There's a blue sky in my heart
The Son of God is shining through.
Clouds cannot linger....
Gray skies are just dark skies lightning....
The breakthrough I seek is within me!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
What's For Supper?
Goulash!
(Sounds scary but it's really not!)
(Sounds scary but it's really not!)
1 pound of ground beef or ground turkey
1 small green bell pepper, diced
1 medium onion, diced
salt and pepper to taste
shell pasta, cooked
Prego or Ragu Spaghetti Sauce
Grated Cheddar Cheese
Start out by cooking the beef or turkey, along with the onion and bell pepper. When meat is done, add a little salt and pepper if you like. Pour in the spaghetti sauce and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes. Add cooked pasta and grated cheddar. Let the cheese have some time to melt before serving. Serve with rolls and green salad.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Praise -vs- Encouragement
As a teacher, I learned a powerful truth. There is a difference between encouragement and praise. Here is an example of what our children need from us:
A teacher walks around her classroom observing her students as they do their seatwork. She notices Michael who usually has really sloppy handwriting, doing something right. It may just be one word on the page written correctly, but there it is, proof positive that he can do better!
What should she do? Say, "Michael, l am so proud of you! That paper really looks good!" This attention would certainly please Michael and give him at least temporary incentive to work harder, but there is a better way!
What if, she was to say, "Wow, Michael, look at how those letters are sitting right on the line where they belong. I believe this is the best paper I have seen you do yet!" Michael would not only be the recipient of some praise from his teacher, but ultimately, he would know what he was doing right and what behavior to repeat!
The rest of the class now knows what pleases the teacher also and many will check their own papers to see if any improvements need to be made. Kids love to get positive attention and if you tell them what they are doing right, they will repeat that behavior because, deep down inside, they really do want to please! (O:
A teacher walks around her classroom observing her students as they do their seatwork. She notices Michael who usually has really sloppy handwriting, doing something right. It may just be one word on the page written correctly, but there it is, proof positive that he can do better!
What should she do? Say, "Michael, l am so proud of you! That paper really looks good!" This attention would certainly please Michael and give him at least temporary incentive to work harder, but there is a better way!
What if, she was to say, "Wow, Michael, look at how those letters are sitting right on the line where they belong. I believe this is the best paper I have seen you do yet!" Michael would not only be the recipient of some praise from his teacher, but ultimately, he would know what he was doing right and what behavior to repeat!
The rest of the class now knows what pleases the teacher also and many will check their own papers to see if any improvements need to be made. Kids love to get positive attention and if you tell them what they are doing right, they will repeat that behavior because, deep down inside, they really do want to please! (O:
The Proverbs 31 Woman
"A woman of noble character, who can find? She is worth far more than rubies...." Proverbs 31:10
There was a time I thought for sure that God had "posted" the Proverbs 31 woman message just to torture me. Of course I also knew that would be out of character for Him but I wanted so badly to do the things she did and be "her", or just like her at least. It didn't seem to be happening and I had become discouraged.
About that same time, a friend invited me to come hear a woman speaker at her church. The message was on a woman in the Bible who was badly crippled, stooped over and in need of healing. From this poor woman's stooped position, her whole outlook was different. With eyes wide open, all she could see was the ground in front of her and maybe a little bit to the side. In the natural, things didn't look real good!
When we depend on what we can see with our physical eyes it is easy to loose hope! At the time I felt like I had as much of a chance of becoming the Proverbs 31 woman as that woman thought she had of standing straight and tall. I just couldn't see it....neither could she, actually! But she could hear. She heard someone say that Jesus was close by and that He had the power to heal. She made a decision based on what she had heard, to go see Jesus.
The journey was difficult in her condition, but then she heard His voice. She even saw His feet! What else could she see from her stooped position? Straining, she looked up and He looked back. Her stiff and twisted bones suddenly became straight as He spoke. Her perspective changed that day. No more need to look down! She looked into the eyes of Jesus and walked home with her head held high!
Like that woman, I was dwelling on only what I could see through my natural eyes. From my perspective things didn't look promising at all. But, I wasn't ready to give up! That night God spoke. This is what He said, "You are the Proverbs 31 Woman". I tried to explain to Him all of the differences between her and me....but He wasn't listening.
I entered the church that nite spiritually "bent over" under the weight of my own expectations and failures. I walked out amazed and touched by what He had said. "You are the Proverbs 31 Woman, because I say so". You know, I really don't want to argue with God any more over this issue. So, I think I will just agree with Him because it is Him I need to please...not me. Letting go of pride, I humbly realize that I can't do it on my own, but He sees me through the eyes of grace and for that, I am so very grateful!
There was a time I thought for sure that God had "posted" the Proverbs 31 woman message just to torture me. Of course I also knew that would be out of character for Him but I wanted so badly to do the things she did and be "her", or just like her at least. It didn't seem to be happening and I had become discouraged.
About that same time, a friend invited me to come hear a woman speaker at her church. The message was on a woman in the Bible who was badly crippled, stooped over and in need of healing. From this poor woman's stooped position, her whole outlook was different. With eyes wide open, all she could see was the ground in front of her and maybe a little bit to the side. In the natural, things didn't look real good!
When we depend on what we can see with our physical eyes it is easy to loose hope! At the time I felt like I had as much of a chance of becoming the Proverbs 31 woman as that woman thought she had of standing straight and tall. I just couldn't see it....neither could she, actually! But she could hear. She heard someone say that Jesus was close by and that He had the power to heal. She made a decision based on what she had heard, to go see Jesus.
The journey was difficult in her condition, but then she heard His voice. She even saw His feet! What else could she see from her stooped position? Straining, she looked up and He looked back. Her stiff and twisted bones suddenly became straight as He spoke. Her perspective changed that day. No more need to look down! She looked into the eyes of Jesus and walked home with her head held high!
Like that woman, I was dwelling on only what I could see through my natural eyes. From my perspective things didn't look promising at all. But, I wasn't ready to give up! That night God spoke. This is what He said, "You are the Proverbs 31 Woman". I tried to explain to Him all of the differences between her and me....but He wasn't listening.
I entered the church that nite spiritually "bent over" under the weight of my own expectations and failures. I walked out amazed and touched by what He had said. "You are the Proverbs 31 Woman, because I say so". You know, I really don't want to argue with God any more over this issue. So, I think I will just agree with Him because it is Him I need to please...not me. Letting go of pride, I humbly realize that I can't do it on my own, but He sees me through the eyes of grace and for that, I am so very grateful!
Friday, January 21, 2011
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