Last Minute Plans for Halloween! Treats

Are you in the last stages of planning your Halloween and need some quick tips for just about "everything Halloween?"  This is a great place to get some ideas and share some ideas!

HALLOWEEN TREATS

Trick or Treat, Smell my feet, Give me something Good to Eat!   Most of us have said that once in our lifetime or our children or neighbor's children will be saying that very soon.  So what do you have to give your own family, the children and the neighbor's children this year?  I have some ideas for you that I've gathered from my own recipe files, the files of others, the internet, email, you name it!

PUMPKIN GINGER CUPCAKES

By: OVIEDOGIRL 

Prep Time: 20 mins.  Cook Time: 20 mins  Ready In: 1 hr. 30 mins.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant butterscotch pudding mix
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/3 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger
•  
• 1 cup butter, room temperature
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 24 muffin cups, or line with paper muffin liners. Whisk together the flour, pudding mix, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ground ginger, allspice, cloves, and crystallized ginger in a bowl; set aside.
2. Beat the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color. Add the room-temperature eggs one at a time, allowing each egg to blend into the butter mixture before adding the next. Beat in the vanilla and pumpkin puree with the last egg. Stir in the flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared muffin cups.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until golden and the tops spring back when lightly pressed, about 20 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 211 | Total Fat: 8.7g | Cholesterol: 56mg

[This is not my typical HEALTHY RECIPE and neither will be the rest of them!]

SPIDERWEB PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

 

Servings:  12

Prep Time:  35 mins.  Cook Time: 1 hour  Ready In: 1 hr. 35 mins. 

 

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups chocolate wafer crumbs
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
• FILLING:
• 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• TOPPING:
• 2 cups sour cream
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• SPIDERWEB GARNISH:
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/3 cup water
• 4 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate, melted

Directions

1. Combine wafer crumbs and butter; press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of a greased 10-in. springform pan. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugars until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Whisk in pumpkin, cornstarch, vanilla and pumpkin pie spice just until blended. Pour into crust. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 60-65 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
2. Combine topping ingredients; spread over filling. Bake at 350 degrees F for 6 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minute. Carefully run a knife around the edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan; set aside.
3. For spiderwebs, draw six 3-in. x 2-in. half circles on two sheets of parchment paper on top; tape both securely to work surface. In a saucepan, bring the sugar, cream of tartar and water to a boil over medium heat. Boil, without stirring, until mixture turns a light amber color and candy thermometer reads 350 degrees F. Immediately remove from the heat and stir. Cool, stirring occasionally, for 10-15 minutes or until hot sugar mixture falls off a metal spoon in a fine thread.
4. Using a spoon or meat fork, carefully drizzle syrup over half-circle outlines and inside the outlines to form spiderwebs; reheat syrup if needed. Cool completely. Place melted chocolate in a resealable plastic bag; cut a small hole in a corner of bag. Pipe 1-in. spiders onto parchment or foil; cool completely. With remaining melted chocolate, pipe two or three dots on each web; attach spiders.
5. Remove sides of springform pan. Cut cheesecake; place a web on top of each slice and remaining spiders on the side. Refrigerate leftovers.

Footnotes

We recommend that you test your candy thermometer before each use by bringing water to a boil; the thermometer should read 212 degrees F. Adjust your recipe temperature up or down based on your test.

S'mores Apples

 "Caramel apples are studded with graham crackers and marshmallows and drizzled with chocolate for a treat you can't get enough of."

Prep Time: 25 mins.  Cook Time: 10 mins   Ready In:  35 mins.  Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 6 Granny Smith apples
• 6 wooden sticks
• 1 (14 ounce) package individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
• 1 1/2 cups crushed graham crackers
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Insert wooden sticks 3/4 of the way into the stem end of each apple. Place apples on a cookie sheet covered with lightly greased aluminum foil.
2. Combine caramels and water in a saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring often, until caramel melts and is smooth. Stir in the vanilla. Dip each apple into the caramel and gently run apples around insides of saucepan to scrape off some of the caramel. Scrape excess caramel from the apple bottoms using the side of the saucepan.
3. Combine the miniature marshmallows and graham crackers on a dinner plate. Roll the apples in the mixture to coat. Place on the aluminum foil and chill.
4. Put the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Cook in the microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth. Drizzle over the apples and return them to the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 579 | Total Fat: 15.8g | Cholesterol: 5mg

 Next: Halloween Meals

 

 

WEEK ONE: Day 4..... The Blessing of Greater Purity

Today's Bible Study is about The Blessing of Greater Purity.   Our main scripture passages are Psalm 51
and I John 1: 8-9.   You may click on those passages to read them, thank you! 

HEARING FROM GOD
In the Bible we are taught to confess our sins and seek God's forgiveness.   These verses focus on confession.

Psalm 32:5

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁵ Then I acknowledged my sin to you
   and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
   my transgressions to the LORD.”
And you forgave
   the guilt of my sin.

Proverbs 28:13

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹³ Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,
   but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. 

James 5:16

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 

1 John 1:8-9

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.


[When you click on the highlighted scripture links, you are able to select your own version of the Bible.  You may decide to write one or all of the above verses on your index cards we talked about from yesterday's lesson.  As a reminder, I personally use the 4x6 cards as I have an index card box that holds that size and for me it gives me the room I need to write out the verse(s).]


1.  God asks and desires us to live pure and holy lives.  We learn in the following verses that prayer is needed in order to confess our sins and restore purity in our life.  The following verses are biblical teachings about how to nurture purity in your own life.  As you read the passages, please ask God in prayer to help you to understand the following verses and how to apply them to your own life.  I am asking God to help me to do this as well.  

Psalm 24:3-4
For me, this verse tells me that whoever has a clean heart does not worship idols.  What are idols?  In the Wikipedia we learn about idolatry and idol worship. If you click on the following link you will find what the Bible says about idol worship.  http://www.openbible.info/topics/idol_worship

Psalm 119:9-11
For me, this verse says to live according to God's Word.


Philippians 1:9-11
For me, this passage says to be able to know the difference between what is best and be pure and blameless.

Philippians 2:14-16
For me, this passage says to do everything without complaining or arguing.  Wow!  Everything?  Yes, that's really difficult to imagine.  So try asking God to help you begin to stop complaining or arguing at home, work, at church and in public.  You'll have to start with baby steps on this.  You could write on the back of
this index card one goal for home, work, church and in public.  That includes your blog or places you socialize online!  :o)  I'm asking God to help me with this as well.

Philippians 4:8

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 

2.  God's Word says that David was confronted with his sin by the prophet Nathan.  David then repented and wrote a psalm of his confession.  Please read Psalm 51 and then ask God to help you to understand the requests that David made of God in confessing his sin and what can we confess to God?  


3.  As I was reading this Psalm I found three things that David said he would do in response to God's
forgiveness and cleansing.

a.  I will teach transgressors Your way.
b.  My tongue will sing of your righteousness.
c.  My mouth will declare your praise.

4.  As you read Matthew 7:3-5, please write out the reason(s) that it is easy to see the sin in someone else's life but to be blind to the sin we are doing.  Here is that passage from the NIV version of God's Word,

³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

 Responding to God:  "Yes, but how?"


Please read the following scripture and then ask God to bring to mind any sin that he can find in your own life.  I'm doing the same thing.  Then let's pray and name each sin that He brings to your mind and ask Him to forgive us and cleanse us. 

Psalm 139:23-24

New International Version (NIV)

²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
   test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
   and lead me in the way everlasting. 


After we have prayed and confessed our sin we are going to try another step.  We're going to read
Ephesians 4:1-3, and ask God to remind us of people we need to confess and ask for their forgiveness.
Let's ask God to help us write down the names that come to mind and find the way to be in touch with these people so that we may ask for their forgiveness.

Ephesians 4:1-3

New International Version (NIV)

¹ As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Elizabeth George, the author of the book that we are studying, A Woman After God's Own Heart shares
"As women who are called to righteousness, godliness, faith, love... and prayer, we must not deny our sin, not blame others for it, not hide it, not rationalize it.  No, we must confess it, for it is the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous woman that avails much!"

 Life Scene.    "Denise knows that she overreacted and said hurtful things to her husband, Ken.  In the heat of the moment, Ken responded in the same manner.  He brought us issues in Denise's life that embarrassed her and made her feel her feel small.  Ken frequently belittles Denise's church involvement and seems to relish opportunities to expose what he calls her hypocrisy.  Denise and Ken have hardly spoken to each other since their argument.  Denise finds it impossible to pray or study her Bible, making her feel even worse about herself."  [excerpt from Elizabeth George's workbook, p. 18 of Woman After God's Own Heart.]


What would you suggest Denise do in this situation?  And are you able to relate to this as I am?


I have a wonderful, small book by M. Scott Peck, M.D.(author of the best selling book, The Road Less Traveled,) called  "Abounding Happiness" and in this book are various quotes about different topics concerning our everyday life.  Today I have selected a couple about forgiveness.


"Once a woman has forgiven her man, she must not reheat his sins for breakfast." ~Marlene Dietrich


"A wise man will make haste to forgive, because he knows the true value of time, and will not suffer it to pass away in unnecessary pain."  ~ Samuel Johnson 


Thank you for taking the time to be here today and read this blog entry inspired by God's Word and Elizabeth George.  I hope God blesses you with His Word today as He has done to me and I hope to write another blog entry tomorrow if it is God's Will.  

Conversations with Carolyn: Stop School Bullying!

Conversations with Carolyn: Stop School Bullying!

October has been dubbed as Anti Bullying Month but this is in effect for EVERY month!

$200 Christmas Shopping Spree Extravaganza

Welcome to the $200 Christmas Shopping Spree Extravaganza! I have teamed up with a group of bloggers to offer you an amazing giveaway prize -- the winner will receive TWO gift cards (1) $100 Amazon Gift Card for all your online Christmas shopping and (1) $100 Gift Card of your choice to use at your favorite store! Winner will be chosen by random.org.

WEEK ONE: Day 3..... The Blessing of Greater Peace

 The dove represents the Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost in Christianity. The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove when he was baptized in the Jordan River:
Luke 3:22
... and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." (NIV)
The dove is also a symbol of peace. In Genesis 8 after the flood, a dove returned to Noah with an olive branch in its beak, revealing the end of God's judgment and the beginning of a new covenant with man.

Welcome everyone!  Let's start in prayer today asking God to teach us about the Blessing of Greater Peace
through His Word today and through the questions given that they will reach deep into our hearts and minds and help us to think critically and respond naturally.   Please pray for me to only lead as the Lord leads and only depend on His Word and Elizabeth George's books, Woman After God's Own Heart and the workbook to express her questions in my own words being guided by The Lord to do all this through His Name!  Amen!

 The main scripture passages for this study today are:

JOHN 14:26-27   New International Version (NIV)   ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

GALATIANS 5:22-26 

New International Version (NIV)

 ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

PHILIPPIANS  4:6-9

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
 ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

• HEARING FROM GOD

1.  Praying faithfully brings greater peace to women.  Please read Philippians 4:6-9 (a passage that was given above this) and then please write what you have learned about prayer and peace.   

[You may want to write out the passage and even try to memorize it.   Memorizing scripture keeps His Word in our heart and whenever we feel troubled, we can just recall this passage to memory.  Start by writing it on an index card.  Then each day when you are feeling at your best, pull out the card and start memorizing it taking a verse at a time, and then when you have memorized the first verse and can call it to memory, then go on to the next verse and do the same.   One thing I like to do is use a highlighter to concentrate on words that stand out to me and I find when I say the verse out loud.  Another good way to memorize scripture I read the card and say the words that are highlighted with greater emphasis than the words that are not highlighted.  One more way to memorize is to read the verse on the card and then shut your eyes and concentrate and try to remember what was on the card... especially the words you had highlighted!   Then ask a friend or loved one or even your children to hold the card and let you repeat the verse (one at a time) to them.  They can give you a highlighted word to help you get back on track if you lose your spot in recalling the verse! ]

2.  John 14:26-27 is about Jesus's words about the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit goes to God on our behalf and presents our prayers to Him.   In this passage Jesus is also talking about the peace He came to bring to you.  Please read these verses and then try to think about the times that Jesus has brought peace into your life.
Then please write down an answer to this question, "How is the peace of Jesus Christ different from any other?"


3.  Galatians 5:22-26 is another great passage to write down on an index card.
[I have an index box (like a recipe box) or just anything that you can find... a zipping baggie large enough to hold your cards so that you can even carry them in your handbag and use to memorize when you are somewhere where you have some idle time to pull one out and work on memorizing it.    I use the 4x6 cards for all my passages to keep them the same size.  Maybe you want to write them in a little notebook that can fit into your handbag.  Whatever works for you is great.   One word about the index cards.  If you can fit the whole passage on the front of the card, then something you may want to do is write on the back of the card what the passage means to you!  You can use the answers that you are writing down to put on the back of the card!  These are ideas and you will find something that meets your needs.]

This passage lists the "fruit of the Holy Spirit."  The fruit of the Holy Spirit comes to those who live by or keep in step with the Holy Spirit.  The primary way of staying in step with the Holy Spirit is through prayer.  Would you please list the fruits of the Holy Spirit that come to women who keep in step with the Holy Spirit through prayer and submission to God.    Then using that highlighter, please highlight the fruit.

A wonderful Christian Dutch woman, Corrie ten Boom (see her biography here on Wikipedia) has these words to share with us, "As a camel kneels before his master to have him remove his burden at the end of the day, so kneel each night and let the Master take your burden."  Corrie ten Boom knew much about suffering.  When you read the Wikipedia article about her you will learn about her suffering.  And another truth she wrote about is forgiveness. Wikipedia lists the books she has written.  From the Wikipedia article about her has been written:

Her teaching focused on the Christian Gospel, with emphasis on forgiveness. In her book Tramp for the Lord(1974), she tells the story of an encounter while she was teaching in Germany in 1947. She was approached by a former Ravensbrück camp guard, who had been known as one of the most cruel. She was reluctant to forgive him, but prayed that she would be able to. She wrote,

"For a long moment we grasped each other's hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God's love so intensely as I did then."

She also wrote (in the same passage) that in her post-war experience with other victims of Nazi brutality, it was those who were able to forgive who were best able to rebuild their lives. She rejected the doctrine that some asserted, of Pre-Tribulation Rapture, and wrote that it was without Biblical foundation.
She believes that such a doctrine left the Christian Church ill-prepared in times of great persecution, such as in China under Mao Zedong. She appeared on many Christian television programs discussing her ordeal during the Holocaust, and the concepts of forgiveness and God's love.

The Wikipedia article about Corrie ten Boom lists the many books she wrote in her lifetime.  Here is that list:

• A Prisoner And Yet (1945)
• Amazing Love (1953)
• Not Good If Detached (1957)
• Common Sense Not Needed (1957)
• Plenty For Everyone (1967)
• Marching Orders For The End Battle (1969)
• Defeated Enemies (1970)
• The Hiding Place, with John & Elizabeth Sherrill (1971)
• Tramp For The Lord, with Jamie Buckingham (1974
• Prison Letters (1975)
• In My Father's House, with C.C. Carlson (1976), reprint 2011
• Corrie's Christmas Memories (1976)
• Each New Day 1977
• Prayers And Promises For Every Day 1977
• He Cares He Comforts 1977
• He Sets The Captives Free 1977
• Father Ten Boom: God's Man 1978
• A Tramp Finds A Home 1978
• Don't Wrestle Just Nestle 1978
• This Day Is The Lords 1979
• Clippings From My Notebook 1982
• Not I But Christ 1983
• Reflections Of God's Glory 1999
• Messages Of God's Abundance 2002
• I Stand At The Door And Knock 2008

 You can find these books at the library, at your favorite bookstore such as an online bookstore, Christianbook.com or Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.com.  Or do a search for her books to see where you may purchase them at the best price for you.  New or used.   

If any of you decide to read one or more of her books, I would love to have a book review from any of you to post on this blog!  Please think about this as there are many of you who may have already read one of her books and are able to do this, or someone who might want to read one of the books and write a review.  Maybe you are a blogger who would like to write a review on your own blog and you can submit to me a link of your review and I will post it on this entry for all to read!  Thank you!

[Something we talked about in yesterday's blog was STRETCHING!  Maybe now is a good time to go and get something to eat or drink and walk around a bit or take some good stretches and return to this when you feel energized and ready to do more!]

WEEK ONE: Day 2..... The Blessing of Greater Faith

We're reading today from three passages...  I read them before starting the devotional today and suggest that you may want to as well.    They are: 

Matthew 7:7-8

New International Version (NIV)

Ask, Seek, Knock

    ⁷ “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

John 15:7-8

New International Version (NIV)

⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

1 John 5:14-15

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

(It might be a good time right now to pray to God and ask Him to give you complete understanding of the scripture passages and ask God to show you something today through His Word for your life.  Please pray for me that I teach His Word and not my own.  Thank you! )

Hearing from God

1. An essential aspect of prayer is faith.   We must have faith when we pray that God does hear us and will answer our prayers.  These next two passages are about the images of David described by God.  Would you please write down what you see as the description?  Thank you!

•  Psalm 61:2
•  Psalm 62:6

   2.  An American car company advertises its trucks with the phrase "like a rock."  How has God been a   rock in your life?

  3.  We read now about Hannah who was a desperate woman who cried out to God.  Please read about her now in 1 Samuel 1.  Then would you please respond to the questions below?  Thank you!

    A.  What indications do you see that Hannah sought God with all her heart?

    B.  How did God respond to Hannah's prayer?

    C.  How did Hannah respond to God's gracious YES?

(At this point you might need to take a break now... stretch and breath in deep and let it out....  and come back when you are ready to do more!  Thanks!)

Here's some info. about how to stretch correctly... I really like this and want to share it with you.  You can skip by this if it doesn't interest you.   Thanks!

• Warm up your muscles slightly before you stretch them. Walk or do some other light aerobic exercise for a few minutes, and then start stretching.
• Ease yourself into the stretch, relax, and don't push or bounce. You should feel a stretch, but not pain, in the muscle.
• Exhale as you do the stretch. While you hold the stretch, inhale deeply.
• Try closing your eyes while you stretch. It helps you relax.
• Take a moment to enjoy the good, warm feeling that comes after a good stretch. 

Welcome back!  I hope that felt good to you ...  I love it!    As a matter of fact... we should stretch more often in the day...  whenever you are stressed, take this kind of stretch...  maybe teach it to your friends or family members.  

I want to share some facts about some important people (well, they are important to me!)

"John Wesley spent at least 2 hours each day in prayer!"  (Wow, that's amazing...  I would really need to take a lot of stretches during 2 hours...  I'm not able to do this at this time.  How about you?)

"Samuel Rutherford rose at 3am daily to wait upon God."  (Well this I actually do, it's more like 2 am but then I go to bed super early too to get my 7-8 hours of sleep.  I really don't expect that you would do this, but maybe set your alarm clock to get you up 15 mins. earlier to spend time with God.  And when that is good, try another 15 mins. earlier...  and see how you can adjust to that.   Thanks!)

"Alexander MacLaren owed his success 'to the habit, never broken of spending one hour a day' alone with God."   (Now this would be a great goal for you!)

WEEK ONE: Day One..... A HEART FOR BLESSING IN PRAYER

" God desires for us to have a heart for prayer."

Our Scripture passages for today are:   PSALM 5: 3 ,  MATTHEW 6:5-15 , and HEBREWS 11:6    You may click on each passage and go directly to the passages via an online Bible and I'm using the NIV but you can use any translation you prefer.    There's a tool there on the page of each passage to select the version of the Bible that you wish to read OR you can click on the icon for speaker below the passage and have it read to you! 

KEY TRUTHS:

• Jesus devoted the early morning to prayer.
• God regards those who earnestly and wholeheartedly seek Him.
• Our relationship with God and with others influences the effectiveness of our prayers.

DAY ONE:  The Journey Begins!

Hearing from God

1.  Think about your typical day.. your usual routine of waking up, preparing for the day, and fulfilling your responsibilities.  What things make it difficult for you to spend time in prayer?

2.  God's Word challenges and inspires us to make prayer a part of everyday life.   Read the following scriptures, and write down what you learn about prayer.

• Psalm 5:3, Psalm 88:13
• Matthew 6:5-15
• Mark 1:35-38
• James 5:16

(At this point, you may want to take a break and come back for more!)

3.  God provides great encouragement and instruction for us whenever we desire to seek Him.  His Word sets a clear path for us to follow.  Ready the following scriptures, and identify the hope and instruction that God provides us when we seek to know Him.

•  Deuteronomy 4:29
•  I Chronicles 28:9
•  2 Chronicles 16:9
•  Psalm 119:2
•  Hebrews 11:6

  

Responding to God:  "Yes, but how?"

4.  Getting started is often the hardest part of any challenge.  God's Word provides inspiration to help us move beyond the starting line.  Read the following scriptures, and jot down phrases that can help you start on your quest to develop a heart for prayer.

• Jeremiah 33:3
• Matthew 7:7-8
• James 4:3
• I Peter 5:8-9

5. Here are three simple steps you can take to begin your journey toward a daily devotional time with God.  Commit to do these three simple things this week.  When you have completed a task, put a check next to the task below.

• Obtain a notebook or booklet that will become your daily prayer journal.   Use this journal to list your prayer concerns and the many ways the Lord answers your prayers.   (or if you want to do this online then here are some suggestions for where to keep your online journal) 1.  Penzu (online journal, may have costs)   2.Yahoo Calendar (free!)
•  Dedicate a specific time of day for your time with the Lord.  Consider it an appointment that you must keep.
•  Dedicate a specific place for your devotional time.  Choose a place that minimizes interruptions and distractions.

"May I be careful to maintain a constant, habitual sense of Thee in my mind; to live and act as in Thy presence; to think often of Thee.  May I ever remember that I am in the presence of the great and Holy God."  ~ Susanna Wesley

 

"Linda has been a Christian for twenty years.  She actively serves the Lord in her church and works hard to be a good parent to her three children, ages three, five and nine.  Her husband,  Dave, seldom goes to church and resents the time she is away with the kids at church.  Linda has tried several times to establish a daily devotional habit but with limited success.  Her part-time job and her roles as mother, wife, and Sunday School teacher demand more time than she has to give.  She often wakes up more tired than when she went to bed.  Linda lives with a nagging sense of guilt about not spending time in prayer."  (Written by Elizabeth George, that author of this book!)    

If Linda came to you and expressed her frustration about finding a daily time for prayer, how would you respond?  Jot down your thoughts in your journal (online or written).

SUMMARY

For many believers, early morning is ideal for spending time with God in prayer and Bible study.  God's Word tells us that anyone who earnestly seeks God will find Him and hear from Him.  May the Lord bless you as you begin this journey.

Today, Lord, the prayer of my heart is:

The entire blog entry here was written by Elizabeth George, the author of our book...  WOMAN AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART (I'm using the old workbook that came with my book and you can click on those words, workbook and book to have what I'm using).  There's also a KINDLE edition of the book that came with my workbook.  Click on the word KINDLE for that option. 

Click on the following links if you would like to get a copy of her devotional book or read about her ministry, play her daily inspirations, or just browse the pages for other topics and her ministries.

 

If you have any prayer requests or comments...  please feel free to comment.   Thank you for your time here today and I hope to see you again tomorrow!

If you'd like to listen to a worship song about prayer, here is one for today:

"Hear our Prayer" with lyrics by Hillsong

Introduction: A Heart for God's Word

Elizabeth George starts out the Bible Study Workbook (which they seem to have combined now in the Devotional book) with this Introduction (I've abbreviated it to make it shorter and just bring the key ideas!)

"Dear beloved sister, what an honor and privilege to walk hand in hand with you down the path of our dreams-- that of becoming women after God's own heart!  This is truly a noble and righteous goal, isn't it?  And God wants to come alongside us to strengthen and empower us as we take this walk--a walk toward becoming His kind of woman."

"I know how tight your schedule is.  I know you are a busy woman.  The daily lessons are written so you can get the most benefit from a short, concentrated period of study.  If you will devote about 30 minutes every day, five days a week, you can gain the biblical insight and truth you need for your busy week.  Set aside this brief period of time and protect it as your personal appointment with the Lord.  I promise that you will receive a great blessing from your time in God's Word."

Luke 10:38-42 

New International Version (NIV)

At the Home of Martha and Mary

 ³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”    ⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God^[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.


KEY TRUTHS:

• Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
• Those who abide in Christ will bear much fruit.
• We can do everything through Christ, who gives us strength

 
From Carolyn:   Thanks ladies for reading this today and my prayer for US is that we will be able together to find those 30 mins. or so a day for five days a week (and the 6th day I will be writing out OUR  prayer requests for us to spend that time praying for one another!) to study His Word together.  I thank the Lord for His servant, Elizabeth George, who wrote this Bible Study so that we women could grow in His Word and in the fellowship with our husbands, children, family members and friends!  But especially with the Lord!   Have a wonderful day and see you tomorrow!   You can always add your comments to this note and your prayer requests.  This way we can be praying each day for one another!

Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George devotional book!

Hi friends! Recently the Lord has laid it on my heart to start a Women's Group Book study via my blog, Conversations with Carolyn. I have nearly finished Bible Study for Elizabeth George's book "Woman After God's Own Heart" and it's terrific! If any of you would like to join with me then please consider buying the Daily Devotional which will be available on my blog this weekend. I want to start the 9-week study on Monday , October 24th. If you can't afford the daily devotional, that's fine too because I will be supplying the full study right there on the blog and you can just follow along.

A Woman After God’s Own Heart—A Daily Devotional

Elizabeth draws on wisdom from her bestselling books (more than 4.3 million sold) and popular “Woman After God’s Own Heart” radio spots and podcasts to provide 365 dynamic devotions in a beautiful, pocket–size, padded cover format. With insight and “I’ve been there too” openness, Elizabeth shares practical ideas to help busy women get the most out of life. They’re encouraged to...

• jumpstart their day through God’s Word and prayer
• trust the Lord in every circumstance
• enjoy a daily harvest of the fruit of the Spirit
• experience the joy of serving God and others
• make every day count by setting and meeting goals
• love their families and model Christlikeness
• use their influence to motivate others

As readers focus on God’s truth and power, they’ll be uplifted and energized. Every woman needs to know God loves them, provides for them, and is always available to them!
ISBN #: 0-7369-2081-1
Page Count: 386
Published By: Harvest House Publishers in 2007

List Price: $14.00
Your Price: $14.00

Purchase Here Please 

Hall-O-WIN a Kindle and More Giveaway! Now thru Halloween at midnight!

I have teamed up with Jennifers Savings and Angela Newsom, author of the Coupon Quick Start Guide, to provide you with this wonderful giveaway of many prizes! The Grand Prize will be a Kindle, a free eBook of the Coupon Quick Start Guide, and a $20 Amazon.com Gift Card!!! The blogs participating in this have provided $25 Restaurant.com Gift Card, L'Oreal Youth Code Serum Intense, $25 Paypal Cash, $25 Restaurant.com Gift Card, Fully-Stocked Coupon Binder, Conair Purple 1" Curling Iron (new in box), Starbucks reusable tumbler and gift card, $25 Amazon.com gift card, Avon watch-Mother of Pearl face and "diamond" accents, $15 Target Gift Card, Cozy Comfort from Tastefully Simple, and 4 more of Angela Newsom's eBook: Coupon Quick Start Guide!!!!


As you can see, we have got some great prizes! This giveaway will run from October 19th through 12:01am on October 31st. Good Luck to everyone! Make sure to do the mandatory entries first, then do all of the optional entries too for your chance to win one of these great prizes!

Tuesday Twitter Party!

Hope that my fans will participate and have fun doing it!   Just another way to get involved and win fun prizes!

Join us every Tuesday for the chance to win some GREAT prizes!

This weeks prizes will be:

The More The Merrier: Falling into Fall Fashion with Avon (Sponsor Spotlight)

The More The Merrier: Falling into Fall Fashion with Avon (Sponsor Spotlight)

We got the Treats Pete! AVON EXCLUSIVE!

 

I've been showing Pete on my Avon Products by Carolyn site now for weeks!  So what's keeping you from ordering one?   I have him and he's great.   Plays his own style of "We've got the Beat!"   You're kids and the adults will love it.     I've even trained my dog to take two carrots treats from Pete's trick o' treat bag every morning before her 2 mile walk along our beach!   She knows when the music plays that there are carrots in his little bag.  How cute is that!  Here are some pictures to see it.   

Sandie hears the music and sees the carrots!

Sandie reaches into the bag and takes her two carrots from Pete!  We love it!

Pete is now $24.99 and is available from Campaign 21 here on this link:  CLICK HERE and he'll be available from now for another two weeks!   Don't miss your opportunity to buy him at this great price!

Watch this video to hear Pete and see him sway and sing!  He's 10" tall and uses 3 AA Batteries (not included) for ages 3 and up!  You can let the kids put some Halloween candy in his little bag and snack on them  :o)    Here's the video:  CLICK HERE and then CLICK on "Watch The Video" right under his picture!

Special Fan Giveaway! USA ONLY...

Hey fans!
Here's a special fan giveaway! Thanks for being so patient with me while I've been gone with my horrible fibromyalgia flare-up for two weeks! I've missed you and wanted to give you a special giveaway from me to you! You have to live in the USA to enter this giveaway. Or have a USA mailing address :o) Here are the two prizes and descriptions of them.

In Bloom by Reese Witherspoon Body Lotion   Value $15.00
Sensual and elegant, it entices the senses with gardenia blossoms and lush florals, enveloped in amber wood and peach tea leaves. Body Lotion. 6.7 fl. oz.

Award-winning actress, Hollywood producer and working mother, Reese embodies the perfect balance of inner and outer beauty. Her celebrity style and sensual elegance are captured in the heart of In Bloom.

”In developing In Bloom, I found myself drawn to the scents of my childhood in Tennesse. We had a great big magnolia tree in the backyard and it’s that beautiful white blossom that inspired the perfume. In Bloom is indicative of where I am in my life today. I’m feeling very strong and independent, and so happy, so full of life. The fragrance truly captures that feeling – it’s very sensual, very romantic and alluring.” – Reese Witherspoon for Avon

AVON SILICONE GLOVE PROTECTIVE HAND CREAM  Value $5.00
A family favorite!  This product has been with Avon for years and years now!  Continual and lasting gel protection against skin irritants. 3.4 fl. oz.

Now here's your RAFFLECOPTER and the required steps to do in order to win these products!  Thanks!

NEW GIVEAWAY!

Carolyn's Zucchini Oatmeal Carrot Walnut Bread

  I like making my own recipes and sharing them with others!  This is my latest creation during zucchini season!  It's good for people who are looking to cut calories and eat healthy.

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup whole wheat flour           1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp. salt                              1/2 cup agave nectar
1/4 tsp. baking soda                 1/4 cup applesauce
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon          1/2 cup grated zucchini
1 egg from egg beaters              1/4 cup grated carrot
1/4 cup chopped walnuts           1/2 cup oatmeal (I use the flavored ones... maple brown sugar!)

DIRECTIONS

1,  Olive Oil Spray and whole wheat flour one 8 x 4 loaf pan.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2.  Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda and cinnamon together in a bowl.
3.  Beat egg, oil, vanilla and brown sugar and nectar together in a large bowl.  Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well.  Stir in applesauce, zucchini, oatmeal, carrot and nuts until well combined.  Pour batter into prepared pan.
4.  Bake for 40 to 60 minutes or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool in pan on rack
for 20 minutes.  Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.   Enjoy eating!

Stop School Bullying!

I've watched Friday, Sept. 17th 48 Hours Mystery about School Bullying.  I'm sure that many of us remember being bullied or our friends being bullied in school or maybe our children being bullied.  It's a horrible thing and this show first showed a boy (with long hair) who preferred to sit with the girls and do "girl things" and had to transfer to his third school until something could be done about it.  The boy's mother got proactive about the situation and found out that once she brought it to the school's attention they would actually do something about it.   She met with other mother's whose child(ren) were being bullied.  She spoke at the school and asked the children who had been bullied or knew of someone being bullied and she found out that what started at 30% of the school rose to 70% of the school.   The teachers were placing placards like this one in their classroom and talking with the kids about talking to the teacher if anyone of them are being bullied.

 The first boy I'm speaking about actually said that he felt like killing himself.  He already causing self injury to himself by cutting himself and hurting himself.  Thankfully his mom stepped forward and did something about it! 

If you have any doubt that bullying kills then get a ticket to this play, The Bullycide Project and it tells the story of 150 children who took their lives since 1973 because they didn't think anyone could do anything about it.  Often the parents of these children are in the audience.  So many parents didn't know this was going on so they couldn't do anything.  But now they know and can do something. 

One gal, Jessie was tormented horribly.  And no one did anything about it, her friends failed her.  Then she did one thing that couldn't be undone.  She took a picture of herself naked and put it in a text.  And then she was attacked unmercifully.  A policeman told her that it would be a good idea to go public.  So she went on TV.  After this the attacking got worse.   People were spitting on her and hitting her.  One night she attended the funeral of a fellow student who had taken his life because of bullying.  That night she went and hung herself.  An awful tragedy.

Determined that something positive happen, Cynthia Logan went before the Ohio State Senate calling for a passing of the Jessica Logan Act...  an act to protect the children.   A mother there shared about her daughter being bullied in school and online.  The bullying started when she was 6.  It was in her daughter's 4th grade of school when she realized what was happening at the Catholic School she was attending and they did little to help her.  Tara was transferred in 5th grade and the friends from Dara's old school told her new friends how she was hated and then the new friends became haters too.  On FaceBook a group of kids started a Dara Hating group.  Horrible things were written about her.  The mother spoke to Dara about not hurting herself or killing herself and Dara shared that she would never do that.

Jacob, another boy interviewed shared where all the bullying "hotspots" were in his school.  He shared how in dodge ball people gang on some and just hit them like crazy.  He also shared that when kids share about it they get it worse.

Middle school tends to be the worse.  This is when hormones are raging, cliques are formed, friendships seem more important than anything else.   Is this ringing some familiarity to you?  

Dara's mom turned to Dara's principal and she turned in pages of documents and said it was bad but he said that he needed proof at school to do something.  He talked to the girls at school who were doing the bullying.  But nothing was done to punish them.  The mom became obsessed with finding out anything she could to help her daughter... online and offline.   She found out that one of the horrible things she found out is that children under the age of 13 are joining facebook.  Facebook says that they are aware of the problem but that they currently can't do anything about it.  Dara's mom took her off of FaceBook.

What's the law in your state about bullying?  Go to http://cbs.com/bullying

I was happy to find a number of good resources online to help with school and online bullying and here are some of them:

• SECRET on FACEBOOK has an anti bullying campaign... MEAN STINKS.  Please join there and help to support their program. 
• EYEGUARDIAN Keeping an eye on your children on FACEBOOK.
• Bullying and Violence:  What You Need to Know
• and many more resources can be found here:  I searched on SWAGBUCKS for it and found this information.

3000 FAN AVON PRODUCTS BY CAROLYN GIVEAWAY!

Congrats to all 3000+ fans at Avon Products by Carolyn!   Three other sponsors have joined in this giveaway and I thank them very much for doing this.  The prizes and sponsors are as follows:

AVON CANVAS COSMETIC BAG!

AVON MOISTURE THERAPY HAND CREAM

$5.00 WALMART GIFT CARD

TUPPERWARE OPEN HOUSE BUTTER DISH

Topaz and diamond created ring 10 carat white goldplated...truly stunning size 7

We hope that you all are excited about the chance to win any of these giveaway gifts and I've given you MORE CHANCES to win with this giveaway!  GOOD LUCK!

Beauty Brite's Giveaway Round Up!

   Come and join the giveaway!  She's offering great items!
Click Here