How's this for valuing time?
Below I have made up a little story to show how some people may value their time.
He is at work and he makes every minute count. He is diligent in what he does. His boss likes him because he of his hard work ethic and that he doesn't waste time.
He expects to be payed of course for every minute he is on the job. If he is short changed even 30 minutes by accident he goes to the Secretary and gets it straitened out, there's no way he wants to do any thing for free. He boast that time is money.
He doesn't want to do anything with out being paid.
He complains of wasting his time in the long line at Star Bucks and in traffic lights on his way home from work.
Then he gets home.
You know the first thing he does after greeting his wife and kids ?
Yep you got it, he plops down in front of the T.V, completely unconcerned of valuing his time anymore.
Not only is he not valuing his time, but he is in fact paying to waste his time. He pays for cable, net-flix, and computer game rentals.
SO he sits there wasting time and paying to do it!!
( so much for complaining about wasting time at the traffic lights and Star Bucks.)
Now I know this is not a true story, but I think unfortunately it is true way more than we realize.
To add to this fictional story......
As he sits wasting his time ( and paying to do so), his dear wife and children yearn for his attention.
His wife would like the family to eat dinner together at the table but that's next to impossible with Dad in front of the t.v, the kids want to do the same.
His kids would rather have him play ball or read a story to them though.
His wife would like him to read the Bible to the family.
He may be thinking, " this is my time, I can use it how I want."
But while he sits and wastes time, his family suffers for it.
His whole home suffers.
Does he really have the right to use his time like this?
What a sad story that is. But thankful it is just all made up, or is it?
Is this not true in many a home?
But I must say I am not picking on the men or husbands at all, only seemed convenient to use the man in this made up story.
But i know full well the women and moms can be just as guilty of this.
Oh, but you say, " that's not so in Christian homes". Well i sure hope that is true.
I would hope this is not the way christian homes run.
How sad that would be.
Well i guess that brings us to the end of part 2 on valuing our time.
It looks like we will have a part 3 as well!
I hope you are enjoying this topic.
I would love to hear from you on what you think on this.
In Him,
Mae
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
valuing our time ( part 1 )
I have been thinking a lot lately of time. And valuing time.
It has always been a big deal to me to make the most of my time, or using it wisely.
Might have something to do with my upbringing or just my characteristic
But i have never liked to just sit around, i have always felt there has to be something that needs doing, and most of the time as a mom there certainly is. But i also feel there is a time for a rest or a break too. That is vital to keep us moms going. I nap daily
But i have never liked to feel that I was wasting my time, like watching a movie, playing computer games or the like.
It may be because I grew up with out a T.V, and computer. SO there was no sitting around watching something and no computer or video games at all.
When i was really little ( under 8 ) my parents ran a market garden in the summer, plus we had our own house garden, did ranching, and lots of animals. So there was lots to keep us busy at. Both work and fun.
For evening activities when it was dark and work was done, or in the winter time, we played board games, card games, reading books, and such.
When i was 8 and we moved from there, we still had a big garden to tend, lots of animals, and lots of fun and work to do. Never was a dull momnet!
So what I am getting at is that since i was not use to sitting and do nothing but watching something, I still to this day do not feel right just sitting and wasting time like that. It has to be to be in the evening when there is absolutely nothing else better to do, and then only once a month, if even that. It wasn't always this way though.
There was a time after i got married and we got a T.V. for watching movies ( it even got 3 channels, though a little blurry), that i did enjoy watching. And quite often too, though not in the day time,( i just could not stand that at all).
At the time we had that T.V. we only had 2 little ones and we did not have to worry so much about what we watched. We had that one about a year and a half. Then got rid of it.
A couple years later we got a D.V.D player, and started getting D.V.Ds from the Library or rental store to watch and did that quite often.
By this time though our kids were older and we really had to make sure they were family friendly, but often during the movie we would find, "oops it was not."
That's when i started to get sick of movies. The lack of good and wholesome ones out there.
We did buy the whole complete season set of Little House On The Prairie. And loved watching that together as a family.
But from then on I gradually got sick of movie watching all together. We went from watching a few a week to only Friday nights. Then i was like, "Why don't replace our movie night with a game night instead." So that's what we did. ( but soon our game night wore off, but we did not go back to to movie night to my great delight.
Now we almost never watch any movies at all. It has been a long time.
Also the kids would play computer games at a lot. I could not stand them sitting there during the day doing that, so i really limited them, or said only in the evening. ( though that has been our reading time as well)
Now i am happy to say they don't play computer games any more!! YEA!!
I just feel they have much better things to do with their time.
They have school of course and chores, but after that is done, they can play outside in the woods, ride bikes, build things with wood, ride their scooter, skate board, read books, write letters to their many cousins, color and draw pictures, and so much more.
I want them to be creative. I don't want them to feel that the only thing there is to do for fun or entertainment is to sit and watch something. And i don't even want them to feel that all spare time should necessarily be fun or entertaining.
And that is how it is with me too, i feel I have way better things to do than sit and waste it watching something, i don't care if it's good, it is still wasting my very valuable time.
Like i said i do need need breaks in my busy day as mom.
And of course more than just a nap.
But my breaks can still be very useful. I can sit and write letters, read my Bible, read other good books ( like i have done this winter), phone my many family members, write on my blog, send e-mails, go for walks, chat with hubby. All that to me is taking a break, yet accomplishing so much. I could not bare to sit and do nothing.
But maybe that's just me.
Maybe the Lord is just convicting me of this.
Maybe this is just for me and my family and no else.
But i have been wondering as a whole, should God's people be valuing their time more?
I have been wondering does God care at all what we do with our spare time?
Does it matter to Him if we just sit wasting our time away by watching something?
What does He think of all this?
Some how i feel that just as we should value our money (which God has blessed us with), and use it wisely for God and not just on our selves; that we should also value our time that God has gave us here on earth and also use it wisely for Him.
We do not know how much time we have left here on earth. I really feel we need to make the most of it.
I have been so convicted of this lately.
SO how do we spend our evenings then?
Well we don't have much of an evening during the week in school season since supper is at 6:00 and bed time is at 8:00. Between those hours the table is cleaned from supper and dishes are done, a little play time either in doors or out, then wash up time, then comes reading time. I read to the children form a children's Bible, and other good Godly character building books. Some where in there may be time for a quick snack. Then after reading time is brush teeth time, then off to bed at 8:00.
No school nights( which is Thursday and Friday nights in our home), and summer evenings are different only in that bed time is later. Other wise we do the same things. They just have more free time between when supper dishes are done and reading time. Summer evenings though find us a lot of times out in the garden after supper. We all work together to keep it weeded and watered and so on.
I find i have much more to share on this topic than i first thought, so I am planing a part 2 on this.
To close up part 1 this, I would just say it is something each family has to be convicted on. Something to to think on, pray about and discuss with hubby.
I personal took awhile coming to this conviction, was not something that happened over night for me, so i would not expect that of any one else either.
Well until next time,
God Bless and Take care!!
In Him,
Mae
It has always been a big deal to me to make the most of my time, or using it wisely.
Might have something to do with my upbringing or just my characteristic
But i have never liked to just sit around, i have always felt there has to be something that needs doing, and most of the time as a mom there certainly is. But i also feel there is a time for a rest or a break too. That is vital to keep us moms going. I nap daily
But i have never liked to feel that I was wasting my time, like watching a movie, playing computer games or the like.
It may be because I grew up with out a T.V, and computer. SO there was no sitting around watching something and no computer or video games at all.
When i was really little ( under 8 ) my parents ran a market garden in the summer, plus we had our own house garden, did ranching, and lots of animals. So there was lots to keep us busy at. Both work and fun.
For evening activities when it was dark and work was done, or in the winter time, we played board games, card games, reading books, and such.
When i was 8 and we moved from there, we still had a big garden to tend, lots of animals, and lots of fun and work to do. Never was a dull momnet!
So what I am getting at is that since i was not use to sitting and do nothing but watching something, I still to this day do not feel right just sitting and wasting time like that. It has to be to be in the evening when there is absolutely nothing else better to do, and then only once a month, if even that. It wasn't always this way though.
There was a time after i got married and we got a T.V. for watching movies ( it even got 3 channels, though a little blurry), that i did enjoy watching. And quite often too, though not in the day time,( i just could not stand that at all).
At the time we had that T.V. we only had 2 little ones and we did not have to worry so much about what we watched. We had that one about a year and a half. Then got rid of it.
A couple years later we got a D.V.D player, and started getting D.V.Ds from the Library or rental store to watch and did that quite often.
By this time though our kids were older and we really had to make sure they were family friendly, but often during the movie we would find, "oops it was not."
That's when i started to get sick of movies. The lack of good and wholesome ones out there.
We did buy the whole complete season set of Little House On The Prairie. And loved watching that together as a family.
But from then on I gradually got sick of movie watching all together. We went from watching a few a week to only Friday nights. Then i was like, "Why don't replace our movie night with a game night instead." So that's what we did. ( but soon our game night wore off, but we did not go back to to movie night to my great delight.
Now we almost never watch any movies at all. It has been a long time.
Also the kids would play computer games at a lot. I could not stand them sitting there during the day doing that, so i really limited them, or said only in the evening. ( though that has been our reading time as well)
Now i am happy to say they don't play computer games any more!! YEA!!
I just feel they have much better things to do with their time.
They have school of course and chores, but after that is done, they can play outside in the woods, ride bikes, build things with wood, ride their scooter, skate board, read books, write letters to their many cousins, color and draw pictures, and so much more.
I want them to be creative. I don't want them to feel that the only thing there is to do for fun or entertainment is to sit and watch something. And i don't even want them to feel that all spare time should necessarily be fun or entertaining.
And that is how it is with me too, i feel I have way better things to do than sit and waste it watching something, i don't care if it's good, it is still wasting my very valuable time.
Like i said i do need need breaks in my busy day as mom.
And of course more than just a nap.
But my breaks can still be very useful. I can sit and write letters, read my Bible, read other good books ( like i have done this winter), phone my many family members, write on my blog, send e-mails, go for walks, chat with hubby. All that to me is taking a break, yet accomplishing so much. I could not bare to sit and do nothing.
But maybe that's just me.
Maybe the Lord is just convicting me of this.
Maybe this is just for me and my family and no else.
But i have been wondering as a whole, should God's people be valuing their time more?
I have been wondering does God care at all what we do with our spare time?
Does it matter to Him if we just sit wasting our time away by watching something?
What does He think of all this?
Some how i feel that just as we should value our money (which God has blessed us with), and use it wisely for God and not just on our selves; that we should also value our time that God has gave us here on earth and also use it wisely for Him.
We do not know how much time we have left here on earth. I really feel we need to make the most of it.
I have been so convicted of this lately.
SO how do we spend our evenings then?
Well we don't have much of an evening during the week in school season since supper is at 6:00 and bed time is at 8:00. Between those hours the table is cleaned from supper and dishes are done, a little play time either in doors or out, then wash up time, then comes reading time. I read to the children form a children's Bible, and other good Godly character building books. Some where in there may be time for a quick snack. Then after reading time is brush teeth time, then off to bed at 8:00.
No school nights( which is Thursday and Friday nights in our home), and summer evenings are different only in that bed time is later. Other wise we do the same things. They just have more free time between when supper dishes are done and reading time. Summer evenings though find us a lot of times out in the garden after supper. We all work together to keep it weeded and watered and so on.
I find i have much more to share on this topic than i first thought, so I am planing a part 2 on this.
To close up part 1 this, I would just say it is something each family has to be convicted on. Something to to think on, pray about and discuss with hubby.
I personal took awhile coming to this conviction, was not something that happened over night for me, so i would not expect that of any one else either.
Well until next time,
God Bless and Take care!!
In Him,
Mae
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
do we have what it takes?
Since I have been reading in the book, The Hole in The Gospel.
I have been thinking more and more about the life styles of the regular average Americans.
How we live compared to those others in poor countries.
Many of us may be barly making ends meet or just making it from pay check to pay check.
And we wonder how could we possible give to poor in another country.
Well that may very well be true, because of the life style that we are trying to live, and all the many things we "have to have", and what we call "needs''.
But most of us live way beyond basic needs don't you think?
Here i have put together a list of things that if we can afford, then we surly can afford to give to the needy in the poor countries i think. ( my opinion only though)
If you have enough money for:
I have been thinking more and more about the life styles of the regular average Americans.
How we live compared to those others in poor countries.
Many of us may be barly making ends meet or just making it from pay check to pay check.
And we wonder how could we possible give to poor in another country.
Well that may very well be true, because of the life style that we are trying to live, and all the many things we "have to have", and what we call "needs''.
But most of us live way beyond basic needs don't you think?
Here i have put together a list of things that if we can afford, then we surly can afford to give to the needy in the poor countries i think. ( my opinion only though)
If you have enough money for:
- dinner out a couple times a month or even only once a month
- cable television
- netflix
- a vacation
- birthday or Christmas gifts
- manicures
- pedicures
- brand new clothes instead of second hand ones
- getting your hair done
- jewelry
- your kids to be in sports
- bringing your family to the Rodeo or Fair
- your kids music lessons
- dance and krate lessons
- gambling addictions
- a smoking habit
- all those yummy already prepared store bought foods we could live with out
- gas to run the roads for this activity or that one
If we have money for those things, then surly we have money to give to the needy and poor, to support orphanages, sponsor a child, and so on.
Sure it takes sacrificing of our wants and pleasures a bit, but we are talking about starving and hurting people here. Children with out moms and dads who need good clean orphanages to love and care for them. Orphanages that need you and me to keep them going. But ultimately they need adoption though. There is a HUGE NEED for this in worn torn Liberia.
SO i am thinking do we have what it takes?Well just something to think about. Somthing that has been on my mind.
In Him, Mae
Monday, March 14, 2011
Tears of The Rain
Here is another book I am reading that I just love! ( I have finished the book The Hole in The Gospel )
I just had to share about it here.
It is called Tears of The Rain, by Ruth Ann Stelfox.
I got mine where I order my kids school. Christian Light Publications. http://www.cpl.org/ I make my orders over the phone at 1-800-776-0478.
Anyway this book is about a family who spent 2 years serving in Monrovia, Liberia with the Christian Aid Ministries. It is like a diary of their time there.
It is easy to read and so very interesting.
Through this book you can gain a great knowledge of the work and need there in that area, plus you get to see what all is being done there by the Christian Aid Ministries and others like it.
The need over there is so VERY GREAT, but it is so wonderful to see what these Ministries are doing for the people.
They have many, many orphanages that they support. Plus many other forms of help the poor.
It also gives us knowledge of places that need our financial support and prayers.
I am so enjoying the book. Even my 10yr. son is reading it too, and really enjoys it. I think it will be great for him to see the needs of that area, and to gain a heart for people like that.
I am hoping some of my children will be led to serve in mission field.
It is so important now at this early age for them to get a knowledge of the need and a heart for the people.
Other great reads of mine this winter have been ,
A Change of Allegiance by Dean Taylor
Over Coming Evil God's Way by Stephen Russell
The Hole in The Gospel by Richard Stearns ( World Vision President)
I have found the Christian Light Publications to be a very great place to order good books for the whole family. Character building books for children, Mission stories, books for Christan living and so much more. I love their catalog that is just for books. You can order one for free at 1-800-776-0478.
Well I guess that's it for now.
A good night to all!!
In Him,
Mae
I just had to share about it here.
It is called Tears of The Rain, by Ruth Ann Stelfox.
I got mine where I order my kids school. Christian Light Publications. http://www.cpl.org/ I make my orders over the phone at 1-800-776-0478.
Anyway this book is about a family who spent 2 years serving in Monrovia, Liberia with the Christian Aid Ministries. It is like a diary of their time there.
It is easy to read and so very interesting.
Through this book you can gain a great knowledge of the work and need there in that area, plus you get to see what all is being done there by the Christian Aid Ministries and others like it.
The need over there is so VERY GREAT, but it is so wonderful to see what these Ministries are doing for the people.
They have many, many orphanages that they support. Plus many other forms of help the poor.
It also gives us knowledge of places that need our financial support and prayers.
I am so enjoying the book. Even my 10yr. son is reading it too, and really enjoys it. I think it will be great for him to see the needs of that area, and to gain a heart for people like that.
I am hoping some of my children will be led to serve in mission field.
It is so important now at this early age for them to get a knowledge of the need and a heart for the people.
Other great reads of mine this winter have been ,
A Change of Allegiance by Dean Taylor
Over Coming Evil God's Way by Stephen Russell
The Hole in The Gospel by Richard Stearns ( World Vision President)
I have found the Christian Light Publications to be a very great place to order good books for the whole family. Character building books for children, Mission stories, books for Christan living and so much more. I love their catalog that is just for books. You can order one for free at 1-800-776-0478.
Well I guess that's it for now.
A good night to all!!
In Him,
Mae
Back with wind!!
Hi all!!
I am back with some more wind!!
I did not take notes on paper though like i had planed, it's just all in my head.
But i think it it will all come together when i go to post.
My cough still hasn't gone away. But at least I got some antibiotics this morning from wonderful mid-wife at my monthly check-up. So i will be glad for that to do the trick and knock my cough out for good!! My baby check-up went fine. I am at 18 1/2 weeks along now. Every thing is going good, and was wonderful to hear the baby heart beat again!!
With the all the bad news on the earth quake in Japan i have just been thinking about how so very blessed we are here! Or good and spoiled may be more like! We need to be so ever grateful for our things, food , and water. I know it is easy to take all that for granted, but in a blink of an eye, like in a earth quake, that all can be wiped out.
The people there have been in my thoughts and prayers.
Well look for super duper coming posts!!
In Him,
Mae
I am back with some more wind!!
Oh course I still do not know how often I will post though. I just do not get alot of time.
But at least I have had a break, and i have had a lot of fresh thoughts and such on mind that i am eager to share.I did not take notes on paper though like i had planed, it's just all in my head.
But i think it it will all come together when i go to post.
My cough still hasn't gone away. But at least I got some antibiotics this morning from wonderful mid-wife at my monthly check-up. So i will be glad for that to do the trick and knock my cough out for good!! My baby check-up went fine. I am at 18 1/2 weeks along now. Every thing is going good, and was wonderful to hear the baby heart beat again!!
With the all the bad news on the earth quake in Japan i have just been thinking about how so very blessed we are here! Or good and spoiled may be more like! We need to be so ever grateful for our things, food , and water. I know it is easy to take all that for granted, but in a blink of an eye, like in a earth quake, that all can be wiped out.
The people there have been in my thoughts and prayers.
Well look for super duper coming posts!!
In Him,
Mae
Monday, March 7, 2011
Out of wind
I know this may sound funny on my part, but I am just posting to say, "I think I am out of wind for now!!"
I have had so much on my mind lately, lots of wonderful thoughts and such I would love to share, but at the moment do not know how to write it all down.
I feel like i need time to refocus and recompose!
Maybe a little break is all i need.
In the mean time i can write my wonderful thoughts as they come to mind on note paper so i don't forget them.
I have had a cold this past week that has lasted so long, and really had me feeling miserable for a few days. So i know i can of took a break already then. I feel better now, but i still have a cough, that just won't let go.
Our weather has been wonderful here lately with cool mornings and pleasant after noons. Although it has been going up and down quite a bit in temp wise. I feel that's what can give us the colds.
We have planted potatoes, beets, and carrots now.
Anyway other wise all is going great in Mae's house.
I am going to take a little break, and gather my thoughts and be back with some supper duper posts!!
So keep on the watch!
And hope all is going great at your house!
In Him,
Mae
I have had so much on my mind lately, lots of wonderful thoughts and such I would love to share, but at the moment do not know how to write it all down.
I feel like i need time to refocus and recompose!
Maybe a little break is all i need.
In the mean time i can write my wonderful thoughts as they come to mind on note paper so i don't forget them.
I have had a cold this past week that has lasted so long, and really had me feeling miserable for a few days. So i know i can of took a break already then. I feel better now, but i still have a cough, that just won't let go.
Our weather has been wonderful here lately with cool mornings and pleasant after noons. Although it has been going up and down quite a bit in temp wise. I feel that's what can give us the colds.
We have planted potatoes, beets, and carrots now.
Anyway other wise all is going great in Mae's house.
I am going to take a little break, and gather my thoughts and be back with some supper duper posts!!
So keep on the watch!
And hope all is going great at your house!
In Him,
Mae
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
peanut-butter cookies and coffee
I just love how peanut-butter cookies and coffee go together!
Yesterday afternoon I was thinking, " a cup of coffee would sure seem nice about now."
So i went to make a pot of coffee.
And after i had that going I started thinking, "boy it sure would be nice if i had some peanut-butter cookies to go with it."
So then i quickly made a batch of peanut-butter cookies.
And then I got to set down with my cup of hot coffee and warm cookies straight from the oven!
Of course i wasn't just sitting there, i was correcting Nathan's school too.
But still it was wonderful!!
Of course peanut-butter cookies is not the only thing that goes great with coffee.
I have never liked just a cup of coffee. I have to have something to go with it.
It's funny, if i get a dessert i am like," now i need coffee to go with this."
Or if i have coffee, i soon start thinking, "what dessert or cookie or something sweet that i can have with this."
Am i the only one like that?
Anyway since I bragged up my peanut-butter cookies i thought i better share my recipe here.
It is nice and soft chewy cookies.
Peanut-butter Favorites
3/4 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. butter
1 egg
1/2 sugar
1/2 brown sugar
1 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking power
1/2 tsp salt
Heat oven to 350F. Cream together the first 5 ingredients. In another bowl mix together the remaining ingredients.
Then pour the flour mix into peanut butter mixture and work into soft dough.
Roll into balls and place on greased cookie sheet, press down with floured fork.
Bake about 12 -15 min, till nice and golden. I don't like mine over done, because i do not like them crispy.
Enjoy them warm or cold with a hot cup of coffee or a nice glass of cold milk!!
Have a great day!!!
In Him,
Mae
Yesterday afternoon I was thinking, " a cup of coffee would sure seem nice about now."
So i went to make a pot of coffee.
And after i had that going I started thinking, "boy it sure would be nice if i had some peanut-butter cookies to go with it."
So then i quickly made a batch of peanut-butter cookies.
And then I got to set down with my cup of hot coffee and warm cookies straight from the oven!
Of course i wasn't just sitting there, i was correcting Nathan's school too.
But still it was wonderful!!
Of course peanut-butter cookies is not the only thing that goes great with coffee.
I have never liked just a cup of coffee. I have to have something to go with it.
It's funny, if i get a dessert i am like," now i need coffee to go with this."
Or if i have coffee, i soon start thinking, "what dessert or cookie or something sweet that i can have with this."
Am i the only one like that?
Anyway since I bragged up my peanut-butter cookies i thought i better share my recipe here.
It is nice and soft chewy cookies.
Peanut-butter Favorites
3/4 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. butter
1 egg
1/2 sugar
1/2 brown sugar
1 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking power
1/2 tsp salt
Heat oven to 350F. Cream together the first 5 ingredients. In another bowl mix together the remaining ingredients.
Then pour the flour mix into peanut butter mixture and work into soft dough.
Roll into balls and place on greased cookie sheet, press down with floured fork.
Bake about 12 -15 min, till nice and golden. I don't like mine over done, because i do not like them crispy.
Enjoy them warm or cold with a hot cup of coffee or a nice glass of cold milk!!
Have a great day!!!
In Him,
Mae
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)