Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Purify 2013 Radio Ad

is really happy with how the Purify 2013 - Retreat for Messianic Singles Radio Ad turned out. Click here to listen to it - http://www.purify2013.com/Purify2013RadioAd.mp3.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Shabbat is here!!!

Well, Shabbat is here.  What a blessing each week it is to enter into our Messiah's rest which He provides us each week. All we have to do is obey and enjoy! 

We enjoyed a nice and restful Thanksgiving yesterday.  A family that we are friend with came down for the day from Holmes County area.  We feasted on turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, apple banana salad, pumpkin pie, and whipped cream.  Yum!  And double yum! 

Then last night, we did some Black Friday shopping...yes, we braved the stores...well, just one.  Walmart had a really nice 16 megapixel camera on sale for only $69.  My camera's battery clip had broken, so I was in need of a new one.  My previous one had lasted 7 1/2 years, so I was pretty happy.  The new one was really nice - a pretty silver color too.  We got to Walmart about 9:50pm for their 10pm specials which is when the camera went on sale.  We got a good position near the camera display...then when they ripped the display open, I dove in for one while Daddy guarded my back.  :)  I was able to get that plus the camera case I wanted.  I was wanting to get a memory card, and a lady overheard me talking about it.  While I was waiting for the camera, she went and brought one back to me!  That was so kind of her...she was a fellow shopper.  We quickly headed for the registers and were all checked out by 10:05 pm!!!  How's that for some successful Black Friday shopping?!  Then, today, we went up to Tractor Supply for our annual supply of water softener salt.  They always put it on the best sale today, and we buy a pallet load.  It's fun to watch all the trucks lined up to have the pallets put in their beds. 

And this afternoon found me studying, working on a few things for Purify 2013, and getting ready for Shabbat.  So now, I will wish you a wonderful Shabbat!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Thanksgiving Will Soon Be Here!

Last week was my off week which I truly appreciated.  I completed my Nutritional Health and Healing Course, turned in my test, and was thrilled to get a good grade back!  :)  Wednesday, Daddy took me on a Daddy Daughter Date.  He likes to take that time to spend with me, make sure I am doing good emotionally, and to teach me how my future husband one day should treat me.  We went out to eat at Smokey Bones and had BBQ Beef Sandwiches - yum!  Then on Thursday, we had Thanksgiving with Gaga (my grandfather) at the nursing home with him.  It was our first family Thanksgiving dinner with him at Columbus Alzheimer’s Care Center.  The meal was delicious!!!  We had turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, corn, green beans, dinner roll, and desert! 

This week, I had my two cleaning jobs on Monday and Tuesday instead of my normal Tuesday and Thursday with Thanksgiving being on Thursday.  I had to work extra hard to keep up with my school work as a result, but overall, I've done pretty well at keeping up with it.  One more lesson to get in on my ND (Naturopathic Doctor) studies and a couple more on my counseling course which is my minor.  It will get done. 

We are having company over for Thanksgiving tomorrow which we are looking forward to.  Momma's got the turkey ready and waiting in the fridge to go in the oven first thing in the morning.  The stuffing ingredients are prepared as well.  I made the pumpkin pie tonight.  Momma made the cranberry sauce earlier.  That just leaves the Sweet Potato Casserole, Green Bean Casserole, and Apple Banana Salad...yum! 

Plus today, I got to talk with one of my good girl friends, Laura.  We had a wonderful much needed girl talk.  I also worked with some good friends today on various ministry projects which I enjoyed.  Friends are a true blessing from Yahweh!  One thing for sure on my thankful list. 

Well, I will close now wishing everyone a wonderful Happy Thanksgiving!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Purify 2013 - Hebrew Roots Singles Retreat



Have you longed for like minded fellowship with other Hebrew Roots Singles?

Would you enjoy some special time to worship our Messiah and King?

Do want to be challenged in your walk in Torah?

Would you like a time away when you do not have to worry about being "different" because you keep the Torah?

Then you will not want to miss this exciting time of learning, fellowship, and encouragement!

Join us May 30 - June 2, 2013!

Each day will be packed with teaching, testimonies, and worship as well as plenty of time for fellowship and food as we seek to encourage each other to walk closer to the Messiah.

Speakers will be Rico Cortes, Mike Clayton, David Rives, Jocelin Boutet, Daniel Clayton, and Terry Boutet with plenty of time for fellowship!

Find out more and register at www.purify2013.com

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Be Prepared - Emergency Essentials

My family has enjoyed the survival/emergency foods from Be Prepared. I've recently signed up as an affiliate, so if you shop there, would you mind clicking through the link below? This money will go to help support my ministry. Thank you!

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Saturday, November 10, 2012

Ponderings...

This past week was my busy week with two days being gone for my bi-weekly cleaning jobs.  While I enjoy them very much, it is a much busier week compared to my off weeks as I'm carrying the same school load whether or not I'm off cleaning.  That means I tend to do more studying in the evenings and possibly trying to double up on my off days.  It just makes me appreciate my off week that much more!  My off week is the week that I am able to work on articles for the ministry as well as other enjoyable things...plan time with friends...go shopping for fun...  :) 

I stopped by and saw my grandfather on my way home from work on Tuesday.  It was a harder time seeing him that normal.  I was greeted with the question of "Do you know where your grandmother is?"  I had to remind him that she had passed away over a year ago.  Alzheimer's is a very cruel disease!  The person is alive...yet not in so many ways.  I walked out about in tears.  It does make you appreciate the fragility of life and enjoy every moment of life. 

I've got a couple of exciting projects I'm working on which I cannot wait to share with you soon!  Until then, I will leave you in suspense...!!!  :)

Friday, November 9, 2012

Shabbat Shalom!

Shabbat...what a sweet peace and rest it brings. This is Yahweh's blessing on our lives in return for our obedience to Him. May you experience true rest and Shalom this Shabbat!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Thoughts on the Book "It’s Not That Complicated: How to Relate to Guys in a Healthy, Sane, and Biblical Way"



My mom and I have recently been reading the book It’s Not That Complicated: How to Relate to Guys in a Healthy, Sane, and Biblical Way by Anna Sophia and Elizabeth Botkin.  Many of you have heard me speak on purity, so of course, I also enjoy reading various books on this topic.  It is refreshing to me personally as well as often teaching me something new.  I wanted to share a few things that really spoke to me out of this recent chapter we were reading.  

One of the first quotes that caught my eye was, “The Bible tells us that our relationships with people are a litmus test of our faith.  For us girls, our relationships with the guys around us might be the best of all, because of the unique possibilities and temptations they bring up.” (pg 111)

Being around guys and for guys being around girls can awaken thoughts and desires that are God given; however, the enemy may use these God given desires to try to take them into unhealthy desires.  We have the choice to either respond with a Godly response or allow the enemy to distort it.  As for me personally, I find asking myself the question of “Am I treating this guy like a brother?” as a good guard.  That means that even if a guy has caught my attention, you cannot tell from my actions or attitude any difference in how I treat him from any other guys who have not caught my eye.  This wall of protection helps to keep my heart in align as I seek to fully give that area back to Yahweh and keep it a healthy desire surrendered to Him.  

Another thought provoking quote declares “When we think of the attributes of a bad woman, we usually think of immodest clothing or fluttering eyelashes or suggestive body language.  Proverbs mentions all of these, but her weapon it warns against the most – by far – is none other than her tongue. 

 “Girls who ‘virtuously’ restrict their coquetry to their words rather than their appearance or body language – whether flattering or taunting – don’t tend to call themselves flirts.  ‘I wasn’t making eyes at him, was I?’  but who are they fooling?  They’ve kept their biggest asset, the deadliest weapon in the Forbidden Woman’s arsenal.  They’re just using their words to do what they know they’re not supposed to do with their eyelashes.” (pg 95)

This made me think back to Camp Yeshua this summer.  I helped with the girl’s purity session, and one of the topics we discussed was that although we may dress modestly (look the part) and have not a heart of purity, we are not being modest.  I think the girls were surprised when I pretended to flirt while dressed as a lady (in a skirt which I wear all the time) at the difference they saw.  It was surprising even to me and showed how important the heart really is.  

I liked how Anna Sophia and Elizabeth asked various guys to share a few thoughts to help expound on their points.  Timothy says… ‘We guys want to talk about important things - discipline our siblings, starting businesses, fighting the Lord’s battles – with our sisters in Christ (though we don’t always know how).  When a girl tries to appeal to our flesh, it’s pretty much impossible to go deeper, or frankly, to even want to.  We’d rather find someone who sees us, not as mindless animals to snare (Prov. 7:22-23), but as a human beings created in God’s image with the same purpose in life, weaknesses, and battles for holiness that she has.’ (pg 103)

“Rex says… ‘There are few things that a woman can do to more frustrate good men and set relationships on edge than dress immodestly.  If a young woman dresses sensually, she, whether wittingly or not, makes her attire the focal point of interaction with the opposite sex. A man who may genuinely care about her as a friend will find himself distracted by her dress. When he sees her, he will be wrestling with his thoughts, endeavoring to appropriately deal with the inappropriateness of her clothing, rather than having a relaxed interchange that would normally occur if she was dressed modestly. 

‘Women are worthy of respect, yet they disrespect themselves and invite further disrespect from men when they dress immodestly.  When women present themselves as an object of desire rather than a woman of modest dignity, they should not be surprised when men take the cues they give them.  While nothing excuses a man’s lust, if a woman dresses herself as a temptress, men will be tempted to think of her wrongly. If a woman wants to be thought of with respect, she should dress accordingly.’ (pg 104)

This book has been encouraging to me.  I had started it with my mom back in the spring, and then put it aside for a while.  It took me some time to figure out why…I finally realized why when I was talking to a friend here recently.  We were discussing how few guys there are who can have healthy interactions with girls.  But a girl appreciates a guy having a genuine friendship type interaction with her where neither of them are seeking something more…just pure relaxed friendship.  If it becomes something more, then it is only by Yahweh’s will and His direction in both of their lives.  My friend told me something interesting in response to this discussion, it depends on the maturity of the guy.  Is the guy mature enough to handle it?  And as my mom and I later talked about this, I thought it goes both ways – is the girl mature enough to handle it as well?  

So as we each seek to remain pure in our walk before Yahweh, may we seek to never defraud one another rather to “encourage each other, and build each other up.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:11)