Two women in the same newspaper... which has the greater legacy, and which should we be striving for?
"One is a public figure who grasps at power and prestige like a drowning man to a life preserver, who is admired because she can shoulder her way in a world once deemed to belong only to men. She seeks dominance, perhaps for its own sake. And then there is a modest country woman whose success can be measured in the productive lives of her many descendents and the remembrance by hundreds of her steady and consistent virtue passed on to generations. They were both in the same newspaper. Which one has the real power?" Read the whole article here.
SPIRITUAL GROWTH:
- Do you take advantage of the FREE DOWNLOADS from ChristianAudio.com? If not, you're missing out!
- HOW TO MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE-- Don't miss this one! Excellent interview with a man who has books of the Bible put to memory.
- "As an athiest, I truly believe Africa needs God."
- Here's a list of great benedictions to pray from Scripture.
- PRAY! God will answer.
- 10 reasons to PRAY THE SCRIPTURES!
- Pray thoughtful prayers. Don't be afraid to use someone else's thoughts (like these great prayers) to motivate and inspire your own prayers to God.
- FAST! Jesus said "when", not "if".
- Are you a controlling woman?
- My friend Monica just was diagnosed with breast cancer, and has decided to blog about her journey while she walks through it: From Mourning to Dancing
PARENTING & RELATED ISSUES:- MOTHERHOOD IS MINISTRY.
- Here's a great list of Good Podcasts for Kids
- A fun video about colors and the feelings they evoke to watch with your kids
- More & Merrier: a great firsthand rememberance of life in a large family. (see our new "large family" photo at right)
- "What do you tell your kids about Santa?" - I get asked this question every year... and now that (hopefully) the controversy and emotion of the holiday has passed, here's an article that pretty wonderfully outlines my answer.
- Something that doesn't get discussed very often: Anger in Parenting
- A great commentary about how you can teach almost anything through the incredible home school resources available these days.
- Did you hear about the Immersion Project? It's an interesting (and disturbing) study of how kids react while playing video games.
- Abortionist responsible for nearly 50,000 deaths becomes pro-life activist
- Planned Parenthood brushes over statutory rape and teaches a 13-year old how to cross state lines to obtain an abortion without her parents' approval
- Though I might like to, I can't respond to every single question, challenge, or thrown-down gauntlet. I am a busy woman, after all. Holly expresses many things I've been thinking about lately.
- Increasingly rude, hostile, and verbose attacking comments that all tell me just how wrong I am about something do not win me over.
- It is biblical and right to be fully convinced about personal convictions. Strong opinions and convictions are well within the bounds of faithful and biblical Christianity.
- Take the picture while you can.
- You can make your own baby food-- it's better, cheaper, and extremely easy!
- Interesting thoughts about praising your kids.
- Breastfeeding moms: GET PLENTY OF IRON! (I didn't, and began having slight fainting spells a couple weeks ago. Once I began taking my iron supplements again, they went away.)
- Married women: Just Say "Yes"! My good friend Kelly just started this blog for encouraging married women... let me tell you, she is one inspiring lady in this area of blessing your husband with a fulfilling intimate life. So check out her blog, and consider adding it to your bloglines account!
- Sheila shares an interesting thought about why many women don't enjoy sex... and a way to rightly "awaken love". Perhaps this could help you?
- "Embarrassingly EASY" meals that get rave reviews-- I compiled this list from friends... check it out and get some ideas for easy meals to add to your family favorites!
- Need ideas for homemade cake making? This site inspires and educates!
- Check out my friend's website... she makes BEAUTIFUL homemade cakes!
- GREAT kids' Birthday cake ideas
- A primer for the new bread-baker. I'm not there yet, but I'm thinking about it. Baby steps.
- Need motivation for weight loss? Read about the obesity epidemic & check your healthy weight range.
- Here's the delicious turkey recipe I made for both Thanksgiving (with local friends) and Christmas (with my parents) -- Brine Cured Roast Turkey with Maple Ginger Glaze
- Make your own Honey Granola-- it sound delicious! (And very easy!)
- Kelly's got a great list of savory winter-time soups
- "Why I Broke Up With Facebook"-- one mom's understandable explanation
- BUT YOU DON'T LOOK SICK! -- The spoon theory is a helpful analogy for people who suffer from chronic pain sorts of illnesses... to help others understand.
- Great story, and I'm glad it's being highlighted as a wonderful example, but it's sad that it's seen as news: Newly-married couple has sex for the first time.
- Free Classic AudioBooks -- for personal growth or homeschooling or just enjoyment of good literature, this is a great resource!
- Looking for good board games? (The good stuff is in the comments, as Challies' readers share about their favorite games!)
- Johnathan asks "What's the Best Way to Open a Candy Wrapper in Church?" (a dilemna that anyone who's grown up in church can identify with!)
- Can't remember where I got this but it's hilarious: This is perhaps THE LEAST-EFFECTIVE MARKETING CAMPAIGN EVER.
19 comments:
The Fresh Loaf is SUCH a good bread-baking resource. I have close to ten years of baking experience and I've hardly ever found a site so helpful! The recipes are great too. I made pita bread last week and couldn't believe how easy it was.
Thanks for these fun roundup posts, girl.
I love the round up posts. Can't get through them in one sitting though.
You could call me a wimp but Holly's expereince (and many others)causes me to be a cautious blogger. I don't have tons of people who comment which doesn't bother me for that very reason. I blog for fun and because I love to think and write. You have to have a thick skin in the blogging world. Why can't people just move on if it's not for them. There are so many non essentials we get all in a tizzy about.
Anyway, thanks for taking the time to put all these great links in one place. Blessings to you and your family today.
Check out Andrew Davis's booklet, An Approach to Extended Memorization of Scripture at the First Baptist of Durham, NC website. He goes a step further and teaches you to memorize the chapter and verse numbers. It is a fantastic tool!
Brandi
I just love your show & tells!! Thanks so much for putting them together!! It usually takes me a while to get through them, but when I do I feel more encouraged, informed and energized!! Thanks
Whew! There goes my "me time" this weekend! Thanks for all the links!
Super articles in this bunch! Had fun checking it all out. Thanks!
wow these were all informative, couldn't read them all , so i will have to do so when i get the chance.
thanks
Well, from this one post I gained a whole lot of useful thoughts and information. Thank you especially for the link of the "Spoons" because I have Crohn's and I needed a way to explain my days in a simple way. So many people do not understand because I am heavy and I look healthy, but in reality I struggle with each and every day. It has been the greatest growing up experience to have to learn how to give up or keep my daily "spoons". Thanks!
Jess,
Thanks so much for linking to my post on "how to awaken love". It's such an important topic, and I've had some heartbreaking comments on it, so I'll have to follow up next week with some more thoughts for women who are really struggling in the "intimacy" area.
Can you email me through my website? I'm having an "internet party" February 4 and I'd love for you to participate!
By the way, we read the same books! Don't you love Randy Alcorn's view of heaven? I'm sure it's even better than he portrayed, but it's beautiful in his books. And Ginger Plowman is a personal friend!
Visit To Love, Honor and Vacuum today!
Jess,
Thanks for the plug! And I just have to say, as always, you will keep me busy reading for awhile! So many of these are completely relevant to what I need to hear. Thanks.
Thanks for another great list! I particularly liked the posts with thoughts on blogging -- I can relate to so much of what they said. Thanks!
Jess--I used to love fasting, and I miss it. But I have heard that it can be bad to fast when nursing or pregnant--and since I am nursing, it would be hard to know if I am maybe pregnant, and I don't want to take chances. I halfway think that it's just one of those things that doctors don't really know what they're talking about, but I don't want to take chances with any unborn child I might have, and I don't want to compromise my born daughter's nutrition either (though I'm less worried now that she eats solids--but I'm sure some of your readers have younger babies too). I didn't see anything about nursing or pregnant mommies on that link; do you know a better resource?
YCW:
Yes, there are pretty strong prohibitions to fasting while pregnant and/or breastfeeding. I do think that it is possible that doctors may be somewhat over-stating it on this point... particularly because most of us (me included) have some extra padding that can be used up for energy, feeding the baby (particularly while pregnant) etc.
The main concern I would have would be about nursing... particularly for some woman, milk can dry up fairly easily and I think our first concern should be to care for those who God has given us responsibility for. Unless I sensed a clear leading from God for a short fast, I wouldn't be quick to fast while pregnant or nursing. (In fact, in Islamic culture, and I bet in Jewish culture as well, pregnant & nursing moms, the elderly, the sick, and young children are all given an "out" for fasting during religious festivals, etc.)
Perhaps at times like this, a Lenten type fast (i.e., giving up something significant in your diet-- sugar, or any drinks other than water, or something similar) could be a way to remind you to spend time in prayer and to identify with Christ in His sufferings instead of doing a complete fast. Other ideas might be doing a juice fast or a Daniel fast, which you could google if you're so inclined.
Hope this helps; this is an issue I have also faced as I've been nursing or pregnant for 87 of the last 89 months of my life. :) I think God sees our hearts and our desire to obey in the areas where we are able. I wish I could have that physical reminder of my dependency on Christ as comes with fasting, but for these years, I have other callings (like protecting and nourishing the babies that God has blessed us with) that He's given, and I don't need to overlook or neglect those. I think it's a difficult matter that each woman must weigh in consultation with her husband, her doctor, and her Lord.
~Jess
I am Jewish, and traditional Jewish law (which is what Jesus would have been following when he fasted) certainly exempts pregnant or nursing mothers from all fast days, including the most holy one, Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). I have not fasted on Yom Kippur for the last six years, because I've always been pregnant or nursing at the time.
I would strongly discourage any pregnant or nursing mom from fasting.
Regarding chronic illnesses, an acquaintance of mine just created a new community blog (not political) for people who suffer from any form of chronic disease:
http://www.chronicshare.com/
"Chronic Share aspires to be a place to share everything related to chronic illness. Many don't understand that it's not something we chose to live with, it's something we have to live with and it affects every aspect of our lives.
Chronic Share also wants to be a destination for those having a hard time, just starting out their journey or those who want to share their experiences. The maze of medical, personal and emotional trials can be isolating, especially if your illness keeps you bed ridden or home most of the time. We all need to connect and share and it's one of those things that can not only help others, it can help us feel better as well.
This blog intends to be a place of safety, without judgment or lectures that many of us have gotten from our doctors, relatives and coworkers. All we ask is that you speak from the "I" perspective and your own personal experiences. We cannot speak for others and it's this genuine sharing that can lead to true connections. "
Laurie B
Thanks for linking to a few of my posts, Jess. I appreciate that!
God bless!
Thanks Jess! The article about opening a candy wrapper in church cracks me up. Since I was a little kid my dad has always unwrapped peppermints at home on Sunday morning before putting them into his pocket for church candy. That's some wise planning! A little pocket lint never hurt anyone ;)
That post on fasting was interesting. I had no idea that some Christians were bringing this practice back in. I thought that was part of the Jewish ceremonial law that Christians weren't interested in.
As I said in my previous comment, I have not fasted on Yom Kippur for six years because I was either pregnant or nursing, and I can tell you that the spiritual experience of atonement and reflection is not the same without fasting.
My question is why pick whatever day of the week or month you want to fast, and which meal you want to skip?
If you want to fast like Jesus and the disciples did, wouldn't it be easier to follow the schedule of Jewish holidays that involve fasting?
Laurie B
Actually, Laurie, Matthew 9 tells us: John's disciples came and asked him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
So apparently, Jesus and the disciples didn't necessarily keep all the fasts.
Fasting is something that is often misunderstood or overlooked in the Christian church. When I was in college, I really found it meaningful to fast... my studies of the Word and prayers to the Father were much more fervent in those times. As it has been nearly 8 years since I've spent any time not nursing or pregnant, I've not had a good opportunity to continue learning and growing in this area, but I would like to. Perhaps one of these days, I'll write some about what I do understand from Scripture in this area.
~Jess
What a beautiful family! You have the sweetest little children.
-Penelope
http://penelopesoasis.blogspot.com/
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