My Walk Monday - Thoughts on Matthew 11

“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am lowly and meek in heart:  and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

These are perhaps the most familiar verses in Matthew chapter 11, bringing must comfort and joy to so many.  Indeed, Jesus is the only ONE where we can find true rest.  These may quite well be the most recognizeable verses from Matthew 11…found at the end of the chapter.

Do you know how the chapter starts?

John the Baptist is in prison and hears about the works of Christ.  Yes, exactly, those I mentioned in the last My Walk Monday.  News had made it to John in prison about Jesus doing miraculous and wonderous things.  Sending two of his disciples to find out if all that he’d been hearing is true, John sat and waited in his prison cell.

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Go shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:  The blind receive their sight, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”  Matthew 11:4-5

How exciting!  John’s disciples received their answer directly from Jesus! I don’t know about you, but I have often overlooked this part of Matthew chapter 11.  Always turning to the end of the chapter for the promise of rest from my weariness.  Verses 4 and 5 brought tears to my eyes as I read them last night, imagining Jesus confirming John’s hope.  Yes!  All that you have heard is TRUE!

Now, who is going to think twice about coming to Jesus when heavy laden?  Keep in mind verses 4 and 5 as you approach verses 28 through 30.  Oh, how He loves you and me

*****

For more of My Walk Monday, visit Caroline at Scrapping Servant and join us every Monday with your Walk!

Published in: on May 12, 2008 at 2:28 am Comments (0)
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Check This Page Often - “Joyful Finds”

Are you keeping up with the contests and giveaways I regulary post on my constests and giveaways page?  Were you aware that I had such a page?  Have a look there in my sidebar under “Pages”.  See “Joyful Finds (Contests, Giveaways, Etc.)” …click it.  It will take you to the many contests I find while browsing the blogosphere.

Enter these current Contests and Giveaways:

Win $Cash in July

Eden’s Boutique Giveaway

One Scheme of Happiness Contest

Great Cherry Blossoms Giveaway

$100 in Summer Money

Win $50 via PayPal

Sweet Treats Giveaway

If you have a contest or giveaway you’d like me to announce here, please leave the details in a comment.

Published in: on May 10, 2008 at 10:53 pm Comments (1)
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Aloha Friday - Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate?

Aloha Friday!  Hooray!  Hula, anyone?

Today’s Question:

What is your favorite hot drink:  coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?

My Answer:

Coffee:  International Flavor’s French Vanilla Cafe

Tea:  Chamomille

Hot Chocolate:  Starbuck’s Peppermint Hot Chocolate

To participate in Aloha Friday with Kailani and me, visit An Island Life today.

I’ve Got The Joy @ The P.M.S. Club

You’ll find me here today!

Jesus Knows Sign

I’d like you to meet Michelle of Between Diapers and Dishes.  She is a missionary to the deaf in Mexico…along with her husband and three children.

Recently, I interviewed Michelle:

1.  Describe your typical day, breakfast to bedtime.
This has been my stumper, since we don’t have a typical day -or so it seems- from day to day.  And most of my day is filled with your typical mother things.  I wake to a baby that needs to be nursed.  It’s my quiet time.  Then I go about getting breakfast and the other two up and ready.  My daughter goes to preschool so either I drive her or walk her to school that is up the hill.

On Tuesdays I have bible study with the deaf women in my home, on Fridays I meet with the other interpreter and the Deaf Pastor and practice the worship songs to be signed on Sunday.  Otherwise I plan to do a load of laundry, hang it up, put it away, do dishes, start dinner, nurse, change diapers, respond to correspondence . . . you know, that kind of stuff.

Here’s the kicker, on a daily basis I can count on getting texted on my cell or having some deaf couple or woman come over for something.  That’s where I say that no one day is like another.  That’s our ministry-being available for the pastor and his family and the other deaf here in Ensenada.

Today is Friday.  I took my daughter to school and came home to do sign practice.  When that was done I picked up my daughter, and started lunch.  Then deaf lady with her two small children showed up while I was nursing.  She needed something.  Later Pastor Carlos asked me if I could make a call about his computer that is at the shop.  And then I received a call about a house for rent that another deaf family is looking at.  Cool thing the lady I talked to was a christian as well.  Still the price is probably too high for that family.  Anyway, now we are at the 3-4pm hour of the day which is my notoriously difficult part of the day ’cause I am exhausted.  It’s my “must have more coffee or I’m gonna pass out” time.

We pick up a little, we work on dinner and then it’s the bedtime routine - jamies, hugs, kisses and bed.  It’s now 8pm and I can sit down and respond to e-mails.  Maybe blog.  Next month I’ll be working on our newsletter sometime in the day.

2.  Is American Sign Language used in Mexico?

The school for the deaf children where I volunteered for 8 years and met my husband, Rancho Sordo Mudo, is mostly teaching American Sign Language (ASL) because the founders and most of the staff is from the USA.  But that is changing, slowly.  Back when the school was started Mexican Sign Language (LSM) was almost non-existent.  But that is not the case now, so many of our deaf went to this school and know ASL but communicate and are learning LSM (Lenguaje de Senas Mexicana).  The deaf from further south sign LSM.

3.  Did you have to learn Spanish and a new sign language?
Yes

4.  What was/has been your biggest culture shock?
Sign language is like learning a dance.  Your body becomes used to moving a certain way.  LSM moves different and I didn’t like it at all.  There are so many things that are different, but I’m a sociologist at heart and have been pretty good at just absorbing it all.  Still, to kiss your greeting took some getting used to and the way a grown woman - if considered your friend-will link arms with you and snuggle up.

5.  How will you be celebrating Easter this year?  Is Easter celebrated differently in Mexico?  Any different traditions than American?
Well, this is where my husband and I, along with a few of our extended family are different then almost everyone I know.  We don’t celebrate Easter.  We generally don’t tell people that we don’t since often, if and when we do, people feel judged or criticized, and that is not our intention at all.  It’s the whole fertility goddess holiday made “christian” thing and I’ve never been a morning person, plus not needing a particular day to celebrate and remember what Jesus did for us and that HE LIVES (hallelujah!) we abstain.  Beth Moore once said that you can have an egg hunt and still love Jesus.  Likewise you can abstain from Easter and still love Jesus too.  Still it is typically when we and others get days free from stuff so we usually end up gathering as a family anyway . . . we have a family day.  SO, is it different in Mexico? - well, I didn’t see as much of Easter egg hunts happening.  But honestly, since we don’t get caught up in it - shamefully - I can’t say!

6.  What is your favorite Mexican meal?  Will you share a Mexican recipe with us? I am just learning to cook myself.  The quesadilla is pretty simple and what we have for lunch almost every day  tortilla, cheese and heat . . yum!  But my favorite meal is juicy Machaca - almost any way you could dish it up!  In a burrito, in eggs, all by itself with tortillas to sop the juices up . . . YUM YUM!

Beef Machaca

  • 2 tsp. Olive oil
  • 3/4 lb. Beef, cooked and shredded (see Chef Larry’s Notes)
  • 1/2 cup White onion, finely diced
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup Green bell peppers, diced
  • 1/2 tsp. Jalapeno pepper, seeded, finely diced
  • 1/3 tsp. Ground Cumin
  • 1/4 cup Tomato, diced
  • 1/4 cup Tomato juice
  • 1 tbsp. Cilantro, minced
  • Salt to season
  • Fresh ground pepper to season

Method

Beef Machaca can be made with boiled beef bottom or inside round or leftover roasted or grilled beef. Simply boil chunks of beef round in water for 1 1/2 - 2 hours, cool and shred the cooked beef for use in this recipe. The remaining beef stock can be utilized for soups and sauces and maybe frozen for future use.

Beef Machaca can also be used as a filling for tacos and burritos. Beef Machaca should juicy but not wet. The juice is usually cooked during the simmering process.

Prepare Beef Machaca by heating olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Add onions and peppers, cook until tender. Add shredded beef, cumin, cilantro, tomato and tomato juice. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat. Simmer for 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper

7.  Name three specific needs for your family and three for your ministry.  Any classroom materials needed?
For my family:

  1. a new computer or laptop (it’s shameful how old the one I’m using is)
  2. a family van
  3. a lot or a house that we could purchase to call our own (we’re renting right now)

For ministry:

  1. volunteers!
  2. El Bien y el Mal Bible stories in chronological order in comic book style for our deaf congregation.  Put out by No Greater Joy ministries. An easy way to access the Bible for the deaf.
  3. a portable projector

8.  Please share one specific prayer request.
My husband and I are supportive in our ministry.  We support the Deaf pastor Carlos, and his family to minister to the deaf.  His wife, and my very good friend, died suddenly, at 34 years old, in February leaving a 6 year old daughter and a 3 year old son.  Everyone is all still adjusting to this shocking loss because she was very loved and a spiritual mentor to many deaf ladies.

9.  When is the next time you will be on furlough?  Do you speak at churches when on furlough?  How can readers contact you if they are interested in having you at their church? Ah, furlough . . . we go and visit the churches that support us, and friends and family along the way every two years.  This July we will be heading out to do such a trip.  We will be driving to Northern California then to Minnesota, Missouri and back.  We do a little presentation of our ministries, since it is a humble ministry, and would be very willing to share what we are doing at other churches.  Just e-mail me at jesusknowssign at hotmail

10.  What keeps you going on the hard days?  Ah, the hard days.  I’ve got your typical “hard days” with three small kids, diapers, dishes, potty training and ministry - but what makes a day particularity hard is the days we let doubt into our mists.  Doubt deflates us.  We think what we are doing isn’t “enough”, or it isn’t all that important, or we’re doing a poor job of it . . . suddenly we can’t move at all!

What gets us through is pushing all that aside and approaching God with a listening heart and ask the bottom line - “Are we where You want us?” “Are we obeying You?” “Are we doing what we understand You to be asking us to do?”
Again and again our spirit within us answers “yes, yes, yes” . . . OK, then, be it ever so humble, we will stand where God has placed us.  If it is not enough by some one’s standards, it is still obedience, and if it is not an important job we are doing, it is still obedience - and that is what matters.

Really, that is all that matters and the world can fall away, abandon us, but we will go where God leads. We will do what God has placed before us. Period.

1 Samuel 15:22
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Published in: on May 7, 2008 at 11:39 am Comments (2)
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What Women Want: The Life You Crave and How God Satisfies (with Contest!)

I’m still waiting for my book to arrive in the post.  I can hardly wait for it!  Doesn’t this title just reach out and touch right where your heart aches?  It embraces me!  Especially the “How God Satisfies” part.  And, oh, He does!

I hope you will look for this book at you local store…or Amazon.com!  Click here to follow the blog tour.

Curious about what it is you want?  Take a 5 Minute Survey.

Read the first Chapter:  You, Fabulous You

Bible Study for first Chapter:  How God Satisfies Your Craving to be Whole and His

Oh, and did I mention the contest? Rebecca Price and Lisa Bergren want all about your “sister of the heart”… send the girls an email at amy@litfusegroup.com telling who your best friend is and why she is your “heart sister”!

Your stories will be posted on the http://www.satisfiedheart.com/ blog…the story with the most comments will win a copy of What Women Want and the What Women Want soundtrack of their choice for themselves and for their “heart sister”!

And…if that wasn’t enough, leave a comment on this post and they’ll toss your name into the hat for a $15 Starbucks Card. You know…just in case you need that cup of get-up-and-go to get you motivated for your Bible study!

Aloha Friday - Stitchery & Crafts

I’m late for Aloha Friday…I’ve had a busy week…helping my in-laws move and attending a Stitching and Craft Show yesterday…returning so tired!  Such fun I had with my mother-in-law browsing the many booths overflowing with fabrics and beautiful buttons and beads.  A sewer’s and crafter’s heaven!  It was wonderful!  I brought home some lovely fabric and buttons and yarn.

Today’s Question:

Do you sew?  Knit?  Crochet? Quilt?  Craft?

My Answer:

I sew, knit, quilt, crochet, cross-stitch.  This weekend I met some ladies who make their own lace and do some tatting…so cool.  Anyone do their own spinning?

Published in: on May 3, 2008 at 12:09 pm Comments (4)
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My Walk Monday - Walking By Faith

I’ve been reading through Matthew. I’ve just finished reading chapter nine. Chapters 8 and 9 have been on my mind a lot lately. So much happens in these two chapters.  Have a look with me:

Chapter 8

- Jesus heals a leper.

- Jesus heals the centurion’s servant.

- Jesus heals Peter’s wife’s mother.  [Matthew 8:14-15]

- Jesus healed many possessed with devils.  [Matthew 8:16-17]

- Jesus heals many more sick.  [Matthew 8:16-17]

- Jesus calms the storm.  [Matthew 8:24-27]

- Jesus heals two men possessed with devils, casting the devils into a herd of swine.  [Matthew 8:28-32]

Chapter 9

- Jesus heals a man sick of the palsy.  [Matthew 9:1-7]

- Jesus calls Matthew a tax collector, saying, “Follow Me.”  [Matthew 9:9]

- Jesus eats with publicans and sinners.  [Matthew 9:10-13]

- Jesus heals a certain ruler’s daughter.

- Jesus heals woman with issue of blood.

- Jesus heals two blind men.

- Jesus heals a dumb man possessed with a devil.  [Matthew 9:32-33]

- Jesus has compassion on the multitude.  [Matthew 9:36-38]

By faith the leper received healing

“…Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”  - the leper [Matthew 8:2]

“And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean.  And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”  [Matthew 8:3]

By faith the centurion’s servant was healed

“The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof:  but speak the words and my servant shall be healed.” - the centurion [Matthew 8:8]

“When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel…And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.  And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.”  [Matthew 8:10,13]

By faith a certain ruler’s daughter was healed

“…My daughter is dead:  but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.”  - a certain ruler [Matthew 9:18]

“…he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.”  [Matthew 9:25]

By faith a woman with an issue of blood received healing

“For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.”  - woman with issue of blood [Matthew 9:21]

“But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.  And the woman was made whole that hour.”  [Matthew 9:22]

By faith two blind men received their sight

“…Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.”  - two blind men [Matthew 9:27]

“…and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this?…” [Matthew 9:28]

“…Yea, Lord.”  - two blind men [Matthew 9:28]

“Then Jesus touched their eyes, saying, According to you faith be it unto you.  And their eyes were opened…”  [Matthew 9:29-30]

Oh, that my faith would grow!

Published in: on April 28, 2008 at 1:44 am Comments (6)
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Aloha Friday - Painting House

Aloha Friday!  Join me in participating with Kailani at An Island Life for Aloha Friday!

Today’s Question:

When you pain house…do you do the cutting/edging or the rolling part?  Or, maybe you don’t pain at all?

My Answer:

Today, I did the cutting/edging.  I’m helping my in-laws paint the walls in their new house.

Published in: on April 25, 2008 at 8:08 am Comments (11)
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Bloggy Giveaways - Win A Cozy Country Star

Contest now closed…Chrysa of Thrifty Jinxy is the WINNER!

Come one, come ALL to the Best Carnival in all of Blogdom!

This only happens once a quarter!

Welcome!  Welcome, one and ALL!

Enjoy the Carnival!

One of these Cozy Country Stars could be yours!

Lovingly stitched by hand…a Comfort Joy Designs original.

One of these could be arriving at your door:

1.  Leave a comment on this post telling me which one you would choose if you win.

2.  Be sure to include a way for me to contact you if you are the winner:  email or blog address.

3.  Open to everyone in the world.

4.  I will draw a winner April 26th.

Ends April 25th

While I have your attention, be sure to enter the Ghirardelli Chocolate over at The Chocolistas…(my sister-in-law and I keep this site).

You can meet my sister-in-law at Mommie Daze.

Learn more about me at Comfort Joy Designs, where you can enter the bloggy giveaway I am hosting there (Delightful Daisy Coasters).

Before you leave here, scroll down to enter the “My Favorite Mom” spa basket contest, and enter to win a signed copy of A Mother’s Heart Knows by Margaret McSweeney.

Now, go…hundreds of other giveaways are waiting for you!

Have fun!