What To Do When Your Burden is Overwhelming

What to Do when your Burden is Overwhelming

Psalm 55:22FOCUS VERSE

Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Cast: “to chuck, throw out, or to throw overboard.”

"Cast" is a familiar term around the water. Fishermen cast their bait in hopes of catching the big one. The catch, no matter the size, must be cleaned and prepared before the fishermen can fully reap the reward. After the work is done, the catch comes to the dinner table prepared for all to “Come and get it, eat and enjoy.” Passengers who find themselves in an emergency situation while aboard a boat or ship may get a different concept of the word "cast." In order to survive, those on board may have to "cast" overboard the things that threaten the safety of the ship or hinder it from reaching its destination. People "cast" their lot for the catch -- the big one in life. The catch may be a new job, new house, or new spouse -- things they want so badly. We think these items will make our lives complete, but soon learn otherwise. Beginning to live with the "catch," moving in, settling down, and /or beginning the new job may expose some flaws. There may be things to fix or work to be done before this catch really reaches its potential. The "catch" can become a blessing or a burden. When the circumstances of life become a burden, we want to cast it overboard, just as the person does who is onboard a conveyance in distress. But casting is not as easy as it looks either for the survivor or the person who has burdens in their life.

We must distinguish between the burden-bearing that is right and the burden-bearing that is wrong. We ought never to bear the burden of sin or of doubt, but there are burdens placed on us by God which He does not intend to lift off, He wants us to roll them back on Him. "Cast that He hath given thee upon the Lord." If we undertake work for God and get out of touch with Him, the sense of responsibility will be overwhelmingly crushing; but if we roll back on God that which He has put upon us, He takes away the sense of responsibility by bringing in the realization of Himself.

Many workers have gone out with high courage and fine impulses, but with no intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, and before long they are crushed. They do not know what to do with the burden, it produces weariness, and people say - "What an embittered end to such a beginning!"

"Roll thy burden upon the Lord" - you have been bearing it all; deliberately put one end on the shoulders of God. "The government shall be upon His shoulder." Commit to God "that He hath given thee"; not fling it off, but put it over on to Him and yourself with it, and the burden is lightened by the sense of companionship. Never disassociate yourself from the burden.

"Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me." Matthew 11:29

Jesus is asking us to take one end of the yoke - "My yoke is easy, get alongside Me and we will pull together." Are you identified with the Lord Jesus like that? If so, you will thank God for the pressure of His hand. "To them that have no might He increaseth strength." The only way to know the strength of God is to take the yoke of Jesus upon us and learn of Him.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." Where do the saints get their joy from? If we did not know some saints, we would say - "Oh, he, or she, has nothing to bear." Lift the veil. The fact that the peace and the light and the joy of God are there is proof that the burden is there too. The burden God places, squeezes the grapes and out comes the Spiritual Wine. No power on earth or in hell can conquer the Spirit of God in a human spirit, it is an inner strength that can not be conquered.

Cast Your Burdens – What do we do with our burdens?
So what can we do?

We can:

• Carry the burdens to family or friend
• Spend time unloading on a counselor’s couch.
• Cast the burdens any place that there is someone who will listen, maybe even to the stranger on the street

Few people want to listen to our woes and troubles. Even fewer have any idea what to do about our difficulties. People may even want us to help them carry some of their load. No one seems to have the time to listen.

There is one place we can "cast" our burdens, a place that far exceeds the list above. There is someone who can be the best friend you'll ever have and you can be a part of His family. He is a counselor, who has no equal and He is available and wants to listen -- any time of the day or night. He takes whatever burdens you want to cast upon Him and takes care of them for you.
His name is Jesus. He waits right now for you to call on Him; to cast all of your burdens upon Him.

Casting Your Burdens on Him

A Spiritual Exercise by Anabel Gillham

What do you do with your burdens? People and circumstances that seem to drain every ounce of your strength, things you would like to give to the Lord but just can’t seem to let go of? God showed me how to give my burdens to Him . . . a simple little exercise, but oh so wonderful to experience. I’d like to share it with you. You’ll need about 30 minutes alone. Gather a few things together from home: an envelope, a piece of paper, a pen, a watch (preferably with a second hand), and a felt-tipped pen. Go buy a helium-filled balloon. Then immediately go somewhere where there are no obstacles, no trees or buildings—maybe a deserted football stadium or a park or a lake.

Take all your paraphernalia with you to the edge of the water or the center of the field. Write about your burden on the balloon with your felt-tipped pen, anything that will help you associate that balloon with your problem. Find a rock about the size of a half-brick, and hold it and the string to your balloon in your hand, lifting it with a straight arm at a 45-degree angle. Heavy, isn’t it?

Begin talking to the Lord about your burden—all your thoughts, your fears, the pain, the destroyed dreams. As you are praying, your arm is going to get awfully tired. Keep right on praying. Tell Him everything. Any of the thoughts that you have had—vomit it all out—if there is bitterness, anger, depression—all of it.

By now you’re crying, and you can’t separate the emotional pain from the physical pain you’re experiencing because your arm is hurting so badly. Then, when you cannot hold your arm up another single second, say something like this: "Lord, You have commanded me to give my burdens to You. I can’t handle this. It’s too much for me. I can’t hold onto it any longer. You must take it." Drop the rock, release the string, and watch that burden float up into the heavens—into the open, waiting arms of God.

Thank Him for telling you to give Him your burden—and for taking it. Look at your watch and record the time and date on your piece of paper. Write this: On (date/time), I gave my burden to the Lord. And He took it. (Print that last line.)

Look up into the sky and find that tiny speck. It’s His—it is no longer yours. It’s not in your hand. He told you to give it to Him, and you did. Now fold your paper and put it in your envelope (where is the balloon? catch one last glimpse of it). Seal it, and on the outside write "GOD" and then the date.

When you get home, get an index card and cut it into strips, on each strip write just the date. Put a strip over the sink, one in your bathroom medicine cabinet by your toothbrush, one on the dash of your car—anyplace where you can glance at it—and thank Him for taking your burden. (Close your eyes and visualize that speck in the sky again.)

Please know that God loves you, understands your burdens and wants to bear that load if you will just let it go and cast it on Him. I pray that this simple exercise will give you peace. Remember, your emotions are not the barometer of peace. KNOWING that He has taken your burden and will handle it with wisdom and loving tenderness is the key to peace. (Remember how that balloon went straight to Him when you released it?) Think on these things.

CASTING OUR BURDENS

Scriptures

Psalm 55:22FOCUS VERSE

Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not

permit the godly to slip and fall.

Psalm 15:5

He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

Psalm 37:5

Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

Psalm 37:24

When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.

1 Peter 5:7

Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Just as my child brings his broken toys
with tears
for me to mend,
I took my broken dreams to God
because He was my Friend.
But then . . . instead of leaving Him
in peace
to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
with ways that were my own.
At last I snatched them back
and cried,
"How could You be so slow?"
"What could I do, My child?" He said.
"You never did let go."

Faith Mitchner

Kelly's Thrifty Tips

Good times to buy items:

Woman's Day has some awesome money saving tips in May's issue. Mary Hunt one of my favorite thrifty tipsters wrote an article on ways to save money by buying things at certain times. Here are just a few tips that I thought I would share:

The cheapest time to do some shopping for air travel is on Tuesdays at 3:00 pm EST. This is because many of the major airlines announce their sales on Monday nights. The other airlines follow suit on Tuesdays which can make for a great time for a traveler to cash in. Also many people know this but the best times to travel are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays as there is less business travel on those days and so there are more seats available. It is also wise to book your air travel at the first flight out, because most people do not want to get up too early. Other good times are noon and dinner time. :)

Here is something I didn't know, Spring is a good time to purchase sneakers, and this is apparently because many athletic shoe companies sponsor walks and races. Apparently a lot of newbies buy shoes for these walks and it is a great time to pick up a deal.

Gardening Help:

I found something else really cool that I wanted to share today. This is great for anyone interested in setting up a community garden. The America the Beautiful project saves seeds from going to waste when seed companies discard them. The offer flower and vegetable seeds. People interested can go to their site and fill out an application request.


Freebies:

John Freida is giving away free samples of Luxurious Volume Full Splendor shampoo and conditioner. Link below:

LINK: John Freida Samples

Free CCM has more free music from the Catalyst Project. This week you can get A Thousand Amens by Doxology

LINK: FREE MUSIC

Get a free ream of Staples Copy paper after their Easy Rebate. Follow the link below for the coupon. This is too easy to pass up and ends on April 10th!

LINK: Free Staples Copy Paper


STRETCH YOUR FOOD BUDGET


When you want to save money, one of the important things to do is figure out what to do with leftovers. You have to check out thekitchn.com (yes that is kitchen without the "e"), because they have 75 tips for things to do with different leftovers from chicken scraps to spaghetti squash. Check out the link below. This is a perfect place to stop at when you are wondering what to do with certain items.

LINK: 75 Tips For Leftovers



Make sure to check out the new coupons available on cellfire.com for a new batch of coupons to load on your grocery loyalty cards.

LINK: Cellfire


Don't forget to check out Angel Food Ministries and Treasure Box for enough food to feed a family of four for a week on $30 plus service fees. Also check out Bountiful Baskets for some great veggies and fruits. Get to know the schedule for when it is in your area. For example, the pick up date in my area is this Saturday and the order time starts Tuesday morning until Wednesday. The next order will be in two weeks. If you check and your area is not available this week, check back next week.

LINK: Angel Food Ministries This month's menu order by April 15 (Menu Link)
Treasure Box Order deadline is April 11 (Menu Link)
Bountiful Baskets



And let's not forget free donating. It couldn't be any easier to donate to a favorite non profit. Next time you are going to make a search, take a moment and go to www.goodsearch.com. It takes a moment to type in your charity. After it is entered, you can do your search and 1 cent goes to your charity for each search. This really adds up, and it is completely free for you. Check it out, if 100 people did just two searches a day for a year, the non profit will get a donation of $730! And yes...Radio Shine is listed.

LINK: Good Search

Celebrating God’s Faithfulness

From Radio Shine’s Praise and Share Edition

Steve White - Host

A wise man once said that the proof of the durability of Christianity is not how steep the race is, but how long. I have found that to be true. It is not how persuasively we win the argument about the nature of truth, but what works when we put it into practice, what endures because it is based on revelation and what is fluff. In my estimation, the most remarkable, most powerful, but most simple, truth is that God is real and that he is faithful to His children. That is why Christianity works. Christians should be the most positive people in the world. Celebration of His reality and faithfulness has the latent capacity to act as a gigantic magnet to draw others to him. It is time to respond to skepticism and pervasive negativity by celebrating God’s faithfulness, deliberately, consciously, joyfully and very publicly.

When you are a child, the future is all potential. When the hair turns grey and the decade milestones come and go there are moments to reflect on what actually took place. As I look back, I know God has always been there. He has provided everything I have needed (not necessarily all that I wanted or demanded). I have sensed His presence with me, even in times of loneliness and the loss of loved ones (Christians face grief and loss like everyone else, but we know God is with us at those times). The Bible tells us there is a time and a season for everything. The strongest Christian will face life and death, health and sickness, abundance and lack, some experiences that build up and others that seem to demolish possessions and plans. Things will not always go well. Job observed that God sometimes allows seemingly bad things to happen (Job 2:10). There is no sense living in denial. Christians are not immune from the highs and lows of relationships and personal feelings about circumstances. It is in looking back that we can evaluate the totality of what has gone before and see the hand of God upholding and His Spirit sustaining us (Psalm 139). As Jesus reminded us, God is a God of the living, of the “now”.

God is able to do more than we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). He says, “If you call on me I will answer you.” (Jeremiah 33:3; Psalm 50:15). Friends care, but they are limited. There are many things they simply cannot do to help, even if they are available and disposed to do so. On the other hand, God will not allow us to be removed (Psalm 55:22). Nothing can take us out of His hand (John 10:28-29). He has promised us “rest” (Matthew 11:28). We can trust him with our all, as a lifestyle choice. We know that he makes everything that happens in our circumstances work for good (Romans 8:28) and he is able to keep us from falling (1 Corinthians 1:8, 9; Jude 24).

-2-

Problems are a part of life, but God does not abandon us because we get into fixes. He does not destroy his servants. Even when we feel he is squeezing us, to produce change, we can still affirm that we trust Him with our lives. When faced with unusual or trying circumstances, Biblical faith says, “This has a purpose” (Job 23:10). Too many people opt for a form of Christian fatalism, directly or indirectly blaming God for allowing events to occur. It is easy to be cemented to our setbacks, but this is not God’s way. The Bible repeatedly calls him the “God of hope”. He is faithful when Christians suffer persecution, when a friend dies at the hands of an assailant, when abuse occurs, when financial problems appear overwhelming, when a sickness is not healed, when a friend is killed in a car accident, when Christians perish in a tsunami? It is assuring to know He has a purpose. Life is not a tiny blip of nothingness in the cosmos. Life IS God. His purpose is always to build something that will last for eternity.

Are we really convinced that God cares, that he is able and trustworthy? Do we live as though that confidence is real? Is it right or wrong to query God’s faithfulness? There is no sense pretending. He can always remove a trial, if he desires, but sometimes he chooses not to do so. Paul asked three times for a particular trial to be lifted, but was told God’s grace was enough. Only our heavenly father knows what is really in our hearts when we react against what is going on in our lives. I believe we can ask for an explanation about what is happening without judging God (Romans 9:19-21). When we regularly and actively celebrate God’s faithfulness as part of our lives, we won’t be so quick to jump to conclusions and think God has let us down when things do not work out the way we want. God is faithful.

There are many ways in which Christians experience God’s faithfulness. These include his presence in times of suffering; His strength in times of temptation; His faithfulness in showing us how to live wisely in all our human relationships, through His Word and His people; His faithfulness in avenging those who suffer for him. The bottom line is that we can trust him with our lives and know He has our good at heart (this is what Satan failed to realize when he mistakenly thought Job’s reaction to suffering would be to curse God to His face, cf Job 1:11; 2:5). The fact is, he has a purpose (cf Job 23:10). It is not enough to say, “God knows” when circumstances are beyond our control. That can imply that He is aware but indifferent. Some things happen by divine permission and we never work them out objectively. However, there is always a bottom line. David said that he had never seen the righteous going without. In times of trouble (and he had lots of those), he kept reminding himself that God was his refuge and help (Ps 46:1, 2). That can be our experience as well.

-3-

God shows his faithfulness by putting us in relationships, such as families; or providing experienced Christians as leaders and mentors to care for us spiritually. (Hebrews 13:17). Whatever happens, He is described as a father looking after his family, caring for the vulnerable, a pastor overseeing his sheep (Psalm 23). Even the deaths of his people are “precious” in his sight “

Psalm 116:15). (Ps.41:3, Isa.63:9, John 11:3, 2Cor. 12:9, Phil.4:13, 2Cor.4:16,

Acts 17:28, Isa.40:29-31, Deut.33:27)

He is faithful, even in death!

DEATH~
WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO EXPLAIN IT .

A sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, 'Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side.' Very quietly, the doctor said, 'I don't know..' 'You don't know? You're, a Christian man, and don't know what's on the other side?' The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness. Turning to the patient, the doctor said, did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, And when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing... I know my Master is there and that is enough.' May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.

May His peace be within you today because…..HE IS FAITHFUL!

***************

Kelly's Thrifty Tips

Today, I thought it would be nice to talk about saving money by using items for multiple purposes and using every bit of an item. There will also be some freebies thrown in too. :)

MAKE YOUR OWN BREAD CRUMBS

1 - Do you eat the ends of the bread? We do not. Seriously, I just don't think bread heels are good for much more than keeping your bread from getting dry and gross. Most of the time, after we go through a loaf of bread, we just toss the heels to the birds in the back yard. Now I am using them to make bread crumbs. To do this I keep the heels in the bag and toss in the freezer. When I have accumulated several bags, I take them out of the freezer and bake them in the oven to dry them out. Then simply grate them and put in an airtight container. You can use plain or add seasonings when you use them. I have used these crumbs now in meatloaf and they really work great and are ridiculously cheap since we are already buying the bread. I also still have plenty of heels left over to give to the birds too. :)

Another cool thing is I have started to do this as well with Italian and French loaves that I purchase. We never eat the whole loaf before it dries right up. These get hard enough not to need baking. I grate them as well but put them in a different container. They make perfect panko breading.

AND NOW A FREEBIE BREAK!

Head on over to Walmart.com for a free sample of Dove's Men's Body Wash. The free sample link is on the top right.

LINK: Dove for Men


BAKING SODA FOR JEWELRY CLEANING, HAIR CLARIFYING AND DEODORIZING


2 - Baking soda has a bunch of uses. I am going to go over a few of my favorites here.

--- Hair clarifying. When you use the same brands of shampoos and conditioners residue your hair gets kind of blah and limp. This also happens when you use lots of product from mousses to gels and hairspray. Baking soda helps get rid of that build up really simply. I usually just keep some in a container in the bathroom and had a bit to my palm and then add my shampoo. Mix it all together and shampoo like you normally would. It is amazing how clean your hair feels afterward and it is by far cheaper than buying a clarifying shampoo.


--- Baking soda can also be used to keep your refrigerator fresh, but you do not need to pop a whole box into the refrigerator. Instead take a coffee filter and pour a half a cup of baking soda into the filter. Gather the filter and tie at the top and place this package in the refrigerator instead. This will last a month. When you take the baking soda out of the fridge, empty the contents into the sink and add a cup of white vinegar...this will give your sink a nice fizzy clean.


--- Baking soda also makes a great silver cleaner. Combine two tablespoons with enough water to make a light paste. Rub the paste gently into the silver. This works wonders with taking the tarnish off of silver without using any harsh chemicals.


FREEBIE BREAK

RitzPix.com is offering a free My Show DVD. You can upload up to 50 pictures and a 1 minute video to DVD. This could make a great grandparent gift and all you pay is $1.99 for shipping. This offer is only for today April 1st so check out the details at the link below.

LINK: MY SHOW DVD


VINEGAR IN THE DISHWASHER


3. If dishwasher spotting gives you a problem, don't spend extra money on spot reducers. Add two tablespoons of vinegar to your dishwasher liquid and run the wash as usual.



FREEBIE BREAK

I do not know how long this will last but you can sign up now for a free issue of Living the Country Life magazine. Check out the link below for more details.

LINK: Living the Country Life Magazine free subscription


CORNSTARCH, CLOVES & A CHEESE SHAKER

4. Combine 1/4 cup of ground cloves and 1 1/2 cups of cornstarch and put in an old shaker container (the plastic cheese shakers work great). Shake them up in those smelly athletic sneakers to kill the foot odor.


FREE FAMILY FUN

I don't know if you tried this last year, but we did and it was wonderful. April 17th through the 25th will be another Free National Park Entry Week! That is free entry to all the 392 National Parks! Last summer, we took advantage of a free National Park weekend entry and had a blast at the Grand Canyon. We packed a cooler full of sandwiches and treats from home and had a great day of picture taking and enjoying the time out. You will definitely want to take advantage of this.

LINK: Free National Park Entry

PS While looking at the U.S. National Park Service website, I also noticed that they are offering students jobs for the summer. If you have a high school or college student in the family, you may want to direct them to checking out this awesome job. I remember taking a trip with my family cross country when I graduated and we met lots of students at Yellowstone. Here is a link for details: U.S. National Park Service Jobs for Students. There is also a link for volunteers too.


Don't forget to check out Freeccm.com for their free music this week as well as iTickets.com. There are lots of great free songs out there.

FreeCCM has Hold the Light from Caedmon's Call. :)

The Gift of Suffering

^{THE GIFT OF SUFFERING}

^{PHILIPPIANS 1:29 (Amplified)}

²⁹For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ's sake not only to believe in (adhere to, rely on, and trust in) Him, but also to suffer in His behalf.

Would you believe that suffering, as part of the Christian life, according to the Bible, is a gift from God? There is a Greek word used in Phil 1:29 which has to do with grace or to give graciously. So, with regard to suffering, in a sense it is part of God’s gracious favor towards us, that we suffer for him, whatever that may mean, be it through poverty, illness, disability, persecution, even imprisonment (as in the case of Paul) (the list could go on and on). And to be sure, these things may not all happen here in the States necessarily (not yet at least) but they happen to Christians all over the world on a regular basis, especially in what are called “closed” countries (ie, most of the Middle East, most of Asia, and any other region of the world with a communist or totalitarian government). Here is how one theologian paraphrases this passage: God has granted the high privilege of suffering for Christ; this is the surest sign that he looks upon you with favor. Suffering is the surest sign that God looks upon us with favor? This is hard to believe/hear isn’t it? That a sign of God’s favor is not necessarily or always blessing (mainly in the material or physical sense). One might be lead to ask, if I am not suffering in some fashion for following Jesus, am I really following Jesus? Do I have God’s favor? I find this particularly interesting because the thinking in many Christian circles today seem to suggest the opposite: that suffering is somehow a curse, a sign of God’s punishment or judgment, not his blessing. This seems to be especially true in those circles that promote the prosperity gospel. These folks see health and wealth as signs of God’s favor not suffering. In fact, they refuse to believe that suffering has any spiritual value what so ever. This is contrary to the word of God. We should embrace suffering, for through it, we have God’s favor. How do we know that? Look at Romans 8:17 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁷And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory. Reading this verse and the list of Scripture Passages listed below it is impossible to come to any other conclusion. The Greatest act the Jesus ever did was His suffering! His suffering brought about salvation for all mankind and it pleased God the Father so much that He will forgive anyone who claims repentance through Christ’s shed blood and suffering. It was His purpose in coming to this world and we are to follow in His steps!

IT IS EASY TO CONCLUDE THAT

Suffering for the Lord Jesus is a basic part of discipleship and is to be expected and embraced. It comes with the cost of following Jesus – and so Paul exhorts the believers in Philippi to “live in manner worthy of the gospel,” “as citizens of heaven,” standing firm in the one Spirit, striving together in unity for the sake of the gospel so they won’t have to fear those who oppose them.

Jesus was known as a man of sorrows and suffering. So was Peter, Paul and most all Men of God mentioned in the Bible. They all were persecuted and most died a martyr’s death. But in the end they shared the eternal Joy of Heaven. For those of us who are believers in the Lord Jesus, we are given the great gift of sharing in His sufferings. “For we shall be like Him……”

Romans 8:17 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁷And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.

Philippians 3:10 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁰[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [^[a]which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]

Hebrews 2:10 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁰For it was an act worthy [of God] and fitting [to the divine nature] that He, for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence, in bringing many sons into glory, should make the Pioneer of their salvation perfect [should bring to maturity the human experience necessary to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest] through suffering.

2 Timothy 1:8 (Amplified Bible)

⁸Do not blush or be ashamed then, to testify to and for our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for His sake, but [^[a]with me] take your share of the suffering [to which the preaching] of the Gospel [may expose you, and do it] in the power of God.

2 Timothy 2:3 (Amplified Bible)

³Take [with me] your share of the hardships and suffering [which you are called to endure] as a good (first-class) soldier of Christ Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 1:5 (Amplified Bible)

⁵This is positive proof of the just and right judgment of God to the end that you may be deemed deserving of His kingdom [a plain token of His fair verdict which designs that you should be made and counted worthy of the kingdom of God], for the sake of which you are also suffering.

John 15:20

Remember that I told you, A servant is not greater than his master [is not superior to him]. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word and obeyed My teachings, they will also keep and obey yours.

Romans 5:3 (Amplified Bible)

³Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.

Kelly's Thrifty Tips

This summer my goal is to plant some veggies and maybe save a little money. I love fresh garden vegetables. I live on a hill so this is a little more difficult. Last year I tried a tomato plant in a pot on our deck. It grew a few tomatoes but the blossoms would not stay. I was pretty bummed, but decided to learn more and try again. This year I found this great site with all kinds of wonderful tips, and now I am definitely ready to give it another try. The site is from Kraft Brands and is called Home Farming. It has all kinds of great information that can help almost anyone begin a garden at home! Check out the Growing Vegetables at Home section for lots of great tips! I am thinking seriously about trying a raised garden!

LINK: Home Farming


Let's start with some freebies:

FREE ACTIVITIES:

Bass Pro Shops in Mesa will have free Ester activities and crafts for kids. The activities will include:

Making your own sun catcher on March 27th and 28th beginning at noon while supplies last.

Making Easter decorations on Thursday, April 1st starting at 6 pm and April 3rd and 4th beginning at noon with an egg hunt on the 3rd and 4th for children 8 and under from 2 to 3 pm.

LINK: Bass Pro Shops


Home Depot is signing up ladies for the Martha Stewart Living paint Do-It Herself Workshop on April 15th from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. You need to RSVP for the workshop. Follow the link.

LINK: Do-It Herself

Home Depot has two great activities for kids coming up. Saturday, April 3. The kids can make a Butterfly House, and on Saturday, May 1st they can make a picket fence planner. These workshops are the first Saturday of the month between 9 am to 12 noon for children ages 5 to 12. Call your local Home Depot for details. Follow this link below for a little more information.

LINK: Home Depot Kids Workshops




Lowes Build and Grow Clinics also have some special treats for the kids to make. This Saturday, March 27th the kids can make a kaleidoscope and April 10th the kids can make a mini baseball game. Registration link is below.

LINK: Lowes Build and Grow






REBATE:

Purchase Olay Quench Body Lotion before April 16th (no trial sizes), print out, fill out and mail out the rebate form and in 6 to 8 weeks you will get a rebate for the purchase price of the product. Yes, it will cost you a stamp in the end, but it is totally worth it.

LINK: Olay Quench Rebate


FREE 5 REACT GUM IF YOU'RE CHOSEN

If you have a Facebook account and like gum, you may want to take a chance at winning a pack of 5 React gum. I played, linked up, and was chosen. I also love gum so this was a happy moment for me. Check it out. If you aren't chosen, let me know. I'd like to see if we all get chosen. :) P.S. The link to play is on the left.

LINK: 5 React Gum

LOREAL FREE SAMPLES

Get free samples of Loreal Ever Strong for strong hair or Ever Pure for color treated hair. Just follow the link and click on "Special Offers and Savings" in the lower left corner.

LINK: Loreal


FREE HAIR CARE

Yes more free hair care with an Aveeno New Nourish Hair Care. Follow the link and snag this free sample. Great to have on hand for travel!

LINK: Aveeno New Nourish Hair Care



I talked about getting more bang for your buck by joining the co-op Bountiful Baskets. This is an amazing co-op where you pay $15 plus a service charge for 50% veggies and 50% fruit. They also have organic offerings at some of their pick up locations which cost $25 plus the service charge. In addition, you can order baked goods and other treats for an additional cost. The ordering times are from Tuesday at 10 am to Wednesday (not sure the exact time here so order early) the week of your pick up. It is a bi-weekly thing so check each week to see when you can order for your location. By the way, there are many locations. I did this two weeks ago, and I was just floored by how many fruits and veggies I got for my $15! Follow the link and read the site for how to register.

LINK: Bountiful Baskets Food Co-op


We are going to be out of town this weekend so I will not be partaking in the Angel Food Ministries food offerings, but I plan on getting in on it again next month. Check out their site to see how everything works. You pay $30 plus a service fee and get lots of great food. Enough to feed a family of four dinner for a week. We definitely stretched it beyond that week. Angel Food Ministries has been working to help families with food since 1994! Follow the link and look for a location near you!

LINK: Angel Food Ministries


The Treasure Box is the only food buy that I have not tried. However, I do know that one of their pick up locations is Calvary Chapel in Phoenix. Get more details at their site as well as a listing of their pick up locations. The Treasure Box pick up dates are similar to Angel Food Ministries.

LINK: The Treasure Box


FREE HAIR REPAIR

Get a free sample of Dove Intensive Repair or Daily Moisture. Follow the link below.

LINK: Dove Hair Repair

Lastly don't forget to check out the latest free song downloads at Free CCM and iTickets.com!

Is Jesus Really My Treasured King?

Is Jesus Really My Treasured King

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Mat 6:21

Often times I assess where Jesus is in the big picture of my life. I have been a Christian now for many years and during the years I have seen definite seasons of the extent to which I treasure my King. I often hear how people like to look back over the years to see how their faith has grown and how they have changed for the better and I’m no exception. However it’s a sobering thought to realize that this hasn’t always been my reality. If I am honest with my self, I would admit that over the years, due to various issues in my life, I have had times when there were other things I treasured more then my Savior and King. Intellectually I knew Jesus. I quote Scriptures. I debate and defend attacks on the Christian faith all the time. Intellectually I got Jesus, but my heart was another story. Thank god He is longsuffering and patient with his children like me, always drawing and bidding me to return to Him completely by abandoning my carnal and misled desires.

What staggers me is this abandonment and surrender in the pursuit of desiring God as My only King is all that is needed to return to the greatest joy and pleasure in life. His heart embodies all that my intellect lacks and cries out for when it comes to intimately craving for Jesus. And his words sometimes leave me wondering, “what on earth am I missing when it comes to knowing Jesus?” The answer is just surrender and wanting Him as He is because all that He has completed makes this possible. Nothing else!

It’s a sobering thought when you realized that you have slipped so far away from where you need to be. And so we need to pray that our heart is changed. I need to know exactly how I have replaced the eternal treasure of knowing and pursuing Jesus with the junk I am wasting my life with.

Jesus said..“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Mat 6:21

I love how he nailed human understanding every time He spoke. And right now He knows where my and your treasure is because He senses the absence of my heart. And so I will pray and I will mediate on two of His parables regarding true treasure – Him & His Kingdom.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Mat 13:44-45

He is indeed the Desire of the Ages. Be sure He is you desire and He will give you Life, Life more abundant than ever thought possible. Jesus will be not only our Savior, but our King of Kings and Lord of Lords if we surrender all to Him!