Taking every thought captive...

The winner of the Rosette Wall Hook
from Pineapple Hill Designs is
Ginnie from VA!
Congratulations!
To claim your prize, please send
an email with your shipping address
to notesfrommynest@gmail.com
no later than Wednesday, April 30th.

TODAY'S NOTES...
I am revisiting a book by Joanna Weaver (which I highly recommend) titled, Having A Mary Heart In A Martha World. Fear continues to be one of my greatest struggles and a passage from her book really spoke to me today.

She writes, "We must be willing to take an active role in the battle against anxiety. For too long, I'd allowed Satan total access to my thought life, and by doing so, I'd given him free reign. But as I began to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ, anxiety began to lose its hold. Instead of being led astray by fear, I took a second look at each thought as it came. Many were incognito, disguised to look like ordinary emotions. But instead of entertaining them, I handcuffed the intruding thoughts that triggered fear and took them to Jesus. Together, we interrogated them, asking two questions:

1. Where did you come from? (What is the source of this fear? Is it real or imagined?)

2. Where are you going? (Will this thought draw me to God or into fear? Can I do anything about this problem or should I turn it over to God?)

For so long, I had let thoughts come and go without realizing that if Satan controls my thoughts, he controls me." [Having A Mary Heart In A Martha World, p. 44, Waterbrook Press, 2000]

I needed to hear those words today and thought perhaps someone else does too. Do you struggle with fear? If so, how do you deal with it?

__________________________

The winners of the $10 gift cards from
Peas & Carrots are...

Laura Chilton (from Washington)

&

Meg @ blessedinlove.blogspot.com

Congratulations, ladies!

Please claim your prize by sending an
email to notesfrommynest@gmail.com
no later than noon (EST) on
Monday, April 28th.

__________________________

Seven Dogs & A Baby is hosting a

blog party this week in honor of

Connor's first birthday.

Happy Birthday, Connor!

Drop in on the party for lots
of great giveaways through
Sunday, April 27th.

__________________________

Don't forget the drawing for the
Pineapple Hill Designs giveaway
is TODAY! Submit your entry by
noon, (EST). Visit the site and
comment to this post on your
favorite merchandise to win the

beautiful Rosette Wall Hook.

{Rosette Wall Hook}

WHO WON THE
PEAS & CARROTS
GIFT CARDS?
CLICK HERE!

Don't forget to
enter this week's
giveaways from
Pineapple Hill Designs.
Click the logo below
for more details.

and coming soon...

Fabulous Father Friday

Before I dive into today's post, I want to let you know about a new feature...The Message Board. If you're a blogger, this is another place to advertise (for free!) your contests, giveaways, carnivals, special events, etc. Click on the memo board below for all the details and to see what is currently posted.

As a child, I was blessed with one of those rare dads who was never too busy to skip around the block with me in his best suit or play Little House on the Prairie, converting my canopy bed to a covered wagon. As an adult, the Lord has blessed me with a wonderful godly husband and my daughter with an adoring father who daily showers her with God's love. He often goes the extra mile to lighten my load by taking over the "parental duties" that a six-month old requires as soon as he walks in from another long day at work. I can not tell you how much this means to me and how sharing the joys of parenting have deepened my love and appreciation for him. I can honestly say that I am a better mother because of him and the way that he cares for me. (I love you, honey!)


On that theme, I've decided to take the plunge and start a carnival of sorts here at Notes From My Nest. One Friday a month, beginning today, will be declared Fabulous Father Friday, and just for fun, I'm tying it in with today's giveaway from Pineapple Hill Designs. As a new mom, I've discovered that balancing the roles of wife and mother can be tricky. When he walks in the door, drops his briefcase and jacket in the CLEAN living room, and proceeds to juggle the child who has just consumed half her body weight in pureed carrots over the white sofa, it's easy to suffer a momentary memory lapse and forget that he is not the enemy. For those of you with a fabulous hubby (or father) like mine, this is your chance to tell him everything he's doing right for a change! So here's how it works...

1. Write your own post (or comment to this post) with your own FFF musings. You may write about the father of your children, your own father, or any other beloved father figure in your life, past or present. Your post may take the form of a random assortment of thoughts, an appropriate photo, a poem, a letter to the person (your husband for example), a funny story, or a unique tradition that you (or your kids) have with this person.

2. If you are writing a post on your own blog, please mention Fabulous Father Friday in your post and post a link back here to my FFF post (you're welcome to use this banner if you like) and then enter your link into Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post.

3. Only sign Mr. Linky if you have written your own FFF post.

4. Link ONLY to your FFF post...NOT to the front page of your blog, as this makes browsing more difficult for all of the participants.

5. If you like, send a copy of your post to that person, letting him know how much he is loved. It might make his day!

6. After you link, feel free to leave a comment to this post too and tell me what you think about FFF.

7. If you have time, tag some friends to participate in FFF as well!

Today's sweet shoppe...

Save 20% on your order
at Pineapple Hill Designs!
The code is "NEST". Valid
until Mother's Day, 5.11.08!

~ my picks ~

{Teal Flower Dress}

{Monogrammed Photo Album}

Pineapple Hill Designs is

giving away this beautiful

Rosette Wall Hook.

To enter the drawing, just create
your own Fabulous Father Friday
post and sign Mr. Linky (linking
directly to your post). If you're
not a blogger, you can leave your
"FFF" post in the comment section.
Just be sure to include your first
name or screen name, your state
and a valid email address. You may
also enter by email, {subject: FFF}.
Email notesfrommynest@gmail.com.
Contest ends at noon, EST 4.24.08.
Winner will be chosen by random
drawing.