Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip

Football season is upon us and in honor of this great time of year I’m sharing one our family’s favorite tailgating snacks-Cheesy Buffalo Chicken dip.  Enjoy and…

Roll Tide!

6 Confessions of an Amateur Blogger

1.     Blogging is not a priority for me. I blog because I see it as an expedient in going into all the world and teaching the gospel (Mark 16:15) and because I enjoy it-most of the time anyway. But blogging is pretty low on the priority list for me. Being a consistent blogger is still on my goal list for this year but I have accepted the fact that this is a goal I may still be striving to achieve next year.

2.     Sometimes I feel like I’m just not doing it right. I know, I know, there is no set standard to blogging, so there is no right or wrong way to do it. Yet I read other blogs and find mine lacking - greatly. I see others’ success at this; even post multiple times a week and I’m astonished! I’m convinced these people have superpowers.

3.     I get blogging blocks. Sometimes I just don’t know what to write. It’s like I don’t know any words. zilch. nada.

4.     I feel like I have nothing to say that is worthy of your time and attention. For this reason you will find I tend to share links and quotes more than original thoughts.

5.     When it feels like a chore to blog, it’s time for me to take a break. Sometimes it ends up being a break that lasts several months-for many of the afore mentioned reasons.

6.     The length of a post can be frustrating. Sometimes a post seems too long and then other times it is far too short. Finding that balance is not always an easy task.

Mrs. Noah - The Woman Without A Monogram

The importance of the role of women in God’s Word cannot be overestimated.

-Cindy Colley

                  The rise and fall of nations can often be traced by studying the rise and fall of womanhood. Why you might ask? The moral fiber of a nation is determined primarily by women. A nation can maintain a moral strength no greater than the homes that make it up, and the home usually rises no higher than the ideals of the woman in it. Equipped with this knowledge, we realize that a heavy responsibility has been placed upon our shoulders-one we cannot afford to take lightly. With this in mind, I have embarked upon a study of women of the Bible. I hope to gain wisdom from a prayerful and careful examination of their troubles and trials along with their victories and virtues. Here is where I hope to share with you the valuable lessons I learn-lessons that can be applied to our daily lives. If we so allow, many of these women will inspire us to greater faith and a closer relationship with God.

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                If you attended Bible classes as a child, chances are you remember studying about Noah and the ark. I’m sure you could recite the story, but what if I asked about Noah’s wife? Could you tell me anything about her? We really aren’t given very much information about Mrs. Noah. In fact, her first name is never even mentioned. Is there really that much that we can learn about a woman whose name is not even recorded? I love my role as a wife. I feel incredibly blessed to fill the role of helpmeet, but I doubt I would be too pleased to read an account of my husband’s life where my name is never acknowledged. I don’t want loads of praise for doing what is expected, or even for going above and beyond in some cases, but who doesn’t like a pat on the back for a job well done? Credit where credit is due, right? Wrong. Clearly, I needed very little information to learn a very big lesson here. Mrs. Noah was a preacher’s wife. No doubt she became discouraged along side Noah, yet she continued to stand by her husband’s side as he did the will of God. She stood by him while his preaching was only well received by her, their sons and daughters-in-law. She was without doubt a crucial part of her sons’ decision to remain faithful and an influence for good in the lives of their wives. Although the Bible holds a great deal of instruction directed to fathers regarding child rearing, the mother is usually responsible for the spiritual direction they take. In 1 Timothy 5:14, women are commanded to “guide the house” which is a reference to the fact that while men are the head of the house (Eph. 5:23-25), his absence from the house so much of the time places the weight of the actual child rearing on the mother’s shoulders. Although family ties can be overcome, as evidenced by Noah’s daughters-in-law, it is no easy task. The recorded faithfulness of Noah’s family speaks volumes of Mrs. Noah-even without her first name.

Source:

Colley, Cindy. Women of the Genesis. Huntsville: Publishing Designs Inc., 2005. 

Duncan, Bobby. Fair To Look On. Huntsville: Publishing Designs Inc., 2001.

Mentionworthy Monday

Linkable

Safe Complaints - Extremely thankful for this reminder that no matter how we might rename or attempt to justify complaining, it does not change God's command regarding it and it is just that-complaining.

What I Learned When I Quit Facebook - I haven't completely quit Facebook, but I have scaled back a bit and because I was never a huge Facebook advocate, this leaves my presence there scarce to say the least...and you know what? I haven't missed it. Don't get me wrong there are things that I enjoy about Facebook but I also enjoy not feeling like I NEED to check it. Technology is great until we get so caught up in it that we're doing more internet browsing than verbally communicating. Sometimes we need to take a step back and reevaluate where we are-we need to make sure these modern conveniences are truly that and not our masters. Incidentally, here's another article for you about that particular problem...A Disconnected Connected Society.

How To Have A Real Conversation - In line with the above links, Kathy Pollard shares a reminder on what a REAL conversation should consist of.

Pinable

With it being Monday this seemed especially appropriate... 

It's Time for Coffee

Quoteable

I know you have seen the videos of buckets filled with ice water being dumped over the heads of willing participants. You may have even been one such participant; either way I have little doubt your news feeds aren't filled with these. And on a side-note: I understand this is all in support of a good cause. I am a little fuzzy as to how opting to have a bucket of freezing contents poured on your head rather than donating to the cause is actually helpful. Feel free to clear me up on that, but in the meantime think on these wise words.

"Amazing how many jump at the chance to be doused with ice cold water on behalf of a good cause but balk at being baptized in warm water for an even better cause."

-Barry Grider