Homemade Valentine Ideas

OK, many of you are stuck at home b/c of the snow. 

Looking for something to do?

Here are some FREE ideas for Valentines Day cards I found:

                            Kids' Valentines

                                                Hand Valentines

These creative valentines are a breeze to make for a few special friends or an entire classroom of kids.
Send a touching message with valentines traced from little hands. Just cut from construction paper, and then decorate. Your child can hand over sweets or a toy ring, or let someone know they're her hands-down favorite.




Read more at Marthastewart.com: Valentine's Day Crafts and Homemade Gifts for Kids and Adults - Martha Stewart

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Give a Hoot

Who, who wrote the book of love? Kids can compose their own after receiving one of these wise-looking owls perched on a pencil.

Materials

• Owl template
• Card stock or scrapbooking paper
• Scissors

• White paper or card stock
• Glue
• New pencil

Instructions

1. To make an owl, download our template. Trace and cut a teardrop shape from card stock or scrapbooking paper. Fold over the narrow end, then cut the owl's forehead, as shown.
2. Next, draw and cut eyes from white paper or card stock, then glue them to the card. Cut vertical slits about an inch apart near the bottom of the owl's body and slip a pencil through the slits.
   
   
   More messages:
   You're Owl-right
   To a real wise guy
   You're a hoot

http://familyfun.go.com/valentines-day/valentines-day-cards

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                        Lollipop Flowers

There is something irresistibly simple and lovely about this card, and your sweetheart is sure to be a sucker for the candy treat it hides.

Materials

• Red and green construction paper or card stock
• Scissors

• Lollipop
• Glue stick

Instructions

1. From red construction paper, cut out a heart that's just larger than the lollipop candy and glue it to the wrapper.
2. For the leaves, fold the green paper in half and cut out a leaf shape, leaving the two sides attached at the seam.
3. Unfold the double leaf shape, coat the entire inside surface with glue, and fold it back over the lollipop stem, pressing to secure.

Tips:

If you use cardboard templates, one child can trace and cut hearts while another works on the leaves.

Variations:

Make cardboard templates of the hearts and leaves.

I was doing my devotions today and I thought it was so good I wanted to repost it for everyone. How many of us have been guilty of this??

What's the Big Deal about Dwelling on the Past?

BY: Melanie Chitwood

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!"
Isaiah 43:18,19a (NIV)

A young married woman unloaded her marriage frustrations on a radio call-in show. Her husband had forgotten what the word romance meant. He never thought to bring her a sweet card or to plan a date. He didn't thank her or even notice her hard work, like laundry and keeping the house clean, along with working full-time.
I suspected her thoughts were leading her to a dangerous place. Sure enough, the young wife confirmed this with her next statement: After two years of marriage, she wondered if she'd made the right decision about this marriage. Maybe she should have married the guy she dated right after college, the one she regretted letting slip away from her.
Her fantasies of what might have been were leading her to a dangerous place of dwelling on the past. Thoughts of the past, or as today's Scripture puts it, "former things," can bombard our marriage mindset in damaging ways. See if any of these thoughts ring a bell:

• I wonder if I made the right decision about my marriage?
• I wish my husband were romantic (attentive or understanding) the way he was when we were dating.
• What happened to the great listener I used to have in my husband? Now all he wants to do is play sports or watch TV.
• Even though it was years ago, I just can't forgive the way he hurt my feelings.
• This isn't what I imagined marriage would be. What happened to all our dreams?

How can dwelling on the past damage our marriage? When we dwell on the past, we're robbed of the treasures of the present. We don't see the gifts God's given us right now in our husbands and marriage. Maybe he doesn't bring you flowers anymore, but he works hard every day to provide. He doesn't thank you for the clean laundry because he's busy with a house project he hopes will make you smile. He knows he made mistakes in the past, but he's trying hard to change.
The young wife on the radio found the world's answer to her marital frustrations. The radio hostess agreed that this husband was clueless and this young wife should question staying in this marriage.
I wanted to scream, Stop right there! You're going down a dangerous path! Maybe he wasn't a good husband. But I suspect he was just a human husband, one with flaws and shortcomings. Just like the husband had plenty to learn about marriage, so did this young wife.
God has a better answer for what to do when we find ourselves dwelling on the past in a detrimental way. He says, "See, I am doing a new thing!" (Isaiah 43:19) In other words, God asks us to redirect our focus to the good things He can and will do in our marriages. As we continue in Isaiah we come to a question we need to ask ourselves, "Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" (43:19).
God's is asking, Do you see the good things I'm doing right now... in your life or marriage? Pay attention or you're going to miss out!
To redirect our focus on the new things God is doing in our marriages, we can pray about our marriage mindset, asking God to help us see the blessings, not the drawbacks. We can choose to think about how our marriage has gotten better, and look forward to the future we have together.
Reading this devotion may have triggered thoughts of some unresolved issues in your marriage. This isn't meant to minimize the bigger issues you might be wrestling with in your marriage. These issues may need to be resolved before you can move forward. Pray about it individually and as a couple, talk with your spouse, and seek godly counsel. These steps might be necessary before you can see God "making a way in the desert" (Isaiah 43:19).

Dear Lord, You make all things new. Will You give me new eyes to see the good things I sometimes miss? Help me not to dwell on the past but to focus on the present and future. You are making a way, Lord, and I trust You with my heart, my husband and my marriage. Help us deal with any issues that are damaging our relationship, so we can appreciate the new things You're doing. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

What if a prostitute or _________ came into your church?

Want you to think about something: 

Luke 7:36-50 says:

36 One of the Pharisees asked him over for a meal. He went to the Pharisee’s house and sat down at the dinner table. 37 Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume 38 and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him.” 40 Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Oh? Tell me.” 41 “Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. 42 Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?” 43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one who was forgiven the most.”
“That’s right,” said Jesus. 44 Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, “Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. 45 You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn’t quit kissing my feet. 46 You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. 47 Impressive, isn’t it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.” 48 Then he spoke to her: “I forgive your sins.” 49 That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: “Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!” 50 He ignored them and said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

How do you think the church would respond today if this women or ____________ (fill in the blank) came into the church? Dressed (well half naked, b/c she was a prostitute) and did something to worship God completely different from the way we "Normally DO THINGS" in the church?:
Please comment below:

A Lifestyle of Worship????!!!??? Part 1

So today in church I was led to discover something, that I really didn't like.

You see, at the church we are attending they have the children stand in the front for worship.

My husband and I were sitting a few rows behind them so I could see everything they were (or weren't in my case) doing.

I am ashamed to say that my kids (pastors kids) were the only 2 NOT standing.

Sigh.... A proud moment in a mothers life. LOL!

Then to make it worse, my son was pulling his jacket up over his head and playing around the whole time.

hmmm... what's wrong with this picture?  Now, there were other children that were playing around, so my children were not the only ones, but I guess when your a pastor, you kinda hope that they will led by example?

In the car my husband and I were talking about what we saw in church. I guess I / we haven't done enough to teach our children about worship.

How many of us have heard the saying "Worship is not just on Sunday mornings, its a lifestyle"?

I have, like a hundred times. But I guess (well, actually, I KNOW) I could do better, to be an example to my kids.

I do listen to only christian music, there are ALOT of really good artists that sound just like most mainstream music. Lecrae, Group 1 Crew, Red, etc..... I play it all the time, and the lyrics are really, really good! I've cried on many occasions listening to Lecrae (who is a christian rap artist) in my car. But maybe instead of just turning my ipod on shuffle when I get in my car, I can put on Fee or Desperation Band.

I will be following up with this blog, to share some practical steps we can take as parents to help teach our children about worship and living a lifestyle of worship.

As well as, to let you know how it works in the Holden household.

I encourage you to live a lifestyle of worship in your own home as well.... :)

The Miracle of Life.....

This December I should have delivered my third baby. (I miscarried back in June.) But this wasn't my first miscarriage. Ive actually had 4 (possibly 5) in the past 3 years or so. 

My husband asked me why I haven't written about it yet. To be honest, I wasn't sure what to say, how to say it and I don't want to expose some of these VERY personal thoughts that I have experienced over it all. This is a subject that is still very hurtful and hard for me at times to talk about.

People are so quick to judge you. They say REALLY STUPID things; mainly out of ignorance or just not knowing what to say. Sometimes there's nothing to say. Just a offer of prayer, support and love.

I came across a website the other day that really described some of the ways I was feeling.

Some days are particularly hard. People tell me I have children, why should I be so discouraged about not having more? As though the presence of my kids will take away the yearning in my heart for a child whom I feel the absence of. It doesn't. No more than the presence of remaining children replaces the children I have lost. I have carried children to term before. I know my body is capable of it, and yet it stubbornly refuses to cooperate now. I took it for granted, the ability to conceive a life and hold it inside me long enough to beget a child to raise. I no longer do. I fully recognize the wondrous miracle that it is. Infertility hurts. It does not matter when it happens. If the desire to bring a child into the world has entered your mind, filled your thoughts, and tugged at your heart, the denial of that vision seems very personal. ....Why should the Lord deny me the ability? Infertility strikes all walks of life. There is less sympathy for those with less affluence, yet they hurt just as deeply, with less ability to seek technological intervention. The well to do suffer too, and often all the resources in the world cannot provide the miracle they desire. Life marches on around them, oblivious to the monthly cycle of hope, discouragement, and then depression as they determine not to even hope again, and then back to hope again simply because as long as you live you have to hope or you die, even though you wish you could stop hoping so that the cycle of disappointment would stop. They feel to cry, as Rachel, "Give me children, else I die!". But the cries stay within their heart, often unspoken even to God, the full depth of sorrow held down deep and perhaps not even fully acknowledged to themselves.

This lady was describing exactly how I felt. As a women we have that motherly instinct to want to have children. I was asked "Well, why is it so important to you that you have more kids?" 

I can't explain to you why. Why is it so important to you that you achieve your life long goals or dreams and ambitions? Its just a longing in my heart, and it wont go away. 

Having a child is a miracle! Its such an amazing gift! I LOVE my children! I cant believe that God blessed me with such amazing human beings! Its such a awesome responsibility!

God's peace has really helped me through alot, though I have been angry at him, yelled a few times at him, wondering why he would allow this to happen to me! I know that there's a reason for all this. At this present time I cant pinpoint what? or why? I could have died? It could have suffered a lifetime of being sick?

At this present moment I feel like a child that has been offered a piece of candy, to only have it taken away before I can have it.

One day I'll look back at this and see the miracle that God has done in my life. Until then I just wait. Holding on to that truth.....

If you've been through a miscarriage, don't be afraid to talk about it. Holding it all in doesn't help. Theres people out there who have been through what your going through. 

Email me: thatpastorswife@gmail.com 

or visit

http://www.leahafterjudah.com

12 Days of Thanksgiving Challenge (Via thatpastorguy's blog)

Hey everyone! My hubby wrote this blog and I think that its something that we all should read. So here ya go.....

Ok everyone I wanted to throw out a challenge to you. I titled it the “12 Days of Thanksgiving Challenge”.

But before I describe what it is, I want to explain why.

Ya see, every year on Halloween night the Christmas ads start come on. Then next few days the store are all decked out. Then this year I even heard a radio station that went to ALL CHRISTMAS MUSIC on November 1st. Seriously?

Now don’t get me wrong I love celebrating the birth of Jesus, and I think that should be celebrated at all times of the year with our lives. But that’s usually not what is being offered or even talked about. It’s usually all about shopping, presents, making a Christmas list, Santa, two front teeth, and so on and so forth.

But I think there is a very important holiday that is being passed over. Maybe you guessed it with the title and all, but maybe not.

THANKSGIVING  - Ya know that holiday on November 24th?

Not that I am into Pilgrims and Indians but I am into being thankful. So many times we as typical Americans have this entitlement thing about us and we get more and more ungrateful for the things that we have been blessed with. We tend to look past the people that have helped us get to where we are now. We overlook the little things in life and never stop to be truly thankful for what we have, who we have, and everything in between.

So I present to you “The 12 days of Thanksgiving Challenge”

Sorry for all of you who thought you would get to eat pumpkin pie, turkey, and watch football for 12 straight days. It’s not about that.

What I wanted to challenge you with is for the next 12 days leading up to and including Thanksgiving go out of your way to tell someone “Thank You” but in detail. Thanks them for being the dad you never had, thank them for being there when nobody else was, thank them for _____________________________. You get the point.

So you in?

Come on you know you want to or even if you don’t you hate to back down from a challenge so go on. Make a list of people or just wing it, but for the next 12 days thank someone in detail for all that they have done for you. Wither big or little. Who knows maybe it could make their day, their month, or maybe even their year.

Have fun and remember to thank Jesus for making this all possible.

You can read more of his blogs at http://thatpastorguy.wordpress.com

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

How do you treat the people around you at work? 
If I were to go to your work and ask your fellow co-workers how you act at work, and/or how you treat them and/or customers. What would they say?
Do you think they would have good things to report about you? Or, do you think I would hear otherwise....


"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." (Matthew 7:12)


To sum it up, treat others how you would like to be treated. Please...put your self in someone else's shoes!
No ones perfect! Back when I was pregnant with my daughter, I worked at a credit union in Dallas, TX.
I look back at how I treated some people and I CrInGe! Oooo.... what was I thinking?
Christians, it takes more then being the church on a Sunday morning. Being a christian is NOT easy and we are NOT perfect. Its a day- to- day struggle sometimes. BUT, what are we reflecting to non-Christians when we treat them badly?


I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. by Mahatma Gandhi.


Once again, Oooooo! That hurts! 

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things". Philippians 4:8

"Do all things without murmuring and disputing". Philippians 2:14

I challenge you to remember these verses. Put your self in someone else's shoes, stop whining, and treat others with respect and see where it gets you. I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised :)

Heres a article I found on some ways to do this:

HOW TO
TREAT OTHERS WITH RESPECT

Treating people with respect makes your world a nicer place to live in, whether it's at home, at school, or out in your community. And it's easy - all you have to do is treat people the way you like to have them treat you. Here are a few ideas.• Don't insult people or make fun of them.• Listen to others when they speak.• Value other people's opinions.• Be considerate of people's likes and dislikes.• Don't mock or tease people.• Don't talk about people behind their backs.• Be sensitive to other people's feelings.• Don't pressure someone to do something he or she doesn't want to do.

We live in a diverse nation made up of many different cultures, languages, races, and backgrounds. That kind of variety can make all our lives a lot more fun and interesting, but only if we get along with each other. And to do that we have to respect each other. In addition to the list above, here are some ways we can respect people who are different from us.
• Try to learn something from the other person.• Never stereotype people.• Show interest and appreciation for other people's cultures and backgrounds.• Don't go along with prejudices and racist attitudes.