tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21968110983182733582024-03-13T01:59:47.202-04:00Contagious!Do you have it? And is it Contagious?Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-35872139506352938762011-06-19T22:20:00.003-04:002011-06-19T22:38:24.340-04:00True Beauty DevotionThis is a quick devotion I put together for my daughters and I to do over breakfast that I adapted from a chapter in the book "Five Conversations You Must Have With Your Daughter" by Vicki Courtney.<div><br /></div><div><ol><li>What does it mean to be beautiful? or What does the world say is beautiful? (I usually ask my youngest first and move up to the oldest.)</li><li>Read 1 Timothy 4:8</li><li>What is God's attitude toward physical exercise? Toward godliness?</li><li>What can we do to be spiritually "healthy"?</li><li>Which is more important to you, physical health or spiritual health? Why?</li><li>Talk about exercise for health benefits, staying fit in order to have energy and good health to serve your family and your God!</li><li>Read 1 Samuel 16:6-7</li><li>What did God tell Samuel not to look at?</li><li>By what standard does God judge beauty?</li><li>Talk about the things we do to make our outer self beautiful vs. the things we do to make our inner selves beautiful.</li><li>Which do we spend more time on? Why?</li><li>Read Psalm 139:14</li><li>Watch Dove Evolution You Tube video and discuss the images the media show us and how they are altered. <a href="http://youtu.be/iYhCn0jf46U">http://youtu.be/iYhCn0jf46U</a></li></ol></div>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-92000024229780724842011-05-30T23:05:00.006-04:002011-05-30T23:29:45.249-04:00Behind, Beside, and Beyond<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8-HdlM9gzesaQUY1uB1XzbSp6LVpxhcGuZOq5Sw_u_1NCMkQ_6lG-B3Ku1jWjIhbBPmZMaJcT-X_f6SNQUT4ip2Ke4NTNoknMbKSM7KV48gcfmEgOstwUpM-q00QxUM3ZZRjfqef_Xg/s1600/women+talking.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 115px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8-HdlM9gzesaQUY1uB1XzbSp6LVpxhcGuZOq5Sw_u_1NCMkQ_6lG-B3Ku1jWjIhbBPmZMaJcT-X_f6SNQUT4ip2Ke4NTNoknMbKSM7KV48gcfmEgOstwUpM-q00QxUM3ZZRjfqef_Xg/s200/women+talking.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612713282859261778" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;">"It was with good reason God said let the older women teach the younger (Titus 2).</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;">Trial and error is not the best teacher when it comes to marriage and motherhood!"</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;"> - Debi Pearl</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;">I agree! I have several "mentor moms" who I call on for wisdom and advice on a fairly regular basis. Women who are ahead of me in this adventure of motherhood. Women whose children are bearing fruit. Women who are like-minded.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;">I heard it said once that we all need someone who is younger who we are helping along, someone who is ahead of us who helps us, and someone to walk beside us who is in a similar season of life. I think most women are fine in the "alongside" department, but lacking in the other two. Let's not re-invent the wheel, so to speak! Let's learn from each other and avoid some common pitfalls.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;">Some women ask "how do I find a mentor?" Look around you and find a mom a few steps ahead who is like-minded and is on the road you want to travel and ASK HER! Invite her over for coffee or a lunch date out and pick her brain. Ask if she would be willing to answer some questions for you regarding being a godly wife and mom. I bet she'd be blessed to do it! You may have to meet with a few different ladies before you find a really comfy fit, but it will be worth it! It doesn't have to be anything formal, just a friend you can call on in times of need (and we all have them!)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;">On the flip-side--are you open to helping someone else? All of us are older than someone! Are you willing to share the wisdom you have gathered thus far?</span></span></span></div>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-38189064356012061372011-05-30T21:33:00.003-04:002011-05-30T22:48:13.986-04:00Two Recipes for Success- Which do you want to make?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><h5 style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Colossians 3:1-4 </span></h5><h5 style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Living as Those Made Alive in Christ</span></h5><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"> </span><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29519" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">1</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"> Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. </span><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29520" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">2</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"> Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. </span><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29521" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">3</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"> For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. </span><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29522" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">4</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Sunday at church we had an amazing sermon that has had me thinking. It really complemented all that God has taught me from the Mother Teresa book. Don't you love when He speaks from all different directions and resources to shape your thinking in an area? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Here is an overview of some of the points my pastor hit me with:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><br /></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">We are easily distracted. We live in a world with too many distractions.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Sometimes the "good stuff" we do can get in the way and keep us from God's "best" for us. </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Am I defining my world and my circumstances by Christ and His plan and kingdom or by my own thoughts, feelings, or the world's leading?</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Am I seeking His agenda or my own?</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Which is more important? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">My Lordship and my plan or His Lordship and His plan?</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">A</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">m I choosing to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">or do I still think I know quite a bit and interject my "wisdom" into all my decisions in spite of what God thinks?</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">How am I defining success?</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">The world says "what you see is what you get" meaning if you "look" successful on the outside (a good job, stylish clothes, nice car and home, pretty family, financial security...etc.) then you are successful.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">But what does Jesus say about success?</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">How is success measured in the kingdom?</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">When I stand before God will He be impressed by this outward "success" or is He looking for something entirely different and I have been "duped"?</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">What will be important then?</span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">I think of Mother Teresa (since we just finished reading her story) and imagine how pleased the Father must have been with her life's investment. She did not gather up treasures for herself, but gave herself entirely to a mission of loving the unlovable in Jesus name. I compare this to myself. What is my investment? I have known Jesus for 12 years now. I have studied my Bible continuously since He saved me. I have sought ways to share my faith, attended church faithfully, and am raising four children to know and love Him. But I have done all this while remaining in the comfort and safety of my Kentucky home where I live in a gorgeous neighborhood, surrounded by pretty people with plenty to eat and wear. Don't get me wrong, I am not talking about earning my salvation. My salvation is complete and secure in Christ. I am talking about using my life wisely for His glory. Being Jesus hands and feet. Focusing on things above rather than the here and now. It is so easy to get caught up in THIS life and forget that there are those who have yet to hear the gospel and are dying as we speak!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Rusty and I were privileged to hear Dennis Rainey, the founder of Family Life Ministries, speak at an adoption dinner recently and he said something that has really stuck with me. He said that when we are <i>near</i> to something it matters to us and we care, but when we are <i>far away</i> (removed) we lose interest and it is more difficult to care. Basically the old "out of sight, out of mind" mentality. This is exactly why Mother Teresa chose to go and live <i>among</i> the poorest of the poor rather than serving them while living in the convent up on the hill, separate. She wanted to live AMONG the people, eat what they ate, live the way they lived so she would have true compassion for their situation. So as I'm listening to the sermon on Sunday I was thinking...if Rusty and I were on a plane that crashed on a deserted island and we were the only 2 who were un-injured and mobile, we would be up and running, helping the other crash victims. We would do our best to nurse them back to health. It would be a desperate situation that calls for immediate help. Isn't that the truth of the situation we live in today? Around the world there are so many sick, dying, starving, impoverished, orphaned, lost people and here we are able-bodied and equipped with resources to help and yet we have chosen to live separate from the problem. We aren't close enough to see it, to feel it, to have compassion. We have "moved" to the other side of the "island" to our comfy neighborhood and ignored the need hoping "someone else" would help. We make the mistake (or choose to believe) or (allow ourselves to be deceived) of thinking that we don't have what it takes to make a difference. We (want to) think it takes lots of money or special gifts and talents we don't </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">posses. I think this is what God showed me in MT life, she was an ordinary woman with no money, no resources, and no outward "gifting" to set her apart and yet she made a dramatic difference in our world for the sake of Christ. And she did it in a completely unconventional way! No spreadsheets, no goal-setting, no self-promotion, no fancy fund-raising, no catchy slogans or ministry titles, no cross country speaking tour, no ten year plan, no expensive or elaborate building plans or programs. She simply followed God to position herself in a place of need and then set about meeting those needs in a simple, loving way every day. She drew near to the problem no one else wanted to be close to. That is courage. That is love. That is the gospel!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mother Teresa didn't have the worlds definition of "success", but I feel sure she was a true success in the eyes of our Lord. The question is which version are you striving for?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><h5 style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333399;">Colossians 3:1-4 (The Message)</span></h5><h5 style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333399;">He Is Your Life</span></h5><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333399;"> </span><sup class="versenum" id="en-MSG-12525" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333399;">1-2</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333399;"> So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333399;">Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.</span></b><sup class="versenum" id="en-MSG-12526" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333399;">-4</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333399;">Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.</span></span></div>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-69462156530052120942011-05-26T20:26:00.003-04:002011-05-26T21:56:11.651-04:00A Real Nice Gal<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEYneNQIMruZavRdh9ddBjVNvAC2RluuowOlrf7qwL1NinmPpCxRdtALjPUdhTsbLK8sgPsanSfzBod8HmZN10ftyLxIbu0QbSLjZsXxEE-HqF5AXGK28Q5yl_i7h5ku-YIZZUkLyDao/s1600/teresa.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEYneNQIMruZavRdh9ddBjVNvAC2RluuowOlrf7qwL1NinmPpCxRdtALjPUdhTsbLK8sgPsanSfzBod8HmZN10ftyLxIbu0QbSLjZsXxEE-HqF5AXGK28Q5yl_i7h5ku-YIZZUkLyDao/s200/teresa.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611186303508815874" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We have been studying India in History and just finished reading this book about Mother Teresa. Sadly, I knew almost nothing about this incredible woman prior to this. I knew she was a nun who worked with the poor and that was about it. After reading the book and watching a documentary on her life I am convinced she is the clearest, most beautiful example of humility (other than Jesus) that I have ever heard about. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Humility is such a difficult quality to define, and even more difficult to achieve. Websters defines it as: </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#636363;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 19, 32); font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; "><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1. (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">n.</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">) The state or quality of being humble; freedom from pride and arrogance; lowliness of mind; a modest estimate of one's own worth; a sense of one's own unworthiness</span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2. (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">n.</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">) An act of submission or courtesy. Low in rank or status-"a humble position"</span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My favorite definition, in fact the only one that has ever been helpful to me, is:</span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CCFF;">"True humility is not thinking less of myself, but instead, thinking of myself less." </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CCFF;">C.S. Lewis</span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Mother Teresa chose to become a nun and lived in the convent for many years teaching in a school on the same grounds in India until one day the Lord called her to give it all up to serve the poorest of the poor on the streets of Calcutta. What I love about this book is that it tells us she was normal. Her first experience with these "untouchables" was in a hospital where an infants foot had been nearly chewed off by a rat. The baby was too undernourished to cry out for help. This case and others like it scared and disgusted her and she vowed she would return to the convent and never come out to the streets again! But soon she sensed God reminding her of the passage from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;">Matthew 25</span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "></span></span></p><p><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24051" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;">42</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"> For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24052" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;">43</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"> I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’</span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24053" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;">44</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"> “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’</span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24054" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;">45</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"> “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’</span></span></span></p><p><span class="woj"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What I love about this is the acknowledgment that she was a normal human being as opposed to some unique, one-of-a-kind super-human! Was she special and unique? Oh yes! But was she "special" in some sense that you or I couldn't do the same thing when filled and submitted to the power of Christ? No! She felt the same disgust that any of us would feel in that same circumstance. The difference is, she allowed God to change her, to grow her into a woman who looked past the outer and loved the people in spite of their sickness, their smell, their imperfections.</span></span></p><p><span class="woj"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Because, many times, I think we decide that people like Mother Teresa are "different" than we are and that's why they are able to do these awesome works for God. We make excuses..."well if I had___.", or "if I was ___.", as though there is something fundamentally different in her biological makeup that enables her to do hard work and love it and we just don't have that "special something".</span></span></p><p><span class="woj"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We don't just do it on the BIG scale though, we do it in the smaller areas too. Like marriage, we say "I know the Bible says I should submit to my husbands leadership and I would BUT..." Then we explain why Sally can do it because her husband is the pastor and he is a great Godly man and "if I was married to him..." We say it about weight loss and physical fitness. We see a star lose weight and we say "sure, I could do that too if I had a personal trainer and a chef!" Really? Does that make it easier not to eat the brownies at midnight? Do they sleep with you and hold you down? Mother Teresa compared herself to a "pencil in the hand of God". Let's just admit that God would be pleased to do equally amazing work through you or I if we were but willing to surrender to the same degree. Ouch.</span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In addition to her humility, which was so beautiful to see in action, here are some other points I learned from her life:</span></p><p></p><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">God doesn't force us into His service kicking and screaming. He <i>allows</i> us to be involved and <i>if</i> we will obey we will find ourselves LOVING it! He always blesses our sacrifice. She didn't <i>tolerate</i> this work, <b>she lived for it</b>!</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She did not set out to cure the worlds poverty problem or build some kind of ministry empire. She simply saw a need and began to meet it one day at a time.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She did not make long term plans or goals. She did the work that was in front of her today. When she saw a new need she began to move in the direction to meet it too. She didn't know how or when it would happen, she just moved in faith that God would supply.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What she was doing seemed like foolishness to many.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She didn't have money and that was never a concern for her.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She drew near to the people she wanted to serve. She chose to become an Indian citizen, she lived where they lived, how they lived, dressed as they dressed, ate as they ate.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She didn't "recruit" helpers or supporters in an active way, she was too busy doing the work itself. She trusted God to handle all the details.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She worked hard! She slept 2-3 hours per night and prayed 2 hours each morning.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When she had a need she went directly to her knees. She never tried to handle things herself, she depended on the Lord.</span></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">After we completed the book we watched a documentary on Mother Teresa's life on Netflix. When it was over my youngest daughter Carley, age 5, said to me "she was a real nice girl huh mom?" This cracked me up since Mother always looked like she was a hundred and twelve years old and she was so much more than </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">nice</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">!! Hilarious!</span></div><p></p></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">A man can counterfeit love, he can counterfeit faith, he can counterfeit hope and all the other graces, but it is very difficult to counterfeit humility. --</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-size: medium; ">D. L. Moody</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">How do we know if we have a servant’s heart? By how we act when we are treated like one! Unknown</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. --Martin Luther King, Jr</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">.</span></span></p></span></div></div>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-60434408145239817952011-05-20T14:38:00.001-04:002011-05-20T14:40:41.609-04:00<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d6a51334d6a49774d6a453d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox invite" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d6a51334d6a49774d6a453d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own invite - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center">A <a href="http://www.smilebox.com/anytime-invitations.html" target="_blank">free invitation card</a> by Smilebox</td></tr></table><br /><br />We are super excited because all 3 girls will be singing in the choir for this performance and Morgan even has a speaking part!! This is her first time to participate in a play so we are looking forward to seeing how things turn out!!Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-22687540551427056732011-05-19T00:32:00.008-04:002011-05-19T00:44:16.904-04:00Fun BooksSo I usually don't read books for "fun", I typically read books to learn, but I've been on a break to just enjoy some lighter reading. Plus I am trying not to buy any books but borrow them instead from the library. Where have I been that I didn't know I could get just about any book (older than one year old) from the library even if my branch doesn't carry it? I can request it online and they email me when it is waiting for me at my branch! What a deal! So here's a few I've just finished:<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9005IM8MIah_Os9A4l0XokUao5sISCOUcCQOUkgjVrxu1Igm3btdkUj1mSSFn3APP8OfK-NI46zMOw4VwuhbZyfBbEWJvmACD-oxMna8-bvCXGnu3iSozEXJGejLxrLTDr98RGdxHRE/s1600/heavenfor+real.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9005IM8MIah_Os9A4l0XokUao5sISCOUcCQOUkgjVrxu1Igm3btdkUj1mSSFn3APP8OfK-NI46zMOw4VwuhbZyfBbEWJvmACD-oxMna8-bvCXGnu3iSozEXJGejLxrLTDr98RGdxHRE/s200/heavenfor+real.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608281757256240450" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWIGnlZYAegt0LeO-ikC8bXi_dyJEAoCXLMNUfplPZrVjwPGi-GfFvIdVJINcvDZhNyOpBhDqHRdg6Et4V4dm_XNvUi5Fx7bhf5pqYgz6_l4wcTqCitoa-I-xQlhXul4SvERJRDbWZns/s1600/kirk+cameron.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWIGnlZYAegt0LeO-ikC8bXi_dyJEAoCXLMNUfplPZrVjwPGi-GfFvIdVJINcvDZhNyOpBhDqHRdg6Et4V4dm_XNvUi5Fx7bhf5pqYgz6_l4wcTqCitoa-I-xQlhXul4SvERJRDbWZns/s200/kirk+cameron.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608281436027419650" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XI04afYyVr6vqirxubpSQARzDcCBsKVb0B254Rpt8vpvrGvns4h0WchOLsyCvhBe_uT3w6giU3XyjVUPhi2Fs93RA47kyRKsYD22w5Aqev8l93n7UQ_17SjGbxbGfS8N0368IRIon0M/s1600/in+a+heartbeat.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XI04afYyVr6vqirxubpSQARzDcCBsKVb0B254Rpt8vpvrGvns4h0WchOLsyCvhBe_uT3w6giU3XyjVUPhi2Fs93RA47kyRKsYD22w5Aqev8l93n7UQ_17SjGbxbGfS8N0368IRIon0M/s200/in+a+heartbeat.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608281179681043026" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>All really quick reads, all very inspirational and interesting. I'm a little hesitant to admit the Kirk Cameron one, but it's not because of his teen idol status (promise), but because of his involvement in the Way of the Master ministry that drew my attention. :)</div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-40199029058651295212011-05-18T23:19:00.006-04:002011-05-18T23:38:23.128-04:00I may be back...<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRsK11yxTSetGrkg_mhmycCnXf-jUWG9q9we5PkyAbHc5C9Ob3owCmV2zgBDRGXChll7kAUgnOrYPA8agW01A8pe_XaIH7LNRgAErOnUK8GCLTT9MljcNpZpYpHIjeJvIRHlFJNCG2e4/s1600/busy_mom.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRsK11yxTSetGrkg_mhmycCnXf-jUWG9q9we5PkyAbHc5C9Ob3owCmV2zgBDRGXChll7kAUgnOrYPA8agW01A8pe_XaIH7LNRgAErOnUK8GCLTT9MljcNpZpYpHIjeJvIRHlFJNCG2e4/s200/busy_mom.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608266306834610786" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I don't want to make any promises I can't keep...</div><div>but I'm going to try to get back in the swing of the BLOG!</div><div>The world went blurry for a while after we got home with Evan, but that isn't unusual. :) Rusty and I had a discussion about how it takes us about a year to "settle in" when we add a new family member! But we sat down in March (our one year mark) and decided we were ready for a new "adventure", so we'll see what the good Lord has in store for us next! In the mean time, I know it will do me good to have an outlet for my "talk".</div><div><br /></div><div>So I made some cosmetic changes to the blog, changed the ages of the kids...etc. and now I feel REFRESHED! So, what do you want to talk about? Marriage, parenting, cooking, crafts, God-stories and lessons???</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-74009052204116294572010-12-31T12:22:00.005-05:002010-12-31T12:55:43.858-05:00Our 2011 Ten Day Prayer Kickoff!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHEeL24K_X04qMmj0dVguGSS_9QEZxuuKKlYhwj9ZRmXphhOOXcNLpnL0Km4OztZ-mByKoseFzDwurNmvnxy3tEGnpc3e8L3R0Xf8eWa49_JguYI2RCIw8gPgP-x2oqMZUTOfASXVLC5M/s1600/DSC07501.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHEeL24K_X04qMmj0dVguGSS_9QEZxuuKKlYhwj9ZRmXphhOOXcNLpnL0Km4OztZ-mByKoseFzDwurNmvnxy3tEGnpc3e8L3R0Xf8eWa49_JguYI2RCIw8gPgP-x2oqMZUTOfASXVLC5M/s200/DSC07501.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556903763356009650" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7JC7J89-4cIfaoEPliAXjAm1oD0_zhThX36PekMe_NDaHC2kARWqndxbD5Lr1oW3B2PFkDpZvlUq49tFFKKnRcGoa0MpFlwbvjWIbu6HwGnkEhyphenhyphenVtTz7tGsD0-hQVYZyd4W347WZbiI/s1600/happy+new+year.png"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7JC7J89-4cIfaoEPliAXjAm1oD0_zhThX36PekMe_NDaHC2kARWqndxbD5Lr1oW3B2PFkDpZvlUq49tFFKKnRcGoa0MpFlwbvjWIbu6HwGnkEhyphenhyphenVtTz7tGsD0-hQVYZyd4W347WZbiI/s200/happy+new+year.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556903309434893010" /></a></div><div>I found a short article in a magazine that listed ten different prayer "postures" found in the Bible and we (my 11 year old daughter and I) are going to use it to kick off the new year in prayer!</div><div><br /></div><div>January 1, 2011<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Kneeling<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>1 Kings 8:54</div><div>January 2, 2011<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Standing<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Jeremiah 18:20</div><div>January 3, 2011<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Sitting<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>2 Samuel 7:18</div><div>January 4, 2011<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>In Bed<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Psalm 63:6</div><div>January 5, 2011<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>In Private<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Matthew 6:6</div><div>January 6, 2011<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>With Others<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Psalm 35:18</div><div>January 7, 2011<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Hands Lifted<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>1 Timothy 2:8</div><div>January 8, 2011<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Silently<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>1 Samuel 1:13</div><div>January 9, 2011<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Aloud<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Acts 16:25</div><div>January 10, 2011<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>At All Times<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Luke 18:1</div><div><br /></div><div>The more we learn about prayer, the more we will think about prayer, the more we will think about our Savior and talk with Him and the better we will know Him and love Him. I want to begin the year pointed at Him in prayer!</div><div><br /></div><div>We will be recording this in our prayer journals so we can discuss what we are learning. Here is the format (just to give my daughter something to follow):</div><div><ul><li>Date</li><li>Scripture written out</li><li>Two things I prayed about</li><li>My thoughts (3+ sentences)</li></ul></div>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-19631102822093110292010-12-29T21:25:00.006-05:002010-12-31T12:51:01.088-05:00Puppies and Toddlers<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Iul4QvpoWla1ugqN2xMVpAeecb96kG6fRGywhKhqL03WvSD34seEMUmD6m7tOthWXvDauWiDcRr0ZJuKedUWWutfhm9IbzMCelN1EeqZk3c_YXvQrDOsnWrlibdD7MU8A-28ySwSECU/s1600/March+2010+997.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Iul4QvpoWla1ugqN2xMVpAeecb96kG6fRGywhKhqL03WvSD34seEMUmD6m7tOthWXvDauWiDcRr0ZJuKedUWWutfhm9IbzMCelN1EeqZk3c_YXvQrDOsnWrlibdD7MU8A-28ySwSECU/s200/March+2010+997.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556897501608285634" /></a></div><div>Maybe you've never noticed how much puppies and toddlers have in common? I think of it often as I parent my 4th toddler. Let's look at some of the similarities...</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">1. Both respond to simple, clear commands along with tone and facial expression.</span></span></div><div>When an owner speaks to his pet his language is simple and straightforward. He doesn't speak in long, monotonous speeches because he knows the limitations of the one he speaks to. He is short and to the point - "sit", "come", "lay down". The owner doesn't spend time explaining why or apologizing for asking because he views himself as "in charge" and expects obedience from his pet. The pet is able to "read" the owners mood by his tone and facial expression. He knows if it is play time or time to relax. The same is true of toddlers. They respond best to simple language like "no touch", "come to Mommy", "sit down", "kiss", and they are able to read our mood too. The Bible says </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><h2 id="passage_heading" style="font-weight: bold; font-size:16px;">James 5:12<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:10px;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But above all, my brothers,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 6px;font-size:12px;"> </span></span>do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.</span></h2><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;">This is an important principle and one I am reminded of almost daily as I parent. We must say what we mean and mean what we say. Remember the KISS idea? Keep It Simple Stupid. What a great parenting mantra! There's really no need to do a full explanation of why I said "no" when you touched the ornaments on the Christmas tree, your just not allowed to touch them-period-cause I'm the Mom. :) I observe a lot of parents doing a lot of "discussing/explaining/lecturing" with toddlers and find it amusing when a simple "no" will work so much better.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">2. Both require clear, consistent boundaries.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;">When you bring home a new puppy many of the training books will warn you not to let the puppy chew on household items like old socks. The reason is because they do not know the difference between "old socks" and your brand new socks! Then your mad because Fido has eaten every sock in the house! We have found the same principle to be true when training toddlers. All remote controls are off limits, all cell phones are "no-no", no papers, newspapers or books are allowed to be torn or crumpled because we know that little sweet-pea doesn't know the difference between a magazine we've already read and don't care about and the one that is important for Daddy's work. We know that although we may not mind if Jr. tears up our remote, that we may come over to your house and you won't ever invite us back when he tears up yours! The great thing about toddlers and puppies is that these things can be taught in just a few days with clear, consistent boundaries!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">3. Both respond to positive feedback.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;">Puppies and toddlers both really enjoy pleasing their Mom and Dad! Again, they read our tone and facial expression and they know when we are happy and excited. We are teaching Evan to blow kisses right now and every time he does we all erupt in clapping, cheers and laughter! He knows that this is for him, that he did the right thing and he joins in the celebration. It won't take too many training sessions like that to teach him to blow kisses!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">4. Both are smart and capable.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;">Our friends have laughed at us for a long time because each of our children have been trained to stay on the large area rug we have in our family room. From the time they become mobile we have said "stay on the rug" and picked them up and put them back on the rug until they learned that this was their play area. This is great for safety. I know what is within their reach while they are on the rug. There are no small pieces or parts, and they can't fall up or down stairs as long as they remain on the rug. We don't have to search the house to find them if we walk in to answer the phone. I know where they are and that they are safe. When my son began to walk recently many people have commented "I bet your chasing him all over!", I just smile and say "no, it's not that bad." Another benefit to this training is when we are away from home. My in-laws also have an area rug in their family room and our son stays right there in the room with us without wandering off into other parts of the house (into the dogs dishes...etc.). Many people are shocked when they discover this "skill" in our 15 month old which makes me laugh--do we really believe that we can train our dogs and not our children?? Our children are much smarter and more capable than our pets!!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">5. Both desire security and leadership.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;">Toddlers and puppies are happier and more secure when they have discipline, boundaries, and strong leadership. They want to know that we know what we are doing and are confident in our decisions. When we are sure, they feel sure. When we wishy-wash around with a hundred words in an un-clear tone they don't know what to do. When we yell about something today and ignore it tomorrow they are confused and insecure. When we live by a flexible schedule and the rules stay the same, when our moods are predictable and stable, they are relaxed and happy. I had a boss once who said the number one quality he looked for in an employee was stability. He didn't want to deal with any Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde types where your not sure who your going to get today. Predictability was key to him. I think he had a good point.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></span>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-8903861188143869142010-11-14T14:04:00.003-05:002010-11-14T15:40:19.658-05:00I Understand Deception<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3CQ0MNrpB_i8zD6k3cQ9fSSCDeBjYW64PDmcdwFRlbXs6EO9_RMYohE_sVwfEj9IX2mkU3WZZMv3tESl5UlVvQDKvMEH0yGdCE4AB6gPehdl3VkizolrX-ks8OMY1idUbPsw_h0n5C8/s1600/divorce.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 97px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3CQ0MNrpB_i8zD6k3cQ9fSSCDeBjYW64PDmcdwFRlbXs6EO9_RMYohE_sVwfEj9IX2mkU3WZZMv3tESl5UlVvQDKvMEH0yGdCE4AB6gPehdl3VkizolrX-ks8OMY1idUbPsw_h0n5C8/s200/divorce.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539507977059396450" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 20px; font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div class="sblk"><div class="scnt" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 20px; ">I know a young woman with small children in the midst of a divorce right now. She is leaving her faithful, hard-working, honest, good-looking, kind, wonderful father, husband for another man after having a long-term affair with him. Her children are hurt and confused, her husband is destroyed, her parents are devastated, his parents are crushed, and their friends are shocked. This is a woman raised in a Christian home with happily married parents. She met her new boyfriend in the church choir.</div><div class="scnt" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 20px; "><span class="ssens"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Deceive = to cause to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid, </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">to give a false impression.</span></b></div><div class="scnt" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 20px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"></span></b>When I heard about the situation my first thought was "so this is deception". How else can you explain a woman who is happy in her marriage one day and out "dating" another man the next? This is deception as plain as the serpent in the garden. In the same way the enemy caused Eve to believe she would be "happier" and MORE fulfilled if she ate the ONE fruit she couldn't eat, he caused this young woman to believe that somehow the grass would be greener in this other mans' arms. Eve never considered the consequences of her actions in her own life, or those generations to follow and I'm sure this woman hasn't either. That is one of the enemies specialties...to focus all our attention on the object of desire and leave no time or thought to it's ramifications. Let us never forget that the devils' intention is to STEAL, KILL, and DESTROY. What is more destructive in this world than divorce?</div><div class="scnt" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 20px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Deceive = to lead astray, imposing a false idea or belief that causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness</span></b></div><div class="scnt" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 20px; ">Watching this situation progress to divorce has been painful for all involved. Many friends and family have tried to talk with <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">this</span> woman and reveal the consequences of her actions but to no avail. Too many times these situations remain hidden until the deception is so thick that it is nearly impossible to recover the victim. Too many times we, as onlookers, make excuses, rationalize the situation, or ignore it saying "that's none of my business" (which is another deception!). This is as dangerous as a burning building and we must be willing to rescue!</div><div class="scnt" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 20px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Deceive = to obscure the truth</span></b></div><div class="scnt" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 20px; ">If you are a follower of Christ and you know the TRUTH, don't keep it to yourself! I think we need to learn the art of "speaking the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15). The Bible says the TRUTH will set us free. Sometimes that TRUTH is a good, happy message, like the gospel. But other times that TRUTH is hard, painful, and awkward to deliver, and yet it is still the key to freedom. </div><div class="scnt" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 20px; ">I have a friend who started a new job and has found herself in the middle of a potential adulteress situation between her boss and a new-hire (both married). There is quite a bit of flirting going on and it is uncomfortable for all the employees. I advised my friend to talk with the female from a point of view of concern. We have all been "blinded" in a situation in our lives where those on the "outside" could see things much more clearly than we could. Right now is the time to "nip this thing in the bud" but who can do that? My friend says "I don't have that kind of relationship with her!" Yes but the only people who DO have that kind of relationship with her will not know about this situation until it is much too late!! God placed YOU there at this time to speak the truth to her in love. She may not respond well to it. She may continue in the relationship. At least the truth has been spoken to her, an attempt to snap her out of the deceptive "trance".</div><div class="scnt" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+24:4&version=NIV"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Matthew 24:4</span></span></a></strong></span></div><div class="scnt" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">deceive</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">s you."</span></b></span></div><div class="scnt" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This story and others like it should serve as a warning to all of us that deception is real, effective, and we all are at risk. What kind of safeguards do you have in place to guard against this in your marriage? What boundaries will you implement today? Do you have an accountability partner who can ask you about these? Remember, the first deception is when we think "that would never happen to me".</span></span></div><div class="scnt" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1:22&version=NIV"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">James 1:22</span></span></a></strong><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br />Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.</span></span></b></span></div><div class="scnt" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">One of the ways we guard against deception is by filling up on TRUTH daily in God's Word. Knowing the TRUTH is the greatest defense against the devils' schemes. Not just "knowing" Bible facts as though we want to win a prize on a quiz show, but KNOWING the ONE who is the Way and the TRUTH and the LIFE and doing what He says in obedience and out of love for Him.</span></span></div></div></span>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-19799634613559092182010-10-24T21:01:00.004-04:002010-10-24T22:27:26.727-04:00Miserable in Paradise<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2BQQpO-GZjX7KNgL_jtGL5J1e_Zc9LELg3HRt-RBj4DTWO95zFw-PGrVD7IRLrv2IcoyZBF_EG1eH1YlQgmiZeZmG2BQeFNUsYAD3kJbAnSUlOOKBysiOUeA7bE1MaIh9aA8v743CrU/s1600/adam_eve.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 178px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2BQQpO-GZjX7KNgL_jtGL5J1e_Zc9LELg3HRt-RBj4DTWO95zFw-PGrVD7IRLrv2IcoyZBF_EG1eH1YlQgmiZeZmG2BQeFNUsYAD3kJbAnSUlOOKBysiOUeA7bE1MaIh9aA8v743CrU/s200/adam_eve.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531800842692791122" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I sat with a friend who is in horrible pain recently. She and her husband have been trying to conceive for a year now and have suffered the loss of miscarriage as well. She loves the Lord and is seeking to follow Him. She is happily married, lives in a beautiful home, and they have a healthy, happy daughter and wish to grow their family. Basically all is well in her life except this situation. It all seems so simple. Why wouldn't God want to give them another child? In her eyes, and in mine, it seems perfectly logical and even beneficial to all involved. Yet God is not following her plan or mine. In the mean time, my friend is miserable. Everywhere she turns she finds pregnant women. Worse yet, pregnant women who complain about being pregnant! Day after day there are continuous reminders that she is not pregnant and month after month the days drag on until there is a new opportunity. It is all-consuming and heart-breaking.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After my meeting with her I began to reflect in prayer on her situation with the Lord and He reminded me of a similar situation from Scripture. The first book of the Bible tells us about another young woman who "had it all" and yet there was one thing she couldn't get her mind off of. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Genesis 2:16-17 </span></span><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-47" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">16</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; </span></span><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-48" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">17</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Adam and Eve were living in paradise and had freedom to eat from any tree in the garden except one. What did Satan do? He caused Eve to focus on the one thing she didn't have and it ended in her destruction! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">How can you be miserable when you live in paradise? </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Listen to the voice of the deceiver, the father of lies, the accuser, that's how!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">How much of your thought time is spent on "the one tree you can't eat from"? How does it impact your mood, your effectiveness, your perspective?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The enemy wants our focus to be on ourselves and our plan because he knows that we are weak and fallen and will always come up short resulting in disappointment, depression, even hopelessness. Here is a "thought recipe for disaster"...</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Thoughts focused on what I want, need and desire rather than on what God wants, what He thinks and what He desires. Do we really believe our way is better?</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Thoughts that compare me to someone else. Either I come out ahead and puff up with pride, or I come out inferior and feel like a loser. No good can come from comparisons.</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Obsessive thoughts that include mental ultimatums like "when _____ happens, then I can be happy/content/useful...etc."</span></span></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The enemy wants you and I to believe that our happiness is dependent on a circumstance, an event, or an outcome. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ you have reason to be JOY-FILLED every day! God's plan is for you and I to choose to focus on HIM today, what He has done, what He is doing, and who He is. When we purposefully shift our focus off ourselves and onto God and others we will have a different outlook and outcome! How can we do that? I always say "what does that look like in real life?" Here are some practical examples of things to do to get your mind off YOU...</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Get your prayer list from Sunday school and pray for those needs.</span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Call to check on a friend and pray with them over the phone.</span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bake cookies and take them to someone.</span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Do something special for your spouse. What would thrill him? Clean out the closet, wash the car, pay the bills?</span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Praise God for who He is. Go through the ABC's thinking of an attribute of God for each one (awesome, bold, complete...etc.)</span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Make a blessing list of all the things you are thankful for.</span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Use your gifts to serve someone. Are you gifted in organization? Call your friend who isn't and offer to come by and work for an hour. Are you a great cook? Invite some newlywed gals over for a cooking class!</span></span></span></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">All of these suggestions are replacements. The Bible talks about "taking off" certain behaviors and "putting on" others. So when you find yourself thinking about that one area of your life that is less than "ideal" you replace that line of thinking with one of these ideas. When you are tempted to call a friend to complain that your situation hasn't improved, instead pray with them about a concern of theirs. It is never enough to vow to STOP something, we must always be ready to START a new way of doing things to replace the old.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I love my "Comforts of the Cross" devotional by Elyse Fitzpatrick. In it she challenges me to </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">focus more on God's love for me rather than my love for Him, more on His obedience than mine, more on His faithfulness than mine, more on His strengths than mine. "I must focus on how I've been loved, irrevocably, eternally, freely, without merit, and rest in the awareness of my perfect acceptance before Him."</span></span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As long as we are looking at ourselves we will remain disappointed. We are imperfect and the proof is obvious and plentiful. But thoughts of Jesus will never leave us disappointed, only grateful and amazed. It's up to you.</span></span></span></div>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-64299442080805438392010-09-12T14:51:00.006-04:002010-09-12T15:33:51.868-04:00We've Never Prayed For Our Breakfast<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDuWYdqM0jSUefkZ4t7mnpfysf5qZoecmhU-CcFNbAWrMet_Tk7cpV2jxZkLeAW7CZXpPqXDQ9bCTFWqCS030seVqM1Ba4mQlv3bzzUkpXB1zr910ZhEpXCSAPMjxIgRVmtbNxH2EkHQ/s1600/granny+han.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDuWYdqM0jSUefkZ4t7mnpfysf5qZoecmhU-CcFNbAWrMet_Tk7cpV2jxZkLeAW7CZXpPqXDQ9bCTFWqCS030seVqM1Ba4mQlv3bzzUkpXB1zr910ZhEpXCSAPMjxIgRVmtbNxH2EkHQ/s200/granny+han.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516105313637723042" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29446" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><br /></span></span></sup></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDuWYdqM0jSUefkZ4t7mnpfysf5qZoecmhU-CcFNbAWrMet_Tk7cpV2jxZkLeAW7CZXpPqXDQ9bCTFWqCS030seVqM1Ba4mQlv3bzzUkpXB1zr910ZhEpXCSAPMjxIgRVmtbNxH2EkHQ/s1600/granny+han.jpg"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29446" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Phillipians 4:19</span></span></sup></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29446" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"></span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">And my God will meet all your needs </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>I read a book to the kids recently called "Granny Han's Breakfast". It was the story of a missionary lady in Taiwan who literally had no food in her cupboards for breakfast one morning. The young girl who helped her around the house asked her what she was going to do. Granny Han said she would pray and ask God to meet her need. This girl was not a believer and thought she was foolish for considering this a reasonable plan of action. Over the next hour she saw God meet Granny Han's need as friends and neighbors stopped by "out of the blue" with fruit, coffee, and other treats. Granny Han rejoiced as her young friend watched in disbelief.<div><br /></div><div>Have you ever prayed for your breakfast? Lunch? Dinner? Neither have I. The girls and I discussed how Granny's faith must have been enriched by this experience. How she must have felt so loved and cared for by her Father God. How seeing this must have impacted her house guest. It's almost sad that we haven't had such an experience.</div><div><br /></div><div>What kinds of needs do we have and how do we meet them? This morning my skin felt dry, I went to the bathroom cabinet and got my lotion and took care of it. If I hadn't had any lotion in the cabinet I would have hopped in the van and driven to CVS and bought some. When I am hungry I get in my pantry, or stop by the grocery, or even go to a restaurant...I don't even have to go in!! I can drive-thru a window and pick something up! If I am in pain, I call the Doctor and he will write me a prescription. If someone is looking for love, they can get on an internet dating sight or go to a club. If we need spiritual advice, we can call a pastor, or attend one of a thousand churches on every corner of this city! We barely look to God even in spiritual matters any more!! We, as a society, have done (and continue to do) our best to meet every single need we have on our own. We have squeezed God out of our lives. Only in desperate circumstances (those we don't think we can control on our own) do we call on Him anymore. Jesus said He would never leave us and never forsake us--but have we left and forsaken Him?</div><div><br /></div><div>What do we miss in living this way? The opportunity to see His love and personal care for us. The chance for our faith to be built and strengthened. The occasion to bring glory to His Name and His Kingdom. The truth is that most of us spend an awful lot of time daydreaming (or complaining) about how our lives should/could be easier when the reality is that they are already TOO EASY and that is a big chunk of our problem!</div><div><br /></div><div>God brought this to my attention back in July when our family went on vacation. We stayed in a wonderful place on the beach with a pool and room service and had a great time. Guess what? I hardly opened my Bible and spent almost zippo time in prayer. Why? Good question since the excuse I would use at home would be "time" or lack of. I had nothing but time on vacation; and even some time alone when I would go upstairs for Evan to take his nap. But all was well. Everything was running smooth. Everyone was healthy and happy and all our needs were met. This was an eye-opening experience for me.</div><div><br /></div><div>I love the song "In Christ Alone" that says:</div><div></div><blockquote><div>In Christ alone I place my trust</div><div>and find my glory in the power of the cross</div><div>in every victory let it be said of me</div><div>my source of strength, my source of hope</div><div>is Christ alone.</div></blockquote><div>Let us also never forget that our greatest need in this life is to be rescued from the judgment we deserve for our rebellion against the One, True, Living God. And that need can only be met by one, our Savior Jesus Christ. So no matter how self-sufficient we may feel, it is only an illusion when we get to the core of what really matters which is "where will you spend eternity?".</div>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-80271403838182791312010-09-04T11:14:00.003-04:002010-09-04T11:51:38.154-04:00My Workplace<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVhO7pYEhNma2P3TBsFi0i3dMQOkjWRqUETkfghxDFJXkXtpNUmvrFEHNGWXsM39WE4-24aVheoykmXzmoy0hVp9y0EVlGDZGYe-vVJHPYNX0843_udWIUpRheSWxomdSIsV0ho5XPmk/s1600/Wilbur.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVhO7pYEhNma2P3TBsFi0i3dMQOkjWRqUETkfghxDFJXkXtpNUmvrFEHNGWXsM39WE4-24aVheoykmXzmoy0hVp9y0EVlGDZGYe-vVJHPYNX0843_udWIUpRheSWxomdSIsV0ho5XPmk/s200/Wilbur.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513086435594116962" /></a></div><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote>So I'm reading Charlotte's Web to the girls as part of Paige's first grade curriculum, and it is really good! I had forgotten, since I was probably her age the last time I read it and I haven't seen the updated movie. <div><br /></div><div>In Chapter 9 Charlotte (the wise spider) is explaining to Wilbur (the young, naive pig) why he can't spin a web like she does. She tells him this is a talent unique to spiders and that even men cannot build a web, though they will try. Charlotte tells him about a bridge that men have built that is similar to a spiders web.<div></div><div></div><blockquote><div>Wilbur: "What do people catch in the Queensborough Bridge--bugs?"</div><div>Charlotte: "No, they don't catch anything. They just keep trotting back and forth across the bridge<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"> thinking there is something better on the other side</span>. If they'd hang head-down at the top of the thing and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FF33;">wait quietly</span>, maybe something good would come along. But no--with men <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>it's rush, rush, rush, every minute. I'm glad I'm a sedentary spider."</div><div>Wilbur: "What does sedentary mean?"</div><div>Charlotte: "Means I sit still a good part of the time and don't go wandering all over creation. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">I know a good thing when I see it</span>, and my web is a good thing. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;">I stay put and wait for what comes</span>. Gives me a chance to think."</div></blockquote><div></div><div><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote>I know my girls think I am nuts when, in the middle of the story, I have to run to find a highlighter, a bookmark, a post-it--something to mark this AWESOME epiphany moment!! But this conversation between Charlotte and Wilbur fit so beautifully with the previous blog about "My Job"! </div><div><br /></div><div>These statements are so simple and yet so accurate in todays society.</div><div><ul><li>We DO trot back and forth always thinking there is something better that we are missing out on! </li><li>We rarely "hang" and wait quietly to see what the Lord would say or bring our way. </li><li>We are rushing constantly which causes us to be short-tempered and stressed out! </li><li>We DO wander all over creation seeking fulfillment, praise, significance. </li><li>We DON'T know a good thing when we see it! </li></ul>Charlotte's web is her home and she sees it as a "good thing" and she "stays put". My home is my workplace and God has called me to make it a haven for my family. A place where we can relax, learn, have fun, eat together, and show hospitality to others. I need not go elsewhere to find meaning, there is meaning at home where I love my family, teach, train, correct, cook, clean, raise my children to know Jesus, love my husband, and visit with friends.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think I'm going to adopts Charlotte's philosophy on life--"never hurry and never worry!" If you are not "catching anything" then maybe you should take some time to be sedentary like Psalm 46:10.</div><blockquote><div><blockquote></blockquote></div></blockquote><div></div><div></div></div>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-70804180152086953472010-09-02T16:28:00.000-04:002010-09-02T16:29:01.917-04:00My sweet Evan boy!<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTuNkgrGbFnBX_I2wgBGe-kgxodSn5BAymdUu6LEgWk9zkf5grWjBem6U-Dw_norG5hHuLWuif7jOTnZWJLCS3nhhGiOTTuFkdnLMKdpMyJKsNMyY7luXvEdP1WelPUuT050m1tdqonw/s1600/DSC06588.JPG">!<img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTuNkgrGbFnBX_I2wgBGe-kgxodSn5BAymdUu6LEgWk9zkf5grWjBem6U-Dw_norG5hHuLWuif7jOTnZWJLCS3nhhGiOTTuFkdnLMKdpMyJKsNMyY7luXvEdP1WelPUuT050m1tdqonw/s320/DSC06588.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-63914875001904962262010-09-01T22:33:00.002-04:002010-09-01T22:55:58.142-04:00My JobI know a lady who works at Macy's. She hates it when customers take a load of clothes into the dressing room and then leave all of them in there in a heap when they leave the store. She then has to spend a large portion of her day in the dressing room hanging and re-stocking the clothes. My thought is "that's your job!". I mean, isn't that what they pay you for? I understand people are inconsiderate and should be more responsible for cleaning up after themselves, but...this is why they pay her, to hang up and put away the clothes! So when she goes to work-who cares what she does-just stay busy, work hard at whatever needs to be done, and collect your paycheck without complaint.<div><br /></div><div>This is what God brought to my mind this morning as I was complaining in prayer to Him about all the interruptions and corrections I have been dealing with from the kids. We homeschool and as I am trying to teach one child, the other comes over and needs help with something else or needs to be corrected for disobedience...etc. It can be very frustrating to manage the needs and misbehaviors of all 4. I find myself agitated at the "inconvenience" of stopping one lesson/conversation to deal with another. So as I talked to the Lord about my irritation and asked for His help, he brought this lady to mind and made the obvious correlation..."Cristie--that is your JOB!" "You are the Mom and it is your job to help them, to teach them, to correct them and to train them-all day, every day!" </div><div><br /></div><div> Why am I so surprised that they have to be told something over and over again when I continue to make many of the same mistakes over and over again in spite of the correction God has given me? Why am I acting like I have "other things to do" when being a Mom is my JOB, my #1 priority, my PRIVILEGE! Sometimes I need a change in perspective to get back on track. Just the reminder that this is MY JOB will change the way I view the daily "irritations". I can choose to see them as "training opportunities" instead and be thankful that I am around to witness them and equipped by God to deal with them. After all, what could be more important?</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+12:13&version=NIV"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;">Job 12:13</span></a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;">To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.</span></div></span></div>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-18662802434654976912010-06-08T22:44:00.006-04:002010-06-08T23:21:08.001-04:00The things that stick.<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWWjKUGqCT2OkKpBKS6ke2LljQr8hy5tODWIi24QwP8eYfzCT_swNmeO-FPHbf4_rw-Gq87jNDcBa50NmrKE-1hbeZ8NmkgI3G_hddPH9i7lxoj1uQIFKkr8OOZoxyQU7akeGHGDSUGA/s1600/john+wooden.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWWjKUGqCT2OkKpBKS6ke2LljQr8hy5tODWIi24QwP8eYfzCT_swNmeO-FPHbf4_rw-Gq87jNDcBa50NmrKE-1hbeZ8NmkgI3G_hddPH9i7lxoj1uQIFKkr8OOZoxyQU7akeGHGDSUGA/s200/john+wooden.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480607798147580114" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;">When we sat down to dinner tonight Rusty began to tell about a famous coach, John Wooden, who died on Friday at the age of 99. He told the girls "I hope you have a marriage like the one I heard about today". John Wooden was married to his sweetheart Nell for 53 years. She was the only girl he ever kissed. She died 24 years ago on the 21st of March. Since then, every month on the 21st he has written her a love letter. Rusty told the girls that Wooden said he never considered marrying again because he could never love anyone the way he loved Nell.<a href="http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5249532">http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5249532</a> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;">We talked about faithfulness--what does it mean to be faithful? Why does God want us to be faithful? We explained how the Lord Jesus is faithful, that once we ask Him to be our Lord and Savior that He remains faithful to us to the end. He doesn't change His mind. He doesn't fall in and out of love with us like the old game "He loves me, He loves me not" based on our behavior or performance. He makes a commitment to us, adopts us into His family, and remains committed for all eternity. God wants us to be faithful because He is faithful and He wants us to be like Him. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;">With tears in his eyes my husband shared with the girls Wooden's final wish was that someone would shave him so he would look nice when he saw Nell. I truly believe this is one of those family moments that will stick in my daughters minds for all time. I believe as they consider a spouse they will recall the conversation their dad had with them on June 8, 2010 and attempt to discern if this man is one who will be faithful to the end.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><blockquote>"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are," John Wooden</blockquote></div></span>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-77763646858256233352010-06-08T22:08:00.005-04:002010-06-08T22:30:34.113-04:00"Clean your room!" and other misunderstood instructions<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39V00SBHZCN2IJ0uaQhhDRA49tEcNnheuPMosRCDwsWzsXqzC0vYjoqNNpkb5Beli1AcRZ2FEUszzINsbYZtSuqWun2ZIl3wx922kBqxtZmSmmlfZWGDNxs9g2o84uRQgvrz6ggu2j5Q/s1600/kids+cleaning.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 170px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39V00SBHZCN2IJ0uaQhhDRA49tEcNnheuPMosRCDwsWzsXqzC0vYjoqNNpkb5Beli1AcRZ2FEUszzINsbYZtSuqWun2ZIl3wx922kBqxtZmSmmlfZWGDNxs9g2o84uRQgvrz6ggu2j5Q/s200/kids+cleaning.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480595317029285954" /></a></div>Recently a mother was visiting our house when I asked my 3 daughters to go upstairs and fold a load of laundry. After they left the room she commented "I wish my kids would help out around the house!" She went on to say that when she told her son to "clean his room" she would find him 20 minutes later in his room playing. The best outcome she could expect was for him to pick up the floor and stuff all the items under the bed, in the closet, or in drawers with no order whatsoever.<div><br /></div><div>Here's what I have learned about this dilemma:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Kids do not understand broad concepts like "clean your room" (especially kids under 7). They <i>do</i> understand specific instructions like "put the Barbies in the blue bin". Another broad instruction mothers love to give their kids is "be good". Really? What does that look like? We must be more specific with our expectations when we have small children. Speak real directions that are meaningful in their kid-mind.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Flowing from #1...do their things have a "home" where they belong? If you tell your child to "put away the Barbies" do they know where the Barbies are supposed to go? If not, you are making "clean up" very difficult for your child. When their toys have "homes" they are much more likely to be willing and able to put them away. This doesn't have to be some HGTV play room makeover where each bin is labeled and embroidered, it just has to be a system known to the child and taught (and followed) by Mom and Dad.</div><div><br /></div><div>3. Which brings us to #3...work as a team, especially in the beginning. Everyone likes to be part of a team, to laugh and have fun makes the work go by faster! Rather than sending each family member to a separate room to clean/straighten up, why not move as a team from room to room? This also gives each member an opportunity to "serve" the others! Turn on some music and have fun! Working together gives Mom and Dad the chance to show how the work should be done, to offer tips and guidance, and just build relationship too! Too many times we just bark out orders when it would be much more effective and efficient to say "let's go clean up your room" or "let's get this kitchen cleaned up together--why don't we set the timer for 15 minutes and see if we can beat the clock!!" I believe that kids want to spend time with their parents, especially one on one, so take advantage of that and be productive too!</div>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-8376615006560929092010-06-08T22:03:00.002-04:002010-06-08T22:07:56.634-04:00Taking a break from radioThis Sunday, June 13, will be the final episode of the Contagious radio program on WJMM fm. After much consideration I have decided to stop recording for this "season" of life. I know I have to have an outlet, a way to express myself, so I will be writing more on the blog, as time allows, to share what God is teaching me. The three and a half years of radio programs will continue to be available for download on the website www.contagiousonline.comCristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-34867333102648517242010-06-01T15:44:00.001-04:002010-06-01T15:46:22.316-04:00<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wbPXgP1W5uWe6W8ZQcinmHW3v5lHZjd0jhcAhDn4Y6ct-OoW_3118yjCyoBaYnIAq3OUM3lT0diRbFohskDOjFR7TSnyzeE150OFnQHQQITVSpLFsrfG86teux1CrOnmFiFAxXvYNzQ/s1600/IMG_6016.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wbPXgP1W5uWe6W8ZQcinmHW3v5lHZjd0jhcAhDn4Y6ct-OoW_3118yjCyoBaYnIAq3OUM3lT0diRbFohskDOjFR7TSnyzeE150OFnQHQQITVSpLFsrfG86teux1CrOnmFiFAxXvYNzQ/s320/IMG_6016.JPG" /></a> </div><span style="color:#33ff33;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Carley's Kiss</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>May 2010</b></span></div></span><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-91108864940780701752010-04-07T15:00:00.003-04:002010-04-07T15:39:19.054-04:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWNd7LSSDPvDf7DRML7Ylt2BX16OX5979X9dbM8gtNaII9Szc4fIpA5TY3h-UU1CyhhjlEeZFyonqd-oMGABW5N4QOYqUQPRuqPKYmQhqa1RwQSi-CenBvJdWbawOhKi82grrul40-rs/s1600/March+2010+057.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWNd7LSSDPvDf7DRML7Ylt2BX16OX5979X9dbM8gtNaII9Szc4fIpA5TY3h-UU1CyhhjlEeZFyonqd-oMGABW5N4QOYqUQPRuqPKYmQhqa1RwQSi-CenBvJdWbawOhKi82grrul40-rs/s200/March+2010+057.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457473323594951090" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQw1IWmFjCSBEN9ENkjySomi9j_Rk6XstQEnQI5-MNt2CqXm-b6m_HLkDbuji5L6k2NowSw97D-YKbIvBIunfdoLP_E3EkQ_L4DdHQYT4YPRsV0Kg3tPtQ1vC8r2w9-30I8477HJMwksA/s1600/March+2010+045.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQw1IWmFjCSBEN9ENkjySomi9j_Rk6XstQEnQI5-MNt2CqXm-b6m_HLkDbuji5L6k2NowSw97D-YKbIvBIunfdoLP_E3EkQ_L4DdHQYT4YPRsV0Kg3tPtQ1vC8r2w9-30I8477HJMwksA/s200/March+2010+045.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457473304954585122" /></a></div><div>Airplane photos! We flew on Emirates Airlines and were very happy with them. We flew Cincinnati to JFK in New York then on to Dubai where we stayed overnight in a hotel (which would have been nice if I could have slept!!). My schedule went off kilter starting on Wednesday night before we left on Thursday. I guess I was a little anxious about traveling around the world and meeting my new son for the first time--imagine that! Mostly I was apprehensive about the thought of a 14 hour flight! What does one do for 14 hours in the air?? The Emirates planes have tv's on the back of each seat so you can watch tv, movies, or play video games which is a great feature! Unfortunately I got sick on the big flight, I think it was just motion sickness but sick nonetheless. Don't feel bad for me, feel bad for the elderly Indian woman who sat on the aisle (she spoke no English) and I climbed over her every 30 minutes throughout the majority of the flight! I made friends with all the flight attendants and had the privilege of sitting in the jump seat for large chunks of time as I waited for the restroom to open up. Other than the nausea and vomiting, it was a smooth trip. :)</div>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-39496723772733126122010-04-07T14:43:00.003-04:002010-04-07T14:59:36.205-04:00Packing for a trip around the world--<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUzraSleZOblg3lWfQ5w8MUTKMifm4t9tp9pSf1VVjhA_wpzHWCMdFvYJO_k9b709Zb3762J69Bjj1_ah9XW6j0I8pMJEVK4KEDxziAwHU6Yr_6y9ZEknlD5-DSFx6cWJZJhuUFshjtE/s1600/March+2010+026.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUzraSleZOblg3lWfQ5w8MUTKMifm4t9tp9pSf1VVjhA_wpzHWCMdFvYJO_k9b709Zb3762J69Bjj1_ah9XW6j0I8pMJEVK4KEDxziAwHU6Yr_6y9ZEknlD5-DSFx6cWJZJhuUFshjtE/s200/March+2010+026.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457470029594215810" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rus and I ready to leave on Thursday, March 18, 2010</div><div style="text-align: center;">We flew out of Cincinnati, OH at 4pm</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUzraSleZOblg3lWfQ5w8MUTKMifm4t9tp9pSf1VVjhA_wpzHWCMdFvYJO_k9b709Zb3762J69Bjj1_ah9XW6j0I8pMJEVK4KEDxziAwHU6Yr_6y9ZEknlD5-DSFx6cWJZJhuUFshjtE/s1600/March+2010+026.jpg"></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4gkTcEcbd_jG-TTfFlQs-wqN9swMXCJmBpyoq_DNLchR_3Y7yUy4RRh3HsxvOoRrQgcWi7sjWrXpztgAaDXwryFSWqALie69yLHXg6F0oz7AVQts4Jx-6o4y5uUCIKelLm-pYCEVYxU/s1600/March+2010+022.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4gkTcEcbd_jG-TTfFlQs-wqN9swMXCJmBpyoq_DNLchR_3Y7yUy4RRh3HsxvOoRrQgcWi7sjWrXpztgAaDXwryFSWqALie69yLHXg6F0oz7AVQts4Jx-6o4y5uUCIKelLm-pYCEVYxU/s200/March+2010+022.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457469234764639410" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our bathroom was the packing depot! </div><div style="text-align: center;">This packing started about a month and a half before we actually left!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4gkTcEcbd_jG-TTfFlQs-wqN9swMXCJmBpyoq_DNLchR_3Y7yUy4RRh3HsxvOoRrQgcWi7sjWrXpztgAaDXwryFSWqALie69yLHXg6F0oz7AVQts4Jx-6o4y5uUCIKelLm-pYCEVYxU/s1600/March+2010+022.jpg"></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUhY2EIKHV7xT_SocYJwHO2mhAMg_6Sb9HADYiRdQB7pcg4b30l2rowD-OSYQdXu3La2vbhbTIhwzpWAb4Wn7OGsN_tzE3jdO9DuWPvLM3ffk6d00THJIRUUTBrT6c7NlbWDByN1Bvf8/s1600/March+2010+017.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUhY2EIKHV7xT_SocYJwHO2mhAMg_6Sb9HADYiRdQB7pcg4b30l2rowD-OSYQdXu3La2vbhbTIhwzpWAb4Wn7OGsN_tzE3jdO9DuWPvLM3ffk6d00THJIRUUTBrT6c7NlbWDByN1Bvf8/s200/March+2010+017.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457469231199621922" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Momma must have her snacks!! :) </div><div style="text-align: center;"> I wanted to be sure I had some sweets and comfort food just in case </div><div style="text-align: center;">I wasn't as adventurous in the dining room as I was hoping for! </div><div style="text-align: center;">(I wasn't) Let's just say the Fruit Loops were gone!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUhY2EIKHV7xT_SocYJwHO2mhAMg_6Sb9HADYiRdQB7pcg4b30l2rowD-OSYQdXu3La2vbhbTIhwzpWAb4Wn7OGsN_tzE3jdO9DuWPvLM3ffk6d00THJIRUUTBrT6c7NlbWDByN1Bvf8/s1600/March+2010+017.jpg"></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3h-BDgBcb-FTHbaqSwOkAtQZU1LL5GCoOrMDqFnTqrO5weRb7x33iLmhS7_ryI8OPptTR2UoiFd3jU7DXaFy9iS9F3gCY0IxTIc0svRrGOKcBAzZfk3bYtqzjcXsp37XzvfOnaxclAM/s1600/March+2010+003.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3h-BDgBcb-FTHbaqSwOkAtQZU1LL5GCoOrMDqFnTqrO5weRb7x33iLmhS7_ryI8OPptTR2UoiFd3jU7DXaFy9iS9F3gCY0IxTIc0svRrGOKcBAzZfk3bYtqzjcXsp37XzvfOnaxclAM/s200/March+2010+003.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457469221718380594" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The girls were a big help in packing...especially when it came to Evan's clothes!</div><div style="text-align: center;">We had to sort sizes and then try to decide which size would work best..?</div><div style="text-align: center;">So I took a full week of 3-6 mos. and a full week of 6-9 mos.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Baby clothes don't take up that much room!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrkO4KAe9QKxG40iVgOU8qL5T5_lXUj4BP3IMyHofNOeW4hSk89JoSiJ9J2-K3hwjurcyDFBtCEpsP2j9_l0nsOhDB1NYJ_6BHl51gA3GZhFFwXu4-wwVfVf-0DPe0s7xDU6MLeX2m38/s1600/March+2010+019.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrkO4KAe9QKxG40iVgOU8qL5T5_lXUj4BP3IMyHofNOeW4hSk89JoSiJ9J2-K3hwjurcyDFBtCEpsP2j9_l0nsOhDB1NYJ_6BHl51gA3GZhFFwXu4-wwVfVf-0DPe0s7xDU6MLeX2m38/s200/March+2010+019.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457469214780219170" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Baby stuff!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrkO4KAe9QKxG40iVgOU8qL5T5_lXUj4BP3IMyHofNOeW4hSk89JoSiJ9J2-K3hwjurcyDFBtCEpsP2j9_l0nsOhDB1NYJ_6BHl51gA3GZhFFwXu4-wwVfVf-0DPe0s7xDU6MLeX2m38/s1600/March+2010+019.jpg"></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OSMqL5YBa4nqvryplldKSjBIhOEZ5tEpvpGgkOjk4hyphenhyphendPvwlk4IIZDNWRhinM44nE3lz_mAFIimW9GM-UmKzNcTQNM1ATUSAMiq7RPZfT1Dfy2w57Ia2VPazKuea1F_o05iUYIXoSDw/s1600/March+2010+036.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OSMqL5YBa4nqvryplldKSjBIhOEZ5tEpvpGgkOjk4hyphenhyphendPvwlk4IIZDNWRhinM44nE3lz_mAFIimW9GM-UmKzNcTQNM1ATUSAMiq7RPZfT1Dfy2w57Ia2VPazKuea1F_o05iUYIXoSDw/s200/March+2010+036.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457469207802950162" /></a></div><div>The girls on the day of our departure. I guess I was so caught up in packing, preparation and anticipation that I nearly forgot I'd have to leave my girls for a week. I started crying when we got one street away and Rusty was surprised. Wow, this could be tough!</div></div>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-22497379703144900492010-04-07T14:37:00.002-04:002010-04-07T14:43:17.979-04:00Sorry for the silence...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7eUQH3xB6y7PoWEoz2gvEbA5a-5ROhaimv5tyP2MFXAAa6HOJYQntIF9uD_MFkb3b0dor-UzPTfp_RwpFZvMMf6XYn7VAehyphenhyphen4Ta_sq8R2WKgkNITcdOXeZ6FwNtNo24U1P1TPSgg6AU/s1600/Dawit+3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7eUQH3xB6y7PoWEoz2gvEbA5a-5ROhaimv5tyP2MFXAAa6HOJYQntIF9uD_MFkb3b0dor-UzPTfp_RwpFZvMMf6XYn7VAehyphenhyphen4Ta_sq8R2WKgkNITcdOXeZ6FwNtNo24U1P1TPSgg6AU/s320/Dawit+3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457467318017614914" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So sorry for the silence</span>. </div><div style="text-align: left;">So many of you have been so faithful in prayer for our family throughout this process that I hate to keep you waiting! If your not my Facebook friend you are probably waiting to see Evan's beautiful face??!! So here is his referral photo that we received on January 5, 2010. He was 3 and 1/2 months old here. We got 6 photos with his referral but this is the one that looks most like who we met on March 21, 2010. Funny, because this one was my husband's favorite!</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-49503168313395030522010-03-23T22:05:00.003-04:002010-03-23T22:13:04.901-04:00Mini-Cerniglia Update! From #2Hello everybody! This is Angie or as Cristie calls me #2! I wanted to give those of you who aren't on facebook a little update on the Cerniglia's (or half of them!)<br />They arrived safely on Saturday and got to hold their precious son on Sunday!<br />I got to see them via Skype today and trust me, Evan is absolutely adorable!!!! And very content!! They have molded together already!<br /><br />Their US Embassy appointment was on Monday and went well, and neither of them have been sick with any stomach bug either!<br />Cristie was even able to see our little boy (in fact he was the first child they saw when they arrived at Hannah's hope! The director was holding him!)<br />Other than Jet-lag, I think they are doing great! Cristie has nothing but good things to say!<br /><br />They are due back Friday and I personally can't wait!!<br />She will much more to blog about then!!Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-26028610549826453152010-03-17T00:27:00.003-04:002010-03-17T00:45:11.725-04:00Packed! We leave the day after tomorrow!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3JDOShJMCjZJZqjDWnsKlG-Rb6be5NFKBJesbgldGB9RFSba61Del2WYkcPvGN9xH5rGvsd7v3VA6KYASs55mt9o5bzcGcIaWSAoX61m1iUU07u_7gPsdAYt2t-YOvL-ipcFWB2NE3o/s1600-h/luggage.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 94px; height: 94px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3JDOShJMCjZJZqjDWnsKlG-Rb6be5NFKBJesbgldGB9RFSba61Del2WYkcPvGN9xH5rGvsd7v3VA6KYASs55mt9o5bzcGcIaWSAoX61m1iUU07u_7gPsdAYt2t-YOvL-ipcFWB2NE3o/s200/luggage.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449458989302733026" /></a></div>It is 12:30 am and I just finished writing letters for the girls to read each day while we are gone. I sealed them in individual dated envelopes so each one would be a surprise and something to look forward to (not as fun as Cris P. who did bags with goodies in them :) but I'm doing the best I can!! I tried to give them a few assignments each day so they won't wear Rusty's folks out completely too! Also let them know what our day would look like and told them how they could pray for us.<div><br /></div><div>I got Evan and I 95% packed today. Rusty is on his own :) (I say lovingly). It was hard work, but with Morgan's help, we got it done today! What a weight lifted off my back. Now I can go to BSF in the morning and enjoy the study and "fill up" on God's awesome word before we leave!! I can't wait until we're actually on the road and in the air and I can actually bask in the awesomeness that we are on our way to Evan! With all this preparation I really haven't had time to reflect much on how cool this part is!</div><div><br /></div><div>Shout out of thanks to my support system today: Angie/#2 who passed court today!!! Praise the Lord, Cris P. who recently traveled and is an awesome resource on travel questions, Susan P. who I am looking forward to meeting face to face on Thursday night late in the JFK airport as we share in this awesome experience together! My in-laws who arrived today, 2 days early, to help out. Our treasured friends the Hunters who came to wish us well tonight, and my dear neighbor Marissa who gave me a paper bag to make my apple pie in and is always available in my food/entertaining emergencies!! I love you all!!! :) Hugs and smiles!</div>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196811098318273358.post-51132293507277941322010-03-15T22:42:00.003-04:002010-03-15T22:54:11.086-04:00Counting down the days...and adding up the lists!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRo0d-ASAhilfOtzaNsbmhKEn4EoEuSfpfh2Bnl6VmC5Tm4clrg0fVwhdiXL1fTHp0_ETVZjRjRC4n3R_b7IFVaAhDOu_bmWSX27bJT7rEEeTZ2BOhl66vwrTV-ipd-al11R0KRF9Xodg/s1600-h/to+do+list.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 137px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRo0d-ASAhilfOtzaNsbmhKEn4EoEuSfpfh2Bnl6VmC5Tm4clrg0fVwhdiXL1fTHp0_ETVZjRjRC4n3R_b7IFVaAhDOu_bmWSX27bJT7rEEeTZ2BOhl66vwrTV-ipd-al11R0KRF9Xodg/s200/to+do+list.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449059535282595474" /></a></div>It is Monday night. I made another $200 trip to Wal-Mart tonight and I didn't buy any clothes for Evan! It was all just STUFF that everyone says we need for this humongous journey around the world! I am checking so many different packing lists I can't keep one straight from the other. I am determined to have EVERYTHING we maybe, might possibly need, along with a little extra just in case one of the other families in our group didn't bring "it". It can get a little overwhelming! The countdown continues. The girls are down to 12 days until they meet their baby brother! Morgan continues to monitor closely the number of days until Mom and Dad leave, while her sisters focus more on our return! The in-laws will arrive tomorrow which will really make it seem more real that we are leaving at last!!! It is all such a whirlwind! I know we will finally exhale when we get in the truck and drive away toward the airport. Then we will know we have done all we can and we are truly on our way to EVAN. I already couldn't sleep last night, so many thoughts running, racing through my head. I have to sleep with pen and paper by the bed to write the things down as they come. Pen and paper by my makeup mirror, in the kitchen and in the office too! Always a new list and an addition to the old one. Will I remember it all? No, but Angie will---I'll make sure of that!!! :)<div>Goodnight.</div>Cristie Cernigliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021950185509457668noreply@blogger.com2