Laugh Out Loud Wednesday

Hey friends,
I though you might like a little mid week humor.
These are from actual church bulletins.
Enjoy the laughter and
"Smile, it increases your face value." Dolly Parton in Steel Magnolias

The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'

Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you.

Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.

Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have nursery downstairs.

Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.

Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

For your dining pleasure check this out from two of my sweetest friends.
http://www.amycarrollp31.blogspot.com/

Are you making Progress

Hey friends,


For those of you who have been following my blog, you know I've been working out for about 15 months. Well I just finished, a metabolic assessment with the awesome and annihilating Anthony at Fitness Together.
Whew! I barely have the energy to type. Have Mercy!!!

Okay, so here is what I had to do after 15 minutes of walking uphill on the treadmill at 4 miles an hour.



Jump rope 100 times and do
16 kettle bell swings



Jump rope 110 times and do 18 kettle bell swings
Jump rope 120 times and do 20 kettle bell swings
Get the picture????
I made it all the way to:
Jumping rope 190 times and 32 Kettle Bell swings.

That's1660 jumps and 216 kettle bell swings in 40 minutes!

Now what does all this mean?


Besides the fact that my shins and calves are already as tight as a stuffed pig?

It means, I can do more than I thought I could or ever wanted to do.
It means I can push myself harder and farther than I ever thought possible.

It means I'm stronger than I was 15 months ago when I could only jump rope 25 times and didn't even know what a kettle bell was.
It means I am making progress.


Yes, I've put on a few pounds since the summer and yes, I'm VERY frustrated with that.
PLEASE don't write back and say that I'm gaining muscle and muscle weighs more than fat and every one needs more muscle than fat.
Right now, I just know that my clothes aren't fitting as well as they did 8 months ago.


Okay, now that I've gotten that off my chest, no more whining!


It means that I must continue to move forward, set more goals and continue to work hard.
It means I can NOT stop like I've done my entire life when things get hard and I don't see the results I'm looking for.
It means I can NOT give up, or slow down or even take a break.

According to the dictionary, progress is a movement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage,
To grow or develop. Going on; under way; being done; happening.

So today friends, as I hobble around with sore calves and shins, I'll be grateful that I have a body that can get up, jump rope and swing a 12 pound kettle bell and experience real progress.

Progress isn't easy, usually it isn't pretty and sometimes progress even stinks (be thankful you're not experiencing the sweat stains on my shirt).

BUT...
Progress is good and progress is necessary!
As someone reminded me:
If you're not making progress you're just going backward.

So go out and make some progress of your own today.
If you're willing, I'd love to hear your story.

"I walk slowly, but I never walk backward." Abraham Lincoln

"There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect." Ronald Reagan

Learning Not to Fear

Welcome Friends,

I'm glad you stopped by after reading today's Proverbs 31 devotion.http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/
If you've struggled with or are struggling with fear I hope you will do two things.

(1) Write out Joshua 1:6-7, "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go." (NIV)

These were the first verses I wrote in the "Fear Busters" section of my journal. I studied them for weeks and have many pages of notes on them. I have learned many important truths and they continue to minister to me.

(2) Get my friend Wendy Blight's book
Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner. http://shopp31.com/hiddenjoyinadarkcorner.aspx

Wendy shares her story of overcoming fear after a brutal rape. No matter what fears you have today friend, I'm confident you can learn some valuable lessons from Wendy.
Wendy has such a testimony of hope in the power of God that everyone can learn something from her.

You can also listen to Wendy's compelling story on Family life today.

http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/FamilyLife_Today/

Please take a few minute to listen and learn from one who has experienced replacing fear with hope.

I'm praying for you today as you allow the Lord to replace your fear with His hope.
Please use what our heavenly Father has already given to us, His love, His power and His self control.
Now, walk in confidence knowing our sweet Jesus is with you in your present circumstance.

Here's one more word of encouragement for you from my sweet friend Micca Cambell.
http://www.miccacampbell.com/2010/01/fear-driven-parent.html

"When Goliath came against the Israelites, the soldiers all thought, 'He's so big we can never kill him.' But David looked at the same giant and thought, 'He's so big, I can't miss.'"

Back to Reality

Hey there friends,

Hope you're settling into another Monday and the beginning to another week.
We all made it home safely from our trip to the beach.
It was wonderful not having an agenda. We ate, slept, walked and shopped when we wanted.
I think we all returned rested and refreshed.

For those of you who asked here are my answers to the questions in the last post.
My Favorite Flower: Tie Between Star Gazer Lilies and Hyacinths.
Which would I rather sag: My Bust (it fell years ago). With a good bra and a lot of under wire you can lift a lot!
Favorite Childhood Memory: My daddy driving me to his little restaurant and fixing me breakfast before I walked to school.
What Store would I live to shop in if I had Unlimited Funds:
McKenzie Child's
http://www.mackenzie-childs.com/default.aspx?crcat=Mackenzie+childs~Mackenzie+Childs&crsource=adwords&crkw=mackenzie%20childs&crcampaign=3430261738&gclid=CO6hgKufrp8CFRyfnAodK1401A

It's a great store and if you're ever in New York city, you MUST go there for high Tea. It's like Alice in Wonderland for adults!
See Ya!

Table Topics

Okay, so we're at Sunset Beach playing Table Topic. Funny and thought provoking questions.

What's your favorite flower?

What would you rather your bumper or your bust sag?

What's your favorite childhood memory?

What store would you love an unlimited budget?

Wish you were here!

Check This Out

My dear friend and team member of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Melanie Chitwood, releases her new book today that I

am SURE you are going to want to click here and order!

Building on the success of her book to wives, What a Husband Needs from His Wife (more than 30,000 copies sold), Melanie Chitwood now turns the tables and offers husbands practical ways they can love their wives more effectively and build successful marriages.

Convinced that small changes can make a huge difference in a marriage, Melanie provides an upbeat and inspiring challenge for husbands. Men will appreciate this “insider’s perspective” on the way a woman thinks about the relational topics that are most important to her, including ways a husband can…

assure his wife of his love
learn to be an effective listener
become more understanding of her thoughts and feelings
grow as the leader, protector, and provider she needs him to be
develop a richer sexual relationship
overcome and grow through challenges
Perfect for individual or group use by husbands of all ages.

While you are at it, you can order a copy of "What a Husband Needs From His Wife" and you and your spouse and read them together!

Girls Beach Weekend

As I prepare to head to the beach tomorrow with the Covenant Group ladies I thought it would be nice to have a few ingredients on hand in order to make it a "Spa Weekend" for my friends,
Here are a few recipes for making your own at home facials.
Try these out for yourself and "join us".
I'll post some pictures next week if the ladies agree.


Homemade Facial mask for normal skin
Make a paste of some powdered with milk or lemon juice if you want to fade spots on your skin.
Blend 1 egg white, 2 tsp vegetable oil and 1 tsp apple juice until smooth.
Mix 1 egg white, 1/2 cup cooked instant oatmeal and 1 tsp olive oil until smooth.
Apply a raw egg yolk and rinse with cold water. The content of egg is very effective in healing blemishes.
Mix well 2 parts milk, 1 part fuller's earth clay, 1 tsp honey and essential oil.
Homemade Face mask for oily skin
Blend 1/2 tsp lemon juice, 1 egg white, 1 tsp honey (heat in microwave for a few seconds to melt it), 2 strawberries and 2-3 drops eucalyptus oil or jojoba oil (optional).
Blend a ripe tomato and pat on your face. Wash after 20 minutes with normal water.
Mix well a tsp of baking yeast in a some warm milk.
Make a paste by mixing some potato flour in tomato puree.
Blend an apple in a blender and apply on your face. Wash after 20 minutes with normal water.
Rub some Milk of Magnesia, and let dry, then rinse with lukewarm water.
Homemade Face mask for dry skin
Mix ½ avocado (or 2 tsp avocado oil) with ¼ cup honey.
Mix 1 egg yolk, 1 tsp olive oil and 1 tsp warm honey, some oil (optional).
Blend 50g ripe avocado flesh, 25g orange juice, 1tsp honey, 1 tsp molasses and 4-5 drops of some essential oil.

Going Extreme

Proverbs 31's own LuAnn Prater and friends at Encouragement Cafe' radio show is hosting an event you don't want to miss!
"Gather with us on January 29-30 as we seek a new level of passionate pursuit of God and the encouragement of our sisters who are walking along the same path. We don't just benefit from our relationships with other women, we need them. And encouragement isn't just a nice idea given in the Bible, it's commanded; and it's vital to both the encourager and the encouraged!

It's meant to be lived out in flesh and bone, and in spirit and truth; and we think it's time we took it to the extreme! All three general sessions will include powerful prayer and worship, along with lots of laughter, fun, and some surprises! Our speakers will share from the deep places in their hearts about Absolute Boundless Abandon.

We will seek to make deep connections as we share our dreams, tell our stories, dry each other's tears, and celebrate each others victories!"

This event is ONLY $119! THIS INCLUDES OVER-NIGHT STAY, ENTRANCE TO ALL CONFERENCE SESSIONS/ALL CONFERENCE MATERIAL, BREAKFAST & LUNCH ON SATURDAY!!!
The bad news is...space is limited, so don't wait, register today.

For more details, click on this video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbJmTIOh7-E

Progress Anyone?

Hey friends,

Just wanted to check in with you to check on the progress of all those "improvements" you committed to at the beginning of this New Year.

I'm happy to start things off.

After consuming a small amount of bread (2 rolls) I paid the price and suffered the uncomfortable consequences of reflux and a tummy ache.

SO......... I'm completely off gluten and wheat. NO cheating, IT'S JUST NOT WORTH IT!!!!!

I've added in cardio 2 days a week in addition to working out 3 days a week.

Now, what about you? How are you doing? What progress are you making?

Handy Hint

Hey friends.

I just love handy dandy helpful hints, don't you?

My sweet friend Wendy Pope http://www.wendypope.blogspot.com/ is not only a godly woman, she is a woman who knows how to

s-t-r-e-t-c-h a dollar.

Check out her site and glean from her wisdom.

COFFEE FILTERS

Coffee filters .... Who knew! And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for almost nothing even the large ones.

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.

2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome... Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.

3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.

4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.

9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters..

13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease.

14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."

15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.

16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.

17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.

18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.

19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.

20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies.. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.

21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.

22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.

23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.

24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book.

25. Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.

OH YEAH THEY ARE GREAT TO USE IN YOUR COFFEE MAKERS TOO.

Improvement

New Year's Resolutions seem to be "The Thing To Do" each year. People tend to review the events of the past year, see their shortcomings and "resolve" to do better in the coming year.
Instead of making resolutions this year I'm choosing to make a list of "improvements", but as I make my list, it seems to be a lot like last years.
Continue to improve my fitness level
Spend more quality time with friends
Last but certainly not least Dig deeper into God's word.

Now is it just me or what? It seems the more I resolve to improve, the more I seem to stumble on accomplishing some of those improvement goals.
I recently read an article on How to Achieve Your Goals and wanted to share some of the things I'm planning to implement.

1. Make your Goals Specific and write them down

2. Make Realistic Goals
Saying you want to lose 20 pounds in one week is NOT realistic

3 Include a way to measure your success
I do a physical assessment every 3 months to chart my progress

4 Have short-term and long-term goals

5 Be flexible

6 Review your goals periodically
Ask yourself these questions:
How am I doing? Am I still on track?
Which goals am I having success?
Which goals are frustrating? Are they realistic goals?
Have circumstances changed since I set this goal?
Is this the right "life chapter" to work on this?


If this years list of "improvements" is just like last years be encouraged friend. Remember, these are simply improvements, not promises or laws. You have the power to implement, change or ignore the improvement at anytime.

Last years lack of success is behind you,over and done!'
Today is a brand new beginning