Define It

I love how Charles Stanley defines peace, “Peace is an inner quality that flows out of a right relationship with God.”

A right relationship with God – what does that look like?  First, we have to understand with our heart and mind that peace is made through Christ and having a relationship with Him.  There is nothing else this world can provide that can give us peace.  Colossians 1:19-20 says,

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”

Once we have found peace through a relationship with Jesus, we can learn to live out peace in our everyday life. 2 Peter 1:2 says,

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the
knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”

Wow – that is good.  I can easily think of times when I didn’t feel at peace and I know I wasn’t growing in my knowledge of the Lord.  Maybe I was being lazy or maybe I had too many things on my plate.  The story of Martha and Mary comes to mind, where Martha was “serving” the Lord while Mary sat as Jesus’ feet and listened to Him.  Jesus praised Mary for having the right perspective.  It’s great to serve the Lord and everyone should find their place of service, but WE HAVE TO SPEND TIME AT HIS FEET – in the Word everyday, praying, memorizing scripture and spending time with other GROWING believers.

Next post, I’ll write about finding peace in my circumstances.  Answering the questions, how can I experience peace when your tired while caring for a new baby, the kids just dumped their food on your recently mopped floor, or when your husband calls and says he has to work late and you just put a nice dinner on the table?

Prints for a Penny!

Snapfish, has just launched their 3 day only, penny print promotion.  You can get up to 50 prints at this price.  The promo code is FALLPENNY08.  With shipping, I paid less than $4 for my order.  I love a great deal!

Series on Peace and Joy…

As MK and MJ get older, in many ways, things are becoming much easier at the Schadt house, but in others, it’s become increasing busy and crazy at times.  Although we’re finished with bottles, morning naps and trying to get both kids to ride in the shopping cart at the store (MK just walks right beside me – fabulous) – It seems as if we’re moving on to a whole new season – fighting over the Dora purse (I’ve purchased a second), chasing two girls on two different bikes going in two different directions and just finding time to do anything other than playing with girls.

Throughout my life, I’ve played this script over and over in my mind, maybe you have too.  When ______ happens, my life will be so much easier, and I’ll have so much time to get things done and then I’ll really “enjoy” life.  Not that I’m not currently loving life now, because I love nothing more than my family, taking care of our home and serving in student ministry.  What is it about life, that we’re always looking to the next thing or season in life – thinking that it will be easier and then we’ll really get to do those things we can’t seem to find time to do now.

With that said, I’ve decided to do a study/series on peace and joy, getting at what God says about contentment and loving life, finding satisfaction today, not looking and focusing too much on tomorrow at the expense of enjoying all the great blessing He’s so generously given us today.  I am doing this for myself, but sharing so maybe someone reading would be encouraged, not by my words, but with God and what His Word says on this topic that I think many ladies, mom in particular, struggle.

As I study, I’ll post my notes, hopefully daily, or every couple of days – so check back soon!

Great Articles on Food

I promised my great MAC friends that I would post some information about helping your family eat right and stay healthy.  Here are some AWESOME articles – VERY PRACTICAL and not weird!  Take a look and see what you think!

15 Best Foods to Add to your Grocery List

20  Healthiest Foods for Under a $1

Be a Smarter Eater

Eating Healthy – April’s Favorite Grocery Picks

This is just a few articles I’ve read recently that I think are great – I’ll continue to post new ones that I think are practical and helpful!

Our Macy is getting soo big!

Macy is getting soo big!  Here is a movie we took yesterday evening while the girsl were eating a snack.  She is starting to talk and she is hilarious!  I think she might have more personality than Makenzie!

A New Personal Best..

Tonight was the annual Gaslight 5K race in J-Town that we participate in EVERY YEAR and love it!  The weather was amazing – a breezy 70 degrees!  So along with the great weather, was a new personal best!  I was the 16th female to finish!  Hooray!!  My time was 22:30 – a 7:15 pace – I’m slowly but surely getting quicker!  Had a great first mile at 6:40 – lost my pace though – shouldn’t have eaten so close to race time.  None the less – I’m waiting for my official place in my age group – but I am incredibly happy with my time and can’t wait for my miles to average in the 6’s and leave those 7’s behind!  I’ll keep working at it!

From the heart…

One of my favorites things about teaching HS girls bible fellowship is getting to really dive into God’s Word, allowing it to change my heart and show me things in my life I need to change, so I can turn around and share those principles with the girls in my class. We’re currently teaching through James which is one of the most practical books of the Bible when it comes to real life application.

When I began studying James 3, I found myself turning back to Matthew.  Matthew tells how our mouth is directly linked to our heart.

Matthew 12:34 says, “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” And Matthew 15:18 says, “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’”

I began to do a heart check on myself.  What are the things that I am putting in my heart?  Am I filling it with as much “God stuff” as I am with “world stuff?”  Then, I thought of my girls.  What are those things that come out of MK’s mouth that I think, “where did that come from?” Sometimes I think we just allow the world to slowly creep into our lives and it happens so slowly, we don’t even realize it is happening.  I’m so thankful for the power of God’s Word, that it is living and active and continues to change my heart to become a better follower of Christ. I am quickly realizing that I need to be filling our minds and hearts with the things of God, even more than I am. I want both their words and mine to overflow from a heart that is filled with the things of God and not all the garbage that surounds us in the world.

My plan of action was to minimize the things we listen to and see.  To help, we’ve been keeping the TV off almost the entire day and listening to some really great kiddy Bible CD’s in the van.  We love the “Awesome Power Parables.”  They share a Bible story and then sing a song (not a corny one, they are actually great).  I’m loving it when MK sings along and MJ clamps!

MK Starts School

MK started school – mothers day out  – at Whitefield Academy on Thursday’s.  I thought I would be sad, but am more excited for her.  I think it is good for her to practice sitting in a classroom and working around other kids.  She came home her first day so excited about glueing blue squares!  Here are a few pictures before she left for her first day!

Oatmeal - the only way to start your day!Bear, lunch bag and purse - all the essentials for starting school!

Bangs?

Well, I was trimming Makenzie’s bangs this afternoon and she asked why I didn’t have any.  She said, “mom, you need some bangs too” so crazy me said okay!  I think I haven’t had bangs since middle school!  Ha!  They do look kind of cute though – don’t we look just alike now!  Our eyes are hilarious!  They are identical!

A few pictures…

Here are a few more pictures of the house – we’re finally getting things on the walls!

The view into the kitchen and dining area. I love our raised bar - I can watch the girls play while I work in the kitchen.

Our beautiful customer woodwork and cabinets around the fireplace.

We have sod!