¹⁰Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might…” Ephesians 6:10
(And the following verses speak of putting on the whole armor of God, which we all need to do in order to fight these spiritual battles we are in!) 

Yes, I am still here.  And I’m ok, in fact I’m doing great!  Finding out that the earth still turns and life goes on though I have not blogged in two plus weeks.  I needed to know that. Perhaps all bloggers need a vacation sometimes–a break.  In pulling back, I maintained my sanity over Christmas.  The pull of the blog and computer, in general, needs to be balanced.  The past month has been a wonderful time of “catching up” in my real life. So many areas needed attention, either a little or a lot.

PRAYER=purging, reflection, asking questions of God, yielding, evaluation, and refocusing, that’s what I’ve been doing.  I’m looking to obtain margin and order in every area of my life.  Assessing what God’s priorities are for my life right now.

Margin is the “white space” on the “paper” of life.  I need less of all the black marks on the page:  possessions, commitments, pressure, food, and spending.  We need margin in our lives, and if we don’t plan for it, our bodies will just make it happen, one way or another.  Our bodies (minds, souls and emotions, too) can’t live without it.

And what I do have in all these areas must be managed and orderly.  I feel a deep, deep need to have my life in order.

Officially, no New Year’s Resolutions have been made. However, change and earnest resolve is taking place, praise the Lord.

• First of all, I’m getting more sleep!  That was the first thing that resulted when I didn’t feel the pressure to post something!  I guess I blogged when I should have been sleeping! I’ve slept and slept and slept!  And I’ve realized how much more productive and stable emotionally and effective for the Lord I am, how much nicer I think I am to live with, when I am rested!  Really quite amazing!  Now, if I can just get a regular bedtime (earlier), and have a morning routine (shower, dress, hair, makeup, bed made, Quiet Time) solidly in place, and get to morning devotions on time every morning:)  Thankfully, the Lord never gives up, or stops working, on me.
• Reading the Bible through in a  year has begun in earnest using this Bible-Reading Schedule, (there are three plans listed here for you to choose from–I use the third), as well as memorization (working on Isaiah 53 with our church; I think I finally have Psalm 145 down).  Praying for a heart to love His Word more, and to have a hunger and thirst for righteousness.
• People and hospitality have become more important to me.  You may say, “You were having people in your home constantly before! How could it get more important to you?”  I felt God showing me many people who I really wanted to have over, and even some who I had promised to invite, and because of other commitments, “urgent” and “must-do” events in our home and life, it never got done!  That had to change.  So, I’ve been very intentionally taking the initiative to invite and plan times together, catching up on birthday luncheons, having loads of fun with groups of young adults laughing and making music in our home, looking forward to having young couples with little babies to our home for dinner, and making absolutely sure I see and talk to my best friends–who I barely saw last year, because we were so busy!  Lord willing, I go on record that that will not happen this year.
• God gave me a zeal to work on two “temples” that need attention:  my body, the temple of the Holy Spirit, and the “temple” that my family calls home!  As to the first, while walking through a bookstore a couple of weeks ago God ordained that I see a book on the shelf that addressed and taught me to watch how many servings of carbs and grams of sugar I consume each day. In a serious intentional way, I’ve begun planning and recording what I eat which has resulted in 6 pounds lost this past week.  I don’t know if it’s because of this, but I’ve been doing more of the cooking and planning of meals than before.
• Margin and order in my home means I’m determined to go through cupboards, closets, and clothes first of all, though for now in an unsystematic way.
  
  Every day I try to put something in a state of more order, and the places that bother me the most are getting dealt with first.  So far, that has resulted in my upstairs freezer and oven cleaned out, the floor of my closet almost in order, two shelves in my upstairs pantry straightened and organized (though they won’t stay that way–it still makes me feel good:), and dozens of little corners which had been ignored too long have now been looked into.  I’m not sure anyone but me would notice.  There’s still so much to do!  I’m also attempting to use up food from my freezer and downstairs pantry, rather than going to the grocery store.  I’m making plans of organizing other areas after that.  It’s really the same principle, gain more margin and order in my life.  There’s so much more to do, that I can’t see when I will be stopping or get “done.” But, I’m excited at the progress.
• Plans are in place for completing and crossing off “To-Do” items that have been on my list for months, freeing my mind to be able to think better–decluttering my brain!  I keep throwing away and sorting, planning systems of organization, moving things around, storing them differently, trying to have a sense of being on top of things again.  Just seeing progress in my home: decluttering, organizing, and getting rid of, feels very good!

I’m determined that the hidden spaces of my home will receive my attention!!  I will get rid of, give away or put back in an orderly fashion what I keep.  I am on a mission! And I don’t want to lose momentum.

And that’s why you haven’t seen me here.  When I’ve finally been able to be really focused and have an urgency that, “I’ve got to do something about this now!!”  I know that it’s something that the Lord desires me to do for His glory, and I have to become single-minded and push away any distractions in order to see it through to completion!

Many new thoughts and feelings have come, for instance, no desire to blog (for the first time in almost 3 years!). I don’t know what the Lord is planning for me to do.  I just need to put some things higher up where I can see them:  My family, my home, stewardship of my body, being a good testimony in how I handle my responsibilities…

I’ll post when God moves me, or I specifically sense there’s something I’m supposed to say.  Please stay in touch through comments and on facebook.  Love you all and miss you!

Thanks for reading Faith’s Firm Foundation!

Leave me a comment, so I can get back to you.
Come back daily for more encouragement, tips, and
practical help being a wife and mom.
www.wendygunn.net

Giveaway closed

Well, I know everyone is still getting back into life after Christmas. Since there were no entries in the giveaway, there is no winner to announce, and I’ll talk to Phyllis and we’ll decide if we’ll do the giveaway at a later time or not.

Linked up today with the Homemaking Linkup at Raising Homemakers–join in!

There are a lot of great posts to read, and you can linkup your own!

Enter my

Giveaway

now to win the

New and revised: Purposeful Planning – E-Book

and Dan’s Doodles

It’s the time of year for setting goals and thinking about the future, things you’d like to do differently next year, making “resolutions” perhaps…planning.  I like to spend time thinking and praying, and not dive into anything.  I also like to do this several times a year.  For one example, I used to do “school-year planning” before our homeschool year began, and then I again would evaluate and take stock, setting new goals in January.

Would you like to be more intentional about where you’re headed, what you want to accomplish, and the goals you set? Would you think it a dream to sit down with your husband and really have his ear, and discuss your dreams, and goals? Would you like to include your family, and at least talk about how you’d like to see things be different?  Here is a great ebook by my dear friend, Phyllis Sather, that will help you and your family, called Purposeful Planning.  Phyllis has generously offered one copy for this giveaway, and also a copy of her husband’s popular “Dan’s Doodles”!  Read on for descriptions of each, and how to enter!

Purposeful Planning

Phyllis says:

This issue still contains all of our original material, but with the help and encouragement from our faithful readers and people who have put these methods into practice in their own families we have added even more suggestions and ideas.

We have also added more thought provoking questions to help you to relate well to each other and your children.

The goal is still the same: to discover the Lord’s plan for your family.

Does having your spouse’s undivided attention appeal to you? Planning weekends give you time to dream, to talk together about what you wish, or want, at a time when the other person is really listening.

Do you need a plan to keep your family moving in the direction the Lord is leading you? Perhaps you don’t know where the Lord is leading you. Phyllis takes you step-by-step through the process of planning a time together for your family to help determine the path the Lord is choosing for each area of your life. Her family has followed this format for over 12 years and has found that it provides the compass they’ve needed to plan and stay on course.

This time-tested method of planning will give your family new direction for the future. Start today! Choose the dates for your planning weekend, read her book which has the entire “how to” included, and go for it!

Finally, help to discover the Lord’s plan for your family.

Dan’s Doodles

For years my husband has been doodling every time he has to sit and listen for any length of time – sermons, teachings, school. One time our pastor thought he was taking great notes, until he saw his doodling. Over the years, 24 in July, I’ve come to think of it as art.

After posting some of them on my website several people suggested that they would make a great coloring book – so here it is! ! I’ve included a dozen of my favorite doodles in this first edition.

Reviews:

“Wow, I can’t believe this guy just doodles these kinds of pictures! Dan’s Doodles are very intricate, so not for the younger child, but tweens and up would have lots of fun coloring the designs. I also think it would spark the creativity of the artistic child to try and draw like this. Kelly”

“My 7 year old son and my 10 year old daughter both enjoyed these delightful doodles. The intricate designs lend themselves to long coloring sessions…perfect for long car trips or other “waiting” times. Fun enough to do more than once. Deb” 

How To Enter To Win

Mandatory:  Follow Faith’s Firm Foundation via Google Friend Connect.  If you already follow FFF, then it’s mandatory that you go to Proclaiming God’s Faithfulness (Phyllis’ blog) and follow her (www.phyllis-sather.com).  If right now you follow neither of us, then choose one of the two (or both) and follow and don’t forget to leave a comment for each thing you do!

One Additional Entry Each:

1. Share a goal or new year’s resolution in a comment (one that you would allow me to share with my readers as an example in a future post on goals, planning and the new year).

2. If you have not already done so, subscribe to Faith’s Firm Foundation via RSS or subscribe via email.

3. Visit Phyllis’ blog and go to her bookshop and tell me which item you would like to own and why.

This giveaway is open to all, and will close on January 7, 2012 at 11:59pm.  I will draw and announce the winner here on January 9, 2012.

Subscribe and don’t miss a single post.
Like my page on Facebook to receive a free copy of
“Ten Things To Make Your Children Mind.”

Thanks for reading Faith’s Firm Foundation!

Leave me a comment, so I can get back to you.
Come back daily for more encouragement, tips, and
practical help being a wife and mom.
www.wendygunn.net

I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas!

We traditionally spend Christmas Day just us as a family. We read the Christmas Story from Luke 2, and open gifts.  As our kids have gotten older, this has happened later and later in the day–they’re less impatient to open gifts:) and they prefer to sleep in.  This year I had time to clean up the kitchen and put on my makeup before celebrating!  We didn’t have church today, because our church did an unprecedented thing this year, and we had our Christmas service yesterday morning.  It was fine once. I believe we worship on Sunday mornings for a Biblical reason, Jesus’ resurrection. That event changed everything!  It is a quiet day today, and relaxing.

If your day is a little more laid back and you have some extra time to read, here are inspirational, thought-provoking and encouraging posts that will help you celebrate the real reason for Christmas–Jesus!

• Now is the time to plan for a more organized and less stressful Christmas next year, so you can concentrate on celebrating the Lord!
• Celebrating CHRISTmas–excellent Christmas message which David, our friend and one of the elders of our church, gave in our family-integrated church yesterday, posted on his family’s blog.
• If you’re lonely or going through trials this Christmas.

Our weather is very unlike “Christmas” in Minnesota! We have no snow, and the high is predicted to be 40 today.  It’s unknown how the ice on the lake will be for skating, but Dane and Kelsey will try.  Since my husband is off work, we have a few days to relax–my favorite time of Christmas–and invite families over!  My son has to work, though, so we will perhaps have to adjust to that.  Life changes, and traditions have to bend with changing times, but one thing remains the same, Jesus Christ was sent into the world for a fallen humanity, to save us from our sins!  I rejoice and celebrate His birth, I celebrate Jesus today, and am so thankful for the Greatest Gift ever given!!

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for reading Faith’s Firm Foundation!

Leave me a comment, so I can get back to you.
Come back daily for more encouragement, tips, and
practical help being a wife and mom.
www.wendygunn.net

Congratulations, Heather, on winning a pair of Lisa’s darling handmade mittens!

The winning comment was:

“I like FFF on Facebook.”

To those of you who didn’t win or enter, please visit Lisa’s Etsy shop and order–I know you won’t be disappointed.

Heather, Lisa will be contacting you right away to arrange for delivery of your choice of mittens from her store!!

Thank you to all who participated in this giveaway:)  Come back for the Purposeful Planning Giveaway this week!

Thanks for reading Faith’s Firm Foundation!

Leave me a comment, so I can get back to you.
Come back daily for more encouragement, tips, and
practical help being a wife and mom.
www.wendygunn.net

Giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who participated! Giveaway for Purposeful Planning coming this week!!

Need a last-minute gift for someone? Love quality handmade items using re-purposed materials?  You’re going to love this giveaway and my friend Lisa’s Etsy shop!  (If you order in the next day or so, you can still receive them by Christmas!!)

We always gave our children Christmas gifts that were useful, not frivolous, or we tried to, but also ones they would love!  We thought this helped to stave off greed and cultivated gratefulness along with a proper perspective on Christmas gifts.  I think these mittens would make a great Christmas gift for anyone.

I am so happy to introduce you to my friend, Lisa, one of the most creative and lovely persons I have ever known.  She has graciously donated one pair of her handmade adorable mittens, either adult or child, from her Etsy shop merchantships!  (See entry rules below!) Now, I will let Lisa speak for herself:) I know you’re going to love her–and her mittens!

…a little bit about me…

If you’re looking for a special gift for your children or grandchildren, Lisa’s mittens are the perfect fit!! You’ll also find her adult-sized mittens warmly received by friends and family.  Try on these samples of her work and then visit her Etsy shop and put your hands together for the most darling warm mittens you’ll ever own!  Great way to check off those names on your Christmas list, but don’t forget yourself! And make sure to enter–this giveaway doesn’t last long!

To enter:

Leave a comment for each thing you do (put your email address in at least one of them; Lisa will contact the winner directly).

Mandatory to enter:

Follow Faith’s Firm Foundation via Google Friend Connect, or subscribe by email (in the sidebar).

Bonus entries (one additional entry each):

• Visit Lisa’s Etsy shop and come back and tell me which pair or pairs you would like to win.

• Like Faith’s Firm Foundation’s page on Facebook.

• Share this post and giveaway on your Facebook wall or link back to it in a blog post.  Come back and let me know where you shared.

The giveaway is open to anyone in the U.S. and Canada. It closes Sunday, December 18th, at 11:59pm.  I will then choose a winner randomly and announce the winner on Monday, Dec. 19th .  Lisa will contact the winner directly to find out which pair of mittens you’d like and send them out to you directly!  The giveaway pair of mittens will not be guaranteed to arrive by Christmas, so if you need that, it’s best to order now.  Your email address must be in at least one comment to win (or, if you prefer, you can contact me by email with this information).  

I’m linked up to the Homemaking Linkup at Raising Homemakers today! I hope you’ll join me!

Thanks for reading Faith’s Firm Foundation!

Leave me a comment, so I can get back to you.
Come back daily for more encouragement, tips,
and practical help being a wife and mom.
www.wendygunn.net

I’m posting At the Well today

A little attention and common courtesy go a long way in marriage. “But, it’s Christmas time and I’m especially busy now,” I can hear you say. Have you been awfully busy lately? That’s what we all could probably say.  But. When is life not busy?

Do we wives look like a blur rushing by our husbands?  When’s the last time you really stopped and looked at him? Close your eyes and try to picture his face.  No, I’m serious! If you can’t see his face very clearly, may I suggest you take a good long look at your wonderful husband tonight.

Well, on that note, please read my post over At the Well today and you’ll find a marriage tip that is said to have the potential to revolutionize anyone’s marriage.

And here are some recent posts you might have missed:

A Helping of Hospitality #1–A video by me, helping you to overcome the obstacles that are preventing you from practicing hospitality.

Focusing on Family and Priorities More–Why you’re seeing less of me here and enjoying it more.

Kaleo Magazine is Here and I’m in it They did a beautiful job on this first edition of the new online magazine, Kaleo! You’ll enjoy all the articles that will give you help and turn your focus to what’s truly important this Christmas season.

Calm Heart, Organized Christmas #4 (Being Flexible)

Hope you’re celebrating a memorable and Christ-centered Christmas season!

(Look for a review here very soon of the new book by Hal and Melanie Young, Christ-Centered Christmas–The Ultimate Guide to Celebrating a Christmas Your Family Will Never Forget.)

Thanks for reading Faith’s Firm Foundation!

Leave me a comment, so I can get back to you.
Come back daily for more encouragement, tips, and
practical help being a wife and mom.
www.wendygunn.net

Use Coupon Code SAVE70 for 70% Off your entire order of Holiday Cards, plus get Free Shipping.

70% Off American Greetings with code SAVE70. Valid Monday 12/5.

I give a lot of cards throughout the year, and send a ton of Christmas cards.
So, I got excited when I heard about this sale and know you’ll want to take advantage of it, too. If you’re like me, though, you’d better check it out right away, or you’ll forget–it’s only good today!

Valid on Monday, December 5th only. Limited to the first 100,000 cards sold.

*Affiliate Disclosure: You will be helping me in a small way by your purchase after clicking on the link, because I will be compensated as an American Greetings affiliate (this applies to Dayspring as well).

Thanks for reading Faith’s Firm Foundation!

Leave me a comment, so I can get back to you.
Come back daily for more encouragement, tips, and
practical help being a wife and mom.
www.wendygunn.net

The first issue of Kaleo Magazine (from At the Well) is HERE! And I’m in it:)

I’m so honored, and excited, I can’t tell you.  Inside this first Advent issue of Kaleo, which is, by the way, so colorful and beautiful, are articles on Advent Calendar ideas, a make-your-own-manger craft (in Crafty Kids), cut-out cookie recipes, how to make a difference this Christmas–just to name a few! (You can read it by clicking on the link above–read my other posts At the Well–or click this link to Kaleo.)

Look for me under “Words of Wisdom”! If the response is good, there will be more issues of Kaleo coming!  I hope you like it!

Thanks for reading Faith’s Firm Foundation!

Leave me a comment, so I can get back to you.
Come back daily for more encouragement, tips, and
practical help being a wife and mom.
www.wendygunn.net

Well, I finally made the decision. I’ve been trying to decide whether I would need to take some time away from blogging or if I would be able to juggle all the balls, including the unexpected ones the Lord allowed to be thrown at me in the last month (all for good, I’m sure).

And I’ve decided that, in order to show the hospitality to my brother and nephew who arrive tomorrow night for 5 days, I will not be  sharing the video posts on hospitality (“A Helping of Hospitality“) until further notice.  And, in order to actually come close to having a Calm Heart and an Organized Christmas myself, I need to stop posting about it, in order to have time to accomplish everything and still focus on my family:)

In other words, I don’t think I’ll be posting here for a week or so.  I have a guest post that will be appearing next week on the subject of marriage (“To Have and To Hold”) At the Well, and I’ve agreed to review the new book by Hal and Melanie Young (who wrote Raising Real Men, a must-read), called “Christ-Centered Christmas,” so I will still be around.

Check back here so you don’t miss anything.  If I find the time, I’ll post the giveaways that I have been teasing you about:)  Sorry, no promises.  I have to practice what I’ve been preaching:  praying, priorities and planning.  Oh, and I mustn’t forget: being flexible and having a good attitude!

But, if the Lord wakes me at 3:00 a.m. with a burning message I need to write, then I’ll be posting.  Otherwise, please look back at the archives, and catch up on past posts.

(Psst, subscribe and you won’t miss a single post.)

And I’ll still be sharing on facebook, so make sure to Like my page and follow me there!  It’s been exciting to find so many wonderful resources lately that I’ve been sharing, including some Christmas Crafts for Kids, and wonderful books, and websites…please check them out!

Make sure you like my page on Facebook to receive a free copy of ”Ten Things To Make Your Children Mind” if  you haven’t already done so, and to see more ideas, links and info for you as a wife and mom.

May we all make Christ the center of our celebration this Christmas season, and focus our love on our family.

Love you all!

Thanks for reading Faith’s Firm Foundation!

Leave me a comment, so I can get back to you.
Come back daily for more encouragement, tips, and
practical help being a wife and mom.
www.wendygunn.net

Does Christmas seem to bring out the “gimmies” in your children? Have coveting and selfishness turned your little angels into green-eyed grinches? Are you disgusted with the attitudes you see, and wondering how you can encourage thankfulness, thoughtfulness, unselfishness and generosity in them?

These ten suggestions helped in our home when raising our now-grown grinches ”angels.”

1) Train your children to say, “Thank you.” (If they add “Ma’am” or “Sir”–even better!)

2) Train them to write thank you notes for gifts and kindness. Be an example, sending them as soon as possible. (The etiquette books say within 24 hours–writing the note within a day or two, while the gift or event is fresh in your mind, is helpful.)

3) As a family, be generous. Give homemade gifts, gifts of your time, the gift of your thoughts, the gift of prayer. When someone’s on your mind, mention it; when you receive a prayer request, gather your family to pray with you right away; have your children help make and wrap gifts, and take your children along when you visit or serve someone.

(Read the rest of the article over “At the Well.”)

I’m posting on Child-Training under the heading Raise Them Up over there today, with the title, “10 Ways to Teach Your Children to Be Thankful this Christmas.”  Due to writing my series on Tuesdays, Calm Heart, Organized Christmas, I’ve mulled over many of our accepted practices and traditions that we do without thinking at this time of year.  I’ve discovered attitudes in myself that I have been surprised at!  As our children have grown, it may be that we’ve slipped, and, in some ways, that we did a better job when our children were younger, of creating an appropriate atmosphere for celebrating Christ’s birth.  Perhaps because I was more aware of small eyes and ears watching and listening to me.  Christmas can be a difficult holiday for children.  Christmas can bring out the beast, instead of the best in them!

Do your children get the gimmies this time of year?  Billions are spent yearly to make you and I and our children “need” what they’re selling!  How can we avoid the trap of thinking only of what we want and are going to get. How do we teach our children to have giving hearts?

We tested many of the ideas that I share in this article in our own family with our own children when they were growing up, so we know that they work.  Others you’ll have to try, and let me know.

People are not by nature unselfish and giving.  We have a sin nature.  I need reminders to be thankful as much as the next guy–we all do, whether we’re 7 or 97.  So, these ideas are good for prompting whole families, including parents, to think of others, to find joy in giving, to be more grateful, and to focus on the real reason we’re celebrating:  Jesus coming to earth to save us from our sins.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16

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