Amy J. Bennett

Extraordinary Faith for Everyday Life

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Sunday Highlights: Outlaws

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Sorry I missed 2 weeks of this Ten Commandments series.  It’s certainly not because it’s not good.  Because in reality, it’s kind of kicking my butt.  A reminder today we got of the purpose of the Ten Commandments is one I want to emphasize and that is, these were written and apply to God’s people.  They are not for unbelievers to follow so they can become a child of God. Rather, they are how God’s child should act so that an unbeliever knows that they are a child of God.  And in turn, that they also know what God looks like.

So today is Exodus 20:16 what you would know as Thou shalt not lie.

He shared a Top 10 list of lies people tell including some funny ones like “I’m walking out the door right now”, “It hurts me more than it hurts you” “You look great in that”.  And some serious ones “I’ll be praying for you”, “I love you” “I do”.

Four reasons why we lie

  1. Pure corruption – get what I want, however I want
  2. Malice – trying to hurt someone
  3. Fear – children do this a lot for fear of punishment.  Could be fear of losing marriage, job or friendship
  4. Boasting – expand the truth to make you look good

9th commandment is not only about lying.  It’s more broad…do not use words that are damaging or disloyal to someone

Ways we are disloyal or damaging

  1. Lying
  2. Breaking your word
  3. Verbal assassination

Light reveals and darkness conceals.  Truth is light and it reveals.  Lies conceal.  The name Satan means deceiver.  He is the Father of Lies.  We choose darkness so we can hide.  But God calls us to His character.  He is light.  If our word is not trustworthy, consistent, people won’t ever know who God is.

Be honest with yourself.  The battle begins inside.  We lie because we believe the lie that life will be better if we do it.  Satan has deceived us.  Lying only makes life harder and more complicated.

Luke 6:45.  Your words reveal your heart.  Our hearts our corrupt.  We must draw close to God.

Challenge: Measure your words as if God were with you because He is.  We would talk a lot less and listen a lot more.  Ask God to reveal your struggles you may not even see yet.

I’m not a habitual, corrupt liar as is spoken of in reason #1 or lie just to hurt someone in #2 or even boasting in #3 above.  But if there is one area listed I struggle with time to time is lying for fear of someone being upset at me or confrontation.  It’s so enlightening for me to see that even these “white lies” have a root of fear.   Which, if you know me, fear has always been such a struggle.   Even when I think I have it trumped, it still shows up!   I’m still praying 2 Timothy 1:7 “God has not given me a spirit of fear!”

Hear the full sermon at NorthRockHill.com

On the 12th

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Today is our anniversary.  Twelve years married.  TWELVE.  Add that to four years of dating and we’ve been together more than half my life.   Nothing compared to 30, 40, 50 and even 60 years but 12 is something.  A lot of people don’t make it that far these days.  And if they do, many are not happy ones.  Ours haven’t been all happy but we are today.  In fact, a few years back I wondered if I’d ever be happy again.  But we are and it’s only because of God’s grace and guidance.  And I don’t say that as a cliche.  I’m serious, without Him, I’m not really sure what we’d look like right now.  I don’t get sentimental and mushy a lot but I want to take such a mushy day to talk about all the mushy stuff I love about Scott.  How about 12 things for year 12?

  1. Sometimes I can’t stand how good of a Dad he is.   Just yesterday he took them on a breakfast date to McDonald’s AND brought me Starbucks on the way home.  Today he was really upset he didn’t make it to paint pottery with Emma and I just so he could spend time with us before work.
  2. I love how he leads.  I don’t know what it is but people listen to him.  Sometimes he doesn’t give them a choice but he’s got this weird way of making people respect and listen to him.  Some people call him to find out what to do in a rough spot even if he’s clueless on the subject.
  3. I love that he’s a handyman.  He can fix or build just about anything.  There’s nothing sexier than watching him use a drill.  What can I say?  Blue collar men can be hot too.
  4. I love his sense of humor.  MOST of the time.  Sometimes it seems he can’t be serious for anything.  But most of the time, he keeps me laughing and I love that.
  5. OK, fine, I love most of his OCD tendencies.  This house would be freakin’ disaster without him and I know it.
  6. On that note, specifically, I love that he doesn’t mind helping around the house.  He’s been known to wash dishes regularly and vacuum and do laundry when necessary.  Talk about scoring points!
  7. I love that he loves people.  He’s always wanting to invite someone over or go do something with someone.  He’s so much more outgoing than me and it really balances us out.
  8. I love that he thinks I’m beautiful and tells me a lot.  Even if sometimes it seems he says it so much it doesn’t mean as much but I know I’d be lost without that.  I just hope he thinks it when I’m 85 and wrinkled!
  9. I love how generous he is.  He’s taught me so much about compassion and giving and I know he’d out-give me any day of the week and I consider myself pretty generous.
  10. I love that he loves to learn.  Even though it bores me to absolute death to watch the History channel, I love that he has a passion for learning.
  11. I love how athletic he is.  He’s strong and healthy and I’m so proud when he takes off on his bike or whatever he is doing!  It seems like he can do just about anything he sets his mind to.
  12. And of course, most importantly I love his love for Christ.  If there is one thing that is most attractive in a man it is the ability to humble themselves before God.  It seems so backwards that humility would be so attractive but it is.  I can’t explain it but on that account alone, it’s like a magnetic pull.  I love God so, so much and to find a man out there these days (well, 16 years ago) that still proudly stands up for his faith too, well, I consider myself quite the lucky one.

So, yeah, mushy, mushy.  I know I talk a lot about how much I love this TV show or that one or this celebrity or that one but if you can just imagine how much I go on and on about that, my love for Scott is 1,000 times more than that.  I just choose not to gross you guys out about it too often.  You’re welcome 🙂  Actually, I think it’s kind of nice to hear that this marriage thing actually works every once in awhile.  And it has.  So very, very much.

Intentional Spiritual Education

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I found this article “Homeschooling Is Not Optional” from OrganizingYourWay.net from AmyLovesIt.com (is that enough linkage?)  I love this quote:

No school can address your child’s every need.  I often talk about the “whole child” a common term used in educational and developmental literature.  It refers to the education of not just the cognitive aspects of a child, but also the creative, and physical, and so on.  And yet, you will not likely find much spiritual education in a public school.  Spirituality is a part of the whole child, and shouldn’t be neglected.  In public schools, you will find character development, perhaps, but not real morals.  References to religion, on occasion, but little on faith.  This is your job.  Tend to it intentionally.

It’s always the parents’ job to be the spiritual teacher of your children but after our decision to go with public school versus private, I felt even more of a burden to fill that role.  Lately I’ve been reading a story, or THREE, out of Lexi’s picture Bible (ImpressYourKids.org recommends The Jesus Storybook Bible).  It has been astounding the questions they have come up with.  We’ve discussed sin and creation and Heaven and Hell and Satan and Jesus’ scars and Noah’s ark and the plagues and God’s miracles.  I love how we can all agree “no one in the whole world” understands how God has no beginning and end.  I love that they’re discussing it with me and not (or as well as) a school teacher or Sunday School teacher.  I love that I have a pulse on their fears and struggles.

But it is very intentional.  Even when we’re all exhausted and cranky at the end of the day, I have to make that time intentional to read and answer another 100 questions before sleep.  But it’s so entirely worth it.

BlogHop ’10

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If you’re from the BlogHop, I am SO EXCITED you’re here!  I know you have a lot of hopping to do so let’s get to it.

First and foremost, my faith is most important.  I’ve been a Christian since I was 7 and love God with all my heart!  I’ve been married for 12 years this week to my high school sweetheart and we have two girls that are 5 and 7.  By day, I’m a programmer for a large bank and am thankfully able to work from home.  It gets a little crazy around here because after work, I run OneTreeHillBlog.com, IHeartDannyGokey.com, FridayNightLightsFan.com and NBCParenthood.com.  Yes, TV is my guilty pleasure and I love to blog about it!  And this blog you’re on is my personal one that I’ve been running for over 8 years where everything and the kitchen sink goes.  If you stick around you’re gonna find posts on….

my faith

my children

techie stuff

fashion

celebrity

books, movies and TV

coupons

design

cooking (I cooked through Pioneer Woman‘s entire cookbook!)

Hopefully a few of those stood out to you.  I’d love to connect with you on Twitter or Facebook and would be thrilled if you subscribed and tried Permission to Peruse out for awhile.  Leave a comment to say hi and I’ll hop over to your blog!

 

 

Lexi Learning to Read

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I’ve talked before about using Teach Your Child to Read 100 Easy Lessons to teach Emma to read.  I could have sworn as different as Emma and Lexi are that it wouldn’t work for Lexi, but it is!  Off and on the past year or so I’ve been pulling the book out.  Most of the time, Lexi would get frustrated very fast and we’d put it away to try for later.  As Kindergarten looms, I’ve mentioned her learning before school starts and tonight she randomly asked to pull it out.  Well, in 30 minutes or less she was putting small words together and getting it!  It was very interesting to see how Lexi seemed to really want to understand what the word meant and wanted to make sentences with it whereas Emma was just about getting it down and moving on.

You are completely free to not watch this but my heart pitter-patters when she reads a word and really gets what it is!  Also, notice that I tried to use her love language (touch) in congratulating her.  A small tip for those with children that speak that language!  Also? I have my cute gray shoes on and one of my Loft shirts 😉

What Was Supposed to be a Loft Haul

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So I was going to do a haul video for you of a few new things I got from The Loft outlet in Charleston this weekend.  In fact, I did 4 of them.  But then realized my Flip is dying and there’s this weird strip on the right hand side of the screen which completely covered me up.  That could be a good thing according to some but I decided to take a few pictures instead anyway.  And then the pictures looked really bad so here…PLEASE LOOK AT THE REALLY CUTE SHOES.

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These did not come from The Loft but they go with the new gray pants, red tank and gray&cream striped V-neck sweater from The Loft that you’ll now have to use your imagination to see.

But trust me. CUTE!

Coffee Cozy Etsy Results

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OK, people, I finally decided on a coffee cozy from Pink Gasoline.  Yes, it took me nearly a month to decide.  That’s how indecisive I am. It’s not that I didn’t like any of them.  She even added more to their store since my first post and I loved more of them.  I would be ok with using a different one every day.  I love them all that much. But in the end, every time I went by this one, I felt like it was already mine.  I think it may be the same one I eyed at the post office originally.

Anyway, I was SO EXCITED to see it came in the mail today

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And even better?  There’s a cute liner!

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Yes, it’s probably unhealthy to devote so much time to and be excited about a coffee cozy.  But it’s SO CUTE!

Walgreens School Supply Deal

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I got a great little deal at Walgreens tonight for stuff the girls needed for school and who couldn’t use a little extra savings this time of year?

I paid $1 for:

  • 1 Box of 24 Crayola crayons
  • 1 Pencil box
  • 4 Boxes Yellow Pencils
  • 1 Box 8 Crayola Washable Markers

Here’s how:

1 box of Crayola crayons for $1
Received $1 RR
Total: $1 oop

1 Pencil box with in-ad coupon
4 Boxes Yellow Pencils on sale for .09/each
1 Box Crayola Washable Markers on sale for $3
Used $1 RR from crayons
Sent in $3 mail-in rebate for markers (it prints like a RR)
Total: FREE after rebate

That’s it!