Wordless Wednesdays

Occasionally I'm going to be participating in a weekly theme I found from other blogs called "Wordless Wednesday."  You basically just post a random picture without typing any post to it. I've obviously wrote a little bit today so it's not exactly "wordless," but I wanted to introduce it  :)

The picture I am sharing with you is a candid shot I took of Holly yesterday.  She was out in the yard studying and I thought it was pretty.

Keeping Short Accounts

One morning, I had baked blueberry biscuits for breakfast. Afterward, the cookie sheet contained a mess of biscuit, flour and blueberry remainders. I put it in the sink and went on to something else.

Later in the evening, I found Mom in the kitchen vigorously scrubbing the sheet where the scraps were now stuck on as glue.
"You know Brooke," she told me, "you should had let it soaked or had washed it earlier when it was easier to clean."

I apoligized and then it dawned on me how similar this is to our spiritual lives! If I had washed the pan that morning I could have taken a sponge and could have cleaned it effortlessly. But the longer I waited, the more stuck it became, the harder it was to clean, and the more elbow grease had to be used. This can be easily compared to our walk with God. When we sin we should take care of it right away and should never wait to get things right with God and other people. So many times I have caught myself thinking, "I can deal with this later," or "I will apologize when I feel like it," or, "before I go to bed I will be sure to make restitution." But instead we should never wait to get things right. Some of the best advice my pastor has given me and that I have kept in mind is to keep short accounts with God. What does that mean? When you mess up get it right then and there. Acknowledge your sin and ask forgiveness. If we wait our sin can easily become worse which could include further problems, bitterness, or a hardened heart.

Sometimes it can be discouraging because we fail so often. I know I do. I remember one week I was striving to keep "short accounts" and was finding myself apologizing to my family members many times in a day. But how blessed we are to have a forgiving God that doesn't expect us to be perfect (because we can't!) but rather to get back up and try again.

Proverbs 24:16

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.

I think the most important thing to remember in "keeping short accounts" is that sin is destructive and separates us from God. The sooner we take care of it, the better things will be including our relationship with God. We can't approach our Lord with sin and usually the longer we wait the sticker it becomes!

James 4:8

Draw night to God and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ye sinners, and purify your hearts ye double minded.

Keeping short accounts---it's a worthy goal. It may times takes humility but it's worth it. Believe me, it will save you lots of pain and problems in the long run!

Short Update On Life

The season of fall is faintly beginning to fill the air. The mornings are a bit cooler and the leaves are starting to change their colors. I don't want summer to end even though I enjoy snuggling under cozy blankets, colored leaves, soft snow, warm tea and sitting by the fireplace. I will miss taking walks in the warm morning sun. But that's the way its got to be and change is nice some times.

Amber and Autumn have been accompanying me on my morning walks as of late. We all jog up to the neighbor's deserted house (which is used for his bridal photography company but he's never there) and is surrounded by woods and lots of wild life. I've seen quite a few deers and recently a huge turkey up in a tree.

God has blessed Holly and I with t-shirt printing jobs these last two weeks which we are grateful for. We finished an order for 150 last week and have an order for about 115 to complete by Sunday. God is very gracious. He is always faithful to provide right when we need it :)

I will begin babysitting next week and I am looking forward to seeing the kids again. It's more than just a job to me but sort of a ministry as well. I have been giving the older two kids short Bible studies and such. Their enthusiasm to learn more about God has really encouraged me. It surprised me at first because I wasn't expecting that sort of reaction from them--actual excitement to have a "Bible study." But last time I tried to have one, Chase, the 12 year old, went rocking on his electric guitar instead and politely said he didn't want to do it today. So, anyway, I am praying God will use me as He desires. Chase has been saved for about 2 years but isn't really growing, and Chloe' told me recently that she hasn't accepted Christ as her Savior. Please pray for these kids and me as well. This will probably be the last time I will have to spend all this time with them and I want to use it for God's glory.

I was excited to receive a package in the mail recently of the Bible study materials I had ordered. It's the official leader's guide and I am now in a period of "training." There's several CD's I have to listen to which contain such subjects as learning how to disciple young girls, leading an effective meeting, how to be a good role model, etc. Maybe I will be able to start a discipleship group for girls soon. I'm still praying though.

God has been teaching me a lot lately. How dependent I am on Him. I'm so grateful for His grace and that He still loves me despite how imperfect I am.

I Heart Homemade Bread

I absolutley love homemade bread!! It makes an ordinary sandwich taste delightful. Not only does it taste delicious but it is very healthy and filled with many vitamins. Baking fresh, homemade bread has so many benefits.

I try to bake a few loaves every weekend so we will be stocked for the upcoming week. We use our own organic wheat (which makes it good for you!), and grind it into flour. So that is the first step in baking bread.

Want to see the whole process? First I...

Mix the ingredients into the mixer (which is the easiest way to do it)

After the dough rises for about an hour, take it out of the mixer.

Knead it.

Let it rise once again.


Bake it.

Remove from oven.

And then you have your delicious masterpiece!

Oh yeah, so good....

The kids love it!!


I then wrap up the remainders....

...and freeze for the rest of the week.

And there you go! That's how's it done. Not too bad, aye? What a blessing to bake from scratch! It really does make a difference.

Remembering the Lord's Blessings

I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. -Psalm 77:11-12

A couple of Sundays ago we had arrived back to church from ministering at the local nursing home and had 45 minutes until the afternoon service. I went upstairs to the sanctuary to retrieve my purse I had left in a pew. I found the sanctuary dark and empty; Instead, I walked up to the front and took a seat on the stage overlooking the pews. This day had marked a year since we had started attending our church. My mind went back a year ago and I thought on what the Lord had done since then....

A year ago we had been looking for a home church. I remembered what we were going through at the time. We were visiting churches Sunday after Sunday and had been doing so for over a half of a year. I was so tired of looking for a church and was ready for a place to call home. I was getting frustrated and waning in my spiritual life as well. We had visited many different churches but none of them we felt was where the Lord wanted us. My family and I were greatly desiring and praying that God would give us a home church soon---one who had a sincere desire to honor God above all else and that was led by the Scriptures alone. We kept praying...

After many, many months of searching and prayer, God led us to our church and answered us and gave us our desires. Our church is more than I could have asked for! It has been one of the greatest blessings in my life. I have grown in my walk with the Lord more than I have any other church we have been to. We have been blessed with wonderful teaching from the Word of God and wonderful fellowship with fellow believers. Pastor Barry and Mrs. Debbie have inspired me greatly in the things of the Lord through their examples, teachings and friendship. They love the Lord and they love people. I am so grateful for them and they both are very dear to me. They really do inspire me. God couldn't have given us a better pair.

I love everyone else in our church and congregation. I am so thankful for a place to meet weekly with other believers who love the Lord. We have made some special friendships and it is such a blessing to "provoke one another to love and good works," and to "exhort one another."

It is such an encouragement to look back and see how God has blessed us and how He's grown us. I am completely in awe in how He works and all He does.

Let me tell you: God answers prayer! If you are trusting the Lord for something, my encouragement to you is to keep praying. Don't give up. I'd also encourage you to look back on your life and see how the Lord has blessed you. That's why I think journaling is so special. It's a great thing to look back on God's grace and see what He has done.

What has God done in your life? What prayers has He answered? Don't forget His goodness and don't forget to thank Him.

God is faithful and He is good to His children. How I love being His child and how grateful I am for His blessings. A church that is built on the Word is such a precious thing and I am so thankful to be a part of one!



Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21


Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:23-25

Bee Stings and Other Things

I was in the dining room innocently listening to a CD when I felt something bite my foot. I brushed it off and realized a yellow jacket had stung me. And in the dining room out of all places? Anyway, I pulled out the stinger, which still resided in my foot, and all I knew then and there was: I was in pain!!

It's neat, because I have been reading through a book on home remedies and I had just finished a section about what do incase you get stung. I read several tips but all I could remember in the time of pain was the suggestion to use baking soda. So I ran into the kitchen and hastily pulled down the baking soda and created it into a paste and guess what? It worked! The pain and throbbing quickly went down greatly. It would have been pretty painful otherwise. It didn't stop it from swelling though (it swelled pretty bad--twice its size), but I was thankful to have had this tip in time of need!

Just incase you're ever stung and would like some quick pain relievers, here's some interesting tips:

-Aspirin. "One of the simplest, most effective things you can do is to apply aspirin. Moisten the sting, then rub an aspirin tablet unto it. The aspirin neutralizes certain inflammatory agents in the venom. This treatment should not be attempted by those who are allergic or sensitive to aspirin, however."

-Baking Soda. "Apply by making a paste with baking soda and water."

-Meat Tenderizer. "An enzyme-based meat tenderizer breaks down the proteins that make up insect venom. You have to use it right away to make it effective." (We use this along with vinegar for jelly fish stings during beach vacation, and it really works!)

-Mud. "If you don't have anything else handy, you can mix a little clay soil and water into a mud paste and apply it to the sting. Cover with a bandage or handkerchief, and leave it on until the mud dries." (I wish I knew this when I got stung hiking a few weeks ago!)

I spent about two hours in the library last week and had a real enjoyable time looking through many books and finding several interesting ones to read and study. I been reading though several of them, including a couple on the subject of Stem Cell Research.

Mom, Holly and I started the Bible study at our church yesterday entitled, "Created In His Imagine." I am so excited about it!!! We already have daily homework to do and weekly Scripture to memorize. I am thankful for all God has allowed to help grow us in our walk with Him.

Thank you for all your comments. I am a little behind in replying, but please know I will be replying soon!

God bless,

~~Brooke