Quick Energy Pick-Ups

Today over at Shannon's, she is asking for our favorite recipes with 5 ingredients or less. I'll be honest and tell you that I haven't made these in years, but that may change soon because I remember these being very yummy. I actually got this recipe in the 7th grade from a home ec. class. Let me know if you've ever heard of them.

Quick Energy Pick-Ups

3-4 squares graham crackers (can substitute quick oats)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup chocolate chips
3 Tb. milk

Mix together first four ingredients. Place mixture in refrigerator for 20-30 minutes until firm. Using a 1/4 tsp., scoop mixture and form a small ball. Roll balls into crushed graham crackers (or oats) and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Refrigerate 20 minutes until firm. Enjoy!

Weeds

I hate weeds. I hate everything about them. I don't like pulling them, but I can't stand looking at them, so it has to be done. My flowerbeds look so nice without the weeds.

A couple of weeks ago I was outside in the hot June sun pulling weeds. The boys were inside, so it was quiet, and I had plenty of time to think as I was busily working. I started thinking about those hateful weeds, and how much they are like the sin in our lives.

There is one flower bed on the side of our house that has very shallow weeds. They are very easy to pull out and I can get that job done pretty quickly. Those weeds reminded me of the shallow, or more superficial sins. I know that in God's eyes, sin is sin, but let's face it. As humans, we do see different sins on different levels. These sins tend to pop up quickly and perhaps they are always just under the surface. Jealousy, bitterness, gossip, pride. Always there, and the enemy knows it. He waits for the perfect opportunity to tempt us with them.

There is another flower bed that has huge weeds with deep roots, and these are very difficult to pull out. I am reminded of those deeper, secret sins that we all have but want desperately to keep hidden. Deep, deep down, the memory of them is there, and if we aren't careful they may slowly come creeping back. Before we know it, we could be tangled up.

Of course, the key is staying on top of those weeds, or sins. Either way, if you want to have a nice, clean flower bed or a nice, clean life, we must be diligent to stay in God's Word. We must resist the temptation when it comes... it will come, you know.

We hung out with some friends last night, and the subject of weeds came up. As we were talking a storm was passing over, and they mentioned that the best time to pull weeds is right after a good rain. They were absolutely right... I tried it today. So, you could say that the "living water" is the absolute best thing for a heart full of sinful weeds. They're much easier to get rid of when doused with a good soaking.

Cardboard Testimony

When you have a few minutes to spare, go here and watch this video. It is a little long, but so worth it. I promise you'll be blessed. If you watch it, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

Rick & Bubba in the house!

Tonight I got to meet Rick and Bubba!! They were here in Chester for a book signing for their new book, Rick and Bubba for President. I can't tell you how much I love listening to these guys. I've tried writing this a few times, and I'm not able to adequately tell you how great they are. Basically, they

1. Love the Lord, and boldly stand up for him, and


2. Make me laugh. Out loud. Often.

They are on a secular country/rock station here in VA, but they broadcast from Alabama. If you're in the Richmond area, they're on 93.1 (mornings from 7 a.m.-10 a.m.). Do yourself a favor and listen... they are the real deal. You'll love 'em.

33

Happy Birthday to my Jay... you make 33 look GOOD!
(racing with the boys on the sand dunes at Nags Head)

Officially...

... "School's Out for Summer"! These pictures show Reed happily playing that song on Guitar Hero just as soon as we finished his end-of-the-year test on Monday. (and it also shows that he got 100% of the notes, by the way!)

You've done a great job this year in 3rd grade, Reed. Here's to 4th!

Making an Impact

Some time ago, our church created a new logo, with a tagline underneath that reads "Impacting our World for Christ". You see this everywhere at our church, from the sign out front, to the bulletins each week... it is even etched into the beautiful new pulpit that our pastor stands behind.

About a month or so ago, we were saying our bedtime prayers and Miles added a little tagline of his own. The prayer was the usual: "Thank you, God, for Daddy and Mommy and Reedy. Thank you for this fun day we had. Thank you for Grandma and Grandpa and Stephanie and Daisy. Thank you for Nannie and Pop." (and on and on until he has named almost everyone he knows - and their pets) And then at the end he said "and please help us to impact our world for Christ". Wow. It isn't like he has heard us say it, and he can't read yet, so although he sees it repeatedly, he isn't reading it. He obviously heard it at church, and it stuck.

So now, it has become our family's prayer. At breakfast or lunch or dinner, whoever is praying adds on the tagline. When we say our bedtime prayers, we all pray it. I pray that it isn't just something we say. I pray that it becomes who we are.

May we all impact our world for Christ. And let the little children lead us.

Maria Chapman

Simply praying for comfort for the Chapman family, as they have suffered a terrible loss. You can go here to read the full story, as well as watch some sweet home videos of Maria and her daddy taken just recently.

Also, if you aren't familiar with the tragedy earlier this year of the death of Bronner Burgess, please click here to read more. You can also watch video of his memorial service. I promise you will be blessed.

Both of these families need our continued prayers.

When I look into the mirror...

...these days, I see more and more of my mom... and I love what I see. Happy Mother's Day, to my sweet mom. I adore being your daughter!







The following I received in an email this week, and I thought I'd share it here. This is my prayer as a mama to my two sweet boys:



Despite my many mistakes, perhaps my children will some day arise and call me blessed. The next time you need encouragement, let God whisper to your heart: "I hear when you pray for your children, and I'm there when you teach them about who I am. I watch you love, care, and sacrifice for them. You're not perfect, but hang in there. You're doing better than you think."



Dear Lord, help me to be the mother my children deserve. Encourage my heart when I feel like a failure. Erase my errors from the hearts and minds of my children. Instead, help them to see Jesus in me, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Finally

This is our new church... isn't it beautiful?? Our services yesterday were unbelievably moving. It was a surreal experience; something we had talked about and planned for and worked toward for 4+ years. And there we were, in this breathtaking building, praising God for this place and for the many blessings that occurred along the way. He is so good.

Psalm 13:6 I will sing to the Lord because He has been so good to me.