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.