May 5, 2026

Promises

August 30, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogo

Psalms 91:14-16
Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation.

Promises for you and for me!  “Him” and “he” refer to you and me!  Promises to cling to…to hold firmly in our minds and our hearts…to stand boldly upon.  Why?  Because Almighty God—the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Great I AM, the Faithful One—He has declared these promises!

Throughout this psalm, promise after promise after promise is written!  If I have counted correctly there are thirty promises given to us just in this one short psalm.  God’s promises are given so that we learn to trust and rely on Him.  He is faithful!

God is not human, that He should lie,
not a human being, that He should change his mind.
Does He speak and then not act?
Does He promise and not fulfill?
Numbers 23:19

This week, Cheris, Ann, Ahmee, and Laura have encouraged us by calling our attention to God’s heart expressed through the words of Psalm 91.  In their writings they have reminded us that He has promised that:

  • He is our Refuge and our Fortress
  • we can trust Him completely
  • we can rest in Him
  • we are safe and need have no fear
  • we can have rest—quietness of heart and peace
  • we have His angels to guard us and protect us

May I encourage you to pick up your Bible, turn to the page where Psalm 91 is printed, and read ALOUD all the promises included in just this one short psalm.  Try this: (this is how I read this psalm) every place there is a pronoun relating to us (he, him, you, your) replace it with your own name.  For example,

Because {coleen} has loved Me, therefore I will deliver {coleen};
I will set {coleen} securely on high, because {coleen} has known My name.
{coleen} will call upon Me, and I will answer {coleen};
I will be with {coleen} in trouble; I will rescue {coleen} and honor {coleen}.
With a long life I will satisfy {coleen} and let {coleen} see My salvation.

* * * * *

Dear Lord, how awesome are Your promises!  How thankful we are to understand even but a few of them!  How blessed we are by Your promises to provide for, and guide, and protect, and rescue, and deliver, and hear, and answer us.  May we hold Your word(s) in our heart so that we do not sin against You.  We love You so very much, Lord!  We pray and ask these things in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

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Glorious Living w/ Coach Megan: Financial Freedom {part 3}

August 30, 2013 by

GL header

For the past two weeks, we have been talking about how to begin to have financial freedom in your life.  If you haven’t read the earlier posts yet, you can find them here and here.   The questions that we are discussing in regard to finances are:

How do you master money when you feel like money has actually mastered you?

How do I get in the black with my finances when I am always in the red?

How do I get out of debt?

For our last post in this series today, we will be working through living by a monthly budget and the HOW of getting out of debt. As you can imagine, they go hand in hand and I pray these steps will help you to begin to see a light at the end of the debt tunnel!

Last week, we talked about the Law of Stewardship where you were urged to resolve to live by a monthly budget. It is easy for someone to TELL you that is what you should do, but hard to put in place if you don’t know the HOW. Here are four steps to get you started:

  1. Determine your total monthly income: add up your salary, dividends, trust income, interest, or any other sources of fixed income.
  2. Determine spendable income: subtract your tithes and taxes.
  3. Determine your fixed monthly expenses (look at the prior year’s expenditures; divide yearly totals by 12 for approximate figures) and your discretionary expenses (money spent at your discretion.) Your total expenditures must not exceed net spendable income.
  4. Determine if you have a debt or surplus lifestyle.
  • Refuse to live your life drowning in debt
  • Debt is bondage to another
  • Debt dishonors God
  • Debt reveals lack of self-control
  • Debt brings God’s judgement

Now that you have done this, it is time to take a look at how to cancel debt. Proverbs 6:5 says “Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.”

First stop…. You must identify your debt situation:

Make an inventory of your assets:

  • What do you own?
  • What is the approximate value of the things you own (car, house, property, insurance policy… large items)?

Identify your income:

  • How much money do you make?
  • How much time per week do you work to obtain this money?
  • Do you have any investments?

Describe your debts:

  • What do you owe?
  • When is it due?
  • What interest rates are you paying on each debt?

Approximate your monthly bills:

  • What do you pay for utilities, gasoline/ transportation, food, phone, clothing, insurance, entertainment?

Next…. consider your lifestyle….

Be introspective:

  • Why do you live the way you do?  Is it for career advancement, to impress family or friends, or to live comfortably?
  • Were you brought up living this way?
  • How do your friends, family and co-workers live?

Consider what you could do without:

  • Do you have expensive items you don’t need that, after the initial purchase, have high maintenance costs?
  • Do you pay others to do something that you could do yourself?
  • Do you eat out when you could eat less expensively at home?

Look for what you can substitute:

  • Can you substitute less expensive items for premium products or services you currently use?

Reconsider gift giving:

  • Do you disregard budgets and savings plans during holidays and gift-giving occasions?
  • Can you give fewer and less-expensive gifts?
  • Does it mean that you love your friends and family any less if you live within your means?
  • Would your loved ones want you to go into debt to buy them presents?

Moving on to establishing financial goals…

List future expenditures:

  • What future expenses do you anticipate?
  • Are you looking to buy a home, pay for a daughter’s wedding, or replace a vehicle?

Consider future career changes:

  • Are you considering going to school or starting your own business?
  • How will these plans change your financial situation?

Prepare for family changes:

  • Are you expecting a child?
  • Are children leaving the home?
  • Do you have elderly parents in poor health?
  • Prepare for how these changes will affect your finances

State your future financial goals:

  • Financially, where do you want to be five years from now? Ten years from now?
  • What are realistic expectations?

Finally, it is time to take action with your finances!

Pay extra on your debts:

  • Which debt has the highest interest rate?
  • What amount of money can you pay each month on that debt?

Stop feeding your debt:

  • What lifestyle habits contribute to your debt?
  • Have you stopped using credit cards and started paying cash?

Change your lifestyle:

  • What items can you do without that you really do not need?
  • What expensive assets can you sell that would be financially profitable to sell?

Establish a savings plan:

  • How much should you plan to give to God?
  • How much money are you setting aside to help those in need?

Proverbs 8:20-21

I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full.

Remember…. just as the Bible has predetermined YOUR purpose… it has also predetermined your money’s purpose:

It is ALL for the glory of God!

Blessings,

Coach Megan 🙂

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Roasted Plums with Homemade Ricotta

August 30, 2013 by

 

baked plums w ricotta

Last week I posted a recipe for Homemade Ricotta.  Did you try it at your house?  Did it totally blow your mind?  Now that you know how to be a Blessed Cheese Maker, here’s an idea for what to do with your ricotta:  Roasted Plums with Homemade Ricotta!

Plums will only be around for a few more weeks before autumn rolls in and we have to say goodbye to summer fruit.  You can use any other stone fruit here – peaches or nectarines would be just as yummy.  You can also play around with the toasted nuts you use.  I had almonds on hand, but you can try pistachios, hazelnuts, or even walnuts.  My older daughter is allergic to all nuts, so she goes without, and you can too, if nuts aren’t your thing.  Add a shake of cinnamon and a drizzle of honey and you have a nutritious, not-t00-sweet dessert!

 

baked plums_

Roasted Plums with Homemade Ricotta

(serves 4)

Ingredients:

  • 4 plums
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons honey, plus more for serving
  • 1 cup Homemade Ricotta (or use store-bought)
  • 1/4 cup crushed almonds, or other nuts, or cookies (amaretti would be super!)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400*F.  Wash the plums, then cut in half and remove the stones.  Place all plum halves, cut-side up, on a foil-lined baking sheet.  Sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon, and drizzle with 2 teaspoons honey.  Bake for 20 minutes.
  2. Remove from oven.  When cool enough to handle, you can slip off the skins if you want.  I like the extra fiber they add, so they stay on at my house.  To serve:  Place 1/4 cup ricotta in a dish, along with two plum halves.  Top with crushed nuts and a shake of cinnamon.  Drizzle with a little honey.

 

Explore, experiment, enjoy! — Dana

To view even more of Dana’s unique recipe, you can visit her at Frugal Girlmet!

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God’s Angels

August 29, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogo

For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
Psalm 91:11

This verse has been sticking me for the past 24 hours.  God commands His angels to guard us no matter what we do.  Now, it does not necessarily mean that this angel is the angel we all see in pictures.  God’s angels come in all forms.  It may be somebody we know or may be in something that happens.

We have had many accidental deaths in our area over the past few weeks.  I am reminded of one accident where a girl was pulling out of her driveway and was hit by a drunk driver.  She was 18 or 19 years old.  She died.  When the paramedics and firemen pulled her body away from her steering wheel, there were hardly any marks or outward injuries present.  They said it was like one of God’s angels had wrapped their arms around her as she died.  It was like she was hugged and comforted as she entered eternity.  I am glad to know that when I die, or just in anything I am doing, that God will have Jesus or an angel there with me.

God is a refuge and a fortress.  When we are down or in trouble, we should take refuge in our God.  My son is having adjustment issues to kindergarten.  His first day went terribly.  I blamed myself.  See, he has been in daycare since he was 6 weeks old.  I have to work.  It was a family decision.  I blamed myself because I know he is acting out to get attention.  I felt like I had deprived him over the last 5 years.  Thanks to God’s angels (my husband, my mother, and friends whose own kids started kindergarten and had similar days), I was relieved to know that I was not the only one whose kid was having trouble adjusting.  I felt better.  God sent his angels to comfort me and bring me back up from my despair.

* * * * *

God, I pray that You send Your angels to protect us in no matter what we do.  We know that You are our Refuge.  We can come to You no matter the time, place, or situation.  I pray that You send Your angels—spiritual and physical—to us everyday as a sign of Your love and protection.   Amen.

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Why would ANYONE choose to homeschool?

August 29, 2013 by

Why Would ANYONE Choose to Homeschool? www.GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com #homeschool

Why We Homeschool

When we began homeschooling, it was because our daughter was experiencing some vision problems, which had resulted in reading issues that we felt could be better addressed in a one-on-one situation.  The bigger reason was because God kept speaking to me with the following verses:

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

We continue to homeschool because God has not led us to make any other decision. We do pray about it often. We have also come to realize that homeschooling allows us to

  • work at our own pace
  • travel
  • know one another and extended family members
  • to cater to our special needs child and the allergies of some of our children
  • to allow our two oldest children to pursue their interests of drawing, photography, and writing

We see no reason to stop homeschooling now, outside of God calling us to do so. We are totally sold on this way of life!

Why Others Homeschool

There are many other compelling reasons to choose homeschooling over public or private schools.

  • Your child has special needs, such as food allergies, giftedness, learning delays, or a diagnosis such as Autism or Sensory Processing Disorder. While many children living with the above challenges do attend public or private school, families are increasingly choosing homeschooling as the best educational choice for them!
  • You feel called by God to homeschool. I can attest to the fact that obedience is the best choice when you hear God speaking to you. And though the road may not be an easy one, He will travel with you the entire journey!
  • Your family desires to travel and the ‘traditional’ school schedule would inhibit your freedom to do so. Many families have taken time to travel the country or even the world, learning through life as they explore their immediate surroundings. What better way to learn than through complete immersion in a culture and its foods, history, and people!
  • Your child has a deep passion for a specific sport or artistic pursuit. Homeschooling will allow your child to immerse herself in that pursuit in a way that traditional schooling will not.
  • You desire to spend more time with your children. There is nothing quite like being home with your family all day. Yes, there are difficulties, but the rewards far outweigh them in my opinion! My youngest children know their older siblings in a way that they would not if my older children were heading off to school each day. I find much joy in the delight on my little girls’ faces as they greet their siblings each day.
  • You or another family member suffers from an illness. Homeschooling could be an option for you, as well. Many families still homeschool even they have been diagnosed with cancer, heart disease, or some other life-threatening ailment.

Why do YOU Homeschool?

There are likely even more reasons families choose to homeschool.  What is your reason? Will you share it with us in the comments below?

Please join me again next week for my post,  HOW do I Homeschool?

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How to Make “Game Day” Shakers

August 28, 2013 by

It’s that time of year again when the kids have gone back to school and started playing sports. My nephew, Timmy, has started his football season.  So we decided to make shakers to take the game to help cheer him on. This is a great project to do with kids.  My son, Tristan, helped me fill up the shakers and my niece, Chloe, helped me decorate them.  We want to make some NOISE!! 🙂

Items needed:
Construction paper
Markers
Scotch tape
Scissors
Empty containers with lids.
Rocks, rice or other fillers

STEP ONE:

Rinse and dry containers.
Cover with construction paper.
Tape in place.
Decorate with team name,  player’s name and number. Try to use the team colors.

STEP TWO:

Put rocks or rice in the containers.
Replace lid.

STEP THREE:

SHAKE! SHAKE!! SHAKE!!!   LET’S MAKE SOME NOISE!!!!

GAMEDAYSHAKERS
It’s a great way to show the kids in your life you are rooting for them.
Have Fun & Happy Crafting!!

Amy

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Ten Ways to Stick to an Exercise Program – #7 Progress Slowly and Be Patient

August 28, 2013 by

AskCrystal.jpg

Why does it happen every year?  Those New Year “Resolutioners” who start a new exercise regiment only to quit before spring arrives.  Research shows 60% of people who start an exercise program drop out within the first 6 months or even less. In my opinion, there are three reasons why people quit so quickly.

  1. They attempt too much too fast.
  2. Their schedule cannot handle that big of a change.
  3. They are not patient and want to see quick results.

When it all becomes overwhelming without seeing the desired results, they throw in the towel.  To stick to an Exercise Program past the first six weeks, you have to progress slowly and be patient.

HOW IS YOUR PATIENCE?

Patience. Who really likes that word?  I have to be honest; patience is not my best attribute.  When things are not going my way, my natural tendency is to become aggravated and quit.  However, when I think about the qualities of Jesus, I can’t help but think about how patient He is with me.  Where would I be if Jesus gave up on me so quickly?  He believes in me and knows what I can accomplish through Him.  Despite my weakness and failures, He never gives up on me.

What if you had the same patience with yourself that Christ has with you?  What could you accomplish? Could having patience with yourself be a way for you to stick to an exercise program and make it a habit? What would happen if you did not give up so quickly?

Galatians 6:9 says:

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

 I WANT IT NOW

I definitely like living in a world where we can get almost anything, quickly.  When I  make up my mind that I want something my philosophy is “why drag out the process.” I have even said this to God when praying for certain things in my life.  🙂  Thankfully, He knew that I needed to progress slowly and not add too much to my plate at one time.  There were things He needed to teach me that would take time.  He knows every time how much I can handle at each stage of my life.

It is the same with exercise.  Killing yourself trying to get quick results is not the way to develop healthy habits that will lead to a consistent exercise program.  A new program must be designed with the right program at this stage of your life.

Don’t give up on yourself.  Results happen when you are consistent.  When you decide to be patient and progress slowly, you will find it is easier to stick to an exercise program.

In Good Health,

Crystal

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In God Whom I Trust

August 26, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogo

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD,
‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.’ 
Psalms 91:1-2

Jesus is perfect!  He’s our example! He has complete dependence on God!  He trusts God!  He came to earth to do the will of the Father.

In Matthew 26, Jesus prayed for God’s will, knowing that He, Jesus, would die very soon on the Cross for the sins of the people of this world.  Three times in the garden of Gethsemane, He prayed a prayer like this, requesting God’s will to be done:

 ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.
Yet not as I will, but as you will.’
Matthew 26:39

Thank You, Jesus, for being our perfect example of following God’s will, even to the point of sacrifice and death.

My heart turns to shine a lesser light on a hero of faith—Corrie ten Boom.  After being a prisoner in a Nazi camp, she one day came to a place of forgiveness when she saw one of the Ravenbruck Camp guards that had been so cruel to her in another time and place. In her book, Tramp for the Lord she tells the story…

She was slow to forgive, but she prayed. And with this prayer as an act of surrender, she was able to forgive this man who asked for forgiveness.  “I forgive you, brother!” I cried,  “with all my heart!” For a long moment we grasped each other’s hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God’s love so intensely as I did then.

[Corrie ten Boom, Tramp for the Lord (CLC Publications, 1974) p. 57]

Although I never have had to endure the horrific things that Corrie ten Boom had to endure, I can truly say that, when I have forgiven someone who has hurt me deeply, it is in that moment that I truly understand with a greater depth the immensely great love and forgiveness that Jesus has given to me! And that just makes me want to praise, worship, and adore Him even more!

Jesus Christ’s words on the Cross toward those who had mistreated Him, as He was hanging there in my place and yours, were these:

“…Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing…”
Luke 23:34

Christ loved God; He prayed; He surrendered to God’s will to bring God glory; and forgave others…and so did Corrie ten Boom…and I hope I do as well with each day I am given.

Can I add your name to this list?  Is it your heart’s desire to do the will of the Father?  Do you trust Him completely—even when you don’t understand some things that seem so hard to endure?

* * * * *

Oh, dear Lord, let us have hearts like Yours and submit to Your will.  You are our Fortress and our God!  Even when we do not understand, let us trust You for Your ultimate plan in each of our lives to be revealed!  In Jesus’ precious Name.  Amen!

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Clafouti (Nectarine-Raspberry Fruit Bake)

August 26, 2013 by

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Monday’s are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes.  We are continuing our series of summer recipes featuring in-season produce. Our featured ingredient this week is nectarines—so good for you!   And our recipe is for a yummy baked dessert which includes nectarines AND raspberries.   This is a classic French dessert (think ala Julia Child) with the fancy French name Clafouti (cla-foo-tea).   Clafouti is a delicious sort-of-cake, sort-of-custard, very light, perfect for summer dessert (but oh-so-simple).   As typical I have made it gluten free (dairy free, too) but it can also be made with traditional all-purpose flour.  You can make clafouti with practically any type of ripe, juicy fruit.  In the past, we have enjoyed pear, cherry, and blueberry variations.   You might remember a few weeks ago we had a recipe for Fruit Crisp.  These two recipes both feature yummy, ripe, juicy, seasonal fruits but differ in their texture.  The Crisp is just that…a crispy, oatmeal-based topping for the fruit; while this Bake (clafouti) is more tender and delicate.  *** I’d love to know which presentation your family enjoys most!

2013-08-23 11.02.23

 

Nectarine-Raspberry Clafouti (Fruit Bake)

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon coconut oil (or butter)  2013-08-23 10.06.49
3 large ripe nectarines
1 (6 ounce) container raspberries
3/4 cup gluten free all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
3 tablespoons agave nectar
2 large eggs
1 cup almond milk
1 teaspoon almond extract

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 400.
  • Grease a 1+1/2 – 2 quart ceramic baking dish with a small amount of coconut oil (or butter).
  • Pit the nectarines and then roughly chop.
  • In a blender container, mix all ingredients except for the fruit ‘til smooth and foamy, just a minute or so.
  • Pour about 1/4″ of batter into the baking dish. Place in oven ‘til batter looks slightly set (about 2 minutes).  Remove from oven.
  • Add chopped nectarines on top and pour in the balance of the batter;  scatter the raspberries on top, pushing them down gently into the batter with your finger.
  • Put baking dish back into oven; REDUCE HEAT to 350,  and bake for 45 minutes.
  • The clafouti is done when it has puffed and lightly browned; check by using a thin knife inserted into the center that comes out clean.
  • Set aside to cool slightly.  Can be eaten warm or cold.    Enjoy!

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

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His Commands are not Burdensome

August 23, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogo

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.
By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can discern their own errors?  Forgive my hidden faults.
Psalms 19:7-12

We read in this beautiful psalm that God’s commands (His law, His statutes, His precepts, His decrees) are:

  • perfect…they refresh our souls
  • right…they give joy to our hearts
  • radiant…they give light to our eyes
  • pure…they endure forever
  • firm…they all are righteous

How encouraging is that?!?  What a merciful, gracious, kind, compassionate God we serve! Throughout time, He has communicated with His people and given them His commands. In the beginning, God told His man, Adam, ONE simple command—not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden (Genesis 2).  To the children of Israel as they journeyed for forty years to the Promised Land, He gave them His rules to follow (e.g, Deuteronomy 6).  When Jesus was instructing His disciples, He pulled it all together, giving them TWO direct commandments—to love God with their whole heart, soul, mind, all their strength and to love their fellow man as they loved themselves (Mark 12:29-31).  Our hearts’ response to our loving God should be loving obedience…plain and simple.  I pray that the following verses will be a reminder and encouragement for us all to trust and obey the Great I AM.

In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands.  And His commands are not burdensome.
1 John 5:3

I obey your precepts and Your statutes, for all my ways are known to You.
Psalm 119:168

Blessed are those who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart—
Psalm 119:2

* * * * *

Thank You, dear Lord, for how gracious You are to us.  You are not a harsh, exacting God Who demands perfection…rather You are a loving Father Who sets righteous, life-giving commands before us!  You guide us and help us to seek You and obey You from our hearts.  You are SO good!!!  We love You, Father…and pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

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