Beth Moore James Mercy Triumphs Study Week 2

Jas 1:1  James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,  To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. 

Jas 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 

Jas 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 

Jas 1:4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 

Just a few highlights from my study this week:

Day 1
Perseverance means "nerving oneself" like a person determined to stay on his feet, holding tight to Jesus, while storm winds try to toss him... AND "heroic endurance".

Day 2
God will never one time mock us for lacking wisdom or sit back and think, Seriously? How stupid can you get?

Day 3
It's virtually impossible to remember God and forget the poor.  The point is not to stir up guilt. It's to stir up giving...The transience of this earthly existence is both hope to the poor and humility to the rich.

Day 4
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trials [James 1:12]...This blessedness or happiness anticipates a future event so thoroughly that it receives a deposit of gladness in advance... A sin is full grown when it becomes a fixed habit.

Day 5
Never be duped into believing that the flesh gives and heaven takes away...So many presents are wrapped under your tree that it will take a lifetime to open them.  :)

Homemaking: Evening Prep for the Morning

Every night before I go to bed, there are a few kitchen "chores" to take care of so the next morning begins smoothly..:)

I set the table with fresh napkins and wipe the place mats...my husband is the first one up and really appreciates this.

I turn on the dishwasher and clean / wipe down the sink... thank you, Fly Lady.  :)

I fill the coffee pot with water and a tea bag (for brewing hot tea)...

Netflix Family Movie Recommendation : Young Indiana Jones

Since our favorite TV programs are on summer hiatus [ NCIS, Person of Interest, Elementary] we have been watching some old shows we enjoyed years ago on Netflix streaming.  One series that we came across is The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.  It's the childhood/ teen years of our adventure hero from age 10 to his late teens.  Directed by George Lucas and filmed all over the world, these are fun, family adventures.  We learn something new every week!  Check it out.

NOTE:  If you have younger kids or even teens, you might want to skip the Mata Hari episode. A little steamy!

Thankful for little things: a shady parking space

Florida is not the hottest state these days but it's pretty muggy. So, I'm sure thankful when I head out for groceries to find a shady parking spot!  Another reason to shop Sam's Club during business early hours!

In the kitchen: storing cheese

I've been cooking for  my family for 25+ years and never knew this, so maybe you don't either. Cheese stores much better wrapped in waxed paper rather than plastic wrap.   It's OK to put in a plastic bag once it's wrapped in the waxed paper.

Quick no carb (no grains) breakfast

Too many parties, showers, family events and food sabotages lately!!  Back on track this morning with a quick and easy no-carb breakfast before I start work today:

• a couple of handfuls of fresh spinach
• 2 eggs
• a little bit of cheese (this is goat cheese)
• 1 tsp. of olive oil
• 1 tbsp. of milk
• handful of mushrooms

Takes about 5 minutes to cook and voila!

Simple luxuries : hanging towels

After everyone's towels have had a chance to fully dry, I go into the bathrooms and fold/ hang them neatly. A little thing, but a bit of pampering that everyone, including me, appreciates. 

Which would make you feel more special?

Pizza Supper

Pizza--homemade bread dough flattened/spread on a baking sheet, spaghetti sauce, shredded cheese mozzarella cheese sticks (almost panicked here since I was out of cheese!) + sliced onions, fresh mushrooms, green &  yellow peppers and bacon.  This was dinner on Friday and lunch today.  My family LOVES this meal.  :)  [All of these ingredients except for the 2 cups of freshly ground grain came from Aldi.]

Homemade Pizza

Homemade Pizza

Mixed Green Salad. Also made  a large green salad with lots of different veggies to go with the pizza.

Beth Moore James Mercy Triumphs Week 1

Week 1, Day 5

Others have certainly written about Mr. Holland's Opus, myself included.... I love the section in today's lesson that refers to the words "in agreement" (Acts 15:15) which is symphoneo in Greek.  It means "to agree" but is used as the root for our word symphony.

How wonderful that with all of our discord, annoyances and dissimilarities that we in Christ, can also be a symphony of the Lord's... HIS opus.  :)

Beth Moore: James / Mercy Triumphs Week 1

Week 1, Day 4

Gal 5:25-26 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. 

...That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives.  Each of us is an original. [Eugene Peterson]

Let's be crucified to pride and comparison. There's a big, needy world out there, and God's way of reaching it is to enlist everyone of us to do our parts in love and humility, variety and diversity. [Beth Moore]

Beth Moore: James / Mercy Triumphs Week 1

Week 1, Day 3

Assignment:

Choose a period of years in your own life (or do an entire timeline)  that proved very strategic in your journey towards Christ or with Him.  Make a timeline.   It will remind you how faithful and intentional your God has been toward you. [Click HERE to see one that I have done previously.]

For me, 1978 (when I became a Christian) and 1982 (a recommittal after turning away for a time) were "turning point" years for me...  What were yours?

Eccl 3:11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. 

Beth Moore: James / Mercy Triumphs Week 1

It's time to live like those who cannot die...

Beth Moore / James study Mercy Triumphs

Week 1, Day 2



James and Jesus.
One was the son of Joseph. The other was the Son of God.

Week 1, Day 1


What were your favorite quotes? thoughts? from these 2 days?

Group Bible study at home

Last Friday I started a small morning ladies Bible study group in our home.  Seven women attended this week, about 12 will come next week--a nice size for a small group study.  I had been putting this off and finally decided to act.   Since I usually do not work on Fridays it fits into my schedule well. As much as I value my time, I can give up one morning a week for a couple of months.   Last summer I had completed a Beth Moore study on the book of James called "Mercy Triumphs".  Excellent study, by the way.   I had purchased the audios at the time and have had them for a year, thinking that one day I would share them.  Last Friday was the day...

We'll meet for 7 weeks + a lunch together, ending the week after Labor Day.  God's perfect timing.

If you have been waiting and pondering about something that the Lord has been nudging you to do, today may be the time...  :)  It doesn't have to be as involved as having a Bible study (but it could be).  Invite a friend or two over for coffee or lunch, grab a Jeremiah's Ice and meet in the park for a visit or prayer, take a walk in the mall with a younger mom and her little one...be creative.

Just looking at this photo of some of the women pouring over their Bibles and writing notes while Beth is speaking, warms my heart.   I have the audios, rather than the videos which I prefer.  We are looking at each other rather than the TV.  :)   Making some coffee, tidying up the house a little, and being available for a few hours one morning a week...why did I wait so long?

Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.  

Orlando Local : Restaurant recommendation

Last night my husband and I and another couple had dinner at SoNapa Grille to celebrate my husband's birthday.  A few weeks before, we had all purchased Travelzoo vouchers for this restaurant since we all wanting to try it.   It was an incredible deal and sold out pretty quickly.  Still a bit pricey but a HUGE savings with the vouchers.  The food was absolutely delicious and the service was excellent.  Highly recommend!  It's in the old Steak  'n Ale location in Maitland.  Only open for dinner.

Our voucher included a glass of wine and either an appetizer or a flatbread.  This is a new item on the menu-- the Central Valley Flatbread.  Mmm...  HERE is the menu.

 I had grilled salmon (Bodega Bay, catch of the day), vegetables with a loaded baked potato.

For dessert we split a créme brulée cheesecake and yes, we definitely had leftovers!

Tonya's Tip:  Every now and then a splurge is SO worth it.  My husband felt cherished and loved with this special evening spent with me  and our close friends.

P52 Week #28 Sweet Shot Tuesday

Here is my submission for this week's P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday,   Week #28.  I opened our front door yesterday and saw this... oh, what a beautiful morning...

Tonya's Tip: Sometimes it's just a delight in the simple things of life that get our days started well.  

Ps 118:24 This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

7/11 Day

It's today!!

Waste not: hotel shampoo

We've all got these in drawers in our bathrooms or closets.  Tiny little hotel samples of shampoo, lotion, mouthwash...  I found a huge "supply" of these in our guest bath and donated them a few months ago but upon finding another stash in our bathroom I decided to just use them one by one.  It's amazing that one tiny bottle lasts about a week and I wash my hair every single day!  I've gone through 2 shampoos already (started last month) and have 3 shampoos and 3 conditioners left... I'll post back when I've finished using them.  :)

Homemaking: stains in coffee mugs

Every 6 months or so (looks like I waited longer in this photo) I pull out all our well-used coffee mugs and bleach them in water to get that nice, new look again.

Just fill up a tub or your sink with about 1/4 cup of bleach and water.  Put in about 6 mugs at a time and let them soak.    I had to wipe a few of them with a microfiber dish cloth but they cleaned up great.

You could wash them afterwards (to get the bleach smell off) by hand but since the dishwasher was empty, I loaded it up with all the mugs.    I even did our Christmas mugs that were in the china cabinet so they're now ready for the holidays.

Voila!  Clean coffee mugs again!  Take a look at your own mugs and cups and try  this little "treatment".   I'm having ladies over tomorrow and Friday so I wanted to spruce them up a bit.  :)

Free museum admission this weekend

July 6-7 Bank of America and Merrill Lynch customers have free access to museums across the nation. 

Read more at this link

http://thehappyhousewife.com/deals/bank-of-america-free-museum-admission-this-weekend-76-77/

Happy 4th of July!

I love having my family all together.. Both sons home helping Dad grill...Afternoon naps...reading... then everyone headed out for various evenings with friends. 

Our 4th of July table ...I love red, white and blue (steaks, too).  Mmm...

Estate sale purchase

Over the weekend we purchased this nice stuffed red leather sofa at an estate sale. Our first experience with bidding and we won!  A great deal... $480 for a $3000 sofa.    I can see how you could do your entire home this way and you can save a lot of $$. 

  Love it.  😊😊😊

P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday #27

Here is my submission for this week's P52 Week #27.

This was just for fun and was taken in Winter Park while strolling along the avenue this past weekend.  You never know what you'll see... :)

Garters for sheets ?

I had to laugh when I saw this for sale at Bed, Bath & Beyond.  Long ago (in the 1960s) girls and women used to wear these to hold up stockings. Thank goodness for pantyhose which came into vogue in the 1980s, if we wore them at all.   Funny that they're used to hold sheets in place today.  I imagine you could use them to hold tablecloths in place as well.  :)