Will you be left behind?

I have been a student of end times prophecy since I first started attending church back in the 1970's (I guess I just dated myself again). Tim LaHaye's book, The Late Great Planet Earth, was very popular then and our youth group would pile into various parent's cars to attend the WVCY "rallies" that were held at the the War Memorial in Milwaukee where they spoke about the topic.

Even though I found it scary at times, the topic was interesting and it showed me that in the end, God wins, and I found that comforting during my depressing teen years.

The Cold War was in full swing during that time and I remember that many people couldn't believe that a super power like the US was not mentioned as a major player in end times events. It was also hard to imagine how the Mark of the Beast could ever be implemented and how everyone on earth could be able to see the two witnesses laying dead in the streets of Jerusalem for 3 days, all at the same time.

Boy, have things changed since then! These things are absolutely possible today. The world economy proves that it would be very possible for the US to be uninvolved in future events and technology now exists that would enable both the Mark of the Beast and watching the two witnesses all over the world at the same time, a piece of cake. Recent world events as well as a marked increase in earthquakes and floods, all point to the possibility that the end times may be near or even at the door. It is a sobering thought, at least for me.

Last week I tuned in to a TV program that is dedicated to the study of end times prophecy and I was shocked that that particular show was a special presentation ultimately made as a message to people that had been "left behind". It began by explaining why millions of people had suddenly disappeared (in the Rapture) and went on to explain what they could expect during the 7 year Tribulation and how they could come to God and repent and be saved. I was shocked because I always thought of the end times as something that was going to happen way in the future. I realized that I need to be much more vigilant in telling people about Jesus and that faith in Him is the only way to be saved from having to go through the Tribulation and ultimately from the fires of Hell.

I urge you to consider Jesus' command in the Great Commission and seek to make disciples among those in your circle of influence. It is so important during these chaotic times. People are searching for hope and love and Jesus is the answer.

Vengance is Mine, says the Lord

Have you ever felt wronged by someone or something? Maybe it was a policy that you felt was unfair? I know I have. Here is a good quote from Jill Briscoe:

"Lord, let me learn to let it bother You, and refuse to let it bother me."

I used to get so upset and mad when these things happened in my life and instead of giving the situation to the Lord, I tried to take care of it myself.

Proverbs 24:12 says "Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work? And in Proverbs 20:22 God says "Do not say, 'I will repay evil'; wait for the Lord, and He will save you".

God is aware of everything that goes on in our lives and He tells us in these verses as well as many others that vengeance is His. He will repay.

So, now instead of getting all riled up when I feel that I have been wronged, I remember that God saw what happened and that I need to leave it in His hands. I need to let it bother Him and not let it bother me.

When you don't think you can endure "that"....

A few weeks ago I had a problem with my leg that was broken so badly. Its been almost 3 years since the original injury, but there have been so many complications I was told I would always have trouble.

In our backyard the ground is very uneven and there were many large tree roots. My husband and I were doing some yard work there and when we finished, I realized that my leg was very sore. Then I remembered that the surgeon warned me that at the point where the strong metal plate on the bone ends and the remaining unprotected bone continues, there is an area that can easily be cracked. I thought about how uneven the ground had been and realized that I may have actually cracked the bone. I felt a sick feeling come over me.

I decided to just stay off of it as much as I could and put ice on it and see if it would feel better the next day. But, when I woke up the next morning and got out of bed, I felt that same, sickening pain. I was afraid that I had really broken it again and I just told God that I didn't think I could deal with more trouble with my leg.

I quickly realized what I had said. I wasn't willing to yield to God's will, I just wanted things my way. I wasn't willing to persevere through that trial. I also realized that I was trying to do things in my own strength again, and not relying on God's strength.

Thankfully, the Lord didn't allow that particular trial into my life. My leg is getting better. But, I sure did have an awakening and God showed me these sins in my life so I could repent and change my thinking. God is good!

This morning I awoke with excitement in my heart as I got myself ready for church. I was actually going to sit in the service after 6 whole weeks out. Six blessed weeks of either being in the nursery or teaching Sunday School. It was a good 6 weeks, but I am telling you I missed the fellowship of listening to a sermon with my brothers and sisters and walking among them greeting one another as we leave to gather our little ones. Then, the unthinkable happened! Is that a cough I hear? A sneeze perhaps? Who is blowing their nose!? Ugh! No church for me this fine, sun - shining morn! I battled a brief moment with discontentment. Why now? Why this particular Sunday? Couldn't my daughter (bless her little heart) have just waited until I had been able to listen and fellowship for a week or two before having her own personal hack fest? No, no, it was not possible. Indeed, the nose was running and the cough proceeded vehemently out of her mouth. No fever, no headache or tummy ache, just a good old fashioned cough and cold. Of course ever since the rest of the family left for worship this morning I haven't heard a single hack, sniff, sniff, kerchoo! I am sure the cough and cold meds are doing their fine work.

Now, I cannot wait till Community Group this evening - my life line! The life line of any mother , Sunday School teacher and nursery worker. We get to hear thoughts on the sermon, laugh and cry and care for one another. Oh the bliss of connection with the blood purchased body of Christ. These people feed my soul and are hands and feet and mouth of Jesus to a woman sucked dry. It doesn't take much for my soul to feel parched and ready to be watered with the word and the sweet communion of the saints. Which is why I can't imagine living in my own little corner in my own little world apart from my brothers and sisters at Missio Dei Fellowship. The members of my Community Group, the young woman who comes to help me with school every other Wednesday, the women who put up with me week in and week out as we meet for discipleship and accountability, the friends who pray for us and care for us and sharpen us, my shepherds who lead us and care for our souls. Ah, Body life! Missio Life! The life of a disciple of Jesus Christ- oh Jesus how I thank you for your people. Thank you that we are not by ourselves. Thank you that this young, busy, frantic, helpless, needy mommy has a family. Missio Dei, I love you!

A New Year!

As many students might agree, the "new year" doesn't start on January 1, but rather on September 8 (or whatever date your particular school starts on). I've decided to take the fresh start of the year as an opportunity to turn over a new leaf, so to speak, for my personal life. I'm hoping to make some dramatic changes, so perhaps posting it on this blog will help me be held accountable by my church family! :)

Our pastor has just recently finished a sermon series on self-control, which dealt quite a bit with laziness versus diligence and procrastination versus responsibility. I have felt incredibly convicted the past month or so about my own laziness, and I need to stop procrastinating (oh, the irony!) on getting my life together. A lot of people tell me the same thing when I confess my laziness: that I am so incredibly busy I could not possibly be a lazy person. Let me take a second to clarify: not true!! I am so lazy! I am learning to look at my life a bit more acutely and see that business does not equal diligence. During the school year, I typically leave the house at 7:30 or 8:30 in the morning, barely waking up on time. Then my day is typically filled with catching up on the prior day's assignments, which will be turned in within the next half hour or so, going to classes, sometimes without my materials (so I take notes in the wrong notebooks), and rehearsals and lessons, which I have not practiced for. Then I come home at perhaps 9 or 10 in the evening, sit around for a few hours because my brain is "fried" from the day, and go to bed without doing that day's homework or spending adequate time in the Word. What a horrible way to live!

I confess all this to you bloggers so you are not fooled by the responsible appearance I'm told that I have. I am a sinner, and it is most obvious in the ungrateful way I manage my time day after day, year after year. After much thought, I had decided a few weeks ago to make some changes that will, Lord willing, reflect the gospel in my life. My life is a testament to God's faithfulness, so my self-control in day-to-day living should reflect the perseverance of the saints that the New Testament continually refers to. I need to be a good steward so that I can more accurately reflect Christ! I'm reading through the gospels right now, and I am amazed at Jesus's unceasing work. Even when he was tired and withdrew from the crowd, there was always work for him to do, whether it be explaining the parables to His followers or praying to His Father. I want my life to be like His.

I've made a daily schedule in which I budgeted time to do all my homework, attend class, eat, sleep, practice, blog and journal, pray, and study Scripture. The last few weeks of summer were a joy to me because I saw fruit in my life with this self-control that God is graciously giving me. I had time to do everything that needed to get done (including the hard things! I scheduled those first!) as well as the things I wanted to do. I'm more willing to make cuts where necessary (something I struggle with) because I see what I physically cannot do due to over scheduling versus what I won't do because I'm lazy. God has been gracious to me!

Now with school beginning I hope to do the hard things first, be diligent, spread the gospel as much as possible, and, most importantly, LOVE CHRIST MORE. I pray that I will be able to do so, as He sustains me and gives me grace! God is good.

School Days

Homeschool, sweet Homeschool.

Oh to hear a little voice successfully read their first word.

The triumph of a well written book report.

The joy of reading stories while sipping coffee on the swing set with everyone gathered round and asking for one more chapter on a cool crisp morning.

The tears wiped away after a frustrating math lesson.

The cries of a toddler as he tries to leave his play area and wander while we do school.

The laughter and talking interrupted by a reminder that they are to be working not playing.

The talks on diligence and doing hard things, persevering through the tough lesson.

The quiet arguments as I leave the room to get a load of laundry.

The extra assignments for lack of faithfulness to finish in a timely manner.

The re-writing of sloppy papers.

The fun of learning about toads, and frogs, and trees and flowers.

The mega tons of worksheets and color crayons, and pencils, and paper, and erasers, and markers, and books lying around, scattered all over the dining room and living room.

Ah, yes, school is back in session and I love it!

I wouldn't trade all the redemptive moments, hugs and kisses, stories and tears, shrieks and squeals of excitement, lists of spelling words, math corrections and chaos, and interruptions for anything. Thank you Lord for the blessing and freedom to teach my kids at home. I don't care what anyone says, it's worth it.

A Life That Says Welcome

"Entertaining puts the emphasis on you and how you can impress others. Offering hospitality puts the emphasis on others and strives to meet their physical and spiritual needs so that they feel refreshed, not impressed, when they leave your home" ~ Karen Ehman

Karen Ehman is the author of A Life That Says Welcome. It is a book on hospitality - not on entertaining people. This book starts with a biblical definition for practicing hospitality and then take you through the practical implications of God's expectation for His people to be a hospitable people. She argues well the whys - the heart of the matter and then takes you on a practical journey to get you started and keep you going.

Ms. Ehman takes you to 1 Peter 4:9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. She shows the reader that this is something expected of God's children; it is assumed that we will be sharing our lives and homes with each other and strangers. She will take you through stories in the Bible where hospitality is seen in action, sometimes done well, sometimes not so well.

The author will also take you on the journey with her through her own experiences and growth in the area of hospitality. So if you like good stories about peoples lives, I think you will enjoy reading this book.

She encourages the reader to press on and practice hospitality from Romans 12:13 "contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality." To practice means: "To do or perform habitually; to make a habit of; to exercise or perform repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill." ( Websters Dictionary)

She admonishes us to roll up our sleeves and get to work! She says: "Whether you live in an apartment, a modest home, or a mansion, you are not exempt from our Father's admonition that you show hospitality to His children and those who are yet to be His children. Yes, our being willing to offer hospitality can help people to new life in Christ."


So often we can be told to be hospitable and be given every Biblical and theological reason behind it and be left wondering where to start. Not so with this book. We are given how to start with our family. She encourages us to start small, like sending notes or picking flowers for someone to encourage them.

The book gives us step by step instructions on how to de-clutter and then teaches us to speed clean so that we are always ready for company at any point in time. There are even recipes to make your own cleaning products.

The book is packed with advise and clear instructions on how to prepare for overnight guests. She gives a list of things to keep on hand like, little bottles of shampoo, and soap, and nice lotions, guest towels, and shaving cream; etc.

Recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinners, and desserts are also supplied in this book.

After reading this book, I was encouraged to grow in contentment realizing that being content with what God has given me will manifest itself in sharing it no matter how great or small. The flame of passion for practicing hospitality was fanned and I felt encouraged to press on and do it all the more and improve. I came out hopeful that over time my skills in showing hospitality will grow. I came out being reminded that if you yourself are kind and put on the apron of a servant, lend a listening ear, and care for the concerns and needs of those around you, it does not matter what condition your physical home is in, whether you have changed your decor to meet the demands of the changing culture ( you will read a story of a woman who hadn't changed a thing in her house for 20 years and yet people loved to be with her in her home), it won't matter if you wear the right clothes, have the biggest space, a new table, or are even the best cook. If you yourself are welcoming, people will feel welcome and overlook any imperfections in your home, cooking, or appearance.

I think this book is helpful for any season of life and every hospitality skill level. I would highly recommend it as a group study as well, because it may give opportunity to encourage one another in this area.

So read this book and roll up your sleeves and get to work, because after reading this you will have no excuses, you will know where to start and how to continue on.

** Details will be coming soon about an online book discussion using this book.

Work

I found an interesting verse today as I was reading the Psalms.

It was Psalm 104:14 " He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the labor of man, so that he may bring forth food from the earth"

Its interesting that God says that He causes vegetation to grow for the labor of man. He could have just fed us Himself but, He wants us to work for it.

I have seen a change in the "world's" attitude about work over the past few years. My parent's generation believed that it was good to work to provide for their needs and the needs of their families. Today, I see people looking to the government to provide for their needs. I'm all for helping people truly in need and I think it is a good way for believers to show and talk to people about Jesus but, it seems that an increasing number of people have voluntarily decided to not work to provide for themselves and instead happily rely on the ever increasing social entitlements.

I think that God blesses us through work. Reading and understanding the Bible is one good example.

I also think that this concept dovetails with Pastor Matt's sermon series on self-control. We are not to let our desire for leisure and comfort dictate our lives. Instead we need to be out doing what God wants us to do no matter what it is. I also think that as the 2nd coming of Christ gets nearer every day that passes, it is urgent that we tell others about salvation by faith through Christ and live our lives as a witness to those around us.

Hello Everybody!

Hello everybody! It has been a while since I last sat at the computer and let my fingers go wild on the keyboard typing away thoughts, quotes, family news, or books reviews. My fellow bloggers were very gracious and allowed for me to take a nice long break. Life has been filled with....well....life. Go figure. Five kids, a husband, Bible study, tears and laughter over coffee, late night talks with wonderful friends whom I care deeply about, walks around the lake, hurting after Tuesday night Hip Hop class, planning for the school year, organizing the house, praying earnestly for God's provision and for our future - it's been quite the summer.

I have not accomplished even half of what I desired to this summer, but good has come of it none the less.

Not as much baseball has been played in the yard as in summers past because the mosquitoes have done their best to chase us back in the house day or night, but the weather has improved as of late and we are trying to make up for lost time.


Some young ladies I had been meeting with individually came together as one group and we have learned much about one another and a deep affection has formed between us as we look at the word together and talk about our lives. I count this summer as being one of the most blessed because of what God is doing through and teaching me in these particular relationships.

I believe firmly that I am benefiting from taking a closer look at Ephesians as a few of us are going through a study called: By His Wounds You Are Healed by Wendy Alsup. It is never a bad thing to think deeply and frequently about the lavish grace that God bestows on us in His beloved Son.

I have also felt conviction from our most recent sermon series at MDF on the Spiritual Discipline of Self-Control. I have been contemplating my relationship with my husband, whom I love greatly and have much respect for, but realized that I am not as purposeful in enjoying him and cultivating affection as I should or could be. I tend to live like I can work on that tomorrow and in doing so show that I expect tomorrow to be there even though the words "Lord willing" would roll freely from my tongue. So almost 11 years later I am determined to live with my husband like I know tomorrow is not promised, and enjoy the unity and care in that relationship as gracious gift from my Father. I am determined not to put off my most important earthly relationship until tomorrow. We have a really stable and great marriage, but I need to stop treating it like a task to accomplish. It will do greater good for the sake of the Gospel if I treat it like a relationship.

I have read some of my book list, but have not read all of it, so I better get busy because I am not moving on until I have conquered the list... at least that is my plan, we shall see what God's plans are.

The weather is suppose to be very nice, if the Lord wills, so I plan on taking advantage of it through picnics, playing, and taking walks, and reading stories on the swing set with my children.


So that is about all I have to say for the moment about myself. How have you all been this Summer?

Book Study Reminder

Just a reminder that the Cross Talk book study is this Saturday at 9am at Missio Dei Fellowship. Please plan to come and join us in this time of fellowship and discussion - even if you haven't read the book!

Witty Wednesday

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray:

'Take only ONE . God is watching.'

Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.

A child had written a note, 'Take all you want... God is watching the apples.'

You Put This Love in My Heart

You Put This Love in My Heart
by Keith Green

I found it hard to believe
Someone like you cared for me
You put this love in my heart
I tried but could not refuse
You gave me no time to choose
You put this love in my heart
I want to know where the bad feelings go
When I'm depressed and I get down so low
And then I see you coming to me and it's alright
I want to tell you right now
I'm not afraid to say how
You put this love in my heart
There are sometimes when I doubt
But you always find me out
You put this love in my heart
Cause when I see all that you've done for me
It's hard to doubt, I just have to believe
Cause you followed and proved it all of your life
Well I know
the loneliness I had before
Is gone now
I'll never feel it anymore
Cause your love has released me
From all that's in my past
And I know I can believe you
When you say I'll never be forsaken
Your love is gonna last
There's so much more I should say
If I could just find a way
You put this love in my heart
Is all this real or a dream
I feel so good I could scream
You put this love in my heart
I want to know where the bad feelings go
When I'm depressed and I get down so low
And then I see you coming to me and it's alright
You put this love in my heart
You put this love in my heart
You put this love in my heart

Quote of the day

'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never

did.' When God takes something from your grasp, He's not

punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something

better. 'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.


Author unknown

A Mother's Legacy

Sirens blared and four pairs of small eyes peered out the car window, searching. Searching for a glimpse of the vehicle causing the blare. The mother pulled the station wagon to the side of the road and peered through the rear view window at her children.

"Quick, kids, lets pray for them," she'd say.

As one, they'd bow their heads - though, at times, a child would peak out, still wanting that glimpse - and the mother's voice would say "Heavenly Father, we want to pray for the people to whom this ambulance is going. We pray that if they do not know you, Lord, that you would use this incident to bring them to you. We pray that if they do know you, Lord, that you would use this incident to help them tell others about You. We pray for the doctors and the nurses, that you would give them wisdom and for the police officers and ambulance workers, that they would also have wisdom. We ask that you would not let anyone die, unless they know you Father. Amen." The mother's voice would catch a little at the end, working hard not to cry.

And all the kids would say Amen and the ambulance would have passed and the mother would pull back out into traffic. And ten minutes later the children will have forgotten it happend.

But repetition has a way of forcing memories and habits in a persuasive way. The children grew up, slowly, and there was never a time that, when a siren blared, the car was not pulled over and the mother did not say a prayer and there was rarely a time that, by the end of it all, the mother was not wiping away a quick tear.

Soon the children were driving on their own. And to their surprise, when it was their turn to pull aside to let the emergency vehicle pass, they found their own voices repeating "Heavenly Father, we want to pray for the people to whom this ambulance is going..."

Witty Wednesday

A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood.. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, 'Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face.'

'Yes,' the class said.

'Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?'

A little fellow shouted,
'Cause your feet ain't empty.'

God is Not a God of Love Only - Guest Post by Kim Henry

The following is a guest post by Kim Henry:

Have you ever noticed when talking with an people, both inside and outside the church, that often their perception of God is limited? In our country we tend to focus on the fact that God is love. Many don’t know that God hates sin. Some have heard that He is a merciful God. But they would never guess that He disciplines those that He loves and that that discipline can be very painful. How would you talk with these people to help them to expand their view? I was one of those people who focused on God’s love and mercy without balancing these attributes with His other attributes. When I was a fairly new Christian reading through the entire bible radically changed my view of our great God helping me to see Him more fully.

The following examples are just a few aspects of God that can help us to perhaps have a more balanced view of Him. Exodus 34:6-7 gives us a wonderful picture of our God from His own mouth. After His list of all the attributes that we like to think about comes the words, “but Who will by no means clear the guilty.” These words cause me to fear for all those that I love that don’t know Him. They also cause me to fear the consequences of my own sin. Our loving Father cares too much for His people to let us go too long down a path of sin. After all, He sent His beloved Son to die an awful death so that we could be forgiven for sin. Proverbs 6:16-19 lists things that our God hates and that are an abomination to Him such as haughty eyes, lying, and one who sows discord among brothers. Our gracious Father knows that our arrogance, lying, and sowing discord hurts our brothers and sisters, our witness, and ultimately ourselves. Our Lord Jesus' treatment of the money changers and those who sold animals for sacrifice in the temple would be considered harsh by many. He drove them out of the temple with a whip, poured out their coins, and overturned the tables. Jesus utmost concern during His time here was that His Father be glorified. What they were doing didn’t bring God glory. Then, there is the woman that came to Jesus asking that Jesus remove the demon from her daughter. First, Jesus doesn’t answer her, and when she persisted, He called her and her people dogs, saying that He had come only for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Jesus, in His mercy, did remove the demon from her daughter because of her faith. Our wonderful Savior was showing His compassion for the Gentiles as well as the Israelites. There are several other examples throughout the bible, as well as in the book, Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ, by John Piper. Which, by the way, is an excellent book to give to friends.

We can emphasize any one of God’s attributes, but we must remember to emphasize God in all of His glorious attributes. God is so very great that this can be work for us. But, I think that if we put forth the effort to not exclusively think of one or two of His attributes we will find that He will show us just how very awesome He is.

Psalm 91

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, "my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust!" For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or the arrow that flies by day; of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked, for you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.

For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

Because he has loved me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. "He will call upon me, and I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation."

Moore to the Point

I want to tell you all about this blog that I really enjoy. Its called Moore to the Point and is written by Russell Moore. I enjoy his 'regular' blog posts but my favorite part about his blog are his ethical questions.

People will send Dr. Moore questions, ethical questions about how they should respond to a situation that they find themselves in. The majority of the time they are not simple questions but ones that are of a sensitive nature, to which there is no easy answer. Often times, there is also not a cut-and-dry Scriptural answer either. These are not the kinds of questions that can be solved by quoting your favorite verse.

Dr. Moore posts the situation and plea for advice on his blog and then allows several days for his readers to weigh in on how they feel the situation should be handled. I very much enjoy reading their comments and opinions and often marvel at how many people come up with ideas that would never have occurred to me!

I enjoy this because it gives me an opportunity to wrap my own mind around some of these issues. What would I do if a friend came up to me in this situation and asked for counsel?? It also gives me a chance to hear the counsel of others. Although I often ultimately disagree, it forces me to develop my own arguments and to ensure that I have Scripture to back them up.

After the readers have had ample opportunity to voice their thoughts, Dr. Moore posts his reply to the person or persons seeking advice. A lot of times I agree with him. Some times I do not. And this is an opportunity to grow in humility. I am 23 years old and have lived a relatively sheltered life. I have been brought up in a Christian home with strong, Biblical teaching. I attend a solid church that preaches and teaches the Bible. But I do not know everything. And I would be a fool to think I do.

I'm not going to change my mind on something I believe in simply because someone disagrees with me. I am going to pose my argument for my position and listen to theirs with a fair and open mind. I am going to ask questions of opinions and, above all else, inquire after their Scriptural defense. Sometimes I will come to realize that my own opinions have been wrong and will be forced to change them. Other times I will conclude that I am going to have to disagree with the person. Regardless, it is always a good exercise and I enjoy it very much.

If this sounds like something you would also enjoy, then I recommend you check out his blog.

Witty Wednesday

The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.

'Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.'

A small voice at the back of the room rang out, 'And there's the teacher, she's dead.'

Parrells between adopting a pet and believer's adoption by God

I was trying to get my kitties, Aubie and Boomer, to come and sit on my lap recently. But, like most kitties, they just looked at me and kept doing what they wanted to do. I felt kind of sad that they didn't come running over and jump into my lap and start purring. Were they mad at me? Were they thinking I was just a weird person? Who knows with cats!

Sometimes they do come and sit on my lap on their own initiative. I really like it when they want to sit with me and let me pet them. Its nice when they come over when I call them but, it is much better when they come on their own. It means more when they come because they want to.

This made me think about my relationship with God. I chose them from a group of many kittens, just because I liked them and thought they were cute. The Bible says in Ephesians 1:4 and 5, that God chose His Children (believers) before the foundation of the world according to the kind intention of His will. Not because of anything I had done, since He chose me before I had even been born. He just picked me because He wanted to. I am so thankful and humbled that He did.

Another parallel between God adopting me and me adopting my kitties is that I love God because He first loved me (1 John 4:19). If I had not first loved my kitties, they most likely would never had loved me.

I said before how much more it means to me when they come to me of their own free will. I think God feels the same way. He never forces anyone to come to Him. But, I think He does draw believers to Himself.

Isn't it amazing how God can use simple things to show us more about Himself?

Question for YOU

Good morning, Ladies! Today I am going to ask YOU all to do some work! Thursday I am going to post some pictures from my recent trip to New Orleans and tell a few stories but that is all we have planned for the rest of the week. So, I thought it would be fun to mix it up a little.

Here is the deal: we want to know what fun things you have done this summer. It could be a neat activity that you did with your kids, or a cool date you went on with your husband, or something you discovered all on your own. Let us know in the comments and feel free to list multiple things!!

An afternoon with my Grandson

My daughter-in-law has been in town with my grandchildren while my Son is in California training with his squadron. It is so good to see them! Both of them have really grown since I saw them last. My grandson, who is 3 years old, has started talking more and he has become a real character.

One day while they were visiting at our house, we had been sitting in the recliners in the sunroom watching Alvin and the Chipmunks and Austin kept wanting to go behind the recliners and peek through the space between them. His mom asked him not to do that several times. She needed to leave the room for a few minutes to take care of my baby granddaughter, Ashley. He immediately went behind the chairs and whispered to me "is she back yet?" Just like most other kids, he figured he could disobey and as long as his mom didn't see it, he was in the clear.

I told him that even if his mom didn't see him disobeying her that God still saw. I don't think he had ever realized it before.

I think that adults think the same way sometimes. We forget that God sees everything. Its a sobering thought.

I challenge you to remember that God is always watching as you go through your day. Would He be proud of you or disappointed?

Quotables

"The Perfect is the Enemy of the Good."

I saw this quote the other day on the Lifehacker blog and I thought, that is true in sooo many areas of our lives! Lifehacker was, of course, speaking to all the perfectionists out there in relationship to their careers. But this quote can be applied in many other areas of our lives as well. The one I want to talk about today is Evangelism.

First of all, I want to point out that above all, I am writing this post to myself. I am terrible at evangelism. I get shy and nervous and stutter and basically end up making myself look ridiculous every time I attempt it. And I know very well how that reflects my heart. One of my biggest stumbling blocks in evangelism comes from looking for opportunities to witness to someone.

Honestly, I would LOVE it if someone just came up to me and said, "Hey, you're a Christian, right? Can you tell me what you believe please?" But that has only happened to me once and is probably not likely to happen again. More often than not we need to take advantages of situations and conversations as they come up. And, as 1st Peter 3:15 says, we need to"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have," when these moments happen.

But too often we wait for that 'perfect' opportunity until we share our faith. Too often we let 'good' opportunities pass us by thinking, "That was okay, but not great. I'll wait for a better opportunity." And then before we know it days, weeks, months, even YEARS have gone by while we have been faithfully cultivating relationships with unbelievers but never actually presenting the gospel.

I am not at all advocating shoving the gospel down a person's throat every time you see that person. I absolutely believe that we should look for good opportunities to share. But I also believe that we should not wait for the perfect opportunities.

"The Perfect is the Enemy of the Good"

Witty Wednesday

Click here to see a hilarious video of a CJ Mahaney impersonator. I have to say, my favorite part was watching Mahaney crack up at the guy :) Enjoy!

My thoughts on Psalm 34

I enjoy reading Psalm 34, its one of my favorites.

In verse 4 it says:"I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears". Verse 6 thru 10 say: "This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the Lord, you His saints; for to those who fear Him there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing". Then verses 15 thru 22 go on to say: "The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned".

These words and promises from the Lord help me to put my focus back on Him when I feel overwhelmed by the troubles of life and as I see the world become more chaotic every day. It seems from my vantage point, that almost every day there is some kind of natural disaster. Just last night, we had a line of storms come through our area that released 7 1/2 inches of rain in a 2 hour time period. The weatherman even commented that a storm like that one was a "once in a hundred year event" and its happened 3 times already this summer! Earthquakes are not even front page news anymore since they are happening so often. I also feel afraid to watch a world news program because it just reinforces the chaotic mess in the world, especially in the Middle East.

But, when I read this Psalm, I realize that I don't have to be afraid because no matter what, God will deliver me. Hard times and persecution may be on the horizon, but if I "keep my eyes on the prize" I can know that ultimately God will bring me home safe and I will live with Him forever!

Mexico blog part 4

The past few days have been a flurry of activity! Wednesday was spent at the beach [again :)], mostly at Puerto Angel. I was taken aback by the number of vendors at the beach..most of which were children. Esme and I noticed that, generally, mothers made products and sent their sons and daughters (as young as about, I would guess, 4 years old) to sell them to beach-goers. Today also, in Oaxaca (the city) we saw small children selling things in the streets to foreigners, audaciously walking up to anyone and everyone with their goods. I am reminded of my first trip to central America, where I remember children being forced to grow up very quickly. Esme asked me if I ever wonder about how God in His sovereignty placed me where He did in the world, and the truth is, I do think about that all the time. It is a wonder to me that I was born in the United States, with the family, socioeconomic status, and educational opportunities that I have.

I know that God is infinitely wise, and I do not question His sovereignty, but I am challenged when I consider this. What am I doing with the things God has given me? Am I using these things in my life for the gospel? How so?

On a different note, we are in Oaxaca for the next few days...I am so excited to see some Zapotec ruins tomorrow. If you know me, you know I am pretty nerdy about antiquities, especially mesoamerican history, so this is a big deal. I hope to be posting pictures of it tomorrow night, Lord willing. I can't believe we've been here for almost a week!

Thank you for your prayers!

Witty Wednesday

Another hilarious music video: Its the Dad Life

Mexico blog part 3

Dear friends,

We have spent the last two days in Huatulco, Oaxaca. It is a beautiful city: it reminds me of Florida, actually. We were on the road for about 11 hours total yesterday, and called it an early night. This morning, we were able to sleep in for the first time so far (a necessary thing for a late riser like myself!), and went on a boating trip, which lasted all day. We stopped at a few hidden private beaches for a few hours, which was amazing! Esme and I could not stop saying "This is so awesome!".

At the beach, we spent our time in the water just riding the waves as they came into shore. They were so powerful, even in such shallow water, that I did think about the power of the ocean in general. What a mighty God I am so privileged to serve, that spoke such a thing into existence!

All this beach time has also brought to my attention another issue that has been well addressed at our church: modesty. There is really no sense of it down here, neither in dress nor in action. I know the issue of modesty is a sensitive subject for women in the States, but it is an even bigger obstacle for female believers in hot climates. I was a bit perplexed on how to pack for the beach last week, so I ended up bringing a suit with something to wear over it. I have to admit, I feel a bit foolish in my tank top over my suit compared to women in their bikinis. However, I have to remember that reflecting the gospel can make you look foolish! Don't be discouraged, young women, about modest dress because it is far more important to reflect Christ in every aspect of our lives!

Once again, I have to say that I feel so blessed to be here. This has been a huge privilege for me, and I cannot thank Esme and her family enough for letting me tag along. We have been taking many pictures, so they will be posted as soon as possible! Thank you for your prayers!

For the Honor of His Name

Last week we talked about Tabitha and how she was known for "abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did." We discussed different aspects of this kindness and considered what we ourselves are known for. Today, I would like to talk about the motivation of this kindness and the motivation that we should have for everything that we say and do.

In his commentary, Matthew Henry remarked, "While we live upon the fullness of Christ for our whole salvation, we should desire to be full of good works, for the honor of his name, and for the benefit of his saints. Such characters as Dorcas are useful where they dwell, as showing the excellency of the word of truth by their lives. How mean then the cares of the numerous females who seek no distinction but outward decoration, and who waste their lives in the trifling pursuits of dress and vanity!"

Strong words! Tabitha lived a life of extreme kindness "for the honor of His Name." Everything that we do should be with this incentive in mind. Does it honor the Lord? The answer should be a deciding factor in whether or not it is done. Does it bring glory to His Name? If yes, pursue it wholeheartedly! If no, find a different route that does.

The second motivation was to do the acts of kindness "for the benefit of His saints." We should be looking for practical ways in which we can benefit those to whom our Lord has shown ultimate grace and mercy. We should be asking ourselves questions like, "What can I do to benefit my sisters in Christ today? What can I do to benefit my husband and children today? What can I do to benefit my elders, my church family, and my friends?" When we purposefully ask ourselves questions like these and actively seek out opportunities to show kindness in order to benefit those that the Lord loves, we are sure to find them.

I'd like to briefly mention some things that were NOT motivators behind Tabitha's kindness. She was NOT motivated by:

• A desire to be well looked on by others
• A desire to be thought well of
• A desire to promote her own name
• A desire to garner owned favors
• A sense of duty or responsibility
• A way to avoid feelings of guilt
  

Ladies, we have been blessed beyond imagination in our salvation. We hold the keys to the knowledge of eternal life, lasting joy, ultimate security, and unconditional love. It is essential that our lives are lived in such a way that makes this obvious! We have been given ever kindness by our Heavenly Father and if we really believe this to be true then our lives should reflect it.

What are some ways that you live in order to show the glorious truth of your salvation?

I went to visit a friend who is in a nursing home due to an injury. Its a pretty nice place, as far as nursing homes go, but because of her injury she is in pain and stays in her room most of the time.

She is older and due to her injury she will most likely need constant care and help even after she has healed up enough to get out of the nursing home. She told me that she doesn't have any dreams left, nothing to look forward to. I feel very sad for her.

While I was reading in Job lately, I came across a verse where Job was feeling the same way my friend does. Job 17:11 says "My days are past, my plans are torn apart, even the wishes of my heart". He also felt like his circumstances would never change and he would never be happy again.

Job's story does have a happy ending. God blessed him with much more than he lost. I'm not sure how things will work out for my friend but, I know for sure that whatever happens it has been allowed by God, that it is for her best, and God will never leave her nor forsake her.

I have learned first hand that when bad things happen and God seems far away, we need to run to Him, not away from Him. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus and persevere to the end. We need to read His promises in the Bible and put our trust in His words. His words are true and trustworthy.

Mexico blog part 2

What a great day! We left this morning at 7 a.m. for Acapulco, and arrived a few hours later. I almost forgot how crazy the drives are in central America, with the winding roads through the mountains, one lane roads, and reckless drivers! However, by God´s grace, we arrived! We were able to go to the beach for several hours, where we got quite a bit of sun. I am taken aback by the natural beauty of the coast, as well as the powerful waves we rode on in the ocean! My dear friend Esme and I mentioned to each other how we could not fathom the power of natural disasters such as typhoons, hurricanes, or tropical storms. The littlest waves swept us off our feet: what an experience to make you feel so small and helpless! It was just another little reminder of the unfathomable power of God and how His sovereign hands ordain each and every wave.

My spanish is so terrible, yet everyone is very patient with me. I am thankful for this experience, and I am hoping that, when I get back home, I will be more patient with people, especially at work, who speak little or no english. Learning a second language is not an easy thing to do. It makes interacting with our traveling companions very difficult, but I am hoping that I will get braver in trying my spanish so I can build relationships with Esme´s family. As God is gracious, it will get better. I am still having a great time here, and I feel so blessed to be able to take a break from American life to spend time with my dear friend and her family in one of the most beloved places in the world to me. God is beyond kind and generous.

For those of you praying for us, thank you for your prayers! Continue praying for opportunities to make much of the name of Christ in what we say and do!

Mexico pt. 1

Dear Readers,

I feel privileged to have been asked by the True Women blogging team to record my trip with my dear friend, Esme, to her native country, Mexico. I hope to share with you my experiences in this beautiful country as they remind me of the gospel, which we hope to continue sharing with her family.

The trip got off to a rocky start yesterday: in my foolishness I had neglected to look for my passport until the day of our departure and could not find it! I suppose I had become arrogant in my own organizational skills, and God in His mercy reminded me that I need to be responsible with all of my belongings at all times. I left for work in the afternoon huffing and puffing, after having written a frantic note to my parents asking them to continue the two-hour search for my passport. Lo and behold, after less than ten minutes of searching, my wonderful father found my passport behind my desk. I felt so foolish, namely, because I had become anxious in my circumstance and was not trusting the sovereignty of God. If He so willed, my passport would be found and I would be in Mexico. However, I needed to be equally content with the possibility that the Lord in His wisdom might not have willed that I go on this trip. The experience revealed my proud and short-sighted heart, and I must remind myself daily that my steps are guided by the Lord, not by my own wisdom.

We arrived in Mexico City at 6 a.m. this morning, after a red eye flight. Esme´s family has been so hospitable to not only her but to me, a foreigner who barely speaks any of their language. Their hospitality transcends the cultural and language barrier between us. I am encouraged by this gracious family´s hospitality towards me and am reminded of the power of a generous spirit. It is no wonder that hospitality is so emphasized in Paul´s epistles. It is an effective tool for the spreading of the gospel.

As of today, the majority of our conversation consists of translating, blank stares, and smiles. I am hoping that, once I get back into the mindset of thinking more in spanish, our level of communication will increase. I generally find it takes a few days before I get adventurous in trying out my spanish! We leave tomorrow morning for our little tour of the country, and I feel so blessed to be able to be a part of it! I am praying for opportunities to share the gospel, and for the grace to take hold of those opportunities...also for diligence in our studies of Scripture despite the inconsistency in our daily happenings.

May Christ be made much of in our time here!

Enough

Enough
by Chris Tomlin
(click here to listen to the song)

All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

You are my supply
My breath of life
And still more awesome than I know
You are my reward
worth living for
And still more awesome than I know

All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

You’re my sacrifice
Of greatest price
And still more awesome than I know
You’re the coming King
You are everything
And still more awesome than I know

More than all I want
More than all I need
You are more than enough for me
More than all I know
More than all I can say
You are more than enough for me

Deeds of Kindness Continually Done

^{Acts 9:36 "}Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did."

Tabitha is a woman mentioned once in the New Testament in a story that had far more to do with Peter and the gospel than with her. Her story is told in Acts 9: 36-42, beginning with her death. Peter comes to her and by the power of the Holy Spirit, brings her back to life. As a result of this miracle, verse 42 says "many believed in the Lord."

So what can we take away from this story, as women? What was Tabitha known for? Women can be know for a myriad of things: the number of children they have, who they are married to, whether or not they work outside the home, whether or not they home school their kids, what kind of service they are involved in at church, their parenting ideas, the way they dress, their manner of speech, how clean their house is kept. All of these things are important aspects of a woman's life but none of these are mentioned in the brief description given to Tabitha in these verses. Instead, she is known for "abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did."

Wow! There are some strong words in that phrase! I don't know if Tabitha was married or single, if she had children or if she had a job, if she was beautiful or if she was plain. But I do know that she was kind - kind to the extent that her kindness abounded to the point that it was continual. This kind of kindness is not accidental or unintentional. This kind of kindness must have permeated every aspect of her life. She would have always been prepared with a kind word to say to or about someone. This in of itself is hard enough for women who are easily prone towards gossip and would much rather discuss the possibles sins or indiscretions of people than offer kind and true words.

But it was more than just her words, Tabitha's deeds were continually kind as well. She was thoughtful and caring in everything she did. Her charity was well known throughout the poor. People looked at her and thought, "There is a kind woman." What a fabulous way to be known! Far better than, "There is a women who only wears dresses" or "There is the wife of one of our elders" or "There is a women who chose not to home school her kids."

What are some ideas of ways that we can show kindness this week? What are some things that you want to be known for and how to you propose to live your life in order for this to come about?

Witty Wednesday

One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head.

She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, 'Why are some of your hairs white, Mum?'

Her mother replied, 'Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white.'

The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, 'Mummy, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?'

Reading

At the beginning of the summer I made a reading list for myself. I have not read as much as I wanted to by this time, but I am not doing too shabby. I read a Liz George book years ago that spoke to the problem that mothers of young children have reading. She said to read on the subjects of marriage and mothering for 5 minutes a day and that you would be surprised by how much reading can get done. That bit of practical advise has been very fruitful in my life. I have taken that principle and done so with other subjects outside of marriage and mothering. I have been able to work through some systematic theology books, history books, books on biblical womanhood, biblical counseling, spiritual disciplines, the gospel, evangelism, and hospitality.

I recently noticed that I have been reading less and less outside of my normal Bible reading and decided that it was time to start over again at the 5 minutes a day. What helps me is deciding what I want to read, make a list, get the books and put them in an accessible place; usually in a pile by my bed.

So here is my current list that I plan on getting through this summer.

Cross Talk by Michael Emlet - This is the book the women at our church plan on discussing in August.

A Life That Says Welcome by Karen Ehman.

A Sweet and Bitter Providence by John Piper.

The Power of Words and the Wonder of God by John Piper, Justin Taylor and various contributors.

The Faithful Parent by Martha Peace and Stuart Scott.

Womanly Dominion by Mark Chanski.

Gospel-Powered Parenting by William P. Farley.

When Sinners Say I Do by Dave Harvey.

I have read the first three on this list so far. We shall see how far I get before the summer is over. Maybe between changing diapers, story times, backyard baseball games, math lessons, meetings, and Bible study, I will also get a chance to write some reflections on what I have read.

What are you reading this summer?

Little things become the big things

I ran across a bit of advice the other day that I wish I had heard years ago. The advice is to "enjoy the little things in life, for one day, you'll realize they were the big things", and as I look back on my life, this has proven to be so true.

When I was a young mother, it seemed like changing diapers and crying babies were going to last forever. Day in and day out, I delt with the same things. Then they entered the "terrible twos" and again, I thought this stage would last forever. As they continued to grow up, there were many different stages and I always thought they would last forever.

I wasn't very interested in taking a lot of pictures back then. We didn't have digital cameras in the old days so, we had to take a large amount of pictures before we could take the film to be developed which was rather expensive. Then about a week later, we had to go and pick up the prints which may or may not have turned out. And besides, I didn't think I would ever forget those days.

Well, now that my boys are all grown up, I realize that I don't remember much about those days and the pictures I have are now very precious to me.

So, my point in all of this is that young moms or anyone for that matter, should take every opportunity to take pictures or journal about little things that happens in their lives. I have learned how important this is. It is so true that the little, everyday moments of our lives are what make up the big things in life.

'No Greater Love'

No Greater Love by Matt Maher
(click the link to listen to the song)

For the city, for the world we pray
Let Your light shine down
Come around and live in us
For the close and the far away

Everywhere You are
Everywhere

And we lift high the banner of the cross
There is no greater love than this, no love but this
Jesus Christ laid down His life for us
There is no greater love than His, no love but His

To the city, to the world we go
Set us free, heal the land
You have promised, God, You can
To the last and least we go

Everywhere You are
Everywhere

And we lift high the banner of the cross
There is no greater love than this, no love but this
Jesus Christ laid down His life for us
There is no greater love than His, no love but His

In the poor, in the broken
In the crowded city streets
In the towers, in the money
In the strong and in the weak

In the orphans and the widows
In the churches and the bars
You are everywhere
God, You are everywhere

And we lift high the banner of the cross
There is no greater love than this, no love but this
Jesus Christ laid down His life for us
There is no greater love than His, no love but His

Alive Again - Matt Maher

I posted the lyrics to Shout to the King, a song on the CD Alive Again by Matt Maher last week. This is a really good album; I literally have not been able to take it out of the cd player in my car for the past 3 weeks now. Remembering that I spend a minimum of two hours every day in my car, that is a lot of listening!

Alive Again is not a cd that I liked immediately. I bought it because I LOVED one of the tracks and didn't mind paying the $12 cost of the cd to get that one song. (I can hear all my married friends snickering at that one!) It just so happens that this song was the second to last on the album so I listened to most of the cd before arriving at that song and I have to say, I was not impressed.

A few weeks later, however, I put the cd back in the player because I was starting to feel guilty about the $12....and completely fell in love with it.

The lyrics of the songs are fantastic. They are theologically sound and well written with several phrases so well worded that I get shivers down my spine even after the 1000th time hearing them sung. I also love that a couple of the songs are incredibly missionally focused. I'm posting the lyrics of my favorite of these tomorrow :)

The music is, for the most part, awesome. I will be honest and say that there are two songs where, although they are theoligcally sound lyrically, the music just kind of drags for me. But the music for the other ten are outstanding.

I would HIGHLY recommend this CD to anyone who enjoys listening to Christian music. Matt Maher has quite a few CDs out and I am excited to pick up a few more. If they are even half as good as this one they will be spiritually uplifting, preaching truth and joy in our Father.

Witty Wednesday

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.

After explaining the commandment to 'honour' thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, 'Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?'

Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, 'Thou shall not kill.'

For the Young Mother

I came across an article called, For The Young Mother: Ministry, Guilt, and The Seasons of Life.

I found encouragement and wanted to encourage some of the young moms that I know read this blog.

As we wake up each morning caring for the needs of a crying, nursing baby, a sick or cranky toddler, as we watch our children play and grow, as we discipline and teach them to share and be kind and obey the first time (we say fast and first), we can grow weary and feel as if we aren't doing much for the kingdom of God. We pray over our children, we teach them the gospel, we even try and make them part of the little time we have to minister outside of caring for them, and then we are riddled with guilt and an uneasy feeling that we are not doing enough.

Our society and our churches tend to feed that guilt and discouragement. It is rare to receive encouragement from the pulpit, a bible class, or even another woman in the church during this season of life. Of course, it is even more rare that the world we live in would encourage you to press on and delight in this duty that God Himself has given you.

Jani Ortlund, the author of the short article says this:

Guilt is a young mother’s habitual shadow. It has a nasty way of soaking through many of her efforts at nurturing, serving and loving others. “Am I doing enough for my children? For others? What do they think of me? What does God think of me?”

As a young mother everyone wants something from you—your family, your church, your boss, your neighbor. And most likely, you give way more than you ever thought you could. But along the way guilt nibbles at your soul, eating away your inner peace and joy. And it often lingers through the years, even after your children are grown and gone.

I would encourage you to go to the link and read her encouraging and helpful words to help you see this season the way we should and and live out this season of our lives for the glory of God.

Looking back on the past

I enjoy listening to music. I play my Christian CDs and my Irish CDs and other times I listen to KLOVE, a radio station that plays Christian contemporary songs. I don't feel as lonely during the day when I have music on.

A few months ago I was switching through stations because KLOVE was not coming in clear. I heard a song I had not heard in a long time so I listened for a while. As it turned out, it was an oldie's station and I was shocked that I remembered every song...I guess music from the 70's and 80's is now considered oldie's!

After I got over the shocking realization that I must be an "oldie" myself, I continued to listen and enjoyed hearing the songs again. For me, most times these songs bring back memories of what was going on in my life back when it was popular. I found myself thinking about the plans I had for my life and then thinking about how it actually worked out. My life turned out so different than the way I wanted it to. I started feeling sad and restless.

I was very bummed out for a few weeks. I felt like nothing was "worth it" anymore. I wanted to go back in time to a place where I was happy and had a lot to look forward to. As it turned out, an old friend called and we got together for lunch. We talked about the "olden days" and how our lives had worked out. She has 2 school age kids and I am already a grandma! We really didn't have much in common anymore and that made me feel even worse.

I decided after a few weeks that I needed to stop thinking about the past. I turned the radio back to KLOVE and I heard a new song named Blink by a group named Revive. It talks about enjoying the time you have now instead of just thinking about the past and how "it could have been". The refrain spoke to my heart;

"slow down, slow down
before today becomes our yesterday
slow down, slow down
before you turn around and its too late"

I realized that I didn't enjoy the "now" when I was young. I just wanted to grow-up and be on my own as fast as I could. My friend had done that and consequently, when we talked at lunch she had lots of good memories and even though I was with her during these good times, I really didn't remember them. I realized that I had wished my life away.

I have been praying that God would help me to just slow down and "smell the roses". I have a tendency to go through my life one crisis at a time and always be on the lookout for the next crisis so that maybe I can nip it in the bud. I am not happy and I honestly do not enjoy anything because I don't allow myself to. I need to make this change in my life not only for myself and my health, but also so that I can show non-believers that I am trusting in the Lord and that I have joy. I think that people today are looking for peace, joy and contentment but, they don't know where to find it. I want to be a witness for Christ and if people see these qualities in my life, maybe I will have an opportunity to share my faith with them.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!

Ray Ortlund Posts

Here are some great posts from Ray Ortlund over at the Gospel Coalition blog. Ray Ortlund is one of my favorite bloggers and I am always excited when I see his name in my RSS feeder.

Each of these posts are short; some are only a few sentences long, so I encourage you to read them all. However, if you are in a hurry or if link clicking isn't really your thing, I would say read #2, #6, and #8. The last two made me tear up.

#1 Husband and Wife
#2 Wholehearted
#5 The Uncool Glory of the Gospel
# 6 Happy Beyond Description
# 7 Centered on one or the other
# 8 My dad's message to me on the day he died

4th of July Weekend

Happy Thursday Ladies! I have to admit, I've been going through a period of writers block the last few weeks (as you could probably tell by my highly original posting of song lyrics last Thursday - and not even with my own comments!) This week is even worse than last week because my favorite holiday is coming up AND I'm going camping this weekend!! So my mind is filled with packing lists (must not forget the toothbrush) and to-dos (clean all the books out of my backseat so people can fit in my car) and not at all with interesting, helpful, or vaguely pertinent topics for a blog post.

I do want to point out my 'Interesting Links' section off to the right which I've been doing a pretty good job of keeping up on lately. There are some great posts from far smarter and wiser people than me that I would encourage you to look at. I would specifically recommend the "For a Time" link for everyone and "Advice for Brides" for all you married ladies out there.

I hope you are all planning to go out and watch the fireworks this weekend. Fireworks seriously make this holiday for me, I look forward to them all year and then as soon as the show is over I think "Man....I have to wait another year for this!" You should also make a point of going out to the Missio Dei picnic spot Saturday. 4th of July picnics are always a good time and this year Tom and Judy Love's small group is hosting so the party is sure to be well done.

Have a good holiday weekend, Ladies. Keep in mind that every good, exciting, enjoyable thing is a gift from our heavenly Father, who loves his children very much.

Witty Wednesday

This video made me laugh out loud! Enjoy!

Go Wayne Grudem!

Is It Ok for Moms to Work Outside The Home?

In this video, John Piper answers the question: Is it okay for moms to have jobs outside the home?

I think he is worth listening to. I think even challenging to the mom who is able to stay home. Are we using our homes as a place to raise up godly, Christ loving children? Are we using Homemaking as an opportunity to be a place of rest and peace to those hurting? Do we role up our sleeves and serve the body of Christ with the time we have not working outside the home?

I think it will also encourage any that have been made to feel that if you don't work outside the home you can't possibly be missional.


John Piper is calling for full-time ministry:

"So, I'm calling for ministry full-time when I say "don't work full-time if you have a family." Turn your family into ministry. Turn your family into a global dream for what this family might become, or what this man might be, or what we might be together as we are home.

Those are the kind of dreams I want to offer the younger women that are coming along so that they don't think, "If I don't get a career and make lots of money and be equal with men in pay and time and everything, I've somehow sold out to something small or something that doesn't require intellectual capabilities.

It is a great and glorious calling to be a mother and a homemaker and a wife and a neighborhood make-it-happen kind of person and a church minister. Who knows what God might be pleased to do."

May God transform our hearts, and minds, and homes and give us greater eternal vision for them.

Shout to the King

Shout to the King
Matt Maher - Alive Again

You're not like man that You should lie
You do not falter or change Your mind
All that You say is what You do
All that You've promised You're seeing through

So we wait on You, Lord
And we rise to Your voice

The shout of the King, the son of God
Your presence now here with us
The sound of praise all in a name
Jesus Christ, the one who saves
All you people rise to the shout of the King

There is no power, no scheme of man
That separates us from Your hand
We will not move far from Your gaze
Here in Your presence we will remain

So we stand on Your word
And we run to Your voice

The shout of the King, the son of God
Your presence now here with us
The sound of praise all in a name
Jesus Christ, the one who saves

The shout of the King, the son of God
Your presence now here with us
The sound of praise all in a name
Jesus Christ, the one who saves

Its the sound that breaks down strongholds
It's the sound that makes a sinner whole
It's the sound of freedom falling on the earth
The sound of victory

The shout of the King, the son of God
Your presence now here with us
The sound of praise all in a name
Jesus Christ, the one who saves
All you people rise, all you people rise
To the shout of the King, to the shout of the King