It's almost Christmas!  I REALLY love Christmas although I stress a bit as my sewing seems to start in the summer in preparation!  I know, I know that list of things I "need" to do is only in MY head but still. 
     We have so many wonderful traditions.  One of ours as a family is to get the children up on Christmas morning to open their stockings and then take them duck hunting before coming back to open presents!  Yes, Mom of course we read the Christmas story and drink hot wassail but I'm just sayin in case there was any doubt that we are slightly on the different side!
     I have been thinking a lot about our traditions, especially the religious ones.  Rex is preparing for his first communion this spring.  I have been completely blessed to be able to do this with him at home instead of sending him to church, however, it is a huge weight on my heart.  God has graciously led me through explaining everything to him thus far and now we come to memorizing the prayers so common to the catholic faith.  I have issues with one in particular, the Hail Mary.  I do not believe it is right to pray to ANYONE but God himself.  So how do I respect my husband's decision to go to the catholic church, balance his trust in me to teach our son, and still teach him the TRUTH?  Obviously had to let that one go to the Lord in prayer for a few weeks.  Well in his awesome graciousness he has answered my prayers...again.  God tells us over and over throughout his word that we are to come to HIM with our prayers, requests, and praise.  Never does it point us to Mary or anyone else.  I was praying Colossians 1 over my children this morning and just continued to read since I love that book :)  In chapter 2 vs 8 it says, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."  And then He showed me chapter 1 vs 16, "For by Him (Christ) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him."  and vs 17, "He is before all things..."  If we ever pray to Mary we are putting her before Christ.  We are taking away from Christ.  We are worshiping the creation rather than the creator just as others have worshiped idols before us.  I am so grateful he would honor me by hearing my prayers and give me this gift today, a tangible explanation for my son!

The Big 3-0 and Other Milestones

     Today my husband and I are celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary!  We have been together for 15 years and it's funny how you can look back and consider a marriage one of your greatest accomplishments but they are hard work!!  Words can not express how thankful I am to our most gracious Lord for all he has brought us through and continues to teach us.  We love each other more than we ever did as teenagers and that is an exceptional blessing.  We won't be going to dinner and a movie, no we are taking our children to a evening archery tournament in typical Fletcher family fun!
     Two weeks ago I also celebrated my 30th birthday!  No one seems to look forward to turning 30 but I sure did!  I love that God has given me a vision for growing older.  He has been teaching me so much about building lately.  I am reading II Chronicles now and Solomon is building the temple.  God has asked me to build our family in the same way.  A thick, strong foundation, the seven pillars of wisdom for strength, and beauty to attract others and glorify God.  Every furnishing is useful and has a purpose.  There is a place for honor set aside for God.  The blue prints match God's heavenly temple.  All the materials are HIS provisions.  It is built with complete reliance on Him and dedicated with prayer and praise.  I am loving this analogy! 
     When I think how overwhelming this is I remember two things.  One; Ephesians 1:17-19, "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know him better.  I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe."  It goes on to compare that power to what He used to raise Christ from the dead!  What do we even need that kind of power for!?  Yet, He has promised it to us.  So I have everything I need but some days I tend to procrastinate in my objectives and so the second thing I try and remember is to just BEGIN.  Just start....aaaannndd....go...II Chronicles 3:1 starts with, "Then Solomon began to build..."  Even when I screw up there is a new beginning.  How gracious is my God!
      So for my 30th birthday I asked the Lord for wisdom.  Wisdom far greater than any mother needs,  I know it won't compare to Solomon's but then I don't have a kingdom to run.  I just desire the kind of wisdom I could not posess in my youth.  The kind that raises children according to God's standards.  The kind that enables me to be a meek and quiet example of God's love to my husband.  These are my greatest desires.  A very wise man, whom I am honored to call Dad, pointed out to me that the wisdom that I asked for IS the very same kind of wisdom Solomon had, yet without love it does not yield a balanced result.  Although I don't deserve ANY of it, the God who gave up His only son to have a reletionship with me, promises if I ask His will in His son's name, he will do it.  (John 14:14)  I have so much to look forward to!

The Necessity of Kind Words

     It's not hard for me to realize how much I have to be thankful for.  This week alone I have seen God's healing touch on my husband.  He heard our prayers to find the right doctor who would have wisdom.  They found his lung infection and acute bronchitis and started him on the right medicine to heal him quickly.  What's more is He kept ALL the rest of us free from this illness!
     Yesterday we enjoyed an afternoon on the water as a family.  We sped along in our boat, the water like glass, and Ashton caught her first fish!  I thought what a privileged life we lead.  We want for nothing and lead a life of abundance.
     Why then do I struggle with discontent and kindness and encouragement?  Shouldn't my family be able to count on my sweetness?  I know my place in our home and I am seeking to be fulfilled in the role God has set for me.  How can I not look into the gorgeous blue eyes of my three year old and have anything but kind, nurturing words for her?  
     I know that contentment and joy are linked with thankfulness.  That order and creativity are from the Lord.  These are tools He HAS provided for me.  Today I will let go of the guilt.  I am a work in progress.  The refining fire burns but my tears must not be of self-pity for He is doing a great work in me. 
     I used to desire to go out into the mission field, get away from this overindulged American way of life, and really reach out to people for Christ.  What an exciting and noble cause!  As God has changed my heart I have a new vision, to raise children for the kingdom of heaven.  Today I read Psalm 127:4-5 in a new light.  "Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are sons born in one's youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.  They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies at the gate."  Yes I am preparing them and someday sending them out to be fiery blows to the enemy but that means I am the one shooting the arrows, I am the warrior for Christ!  It is my job to train my son to be capable, God-fearing, trustworthy.  A man who will proclaim truth in public places and lead tens, fifties, hundreds, or even thousands to change the face of our nation and eternity.  (Exodus 18:21)  He instructs that our daughters should be virtuous.  (Proverbs 31:10)  The Hebrew word for virtuous = chayil "able" as in military strength, virtue, valor, great forces, an army, might, power, noble, strong.  This is the kind of virtuous strength I need to rule our home under the protection of my husbands authority, to set as an example for them.  Yet the Bible tells me to do this with a gentle and quiet spirit (I Peter 3:4), with sweetness (Proverbs 16:24), and with daily encouragement (Hebrews 3:13) so they will not depart from the Lord or harden their hearts!  This is my greatest fear!  No wonder God has laid the importance of kind words on my heart.  The very success of my life's work depends on it!  God Himself leads me with an abundance of loving-kindness.  He feeds me with His word.  I belong to Him and He is my joy.  (Jeremiah 15:16)  He frees me from my strongholds and lightens my burden. (Hosea 11:4) 
     With tears in my eyes I am certainly starting this morning filled with joy and a thankful word on my tongue.  Yet again, He is faithful. 

Overcoming the Enemy

I had this terrifying dream last night.  The kind of dream that is so real and yet you wake up and it seems so silly.  This one just kept me thinking though and so as I began my quiet time I prayed that God would reveal any meaning that this dream might have or else captivate my thoughts and help me not to dwell on it.  I began to think of the real enemies of our home, the ones that sneak in when we are preoccupied and least aware.  Have I recognized them?  Am I doing what is needed to repair the holes in God's protective wall around us?  Again I prayed for wisdom and revelation and then opened my Bible to the next chapter I was reading, 1Kings chapter 20.  Twice the Lord handed over the obviously stronger Aramean army to king Ahab and the Israelites.  After Ben-Hadad's (king of Aram) defeat, Ahab made a treaty with him!  He was punished for realigning  himself with a foe that God had already determined should be destroyed.  I thought how interestingly this with my dream.  Have I been faithful to destroy that which the Lord has condemned in my life?  I then read my devotional for the day.  I love God's way of stitching totally unrelated things together.  It never ceases to amaze me.  I was just proud of myself for getting up before the children to read His word and He had already written me a complete lesson plan for the day!  Anyway, if you will remember the story of Jael in Judges 4 & 5...She was alone and yet she took authority over the enemy who came in to her house.  It was a bloody gory scene and she did not let her fear stop her from doing what was right.  The same should hold true today.  We can not worry about hurting feelings and political correctness.  We must walk in obedience to protect our families!  That's the key though, for when we are in OBEDIENCE we have the power, in the name of Jesus to overcome the enemy.  (Luke 10:19) I am striving to live victoriously, not only over the enemy, but over the challenges of every day life.  Grumbling, discontent, negative thoughts toward my husband and others, gossip, and self-preoccupation.  As frustrated as I get with myself, I try to remember to view these things as a chance to live in Christ, not within my own power.  They are a test as to whether my life is built next to the shore where the sand is wet and easy to shape.  Or is it built on the rock that is Christ Jesus...much harder work but the result is for eternity.

Working as Family Team

      God continues to give me a vision for our family.  Some days I continue to balk and cry out to Him that this is simply unattainable.  He smiles at me and says "Yes, dear daughter it is.  I have given you the tools you need to start but you must come to me if you want what is needed to see the job to completion."  He certainly knows how to keep me on my knees!  He also continues to show me how everything I bring to Him is fulfilled in ABUNDANCE!  Far above my expectation and certainly beyond my need.  And so I have learned to trust Him, even if I forget sometimes.  I am so thankful He is patient with me.
     The last few weeks our young daughters have been especially difficult.  They are constantly fighting, whining, and hanging on Mommy.  A sure sign of a slip in discipline.  Even their Dad has had enough.  Of course I have prayed and read and lost my temper a few times.  I know this is normal at their age, the problem is I don't believe it is God's plan.  It should not be normal!   I remembered that they are little Mommies in training and that I should be spending time training them everyday.  I have been devoting as much time as I can to homeschooling their brother and tending to the house and meals that I left little time interacting with them.  OK, so they need to get involved, but how do I get anything done?  As every Mom with toddlers knows they have a willingness to "help" with just about any job but you just end up taking twice as long and redoing everything anyway.  Well yesterday I was determined to lay aside my agenda and let them get to work with me.  After all, they are part of the team.  I can't expect them to help out cheerfully when they are 15 much less learn to run their own households if I don't start training them while they are young.  I let them join in EVERY SINGLE chore that I did.  From cleaning the bathroom and putting away laundry to scrubbing the tires while I did the truck.  They had so much fun and the funny thing is, so did I!  As I encouraged and thanked them they really felt as if they were an asset to this family and I really enjoyed them and their smiling faces and happy attitudes.  I never had to wonder what they were getting in to, they were right beside me...which suited them just fine anyway.  I had so much more patience with all of them because I wasn't already worn to a frazzle by their bickering.  Their Dad came home to 4 smiling faces, a clean house, and washed and waxed truck.  He was totally amazed!  (So was I but we don't have to share that with him :)

i Create

     I am passionate about photography and everything that goes with it...photo editing & restoration, scrapbooking, et. There is something about capturing the light and a tiny glimpse of time in a creative way.  I also love anything I can make myself from grinding wheat to make our bread to making deodorant.  If I can avoid buying it at the store I probably have a recipe for it.  Frugality and self-sufficiency make me immensely happy.  I believe it is a good use of the resources that God in trusted to me and the benefits to my family are endless.  I will admit I also enjoy the shock value of going against society's main stream.  It is fairly safe to say I have an enormous and ever increasing list of hobbies.

     Looking at all this I have come to appreciate my spectacular creator in a whole new way.  I realize, however, that I must be careful of modern day idolatry.  The "worship" of anything that could monopolize my time and pull my focus away from Christ and HIS agenda.  Another recent worry of mine, and one that I believe to be far more subtle, is these "high places" I've been reading so much about in the New Testament.  All through Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles it mentions the high places. 

"Although he did not remove the high places, Asa's heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life."
                                                                                                                                          - I Kings 15:14

In I Samuel 9:12 there seems to be nothing wrong with these altars that were set on a hill for sacrifice and worship.  The central sanctuary was not functioning as the ark of the covenant was separated from the tabernacle at that time.  Worship at the high places was later condemned because it provided a means for the entrance to pagan practices in Israel's religious observances.  (See also I Kings 3:2-3)  It is obvious now that it is not OK to sacrifice and worship here and yet how can one's heart be fully committed to the Lord except that you ignore these high places?  Is there something in my life that is not really idolatry but still just a pretense to following the Lord?  I say that I am doing something for Him but my motives are wrong?  How, in my life, might I be appearing to be worshiping the Lord but really just using the site of a borrowed idol?  It has really been worrying me!  For now, I am taking heart in 2 Chronicles 15:15b, "They sought God EAGERLY and He was found by them."  Still, something I will be praying about and researching a little more.

The Wonderful World of Smoothies

     So you can't get your kids to eat their veggies?  Mine happen to love them!  Atleast if you combined all of their personal favorites you might have a decent variety!  We have at least one smoothie a day to sneak in extra nutrition.  I have one for a snack or a meal to curb my sweet tooth and keep my wieght down.  Here are some of the goodies we add to our smoothies besides frozen fruit:

Kefir

     I love using kefir as the base for our smoothies because it is one of the most nutritious probiotic available. Kefir is an ancient cultured, enzyme-rich food filled with friendly micro-organisms that help balance your “inner ecosystem” to maintain optimal health and strengthen immunity.
It tastes similar to plain yogurt, and it contains beneficial yeast as well as the friendly ‘probiotic’ bacteria found in yogurt, but is more nutritious. When used regularly, the naturally occurring bacteria and yeast in Kefir combine symbiotically to help balance your intestinal flora and boost your immunity. You can make your own quite easily with kefir grains and milk.

Greens

     Adding fresh greens can assist in boosting energy, building your immune system, detoxing impurities, and loosing weight. Greens are rich in magnesium and alkaline minerals like calcium and are superb in their Omega-3 unsaturated fat content.  Believe it or not, greens are one of the richest sources of protein. I have used spinach predominately as it is easy to add without affecting the texture. I can add half of head of spinach and it blends in well with all the frozen fruits. 
     Spirulina is another good "green" option.  It is a blue-green algae that grows on freshwater ponds. Spirulina is 55-70 percent protein by weight and considered my many to be the greatest plant source of usable protein and is rich in B vitamins and gammalinolenic acid (GLA).  I currently add 1 tsp to a smoothie.

Flaxseed:

    
     Flaxseed is one of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids and fiber, which is important for keeping the arteries clean, the heart functioning, and the immune system in good health.  Flax will improve your immune system and is also beneficial for healthy skin and hair. Flaxseed can easily be made into an egg and fat supplement in your baked goods as well. Flax seed is also available in an oil form but we find that the taste is quite strong. We love adding flax seeds to our oatmeal, smoothies, muffins, et.  Easily grinds up into a fine powder with a coffee grinder.  This is what I give Ashton in larger quantities to help regulate her bowel.  It will promote high energy as well. 

Bee Pollen: 

     Bee Pollen is a complete protein, containing all 22 amino acids, and has a higher concentration of the eight amino acids essential to human health than most other forms of protein. It contains high levels of 27 minerals, enzymes, and coenzymes; vitamins B1, B2, and B6; niacin, pantothenic acid, and folic acid; vitamin C; and the fat-soluable vitamins A and E. Recommended dosage is 1-2 teaspoons per day. Use in moderation as 1 teaspoon represents 4.8 billion grains of pollen! Works well to combine in blended drinks.

 

Coconut Oil

- Protects against heart disease, cancer & diabetes
- Acts as an antioxidant in its resistance to attack by free radicals,
protecting against degenerative diseases, in general.
- Protects from a range of infectious diseases.

We consume coconut oil regularly in smoothies, in baked goods, and for sauteing and cooking , as well as in household and toiletry recipes.


I recommend buying the large bags of frozen fruit and experimenting with different combos.  My current fav is peaches and cream (with cinnamon) and spinach!  I promise you won't taste the greens at ALL!...happy shake making!

Decisions, decisions...

‎"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth" Luke 11:2. AS IN HEAVEN, SO IN EARTH. This is God's plan. He wants His will to be accomplished in our home, just as it is in heaven. He wants the atmosphere of heaven to be the atmosphere of our home.  Those words come at just the right time.  I feel like I'm standing on the edge sometimes, waiting on my life to begin.  We have some life changing decisions coming up in our near future and I keep waiting and praying and wondering what will happen.  I keep putting things off but life is NOW, I have a job to do NOW!  I guess if I was honest with myself that feeling of waiting stems from feelings of discontent.  Discontentment stems from a lack thankfulness.  No wonder I am nervous and anxious about what comes next!  Today I will just sigh and take a step back to look at all the good my God has done for me.  What would he have me do TODAY.  That will be my focus.  Joy = thankfulness...feeling better already!

Ever notice how rare true friends are?  I mean the kind of person you completely trust.  They would never think less of you for exposing your weaknesses.  They would love you unconditionally and give of their time and energy without thought to the cost.  I have been more than blessed to have met a few people throughout my life that fit this description.  Sometimes though I wonder if I should allow the Lord to be enough for me and not burden others with my everyday frustrations or ongoing challenges.  I was reading Exodus 17:11-12 and Numbers 18:1-7 about the intricate support system that God set up for the leadership of the Israelites.  It ultimately proved to lead them to victory.  God meant for us to experience spiritual victory as well.  He delights in it.  When we refuse to allow anyone to share in our personal battles we risk negative consequences. One being that we often lengthen the battle and we cheat others from sharing in our victorious joy!  I recall the overflow of joy that has spilled on to me by those in my support system.  We have laughed, cried, prayed, and worked hard together.  They have taught me the meaning of sound advice.  I hope I have been there for them as they have been there for me.  We are a gift to one another.  See also Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, I Corinthians 12:7, and Hebrews 10:24

Can I raise these children to be what God says they can be?

     God has laid on my heart a desire to raise these three precious gifts to be more than what this world says that they can be.  I sometimes truly fear the outcome of my efforts.  How can I teach my children thankfulness, obedience, attentiveness, a hatred for sin, to never retreat, submission to authority, respect, courage, a love for serving others, and a host of other godly characteristics?  When I start to dwell on my own imperfections and the current crop of teenagers (even some raised by well meaning parents) it is often enough to send me into an anxiety attack!  How do we walk a way pleasing to the Lord and pass on a legacy of faith and a destiny for greatness when our own examples are sadly lacking?
     I have been reading in 2 Samuel and 1 Kings.  King David was a man of worship, a man after God's own heart.  He was promised an unending dynasty, yet he and his children after him did not fulfil their covenant obligations.  This led to the eventual division of the kingdom and exile, not to be restored until the coming of Christ.  His children, as a majority, were spoiled and selfish.  They missed out on many of the Lord's blessings.  An example of what I believe was one of David's key mistakes is found in 1 Kings 1:6, "His father (David) had never interfered with him by asking, 'Why do you behave as you do?'"  So yes, he gave instructions to his son, Solomon, for success but he failed to train them in obedience or discipline them. 
     Raising children is a daunting task no matter what.  God's promises, however, are always true.  "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful." -Joshua 1:8
     So I am encouraged to be obedient and do my best.  Yes, it is hard, hard work.  But today I will choose to trust Him where I fall short.  After all, he has been doing great things long before any of us were created.  More importantly he desires to have a relationship with us where we are in constant communication with him, bringing our needs, sharing our fears, praising him with our gratitude.  He did ask me to take on this responsibility and to do it with abundance and joy.  He also equipped me for it, no matter how inadequate I feel.
     Today's challenge and promise..."Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Phil. 4:6-7