Bible or Blog

I received an e-mail from a friend to-day. She was just letting me know that since her recent holiday she is now up-to-date with my blog and therefore what was going on with me. She hosts her own blog too and she’s getting to that later today. At the end of her note she indirectly presented a challenge to me, she typed “Now - If I spent the same time reading the Bible as I’ve done reading your blog . . . . . “

 

It’s a problem for us all isn’t it? Not necessarily blogging, we’ve all got our own vices, perhaps with you it’s something different, like television or shopping, holidays or a love of gossip. They all have the potential for time-wasting and therefore becoming sinful. Now I’m not saying that blogging, watching television, shopping, holidays or having a chat with the neighbour is sinful but what I am saying is we need to remember where our priorities lie and if any of these things take over your time with the Lord you (and I) need to reassess our lives.

 

Her point was (we’ve discussed it before and I know what she was getting at) it’s much too easy to sit down to a task that should only take a few moments but we let it take longer when we know we should be devoting our time to seeking God, learning from His word and laying our needs before Him.

 

It’s too easy folks to click on the next link on someones blog-roll, change the channel to watch the next movie or to spend weeks on end walking round the shops looking for that ideal jacket.

 

We need to redeem our time.

 

 

James 5:8 Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

 

What a challenge,

 

Mummymac.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The return

The fact that you are reading a new post does not necessarily mean that I’ve reached the end of my to-do list. Unfortunately the end isn’t even in sight. I think that’s part of my job description.

I have decided though that if I don’t post soon, getting back to blogging will be added to my to-do list and I didn’t want it to seem like a chore.

We’re getting through a few jobs here, we’ve done some major clear-outs of minor areas and then there were the fences, thankfully I’ve got my own little helper - Tom Sawyer eat your heart out.

JDmac announced “Mum this is the best day of my life”, “Why” I inquired, “because you let me help paint the fences”. Things are only going to get better for this keen nearly 7 year old - next year he’s on his own

And the winner is ………

…….. as chosen from this handy Random Number Generator:

N0 43.

From my comments section.

LauraW68.

Laura doesn’t seem to have a blog so I’m contacting her now to get this great devotional book sent off to her.

Thanks to everyone for taking part.

I’m hoping to near the end of my to-do list and be back on-line soon.

Mummymac.

Book Review & Give-away!!!

Hello and welcome to my little corner of the blogging world. I’m anticipating many visitors this week due to Shannon’s carnival and so I would like to say you are very welcome to “Home but not alone“. This humble blog comes to you all the way from Northern Ireland and so if you haven’t been there before you are most welcome as you visit my home

Feel free to stop for a chat as you browse all the give-aways that are happening this week.
And so let’s get to it

My give-away is a brand new book, written by Sharon James.

Sharon James is a British conference speaker and Author: She has degrees in History and Theology (Toronto Baptist Seminary). Her husband Bill is Pastor of Emmanuel Evangelical Church, Leamington Spa, and they have two children.

I really appreciate and have enjoyed Sharon James writings. Other books by her I have read are In trouble and in Joy and My heart in His hands (The life of Ann Judson). She has also written God’s Design for Women and The dawn of heaven breaks.

Gentle Rain on Tender Grass is a devotional study of the Pentateuch and if you have been watching my side-bar you will notice that I have been using it for a few weeks now for my daily devotions.

The book is written in a style that makes understanding it simple, there are many thoughts to consider each day, but not too much to read, so ideal to use as a devotional for a busy mum. I’m sure Mrs James had this in mind when she was writing.

The book is published by Evangelical Press who have kindly supplied me with a copy for this give-away. Feel free to check out their web-site, they are a Reformed publishing company with offices in England and also New York.

To be in with a chance to win this brand new copy of an excellent devotional book all you have to do is leave a comment in the section below. The winner will be drawn on Friday 27 July. I am happy to post this book anywhere worldwide as necessary.

Please note you do not have to have a blog to enter this give-away, but be sure to leave contact details if you don’t have a link back to your blog.

Don’t forget to check in over at Shannon’s blog as it appears the whole world of blog are joining in this carnival and giving away all sorts of goodies.

To those of you who are regular visitors here, I am taking a blogging break and so won’t be posting again until after the winner is announced on Friday, have a good week …..I’m striving for the bottom of my to do list

Every blessing to you as you continue to browse……

Mummymac.

PS - If you’re interested in discussing Pampered Chef products and recipes - please check out my previous post.

Pampered Chef round-up…

Kim mentioned Pampered Chef products in a post the other day and it got me all thinking in Pampered-Chef-mode again.

I have been to and hosted a Pampered Chef party and so have gathered up a few of their products by now. I suppose like most other kitchen gadgets they come and go and sometimes you don’t use them as much as you were absolutely sure you would when you saw them being demonstrated

Come on admit it, we ladies are all the same.

I thought it might be fun to compare what products we have and suggest new ways of using our purchases. I love my products but sometimes I lack imagination.

I have the Classic Batter Bowl and the Classic Scraper and I reckon they are great products and are used here daily, mostly for batters, storing mixes and beating cream but I have also made this birthday cake for Princessmac using it, as it is oven-poof to 180C. Excellent product. (Yes I did break the legs off!)

I also love my Square Baker and my Round Stone from the Stoneware range. I did own a Rectangular Baker until my 2 year old decided to change it into 12 pieces of Stone instead of 1

I appreciate having the measure-all cup as it’s great for making American recipes without having to convert everything into our equivalents (Grams and Ounces). The kids love using the pastry blender (is that what it’s called, I couldn’t find it on their site) and I also use the Rice cooker 2-3 times a week.

This microwave cooker I use for cooking all my Rice, Pasta and Potatoes unless the amounts are so large they wouldn’t fit in it. I love using it for boiling my potatoes as it means I don’t have to stand and watch the saucepan in case it boils over. I just give it 22 minutes in the microwave and know they will be cooked. When I’m feeding 5 adults (instead of 2 adults & 3 kids) unfortunately it probably won’t have the capacity to fill us but never the less it works for me at the minute. I remember being told you can also bake cakes in the microwave using the microwave rice cooker too but I haven’t tried that yet, I mean how do you know how long to cook them for?

My first purchase was the Mini-Muffin pan (oh yea we were just going to eat muffins like there was no tomorrow ) and though we do love those Pecan Tassies and Choc-chip muffins made in it, I haven’t really used this product for much else.

So can you give a girl a few more ideas?

What are your favourite Pampered Chef recipes? I know the net is coming down with Pampered Chef ideas but I like the ones that have been tested and tried If you tell me yours - I’ll tell you mine………

What are your favourite products?I always did fancy one of these.

If Daddymac should ever let me go to another party what is your must have by Pampered Chef?

Off to count my pennies……

Mummymac.

Can’t sleep?

I used to be an expert sleeper. No problems whatsoever. When my head hit the pillow I was a gonner. Then I had kids. That changed everything. I had one particular kid who decided not to be a dream baby and continued to need his mother 3-4 times a night until he was over a year. (yawn) It’s a good recipe for Insomnia.

One thing that I do try to help me get to sleep I’ve been unconsciously doing since I was a child. My mother, if she heard me tossing and turning would alway say “Turn your pillow over”. Yea I know it’s simple but when you’ve been lying on the pillow for a while, it gets all hot and bothered just like you do, turning over your pillow gives you a nice cool side to lie on.

I’m not sure if this is the complete answer but I sure do like a nice fresh feeling pillow and so although this may not work for you it certainly works for me.

Click over to Shannon’s to read more tips.

Mummymac.

Covenants

My post the other day triggered some more thoughts about the Covenants.

I learned most of what I know of the Covenants from this man, when he taught a series on them in our church a few years ago. I remember how his teaching seemed to give the Bible more meaning as a whole as he explained the essence of a covenant and the implication of the covenants to our lives today.

I have been considering how that covenants aren’t so popular to-day - people don’t want to commit to an oath bound promise. It seems that even within marriage it is more common to break the promise to “love, honour and obey” than it is to strive with God’s help to keep it.

When I became a member of our church I read the church’s covenant and committed to it. I have often failed in my service but it’s good to have a standard to adhere to. I believe I need to have it before me more often.

I have added our Church Covenant to the links at the top under “Our Church” or you can access it by clicking here.

It’s a struggle every day to keep this covenant but:

God is my strong Salvation;

What foe have I to fear?

In darkness and temptation

My Light, my Help is near.

Though hosts encamp around me,

Firm to the fight I stand;

What terror can confound me,

With God at my right hand?

Place on the Lord reliance,

My soul, with courage wait;

His truth be thine affiance,

When faint and desolate.

His might they heart shall strengthen,

His love thy joy increase;

Mercy they days shall lengthen;

The Lord will give thee peace.

(James Montgomery 1822)

 

Mummymac.

A big bloggy give-away - yes I mean freebies :-)

It’s all happening next week folks but I’m just giving my readers a heads up. Shannon (You know her, Works-For-Me-Wednesday-Woman) has come up with another brainwave and she’s calling it the Dog Days of Summer Bloggy Give-away.

Now get this folks Number One - IT’S A GIVE-AWAY, THAT MEANS FREEBIES, and THERE ARE GOING TO BE MANY CHANCES TO WIN.

Number Two - YOU DON’T HAVE TO OWN A BLOG TO TAKE PART.

Number Three - I am working right now on having a very desirable gift for one of my readers. I am also willing to post my gift anywhere in the world. (How kind am I?)

So the thing is if you check back here on Monday 23 I’m going to be posting all about the item I’m giving away.

The items included can be new, home-made or even second hand. If you check this post at Shannon’s you will be able to see just how many bloggers are hoping to take part in this carnival.

So I’m going to remind you what you need to do.

Check back with me on Monday and leave me a comment in the post which displays my free gift to one of you to be in with a chance to win.

I’ll leave a link to Shannon’s blog where you can check out all the other freebies in the Mr Linky she will set up. Check those blogs (or the ones where you like the look of their gift), then leave a comment on their blogs for a chance to win their items.

No excuses.

I’ve given you the outline, the exposition and the application - what more do you want - spoon-feeding?

Mummymac.

Situation Comedy….

Daddymac came home from work to-night in one of his so what are we doing to-night moods. This is a good sign. After another wet day the kids and I were ready for any proposal. I suggested the Swimming Pool, it’s kind of a Monday night thing in our house.

Now you folks who live in the other climate need to realise that a visit to the Swimming Pool in our country doesn’t mean a walk down the garden path to the outdoor family bath

I guess when you’re a father of 3 you’ve got to be in the mood for the whole, pack the 5 towels, 5 swim togs, 6 floaties (Daddymac and I do without), pack the car, unpack at the pool, undress at the pool, get togs on, get lockers packed (at least 2), toilet visit for 5, get the togs wet, have a little fun, visit the toilet with BaBaMac, fun, visit the toilet with PrincessMac, fun, visit the toilet with JDMac, (it’s all the water that does it) retire to the changing rooms to start the drying process which is an experience in itself. Yea you really got to be in the mood for that one all right.

Anyway where was I?

Oh yes, Daddymac - good mood - night out.

So then he decided that it was time to do what all other outstanding parents of littles will do this summer to use up cash and ensure the kiddies are in vogue when they return to school in September.

Yea we’ve been.

Well I have to say, I’m not that big on fat, bald, green guys but I was never that fussy really We took the family - yea the whole job lot of us went, BaBa and all. It was his first visit to the Cinema and it went surprisingly well considering PrincessMac has only been a few times and still sits with her fingers in her ears for the whole of the first half.

But oh those ads do go on don’t they? I kept saying to BaBaMac - yea Shrek’s coming soon, Shrek’s coming in a roley mo. Then eventually we got there.

I really was sure BaBa was going to let us down by crying, laughing or moaning too loud through the whole thing but he was very civilized. It was the Princess who crowned the night for me.

In the opening scene there’s Big Shrek lying beside his bride (as you do) and in comes Donkey to wake him up. If you’ve saw the flick then you’ll know the moment. Donkey looks at him with disgust when he pulls back the bed clothes and says “You really ought to wear some pyjamas Shrek” (Can you hear my Eddie Murphy impersonation)

At which stage….

Princessmac announces to the whole Cinema,

“But Daddies don’t wear Pyjamas”

Surely the swimming pool have been the easier option

Mummymac.

One good thing about the rain….

(as well as not having to water the plants), is that we have an abundance of rainbows.

We’re having the weather that is the very dark skies, very heavy showers but also with the rainbow set in the sky - the sign of God’s covenant. He would never destroy all living things in a great flood again.

It’s a great reminder to us to be thankful to God for what he did in preserving those who were faithful to Him in Noah’s day. We tend to teach our children the chorus “Whenever you see a rainbow, Remember God is near”.

When we look closely at Genesis 9 however, we see why God really sent the rainbow, as well as being a sign (Genesis 9:12 ) of His covenant with Noah and all his descendants, it is there is to remind God of the covenant he made. “The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth”. (Genesis 9:16 NKJV)

We ought not to be discouraged by our weather - God knows what we need.

Likewise we ought not to be discouraged by where we are in life, again God knows our every need.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

(George Matheson)

 

Mummymac.