All Things New, Welcome Spring!

Hello readers! Its been such a long time since I have updated my blog...life is busy but G O O D! I hope and pray that I can blog more, God pours so many wonderful ideas into my life daily...I just want to share. This is what His Loving Presence blog is, sharing what the Lord reveals to me.

Spring looks like it has finally arrived here in Michigan, yay! The grass is turning green, the sunlight feels brighter in the mornings, birds are out! My kids are loving outside time and we even have started the grill a couple times. I love this time of year, everything is new and fresh..coming alive from a cold dark winter.

In one way its like our lives.. in sin our life can be so dark and hopeless. That is how I felt, everyday not knowing any certain direction. When I became *new* in Christ, washed in His precious blood, forgiven..my life started all over. There was purpose, living each day for Him. Being a wife for God's glory, learning how to be a woman all over again...the world, tv and movies are so opposite from His standard. I enjoyed searching His Word for those precious scriptures on being a helpmeet and mother. I had a new goal, to be a Proverbs 31 woman! It was so exciting to me.. Like Spring..everything was *new!*

The excitement has not ended...God continues to pour thoughts, plans and creative ideas how to make my home and family give Him glory. Halleluiah, He never leaves us!

As you look outside and enjoy all this season brings, remind yourself of where you have been and where you are now. Thank our precious Savior for His saving grace!

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

Happy Spring!

~Sarah beth~

Loving the Word!

Some excitement to share, an answer to many prayers! A miny praise report! ~~~

I have prayed ever since I have started to read the Bible that my own family would find God's word precious.

3years ago I rededicated my life to Christ, during that time I wrote him a letter, sometimes writting is easier to pour out your thoughts to Him. In that letter I asked the Lord to please teach me how to be a Godly woman.. His answer was this, read my word from cover to cover.

I did read..it was such a journey, a life changing journey! I became in love with His word and thru the Word, the Holy Spirit has taught me much.

With this excitement, I began to teach my children Bible stories.. their love of God blossomed beautifully. At around the same time, I decided to homeschool and our daily Bible time has been precious.

Meanwhile my husband got saved with me..but he didnt have the lightning effect that I had. Its been a slower journey for him but my prayers have only increased.

3 years later my husband made the commintment to read his entire Bible, I cant tell you how excited it has been for me to see. My heart jumps for joy! I praise God everytime I see my hubby reading away...one night he read for over 2 hours. Praise Jesus.

I hope this encourages anyone that has a husband that isnt quite on fire or verbal like you are about Jesus and the Word. Keep praying, please do not give up...

The Bible is very precious in our home.. my children see me and now their father loving the Word and reading.. this I think helped my children grow up loving the Bible also. My two younger children love Bible time and its so sweet they pretend to read it often. My oldest takes time to study on his own as well...I cant tell you how much I love to see my son reading and soaking in the Word.

My son read the Bible for awhile but then I seen he wasnt reading like he was so I prayed again. The enemy will do everything he can to distract us and keep us away from God's Word.. our prayers for our loved ones are important. The Bible is important! So I started praying and wow...he is on fire again, going to his room, shutting the door so he can read. Thank you Lord!

My biggest hope is that anyone that spends time with me sees how much I love God's word and that inspires them. My brother and my sister are not reading thru the Bible, amazing!

The passion of my son has continued into a collection, a collection of KJV Bibles. He wants to make sure that anyone he meets has a Bible, if they dont, he wants to give one to them.. I hope his collection GROWS!

 

 

Psalm 119:18 "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."

 

Hebrews 4:12  ^"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

 

Psalm 1:2 " But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."

The BEST Christmas

"Mother birthing, father rejoicing, Jesus crying, angels proclaiming, shepherds praising. That night was anything but silent." ~ Burk Parsons

I just love Christmas! It is such a special time to celebrate the greatest gift ever given, Jesus!

There are so many post out there to create the PERFECT Christmas. I have to say that sounds stressful to me. Buying the best gifts, baking the best cookies, decorating inside and outside perfectly..

The truth is we do not need anyone to show us how to have the *perfect* Christmas. That day already happened when our Savior was born..

Keep your Christmas simple.. If you need ideas that are perfect for your family to make Christmas special, ask the Lord. He is creative and loves to pour out His ideas to you!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Family Fun Games, No tv required!

The colder temps are here which means cozydays in! This time of year the tv can be clicked on more often...but I dont want my family spending time together watching the tv. That really is not spending time together! Our children are young for only a short time..family days truly are the *best* days of our lives parents! I have been praying for the Lord's help and creative ideas... prayed something like this.. "Lord please give us fun times together as a family, give us ideas what to we can do together." Oh how the Lord answers! We were playing a game the other night, nothing planned..it just happened.. my kiddos were lined up to hear the next, "Jesus says" command.. (Simon Says turned to Jesus Says, by request!) and I realized God has answered my prayer and we were having alot of fun together! *Thank you Lord*

Here are a few more, no tv, Family Fun Games:

Balloon Toss
Blow up a few balloons and toss them around to eachother. Keep hitting the balloon and dont let it fall on the ground! ~a sure hit for kids and parents!

My Family Owns a Grocery Store
and in the store they sell something that starts with A. Get it? Everyone asks yes or no questions to figure out the answer...exciting, a game with educational purpose, I cant deny I am a homeschool mom! ;) We all really love this game, my hubby likes to really try and stump us! Let me finish the game so you can get an idea. One of my children or hubby would ask me, "is it in the dairy aisle?" Me: "nope." Another question, "Is it red?" Me: Yes!" A few questions later, "Is it an Apple?!" Me: "You got it!" :) Simple, fun and educational! Winner! Now go try it!

You can also put a *new spin* on this game and play, My Family Owns A Resturaunt that Starts with the Letter... or My Family Owns a Zoo and we have an Animal that starts with..

I Spy
classic game..need I say more?

Simon Says, or Moses Says, or Jesus Says
;) Whatever you want to call it, its a fun and simple game! Shout commands like,

Crisscross applesauce!

Make a cow sound!

Close your eyes!

Lay down!

Shake your neighbors hand!

Touch your head!

Spin around!

Walk one step backwards!

There are seriously endless things you can get your children to do, how fun for parents! ;) Good way to get the energy out too!

Red Light, Green Light~
Pick a goal that your children need to get to, it could be mommy or daddy or the door. Everyone takes steps quickly when its Green Light but if you shout Red Light, its time to S T O P! Whoever gets to the destination, wins! *Easy*

Quick to Obey Game:
This game I learned from Michelle Duggar in one of her books. I explain to my children its very important that they are quick to obey Mommy and Daddy so they can be quick to obey the Lord's voice. Very important! I grab a bowl of m&m's, its just fun to give your children a sweet treat for doing such a great job. This is a good game around desert time! :) I give my children commands that are silly and commands that I would actually tell them to do on a day to day basis. "Sweetie, would you please go spin around 5 times?" If my child says, yes ma'm, happy to do it then completes the task: praise from mommy and a m&m! :) *win, win!*

Read:
Other ways we spend our evenings would be reading thru the series, "Box car Children." Also Laura Ingalls Wilder series.. What books do you like to read as a family? A great source is www.visionforum.com

Listening to C.D.'s
 Like Jonathan Parks is entertaining and educational!

Music
Memorize hymns and worship songs together..play an instrument, who cares if you are not that good, have fun and be silly together.

Family discussions
Talk with your children, plan something together.. talk about their favorite memory, look at old pictures, tell your children their birth story.. With thanksgiving right around the corner, ask everyone to write down what they are thankful for to be read aloud during dinner. Its so important to just talk as a family with no time limit!

What are some ways that you spend good family time together?? Would love to hear!

Linked with:

Our Simple Country Life

Joy in the Morning

  
 Morning J O Y~these 2 words bring me comfort, peace, encouragment and a smile.

Let me explain, my own time of tribulation. At night during my many trials I struggled. I would toss and turn with overwhelming worries. Satan threw many fiery arrows (Espesians 6:16) at my weakest time of the day. The air would feel so heavy and hot around me. My mind was in a war with fear, I could feel sweat form on my forehead. I would utter these words, faster and faster, "Jesus, I cast you all my burdens, you do not want me to worry...you have given me a sound mind..take away my fear." I would by the grace of Jesus fall asleep. In the night I would wake again- there the fears would flood in my mind again. Quickly I would pray for peace and fall back to sleep holding on to my Savior.

I would wake in the morning, the promises of scriptures would meet me... Joy in the morning. I was released from the drowning fear, a prisoner set free.

"...Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalms 30:5

"Cause me to hear they loving-kindness in the morning." Psalms 143:8

If you have suffered nights with no peace of mind.. maybe you have forgot to do something that you needed to do, maybe you are going over what you need to do the next day, overwhelming guilt where you failed.. going thru a trial and cant see past it? Let me encourage you, to seek His face, pray to Him and give Him all your burdens..He wants to set you free..He wants to give you peace and go a step further with a
gift of J O Y in the MORNING!

Linked with:
Our Simple Country Life