Whenever I see a picture of the guards in London with their tall plumed hats, white gloved hands, standing as straight and tall as the gun they’re holding, I think of Psalm 141:3. The verse says,

The idea here is that the psalmist is asking the Lord to put a guard there before his mouth. I imagine the sentinel standing outside my mouth ready to attack and get rid of anything I would say that would not be fitting; something that would be considered sin. But what are those things that should be “guarded”? How do I know what I should say?
Here are a few questions to ask ourselves before we speak:

1. Is it true?
2. Is it necessary? (Just because something is true doesn’t necessarily mean we should say it!)
3. Is it kind?
4. Do I need to say it now?

The psalmist’s prayer should be our prayer. May we be ever mindful of the Guard standing at the door listening to the words we speak!

The other day I overheard Allison’s English teacher giving a quiz. She asked the students to name a demonstrative determiner. I knew what she was asking for, but thought, “Many mothers would probably name their pre-school child!”

Children come with an automatic desire and determination to have their way (it’s called an old sin nature!) and if they don’t get it they throw a fit. The parents have to make a decision right then and there what they’re going to do about it. If a choice is made to ignore the temper tantrum it will continue until the volume hits decibels unknown to any operatic soprano! The child knows how far they can push Mommy and they will go all the way to that level to achieve the desired result – getting what they want.

On the other hand, however, when the tantrum starts, if the parent gets down on the child’s eye level and speaks to them in a quiet but firm tone, the little determiner will know that he has your attention. Give them the result that will “fall” if the tantrum doesn’t stop, and then follow through! You may have to go through this scenario many times before your child stops this behavior, but you will reap in the future. Stay at it…the discipline and time you pour into your “demonstrative determiner” will also bear more than what you sow.

By the way, the demonstrative determiners are: this, that, these, and those. Who knows, you might be asked that on a million dollar quiz show!

It’s Fall! That means when you’re preparing a meal there’s a whole new file of recipes to choose from that include pumpkin, chili, soups, chowders, breads and….APPLES! Here’s a super simple recipe for Apple Dumplings that I bet your family and friends will love! You won’t believe how easy this is.

2 Granny Smith Apples, cut into 8 wedges
2 sticks Butter, melted
1 1/2 C sugar
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1 Can Mt. Dew
2 pkgs. Crescent Rolls

In dish combine melted butter, sugar and cinnamon. Toss apple quarters in mixture to coat. Place an apple wedge on a crescent roll. Roll up and place in a baking dish. Pour 1 can Mt. Dew into remaining cinnamon/sugar mixture. Stir to combine. Pour over rolls. Bake 30 minutes. Makes 16 dumplings

Another sauce you could make for the dumplings in place of the Mt. Dew is a Brown Sugar Sauce. It is poured over the dumplings after they’ve been baked. Here’s the simple recipe:

Brown Sugar Sauce for Apple Dumplings
SAUCE: 1 cup brown sugar (or coconut palm) 1 cup water 2 tablespoons butter 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon Bring this mixture to boiling and thicken with cornstarch (you can use a thickening agent of your choice). Serve dumplings warm with sauce and ice cream.