Rejoice

Hello Everyone :-)
I can't read this verse without singing the song.  I loved Sunday school when I was growing up, we would have our own worship time and then dedicated teachers would pour into us.  My heart goes out to each of my Sunday school teachers because of the amazing influence you all were to my walk with Jesus Christ.

Yesterday I received a huge box from Mary and Martha.  To the delight of my kids we opened them up to see what I had gotten.  I'm going to post pictures of what I got and how I use them for decoration, but understand friends that they're not just for decoration their for your everyday use too.

This first one is the His Goodness Lazy Susan, I have it in a corner near my stovetop because I can quick grab my oil, salt, and pepper when I'm cooking.  If your interested in buying this click Here

  Here is a cute little trio is the Fruit of the Spirit Bowl, chalkboard tray, and kitchen caddy.  All of these products shown have a verse on them.  I love the fact that my house has verses littered all over the place :-) if you would like this trio click Here

 The next picture is our Pray Continually canister.  This is really big and will be able to fit a large bouquet of flowers in it or dozens of chocolate chip cookies :-) if you would like this product click Here

Last but not least our honey pot and fresh joy pitcher!  I plan on using my fresh joy picture every day for dinner so my kids can serve themselves a drink at the table.  The honey pot is actually quite large and I'm not too sure if I want to put honey in it.  We shall see :-). If you would like these products please feel free to visit my website 

                                 https://www.mymaryandmartha.com/18012/shop/catalog.aspx

Have a great day friends, and I pray that you rejoice and b glad for this is the day the Lord has given you! Love you all!

Friendship

Every so often you run into someone who is slightly opposite of you but gets you.  I mean gets you absolutely.  Will walk life with you and choose to correct you in love but also be there through out life changing times.  David and Jonathan had that; they met in a random moment when two opposite life's collided.  The cool thing is that even in times of separation they still maintained a friendship that lasted.

Do you have a friendship like that?  Do you have a friend who can call you out when your acting like a crazy person, or to laugh with you when you have a funny story?  Last night I called my mom complaining (yes complaining). That so and so really didn't like me, and she pointed out "not everyone is going to be your best friend Breanna". And you no know what, she's right,  I don't need a million best friends all I need is one.  So to my friend who gets me, in all my weirdness, and moods, in the place where our souls were knit together because God knew we needed each other, thank you.  Thank you for letting me be me and walking this life together.  

My prayer for you dear readers is that God gives you a friend, that when you see each other God knits your soul to theirs and a deep friendship is formed that crosses through time.  

Sin

I read in Romans 7 today.  It's a hard chapter to swallow and pretty devestating on this millennial' self esteem ;-). But I will say this, I feel as a body we have looked at sin as a negative thing.  Hold up!  Before the arguments and disgust start let me explain myself.  Sin is not a feeling, it is not an emotion; the definition of sin is "an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law."  Now I'm going to speak to my Christian brothers and sisters first, how many times have we looked at someone sinning and felt an emotion whether disgust, or sadness, or any other emotion?  Why? Sin is something that takes us away from God not an emotion.  

So I ask you dear brothers and sisters in Christ, How close to God do you want to be?  Our sin is covered by Jesus Christ, the moment you acknowledged that Jesus Christ is Lord, the moment you said in your heart that He died for you and was raised from the dead was the moment He covered for you and you became a Holy blameless child of God.  You are saved, but if you long for an intimate relationship, a friendship like no other, a Father who speaks to you daily, a Holy Spirit who guides you and gives you counsel I would suggest you get rid of sin.  God can't be near sin He is too Holy and too perfect to be near it, so cast it away and see how intimate and loving that relationship is.   

Now for my friends who don't think there is a God or that Jesus Christ is God.  Friends, I'm going to be blunt.  Why are you worrying about sin when it doesn't pertain to you?  If you don't believe in Jesus Christ it would be like comparing sports to music. Two completely different things.  You need to believe Christ Jesus died for you to even think about sin.  I would love for you to believe in our Savior believe it or not He loves you and sincerely wants the best for you, but if you choose not to then that's your choice.  I choose to follow Jesus Christ and I choose to follow the Bible, that's on me, not you.  

I'm finishing up now, and please don't be hurt by my ramblings whether Christian or not I'm just a person living life one day at a time trying to do my best with the choices I made.   If you're ever curious about those choices I made I would love to talk to you about them :-)

Love you all, and that's the truth

The Lacemaker

Hi Everyone,
So in the last 24 hours I may have read this book a total of two times and I'm on my third read.  This may be one of my favorite books by Laura Frantz.  It's the perfect revolutionary historic novel, with romance, an amazing woman of God for the leading lady, and the perfect mix of slow burn.  What is slow burn?  It's a book who's character don't immediately fall in love at first sight but a relationship is built.  I love those types of books because let's be honest how many of us had an insta love relationship that worked?  Don't get me wrong I looked at my husband for the first time and fell for his baby blues and his smile, but it took us years to build a friendship and then a relationship.

In the Lacemaker, Lady Elizabeth "Liberty" Lawson has been met with an arranged marriage by her Tory Father.  On the cusp of the revolution she is forced to decide which side she's on.  Soon Liberty is left destitute with only the faith of a Heavenly Father guiding her path.  These are troubled times in Williamsburg, Virginia and it's not safe to be a Tory let alone a woman.

If you love an amazing historic novel that breathes the Word of God effortlessly.  Friends, you need to read this book.  So please go buy it and enjoy this phenomenal author who glorifies God with the talent she has been given.

Hope

Did you know the definition of hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen and for faith it's a complete trust or confidence in someone or something.  I always thought these words were kind of the same but they're really not.

Hope is more of a feeling where faith is complete assurance.  We live in a world where complete assurance can be destroyed in moments; where more and more often we lean towards hope because in the back of our head we're waiting for the other shoe to drop.  A couple of years ago it seemed that if it could happen to our family it did.   House refusing to sell, me getting sick and the hospital bills piling up, cars breaking down,  double mortgage, my husband's job getting cut and my part time job closing.    I clung to this verse, because I had no hope left.  I only had the assurance that God was able to do what he promised.   Where are you at today?

Eventually, the house sold.  Todd's hours were given back to him.  I received the surgery that was needed to make me better.  This my friends is God's glory because if you read the final statement in the picture "It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification."

So friends I'm praying for you, I'm praying that you stop hoping in the world, but put your faith in Jesus Christ.  He really was raised from the dead so that our trespasses are forgiven and we can have faith to give glory to Him in times of goodness and times of need.  And in doing that we are fully convinced that God is able to do what He promises.

Serve

Serving can be tough, because let's be honest, let's stop talking all that Christian language and be blunt.  Serving has no glory in it for the person who's doing it.  For the most part there is no recognition of the job you're doing.  I'm really terrible at serving, I don't know why but I long for the recognition of a job well done and I like people knowing how great I am (I know it's cocky, but just trying to honest).  You don't get that serving.  These people who quietly go about working for God very rarely will be recognized for their effort by anyone.

Take for instance my husband.  He's someone I see serving the needs of people around him and our family faithfully and diligently.  He's a soccer coach, he could very likely coach in a university, he's been recruited by universities but won't go because our family is in a safe and secure area and our kids are in a great school.  He's bypassing the recognition to serve our family.

When you serve the recognition and glory go to God.  So I want to ask you something,  who is getting the glory?  Are the hardest of challenges to the simplest task honoring Jesus Christ, you were created for this very time.  To serve, to follow, and guess what Christ will be with you, and will honor you.

So, today as I look at my house,

I'm going to put the dishes away, and fold the clothes in an act of glorifying the Lord.  Because friends, I desire following Jesus Christ over my desire of recognition and I would rather have His honor then the worlds.   Love you all and know that I'm praying for you today.

Convicted

Hi Everyone,
Today I read Romans 2 and I was convicted.  I know why too.  Sometimes my actions are different then my words.  All too often I teach my kids something but do something else entirely.  For instance my oldest saying a snarky remark to her siblings and me realizing that I say those exact same words.  How can I tell her not to say them when they have past my mouth?  

Lord Jesus I pray that my thoughts, words, and actions glorify you today.  That I honor you in all that I do, and please Lord Jesus forgive me for those times that I've stumbled, forgive me for those that my words have hurt.  Holy Spirit be my friend and guide today as you lead me down the path of your will.  May your grace flow deep in the ones who are reading this and if they are convicted they realize how deep Your ( Father God) love is for them.  May we understand that in your kindness you correct us.

Sick

Hi Everyone,
Over the last month our kids have had Flu A, Strep, AND Flu B.  To say that we are worn out from the gauntlet of sickness, it's true, we are so worn out.  If you have a moment to pray for our kids I would so appreciate it.

I wanted to show you what I make for a comfort drink for my family.  I call it sick tea because it's full of mint and chamomile tea (click Here for the tea) and Néem Honey.  We like the neem honey because it's raw organic and basically has a lot more health benefits then regular honey.  We got that from Natural Grocers.  I boil my water to about 199 degrees and then let it seep in my tea pot for 5 minutes.  After that I take about a spoonful of honey and pour my tea into my Mary and Martha cup (click Here) and then stir in the honey.

The tea is warm and comforting bringing a perfect twist of minty freshness and calm from the chamomile.  I hope you make it and enjoy it yourself and if you can pray Psalms 41:3 over my sweet family I would really appreciate it.  Thanks so much friends!

Anxiety

Hi Everyone,
Last night I had nightmares,  silly ones now that I think about it but ones that are still giving me rise as I'm awake.  I don't have any desire to talk about something that makes me look vulnerable or for some of you to see me in a different light but Jesus put this on my heart and who am I to say no.

I struggle with anxiety, the kind that makes you stay up late or wakes you up in the middle of the night.  Night after night of this happening and your desperate to try anything just so you can function.   I would memorize verses and say them in my head but it wouldn't go away, I would read my Bible during the night time thinking maybe I just need to be in the Word and it wouldn't go away.  I did everything that friends said to do hoping that one of them would work.  Medication works but I get sores in my mouth in them after taking them for more then a night.

I'm not here to say here's what you need to do to conquer this but I am here to say that even through this time of anxiety you need to trust that Jesus Christ has you.  He is wrapping His loving arms around you and is holding you during this time.  As you can see I still struggle with anxiety but I have come to terms with the fact that this anxiety might never go away and I need to fully rely on God who will carry me through it.  You are loved by a mighty God friend, never forget He will stand by you.

For everyone who struggles with anxiety, I feel you.  I know what you're going through and I hate it.  I pray as you have this burden that you remain under the shade and comfort of Jesus Christ and in everything trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.

I love you

Rest

          “"Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭34:21‬ ‭ESV‬‬













Hello Everyone,
Four years ago I started working outside of the home as an Orchestra Director.  I love my job, I love the students who I teach and the challenges of starting them from the beginning and growing them to be able to play at an exceptional level.  I love the families that help me in the program.  But what I started to see each week was I was getting worn out.  My house was a complete mess, I was short with my husband and my sweet bebs.  I was tired and I had no clue what my problem was.  Then I remembered a sermon that our pastor talked about rest.   I realized that even though I had weekends to rest I wasn't really resting.  I was socializing, taking the kids to their music lessons and practices.  I truly wasn't resting.  That day I made the decision to not go anywhere, to not socialize with anyone, and to truly rest on my chosen day which was Saturday.  It was hard at first because I had to say no to a lot of things.  I am not a person who says no,  I'm a people pleaser :-).

Oh sweet friends, the difference in my week was incredible!  My house for one day was an absolute mess, but the remainder of the week clean or at least picked up.  So that brings me to this new adventure.  Do you know how tempting it was to email friends, to call them and tell them about Mary and Martha on my day off?  Extremely, but I stuck to Exodus 34:21 Six days you shall work, but the seventh day you shall rest.  I know no matter what, I and you all need a day to rest.  Are you resting?  Do you have a day where you do nothing but binge watch TV shows, or read books and eat a glorious amount of food?  If you don't, I think you should, and not just me but God thinks you should too.

Now I had my rest day yesterday so it's back to work :-). If you book an event with me through Mary and Martha you get double Host rewards when you host a $400 gathering and your guests get discounts too!
Love you all and I hope you rest.

A grateful heart

Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Every morning my husband hears the alarm and wakes up.  Now I'm going to be truthful, there is no way I would wake up at 5:00 am to pray and study my Bible unless he woke up first and started the coffee.   Every morning I think "Ok, time to get up he's going to serve me coffee". It's such a small silly thing but I'm thankful for that.  My time in prayer and reading our Father's treasured Word is incredibly essential to my day and to the people who interact with me during the day.

Friends you may not have a husband who will make you coffee but what can you do to spend time with God?  What are you willing to get up for so that you can start your day out, or maybe it needs to be another part of your day.  Either way find time for God and I promise you Colossians 3:15 will happen Christ's peace will rule in your heart and you'll be thankful.

Praying for you all today, love you.

If you like this cup, click Here for it :-)

Author Melanie Cellier

Hello World,
My sweet Liv is sick today with strep.  Our poor family has been hit hard with sinus infections, type A flu, strep etc...  The hardest thing for this mama is figuring out that even though my job is important my family needs to come first.  So even if it's UIL concert/sight reading season I'm taking off because they need me.   You would think this wouldn't be hard, but selfishly my heart says "you need your students to know this by this time and you're behind schedule!" I can seriously feel,the anxiety creeping up because I'm missing school today.  If you have a chance pray for both Liv and I, that Liv is getting better and that in the end I'm at peace with everything.  Thanks!

The Four Kingdoms by Melanie Cellier are fairytale retellings.  These books have just enough of the old familiar fairytales to make them timeless but also new enough to not get that what happens next feeling, if you get what I mean.  They're awesome!

Melanie Cellier is the author of this fabulous series and I have really enjoyed her writing and clean romance.  She does a great job at character development as well as world building.  Please look her up, in fact here is a link to her books on Amazon click Here.  Ok sweet friends I'm off to spend a day full of taking care of my Livie Lou, have a great day!

1 Thessalonians 5:18King James Version (KJV)

18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

My Why

Hello Everyone,
So two days ago I listened on a phone conference from Mary and Martha, the first thing this sweet lady did for us was pray over us women.  Can I just say "Wow". This is something to me at least that is so uplifting and refreshing.

I know I've been posting a lot about the children's selection of Mary and Martha but this selection has truly been a blessing to my kiddos.  Right smack dab in the middle of my two girls sleeping peacefully (they sometimes like to have sleep overs and they've been doing this for ages, here's another pic of them when they first started doing this) is a stuffed animal.

These plush little stuffed animals are God Made Just One, ours is the Kangaroo Plush and Livie can not go anywhere with out it.  School, gymnastics, church, all over town this little friend has gone with her.  Friends, you have to understand my kids are blanket kids.  They don't do stuffed animals, as you can see from the first picture what is prominent is the kangaroo, and in the 2nd picture the blankets.  They are indeed plush and squishy and seriously if I wasn't a 35 year old woman I would totally get my own!

These little beauties are $24 and here is the link to get them :-) click Here.

Have a great day and I pray that as God told Paul in Acts 23:11 that you take courage.

Mary and Martha

Hi Everyone :-)

So I am shamelessly promoting this really awesome fairly new business that I just got myself into.  This company is called Mary and Martha and as you can tell the founders have been around awhile.  This company is a Christian based home goods, and they sell children's toys, books, games, and puzzles.   My mom gave us several of their items and I absolutely fell in love with them, and thought what they hay might as well try something new.  So here I am shamelessly promoting on my blog a company that is really awesome!

So when I prayed about becoming a consultant one of the things that I wanted was to be more intentional with my husband and kids.  This puzzle God Made Just One was perfect for our family of five.  As you can see the pieces are big and easy to hold and the puzzle itself is bright and vibrant and the perfect size for a floor puzzle not too big and not too small.

 This verse Galatians 1:15 was a great conversation starter for our family and we were able to talk about what might God's plan be for them.

Our family had a lot of fun putting it together and it was a good 20 minutes spent working together.  Some corrections had to be made with how my little ones spoke to each other but all in all they did a really good job communicating correctly.

In the end the whole family had a blast putting this puzzle together by Mary and Martha.  So if you would like this puzzle you can contact me 806-464-0029 and I'll get your order ready.  I'm hoping to have my website up and ready soon!
If you've never heard of Mary and Martha please feel free to click Her to shop their website :-). I'll continue to post more things from them as well as reviewing books and I'm thinking I'm going to show you a few of my favorite recipes too.  Have a great day!