Queenies Little Kingdom

I've heard of the iron sharpens iron concept my whole life and I believe it's true.  Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another".  God uses you and me to influence one another.  When I think back over my life I recognize the many ways friends & loved ones have inspired me to be a better me.  Their investment, whether they meant it or not left an impression on me and I hope it benefits the ones God places in my life.

My small group ladies are doing a great job of sharpening me for God's use.  Each Wednesday that we meet, I leave filled with a new energy to love and care for the people in my path.  I feel encouraged and I see life just a little bit clearer thanks to friends who openly share their own struggles & victories.  I'm so thankful for their willingness to be real and for the way they lovingly carry me when I have no strength or courage to do it for myself.  That's some iron sharpening iron right there y'all. 

My challenge to you is to be aware of your own influence on others.  Each encounter holds potential to bless.  Are you ready?  Are you willing?  God wants to use you…

How can you sharpen others?

1 — Be real.

2 — Be pure of heart.

3 — Be willing to stretch yourself.

4 — Be ready to listen.

5 — Be like Christ.

Lord,

I'm willing to be used by you to sharpen others.  Help me be worthy and remove anything in me that doesn't belong.  Thank you for the ones in my life that make me more like you.  I won't let their influence be a waste.

Amen 

Ahh, Beignets… I'm such a sucker for the puffy little darlin's!  I often think of New Orleans with it's sticky sweaty streets & it's happily packed to overflowing Cafe Du Monde and my heart goes pitter-patter.  The French Quarter is a place that every American should walk through at least once in their life.

So, imagine my happy dance when I found Joy the Baker posted a recipe for beignets.  I nearly squealed!  I made sure that very day that I had all the ingredients to get down to business on Saturday and BLOW MY FAMILY'S MINDS!!!

I really had no idea if I had it in me or not.  Yeast sort of freaks me out.  The many plans I had for my KitchenAid mixer have gone kapoot simply because of my fear of cooking with yeast.  Yes, I'm a wimp!  It's funny though, every single recipe I've tried involving yeast has turned out great so far!

Note to me:  Get over it!

I admit, when I made it to this point…..I clicked on the Keurig and started yelling for hubby to GET READY!

People are going to love me.  (Thank you Joy the Baker)

Ohhh baby, they turned out amazing and they were so easy to make too.  I worried it would be an all-day affair….but, nope.  It was fairly quick.  All worth it!  I promise.

Kudos to you Joy the Baker.  You might be my new BFF!

I've been reluctant to share here a deeply painful issue going on in my family.  I suppose every family has difficulties.  Surely, I'm not the only one to hurt for a loved one.  Right now, I feel as though my heart is breaking in half.  I don't want to go into details because the story is so long and complicated.  Also, it's not my story to tell.  It's unfair for me to blab about an issue that doesn't completely belong to me.  My job is to love & support the one in need.

My brother.

For the last few years my family has been in turmoil on his behalf.  Yesterday the problem came back with a vengeance!  I can't even imagine the hurt my mother is feeling.  I'm just a sister, not his mother.  I keep thinking of my own kids and how much I love them and want God's very best for them and their lives.  It's times like these that crush me and smother me with the reality of an imperfect world.

I physically & emotionally feel drained.

Will you please pray?  The details aren't important.  God knows each one anyway.  Just lift my brother to our MERCIFUL GOD!  He needs a miracle!

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Matt:11:28

Did you watch?  I had hubby set the DVR to record it.  Then my Facebook feed started blowing up with posts about the new series.  From my view, it looked as if everyone was tuned in to see Roma Downey's exciting new docudrama.  So, I did the right thing and clicked it on to see for myself.

I'm glad I did.  The first episode was pretty exciting and I can't wait to watch the rest of the 10-hourlong series.  The scenery was fantastic and each story re-enacted gave me goosebumps.  I especially felt emotional during the "sacrifice" of Isaac scene (one of the most amazing stories in scripture).  Wow, God…even knowing the story, it still got me.

Help me Lord….to always obey!

The History Channel link to check out The Bible.  See for yourself.  The link provides repeat times that each episode will be available.  It's certainly worth watching.  I'm impressed with the depiction of each story in scripture even if the accents are a little strange (a little British some Irish).  It's still really good.

Tell me, did you watch?  Did you enjoy it?  It's better than a morally bankrupt reality show….don't you think?  While I'm certain there are errors in the series, I still find it interesting.  It gives the viewer plenty to ponder and reminds us all to …

READ GOD'S WORD

Hubby & I have talked about updating some of our furniture for the last few years.  Around 13 years ago, we purchased my dream leather sofa from Dillards.  At the time….I didn't really put much thought into my kids growing up so fast and needing more space for sitting.  Now that my kids are all giants and we love to sit in our family room watching movies/football/tv….the need for a bigger sofa has taken us to buying a new one!

We knew just what we were looking for this time and totally went for it when the President's Day sales were going on a few weekends back.  Everywhere we shopped, I hopped on the sofas and reclined them back checking every little detail of comfort just to make sure.  Finally, I found the one.  It was big, leathery soft (and genuine leather, not faux) and it reclined from one end to the next.  Perfect!  We are a lazy family when it comes to relaxing.  We want all the cozy comfort we can get and this new sofa is just the one to give it.

The only problem?  Once you switch up your furniture, you see a hundred other things that need to be done to spruce up your house.  On my list of to do's now are new blinds for two windows, paint my ceiling, purchase new lamps and eventually replace my living room rug.  I can't wait to  s l o w l y  pick up these items and make my living room the haven my family loves.

Is it healthy to love a sofa?

Tada!!

Look how loooooong it is!!  I think it's awesome!