Psalms

Mommy Nap Day

Posted on April 10, 2015 by Mrs Knochel

image

Psalms 146:1-150:6

I can’t do it all and it kills me. I’m tired, I’m hungry, I’m dirty, my house is a wreck, the laundry needs done, there is no kitchen counter right now because it’s buried under dishes. The bathrooms are in desperate need of cleaning, the floors need swept, the dust is taking over, I’m not sure there’s anywhere to set things down at the moment. And don’t even get me started on the OUTSIDE of the house! But right now I can barely convince myself to stand up long enough to fix myself an egg for breakfast, I have to have an egg because we’re all out of milk, did I mention someONE needs to go to the store? I have work until 3, then an appointment right after that, then dinner and bedtime routines then maaaybe I’ll be allowed to rest. But not for long because Sean works in the morning, no sleeping in allowed, and even if I could sleep through Sean’s morning routine, I have to get up anyway because Gabe has to be at the school by 7:30 for a Saturday field trip with the FFA.
Can you tell I’m tired, hormonal and overwhelmed right now? Maybe you can relate.
Alright, rant over, I’d say I feel better but I don’t because all that stuff is still here along with plenty of others I didn’t mention. But you know what, I’m going to take a nap. All that stuff will still be here when I wake up. It’s not going anywhere. And if I take a nap, then I know I’ll be in a better mood to handle it. So I’m going to take a nap. Anyone care to join me? We can declare this a mom nap day! I like it. Let’s do it! :mrgreen:

Psalms 149:5 Let the faithful rejoice that He honors them.
    Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds.

Yes, that really was in the reading for today! Rest Mama, the world will wait.

Categories: 365 Life, Psalms, Season 3, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Open the Heavens Lord!

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Mrs Knochel

image

Psalms 139:1-145:21
5 Open the heavens, Lord, and come down.
    Touch the mountains so they billow smoke.
6 Hurl your lightning bolts and scatter your enemies!
    Shoot your arrows and confuse them!
7 Reach down from heaven and rescue me;
    rescue me from deep waters,
    from the power of my enemies.
8 Their mouths are full of lies;
    they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead. Psalm 144:5-8

After yesterday morning’s storm I was very excited to find this verse today! Honest to goodness, when I was out there it FELT like the heavens had opened!
Friends, if you’re not in the habit of daily Bible reading may I strongly suggest it? It’s one of the healthiest choices you can make for yourself. Really. Your soul was created with a hunger, a desire to devour the Word of God. And when you don’t feed that hunger it often gets misinterpreted as a hunger for something else; food, material wealth, human love and companionship. But in reality what you’re really longing for isn’t the sugar or the nicer car or that hot guy or that lady with the friendly eyes. It’s Jesus and His love letters to you through time.
Last night I kept searching for something, I kept thinking I was hungry for more dinner but I wasn’t, there was no way I could eat another bite! My stomach was as full as I could fill it… so why did I feel like I wanted more to eat? All night I felt like this until I hopped into the car at a quarter to ten to go to Dollar General before they closed. At that point I kept thinking of food I could buy at the store for a mid night snack, I  turned the corner and thought, but I’m still stuffed so why buy something to eat that I don’t need? So I asked God,
“Lord, why do I feel so hungry when I’m not?”
“You’re hungry for something that you can’t eat with your mouth and put into your stomach. What you’re hungry for you eat with your eyes and your ears and put it into the depths of your soul. You, My dear, are hungry for Me.”
My friends, again, I encourage you to click on the link above and make the time today to feed your soul with the Words of God. You won’t regret it I promise.

Categories: 365 Life, Psalms, Season 3, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

In the Midst of the Storm of My Poor Choices – Grace

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Mrs Knochel

image

Psalms 119:113-127:5

 Don’t leave me to the mercy of my enemies, Psalms 119:121

As I was walking back in the door this morning after ushering each and every other member of my family out of it I noticed that Sean had left his glasses behind. Knowing that he gets headaches without them I decided I was going to take them to him at work. I went to get my phone off the charger and saw that my notifications bar was FULL! I went to start clearing things off of it and wouldn’t you know half an hour later I was still sitting there on the bed clearing away notifications when I got a text from Sean mentioning that he had forgotten his glasses.
I told him that I was “just” getting ready to bring them to him. 😉
Now, if I had really thought things through I would have heeded the two text messages that the weather channel had sent me warning me about a thunderstorm headed our way. But oh no!
So I jumped into the car and headed to Reynolds to deliver my Beloved’s glasses. As I was pulling out of town it was starting to sprinkle. As I was almost to Reynolds it looked like this (yes, I just HAD to pull over even in my rush to take a picture.)

image

As I pulled into the parking lot the Emergency Broadcast System interrupted the KLOVE morning DJs’ joking about spilling the Sentsy warmer all over the counter and that’s when I knew that if I wanted to make it home I’d better BOOK IT! Or stay, but what would I do while I sat it out? I decided to try and book it. Yet another not-so-wise-decision of the day. By the time I reached that same tree headed the other direction it looked like this (yes, I just HAD to pull over even in my rush to take a picture – leave me alone.)

image

I was beginning to get the feeling that I might not be able to beat this storm home.
I was a couple of miles past the tree and SEVERAL miles from home when the deluge hit and every drop of water that those clouds had been storing up came falling out at the same exact moment… and for about 15 minutes after that too!

image

The sky was black, the wind was howling and pushing my car around and the sound of the hail was nearly deafening. Thankfully it was NOT quarter-sized like the EBS had foretold. And yet right there in the midst of the storm that my poor choices had brought me to, I had peace and no fear what-so-ever. You know why? Because I knew God was with me, even in the midst of the storm of my own bad choices. He didn’t leave me, He didn’t ignore me or even give me the cold shoulder. Actually, His presence was more vivid and obvious in the midst of that storm than it had been either before or after. The truth be told, He actually sang to me right there in the midst of the storm and told me that I wasn’t alone and that He loves me. Even when I make poor choices.
As I sat there on the side of the road watching the rain drops literally swirl in torrents through the newly greening grass like ocean currents through seaweed I shook my head in amazement. His creation is so amazingly wonderfull! His creation is absolutely beautiful in it’s fury and strength. It makes my head spin in awe thinking, “If a simple storm is this powerful, how much more powerful is my God whom I call Abba, Father, fortress!?! HIS faithfulness is my shield!
Simply amazing!

Categories: 365 Life, Psalms, Season 3, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

Father Knows Best

Posted on April 7, 2015 by Mrs Knochel

image

Psalms 119:1-112
 Oh, that my actions would consistently
    reflect your decrees! – Psalm 119:5

We had an interesting moment this evening with Anna that as it was happening I knew it was happening specifically so that I could write about it. Weird? Not for me anymore. 😉
Anna was taking FOREVER in the bathroom finishing drying off after her shower. It was half an hour past the time we like to have her in bed and after repeated attempts to tell her to hurry up Sean went to the bathroom door and repeated himself once again. Which was met with a little seven (almost eight) year old attitude. Not a good idea little girl. She growled at him through the door as if somehow he was the one in the wrong, then came out and gave him a cold stare as she stalked past him to her room. He calmly told her to get her pajamas on as he walked back toward the living room. He was two steps away when her door slammed behind her. At this we both reacted and told her that slamming doors is absolutely unacceptable behavior in this house. Which she already knows quite well.
I pulled out pajamas for her and started brushing her wet tangled hair while I explained,
“Anna, you know you’re not supposed to slam your door.”
… Silence as the buds of angry tears formed in the corners of her eyes. I could almost read her thoughts, “How dare you yell at me. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Do you know why we were angry with you?”
Her red eyes held full-sized tears as they bore holes into the front of her dresser, refusing to look at me.
“Anna. When Daddy say it’s time to hurry up, he means it. He’s not just saying it to be mean, it’s because it’s late and he knows that when you don’t get to bed soon enough, you don’t get enough sleep. And when you don’t get enough sleep you don’t do as well at school. And when you don’t do well at school you don’t feel very good about yourself and we don’t want that to happen. We want you to feel good about yourself so that’s why it’s important to us that you get to bed on time.
When you don’t obey what Daddy tells you to do, when he tells you to do it, that tells him that you don’t trust what he is saying is for your good.
But when you obey Daddy, that tells him that you love him and that you trust him. Do you love Daddy? Do you trust him to take care of you? Then you need to do what he says to do then don’t you.”
The wet head in my hand nodded slightly with a sniffle and a hug and we finished our bedtime routine without any more hitches and a couple extra hugs and kisses for Daddy.
Although this message hit me at the time that it would be important for someone else to hear this tonight, as I typed it I realized that it was just as much for me as it was for Anna. Usually He does that while it’s coming out of my mouth not my fingers. 😉
Our Daddy loves us. And what He is telling us to do right now is to TRUST HIM. He knows what He’s doing. He knows what’s best for us and what we need the most. They wouldn’t call it faith if it didn’t require at least a small measure of belief on the part of the faithful.
It’s time we step out in faith my friends, for He knows the plans He has for us. Plans for our good and not our harm. Plans for a hope and a future – our hope and our future. We can trust our God, He knows what He’s doing. He’s been doing it for far longer than we’ve been doubting it so we might as well go along with Him. I certainly wouldn’t want to go against Him, would you!?!

image

Categories: 365 Life, Psalms, Season 3, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

He Bends Down to Listen to YOU

Posted on April 6, 2015 by Mrs Knochel

image

Psalms 110:1-118:29
Because he bends down to listen,
    I will pray as long as I have breath!
Psalm 116:2

 The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
    What can mere people do to me?
Psalm 118:6

I thank you for answering my prayer
    and giving me victory!
Psalm 118:21

Honestly, that’s all I have to say about that. 😉

Categories: 365 Life, Psalms, Season 3 | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

ALIVE!!!!!

Posted on April 5, 2015 by Mrs Knochel

image

Psalms 110:1-118:29

On this beautiful Easter morn I just have to go back to one of my all time favorite posts I’ve ever written. I usually tend to post it on Easter morning, and I’ve debated over and over about sharing it once again. I’m sure many of you have read it already, and yet, I can’t help myself! I LOVE this post!!! I really feel like it does such a great job of capturing the emotion of that morning.

My friends, it would be my pleasure to once again present to you, “In the Garden” by Tamar Knochel.

May your Ressurrection Day be FILLED with as much joy as your heart can possibly hold. My dear ones, HE’S ALIVE!!!!!! God’s not dead, He’s ALIVE!!!!

Categories: 365 Life, Psalms, Season 3, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

What did Jesus Die For? YOU!

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Mrs Knochel

image

Psalms 106:1-109:31
I am a joke to people everywhere;
    when they see me, they shake their heads in scorn.
Help me, O Lord my God!
    Save me because of your unfailing love. Psalms 109:25-26

Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever felt like people see you as a joke? It hurts doesn’t it; like a knife in your gut, a sword in your soul, it tears and wounds. And yet when we look at Simeon’s prophecy to Mary and Joseph about Jesus in Luke 2:34-35 we find that this is simply standard fare for someone who raises Jesus up: “Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
A sword will pierce your own soul too. Have you been there? Can you relate at all to what I’m putting out here? Having faith usually results in pain… but it doesn’t ever end there my friend!
In John 18 we find Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane preparing to face the horrors of the day ahead of Him. As the Roman soldiers are marching into the Garden we come to John 18:3-4, “So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” Jesus KNEW what was going to happen to Him. Now, my friends, let this sink in for a second. How often is it that we are apprehensive or react negatively because we are facing the unknown? Yet the unknown is unknown to God! He is an all knowing being. He knew what He was going up against and yet He chose to face it anyway, why?
While the pain was excruciating – both physical and spiritual, Jesus still had hope. He KNEW that this pain wouldn’t last forever. He KNEW that when it was finished, it would be FINISHED. That no longer would the pain of rejection be able to reach Him because, He would be received into His Father’s arms once more. He KNEW that the shouts of “Crucify Him!” would fade away into the wail of a woman’s cry “HE’S ALIVE!!!! MY GOD, MY GOD, HE IS ALIVE!!!”
Jesus was able to withstand the piercing of three nails and a sword because He knew it would be worth it… that YOU are worth it. You were worth it then and you’re worth it now. Jesus loves YOU so much that He’d rather die than spend eternity without you.
If you haven’t ever surrendered to His love for you before, or if it’s been a while, take the time right now to allow the love of Jesus to come and surround you like a comforter. Allow Him to cover you in a love that sacrifices everything just for YOU.

image

I don’t know what pain you’ve experienced, but HE does. He knows and He wants to soothe that pain with His love for you right now. Let the pain go. Let Jesus take the pain from you. No matter what pain or shame you are enduring right now, you still have a hope that is set before you – eternity with someone who loves you enough to die for you in order to forgive all your sins that have separated you from Him. And when you accept that forgiveness, when you accept His gift of redemption you accept so much more than you could ever hope or imagine. You get Jesus, ALL of Jesus – the most wonderful person to ever walk the face of this earth, and under it and over it!

Categories: 365 Life, Psalms, Season 3, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cauliflower Noodle Bowls and Great Company

Posted on April 2, 2015 by Mrs Knochel

image

Psalms 102:1-105:45
 They asked for meat, and he sent them quail;
    he satisfied their hunger with manna—bread from heaven. Psalm 105:40

So, I was pleased as punch to entertain one of my very great friends for most of the day today. It was so wonderful to get to spend time with somene I could speak freely with. Siiiigh… oh… so… good!
After I reluctantly escourted her to the door and waved goodbye I shut the door and looked at the clock and realized that we had completely skipped lunch and now it was snack time! OOPS! Time flies when you’re having fun right!?
Well, Sean had told me this morning that he was planning on staying after work for a bit today so I knew that dinner would be a little later than normal tonight so I figured it was a great time to make a nice big lunch/snack! 🙂 I looked in the fridge to see what I could throw together and make something that would last until dinner.
A couple of months ago I came across this book,

image

The idea of a diet structured to MY blood type according to MY body chemistry, well, it was earth shattering for me! I’ve barely even started reading the book and I’ve been following the beneficial, neutral and avoids lists fairly faithfully and so far I’m pretty happy with the program. My blood type, Type A, is a mainly plant based diet due to our lower levels of stomach acid. So I have spent HOURS online searching for Blood Type A recipes.
There aren’t very many food blogs out there that do their cooking according to blood type. SO I decided that since this is a new adventure for me, one that I have no plans of ever stopping since this diet is less of a diet and more of a lifestyle. It’s a list of foods to avoid, not a list of foods you’re never allowed to have again. And I LIKE that! 🙂 I thought that I would share some of my recipes with you too.
Now, I’m going to preface this with: I am not a chef! I’m a teacher and a writer and a blogger who has to eat therefore I have to cook and if I have to cook, well then I might as well cook food I like. Right? But, being me, of course I’m going to share what I have with all of you. 🙂
So, lunch/snack turned early dinner!
I looked through the fridge to see what I had and this is what sprang to life in my saute’ pan!
Cauliflower Noodle Bowls:

image

Ingredients:
2 small Zucchini, Chopped into bite sized pieces
1/2 head Cauliflower, separated into flowerettes – bite sized pieces
1 Orange bell pepper, diced
3-4 cloves Garlic, Chopped
8 scallions, Chopped. save a few back for garnish
1-2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Thyme
1/2 tsp Basil
1/2 tsp Ground ginger
1 pinch Rubbed sage
9 1/4 oz Hot water, the large button on the keurig 😉
1 pkg Ramen noodles
1-2 Tbs Lemon juice
1 Egg
1 1/2 tsp LB Jamison’s Soup base chicken flavor
1 block Farmer’s cheese, shaved with a vegetable peeler for a garnish
Soy Sauce, to taste
Siracha, to taste

Instructions:
*Melt butter in saute pan.
*Add veggies and spices and cook until veggies are tender but still firm
*While veggies are cooking, put Ramen noodles (noodles only) in a heat safe bowl and add hot water. Let soak for 3-4 minutes until noodles are tender. Add noodles only to sauté pan with veggies.
*Add the lemon juice, egg and soup base to the noodle water and stir vigorously until the egg is well beaten and the soup base is completely incorporated.
*Add lemon mixure to the pan with the veggies and noodles and cook until the sauce thickens, sticks to the noodles and turns a lighter shade of yellow so you know that the egg has cooked through.
*Serve and garnish with peppers, scallions, soy sauce and siracha to taste.
I have kids who aren’t as fond of soy sauce and siracha as I am so that’s why these are to taste as garnishes. Feel free to comment below and let me know if you tried this recipe and what you added/changed! I can rarely make the same recipe twice without getting bored with it so I’d love to see how you tweaked this!

For anyone interested, I have been using an android food planning app that I lOVE!!! It’s called, of all things, “Food Planner” and has a planning section where you can map out your menu for as far in advance as you’d like to go. Once installed on your device, if you’re online and come across a recipe that looks tastey all you have to do is go to the “share” link on your device – for my Samsung Galaxy S3 phone it’s the touch button to the left of the home button. The app will import the recipe from the web and store it in the recipes section so you can use it for your meal planning.
Plus! Once you have recipes added into the app and the meals are planned out you can import ALL the recipe ingredients into the “Groceries” section of the app and it will generate a shopping list for you! And you can organize your list any way that you want so that you can even customize it to your favorite store!
The app will even sync all your recipes, shopping lists and plans etc from one device to another! That way if you find a great recipe on your phone you can load it into the app and use your tablet to plan your meals and view the recipes while you’re cooking! I love love love this app!!!!

Ok, I could go on, but I think this is enough for one day. 😉 As you can tell, I’m very excited about this new eating plan! ENJOY!!!

Categories: Blood Type A, Psalms, Recipes, Season 3 | Leave a comment

Day at the IMA

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Mrs Knochel

image

Psalms 93:1-101:8
 When anxiety was great within me, you’re consultation brought me joy. Psalm 94:19
It’s  Spring Break here in Sheridan so the kids and I decided to go on an adventure today and visit the Indianapolis Museum of Art. It was a beautiful day to be out and about!

image

Five brush strokes

image

image

image

This girl is such a GOOF BALL! I can’t imagine life without her!

image

And then there’s my SERIOUS goof ball! Being goofy by being serious.

image

My friends, we’ve lived in the Indy area for almost 10 years and I’ve always wanted to go to the IMA, and today, not only did I get to go, I got to share it with my kids.
Granted! They really weren’t  that into the paintings. They didn’t gasp  and about cry when they came around the corner and saw the Vincent van Gogh (yes, i actually did that) but the modern art and the post modern art we all loved! It was a FANTASTIC day together! I would share more pictures but my phone died and it’s late and I just need to finish this post and be done with this very long day.
On another note, I could really use your prayers my friends. I am super stressed about a lot of things. A lot of things that I need to lay at a certain carpenter’s feet…if only I could LEAVE THEM THERE! They have this horrible tendency to get back up and jump back into my hands all of their own accord. 😉 I know you know what I mean.

Categories: 365 Life, Psalms, Season 3 | Leave a comment

10 in ’15 Book Challenge – The Horse and His Boy

Posted on March 31, 2015 by Mrs Knochel

image

Psalm 88:1-92:15

image

This month’s book was written by C.S. Lewis as a follow up to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. How do you review one of your all time favorite books? The Horse and His Boy is an adventure that takes you through far away lands and then returns you smack into the Centre of Narnia royalty once more.  Queens Susan and Lucy along with kings Peter and Edmund are all present in the tale as well, although not until the end. This story begins with a young boy in a hovel by the sea where he has been treated poorly his entire life. Then one day a man riding a horse comes and everything in this boy’s life changes in one night. Which is where I’ll stop telling you about plot because the last thing I would want to do is to spoil this wonderful adventure for you.
If you like the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe then you’ll definitely want to look into this next book in the series!
Now, don’t forget to comment below if you read this book and you will receive a free e-book! This month’s book is Dandelion Season, a popular choice for anyone who is going through a rough period in their lives.
And for everyone who reads all 10 books with us, you will receive a signed print version of any one book of your choice from the “books” tab above.

Categories: 365 Life, Psalms, Season 3, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

Blog at WordPress.com.

%d bloggers like this: