Welcome to the first installment of Frugal Fashion Friday (look for similar posts 1-2 times a month)! Here I hope to share some bargain outfit ideas from stores that aren't bank breakers (Old Navy v. Saks 5th Avenue).
Can't buy the stuff new? Look in your closet and see if you can duplicate ideas with what you already have OR hit second hand stores like Plato's Closet or Goodwill.
Before we get into this I had to share one of my outfits. Remember when I talked about wearing colors (if not you can read it here) and I said you could wear primary colors? Well here's an example!
Gap yellow striped henley-$9.99
Levi Jeans--$30.00
Royal blue bangle--$.25 at Goodwill
Blue charm necklace--$0 (a gift from Uruguay)
Red Mary Janes--$14.99 from TJ Maxx (but free to me because they were a gift from my mom).
I should mention that these jeans are 8 years old and when I bought them, they didn't have that "destroyed denim" look. Years of wearing them gives them the destroyed flair!
I should also mention that the shoes are my "signature" wardrobe piece. I wear them as often and with as many outfits as possible!
Okay, now for some outfit inspiration for you!
When I look in magazine at Spring gear I'm always reminded that the clothes are meant for places that have 70 degree spring weather (as opposed to WY's 50 degree spring weather). That in mind, I created some outfits that have great layers OR use some awesome spring sweaters.
PARK DAY
The first idea combines a spring sweater, cargo capris, and gladiator sandals for a look that chic enough to wear to lunch with friends but causal enough to chase kids around in.
RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY
This look throws together layers--a great classic T and a trendy cardi paired with your favorite jeans and rain boots looks pulled together and practical.
SIMPLE BRUNCH
A classic look for church and brunch afterwards. I know what you're thinking--"white pants?? I have kids!" If you can't commit to white, this will work with trouser jeans or even khaki pants. Is anyone else thrilled that gladiator sandals and gold jewelry are making a comeback?
When my sister and I were little girls we shared a bedroom (until we nearly killed one another and my parents decided they'd rather have two kids than one). Sometimes at night we'd take turns drawing/tickling on each other's back and guess what was drawn. This date is a new twist on an old game.
For this date, you'll make homemade edible body paint (in advance) and then take turns painting pictures/words on each other's backs. When you are done "painting" lick off your artwork and switch.
You can make this a wager and see who gets the most pictures correctly. You can also write action words (as suggestive as you want) and if your lover gets the word right, you have to do it! (For example, you could write kiss or hug or dance).
Ingredients
1 box instant vanilla pudding mix (you do need it white so you can add color but if you don't care about color then get any flavor you want!)
When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were. When they were growing up--what with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning....Uphill... BOTH ways ... in the snow... Yadda, yadda, yadda
And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way I was going to laya bunch of junk like that on my kids about how hard I had itand how easy they've got it!
But now that I'm over the ripe old age of thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, they live in a Utopia!
And I hate to say it, but you kids today, you don't know how good you've got it!
When I was a kid we didn't have the Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalogue. Do you even know what the Dewey Decimal system is?
There was no email! We had to actually write somebody a letter with a pen and paper. Then we had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox, and it would take like a week to get there!
Child Protective Services didn't care if our parents beat us. As a matter of fact, the parents of all my friends also had permission to spank me! Nowhere was safe!
There were no MP3's or Napsters! If you wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the record store and shoplift it yourself. And if you wanted to buy just one song, too bad. No ITunes. We had to buy whole albums just for one song.
Or we had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio, and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning and mess it all up! There were no CD players! We had tape decks in our car. We'd play our favorite tape and "eject" it when finished. Sometimes the tape would come undone.
We didn't have Call Waiting. If you were on the phone and somebody else called, they got a busy signal. No kidding. And we didn't have Caller ID either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was. It could be your school, your mom, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, a collections agent, you just didn't know. You had to pick it up and take your chances.
There weren't any cell phones either. If you left the house, you just didn't make a call or receive one. You actually had to be out of touch with your "friends!" Think of the horror. Instead of texting, we passed notes.
We didn't have Sony Playstation video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics. Wehad the Atari 2600 with games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids'. Our guy was a little square. We actually had to use our imaginations! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen... FOREVER! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!
You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on. Channel surfing? Forget it. Every time we wanted to change the channel we had to get out of our seats. Really. There were NO remotes.
There was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I'm saying? We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons!
That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled. You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes prior to 1980.
Regards, The Over 30 Crowd
Okay, that's good for a laugh but then I got to thinking about all the ways I had it BETTER than kids do today.
Cell phones mean that parents can keep dibs on their kids all the time. And talk about a carrot and stick approach to parenting (if you don't shape up I'll take away your phone!). My folks had to be a lot more creative!
Sexual predators had to do a lot more than contact me on a social networking site.
My parents never had to worry that I'd see full-frontal nudity or hear cuss words on regular TV programming.
The United States had never been attacked on our homeland in my teen lifetime.
So while it is true kids might have some things easier--do they have more trials than we do?
What's your vote? Who has/had it easier--them (under 30) or us (over 30s)? Specific examples encouraged!
A few weeks ago I organized my DVD collection (you can read about it here) and noticed how extensive my Rom-Com selection was. I’m pretty sure I own every movie inspired by an Austen novel or with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in it. Don’t even get me started on Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock.
Luckily for me, I married a man who loves chick-flicks as much as I do. (To be fair I should mention my absolute love of sports shows, war movies and action shows. I practically forced Matt to take me to Gladiator 3 times, I’ve seen the Italian Job so many times that I consider myself an expert Mini-Cooper driver despite never having been in one, and I still get goose bumps from Rudy, Invincible, Hoosiers, Remember the Titans …). We’re movie compatible—for the most part.
Matt and I parted movie ways when Twilight came out. And this is when I started to notice a slightly unhealthy obsession with women (not tweens—grown, married women).
I’ve already shared my thoughts on Edward but as I think more critically, I wonder if there is something wrong with the female consumption of chick-flicks.
Are chick flicks emotional porn?
When I started looking into this topic, I ran across the article “You’ve Got Lies” by Beth Spraul. In her article, Spraul asserts that as pornography appeals to men’s visual instincts and creates a false ideal of the female body and interest in sex, chick flicks create a false emotional ideal of the role of men in romance and marriage. Through chick-flicks, Spraul contends that women learn to believe these lies:
Men and women view emotional and relational intimacy in the same way.
Marrying the right man will make everything perfect in my life.
I’ll know he’s the “right” man by the feelings I have when I’m around him.
By accepting these lies as truth, many women compare men to fictional heartthrobs and disregard important qualities like faith, character, and humility because of physical attraction or “chemistry.” (P.S. I hated chemistry).
I’ll admit that I’ve bought the “lies” in the past. I’ve been swept up in “feelings” that weren’t ok and have placed super unhealthy expectations on males in relationships. But now, I think I’m healthy enough to know that life with Matt isn’t perfect. He’s going to make me mad and offend me and not defend me when I need him to. Only God is my all in all. And trust me, after being around Matt for nearly 11 years, I’ve pretty much caught on to the fact that we view romance and intimacy in vastly different ways (and I didn’t even need to read Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus).
Are women are being subtly attacked? Are the emotional lies told in chick-flicks less harmful than the lies portrayed in pornography? Spraul states, “Like pornography, chick-flicks take a good gift from God (romance, relational intimacy) that women are created to desire, and distort it by presenting as “normal” an unbiblical and unrealistic picture of men, love and marriage. And just like men who buy into the lies of pornography, women who believe that their husbands and marriages should always be like what they see on the screen will be sinfully dissatisfied with God’s good gift to them of a “normal” husband and marriage.”
Um, WOW.
I have to admit I struggle with this because I believe pornography actually IS sinful whereas I think chick-flicks can be viewed without sin.
Suffice it to say, I don’t know what I think about Chick Flicks though research has encouraged me to be a more conscious consumer for the sake of my marriage and Mr. Darcy Matt.
I’d love to know your thoughts (since mine are so scattered)! Are chick flicks emotional porn?
I'd probably fall apart without the love and support of my mom's play date group! At one recent event, Sarah from Frontier Kitchen had a gaggle of us over to make ice cream using:
milk
half and half
sugar
rock salt
baggies
This takes no time at all and was super fun for all involved! I highly recommend you go here and get directions to make ice cream with your kiddos! This is a great way to get past the Monday Blahs.
I did a bit OAMC session so here's what we are having!
Monday--Spicy Honey Chicken and grilled asparagus
Tuesday--Lemony-Dill Salmon and wilted spinach salad
Wednesday--Chicken manicotti and salad
Thursday--Italian marinaded steaks and steamed red potatoes
Friday--Honey pepper pork loin with harvest stuffing
Saturday--Quiche, salad and crusty bread
Sunday--Autumn pot roast with sweet potatoes
Heat oil in a large skillet and brown roast on all sides.
Place sliced onion in crock pot; top with peeled and quartered sweet potatoes.
Place meat on vegetables.
In a small bowl, combine the water, beef bouillon granules, celery seed, cinnamon, and pepper. Pour over roast.
Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.
Remove beef and vegetables to a serving dish and keep warm.
Skim fat from juices and serve with the beef and vegetables.
FOR GRAVY (optional)
If desired, pour juices from the crockpot into a pan and bring to a low boil. Add cornstarch/water mixture and stir well. Cook on medium-low until thickened and bubbly. Serve with roast and vegetables.
Remember doing Mad Libs as a kid? They were pre-written stories that were missing some of the parts of speech and you had to fill them in and then read the silly story.
Go to the store and grab a pad of Mad Libs and spend a date night filling them out. Perhaps wager who can have the funniest, sexiest, grossest, etc., story! (We always bet back rubs).
Another option is to make your own story (do this if you want a steamy version).
Here's a sample Mad Lib:
If I were to go on a perfect date, I’d love to take ______ (date’s name) to ______ (city name). We would begin our evening by going to a _______ (adjective) restaurant, where we’d eat lots of ______ (food) and ______ (food). Spending the evening ______ (“ing” verb) at ______'s (date's name) ______ (body part, something similar) would definitely top off the best time together. For dessert, I want to take ______ (date’s name) to the fun ______ (place). There, we’ll jump on the large red _______ (noun) and I’ll buy him/her the ______ (adjective) present, such as a ______ (adjective) ______ (noun).
You know, it’s amazing how dating someone so ________ (adjective) and ______ (adjective) can complete me. I’ve always wanted a man/woman who had a large ______ (noun) and who wants to ______ (verb) with me. Our night would end ______ (adverb) with his/her ______ (body part) on my ______ (noun).
When I graduated with my Master's degree Matt got me this delightful, dainty right hand ring. It had a diamond in it for every five years I'd been in school (which was 20 years total at that point!). I loved that ring and pretty much never took it off.
Sadly, I had a viscous run in with a door (door 1, hand/ring 0) and my lovely ring was destroyed. We tried to take the ring back to the jeweler but it was going to cost more to fix the ring than it cost to purchase it. And to make matters even worse, we weren't in a financial position to fix or buy a new one. :(
Three years later I'm still bummed about not having a right hand ring. But we still aren't in a place where we can drop $500+ on a ring.
But I still web-dream. My criteria: simple, under-stated elegance, dainty and not a bank-buster.
Here's my newest crush.
This Everlon beauty looks pricey but is totally affordable! What I really love, though, is that it is two-toned just like my wedding ring!
**sigh**
I love right hand rings (especially this one). Matt, you're reading this, right?
By now you've surely heard that Sandra Bullock and Jesse James are having marital problems.
Have you even been cheated on or betrayed? If so you probably know how broken and humiliated Sandra Bullock must feel right now. I've been there and I can honestly say that what she's going through must be so much worse. Why? Because in the name if entertainment, the rest of America is standing by with baited breath waiting to hear the sorted details that are breaking her heart. (I know there are those who'll say, "she's made her living by being a public figure" to which I'll reply, "she's made her living by being professionally--not to be confused with personally--public.")
Is something wrong here?
Of course it is. Our obsession with being in-the-know when it comes to other people's personal lives is disconcerting to me. Does it make us feel better to know that our lives aren't as crappy as theirs (or that their lives are as crappy as ours)? Why are we so obsessed with celebrity gossip?
So what do I think about Sandra Bullock? I think I need to pray for peace, healing, and restoration of her heart.
What do I think about her marriage with Jesse James? Nothing. It's none of my business.
Nichole is a "WTMIM?" reader who was inspired to organize and offered to share her photos. Yeah! I love this!
Here's a bit of a note she sent to me:
After seeing your newly organized laundry room I was inspired to organize my hall closet. In addition we had company this weekend, and in the middle of the night one of them needed some medicine. These are very close friends, and when we opened our house to them we wanted them to feel at home, and that means in the middle of the night too. My dear friend could not find any Tums for the life of her. Poor thing; she was miserable. In addition to that it has been driving me nuts! So I have included some before and after pics. Now my closet it more organized and I feel so much better. Sometimes when I am having a bad day organizing something makes me feel like I have some sense of control over things in my life.
Ah, that last statement makes Nichole one of my kindred spirits!
Here are the photos!
BEFORE
AFTER
LOVE THOSE LABELS!
I'm sure we can all agree that Nichole's result is AWESOME. Good job Nichole and thanks for sharing.
Some tips:
Consider rolling towels and stacking them in a pyramid or placing them in an awesome basket. It looks very decorative (and some argue it takes less space but I'm up in the air--I just like how it looks and I'm not opposed to decorating closets).
If you have an organization success, take photos and send them to me! I'd love to highlight you and give you a much needed high five for your hard work!
Crescent rolls, marshmallows, butter, and cinnamon-sugar teach us that
indeed Jesus Christ has risen!
Scripture: (depending on child's age)
Matthew 28:1-8, 11-15; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-10
Application:Jesus died, but He overcame death through the power of the resurrection!
Summary: Before Jesus died, He had told His disciples that He would raise up the temple after three days, which He was speaking of the temple of His body. Three days after His death, some women, who were disciples of Jesus, came to the place where He was buried to anoint Him some more. They found the tomb empty. There had been a big earthquake and an angel who had come down from heaven, told them that Jesus was alive indeed! The women ran to tell the other disciples the good news. Peter and John ran to see for themselves and were amazed to see the tomb empty, with just the linen cloths, with which Jesus had been wrapped, laying there.
Focus:That our children would understand that Jesus is alive forevermore and that there is power in His resurrection that will enable them to be resurrected to everlasting life someday too if they will just believe upon Him as Lord and Savior.
Directions:
Learn about the resurrection first hand.
First, have each child take a crescent roll and lay it out flat. Tell them this represents the linen cloths that will wrap up Jesus.
Then take a large marshmallow and explain that it represents Jesus taken down from the cross.
Now anoint Him with oil and spices by rolling Him in the butter and cinnamon-sugar. Wrap Him up in the crescent roll linen wrappings and pinch and press all the seams together carefully (so that the marshmallow does not ooze out) and place on a baking sheet.
Now put him in the tomb (the oven) and roll up the stone (close the oven door) and bake according to the instructions on the crescent roll package.
Guard the tomb, but allow the children to watch that you do not get into the oven.
When the timer goes off, have your kids yell and jump like there is a great earthquake and have the children run up to the tomb.
Roll away the stone (open the oven door) and pull out the baking sheet. Put one of the crescent rolls on each child’s plate with them watching you the entire time.
When they break open or bit into the linen wrappings, they will not find Jesus (the marshmallow) anymore. He has risen! (And the treat is not too bad either)
Memory Verse:
“I am alive forevermore.” Revelation 1:18
Prayer: Dear Lord, we praise You for the power of Your resurrection and ask for that power in our lives to accomplish Your will and purpose.
Living the Life:
Discuss with your children the wonder and awe of our risen Lord. Discuss how this changes our future and hope!
Family Life has this delightful tool to help teach children about Easter, Jesus and the Resurrection. They are called Resurrection Eggs.
The eggs come in a hard plastic egg carton. Each egg has a different toy that represents part of the Easter story and a handy little book that tells scripture you can read to children to help explain the significance of the toy.
Every year before Easter I start hiding eggs. Day 1, egg 1. Day 2, eggs 1 and 2. Day 3 eggs 1-3. You get the picture. With each new egg my children and I read the scriptures and discuss the meaning. It is pretty cute to hear M.E.'s version of the tale.
Day 1--Donkey--Jesus rode a donkey into Jrsulm and people shout ShoHanna! (her pronunciations)
Day 2--Judas betrays Jesus for thirty monies.
Day 3--Jesus had one last supper with his friends.
Day 4--Jesus went to the garden to pray.
It is pretty great!
If you are interested I suggest looking into Family Life to get a set! The set is under $15 and can be re-used every year (this is our 3rd year with our set and it isn't getting old at all!).
Are you guilty of wearing one dominant color? Is black your thing? Maybe you are like me and you tend to lean towards "earthy tones" (which is fancy talk for "I wear a lot of browns"). Go look in your closet right now. Is there one color that dominates (and is it really a color or, as I suspect, a neutral)?
Anyone else think it's time we break out some color? Be bold--be daring! It's easy to do if you know some color tricks!
Look at the color wheel below.
Okay, so hopefully we all remember that the primary colors are red, blue, and yellow. Secondary colors (which are made my mixing primary colors) are purple, green, and orange. Color basics. Check.
Now, how can you wear color?
Go with a monochromatic look. Monochromatic means "one color." On the color wheel above, find one color--say blue-green. There are roughly 9 levels of blue green. You can mix ANY of these levels and look good. They go. Trust me.
Wear complimentary colors. Complementary colors are directly across the wheel from each other: Red/Green, Blue/Orange, Yellow/Purple. Mix and match complimentary colors. They go. If you don't want to be too bold (like if you want to wear blue and orange but don't want to look like a Denver Broncos fan, move in on the color wheel. Wear peach and cornmeal blue. It works.)
Wear color wheel neighbors. Yep, if you wear colors next to each other on the wheel you'll look great. They harmonize.
Wear primary colors. These are bold and look great together. However, make sure you wear only 1-2 of the colors dominantly and one of the colors as a highlight or else you'll look like a clown. For example, wear blue-jean shorts with a red top and a yellow belt or bracelet or a yellow dress with navy shoes and a red bag. Another option is to wear softer versions of these colors: blue jeans, light blue top, maroon jewelry ...
Make your neutrals pop! Brown, gray, black and white are generally regarded as neutrals (though really gray is the "real" neutral). You can pretty much make anything look hot with neutrals. If you must wear a brown tank top and khaki capris, make it pop with an eggplant purple woven scarf and yellow shoes.
What rules am I following here? #3 and #5. Blues and Greens are color wheel neighbors and I'm making my neutral brown pop. You can't see it by my necklace is has brown, jade, and turquoise beads!
Some color warnings:
Figure out if you are a Winter, Summer, Autumn, or Spring complexion and dress accordingly.
Know what colors you look good in and wear a lot of them. If you have a "summer/winter" complexion (pale skin and dark hair or dark hair with light eyes) you can probably pull of bright reds and pinks (not so great for "fall/spring" complexions like me!).
If you are a summer/winter gal you can also wear black really well. If you are a fall/spring gal (dark eyes, mousy hair) stay away from black--it makes you look sallow and those circles under your eyes just look darker. Sorry. (P.S. Summer/winter gals, it really ticks me off that you get black. Oh well, at least I can have brown.)
Fall/Spring girls think "jewel" tones. Jade, peridot, amethyst, deep turquoise, garnet--these are great colors on us! (In the photo above I'm rocking a jade shirt and a turquoise bracelet).
Summer/Winter gals think icy and bold--fuschia, mint, navy.
A basic understanding of the color wheel=color wearing success!
Laundry is not one of my life's loves. I love to dust and shine my sink but laundry and ironing are my nemeses (well, there are others but that's all I'll bore you with that today).
Anyhow, one of my least favorite things about doing laundry is looking for socks. Even if the dryer doesn't eat one (and to be honest, I blame the washing machine half of the time just because I think dryers get a bad rap), I hate the process of digging through a mound of laundry in search of the other navy blue trouser sock with light blue squares on it. Ug. What a time waster.
A few years ago I read (in Real Simple) that an easy solution to this was to pin your socks together. I tried this for a while and it did work. Socks came out of the dryer already mated. But the problem was getting the socks pinned.
I had several options:
Dig through the dirty laundry to find sock mates and then pin the swampy socks together. A collective Ewwww! please.
Have Matt pin his own socks together (and honestly, I'm still trying to convince him NOT to leave his socks in a sock ball after taking them off. How does that happen, exactly?).
Neither of these worked. And it got worse after we had the Divine Miss M and all of sudden the world's cutest frilly socks were dominating the laundry and getting lost in drastic proportions.
Something had to give.
My solution: Get a lingerie bag
When you or your kids take their socks off, put them into the lingerie bag (it might be best to have a bag for each family member or one for adults and one for kids). I throw the whole bag in the washer and dryer and wa la! No missing kid socks.
Today's post is a long one but I encourage you to skim read it and to watch the video. It truly is an inspiration.
My best friend Kim went to Rwanda in August on a mission with E3 Ministries. This is a part (yes, only a part--God is so good that Kim filled page after page of testimony and STILL didn't share everything she saw!) of Kim's experience.
I am posting this today, Monday March 29th, 2010 because Kim is heading back to Wyoming from Rwanda--her second mission there in a year. This time she went to disciple children's ministry leaders!
Please read this and be encouraged.
But first, check out this awesome video of Kim in Rwanda!
(The video is 5 minutes long. Kim is interviewed around minute 2 and the woman at the end saying "Go, go, go" is one of my spiritual mentors, Diana).
Unfortunately I am having technical difficulties posting the rest right now ....
Stay tuned!
Emanah Sheemway! Praise God!
I want to testify of the amazing works of our Lord while we were in Rwanda!
On our very first day of ministry, we were guests at our first church service. Tony, our leader from E3, gave a short message and explained the gospel. Then, he asked me to share a short testimony. (I knew that I was supposed to be prepared to share). The night before, I prayed and read the Bible. I felt God wanted me to share about how He rescued me from depression by showing me His grace as described in Romans 8. I wrestled with God about this and did not really think I should share this on our first day.
However, I knew that was what God wanted me to do. I only had a few minutes, so I shared how I got really depressed when I went to college and how I felt I had no hope. During that time, I believed that I had to earn God’s love. I knew that I had fallen into sin and I didn’t believe I could be forgiven. Even though I was a Christian at that time, I believed the lie that I could not be forgiven. I explained how I took a Bible class, Romans and Galatians, because someone told me that was what I needed to do. I went to class. As the teacher read from Romans 8:1, I felt God was speaking directly to me. I sat in that desk with students around me and cried. I did not care because I heard those words and believed. I believed that, “There is therefore now no more condemnation for those of us in Christ Jesus.” I explained how the teacher repeated those words over and over. I told them how God rescued me from depression by speaking to me through His word. I shared more from Romans 8 and explained how nothing could separate us from His love.
After I shared this with the people in Rwanda at church that day, I sat down. I felt strange because I could not read the expressions on their faces and I did not know if they understood. I had just shared my heart, but I did not know why. Then, after about 2 minutes, an elderly woman stood up in the front row. She walked toward me and Noah. All of us were supposed to be singing. She sat down next to us and started talking to Noah. She wanted us to pray with her to become a Christian. So, I laid my hands on her and we prayed with her. I noticed that she did not reach out to me to accept my hand. After we prayed, Noah started talking to her. He looked up with tears in his eyes and he said, “Kim, she came up here because of what you said. She wants to know if she can be forgiven.” I immediately answered, “yes.” Noah said, “Kim, there is more. Come closer. He whispered as he continued, “She has struggled with guilt over her sin for many years. Several years ago, her husband died. Then, her in-laws came to her house and tried to take the house and all the land. She paid a witch doctor to kill her in-laws. She wants to know if she can be forgiven.”
I was stunned. She was looking directly at me. I was faced with my own theology. I got down on my knee, looked her directly in the eye and said, “Yes, you can be forgiven. Yes.” With tears in her eyes, she hugged me. She was set free that day. Praise God!
E3 Partners Ministry has a goal to evangelize, equip, and establish churches. We had a very small team from North America. We had 8 people come from the United States. This included E3 staff. After much prayer, the leadership still decided to go forward with God’s calling to establish 8 churches in Rwanda. God accomplished this and so much more while we were there! 2, 712 people came to know the Lord!
Each day, two from our North American team and their ministry partners went to a mission point. In the morning, these small groups would go with believers from Rwanda to evangelize-house to house- in the community surrounding the location for the new church. This was an amazing experience. Every morning, I would walk the dirt streets with my backpack and my straw hat. My ministry partner would then insist on carrying my backpack. We would pray for the people to be open to the Holy Spirit. We would pray for the words to communicate to their hearts. We would pray for God to speak through us. Then, we would go. We would walk. We would walk through dirt and dried grass into small homes with one bench and no light but the sunlight that peeked through the open doorway.
After Noah explained why we were there, the people would immediately greet us, honor us with the one bench and eagerly get ready to listen. As I spoke, Noah translated in their beautiful language and their faces changed from sad or solemn expressions to a curious one. I would pray and speak. Noah would speak. Then, God would speak through us. Over and over again we would witness that moment when hearts were opened by the Holy Spirit to the hope found in Christ. Great celebration would follow!
Though Kim was sent to share the Good News about Jesus, she admitted to me that at times, she humbly felt that she was getting more than she was giving. Here is some of what she learned.
I learned to step out and obey
I did not choose to go on this trip. He chose me. I felt a very clear call to go. It would have been disobedience for me to stay in the U.S. It would have been comfortable, easier. I would have missed the blessing of serving the Lord, being used by God and seeing Him work in the lives of people. In addition, I would have missed a deeper relationship with God and a deeper faith for the cheap substitute of the familiar.
Maybe you say, “I do not feel called to go.” That may be so, but God has called each of us to go and share the hope we have with others.
What is stopping you?
Your list of things to do?
Your comfort?
If you know Jesus, you have a hope: an eternal, life-giving hope because you have forgiveness and a relationship with your Heavenly Father. I was shown in Africa that all I had to offer them was this message- no food, clean water, health, or money. I realized that the one thing I had to offer was the only thing they absolutely had to have- the only hope they had to survive emotionally, to endure, to get better, and to live life.
They needed forgiveness, peace, and a relationship with God.
We witnessed over and over again the joy-the sheer joy and happiness of life with God, forgiveness in Jesus, and the hope found in a relationship with Him. Once they heard, they knew this is what they were looking for and they wanted to tell everyone else that they needed this more than food, more than water, more than health or wealth.
The song that says, “my hope is in you...” has new meaning to me now. Why don’t we see that is what people need? Is it because they look OK? Is a life filled with hopelessness but a home filled with stuff OK? Who needs Jesus? Just the poor? Who needs a relationship with the Lord? Everyone!
Be joyful and celebrate!
Celebrate God! With open arms and fast feet, people in Rwanda praised the Lord. Children with tattered clothes and no shoes danced with a joyful heart and infectious smiles. “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness, come into His presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:1-2)
We serve a mighty king who has provided for us, loved us, given us life. Let’s praise Him. Let’s love Him with all our hearts, soul, and mind. Jesus suffered, bled and died for all of our sins. He paid the price so we are righteous in His sight. We now have a relationship with Him. We do not have to be separated from Him anymore. We have access to Him every minute. He LOVES us. Not a romantic, cheap love. A love everlasting. A love we cannot fathom. A Father’s love. We can call out to Him, Abba, Father. This is like saying, “Daddy.”
He sent the Holy Spirit until He comes back. He will convict us, give us peace, comfort us, and guide us. He will intercede for us on our behalf when we do not know what to pray.
So, if God is for us who can be against us? Let us worship Him, love Him, and know Him. He is with us. He will never leave us or forsake us. Our hope is in Him. Our joy is in Him. Let not your heart be troubled for our King reigns and He has you in His mighty hand!
Be thankful
People in Rwanda were so thankful! They were so thankful for everything- including us. I am truly thankful to God for calling me to go. Praise God for what He did in Rwanda and what He does every day in our lives! hope this encouraged you in your faith. God deepened my faith in ways that I cannot express and He graciously used me and all the members of the team in mighty ways for His glory and His work.
Welcome home, Kim. I'm so grateful for your gracious spirit, your love for God and your love for your brothers and sisters in the world.
I love and admire you. And next time, we go together!
This is an excellent recipe to teach your children that Jesus rose from the dead! I cut this recipe out of a Christian book club magazine years ago and love it. Sadly I can't eat the cookies because of a nut allergy but everyone else seems to like them!
Ingredients: 1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
a pinch salt
1 cup sugar
a zipper baggy
1 wooden spoon or rolling pin
scotch tape
Bible
Directions: Make these on the night before Easter!
Preheat oven to 300'.
Place pecans in zipper baggy and let children beat them with the wooden spoon or rolling pin. As children break pecans into small pieces, explain that after Jesus was arrested. He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read: John 19:1-3
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink. Read: John 19:28-30
Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read: John 10:10&11
Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read: Luke 23:27
So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us tocknow and belong to Him. Read: Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read: Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3
Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper covered cookie sheet.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read: Matthew 27:57-60
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.
Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read: Matthew 27:65-66
GO TO BED! While you tuck your kiddos in, explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight just like Jesus' followers were sad when he died. Read: John 16:20&22
On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie (for breakfast! You'll be super mom for allowing a cookie for breakfast!). Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read: Matthew 28:1-9
Turn on praise music or sing a song of praise to Jesus.
Say a prayer with your kids thanking God for sending his Son to redeem the world!
This is a great marinade. You can even make it, pour it over steak, and freeze!
Ingredients:
1/4 c. low sodium soy sauce
2 T lemon juice (fresh is better!)
2 T white wine (or cooking wine)
2 T minced garlic
Coarsely ground pepper to taste
Mix all and pour over steak. Marinade at least 2 hours turning half way through.
To freeze, mix all, pour over steak in a ziploc bag and freeze. To cook, thaw steak overnight/all day in marinade. Grill or broil (roughly 8 minutes a side for medium-rare).
Before we get into this I had to share one of my outfits. Remember when I talked about wearing colors (if not you can read it here) and I said you could wear primary colors? Well here's an example!
