Randomness

Hello blog friends! I am still alive and mostly well. I haven't had time to read blogs, Facebook or Twitter or to write much lately, but I hope to get back to all of it soon. There are a few things going on right now that are taking up my time and energy. More about that soon...

In the meantime, we are home today with one child under the weather. :( I have had also a headache for two days, so maybe it's a weird virus. Whatever it is, we are praying for restored health, in Jesus' name!

We are experiencing a beautiful snow today. Everything is all bright and clean again. I have a plethora of snow pictures to share soon from all of our winter activities.

I am watching the news and praying not only for all the unrest and violence in Africa and the Middle East but also for the people of New Zealand who are reeling from the earthquake. Father, be with them in their pain and may they feel Your Touch.

I am trying this mouth-watering recipe for supper tonight... Mexican Chicken Soup.

Okay, enough of my meandering thoughts for the moment.

Here is a picture from a recent hike...

February Sky

Blessings in Jesus!

Blessing or Cursing

In the last few years, I have been realizing more and more that my words are either a blessing or a curse. Words are powerful. They can be destructive weapons or they can be a strong breeze of encouragement and refreshment. They give life or they squelch life. I can curse the person who just cut me off on the highway or I can bless that person. I can get up in the morning after a long night with a child who has had nightmares and bless the rest of my day by asking the Father to renew me and give me His supernatural energy and perspective or I can curse the day by saying "What a horrible night! This day is already ruined." Now, I am not saying we deny that the night or situation was hard, but I can choose to bless the day and ask the Father to redeem that lost sleep and turn things around for us.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:9-12

For the past 24 hours, I have been saddened and surprised by all of the negative comments regarding Christina Aguilera's national anthem mistakes, especially the rude and condemning comments by my fellow Christians. I understand that she is a *superstar* and that there are sky-high expectations of celebrities, but she is still human and still capable of making mistakes. If she was not a talented singer, she would never have been considered for the honour of singing at the Superbowl. According to what I read, she had nailed the song twice at the NBA finals. After the word mix-ups, she was to have said that she just got lost in the moment. It happens. Is it necessary or right for us to criticize her for her mistakes?

Bless-ing noun
1: a : the act or words of one that blesses
b : approval, encouragement
2: a thing conducive to happiness or welfare

Curse noun
1: a prayer or invocation for harm or injury to come upon one : imprecation
2: something that is cursed or accursed
3: evil or misfortune that comes as if in response to imprecation or as retribution
4: a cause of great harm or misfortune : torment

Blessing in Greek is the word Eulogia and means blessing, bounty, praise, laudation, an invocation of blessing or benediction, consecration, benefit.

Curse in the Greek is the word Katara and means an execration, imprecation, curse.

In thinking about and trying to create a Kingdom culture in my life and the life of my family and those around me, I want to have the thoughts of the Father and act and speak according to how He acts and speaks. It says in Romans 12, "bless and do not curse." I believe the change comes when we as believers repent of our critical attitudes and begin using our words as the gifts of life that God intends them to be. I was delivered from a critical spirit four years ago. I pray that my words now bring life and love and joy to people and that my speech honours my Father.

So Christina, I have been praying blessings over you for the past 24 hours. I truly hope that you experience the blessings of Jesus in your life and even more success in your singing career. You are talented and beautiful and I honour you today!

Blessings!

80's Day

Some of the students in Emma's high school co-op thought it would be fun to have an 80's day this week. Here are the photos of Emma's dress-up day:






I made sure she knew about wearing two different earrings! And don't you love the eye shadow?! Some of the other girls wore huge black glasses frames, which I still don't get, or maybe my memory is failing. They were cute, though. Fun times!

Blessings!

Gingerbread Scones

I mentioned on FB that I had made these today and a couple of friends requested the recipe. Here you go...

Gingerbread Scones

2 c. flour
1/3 c. brown sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 c. butter
1/3 c. molasses
1/3 c. milk

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine dry ingredients. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles course crumbles. Combine molasses and milk and add to dry ingredients. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead a few times.

Divide dough in half and shape each half into a ball. Pat each ball into a 5-inch circle and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Cut each circle into 6 wedges, using a sharp knife, but do not separate wedges.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve warm.

Enjoy!