tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11650550802658765782024-03-12T21:27:09.839-07:00My Mortgage MiracleBelieving God to pay off our mortgage in five yearsChantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-80585821734003000642016-09-16T09:22:00.001-07:002016-09-16T09:22:34.843-07:00That's a Miracle$75, 946.42...the balance on our mortgage as of 90 seconds ago when I checked.<br />
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First and foremost I want to share that God did not mess up. I messed up. I said that I heard God tell me that He was going to pay off our mortgage in five years which would have technically been yesterday if you go by the date when I began this blog, and even earlier if you go by the date when I believed I heard Him five summers ago. That has not happened.<br />
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Because the miracle that I was expecting did not happen, I went to God and asked for His forgiveness. Why? For being a false prophet and incorrectly speaking on His behalf. The Bible says,<br />
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<i>You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?" <b>If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken.</b> That prophet has spoken presumptuously. </i>Deuteronomy 18:21-22<br />
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To put it plainly, I was wrong. Realizing that I spoke falsely in my Lord's name is an extremely humbling experience. It has made me question my motives and look more closely at my relationship with Him. I am reminded of the verse that tells us that He is the Good Shepherd--He knows His sheep and His sheep know Him. I should know His voice.<br />
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For the past month I have been reading <u>Experiencing God</u>. Our church had used the book for a summer Bible study series, but our family was not available to attend Bible study regularly during the summer months. I felt drawn to read the book on my own. In doing so, I have been refreshed by Biblical truths that I had discounted after having given my life to Jesus so many years ago. <br />
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Most recently I was reading about how God speaks to His people and came across the Deuteronomy verses that I shared above. This was two days prior to the deadline for which I believed God would pay off our mortgage--talk about timeliness! Even in my sin He saw fit to prepare me with His word. That's love. That's a miracle!<br />
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<br />Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-33188687547776136592016-09-12T08:34:00.001-07:002016-09-12T08:34:49.393-07:00The Final CountdownSeptember 15th 2011--the date of my first blog post.<br />
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I am wondering if I heard from God 5 years ago what I thought I heard from Him. This Thursday will be the date that I have been expecting God to have paid off our mortgage. I know that He can. My question is if He will. Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-71936231725756512482016-09-06T10:17:00.004-07:002016-09-06T10:17:58.414-07:00Doing the Ripe ThingI purchased some green bananas from the grocery store several weeks ago. I always get them green whenever we are not quite ready to use them. Typically they ripen and turn yellow within a few days. However this batch of bananas was not turning color.<br />
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A few days turned into a week and a week became several weeks. Still we had green bananas! Eventually, during my next grocery trip, I got another batch of bananas that was already yellow.<br />
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For no particular reason, I took and put the bananas next to one another in the usual "banana spot" on our counter. This morning, I saw this...<br />
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My bananas were finally turning yellow! It made me think about the influence of the companions we choose. Once the green bananas got around the bananas that were doing the "ripe" thing, they started ripening. Left to themselves they just sat and remained the same. Hebrews 10:24, 25 reminds us how it is important to be around those who are going to encourage us in doing good and correct us when we are going the wrong way. Sometimes we don't want to hear about our shortcomings and faults. But God challenges us to get around good company that doesn't let us stay green.Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-23872349579216430852016-08-28T19:11:00.003-07:002016-08-28T19:11:22.672-07:00I'm Rooting for You!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have roots!</span></div>
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Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-58233159988622308752016-08-16T13:12:00.002-07:002016-08-16T13:12:23.132-07:00Stem projectI was at the Farmer's Market today picking up some veggies for cooking and canning. As I went to leave, I passed by the plant vendor and there on the ground was a piece from the plant below. <br />
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Hmm...I wonder if I could grow this plant from the detached piece laying on the ground? But more importantly is it appropriate to pick up a discarded piece of plant that could potentially produce a plant that the plant that the vendor is asking $10 for? I didn't ponder the question long before taking a brief look around, picking up the abandoned stem, and high-tailing it to my vehicle like it was contraband.<br />
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My precious find is now getting a nice drink in its new home. I will let you know the results! </div>
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Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-49353151011692073322016-06-29T07:01:00.001-07:002016-06-29T07:01:41.875-07:00One Man's Garbage is Another Man's Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our local Craigslist had an advertisement for free wood pallets and wood scraps at a construction dump site. It was pretty much self-serve as you can see.<br />
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So with my 15-month old cheering me on from his rear-facing car seat, I got busy. Not only were there wood scraps in the dumpster, there were also used soda cups, cigarette butts, and other varieties of assorted trash. Oh happy day!<br />
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For my valor, I was rewarded with the spoils you see here.<br />
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These materials meant for waste yielded two square foot gardens for growing vegetables and one pallet garden for growing herbs. Trash to treasure!<br />
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Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-74795357019327008112016-05-27T06:09:00.001-07:002016-05-27T06:09:48.636-07:00What a Relief!The past few months have been a whirlwind for me. Our family of six has had the following activities in progress:<br /><div>
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<li>High school baseball (now into an extended season due to making the playoffs--whoo-hoo!)</li>
<li>Church choir</li>
<li>Little league baseball</li>
<li>Track and field</li>
<li>Bookkeeper for high school baseball</li>
<li>Boy scouts</li>
<li>Planning for two large-scale events</li>
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Along with the motoring around to and from these activities, there is the added responsibility and preparation that comes along with each. The Holy Spirit has been instrumental in helping me keep my attitude in check during this busy season of life. But boy I could use a good chiropractor to help me with my neck and shoulders as well!</div>
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After my walk this morning, I was doing my best to try and stretch my neck to get some relief. I let my head drift backwards as far as it would go on its fulcrum (i.e. my neck--hubby the physics teacher would be proud) and couldn't help but look heavenward. This is what I saw.</div>
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Exactly as you are seeing this picture on your screen is how I saw it in the sky. As long as my gaze was skyward, I could only see this beautiful blue expanse. Everything else was blocked from my view. It was surreal to know that I was on the ground and yet feel like I was in the sky.</div>
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In this busy season it would be easy to lose perspective. The hours, the days zoom by so quickly that it can feel like I am just part of time and nothing more. But having a Savior has helped me to focus on those things that are eternal. At the end of a crazy day when the realization sets in that tomorrow is going to be equally crazy, I find relief in looking past the schedule and looking to the Scheduler.</div>
Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-49423029069034271282016-05-16T08:44:00.000-07:002016-05-16T08:44:10.604-07:00Joy RideOur two oldest children have standardized testing beginning today. Because they had taken the tests previously and scored well, they both had the pleasure of going to school two hours later.<br />
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My son slept in for a while, then eventually got up and prepared for the day. He was dressed and about to leave out the door when we heard it--the familiar sound of a bus engine revving through our cul-de-sac.<br />
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"Is that your bus?" I ask him, already knowing the answer to my question.<br />
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"Yeah," he responds.<br />
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I had just put our youngest son down for his morning nap and was anxiously awaiting a quiet house where I could do some writing.<br />
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"It's 9:15. Why weren't you out there?"<br />
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"Because the clock says 9:13 and it's actually not supposed to come until 22 after even though it usually comes at 17 after-"<br />
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I interrupt his argument, "Okay, get your brother out of his crib and put on his shoes and coat." I just wanted to get going so I could get back home. "And you will be paying two dollars for a ride." This is the logical consequence that we have assigned whenever our kids miss the bus by a fault of their own. They pay us gas money. The amount changes based on current gas prices. Lately they have been blessed to only have to pay $2 a ride.<br />
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As he comes down the stairs with his brother in tow, I wonder about his sister who was up the street walking the neighbor's dog. Her plan was to stay out to catch the bus after she had finished up. Should I text her to see if she needed a ride as well? Nah! She had probably caught the bus or she would have been back home by now asking for a ride, too.<br />
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No sooner had the thought crossed my mind when I see her figure coming toward the front porch. As she opens the door I say, "Hey, you're just in time! Your brother needs a ride, too, and the good news is you guys can split your gas fee."<br />
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"Cool," she responds.<br />
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We get loaded into the van and drive down the street. On the way out of our neighborhood we spot one of the kids' classmates waiting at their bus stop.<br />
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"Does he ride your bus?" I ask. They responded that he does.<br />
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I do a u-turn in the road and head back to where he is standing. Winding down the window I say, "The bus already came. Would you like a ride?" to which he responds, "Yes, please."<br />
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"I'll move in the back," our daughter graciously offers. He gets in and takes the seat next to our 18 month old.<br />
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The ride to school is pretty quiet as it tends to be with teenagers in the morning. I initiate some conversation with the young man about his weekend, but that was other than that everyone was silent.<br />
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We arrive at school and the boys say their good-byes and thank yous as they get out. My daughter, the last to get out due to being in the rear seat, tells me good-bye and then remarks, "Hey, now we can split our gas fee <i>three </i>ways!"Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-85747778642953718972016-04-26T07:13:00.001-07:002016-04-26T07:13:48.018-07:00Routine RestDo you ever thank God for your daily routine?<br />
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Today I did some early morning shopping with Story after Blaise left for school. Once we finished and got home, I laid him down for his nap, and put groceries away. When I went upstairs to grab a sweatshirt, there he was in his crib sound asleep.<br />
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Seeing this made me pause and say, "Thank you God that he is asleep. Thank you for everyday that he reliably takes his nap. I am so grateful that You've given him a daily routine that I can count on just like I can count on You."<br />
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<br />Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-8669347151955552332016-04-06T06:35:00.003-07:002016-04-06T06:35:52.228-07:00Fools Rush In"Is it a need or a want?"<br />
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After people read my book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/PERSONAL-FINANCES-FREEDOM-Chanty-Webb-ebook/dp/B00E8OW4T4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459948547&sr=8-1&keywords=chanty+webb" target="_blank">Personal Finances Personal Freedom</a>, this question is often the big take-away. Rather than spending on auto-pilot, they recognize the benefit of pausing long enough to answer this question and then make a sober decision.<br />
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In my quest to work on building up my business, I am looking at businesses in the Bible. Today I looked at the "Wife of Noble Character" in Proverbs 31. She is often looked at as the prototype of a godly wife, but she was also a successful businesswoman.<br />
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One of the verses that gave me pause was, "She considers a field and buys it;..." Considers. The woman did not rush her decision, but was thoughtful, contemplative. <br />
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The next sentence says, "...out of her earnings she plants a vineyard." So this verse tells me two things. First, the field was an investment. She put money into it to make money. Second, she saved up her money to make another investment.<br />
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In the end, scripture declares the Wife of Noble Character as a woman who "fears the Lord" and "is to be praised." My take-away from her is that wisdom waits on the Lord.Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-79000765748364204412016-04-06T06:10:00.001-07:002016-04-06T06:10:43.898-07:00More Stress? More Mess? Please Yes!<div>
"At the end of the day I am more tired now than when I was pregnant!"</div>
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I was speaking to a friend in her 40s like me who is enchanted with the thought of having another baby. Her two kids are school age.</div>
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It was about two years ago that we discovered we were pregnant--unintentionally. Initially, I struggled to accept that I was going to have to care for another kid rather than celebrating that I get to raise another child. God spoke a <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1165055080265876578#editor/target=post;postID=6102059179659536538;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=19;src=postname" target="_blank">message</a> of encouragement directly to me and immediately the Holy Spirit changed me from the inside out. I was a happy pregnant woman!<br />
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But that little bundle of boy wears me out! My five senses are perpetually piqued to anticipate his every move. Regularly my arms are given a workout toting his 28-pound frame. Mentally I toil in preparation for excursions away from our home trying not to miss anything needed for him, inevitably forgetting something needed for me.<br />
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Even still I would not change one thing. I love seeing the world through his eyes. I love seeing our older kids loving seeing the world through his eyes. God made Story so that he fits right in with the Webbs. He gets us. He knows he's one of us. He belongs.<br />
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Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-88135508884690016032016-03-21T07:17:00.001-07:002016-03-21T07:17:45.130-07:00Doubt-FreeI have been putting off writing about this.<br />
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2016 will be the five-year anniversary of "My Mortgage Miracle". Anniversaries are occasions for celebration, right?<br />
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Well, I hesitate to celebrate because this year also marks the deadline for the miracle that I am expecting God to perform--paying off our now $78, 822.74 mortgage. Quite honestly, I'm getting nervous.<br />
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Why? Because did I hear Him right? Am I sure this is what He spoke to me? Yes, our mortgage has gone down significantly, but that's just from our regular monthly payments. We haven't had any windfalls that we could add to the principal balance. It's like when we had credit card bills and could only afford the minimum payment. That's just where we're at.<br />
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As I was <strike>thinking</strike> worrying about this recently, trying to figure out how we could tighten our belts even more to make this miracle happen, God interrupted. I cannot quote God verbatim, but what follows is something like what might have been his end of our conversation.<br />
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"I never said that I was going to pay off your mortgage the same way I paid off your consumer debt. My ways and my thoughts are not like yours. Stop trying to figure me out and trust me. Trust me based on everything I've been through with you. Trust me because I am God."<br />
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He showed me scripture that spoke of his promise to give Abram a land of his own. It reads, "Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you." Genesis 13:17 Next to that scripture I had previously written, "our debt" and "being debt-free".<br />
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Understand that I am not completely <i>doubt</i>-free. Still there are times when I dwell on what I don't see rather than having faith in what is unseen (Hebrews 11). But I am comforted by how God takes the time to meet me where I am in my weakness.<br />
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<br />Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-69367603820647243362016-03-02T07:27:00.000-08:002016-03-02T07:27:34.863-08:00Pizza PartyOur son Blaise's 10th birthday was last month. Instead of having a party we agreed upon an outing with a friend. Skyzone was the venue of choice and a friend from church was his companion for the evening.<br />
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Can anybody relate to the "belated birthday celebration"? It's when your household has so many other things going on that celebrations are put off until weeks after the birthday has come and gone. Before anyone calls Children and Youth on us, keep in mind that we do acknowledge the birthday as well as celebrate as a family on the actual day. The party part however is delayed for lack of time.<br />
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Well, today is the day. Blaise's friend will come over after school to have dinner with us and then we'll head to Skyzone for trampoline fun. In lieu of taking the boys out to a meal or delivering pizza in for a meal, I am making my own pizza. Homemade pizza is a staple in our household. Ross would make it in the early years of our marriage when I had <b>ZERO</b> interest in cooking anything that didn't come in a box. Watching him knead that dough made my head spin as I thought, 'I could never learn to do that!' Well, now I am the regular maker of the dough (although I did never learn to knead because my KitchenAid stand mixer's dough hook does that grunt work for me.) Below are the ingredients needed to make a killer pizza dough.<br />
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I usually purchase a 3 pack of yeast then knock out three doughs one right after the other while my mixer is out. It takes me about 30 minutes to do all three. Next is the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1165055080265876578#editor/target=post;postID=2294480686844997872;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=116;src=postname" target="_blank">rising</a> process. A nice sunny spot by the window helps this process along quite nicely!<br />
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Finally toppings...I did one with basil and cheese and one with sausage and cheese (shown below). I could've kicked myself because I wanted to use feta cheese with the sausage but I forgot and used mozzarella. I purchased a 5 lb. bag of feta for $9.99 at my favorite grocery store last week and have since been incorporating it into every meal known to man :-)<br />
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And finally the end product...two fabulously delicious pizzas (as confirmed by our little birthday party guest who exclaimed during dinner, "I need to come to your house more often to eat!") made with ingredients we already had in our kitchen. </div>
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Pizza party, anyone?</div>
<br />Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-87031709363879273022016-02-05T10:45:00.002-08:002016-02-05T10:45:55.107-08:00Mess vs. MessageEasing into my living room chair one morning, I breathed a sigh of relief. <br />
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'This is my time', I thought to myself. <br />
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It was early morning and I was the only one awake. By no easy effort, I have made a discipline of getting up before the rest of my family to have time alone with God.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNZF170qmTQTKEZYL6vERO9Kbchq9ikUEPaoHQ2OGuDY9CAL8dc1Ekv3aVD8adjqlrtHh5Ot79vUICRiYiyMmr646O3e-tlvNi6Vs6s9LIc_KG1hcyMKi5cBce27jgZaUydsExCU_7G5_/s1600/IMG_7828%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNZF170qmTQTKEZYL6vERO9Kbchq9ikUEPaoHQ2OGuDY9CAL8dc1Ekv3aVD8adjqlrtHh5Ot79vUICRiYiyMmr646O3e-tlvNi6Vs6s9LIc_KG1hcyMKi5cBce27jgZaUydsExCU_7G5_/s200/IMG_7828%255B1%255D.JPG" width="200" /></a>Not too long after my back hit the back of the chair, my eyes looked at what lay before me on the living room floor. Toys laying askew with books thrown in the mix-evidence of our one-year old son Story's presence the day before. A typical toddler mess.<br />
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I sat staring at what lay before me, not wanting to move to tidy it up. After a bit, I looked more closely at the "mess" and began to smile.<br />
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I was sadly mistaken. What the living room floor was really cluttered with was a message, not a mess. Books about Jonah and Moses, along with a kids devotional book were scattered about declaring God's word and faithfulness to our son. How happy it makes me to know that our son is learning the message of Jesus as a child now so that he won't be a mess as an adult later!Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-89076436414671097372016-01-12T13:04:00.000-08:002016-01-12T13:04:01.265-08:00GratefulI'm back! Had to share about God's faithfulness in providing. Most recently he's done the following:<br />
<ol>
<li>Allowed us to cancel a "free" trial Amazon Prime account that turned into a not legit Amazon Prime account because the trial expired. Our credit card was billed $104.73 and every last penny is being refunded even though I was late in cancelling the trial.</li>
<li>Given favor by having a Ph.D. offer his expertise to our church free</li>
<li>Placed on my sister's heart to bless our family with a bag of household goods she purchased with her coupon know-how (see below)</li>
</ol>
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I am grateful and just had to share.</div>
Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-32563538616470337582015-12-14T05:49:00.006-08:002015-12-14T05:49:55.024-08:00Job SecurityFunny, I never thought of myself as manager material. But when looked up "homemaker" in the dictionary, there it was in print--"one who manages a home, especially as wife and mother".<br />
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It is true. I do manage our home. But I certainly have, and need, a lot of help. There are times when I become prideful and think that my family couldn't get along without me. Truth be told I couldn't get along without them.<br />
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If it were up to me, aside from sleeping and eating, our days would be filled with tasks. In my mind a constant to-do list for myself and others ticks away. It is difficult for me to just sit around the house. When I am in my home, the thought of leisure time eludes me.<br />
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God bless my family! Without even realizing it, they help me to stay focused on what's important by getting me away from what I am focusing on too much of the time--work. Silly dances, impromptu conversations, YouTube videos, rehashing events from their school day, and talking sports (my hubby)--seemingly distractions in my day all meant to help me see what's really important.<br />
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In my mind, this post was intended to share about how I have job security because my family needs me. But really, they have job security because this manager needs them.<br />
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Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-64553491849014064732015-08-25T13:36:00.000-07:002015-08-25T13:36:58.322-07:00Grapes of Wrath<div style="text-align: center;">
The fence in our backyard boasts a pretty wicked grapevine.</div>
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We planted it at least 6 years ago and it has matured beautifully. So much so that in recent years I have begun to can grape jam from its fruit.</div>
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The development we live in abuts an apartment complex and our backyard has a fence that separates us from the apartments. The grapes grow over the fence and we actually have to drive over to the apartments to collect the clusters that grow on the other side.</div>
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Today I was grilling in the backyard and stepped inside to get some things ready at the sink. While there, I looked up and through my kitchen window saw a man and a little girl looking at our grapes. Next, I see the man and the little girl picking off of the grapes. Finally I see them get what looked like a cluster of grapes and walk off with them--smiling!!! I was not smiling.</div>
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'How dare they take something that doesn't belong to them', I thought. 'Not to mention, what's up with that father (I assumed) teaching his daughter to steal from others!' Although I was fuming, I was not brazen enough to walk over to the fence and give them a piece of my mind. After all, that wouldn't be very Christ-like.</div>
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Then my mind began to settle. I remembered a sermon that I heard recently speaking of the struggle we go through to put off our flesh and put on the Holy Spirit. My flesh was all about "They are taking <i><b>my</b></i> grapes!" But really this was an opportunity to be Jesus to two individuals.</div>
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Rethinking my approach to the situation, I knew what I had to do. I went downstairs and got a jar of grape jam from last year. The duo was out of sight for now, but if they returned I had my dialogue all planned out. </div>
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"I see that you like our grapes. Please have a jar of grape jam from last year's harvest."</div>
Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-44957438148983620862015-08-07T05:41:00.000-07:002015-08-07T05:41:19.323-07:00Free at Last!Last weekend our daughter came to me asking the loaded question, "Mom, guess what?"<br />
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"What?" I responded.<br />
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"I'm debt free!" she replied with a big smile across her face.<br />
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I smiled back and congratulated her. Her debt was a whopping $75. However to a 15-year old teenager with only allowance as an income, this is big money. She took the rather drastic route of taking every single allowance and putting all of it towards what she owed until she had paid it off.<br />
<br />
What she was paying off was summer camp. During the middle of last school year, Ross and I decided that we would have the kids begin to pay for a portion of their activities. We see the following benefits in doing this:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>More appreciation results when they have invested some of their own money</li>
<li>More consideration results when they have invested some of their own money (they are more apt to seriously weigh whether or not they truly want do participate in an activity)</li>
<li>We are not shouldering the entire financial weight of multiple activities for three children</li>
</ol>
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Our kids are surprisingly compliant with this new dispensation. There have even been times when they've asked for clarity sake, "Is this something that I will pay for?". </div>
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I praise God for the responsibility that they are learning today and pray that it prepares them for tomorrow.</div>
Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-61123984807361702372015-08-07T05:25:00.000-07:002015-08-07T05:25:26.494-07:00My Cup Runneth OverI have a friend who regularly blesses our family with goods. Primarily she gives us grocery items. <i>Always </i>the timing is right on. This is what she dropped off yesterday.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqX0GSR0f1Dt5OBhbHeD7S23CgAz9gxwEEE9ppf7JEaAaqRg3_VYRin8C5Vr-nJLYlpklMSVQC7hReWXObPhHcm401RLhWDoA30bQaqVkSA8mVRLNblY0kppKnnSM2SHM4bWRn30jtPaI/s1600/IMG_7596%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqX0GSR0f1Dt5OBhbHeD7S23CgAz9gxwEEE9ppf7JEaAaqRg3_VYRin8C5Vr-nJLYlpklMSVQC7hReWXObPhHcm401RLhWDoA30bQaqVkSA8mVRLNblY0kppKnnSM2SHM4bWRn30jtPaI/s640/IMG_7596%255B1%255D.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Individual cereals, jams, bbq sauce, marinades, boxed rice meals, and my favorite...Olive Garden salad dressing :-) Really?! These are the fill-ups God pours into my tank when I am doubting His provision in my life.<br />
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My cup runneth over.Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-45151692202771911942015-07-29T12:17:00.001-07:002015-07-29T12:17:33.635-07:00Waste MangagementNot more than a few weeks ago I was sitting at a stoplight on one of the local streets. While waiting for the light to turn green, I looked over at the vehicle beside me. It was a Penn Waste garbage truck.<br />
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Almost instantly my mind began to consider the volume of trash that these vehicles cart away from our home on a regular basis. I have often anticipated the truck's arrival, especially when some extremely foul-smelling waste is stinking up our garage where the trash is kept. What a joy it is to have the offensive collection hauled off to a place where I can forget about it!<br />
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While musing this over, something about the truck caught my eye. The tires. Though massive in size, they were noticeably flattened no doubt due to the weight of what had been loaded above.<br />
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What a picture of Jesus! He deflated Himself and took on the weight of everything stinky about me. As if that weren't enough, He regularly hauls away my waste so that I can forget about it and move on.Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-10555122259833516512015-07-13T05:18:00.003-07:002015-07-13T05:18:25.775-07:00Making DoThis morning I was cleaning out my microwave.<br />
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In the middle of cleaning, I found myself thanking God for this appliance. You see, for about two years we had a microwave with no turntable and no door handle. The turntable had broken accidentally and the handle had come off due to normal wear and tear. We had learned to place our fingertips under the door just so in order to open it up. It became second nature to us and we made do.<br />
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Eventually I decided to look on Craigslist for a microwave to replace ours. A similar model was listed with the dimensions needed for above our range. I communicated with the seller and he said that he would sell it to me $15 below the list price! That microwave is the very one that graces our kitchen today.<br />
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<i>"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction." 1 Timothy 6:6-9</i><br />
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God taught our family to be content with the two-bit microwave that we had. Sure a door would be handy, but it wasn't necessary. Our family did not go hungry due to lack of a microwave door. We made do. Then when the timing was right, we purchased a <b>USED </b>microwave. <br />
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Contentment. This is where financial freedom begins. <br />
<br />Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-10813355261345800242015-07-09T11:17:00.001-07:002015-07-09T11:17:07.173-07:00Laugh of the DayPulling into the parking lot of my bank this morning I saw a woman in a candy apple red convertible pull into a parking spot a short distance from me. <br />
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As I exited my van I had to chuckle upon hearing the distinctive electronic sound of her locking up her car. <br />
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Classic!Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-13919130284816662692015-07-08T12:58:00.001-07:002015-07-22T05:09:11.684-07:00Step Away from the Baby!Earlier this week we were babysitting a friend's son for a couple of hours. After following his daily routine, we came to the hour when he was due for a nap.<br />
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First my husband held him for a while but he cried. Next we put him in our son's swing, but he continued to cry. My husband had to get ready to leave the house and handed the baby over to me. He told me about a way to hold him that had gotten him to sleep last time we watched him. I tried this suggested hold but the little guy cried on.<br />
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Then I realized the time. With my stomach growling I knew that I needed to eat lunch or I would be crying alongside the baby! I laid him down on a sleeping bag in our living room as he continued to protest. "I'll be right back" I told him and stepped away into the kitchen to make a sandwich.<br />
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While mulling over what toppings to add to the meat, I suddenly thought 'The crying has stopped.' I went around the corner into the living to find the scene below.<br />
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The whole time I knew that what he needed was rest. But I didn't know how to get him to do what he needed to do. What I recognized after seeing him fall asleep on his own was that what needed to happen would eventually happen if I just let it happen on its own.<br />
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This reminds me of how God works in my life. I have a problem and try everything within my power to solve the problem. God lets me do this. It doesn't work. I get so worn out that I have no choice but to do nothing. Then God handles business as usual.<br />
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<span class="text 2Cor-12-9"><em>But he said to me, <span class="woj">“My grace<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29032A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29032A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> is sufficient for you, for my power<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29032B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29032B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> is made perfect in weakness.<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29032C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29032C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>”<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29032D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29032D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup></span> Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. </em><span class="passage-display-bcv">2 Corinthians 12:9</span></span><br />
<span class="text 2Cor-12-9"><span class="passage-display-bcv"><br /></span></span>
When I am trying to do things in my own power, I hope to remember to step away from my baby so that I can have Christ's power.Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-27163703606225699662015-07-08T12:45:00.002-07:002015-07-08T12:45:52.951-07:00Money MayhemSo yesterday was a finance day meaning that Ross was working on balancing the checkbook from previous transactions. Often during this process he will come to me with inquiries about past expenditures that have long since left my brain. With my "mommy brain" it is often difficult for me to remember what I did a couple days ago. Trying to retrace financial steps from weeks past takes some major mental muscle.<br />
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In the process of his inquiries, I began to get frustrated because he asked me the same question about three different times, in three different ways. Looking back now I realize that he was reflecting on the question himself as he was asking (almost like in his head), but at the time I was truly annoyed.<br />
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"<i>Okay</i>," I said in a barely restrained voice between my teeth, "you've said it three times now and I can't take hearing it again. I will look into it and get back to you."<br />
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He looked at me-hard. Then his look got softer and he said, "Okay, I got it."<br />
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I took some time and found what he needed. Later on he asked me, "Do you know that you paid the mortgage twice?" <i>Ugh!</i> I had forgotten that we paid it before we left for vacation so we wouldn't forget to pay it when we got back. I paid it a second time the day after we returned with the other monthly bills. How small I felt for being impatient and angry with him earlier.<br />
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"It's okay," he consoled me, "We have an extra paycheck in the bank and it will be covered. Having the extra money in there allows us to do things like that."<br />
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<i>Whew!</i> I felt relief. As frustrating as these money issues were I am so thankful for:<br />
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1) A loving, forgiving husband<br />
2) God blessing us to have an extra month of pay in the bank<br />
3) Humility<br />
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His grace is sufficient.Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165055080265876578.post-68073789994122133202015-07-06T05:52:00.002-07:002015-07-06T05:54:32.851-07:00 ReminderYesterday at church a young woman named Heather shared with our congregation about a blog <a href="https://toosouledout.wordpress.com/2015/06/28/you-make-me-brave/comment-page-1/#comment-5" target="_blank">(Souled Out)</a> that she had started. She simply stated that she had a passion for writing and wanted a forum through which to exercise that passion. Her blog provided that forum and she had stepped out on faith to begin writing as well as to share with us about her writing.<br />
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I had the opportunity to speak with her after service to let her know that I would be following her blog. In listening to her excitement, my own passion for writing has been rekindled. With the recent birth of our son, I had pushed writing way down on my priority list. It has become a luxury rather than a leisure. But I truly sense God reminding me through Heather's testimony of the work that He has for me to do through my writing. The words that I pen are not only for me, they are for His people...and maybe even more importantly for people who are not yet His own.<br />
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So, today I write and thank God for the reminder to do so.<br />
<img alt="Image result for reminder" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ_tThupQEFuY_9UUEXncgEev5vIiaYwnenjbKrOKuo5lCLZLG_jA" />Chantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921111766625851664noreply@blogger.com1