the Bible and speak them to the Lord and to each other until they become part of who we are. For example, in Psalm 103:1, we say, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” That is not a natural expression for many people. But if we memorize this and other emotional expressions from the Bible, and say them often, asking the Lord to make the emotion real in our hearts, we can actually grow into that emotion and expression. It will become part of who we are. We will be less emotionally crippled and more able to render proper praise and thanks to God.

There are other reasons for memorizing Scripture. I hope you find them in the actual practice.