NEW YOUTUBE CHANNEL

 
Hi Friends!

We started a You Tube channel because we wanted to read to our children and thought other people may want to read along with us.  We are not having Sunday School right now at our church because of Covid, but it is so important for our kids to know the Bible stories.  Through the Bible, they can learn about who God is and how He worked in the past and how He is still at work today.  Ultimately our desire is for them to believe in Jesus as the Son of God and trust Him to forgive their sins and have a personal relationship with Him.

So please join us as we read The Word and Song Bible by Stephen Elkins, which my friend gave me years ago.  You will see that the book is falling apart.  It has basic stories and goes through the Bible, book by book.  In the future, I hope to go back and read some of the stories directly from the Bible.

We are also memorizing Scripture, so you can practice with us here.  

If you subscribe, then you can see each video.

Also, if you haven't checked out my kid's band CZAJA, Here is their You Tube Channel :  CZAJA Music You Tube Channel

Insane in the Mundane!

Okay, so I'm skipping to #10 because I have felt insane in the past week. At least I have felt alone, distanced from friends, and bored.  So, before you think I have it all together, there you go.  Writing for me is therapy, I guess.  I write, so that I have goals of the way it should be in a perfect world.  But, life is not perfect.  

So, I'm skipping to #10 in Staying Sane in the Mundane:  
#10.  You are loved!!!  RELAX, REMEMBER THAT NO ONE IS PERFECT.  GOD LOVES US JUST THE WAY WE ARE, AND OFFERS FORGIVENESS, FREEDOM, AND GRACE.  

This week, I had to lower my expectations and focus on one day at a time.  I called friends and family to connect.  I also found strength in God's never-ending love for me.  

Ephesians 1:3-8a says,

"3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the 

heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the 

creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[b] predestined us for 

adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to 

the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him 

we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the 

riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us.  "(NIV)

We are his children, when we trust Jesus for salvation.  We are loved and forgiven.  Even when our world is upside-down, we can rest in that.  God never changes and is our only hope.     

  

The video of the song "There's A Light" is an encouraging reminder of God's love for us, by CZAJA.

#4 Get Outside, Stay Sane in the Mundane

Today, I took a walk with Liv.  On the way, she stopped and said, “Look dandelions!”  She started picking them, then said, “Come join the party.”  Usually, I don’t pick dandelions.  They’re weeds, right?  But today, I stopped and joined the party.  Then, we made a crown with honeysuckle vines, like I used to do when I was a little girl.    

Taking time for the little things in life, joining the party with your kids...it’s priceless.  In these mundane days, we must stop and enjoy moments with whoever we are with.

#3 Get the Kids to Help, Stay Sane in the Mundane

We are all in this together!  Get the kids to help. 

1.  Dishes, Trash, Floors:  Each person can help with the family chores.  For our family, we begin when the child is small, giving them small jobs that they can accomplish.  For example, helping to set the table, clean up their own toys, or sort clean silverware.  If it is required everyday, it becomes a habit.  We don't want to overwhelm them, just teach them to help.  This takes consistency.

For us, some jobs that the kids do are:  take out the trash, fill the dishwasher, empty the dishwasher, wipe off the table and sweep under the table after a meal, sweep floors, feed the dog, take out the dog, feed the chickens.  These jobs we have had a chore chart for in the past (which I highly recommend because it is consistent).  Now, we just pull together and they help, as I ask or as they see the need.

2.  Laundry:  One year, when my first three kids were constantly going outside and jumping in the creek or getting muddy, I thought, "They should do their own wash, if they are going to make so many clothes dirty!"  So, I taught them to do the laundry, and they have been doing it ever since.  Blane also learned to do his laundry about a year ago.  This makes the laundry manageable for me.

3.  Cleaning:  Pick one day to clean.  
I was getting stressed out looking at the constant mess (I still do).  One goal that has helped is, I clean on Thursday afternoons.  Then on the other days, I try to relax and know that on Thursday, I will dust, sweep, and mop (just the kitchen, dining room, and living room).  I do sweep other days, just quickly, but in my mind I don't have to, it is just a bonus.  It gives me back my sanity.  I try to clean the bathroom either Thurs. morning or when my youngest is in the bathtub. Bedrooms?  Each person is in charge of their own room.

I don't want to miss each special day that God has given me with these kids.  I don't want to be cleaning all day, or stressing out about the messes, so having the kids help is a necessity. 

Be consistent and positive.  When the job is done, we can move on and have fun together, too.

Isaiah 41:10, "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, Yes I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (NKJV).

#2 Stay in the Word, Stay Sane in the Mundane

Our world has turned upside down.  This is a time for reflection.  When normal distractions are taken away, what remains?  God never changes and remains faithful and true.  

Reading the Bible is the main way to get to know who God is and what it means for us.  We cannot rely on other people, the media, preachers, or books to learn who God is.  We must search the Bible, first, because God has given His Word to us.  Preachers and books are great, but we must go to the Bible to see if they speak the truth.  

Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (NKJV).

Proverbs 30:5 says, “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.  Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar” (NKJV).

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (NKJV).

Don’t have a Bible? Use this online Bible:  http://bible.com

What does this mean for me?  It means that after I get my first coffee and eat, I go back to bed.  Yes, I have to hide in my room, so that I can read my Bible.  God meets me there.  I learn a little each day, and God strengthens my heart.  I know who God is, and who I am in Christ.  

May God meet you, too, as you open the Bible, God’s Word to us.

Here is a video of my family singing at our church, Cornerstone, and Pastor Todd giving an Easter message of hope.  https://youtu.be/FA2YSdjKSfw

How Can we be Thankful Now?

This sermon, that we listened to this morning, is so important and encouraging for today and always.
It is from Doug Foss of Hope Church, in Lenox, MA, which is the church Mike grew up in.  Click here to view the YouTube video:  Be Thankful Always

#1 Stay Positive, Stay Sane in the Mundane

Like I said in the last post, the first week of the Covid 19 shutdowns, I was so sad.  There were so many cancelled plans.  Now, I am trying to stay positive, along with you.  So, I would like to share some tips that have helped me stay sane in the mundane.

I’m enjoying hearing tips from some of you, including: reading the Psalms, watching for the first Full Moon of spring on April 7th, reaching out to people that you haven’t talked to in a while, doing multiplication with clovers, doing DIY projects with online teachers...

My #1 tip is to STAY POSITIVE. For me, this means focusing on the good, instead of thinking negatively.  I have to list my blessings or things that I’m thankful for.  I read a book about doing just that by Ann Voskamp, called One Thousand Gifts.  She has been through a lot in life, but chooses to be thankful.  I don’t usually write down a list, just keep my mind on positive things.

P.S. I added a sermon today (April 5th), in the next post that really focuses on being thankful. 

• Philippians 4:8 (NASB)

  Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.