We're Not An "Accident" Day 2; The Purpose Driven Life

You are not an accident.  Do you believe that?  I've wrestled with that!
My parents divorced when I was around three years old.  I have been tempted to think, "maybe they only married because of me, etc..."
Or, what about the 15 years-young woman who, just yesterday, was rescued from a cellar in New Jersey where she was imprisoned... Is her life a mistake; falling in love with a captor?  Or what about her captors?  They have imprisoned at least four people who were mentally ill and there is evidence of more victims.  Does God call people that sick "accidents"?

In Day 2 of The Purpose Driven Life,  many scriptures assure us that God planned every detail of our lives, taking into account "mistakes" and sin. (pg. 23)  The further we get from God's purpose, the further into the pit of hell.  What is hell?  Life apart from the goodness of God, his design, his mercy, his love; life apart from God himself.
I want to say to that newly-freed young woman, "You are loved!  You are of value!  There is redemption in this!"
Who knows how many more would have been brutally mistreated if she had not been lured, then sought after by authorities.  As for her captors, God has a plan for them, too.  I thank God that there is some semblance of justice in our country and that these people will not be allowed to hurt others as they have.  I pray that they get what they need.  And I actively trust the truths below.  Because today is a hard day for living in a world full of brokenness.

I am your Creator.  You were in my care even before you were born.  ~Isaiah 44:2a (CEV)


God doesn't play dice. ~Albert Einstein


The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me. Psalm 138:8a (NIV)


You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something." Psalm 139:15 (Msg)


You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe.  Every day was recorded in your book! Psalm 139:16 (LB)


He planned it all for his purpose. pg. 23


From one man he made every nation, . . . and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 4 Acts 17:26 (NIV)


Nothing in your life is arbitrary.  It's all for a purpose. pg. 23


While there are illegitimate parents, there are no illegitimate children.  Many children are unplanned by their parents, but they are not unplanned by God. pg. 23


Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love. pg. 24


God is love.  (must look up reference...9, 10, from the book- sorry...)


"I have carried you since you were born; I have taken care of you from your birth.  Even when you are old, I wil be the same.  Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you.  I made you and will take care of you. 10


The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us." Romans 12:3 The Message


I am your Creator.  You were in my care even before you were born." Isaiah 44:2 (CEV)

Question from the Day's reading:  "I know God created me.  Is there something about me that I am struggling to accept??"

• For counseling regarding unplanned pregnancy, click here: http://www.fullcirclepregnancy.com/
• For the story of the cellar prison, click here:  http://abcnews.go.com/US/missing-florida-girl-linked-philadelphia-basement-dungeon/story?id=14761933

It's Not All About Me! Day 1 of 40: Purpose Driven Life

Day 1 of  40

Let's sign together!

Diligently note-taking!

I love little people.  Especially my sons.  I can see why some mothers get totally wrapped up in the lives of their children, to the detriment of every one's well being!  Loving them is a 24/7 kind of thing.  But the goal of parenthood is to launch the children, so to speak.  But launch them into, or for, what?  

Our family reads a lot of cool stories together.  Children's Literature is amazing!  In reading The Little Prince, I was made painfully aware of how adults undermine kids with the simplest of comments.

Day 1 of Purpose Driven Life is a wonderful orientation to a new story...  One unfamiliar in our culture...  It's the story of an Almighty, All-Knowing Being who knows us all and creates us for his purpose.  Day 1 tells us: 

"For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible,...everything got started in him and finds it's purpose in him."  Colossians 1:16 (The Message)

and

"It is God who directs the lives of his creatures, every one's life is in his power." Job 12:10 TEV

How incredibly freeing!  On page 20, author Rick Warren goes onto say that their are five purposes for our lives in the Bible.  But he doesn't list them here!

He does, however list many more verses and quotes which I found encouraging. 

"Unless you assume a God, the question of life's purpose is meaningless."  ~Bertrand Russell, atheist

"Obsession with self...is  a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life." 

"...Being successful and fulfilling your life's purpose are not at all the same issue!  You could reach all your personal goals, becoming a raving success by the world's standard, and still miss the purpose for which God created you." Rick Warren, page 19

"To discover your purpose in your life; you must turn to God's Word, not the world's wisdom." RW, pg. 20

"You must build your life on eternal truths, not pop psychology, success motivation, or inspirational stories.." pg. 20

Boo!  Motivational stories have a "feel good" to them!  But it doesn't last...  That's when I used to break out the chocolate or Red Vines...  By age 19, however, the cost of those red vines was far too many pounds on my frame.  I've come to strongly dislike motivation stories because there is no power in their message.  "OK, so I know I'm not supposed to over eat.  So what?  Give me something better!"   

 I think Rick Warren is delivering in the "something better department"...  The quotes and verses are truth.  There's so much more I could reflect on just from Day 1.    The opportunity to think about purpose is such a gift.  I can't wait to internalize the Five Purposes Rick teases on page 20.  

Job Hunters Find Leads at the E. G. Fisher Library!

Click the link for an abundant listing of local resources to make your job hunt successful!

Fall Plantings and Recipes! With Shawn Lindsey and Stephanie Maxie

Listen to "Fall Plantings and Recipes" here!

MOPS Update:  Now meeting at Watson Chapel in Madisonville!
MOPS Madisonville Facebook Page
MOPS with Katie, audio

Special thanks to the following groups from Tennessee Weslayan College!  Each group donated a day of servicee to beautify our community by planting flower bulbs!

Womens' Soccer
Mens' Soccer
Womens' Softball

Shawn Lindsey, Director of Public Works  (Thanks, Shawn for being my guest on the show!)

Battle of the Bulge dates:


Friday, 10/14    Tennessee Weslayan College Fruit Orchard at Depot Hill
Monday, 10/17  Tennessee Tree and Vine Planting
Friday, 10/21    McMinn Senior Center (Garden Beautiful Club)
Friday, 10/28    SR Median Planting

Fabulous Potato Soup from Frugalista Confessions  Author Stephanie Maxie 

6 potatoes

1 can chicken broth

16 ounces (oz.) heavy cream 

8 oz. sour cream

Bacon

Cheddar, shredded

Green onions, chopped

Directions:

1. Peel and dice potatoes. 
2. Boil potatoes, heavy cream,  and broth.  (Add water to cover.)
3. Cover & let boil for ten minutes.
4. Remove from heat and add sour cream.

Garnish with cheddar, bacon and onion!

Popcorn Ball Recipe

Adapted from The Little House Cookbook, Page 216

For 2 to 2 ½ dozen popcorn balls you will need:

Popped corn, 6 quarts

Molasses, 2 cups

Butter, 3 to 4 tablespoons

Pan, 6-quart; baking sheets, 2; kettle, 3-quart

1. Spread the unsalted, unbuttered corn evenly in th e6-quart pan.
2. Butter the baking sheets lightly.
3. In the kettle, (don’t skimp on size, molasses will expand)  bring molasses to a boil, and cook it over medium heat, stirring frequently with a spoon. 
4. Molasses is ready when it hardens as it is dripped into a cup of cold water.
5. Spread bubbling candy over the corn.  With buttered tongs, toss quickly to distribute it.  Then, with hands, shape into balls.
6. Store in air-tight container is not eating right away!

(Thanks to Gabriel, my nine-year-old for reading the recipe to me as I typed!)

To God be the glory!

~Katie

MOPS-Mothers of Preschoolers! The Motherhood Adventure With Friends

My interview with Gayle Wright of MOPS International here!!  Don't let isolation keep you from being the best mom you can be!  Go to MOPS.org to find a MOPS group near you!

Madisonville, Tennessee MOPS group on Facebook HERE!

Get SOLAR WISE!

Do you remember when you first saw solar panels or electric cars?  No, neither do I!  However, I do remember vowing to "use electricity from the sun" to power all my modern day conveniences!  

Enter physicist and entreprenuer Jim Stephens, owner of Solar Wise in Southeast Tennessee.  Jim is brilliant so I have to ask him to slow down when explaining things to me!  He has come out of retirement to make available affordable solar planels and systems.  These solar systems are so amazing you can actually live energy-independent!  Or if you are wise as well, your system will be on the grid and the Tennessee Valley Authority, (TVA) will pay you twice what they charge for the energy you produce!

• At this time the TVA reimbursement offer will pay for the entire system in 8 years with a 10 years contract.
• Federal Energy benefits will pay 30% of the system!
• Over 20 systems installed and working over the last  16 months!

Get wise...Solar Wise!

Soli Deo Gloria! ~K. De La Cruz

Got Tools?! Ben Finch; Social Media Tools Mini Seminar Report

Soli Deo Gloria! ~K. De La Cruz