Overflowing Grace

Hiatus

2008-11-29T21:22:00.003-05:00

I am sad to say that I am putting this blog on a hiatus. The holidays are always super busy around our house. In the next couple of months I will have some new responsibilities in our community as an advocate for children with food allergies. I like to think I am Superwoman but I know I need to give up a few things up to make sure I keep all of my priorities in order.

I will continue to maintain my other blog. Tyler and the rest of the family will pop up over there from time to time. I also plan to do some writing for another website I used to write for when time permits. I hope to write on frugal living, health-related articles, as well as other Christian living pieces. You can view those articles here.

Thanks to all of my faithful readers over the last year or so! I hope we will bump into each other other places online in the months to come...

Organizing Christmas: The Christmas Planner

2008-11-07T07:57:00.005-05:00

Christmas is coming...are you ready? Would you believe it if I told you Christmas is only 47 days away? I know, it sends chills down my spine, too!

For the last several years I have vowed to get more organized so I stress less and enjoy the holiday more. This year, believe it or not, I started Christmas shopping in August! My goal was to be done by November 1. Well, I was about 1/3 done but thats 2/3 of the way there!

I found a wonderful website called organizedchristmas.com. In late October, the author, Cynthia, started counting down. Each day she offers a tip to get ready and a recipe! I love it!

One suggestion she makes that I love is a "Christmas Planner." This can be your brain during the holidays. You can keep anything and everything you need to keep you sane as the holidays approach. I am in the process of making mine right now. (Note: she suggested doing it on October 27 so I'm already behind!) This year it will be a little more work to get it started, but I can reuse it each year so the labor right now will be worth it.

Cynthia offers several suggestions for sections of the planner but here are the ones I have settled on:

1. Calendars
2. Meals & Menus
3. Budget
4. Gift Lists
5. Christmas letter
6. Recipes
7. Traditions
8. Lessons for my kids (teaching what Christmas is all about)
9. Birthdays (we have one 12/24 & 1/6 so this is a part of the holidays, too!)
10. Lessons Learned (to be completed after Christmas to help me be better organized next year)

To make a notebook, just use any 3 ring binder (I bought a bright red one!!). Get some dividers and visit Organized Christmas to see what sections work best for you. Then, get to work! The few steps now will save you a ton of time later (not to mention headaches!).

The key to this system is spend a few days each each day planning so the holidays don't sneak up on you!

My goal in all of this is to have the time and energy during the holidays to be able to pause and reflect what the season is all about. Its not about gifts, meals, and anything else stressful. Its about Jesus!

To hold myself accountable (and help anyone that wants to join me), I will be posting an update on my own Christmas planning each Friday until Christmas. Hopefully, we can sneak up on the holiday rather than the other way around!

Warning: Sales and Coupons Can Be Harmful to Your Budget

2008-11-06T06:30:00.001-05:00

When someone wants to live a more frugal lifestyle, one mistake they make is to think shopping sales is what this is all about. I know this may sound contradictory but shopping sales can actually hurt your budget if you are not careful.

A few things to keep in mind to keep your budget from being derailed by those slick sale ads:

*Only buy products you would normally buy. Many people buy things they would never buy if it weren't feature in the store's ad. This is a mistake. It means you are actually spending more money than if you had skipped the sale.

*In most cases, the name brand featured in the ad is still not as cheap as the generic alternative. Always, always double check this fact. If the you usually buy is cheaper, you are not doing yourself a favor by buying off the sales ad.

*For the above mentioned reason, I almost never buy sale items. My exceptions to that fact are meat and produce. On rare occasions I find a deal on one of these items and will buy it.

*One of my weekly tasks is to check the sales ads online of my two favorite stores who actually have ads.My regular shopping places are Super-Wal-Mart and Sam's Warehouse and they don't have sales. But Meijer (a Midwest store similar to a Super Target) and Kroger (a grocery store) get my vote for having the best sales in my area. I recently added CVS drug store to that list because they actually have good sales and give you a bit of rebate on purchases.

*When you do find a good sale that is worth going to, buy A LOT. Sometimes I will buy several of whatever I am buying if possible. If needed, I will freeze it.

A word about coupons:

*The same rule applies about them as shopping sales: only use them on products you don't already buy generics on AND on products you already use. Its OK to try new things but a coupon is not a gift certificate. You still end up paying for it and sometimes spend more overall than if you had never clipped a single coupon.

*Last week I discovered www.coupons.com. Since most coupons I find don't apply to what I am buying, I was amazed last week when I saw stuff we actually use on a regular basis. And the savings are significant. I got $1.00 of a 12 pack of Pepsi! Since the coupons are different this week than last, I am guessing they change each week. You just select the ones you want and print them out. There is no fee or even registration...just savings!

Join me next week when I will discuss how early planning for just about everything you can imagine saves you money (not to mention stress!).

Wanted: A Simple Life

2008-11-04T06:30:00.001-05:00

Something has really been bothering me lately. I look around our house and my life and see entirely too much clutter. There are often papers strewn about and toys littering the floor. I often feel like trying to clean is like trying to stop a waterfall with a paper towel.

In the last couple of months, I have been on a rampage around the house trying to get things more organized. Its strange that this impulse has such a strong hold on me. As I sat yesterday afternoon, wondering why I am so obsessed with this, the answer was so clear to me.

I want a simple life.

This is not to say that my life is extremely complicated. Its really not. But my conviction has become that it is more complicated than it should be. God did not mean for me to be stressing out over so many little things. I waste too much time and energy focused on trivial things related to "stuff."

My feeling about this aren't completely foreign. After my call to ministry in 1997, I felt a need to purge myself of too many things. I felt called to the mission field and I knew I definitely couldn't take it all with me. My attitude became that I might as well part with stuff gradually rather than all at once.

I remember after we were married and received so many wedding gifts, I stood in our little apartment looking around and thinking, "We have too much stuff." I reminded myself, however, that it was no longer just about me. I was a wife and things like several casserole dishes and Tupperware containers were necessary to serve in my role as a wife.

Over three years later, we added a baby to the mix. Talk about stuff! I had no idea such a small human being could require so many things. I thought we had too many sleepers but soon discovered that my little guy went through six or seven a night. Sometimes a lot a particular item can be good, I suppose.

But my conviction has become that the stuff is starting to rule me rather than the other way around. My children have way too many toys. Many of them have been gifts over the years from members of our congregations. I felt it would be wrong to get rid of gifts.

But it concerns me that my boys will become too comfortable with all of this stuff. They will think it holds some key to happiness. It doesn't. The Giver of the stuff is where our joy should lie.

So, this whole "decluttering" issue is not just a phase as my husband has so dearly wished. (Sorry, honey!). It has become a spiritual matter for me. I want simplicity so I can focus on the things that really matter: Jesus and my family.

The whole "decluttering" issue is not just about stuff around the house. There are areas of my life that I need to tidy up. How can I raise my boys to be men of God if I am struggling to be the simple woman He wants me to be?

I don't have all the answers to simplifying life. This is a journey for me. I'll be back in a few days with more thoughts. I would love to hear from others on leading a simple life.

Grace in Marriage

2008-11-02T22:30:00.007-05:00

Welcome to Marriage Monday!! I am so excited to be hosting it this month. When the topic "grace" was chosen as this month's topic I was thrilled because many days that is what keeps me hanging on, if only by a thread.

As I prepared to write this post on "Grace in Marriage," I thought it would be appropriate to include an example of how I have extended grace to my husband. I mean, he really is "near perfect" but he is only human.

As I thought about it, I couldn't remember a specific circumstance where I had overlooked an issue purely out of love for him. Trust me, I really do it. He just doesn't require it as often as someone like me. Plus, my memory disappeared when my first child was born.

As I started to reprimand myself, it dawned on me. That is what grace is all about! By extending true grace, we erase it completely from our memory. (I'm thankful my poor memory is useful for something!)

That is exactly how God views grace towards us:

...as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us...
Psalm 103:12

As a wife that is usually in the "In Need of Grace" category more than my husband, how could I not overlook my husband's faults? I get the same loving action in return.

We use the word "grace" frequently in Christian circles but what exactly does it mean? Dictionary.com gives a couple of beautiful word pictures. A few of them were:

1. the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.

2. the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.

3. a virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces.

When I looked at these and thought about my own marriage, I couldn't help but see a little of all three of them. Our marriage certainly is a gift from God that we do not deserve. The love and grace we give each other is allowing Christ to work through us. We cannot take any credit for it. If we were left to our own merits, I shudder to think of what a mess we would make.

A year or two into our marriage we attended a marriage retreat with the leadership of the church my husband served in. While there, we studied Gary Chapman’s The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate. We were each given a test to determine what our "love language" was. I admit I was a little skeptical of how useful this would be. I knew this man so well. There wasn't anything new I could learn. Or was there?

I was surprised to learn his love language is "words of affirmation." This meant he felt the most love from me by the words that I used than anything else. This was eye-opening to me. I was amazed at just how important the words that flowed out of my mouth were to him. He needs to hear that he is valued and important to me.

This also meant that the words that I used during the more difficult times of our marriage could have devastating effects. Even an unintentional misplaced word could harm him on a very deep level. That spoke volumes to me and remains on my mind to this day. I try to choose my words deliberately during the tough times. Even when I am upset with him, there are lines I will not cross. My love and grace for him goes too deep to wound him.

Some days I find myself giving my husband more grace than other days. But most days, I see my husband, in fact, giving me more grace than I deserve. When I stop to think about it, these are not only actions we offer each other out of love, they are also something we do out of love for Someone who gave up His very life for ours. In that light, no amount of grace is too big in a marriage.

What do you think about this topic? We would love to read your thoughts!

Marriage Monday is Coming

2008-10-30T06:30:00.001-04:00

This coming Monday, I will be hosting "Marriage Monday." The topic will be "grace" as it relates to marriage. If you have a blog, I encourage you to write something on this and link up here on Monday. It doesn't have to be a long post, just something heartfelt about how grace affects your own marriage.

"Marriage Monday" is one of my favorite group writing projects that I participate in. Even though I don't consider myself an expert in this area, I enjoy talking about my own experiences that hopefully will benefit others. I hope you'll join us on Monday!

Wearing "Recycled" Clothes

2008-10-29T06:00:00.004-04:00

I used the term "recycled" in the title of this post because it will appeal to the effort of many (myself included) to go more green. (By the way, when did the issue of being a good steward of God's planet become a political issue, anyway?!?) Really, "recycled" and "used" are interchangeable, we just don't like to think about it that way usually, do we?

When I talk others about how to live a frugal life, one thing many people turn their noses up at is wearing used clothes. There is a stigma that goes along with this that I don't entirely understand.

Remember hand-me-downs as a kid? They were used. And they saved our parents a ton of money. What changes when we become adults in our perception of this?

Does wearing used clothes mean you will like like you do? Absolutely not! If you are running around looking like you dug through someone's garbage to find something to wear, you are doing something wrong! There is a way to look great and save a ton of money at the same time.

Here are a few of the rules that I follow to find great clothes that don't look like I'm not their first owner.

1. Find a nice "go to" thrift store. Look in the nicer areas of your town. It only makes sense that the more affluent areas would have nicer donations. Sometimes they are a little pricier ($6 for a shirt instead of $3, for example) but the time I save not having to look through unappealing clothes makes it well worth the few extra bucks. I have 2 stores that I frequent for most of my clothing needs. They even occasionally have new things with the tags still on them for a fraction of the original price!

2. Shop garage sales. This is great for kids clothes. For some reason, I have much better luck here for my boys than I do at thrift stores. Also, I don't often find something for myself. I'm not sure what the contradiction is but I just adapt my buying. I once found a garage sale last year that had kids clothes for 25 cents each. I bought a ton of stuff for my kids. Garage sales are also a great place to find great toys and games and really just about anything you can imagine.

3. Ebay, baby! If you have never done ebay, crawl out from under that rock you have been living under and try it!! You can find anything and everything over there. It's awesome for kid's clothes, too. I have already started Christmas shopping on it and found some really unique stuff. I have bought my boys clothes on ebay and have always been very happy.

I have not bought myself many clothes since I can't try them on but recently I have considered buying brands when I already know what size I wear. Even if I make a mistake and buy something that doesn't fit, I'm not out much. Plus I can sell it and recoup my money!

You will be amazed what you can get on ebay. Search for a few of your favorite products (including makeup, food, etc) and see what they have to offer. The other great thing is you never have to leave your home!

4. Accept hand-me-downs. I know many of us do this with kids but have you considered doing it for yourself? Let friends know you want to dig through their stuff before they donate it. They would much rather give something to someone they know than someone they don't. You can return the favor on your next "closet clean out" day.

Since I am married to a pastor, I find many women in my church that like to do things for our family. Some have approached me timidly and asked if I would like to go through their old clothes. My eyes always light up and I can tell they are thrilled to be able share and make me so giddy!

These are the four ways our family uses recycled clothes. I'm sure there are many others some of you have tried. I would love to hear other ideas~

I have converted others to buying pre-owned clothes. My mother never thought she would do this. Now, her closet is filled with her thrift store gems. Her inspiration, I think, was seeing all the great things I found. My mother-in-law has also started venturing into this life-style a little.

If you have never stepped foot in a thrift store (or garage sale or even ebay), I encourage to give it a try. You will be amazed at what you will find! If you hate it, don't worry, you'll only be out a few bucks anyway!

That's what works for me!!

Next Wednesday in the "Frugal Living Tips" series, I'll give frugal tips on shopping sales.

Tackle It Tuesday: The Hall Closet

2008-10-28T06:30:00.002-04:00

As I have written before on this blog, I have been on a rampage around our house to get it more organized. I have assured my husband (and continue to do so) that I am not pregnant and there is no "nesting" involved. I am just tired of cringing every time I open closets, and drawers, and guest rooms....

Enter: Our hall closet (Just typing that made me say "Ugh!")

This closet, once upon a time, was a very nice and neat organized little gem. Then, our next door neighbor helped us replace the broken doors on it that were driving me crazy. So...I had to remove everything out of the closet.

Once they were finished, little hands kept picking things up they shouldn't have from that lovely closet that was spread all over the bathroom counter. Since I was rushed that particular day, I just threw it all back in there, vowing to organize it "when I have time."

That was 9 months ago!!

Here is what it looked like before I "tackled" it:

It's a little hard to tell from this picture but things, particularly on the first two shelves, are just thrown up there. No organization. No rhyme or reason, just wherever there was room. So if you needed a Tylenol or something, you needed to carve out time in your day planner to find it. Not fun!

It took me two different work sessions to complete this this. Since I can't seem to organize things without taking everything out and starting totally over, I did that. Eventually, a nice, neat closet emerged.

I put all of the medicines on the second shelf. I grouped the medicines and some other items in their own little basket. For example, vitamins got a basket. Pain relievers got a basket. Stomach aids got a basket. Even sunscreen has a basket to call its own! Eventually, I will label these baskets so my husband and others will understand my organizing madness in this closet.

As an added bonus, I reserved a spot for the kids' library books that magically disappear when they are due. I end up digging through toys boxes and looking under beds. No more! Their new home is in this closet. Each child is allowed as many books as they are years old. The rest will rest happily in the hall closet.

I have to admit I am so proud of my organized hall closet that I have caught myself opening the folding doors just to take a peek at my little organizing masterpiece! Really, I need to get out more!

To see who is tackling what today, visit "5 Minutes for Mom"

Thomas the Tank Engine Cake

2008-10-28T06:02:00.001-04:00

For those of you interested in seeing the cake I made for Dylan's birthday last week, I posted it on my other blog. He loves Thomas the Tank engine so that was my mission. It was a lot of work but totally worth it!! You can see it here.

The Bible Through the Eyes of a Child

2008-10-27T07:58:00.001-04:00

A couple of months ago my three-year-old was obsessed with the biblical story of Daniel trapped in a den full of hungry lions. Our night time routine was not complete until we read this particular story. Many times it included some lion roaring thrown in for fun.

My husband and I read the story so frequently that we nearly had each word from the children's Bible memorized.

For the rest of the story, visit my post over at Internet Cafe devotions today.

My Baby is Two!

2008-10-23T14:58:00.006-04:00

The "Birthday Boy" this morning, pretending to talk on the phone.

Today is my youngest child, Dylan's, 2nd birthday. They have been the quickest two years of my life! Yet, they have been the most happy...and exhausting. I honestly don't know how I made it each day without his sweet kisses!

Dylan is my passionate child. He reminds me daily that he is mine because he is able to laugh and cry all in the course of a minute. He is affectionate, my little "cuddle buddy" each night. His kisses come in two's, one for each cheek. They are best slobbery kisses ever! His hugs are tight and heart-felt. I don't know if I could make it through a day without several of each.

While this sweet boy has never even had a sick doctor visit, his eye surgery in May reminded me that he is not invincible, and neither am I. The two hours he was away from that day were the longest two hours of my life. His strength in his recovery reminds me that another surgery in the future is possible.

When my first child was born, I realized my love knew new depths. When Dylan was born, it went even deeper. Being able to raise the two best boys in the world is an honor this mom doesn't deserve. Dylan reminds me each day that, even though I am not perfect, my love of him (and his brother) is the best thing I can give him. All the other areas, some of which I fall short, don't matter.

The last two years have been incredible. I can only imagine what the next two hold!

**By the way, those of you wondering where my "Frugal Living Tips" series went, it will return next week. It's becoming an annual tradition for me to get bronchitis in the middle of each October. I curbed much of my computer time for a little R&R this week. I'm better and should be back writing soon.**

The Art of Contentment

2008-10-16T06:30:00.003-04:00

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:11-13

During a Bible study in college, I remember my friend who was leading it talking about Paul's contentment. During this time of my life I was anything but content. I was single and not happy about it. No matter how hard I tried to find contentment in that situation, I couldn't seem to do it.

I was a relatively new Christian and the concept of being content in all circumstance was new to me. It sounded wonderful but how in the world could it be done?

That moment in that Bible study was truly a defining moment in my early Christian walk. I revisit that verse often. Contentment in any and every situation. Wow! What a concept to live by!

While my circumstances in life have changed (my two children are evidence that I did eventually marry!), my tendency to become uncontent with my life's circumstances has not. Sometimes the issues are big, sometimes they are small. Yet, my natural tendency is to feel less than content.

Aren't we all prone to not liking at least some of our present circumstances? If the evil one can't keep us from following Christ, he sets his mind on pointing out everything that isn't ideal. When that happens, our minds focus on those few things. And when that happens our focus is no longer on Christ.

The people I have met who truly are content with their lives make a conscious effort to be that way. It's not a state that just naturally happens without some work on their part.

Dictionary.com defines being content as "satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else."

What a thing to strive for! I think this is where Paul must have been when he penned that Philippians passage. It may not be something we feel every second of the day but it certainly is something we can strive for each day.

We often remember the past as being much better than it actually was. We also fantasize about the future being problem-free. Instead, we should spend each day enjoying what we have. No matter what situation we are in, God always gives us something (usually several "somethings") to be thankful for.

The end of Paul's words hold the key to make true contentment possible: our stregnth comes from the One where contentment lies.

I'm thankful that I can't do it on my own. I'm sure I would find something to complain about!

Frugal Living: Buying in Bulk

2008-10-15T06:00:00.002-04:00

*************

Buying in bulk is one of my biggest secrets to keeping the budget where it should be, while also keeping myself sane. Some may question if the membership price for most wholesale stores is worth it. I say ABSOLUTELY!! I know our family more than makes up for the price in a month in meat and diapers alone.

Buying in bulk can benefit even small families. Our family is only made up of four and it saves us a ton of money. While I know prices vary by region, I will take chicken as an example. At our local grocery store, chicken breasts usually run around $4.29 a pound. You might find it for slightly cheaper if you find a sale or buy it on the bone (remember, though, you are paying for the bone). At Sam's, the place I buy most of our bulk items, I usually get chicken breasts for anywhere from $1.98 to $2.29 a pound.

No matter what kind of sale I find at the grocery store, I have never found anything even remotely close to this price. Sure, I have to buy6 or 7 pounds at a time. True, it can a little intimidating to plan ahead of what to do with all that chicken. Here is what I usually do:

*Make meals ahead (casseroles, etc) and freeze them (more on this in a future post)

*Freeze each breast separate in its own baggie (Don't freeze them together. They will take
F-O-R-E-V-E-R to thaw...Trust me...)

*Make up several bags of marinade and divvy the chicken up so that each bag contains one meal.

I actually prefer to buy meat in bulk for the simple fact that it makes me plan ahead. Plus, I love knowing that I got it for nearly half the price of the grocery store. Some days I even find meat that is about to expire marked down even more. At times like that I almost feel like I am stealing it because its so cheap!

Meat is not the only thing to buy in bulk. At Sam's I can find almost anything and everything in bulk. Some things I buy, other things I don't. For example, buying 3 pounds of carrots at a time is not practical for our family. I bought that much once and was cooking carrots nearly every meal so they didn't go bad.

I buy diapers, wipes, apples, potatoes, onions, dried fruits, tomato sauce, shredded cheese (I freeze it in smaller bags), pasta, some spices, and many other things in bulk regularly. We eat or use these things at a rate that make it very cost effective to do this.

I recently started buying toilet paper and sliced cheese in bulk. For whatever reason, these things are not cheaper in bulk but I got tired of buying them each shopping trip. So now I only have to buy them monthly. That's where the "saving my sanity" part comes in with buying bulk. In this case, I'm saving my valuable time.

Even if you have a smaller place and a small freezer, buying in bulk is still possible. I did this to a lesser extent when my husband was an associate pastor and all we had was an apartment and a small freezer. Now that we have a bigger house and a large deep freeze, I've been able to take buying in bulk to a whole new level.

Some things I've recently started buying in bulk because I just discovered they sell them this way are toothpaste (several boxes are shrink wrapped together), deodorant (packaged like the toothpaste), and vitamins (they come in a giant jar). I save a considerable amount of money and I love only buying them occasionally.

For me, buying in bulk is Frugal Living 101. I simply couldn't be as wise with our money if I didn't do it. It saves us a ton of money and I am left with the satisfaction at the end of a shopping trip that I have been a good steward of the money that God has entrusted to us. That's a great feeling.

That's what works for me!!

If you missed part 1 of this series, click here.

Next week: Buying Used Clothes and Other Items (without looking like you do!)

Photo credit flickr

I Know, I'm a Book Nerd

2008-10-13T06:30:00.002-04:00

Lately, I have been on a big organization kick. I've got a little update coming up later this week on what I have accomplished so far. But, I'm not letting this "Get Organized" kick only benefit the house. I am trying to organize my life better, too.

Last week, I made a list of everything I want to get accomplished between now and the end of the year. I plan to do this sort of thing quarterly in the future. Part of that list is the books I want to read. It seems this summer I let myself read the same sort of stuff constantly (English monarchy history...I know its weird!). So, I planned out my books with a few different types for variety. I left out history since that is what I did during the entire summer. If I'm a good girl and follow the list I have planned out, I already know the next English history book I want to read in January.

Here is what I will have my nose buried in for the rest of this year:

Breaking Free: Discover the Victory of Total Surrender by Beth Moore. Another great Beth Moore book, I'm sure. I'm trying to read all of her stuff. She is incredible!

Beside Every Successful Man by Megan Basham A secular book that says that men can be more successful when his wife stays home and partners with her husband to make him more successful in his own career.

Houseworks: Cut the Clutter, Speed Your Cleaning and Calm the Chaos by Cynthia Townley Ewer. Yep, its a home organization book. Yeah!!

On Becoming Childwise: Parenting Your Child from 3-7 Years by Gary Ezzo & Robert Buckmam. A parenting book from a Christian perspective.

The Confident Woman: Knowing Who You Are in Christ by Anabel Gillham. A book about finding your identity in Christ alone.

Caring for Your Child with Severe Food Allergies: Emotional Support and Practical Advice from a Parent Who's Been There by Lisa Cipriano I try to read something every couple of months of food allergies to help me be a better advocate for Tyler's peanut allergy and for my other blog.

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I've read this once or twice but we are studying it at church so I am reading it again.

The books that others might be interested in, I will try to write a review so you can decide if you might enjoy it, as well.

Refelction

2008-10-09T06:30:00.001-04:00

Last week I was cleaning out our storage room in the basement and my three year old, Tyler was "helping" me. For some reasons there are several full length mirrors in that room. He looked in one of them and said, "Look Mommy, my reflection!"

My first thought was, "Where did you learn the word 'reflection?'" That's quite a word for a three year old! But then I caught a glimpse of that sweet little reflection and then I saw something stunning looking back at me. He is the spitting image of his father. While I see it everyday, at that moment, looking at him in that big mirror, it was so incredible. It was if I was transported back in time to see my husband as a child.

Later, when I pondered that moment, it made me wonder who I reflect. While some tell me I do look like my father, that is not who I want to be reflecting (No offense to my dad, of course!). Instead, my sights are set on reflecting my Heavenly Father.

What do others see when they see me and my behavior?

We All Reflect Something
All of us have things that are important to us. We need to look no further than our checkbook to determine what they are. Or even our day planners. Where does our mind wander during idle times? When we add all of these up, we usually have a pretty good idea what is influencing us.

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18

Psalm 27:4 has a plea of David's. He wants nothing more than to dwell in the house of the Lord so that he can gaze on His beauty.

We have an incredible blessing that David could never even imagine. We have the Spirit of God living inside of us. If David wanted to spend time with God in His house, what does it say about us that He is actually dwelling in us? Shouldn't this reflection come naturally?

A Daily Challenge
In my own life, the problem is not necessarily that I don't want to reflect Christ in everything that I do. In fact, I really do. I even pray for this. But somewhere between the prayer and a stubborn 3 year old that refuses to potty train (or fill in the blank with some other issue that comes up with a 1 & 3 year old), I loose my focus. I have to consciously turn my heart on how to achieve this amidst all the chaos that my life can be. After all, who really has a simple life?

I think there is an old saying that actually wanting to do something is the hardest part to actually achieving it. Thankfully, I can cross that off my "To Do" list because I am at least that far.

But, it doesn't stop there. Wanting and pursuing are two very different things.

When we pursue something we really want, we give our heart to it. And that is where the answer is. Our heart. He wants every part of us. Even the messy parts. Even the parts that we don't share with anyone else.

When we give Him our heart, the very core of who we are and what drives us, then we can start to reflect Him. We have invited him, told him to take a seat, look around and get rid of the garbage. Sometimes its not pretty but its necessary.

When I gave my husband my heart back when we were dating, I couldn't stop thinking about him. (That's still true today!) Everything I did circled back to him during my day. I saw little reminders of him everywhere.

To give Jesus our heart, we have to surround ourselves in Him. Use a filter so that things that don't reflect Him are shut out. We need to look for Him in every aspect of our life. When it gets overwhelming...pray. When something awesome happens...praise Him. When our mind is idle, it should gravitate to Him.

For me, praise music piping through the house is helpful. Getting up early to spend time with Him before anyone else wakes up. Thumbing through my prayer journal reminds me of what's important. Even reading the blogs of other godly women draw me closer to Him.

This morning as that stubborn three year old went screaming down the hall running away from the potty (a common occurrence in our home), instead of forgetting that prayer, I decided to pray for what I was in the midst of. There was no miraculous "I'm potty trained Mommy!" moment. Instead, my attitude was changed for that moment.

It was a reflection of something other than chaos and frustration...something beautiful and peaceful...just like my Father.

Frugal Living with Generics (Part 1)

2008-10-08T06:00:00.005-04:00

Welcome to the first post in a series of eleven over the next eleven weeks of how to honor God through your pocketbook. Whether you just enjoy living frugally like our family does or the tough economic times have made penny pinching your new hobby, hopefully you will learn something that can help you in this series.

When my oldest child was born, I quit my good paying job to stay at home. At the time, I was actually earning more than my husband so our income was more than cut in half. Since I had been raised in a home that money was always tight, I knew we could make it. But where did I start?

Generics. To me, this was the most obvious place to start. While I had always used a few for various reasons, I had never bought nearly everything in generic. After Tyler's arrival, I didn't have a choice. Super Wal-Mart was the only way we made ends meet back then. Their prices were low and their generics were (and still are!) great.

I will admit over the last few years, I have tried a few things I didn't like. But when I say "a few," I mean literally two or three. In fact, when I am over at someone else's house and actually eat the name brand, I often find that I prefer the generic.

I have run across items many, many times that are close to half the price of the name brand. HALF THE PRICE!! For me, not buying generic seems like I am not being a wise steward of my money.

When my husband got a new job a year and a half ago and money wasn't as tight, I wondered if I should switch back to some things we had used in the days before babies. I was struck with just how wrong I felt this was for my family. We weren't complaining about what we were using so why in the world should change?

Wal-Mart, of course, is not the only store that has generics. Most grocery stores and other discount stores do. If you are not a generic junkie like I am, I challenge you on your next shopping trip to buy one or two generics. Try them. See if you can tell a difference.

I have to warn you, you might actually like them more than the name brand! If not, just send me a bill for your little experiment (OK, I'm kidding on that one...) If you do like it, keep branching out. You might be shocked to discover in a few months time, you cabinets will be full of generics just like mine.

The best thing is that your pocketbook will be thicker. In todays times, how can there be anything wrong with that?

That's what works for me! Visit Rocks in My Dryer for more great tips.

Photo credit: flickr

Serving God Through Your Pocketbook

2008-10-06T06:00:00.003-04:00

Marriage Monday Topic:

10 Tips for Frugal Living

When I was a child, my Mom was a single mother that was barely making ends meet. Being frugal wasn't something we tried to do, it was what we were forced to do or risk not surviving. Over the years, I learned to hate "pinching pennies."

When I first married, I remember my husband worrying a little about money. I told him he would be fine. I had, after all, been raised to live on next to nothing. I distinctly remember sitting in our little first apartment (it was about 500 square feet - Yikes!) and realizing all of those lessons my Mom taught me growing up would help me survive once again.

Although money is not as tight now as it was the first few years of our marriage, I actually enjoy living a frugal lifestyle. It's a challenge I rise to each month. How can we save a little more than last month?

In the last year or so that money hasn't been quite so tight, I realized that a life of frugality isn't a curse, it's a choice. It's a choice anyone can make or choose not to make, no matter what your financial circumstances are. For me, it's become a way that our family honors God with our money. It frees us up to give more to the church and other charities.

Here are a few things we do during the lean and not as lean times to make our pocketbooks honoring to God.

1.) Buy generic.

This one saves us an absolute ton of money. I try nearly anything in generic. My favorite brands that we have all over the house are Wal-Mart's generics. They are awesome. I've only been disappointed a couple of times. When you consider how many products we use, that's amazing!

2.) Buy in bulk. Wholesale stores are the rage these days. I have to admit when I got my Sam's card, I felt like a member of an elite club. Wholesale stores aren't the only places that sell in bulk. The Wal-Mart I do a majority of my grocery shopping at has an aisle of bulk grocery items. While two gallons of BBQ sauce isn't helpful to me, a giant can of tomato sauce for several different pasta dishes is.

3.) Buy used clothes and other items whenever possible.

People often ask me where I get my clothes. They are nearly always shocked when I say the thrift store. My kids frequently get their clothes from garage sales and Ebay. While sometimes we could afford to buy things brand new, why would we want to when we can pay next to nothing to get them used? My secret is I buy things that look brand new.

4.) Shop sales.

While it is often cheaper to buy generic and bulk items, sometimes you will be surprised at what a great deal you can get by looking through the sale ads in the Sunday paper. My favorite items to buy this way are meat and produce.

5.) Start early.

I started Christmas shopping a month and a half ago. I've got it nearly half done. I haven't fought a single crowd. When I bid on an Ebay item, I'm not competing against another frantic Christmas shopper. The same goes for birthdays or any other occasion you need to buy gift for. If you wait until the last minute, you will get your joy and your money sucked right out of you!

6.) If you can save a few cents, do it!

There are so many ways you can save just a little bit here and there. One thing I do is go to a gas station where the gas is a penny or two cheaper. Many times this can really add up, particularly if you make a habit of it. Pick a brand at the store that is the cheapest while shopping. You might only save a few cents on one item, but if you make it a way of life, the money can reallyadd up over time.

7.) Don't expect everything to be perfect.

This is not only a great philosophy in finances but in life as well. Since I entertain a lot, I have been guilty of wanting everything to look like Martha Stewart stopped in for a few minutes. This is silly and expensive. No one but me cares if everything I have looks perfect. I'm not perfect, so why expect everything in my life to be?

8.) Don't spoil the kids!

This one gets harder and harder as my boys get older. They are so much fun to buy for! But I only allow them to get a toy on very rare shopping trips. There have been times when I have actually wanted the boys to have a few things and I have bought them when they were not with me at the store and gave them as rewards at home. If your child thinks they need a toy every time they visit the store, your pocketbook will hurt very quickly.

9.) Be organized!

I'm on a home organizing rant right now around our house. The more organized I am, the less money I spend. Strange how that works out! But if I can't find something I need, I buy another out of desperation. In college I remember I once owned two scientific calculators simply because one got misplaced. I find myself doing this with groceries all the time. "Where is that spice? Oh, I'll just put it on the list to buy." The next thing you know I've spent way more money that need be and I've got a cabinet full of things that will take me years and years to use up.

10.) See yourself as a servant, rather than entitled.

It's easy to get into a mode of thinking we deserve something. We "deserve" that ridiculously expensive outfit. We "deserve" dinner at a restaurant that we cannot afford this side of heaven. I'm not saying these things are bad but when it becomes a way of life, it becomes dangerous financially. Instead, if we view our finances as something God is giving us to give to others, we are much more outward focused than "me! me! me!" focused.

**BONUS**
11.) The most essential element of serving through God through your pocketbook is giving regularly.

Even when you don't have the money. Even when you don't fee like it. Even when you would rather spend the money elsewhere. We often call this element our little financial secret. It's better than any stocks or bonds you can invest in. There have been many months in our marriage where we didn't have the money and had no idea where it would come from. We still gave and ended up having an abundance. GIVE! GIVE! GIVE! You will never regret it!!

I have enjoyed this topic so much and just barely scratched the surface of all that I could say. So, I decided to turn into a 10 week series. Every Wednesday, starting this coming Wednesday, I will take one of my points and devote an entire post to it, complete with lots of personal examples. I will also discuss how our finances can truly be an act of worship. I would love to get the input of others on this subject!

If you want to read more frugal tips for Marriage Monday this month, visit Chrysalis.

The Home Organzing Bug

2008-10-03T06:30:00.001-04:00

In the last couple of weeks, something is amiss in our home. Boxes litter the basement. Any drawer in the house is my victim. Messy closets actually excite me. Now that my knee surgery is staring to heal, I can't seem to get enough of trying to organize things around the house!

I'm not really sure what is going on with me. Brad asked if I was pregnant. I reminded him that this usually happened to me at the end of the pregnancies, not the beginning. This all started right before my knee surgery and they give you a mandatory pregnancy test before they put you under anesthesia. Mine was obviously negative. So, no, I'm definitely not pregnant.

This week I've pulled everything out of our basement storage to get a handle on what is in there and what we can sell in a garage sale next year. If I've accomplished anything at all, it's making a big mess. Weird how that seems to be a prerequisite to organizing things.

I'll be posting updates about how my progress. It's amazing how disorganized our house has gotten in only a year and a half of living in it. My goal is to have things in pretty good order before Thanksgiving. We'll see....

Cakes!

2008-10-02T07:06:00.002-04:00

Since Tyler is unable to eat anything from a bakery due to his peanut allergy, I recently took a cake decorating class. Yes, even people without much creativity can learn something. I've written a short series at about it on my Peanut Allergy Kid blog. You can check it out and see pictures of my cakes!

A God of Creativity

2008-09-25T13:30:00.003-04:00

I don’t know about you, but I love to do all of the womanly things I swore, as a teenager, that I would never do. Cooking a big meal from start to finish (from scratch, not a frozen pizza!) is such a liberating feeling. When I look at the meager ingredients I started with and see the masterpiece I created, I feel exhilarated.

For the rest of the story, visit my post on Internet Cafe Devotions this month.

**Some of you may have wondered where in the world I have been! I unexpectedly had knee surgery on September 17. It was a relatively simple outpatient surgery but it left me hobbling around with a cane for a few days. I had difficult time sitting at the computer for extended periods of time so my blogging has been minimal. I am back on the mend and will be returning to my blogging again very soon.**

Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward A Cure

2008-09-14T15:37:00.003-04:00

Anyone who knows our family, either personally or just through this blog, knows that food allergies have been a part of our life nearly as long as Tyler has been. His problems started only six weeks after his birth, even though it took us nearly his entire first year to figure out what causing was him so many problems.

Most of you have read about Tyler's peanut allergy (if you haven't, check out my other blog) and know that his health and well-being is something that I must always keep in the forefront of my mind just to keep him alive.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if there was a cure for food allergies? Tyler isn't the only one out there. 1-2% of the population suffers with a peanut allergy. 6-8% of the population has some sort of food allergy, many of them life-threatening like Tyler's.

This Saturday our family (as well as other family and friends) will be participating in a fund raising walk through The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxsis Network that is raising money to find a cure for people like Tyler. Researchers believe there can be a treatment if there is sufficient funding.

Would you consider joining us in this effort and making a difference for people who live with food allergies everyday? The amount you give is not important. The banding together in an effort to find a cure for this devastating illness is what counts. If $5 is all you can afford, it is $5 closer to reaching the goal to help others like Tyler. It's super easy. All you need is a credit card. Donations are tax deductible.

Even if you can't afford to donate right now, please pray for this effort and for us as we participate in this important walk. Check out our FAAN page. You can find out more about the walk, our participation in it, and how to make a donation.

Indifferently Indifferent

2008-09-09T06:30:00.000-04:00

"For at least when we express our anger to God, our wrestling keeps our skin pressing into His. God is still present. When we honestly expose our inflammation, express our soreness, we are still staking our commitment to our relationship with Him.”

Ann Voscamp

This past July, my oldest child was sent by ambulance to the hospital for a mistake his doctor made. She thought he had outgrown his peanut allergy and gave him peanut butter to prove it was gone. It was not.

Those hours spent in the ER waiting to make sure his life was no longer in danger, I remember telling myself that I could not get angry at God, no matter what happened. I trusted He had a plan in all of it. And, amazingly, anger was not a factor.

In the weeks following, however, something threatened to creep in that was even more dangerous. Indifference. I noticed a spiritual struggle for a couple of weeks where I was forcing myself to do things in my spiritual walk that had come so naturally before.

It wasn't long before I recognized what was happening. I was loosing my first love, like Jesus talks about in Revelation 2:4. Once I recognized what it was, it was much easier to overcome it. But it served as a very powerful lesson to me that anger is not the worst thing that can happen in our relationship with God. Our hearts turning in a direction apart from God is.

The not-so-spiritual movie "Patch Adams" portrays a doctor named Patch (played by Robin Williams) that wants to really make a difference in the lives of his patients. When pressed about his medical philosophy, Patch says, "Death is not the enemy. If we are going to fight a disease, let's fight one of the most terrible diseases of all—indifference."

The danger of indifference can come in any facet of our life. But, when it starts to sneak into our spiritual health, nothing positive can result. Our relationship with Jesus is at the very core of who we are. When it is sick, everything else soon will be. Our earthly relationships will suffer. Our priorities will quickly get skewed. Things that were once important to us will loose their appeal all together and other dangerous things will threaten to take their place.

How do we keep these things from stealing the joy that Jesus so freely promises? A daily habit of putting God first. This is so, so hard in today's time of fast technology and hectic schedules.

But that "oneness" with God needs to be tended to daily or spiritual weeds will pop up everywhere.

I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.

Proverbs 24:30-34

What happened to this poor sluggard? Was there some catastrophe? Was there a drought, flood, fire, or some other disaster? No. Simply negligence on the part of the owner of the vineyard. He didn't value the vineyard and it showed.

Each station of life presents its own challenges in our relationship with Him. There will always be plenty of excuses not to focus on God and a sad indifference towards Him will threaten to take over. Today I am in the station of life that leaves me more exhausted than ever before: being a Mom to a 1 & 3 year-old boys. I used to tell myself how much easier making time for God would be when I was home all the time. Boy, I had no idea all the challenges I would face and how my time would be shorter than ever.

I refuse to let that interfere in a growing relationship with God. I want to look back on these days and see that I raised two men of God. How can I do that without making sure my own relationship with Him is growing?

When God looks at my heart, I don't want Him to see what the writer of Proverbs saw when he looked at that vineyard. I want Him to see beautiful roses and ferns, all rich in color. He will know I have been there tending my love for Him. It will show in all that I do.

Want to read other takes on this great quote? Visit Loni over at Writing Canvas.

Why Romance Matters

2008-09-08T06:30:00.002-04:00

Marriage Monday:

Why Romance Matters

Wait a minute. Romance....what exactly is that?

Oh, no, I remember. That was what we had before kids were born, right. Yeah. OK, it's all coming back to me now!

************

In the early days of our marriage, making time for each other simply meant coming home from work. The worries of the day were left at the office and we focused on each other. I don't recall doing anything particularly elaborate back then. We were newlyweds and the world just seemed right when we were together.

Then we had a baby.

When our oldest was born, he was such a great little sleeper that after he went to bed about 7:30, I often felt like we didn't have a baby. We had time for each other even though I was frequently tired. Working outside of the home is so much easier than working inside the home all day. Yet, we were content. Things seemed to get back to normal.

Then we had another baby.

Now, I truly felt like we were parents. Our second child cried nearly every night for several hours for the few months of his life. Quality time at night was when we passed each other in the hall in the wee hours of the morning. I stayed up until about one while he went to bed early so he was ready to take his early morning shift. Not exactly romantic!

Compound the late, late nights with a toddler that was very active during the day. He slept well at night and saved all of his energy for the day. Unfortunately, I had zero energy most of the time during the early months of Dylan's life.

When Dylan was five months old, we moved from Illinois to Michigan where my husband assumed his first senior pastorate.

Need I tell you what a crazy toddler, a colicy baby, and a husband that was in a new job with longer hours meant? Very little time for each other, that's for sure.

I really understood the term "making time for each other." The only problem was I had no idea how to do it.

In the last year and a half, however, we have committed ourselves to figuring that little riddle out.

Our conviction has become that the most precious gift we can give our children is a strong marriage. It gives them stability and consistency. It gives a feeling of completeness. Doing everything in our power to stay strongly untied is an act of love for them and for Jesus.

So, how does one accomplish this? I wish I had all the answers because I'm sure parents everywhere would pay me big bucks to hear my wisdom. Alas, I don't. But, we have done our best to put our marriage at the top of our priorities as a family, even when it seems like everything else is shoving its way to the top.

The answer is undoubtedly: T-I-M-E. These days, that is a precious commodity in both of our lives. Giving it to each other is a bigger gift than it ever has been. We don't do anything elaborate, we just make sure we are talking and just being together.

Many evenings I am so tired I feel like I can barely move. This has led us to a ritual that many marriage counselors probably frown on. We like to watch TV together. Now, this isn't something we do every night. But, when we do it, we have one rule: We must be touching. Sometimes I get a foot rub, other times I give him a back rub. Sometimes he just plays with my hair while my exhausted head is in his lap. For us, this has become a way of reconnecting.

Other days we just lay down and talk (notice how we are always reclining...we are tired people!). We make it a point to get away at least once a year, just the two of us. This year we spent 5 beautiful days in Costa Rica. In addition, we also have a monthly date night. This is another opportunity to just get away for a few hours.

Of all of these, I think the monthly date night is my favorite. It reminds me of what it was like before we had kids or the worries that threaten to steal our joy today. We have a rule: No talking about the kids. Heartless? No. Remember we are doing this partly for our kids. Not talking about them helps us reconnect. In the end, that is actually good for them!

Romance isn't the easiest things when you have two children ages three and under. But, it makes it all the more sweeter when we actually find it because we know it is at the heart of everything that started our family way back before we even knew what a sippy cup was!

Want to see what other ladies are saying on this topic? Visit Chrysalis.

A New Preschool Equals A Sad Mommy!!

2008-09-03T07:50:00.000-04:00

Tyler took the big plunge into the world of being a preschooler yesterday. There were so many mixed emotions about the whole situation. I wasn't really sure how to feel. Part of me is so happy for him. He loves playing with other children. He needs this interaction to improve his speech and many of his other social skills. But he's my baby and I'm sad!

When I dropped him off, he was already becoming rather territorial over the cars and trains they had in the room. In fact, I don't even really think he noticed that I left. Where has the last three and a half years gone?

When he was born and I quit work to be a full-time Mommy, one of my former co-workers told me I was depriving him of social interaction by not putting him in daycare as a baby. I still don't understand that comment. I respect women that work but it has always been my dream to be home with my kids. I don't regret one second. With all of Tyler's health issues (food allergies, eczema, muscular problems), I know I have given him a great start by being home with him daily.

But now it's time to let him spread his wings a little. It's only two mornings a week. I'm looking forward to the one on one time Dylan and I will share. I've always felt guilty that's he's had to share me since day one. Now he's got 7 hours a week where my attention is focused solely on him.

There were lots of emotions going into taking him, particularly in regards to his peanut allergy. I wrote more in detail about that on my other blog. But I've learned that so much of being a parent is about having faith. I can't watch over him every second. I want him to be emotionally well-adjusted and I know preschool is part of that process.

Many days when I look at him, I still see this:

But, yesterday, this is the "not so little" guy that I saw:

...and, as always, a little bit of "hamming it up" thrown in for good measure!

And, yes, I cried a little as I took him to school. I think that's in the "Mommy" job description!

2008-08-31T16:09:00.002-04:00

I posted an article on my other blog that might interest some of you. It's called "Reconciling Faith and a Peanut Allergy" and talks a bit about how I learned to become more comfortable in God's protection of Tyler after his scary visit to the ER on June 30. You can read it here...

Listen to Talking Talking Doneys!

2008-08-28T08:08:00.002-04:00

It's been so crazy around here that I didn't get a chance to post my monthly devotional over at Internet Cafe devotions this week. Warning: It might make you chuckle!!

One movie that always tickles my funny bone is the movie “Shrek.” Nothing spells humor like a big green ogre.

In the original movie, Shrek spends his days trying to impress the beautiful Fiona. He is shocked to discover at the end of the day that she turns into a green ogre just like him. A true lesson in the fact that we are all the same “deep down.”

But I have to admit, “Donkey,” a talkative and sometimes smart alec donkey is my favorite character. His classic comebacks and witty one-liners always leave me dabbing tears of laughter from eyes.

For the rest of the story, visit here.

The Bible to a 3 year-old

2008-08-20T05:00:00.000-04:00

My son, Tyler, has the most incredible memory. To be honest, I'm a little jealous. He remembers things in his 3 year-old brain that my 30-something brain is incapable of retaining.

Since he has such a good memory, a couple of months ago I decided to try teaching him Bible verses to memorize. Since we are also learning the sound to a new letter each week, I found a great book that has a preschool Bible verse for each letter of the alphabet. This thing is a perfect way to reinforce the letter of the week and learn Scripture. For each verse, there is a story that illustrates the principle they are memorizing. So it offers a little character building, too.

This week our letter is the letter "I." Now I have to admit, the letter "I" isn't the easiest one to reinforce. We're learning about insects and what it means to go "inside" something to name just a few. But the verse has been great:

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Phil. 4:13

Last night before bed, we talked about how Jesus isn't concerned as much about making muscles in our arms and legs strong. He wants our hearts and our minds to be strong. I had him point to heart and his mind.

As I looked into his eyes, it was one of those moments that made me proud to be a mom. His mom. I can see how much of what he is learning about Jesus is starting to sink in. While I know it will take many years for him to truly understand what a relationship with Jesus is (do we ever totally comprehend it anyway?), I see that he wants to know more. He wants to understand what Jesus means in his life.

I get so excited to see him discovering Jesus. Oh, only to be young and make that precious discovery again!

As I hear him stumble over the words of Philippians and struggle to pronounce words like "Christ" and "strengthens" I can't think of anything more beautiful. Those mispronunciations make the message he speaks even sweeter.

What joy it is to be a mom!!

If you are interested in the book I'm talking about, here it is:

Week At A Glance In Our Home

2008-08-18T08:00:00.006-04:00

Time for week #2 of "What in the World Does Robyn Do With Her Time?" Last week was fairly productive but very busy with us being out of the house nearly every day. This, of course, is fun for the boys and I but the house feels a little neglected in the process.

Some of you know I have been facing possible knee surgery. I have a wonderful doctor that is doing everything to prevent it. He prescribed another four weeks of physical therapy because I am really starting to be able to tell a difference. For the first time, I'm starting to feel like surgery may not be in my immediate future. It's such a relief because I had no idea how I would care for the boys after knee surgery.

This week will be another busy but fun one. On Tuesday we will tour a possible preschool for Tyler. The one I signed him up for in May will not be an option since he seems to be unable to potty train due to his muscular problems. I am working with his pediatrician on this and we go back for a recheck on Friday. The new one I discovered will accept him not potty trained and has at least two kids with a peanut allergy. When I spoke to them on the phone, they seemed to fully understand his allergy and be trained on how to give his EpiPen shot. They told me they do not serve food with nuts but will also allow me to read all labels of food he will eat. They are pricey but I feel fairly confident this is the step we need to take for his speech and social skills.

Here is what we are up to this week:

Bible Study
I’m still catching up on my daily Bible readings since I had gotten behind. This week I will still be in Isiah and also finish up 2 Chronicles. This isn't exactly the most riveting reading but I feel great knowing I will have read the Bible through by December.

Menu
Sunday: Breakfast- Crockpot French Toast; Lunch: Crockpot Lemonade Chicken w/ Rice
Monday: Broccoli Cheese Soup
Tuesday: Fajita Chicken & Oven Roasted Potatoes
Wednesday: Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Thursday: Fettuccine Alfredo w/ Grilled Chicken
Friday: Date Nate (Boys eat chicken nuggets w/ mac & cheese w/ Grandma)
Saturday: Leftovers

Training My Little Ones
Tyler (3.5 yrs): studying the letter "I"

Dylan (21 mos): We will do a few things from the Toddler LOTW curriculum; we will also work on colors and puzzles

Special Activities This Week
Monday: Outside play at home; Tuesday: Tour new preschool; Wednesday: Errands Thursday: Zoo; Friday: Tyler's doctor appointment; Saturday: Family Time

Special Cleaning Projects
*Clean out refrigerator and both freezers
*Clean out the car (didn't get to it last week)
*Wash windows (inside & out - I did the front of the house last week, my knee prevented any more ladder climbing than that)

Books I’m Reading
*Taking Care of the "Me" in Mommy by Lisa Whelchel (one chapter left!!)
*The Peanut Allergy Answer Book by Michael Young
*Breaking Free by Beth Moore

This blog has been sorely neglected this summer. First, the health problems that have plagued each member of my house this summer has kept me busy. Then, 5 weeks ago I started a new blog. That has taken a lot of my time. Now I have decided that on certain days of the week I will work on one blog or the other. Hopefully this will allow me to keep them both going.

Robyn's Roundup

2008-08-10T14:54:00.005-04:00

OK, now I used to do a wonderful little post called "Monday Meanderings" where I planned my week out and posted it. I would visit other blogs and see what they were up to. We would all comment and encourage each other. It was great. But somewhere along the road, I fell off the wagon.

I have been trying very hard lately to get more disciplined in planning ahead for our week. Unfortunately, I no longer have the time to visit many other blog so I can't do MM anymore. But, I decided that each weekend, in an effort to force myself to be more organized, I will post our weekly schedule for the whole world to see.

Are you still reading? Don't worry, you won't hurt my feelings if you skip this post. But for some reason, I am fascinated by reading how others organize their days and weeks. So, if you are one of those people, you might like my weekend post. If you skip it, just don't tell me, OK? Having the illusion that someone out there cares and expects it from me each week motivates me. I'm just weird that way.

So, here is what our little brood is up to this week:

Bible Study
I’m catching up on my daily Bible readings since I have gotten behind in the last couple of weeks. I’m reading the Bible through chronologically this year. This week I will catch up in Isaiah and read the book of Amos.

Menu
Sunday: Breakfast- Blueberry Buckle; Lunch: Pulled Pork, Stuffing, Corn
Monday: Spaghetti, Salad & Cheese Bread
Tuesday: Pulled Pork leftovers
Wednesday: Marinated Chicken w/ Baked Potato, Green Beans
Thursday: Tilapia, Mac & Cheese, Carrots
Friday: Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Peas
Saturday: Leftover Meatloaf

Training My Little Ones
Tyler: This week we will be studying the letter "H".

Dylan: We will do a few things from the Toddler LOTW curriculum; we will also work on colors

Special Activities This Week
Monday: Mall & Water park w/ cousins; Tuesday: Work in church nursery (boys watch movie), eat lunch at McDonald's; Wednesday: Tyler's allergist appointment; outside play; Thursday: Park, errands; Friday & Saturday: Family Time

Special Cleaning Projects
*Clean out the car (it still has not recovered from vacation 2 weeks ago)
*Wash windows (inside & out)

Books I’m Reading
*Taking Care of the "Me" in Mommy by Lisa Whelchel
*The Peanut Allergy Answer Book by Michael Young

Well, there you have it. More than you ever wanted to know about me, I'm sure!

THankful Thursday

2008-08-07T07:56:00.004-04:00

Yeah! It's Thankful Thursday! My crazy life this summer has prevented me from participating in many of these but I know how helpful it is just to pause and thank Jesus for all of the blessings He has given me.

Here is what my heart is bursting with gratitude for today:

*I found a new allergist for my son!! My regular readers know what a time we have had recently. Tyler's last allergist, who I really like as a person, made a terrible mistake on June 30 and sent my son to the hospital. He has a life-threatening peanut allergy and we needed a fresh start with a new allergist. When I called to see if I could have a personal consultation with the new doctor due to our unusual circumstances, the doctor called me personally to tell me he would do whatever he needed to make Tyler and myself feel comfortable. Wow! When does a doctor actually call a potential patient just to reassure them? This guy is amazing!!

*Everyone in my house has been healthy for a whole month! I say this with a smile because it's almost been comical with the medical issues we've had lately. But, praise God, no one has had to visit a hospital for a whole month!! We might be back in our insurance company's good graces again!

*The weather is incredible right now! Now I complain to no end about Michigan winters (last year was my first and I'm just now thawing out) but the summers can't be beat. Most of our temps are in the upper 70's and lower to mid 80's. My home state of Oklahoma is in the 100's right now. Yuck! Michigan summers simply can't be beat!! (Please remind me of this when I start complaining in a few months when old man winter starts knocking on our door.) My tan skin is evidence that I am outdoors and loving it at every opportunity I get. We're going to the zoo today!!

See what others are thankful for, visit Iris at Sting My Heart.

For the Love of...Sports?!?!

2008-08-03T16:20:00.004-04:00

August's Marriage Monday Topic:

Men & Play

Anyone that knows my husband Brad knows that he loves sports!!

The anticipation of the upcoming University of Michigan football season can be downright overwhelming this time of year. I am privy to news about the new recruits and, this year, a lot of information about the new coaching regime.

Now that we have moved back to the state of Michigan, we actually get to attend games with 110,000 of our closest friends. Last year I was sporting the latest in fuzzy hat apparel as I shivered through a game with him. Michigan in October is not "outdoor weather" to the this southern girl.

Brad's love of sports doesn't end with college football however. Baseball season is another time for his sports obsession to kick in. Since fate did not put him in an MLB uniform this time year, he manages his own "Fantasy Baseball Team." If you are not familiar with this, it is a game of statistics where a bunch of otherwise normally rational men get together and "pretend" they are managing their own team. Trading players, league rules, and the DL (disabled list) are all a part of their normal verbiage.

Before I met Brad, I could have cared less about Michigan football. The term "Fantasy Baseball" was not in my vocabulary. Yet, as I have grown to love him more and more over the years, so has my love of the things he holds dear.

I have some pretty good baseball knowledge. Sometimes I can even tell you what position a player plays. Amazingly, I also can tell you the names of more Michigan football players and coaches than any woman would care to know. I even know what the players drink after a workout for goodness sakes!! It all comes from loving my husband and listening to him. And learning to be passionate about what he is passionate about.

Often in marriage, after the whole "in love" stage wear off, a husband goes about his own recreational business and the wife pursues hers, as well. They are separate. Why can't this also be an area we join together?

I will never be as passionate as his male friends about these subjects and that is OK. What is important to Brad is that I support him, even in the frivolous aspects of his life.

Brad returns the same love to me, as well. I just finished a book about one of the wives of Henry VIII. He can tell you more than you care to know about Anne Boleyn because he listened to all of the aspects that fascinated me. What's important to one of us is important to the other, too.

In the end, I have to admit I have actually started to like some this sports stuff. For the last two years, I have asked for tickets to a game of our local NBA team. Why? Because I actually enjoy getting out there and screaming my lungs out for men I don't know to throw a ball through a metal hoop. Technical fouls and who gets the rebound have become important to me, too. Not because all of this matters in eternity. But because I have the man of my dreams loving it right beside me. In the end, that is what really matters.

To read more thoughts on this, visit Chrysalis

Rest

2008-07-23T07:50:00.002-04:00

Life can get so complicated sometimes. Complicated and draining. With everyone in my house being hospitalized for one reason or another (all of them very frightening to me), I have found myself totally exhausted. With each day that has passed this summer, I have found myself more tired and more anxious. I know this is not how life should be.

In the past week or so I have realized I have gradually been taking the reins over in my life instead of trusting Jesus with each aspect. It wasn't intentional but I began telling myself that I can get through this, I can do it all, and there is light at the end of the tunnel for me. What's wrong with this? There is absolutely way too much ME in the focus and way too little on Jesus.

Of course, it wasn't intentional on my part. Just a way that I began to survive these last couple of months. Then Jesus reminded me that I can't do it, not alone at least. I am forgetting to depend on the Giver of strength. It happened so gradually that I didn't even realize it until I felt like I was at the end of my rope.

Then Jesus reminded me that true rest is found only in Him. That He is what I need, even more than a healthy family. So I am giving it back to Him. All the stress, all the problems, and all the complications. I am so thankful that He waits on us to do that.

Dear Jesus, thank you for being the Provider of true rest. Thank you for being so patient with me and my attempt to do it all on my own. Help me to remember with each breath that I take that You are the One I should depend on with every need that I have. Any dependence I place in myself will turn up empty and broken. Thank you for the grace that You give me each day, even when I don't deserve it. I love you sweet Jesus.

A New Blog for Peanut Allergic Children

2008-07-15T05:30:00.007-04:00

Believe it or not, I have started another blog!! Another blog, you might ask?? Yes, in reality, I felt I had no other choice. As most of my reader's know, Tyler is allergic to peanuts. In fact, two weeks ago he had a life threatening reaction to them in his allergist's office. During my grief, I wanted to learn even more about this life threatening condition. Even though we have known about his allergy since February 2006, I wanted to do something. I was shocked to find out how little there is out there written by regular moms like me about the challenges PA families face. Well, I decided to do something about that.

Peanut Allergy Kid is a blog for anyone who loves a child with a peanut allergy. I'm certainly not a doctor but I am a mom that tries to stay very informed. This blog gives me somewhere to share our experiences (ie.e "therapy" for me! :) ) and help others at the same time. Even if I only educate one person on this life threatening condition, I will feel my mission is a big success.

Even if you don't know someone with a peanut allergy, I still encourage you to check it out. Peanut allergy is the most deadly food allergy out there. All it takes is 1/100 of a peanut for many children to have a life threatening reaction. Sometimes it can happen from inhaling the dust of peanut or touching something that has a microscopic trace of the nut. This allergy is on the rise at an alarming rate. I suspect many of us will know someone with this condition at some point in our lives, if we don't already. EDUCATION IS KEY!!

I will post on Peanut Allergy Kid 5-7 times a week and would absolutely love the input of others. Today I share how we got on this reluctant journey of PA in the first place. Hope to see you over there!!

Hey That's My Name in Discipleship Journal!!

2008-07-08T08:15:00.004-04:00

A couple of years ago I set a goal for myself to be published in my favorite Christian magazine "Discipleship Journal." This magazine has helped me so much in my walk with Jesus and I thought it would be so incredible to actually see my name in it. A little over a week ago my dream came true!! I have an article in the July/August issue!! Believe it or not, it was a year ago this week that the magazine contacted me to tell they were using my article. It was originally planned for the March/April issue but got bumped to the current one.

Granted, it's not a long, life-changing article. However, it profiles a ministry outreach I coordinated at my church when we lived in Springfield, IL. I taught the college class and wanted to reach out to the homebound of our church. So I had my students visit these lovely people. It was so heartwarming to meet them, give them a care bag we made, and pray more intelligently for them.

Discipleship Journal is available at most Christian bookstores. To find my 300 word article, flip to page 84. It is titled "Welcome Visits." I am so excited that I will always have this amazing publishing credit to my name!!

Peanut Butter & The ER

2008-07-01T08:28:00.003-04:00

Blood work can be wrong. That's the moral of this post...

My oldest son, Tyler, has been plagued with food allergies his entire life. We were told he would never outgrow his most serious food allergy: peanuts. But his blood work showed differently a few months ago. They encouraged me to give him some peanuts at home. I refused, asking if I could bring him in for doctor's supervision for this process. Peanuts, after all, are the most deadly food allergy there is.

Yesterday was that day. I was understandably nervous. The doctor assured me everything would be fine. The moment arrived and she gave my little man a small amount, equivalent to the size of half of a pea.

Almost immediately I knew something was wrong. A mother can read the look in her child's eyes better than any medical professional. The doctor examined him and told me he was fine. A minute or two later our worst fears were confirmed. He made a sound and then began violently vomiting. Everything kicked into high gear with shots, blood pressure monitoring, and medical personnel standing over him. He was screaming. Unfortunately I began to feel as if I might faint and was forced to sit down. I cannot tell you how scary this was for both of us.

Once I regained my composure, an ambulance arrived and he was whisked away to the hospital. I was able to ride in the front seat and a very kind woman comforted him in the back.

Shortly after arriving at the hospital, his spunky little self reemerged. When he requested to watch the TV that was in his room, I knew we were on the road to recovery. As a precaution, they kept him for observation for five hours.

In the last month, both of my children have been in the hospital (Dylan had eye surgery). I always say these guys are the best teachers I ever had. They teach me so much about bravery and the blind trust they place in me as a parent. My only hospital experiences are from their births. But somehow, by watching them, I know I can handle whatever life throws at me. If I ever question, I need to only look at their sweet faces.

In the end, the doctor said this allergy is life long and life threatening. He will be forced to carry shots with him for the rest of his life. He will never be able to eat food that the ingredients are not read first. It's amazing how many things are just processed in a facility with peanuts. Those are off limits, as well.

This situation requires him to get "jewelry." He will be required to wear a bracelet that identifies the fact that he has a life threatening allergy. But, to me, that little band will signify something else: he is my hero.

Filtered

2008-06-30T00:30:00.000-04:00

I’m addicted to water. Nothing makes me happier than a tall glass of ice water. I will admit, however, that I’m a bit of a water snob. Tap water just doesn’t cut it for me. Although it looks just like other water, with its clear look, one sip reveals the chemicals and who knows what else that lurks in it.

For the rest of the story, visit:

Spiritual Retreat

2008-06-28T17:48:00.000-04:00

Yeah, I’m back blogging!! The last week or so have been really refreshing as I just took a “time out” from everything that not an absolute necessity. My regular blog readers may notice that once in a while I disappear from the blogosphere for a few days. Sometimes it is because I get busy but other times it is a “time out” so that I can refuel my body and spirit.

In the last couple of years as I’ve grown even deeper in my walk with Christ, I’ve discovered the need to just stop for a little bit and spend more time than usual in prayer and Bible study, sleeping, organizing things around the house, etc. I used to tell myself that if I were a stronger person I wouldn’t have to have these little retreats. Recently, however, I’ve discovered these are times that I can reevaluate where my priorities are, what things I might be overlooking and really listening to God to make sure my heart lines up with what He wants with me and my family. Granted, this should be a part of my daily life and it is. But I have found if I spend a week or so really concentrating on some spiritual refreshment and I allow myself to be completely open before Him and my family during these times, I’ve discovered the benefits are truly incredible. These little times are usually not planned much in advance. I just find myself feeling exhausted, overwhelmed by my responsibilities, and missing that spark in my step that gets me through each day. That’s when I know I need to wave a white flag and take some time to really regroup.

Sometimes during my “retreats” I rework our schedule so that it meets our needs better. Other times I just spend a tremendous amount of time sleeping. One thing that remains a constant, however, is a lot of time in prayer. This time I started a new very in-depth Bible study on Philippians. I also spent time talking with my husband, reconnecting with him. When your spouse is in the ministry, it is vital to spend time reconnecting on a regular basis.

So, all of this beneficial “spiritual retreat” talk makes me think that maybe this is something I should work into my schedule. Just to take a week and examine everything in my life and make sure it’s on track with God’s will through a great deal of prayer. As I look back on the past, it seems to be necessary every 6-8 weeks. I don’t know but this is certainly something to consider.

What about you? Do you find yourself needing to make sure you are “on course” with God every so often?

Blogging Break

2008-06-19T13:35:00.003-04:00

For the next week or so I will be taking a break from blogging. Not to fear, however, I will return with Part 2 of "Confessions of a Reforming People Pleaser" soon.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. "See" you in a week!!

A List of Expectations A Mile Long

2008-06-17T05:30:00.002-04:00

This is some quoted text."As Christian women, we must repudiate the worlds agenda for women and seek to understand the Words agenda for women... we must determine to be obedient to the the Word of God no matter what is says, with no compromises. This is what is means to be a woman of the Word. We must find out what the Bible teaches about marriage, about children, about men and women and their roles, and then we must be obedient with no apologies, no matter what the cost. Is this radical Christianity? No. This is basic Christianity."

~ from "The Fruit of Her Hands" by Nancy Wilson ~

Expectations… ever had them? If you’re a woman, chances are you’ve had them and someone hasn’t lived up to them. And, if you’re anything like me, the one person that regularly falls short of your expectations is…YOU!!

I’m a list maker. I’m an organizing freak. I like to regularly make a list of goals that I want to meet and work my “To Do” list around them. I rarely meet a challenge that I think is “too big.”

This is not always a good thing.

I come about the fact I am an over-achiever naturally. My mother, a single mother, worked more than full time (many weeks it was 50+ hours…there is no rest for an accountant!) and went to school while I was growing up. She always had the ambition to be better than she currently was…to follow an even better path for the two of us. She taught me so much about hard work, integrity, pursuing your dreams, and….wearing yourself out! (Yes, my mom reads my blog and I’m quite sure she is nodding right about now!!)

My whole life I’ve pushed myself, set very high expectations, set to achieve goals, did everything I knew I “should” be doing. Yet, I’ve often found myself not measuring up. Not to what anyone else’s standards, just my own.

Only after getting married, becoming a minister’s wife, and having two very active children, did I realize I will never measure up to what my mind keeps telling me I should be.

I will never be a high-powered business woman (my family comes first), I will never be as beautiful as a fashion model in New York (my love of cheesecake prevents that!), I will never have a house of which Martha Stewart would approve, and I certainly will never cook like Betty Crocker.

So, the question becomes, “What am I measuring myself against?” Do I really want to be what this world tells me I should or do I want to honor and please God? Am I looking at TV and magazines to see what the standards are or am I burying my nose in God’s Word to find out what His ideas are?

The wonderful thing about growing in your faith is the fact there is always room for growth. Granted, this can be a little frustrating, too. But as my life has gotten more complicated (that happens as you get older), my time with God has actually increased. I’d like to say it’s because I’m a deep theological person that is working on a scholarly book. Alas, it’s only because I realize my weakness and how much I truly do need Him on a daily basis (oh, who am I kidding? A minute to minute basis!).

Thankfully He is there guiding and reminding me that He sets the standard. He is there to knock me upside the head (in a loving way, of course!) when I try to lay out the expectations for my life.

He tells me one more time that it is His job, not mine.

His expectations of me are really very simple:

1.) Love Him more than anything…period.

2.) Love and serve my family in a way that honors Him.

3.) Follow only the things that He shows me to do (this includes many of the tangents I chase that I mistakenly call “ministry.”)

4.) Love and serve my church family alongside my husband in a way that demonstrates my love of Christ and His love of them.

5.) Spend the “free time” He gives me in a way that honors Him.

6.) Enjoy life!!

So, my question is, since these are so very simple, why are they so hard to follow?

If you would like to read more thoughts on this subject, visit Chelsey at Joyfully Living.

Confessions of a "Reforming" People Pleaser - Part 1

2008-06-16T05:30:00.002-04:00

As long as I can remember I have been a “people pleaser.” When I was a child, I remember thinking how much I wanted everyone to think I was “nice.” I cannot tell you the incredible lengths I have gone to over the years all in the name of “being nice!”

At times, this issue has put a strain on my relationship wit God and those I really do care what they think. Plus, it just makes me stinking mad at myself some days! During the last few years I have worked very hard to overcome my "disease to please."

As I have poured out my heart to God in prayer over this, He showed me that when my focus is on pleasing others, it is not on pleasing Him. That’s a sobering reality!

As women, we all fall victim to this at some time or another, don’t we? Here are a few lessons I have learned (and am still learning!) along my journey:

1. It really doesn’t matter what “other people” think. It seems like it does, I know. First and foremost, God’s opinion matters. Our family’s and close friends' opinions matters, to a large extent, too. But those are not usually the opinions we are concerned with, is it?!? It’s random strangers or people that we have a very limited relationship with. If we focus on the issues that really matter, we won’t have much time to worry what the lady at Starbucks thinks of us!

2. Choose to serve and audience of One. We are either striving to please man (or woman!) or God. There’s not a lot of middle ground here. I’ve written a much more detailed post on this subject here.

3. Chances are people are not thinking what you think they are. This one hit home to me early last year. A relatively new member of our church in Illinois approached me and asked me why I had been talking and laughing at her earlier. I was absolutely shocked because nothing of the sort had happened!! When we retraced the incident, I realized I was telling a friend about my child who had been sick all week. I obviously looked her way while I was chuckling about my son’s first bought with an intestinal bug. This woman’s name never even came up!

At the time, I will admit that experience really upset me. Sometimes being married to a minister puts you on display in ways that aren’t always fair. However, I cannot tell you how many times I have thought back to this incident when I have been in a situation where I thought someone was talking about me. That experience ended up being one of the best lessons I’ve ever learned!

4. “Good” does not always equal “right.” If we are too involved in something that God does not want us to be involved in, we’ll be too busy to notice when He is calling us to something He does want us to do. Look at the word “No” as an opportunity to say “Yes” to something even better!

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Changes are Coming!!

2008-06-13T08:29:00.003-04:00

Wow! What a week! Michigan weather has been beautiful the last week and I have enjoyed it. That, of course, accounts for the lack of blogging this week. Since it's only warm here a couple months out of the year, I am practically living outdoors so that I can soak it all up. That makes me realize, of course, how nice a laptop would be. *Sigh* If only money grew on trees!!

During the last week I have been praying about a few changes to make to this blog. I am always on a quest to grow deeper in my relationship with Christ. I know I'm not the only one on this daily journey. I want this blog to be more reflective of that quest. I hope to dig deeper and explore ways that we can grow closer to Him. If there is something specific you would like for me to cover, please e-mail me robynadams75ATgmailDOTcom and let me know.

Can Jesus Come Over To Play?

2008-06-11T07:54:00.003-04:00

Sunday morning during breakfast, my three year old, Tyler, and I had the following conversation:

Tyler: "Mommy, I want Jesus to come to my house."

A surprised me: "You, do buddy?"

Tyler: "Yes, I want him to come over."

Me: "Well, He's always here, we just can't see Him. But everywhere we are, He is there with us."

Tyler (with a confused look on his face): "OK, but I want Him to come to my house."

Me (wondering how you explain such a big concept to such a little guy): "That's great buddy!"

Now, I assure you, if Tyler had His way, Jesus would be in good company. He would be joined by others Tyler has requested that we invite over: country music group Rascal Flatts (thanks to the movie Cars, Tyler is their biggest fan), The Teletubbies (a new obsession since I let Dylan watch this silly show during recovery from eye surgery), and his Sunday School teachers, Miss Jane and Mrs. Joan.

I have to say that would be quite a playgroup!

Talking and Listening to God

2008-06-06T06:00:00.001-04:00

Snippets from my prayer journal yesterday...

Dear Jesus:

Transform me. When I look in the mirror, I see the face of a girl that needs You so desperately. I don't know how many times I can stumble over myself before I learn to run straight to you in every circumstance in my life. Rework my heart. Help in beat in line with Yours...I realize how shallow my heart is when I try to love you deeper...Help me embrace who You are trying to shape me to be. Lord, I want no ambition apart from You...Plant in my heart a desire to grow deeper in my relationship with You than I ever thought possible...

**********************

Later in the day, I read Psalm 71. While the entire Psalm is beautiful and God used it to really speak to me, the first three verses really got my attention:

In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.

Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness;
turn your ear to me and save me.

Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.

Psalm 71:1-3

**********************

God even speaks through blogs! I read an article that said so many things that have gone through my head recently. I was trying to find a way to put them into words but had not yet. I don't need to. It's already been written. If you have felt run down by this world, feeling like you will never measure up, this article is for you. God finds each of us to be stunning reflections of Himself. The evil one, however, fills our head with lies that we don't measure up to what God wants. This article will transform the way your view yourself. I promise!! ~ Love Thyself by Christina Holder ~

I usually don't put anything in my prayer journal that I didn't write. It's a conversation between God and myself, really. But this article is there now. It's something I could not have said any better myself.

Thankful Thursday: The Dylan Edition

2008-06-05T05:30:00.004-04:00

Wow! It’s hard to believe it has been since late April since I last participated in a Thankful Thursday. It’s not that I’m not thankful…I am…but life has a way of tearing you away from blogging for a short time.

In the month of May, two of the three people I live with were hospitalized. God always has a way of keeping me on my knees. That, in a weird sort of way, is something for which to be thankful.

Today, however, I’m focusing all of my gratitude (at least the written portion) on the littlest hero in my house. My 19 month old, Dylan, had eye surgery last week. Let me tell you…he has taught me a lot about bouncing back from life’s curve balls during this ordeal.

The doctor told me in his first post op checkup last week that adults always complain about this surgery more than children. Dylan has always been my passionate child that is never afraid to share his emotions, good and bad. So, I was expecting some crying, or at least a little whining.

Nope! Even though looking at his blood red eyes evidenced what occurred last Tuesday, his attitude did not. This little man took it like a BIG MAN and left his Mommy with a lot to learn. After all, I complain about a sore knee that plagues me or a throat that gets sore when I don’t get enough sleep. As my husband would say, I like to “share” my feelings with any and all that will listen.

So how can I explain my baby with four stitches in each eye not fussing once since the day of surgery? He’s tougher than me…a lot tougher. That’s the only explanation I can come up with!

Moments before surgery last week

*I am so thankful that Dylan handled the surgery and everything that went along with it so well. What an answer to six months of prayer!

*While more surgeries have not been ruled out, I am thankful that the littlest member of our family has taught me so much about strength in the last week and a half. There is nothing he (or I) can’t handle without God’s help!

*I’m thankful that his big brother was concerned about “the boo-boo’s in his eyes” and said “I luv Dy-wan” for the first time. Love my boys loving each other!

*I’m thankful for his surgeon, Dr. Bohra, who we feel so comfortable with. He will be monitored throughout his childhood by her for his problems and I am so glad God gave us someone we genuinely “like.”

*I am so thankful that God uses both of my boys to teach me so much. More than anything, they make me a better person.

For more doses of gratitude, visit Iris at Sting My Heart.

Zip Lining Through Costa Rica: More Vacation Pictures

2008-06-04T06:00:00.001-04:00

Yes, its time for another installment of "What in the world did Brad and Robyn do in Costa Rica anyway??" Today I am highlighting my favorite part: the zip lining!! If you want to see other pictures from our trip, visit here. Enjoy!!

We went with two other couples from our resort. Jeff and Joanna are on the left and Kim and Craig are on the right. Brad and I are in the middle.

Hat...sunglasses...yep, it's official...I look pretty silly!

Here was the first line. It was several hundred feet high. We were all super intimidated!! Since I had to redeem myself from the day before when I got terribly sea sick, I volunteered to go first.

And I was was off!! I loved it!

After a couple of lines and seeing that I "survived," I got a little more adventurous. Here I am doing the line upside down!! Since this wasn't considered "safe" alone, they made me go with one of the guides :(

And the "Super Girl!!" Yes, I'm flapping my proverbial "wings" there.

Brad...playing it safe! I've always said he was smarter than me. Here's the proof!! (This is the only picture of him because he had bigger pockets to hold the camera. )

Since we normally have our video camera, we did not know how to use the video function on our camera (I mean, we've only had it 3.5 years, whose had time??). But by the end of the lines, some other wise person showed us. So on the last two lines Brad took video of me. (Too bad these are over concrete!!)

The last one was very short and they let me go without a guide. Yeah!!

Knocking Down Brick Walls

2008-06-02T22:30:00.001-04:00

"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Phil. 3:13-14

Of all the characters in the Bible, Paul is by far my favorite. When my Bible reading brings me to one of his books, I devour it like a novel. This was a man that was totally transformed by Christ. He endured beatings, a shipwreck, imprisonment, ridicule, and loneliness. He even survived a nasty snake bite.

Yet, through it all, Paul persevered.

I often catch myself wondering how this man could stay driven in His work. Through the trials that he faced, you never once heard him complain. You don’t even see Him ask “Why?” He just keeps going, with seemingly little attention to all the things that surely must have annoyed him, at least a little.

The more I study Paul, the more I see something in his life that I need more of in my own life: focus.

The word “focus” is defined as “close or narrow attention; concentration.” by The American Heritage Dictionary. In order to really give something our full attention and concentration, we need to filter out any and all of those outside distractions; the things that keep us from what we are called to do.

I imagine Paul got wet when his ship wrecked. I even think the snake bite must have hurt a little. But Paul knew that God called him to something big. He knew he had a mission that was hand-picked for him by Jesus. He understood that souls were at stake.

So, instead of letting all of that “stuff” distract him, he concentrated on the one thing he knew God had called him to do. Lead people to a relationship with Jesus. Nothing more, nothing less.

The brick walls in Paul’s life? They were there. But I think he was so focused on the work set before Him, he didn’t even really see them. When they got in his way, He waited for God to break them down with “spiritual dynamite.”

No wall, whatever it was made of, could stop him.

It’s easy to think of Paul as a “spiritual giant.” He accomplished things that seem impossible to us. He was the first missionary, a church planter, and even wrote half of the books of the New Testament. Yet, he had a point in his life when he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do or what direction his life might take. He waited on God to give him the blueprints for his mission in life.

God has a mission for each of us. Something special that He has hand picked just for you and me to do right at this moment. Do you know what yours is?

It’s not easy. I often read through the Old Testament and see how God “spoke” to many of my favorite characters. I think, “Well, yeah, it would be a whole lot easier if He ‘spoke’ to me, too.”

He does, though. He speaks to all of us. But those “distractions” make it very hard, if not impossible, to hear what He is saying.

We need to cultivate circumstances in our life so we have a sensitive heart and can hear what He is saying to us…right now. For me, that is spending time daily in prayer with Him. It’s refusing to give in to the fast pace that world thrusts at me. Sometimes it’s simply looking at nature and seeing Him through it.

Stopping…looking…and listening.

It’s the constancy of seeking Him that creates growth. Running to Him only at times when everything is falling apart will not give our hearts the ears that it needs. It’s seeking Him out even when you are too tired, don’t feel good, or just don’t want to.

Out of that growth erupts a perseverance that sustains us through the hardest times. We can lean on our faith and look at the long range view when times get tough and brick walls seem to be at every corner.

When we are walking in line with His heart and are right where He wants us to be, those walls can be broken down with the same “spiritual dynamite” that broke down Paul’s walls.

It will happen in His time.

Those walls that are there are not just for the sole purpose of annoying us. (I know, it seems that way at times!) They serve a purpose, His purpose. They teach us things about ourselves and Him that will only make us stronger for the next wall that comes in our journey.

And if there is one thing I have learned in my walk with Him: there will be another wall! The question is: Are we going to try to scale it on our own or wait for Him to smash it to the ground?

See what others are saying about this quote, visit my good blogging buddy, Lori at All You Have To Give. (She also created that incredible brick wall graphic at the beginning of the post!!)

Marriage Monday: Our Wedding Day

2008-06-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

It was a balmy day in July in north Texas. The year was 2001. Life was about to change for me. I was marrying my best friend. We often recount the bad decisions in our life, that altered who we are. This was a day that I made the best decision of my life and it changed me in ways I could not imagine. It made me a better person.

Our journey to the altar wasn’t what you would call “traditional.” We were friends for a couple of years. Then he told me how he felt about me. I was in the midst of caring for my dying grandfather and couldn’t handle what he told me. Our friendship was threatened and then I realized he was the only man that would ever make me happy. All of that led up to our first date.

Fast forward ten months. To our wedding day.

Now his father was dying of cancer. I considered calling off the Texas wedding to move it up to Michigan so his father could attend. He wouldn’t let me. Somehow all the planning I had done didn’t seem important any more but we moved forward anyway.

After all, a marriage is not about the BIG DAY. It’s about family and the rest of your life. Who cares about the fancy dress, stuffy tuxes, and a ring boy that ran down the aisle?

I wanted to savor every moment of that day. I wanted it to be about more than just us. We planned the service so those attending felt like they had an encounter with Jesus, not just us exchanging words and jewelry.

That is why I picked “Holy and Anointed One” as the first song. The only problem was I was not down the aisle yet when it was sung. I still don’t know if someone got the order wrong, but I listened in the white marble-floored corridor of our church to the beautiful words.

Then “my” moment came. It’s the one that all little girls dream of. The bridal music plays and in comes the bride. At that moment, I was certainly the “blushing bride.” I wasn’t prepared for everyone to turn around and look at me!

As I strolled down the aisle, I had an odd feeling that I was doing something wrong. Not that I was marrying the wrong man. Just that there was something “missing.” When I got to the end of the aisle, I discovered what it was. My bridal bouquet! I forgot it in the dressing room.

Now, starts the comic relief portion of our wedding. (It always happens when my husband is present!) When I discovered my blunder and I see my soon-to-be husband for the first time, I don’t smile at him or bat my eye lashes at him. I motioned to him I was missing my bouquet! When I held my hand to my stomach, making the motion that “it” was missing, the message wasn’t communicated effectively. My dear sweet man thought I was telling him that his fly was unzipped!

Brad is not a self-conscious person but this disturbed him a little. So, there in front of everyone, he checked to make sure his pants were zipped!

My sister-in-law to be, Amy, got the message and went to retrieve the bouquet during the next prayer.

As we stood gazing into each other’s eyes during the message, we were a little startled when my cousin (the one who was officiating) began preaching on divorce! Now, not everyone dislikes the word “divorce” as much as I do, I realize. Others can hear it and not quiver. But since my parents divorced, I have a very hard time with it. My cousin did not know this (didn’t think to mention in terms of my wedding!) so we gave him a free pass on that one. It just adds a little more comic relief to the story.

Then came the vows. Yes, those wonderful words you repeat to each other. As my cousin, the preacher, started into this part a funny little thing happened. Brad, my sweet guy, was not paying attention! How do I know this? When my cousin asked if he agreed to the things he had just said, a confused look came over Brad’s face, followed by a quick, “Uhhh…yeah…I do!!” The entire congregation, myself included, burst into laughter.

The comic relief was not over for the day. The rest of the ceremony went as others do. We exchanged rings, lit the unity candle and even had a kiss. Then we walked back down the aisle as “Mr. & Mrs.” Cool moments indeed.

Act two of comic relief began during pictures. During the picture with my extended family, there was a loud thud. I turned around but was unable to see anything expect my family. Later we found out the unity candle fell and nearly caught the whole stage on fire! I’m not sure what sort of prediction that is for our marriage!

And, last but not least, as pictures were winding up, a homeless man wandered in. He was not wishing us any sort of congratulations. Instead, he asked the guests if they had any spare change they could give him!

So, there it is my wedding day. It was a bittersweet day with my father-in-law being ill. However, Jesus allowed some funny moments to lighten the day up and make for some pretty funny memories.

That’s really how life is, isn’t it? Life is not formal, with everyone in their Sunday best. It’s sad some days with lots of comic relief here and there to remind that life is anything but permanent. We have a choice to focus on the sad or seek out the funny moments.

In the midst of all of that, we need to be Christ-focused in our lives and our marriages. We tried to do that nearly seven years ago. We have tried to do that every day since that day, as well. Jesus is still throwing those “funny moments” in our journey together to remind us that He has a sense of humor. We do, too…most days.

To read about other ladies' wedding day stories, visit Chrysalis.

A God-Style GPS

2008-05-30T01:30:00.000-04:00

Last Christmas I bought my husband one of the latest technology fads for the car: a Global Positioning System (GPS). As a pastor in the Detroit area, he frequently goes to unfamiliar places. A stack of papers under the console, courtesy of Mapquest, evidenced where his day took him. The GPS, I hoped, would change all of that.

Read the rest of the story here:

Another Double: An Update on Dylan & More Costa Rica Pictures

2008-05-28T10:06:00.009-04:00

An Update on Dylan

Thanks so much to all of you who prayed for Dylan during his surgery yesterday. Things went pretty well. There were a few abnormal things they encountered in the surgery that made another surgery more likely. But, all in all, we are very happy. Fear of the unknown in a situation like this is the worst part. We will be retuning to the doctor tomorrow for a post-op appointment. Hopefully his stitches are healing and he will get back to normal in the near future.

If you would like to see a few pictures of the big day and even a couple of short video clips of him in recovery, feel free to visit our family blog here.

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More Costa Rica Pictures!!

They say some of the best surfing in the world is in the area where we were. So we saw lots of other "Gringos" like us. This was a wonderful day because we sat on the beach and talked non-stop for a few hours. Here we are getting sunburned (our sunscreen failed!!):

This very small beach was actually featured on the travel channel. Its claim to fame is a restaurant called "Lola's." Lola is a pig that weighs several hundred pounds and actually lives at the restaurant.

Here is the incredible spot, right on the beach:

If you get too tired after a big meal, lay in a hammock!!

And the infamous Lola!!

Next week I will post our zip lining pictures in the jungle. We even managed to get a little video of that, too!! This was my favorite part!!

If you missed other Costa Rica stuff, click here

Double Post Tuesday!! Dylan's Surgery & IOW: Living Debt Free

2008-05-27T05:00:00.001-04:00

I'm doing a bit of a double post today. The IOW this week was to good not to participate in. But, as many of you know, my 19 month old son, Dylan, is having eye surgery today. (For more details, click here.) Please, as you read my post (which has nothing to do with Dylan!!) would you pray for him?? I am a firm believer in the power of prayer and know my sisters (and brothers!!) in Christ praying for him can make a big difference. Thanks!!

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"If you'll live like no one else, then later you can live like no one else."
Dave Ramsey

When I saw this week’s topic I knew I had to contribute. I just mentioned on my blog last week how my family and I choose to live debt free.We believe this is part of God’s plan for us. But I have not always been debt free.

When I became a Christian in college, I was drowning in credit card debt. I got my fist credit card at the age of 19. The very day I received it in the mail I charged a couple hundred dollars on it. Oh my, Citibank must have fallen head over heals in love with me that day!

The next year after I met Christ, I knew I had to get out of the thousands of dollars of debt I had accumulated. I knew dropping out of college to get a better job was not in God’s plan so I took on a second and even a third job to dig my way out. It took a few of years but I did. I vowed never to return to that place again!!

Needless to say, I married a man that had the same convictions about debt that I did. Curve balls have come flying our way, including an unplanned pregnancy, in our nearly 7 years of marriage that has tempted us to give in to debt. We stood firm and believe God has blessed us as a result. We do “creative” things to stay out of debt. While all of them may not be for everyone, maybe a few of them will help you and your family live debt free.

Our Debt-Free Life

First and most importantly, we give at least 10% to the church each paycheck. No exceptions. We never allow our minds to view that money as “ours.” We are only giving back to God what is His in the first place. Don’t let that money sit in your account or it will be spent. Write your check out to the church BEFORE you spend any of your paycheck. Sounds crazy that you give money to have more but it works. Look up Malachi 3:10. God actually tells us to test Him on this!!

Other things we do that helps save us money:

Buy generic. With few exceptions, generics are just as good (if not better!) as the name brand. Try the generic before you decide you don’t like it. You might be surprised!!

Buy in bulk. While there is a cost for membership to many wholesale stores, the price of meat and diapers alone makes it worth it to us.

Cook in bulk. One of the best Christmas presents I ever received was a deep freeze from my mom last year. It allows me to cook large quantities of food at once. Not only does this save money, it also saves a lot of time!

Buy clothes second hand. This might surprise people, particularly those that know us personally. I am very picky about what I buy and only buy things that look brand new. Sometimes the original tags are still on the items. I usually shop higher end thrift stores, as well as E-bay and garage sales. I don’t believe we ever look like we are in “used” clothes but we save a ton of money by doing this.

Shop sales. I check local grocery ads online and buy only the things that I deem lower than my regular store. Also, I almost never buy clothes new unless they are 50% - 75% off.

Shop at Super Wal-Mart. How ever you feel about this chain, you almost never can beat their prices.

Pinch pennies in every area of life. I am always on the look out to save money, even if it is just a few cents. For example, we always order water on the rare occasion that we eat out. We turn out lights. We try to always have the fridge stocked so we are not tempted to buy fast food. There are so many ways to cut a little bit here and there.

So, why do we do all of these things??

As a one income family in the ministry, money is not something we ever have in abundance. But even on months when there is something left over, we do not run out and spend it. We believe God expects us to be faithful stewards. Here are places we put anything “extra:”

Invest in retirement. While we are in our 30’s this might seem crazy but that money will grow exponentially in the next several decades.

Invest in our children’s college. Next to introducing our boys to Jesus, I can think of nothing more valuable that we can give them.

Put it in savings. This doesn’t really require an explanation, does it? If you don’t have debt, create savings. Experts suggest at least 3 months salary. Whatever amount you can save, you will never regret it! (If you do have debt, get out of debt first, then save.)

Practice hospitality. We love to have people over for meals. To us, investing in relationships is so much more important than material goods.

Give to the less fortunate. We truly believe God multiplies and rewards even the smallest gifts to those in need. We try to give more than just the mandatory 10% to the church. We give to reputable places that we trust will use our money as we would want.

Fun Money!! Yep, it’s OK to have fun once in a while as long as you plan for it. We just took a wonderful trip to Costa Rica earlier this month we saved up years for. We were reasonable and had a budget. Just because you are frugal doesn’t mean life has to be boring!

What’s the point of all of this? I think it is just like the quote says. If you are wise now, you will reap the benefits later. God expects us to be faithful stewards of what He gives us. It’s our responsibility to be wise with our money. To get to where we are, we have prayed, trusted, and read a lot (including Dave Ramsey!).

Even if you are in debt or seem to have no hope of having anything saved up, it is absolutely within your reach. Be patient. Commit everything you have to God. It might be years before you get to where you want to be, but that is OK. It is God’s will to not be in the red all the time.

Trusting Him completely is the key to faithful stewardship. Prayer is vital. In time, you will see His hand in your finances and wonder how you ever lived any other way.

Check out what others are saying about fascinating this topic, visit Amy at In Pursuit of Proverbs 31.

Dylan's Surgery

2008-05-26T22:21:00.005-04:00

Tomorrow is the BIG day. Dylan will have his eye surgery on Tuesday morning at Detroit Children's Hospital. Dr. Lisa Bohra will be performing the surgery. They will be loosening two different muscles in the upper portion of each eye. Of course, he will be put under anesthesia. While we know the surgery is necessary, everything in us wants to protect our 19 month old baby!!

I will be with Dylan until he goes to sleep and hopefully there when he wakes up. Other than a sore throat (from the breathing tube during anesthesia) and extreme grogginess, he should be fine. He will be cross eyed for a few weeks until the muscles loosen up. If all goes well, he will come home with us Tuesday afternoon.

I would so appreciate your prayers. Not only is this scary for us now, there is a 33% chance he will require a second surgery. We are praying there will be NO complications tomorrow and that this will be the ONLY surgery my baby will need.

Blog Redesign

2008-05-26T22:08:00.003-04:00

Yep, I finally did it. I did my very own blog redesign. I wanted something super simple. Maybe that is because my life has been rather complicated lately. Some day I may pay someone to actually do something fancy but for now I am happy with my little job!!

Our Costa Rica Trip: The Resort

2008-05-21T07:30:00.014-04:00

Our resort was beautiful!! My husband could have been a travel agent. He finds the most incredible places that we can actually afford. This shot is looking at the small resort across the pool. Our room was over to the right.

The same shot at sunset.

Sunset looking the other direction.

Sunset from our room.

Our room and terrace.

Monkeys from our terrace. (These were called "Howling Monkeys" and boy did they howl!!)

Other Random Shots around the resort:

One thing I don't think I have ever mentioned on my blog but it certainly needs to be mentioned at this point: Brad and I are debt-phobics! We hate debt. We pay our credit cards off each month. We even paid our car off early a couple of years ago. We saved for a few years for this trip by putting a little aside many months, even though some months it was hard.

The amazing thing was we did not have to take ANY money out of savings. With the tax stimulus checks we received and our tax return money, this trip was funded. How cool is it that God allowed us to take this debt-free and without even touching savings?

Come back next Wednesday for more incredible pictures from our trip!!

Reflections

2008-05-19T08:00:00.005-04:00

As most of my readers know, the last two weeks have been anything but ordinary for my family. I firmly believe however, in the best and worst of circumstances of life, there are always lessons God is trying to teach us. Our responsibility is to seek them out and learn what we can so that we are stronger after they are over. So, here are my reflections from the last two weeks of my "not so ordinary" life.

We chose Costa Rica for our vacation because we wanted something different. (I know, be careful what you ask for!!) We had a wonderful time. We made a commitment to each other that every few years after we had children we would take vacations without the kids. I know that may sound a little odd to some people. But we feel like one of the best things we can do for our children is to maintain a strong marriage. This is not to say that our marriage is not already strong, but anyone that has children knows having kids certainly changes things. Before kids, we spent hours just talking. We were best friends before we ever went out on a date and our friendship only got stronger after we began dating and eventually married.

Now that the little guys are here and I am home with them all day, at times, finding time "just to talk" when we won't be interrupted or we are not dead tired is not easy some days. We still make Friday night "date night" like we did before children even though we usually don't leave the house. We just try to spend time together even if it it is just watching a movie together.

I was surprised, however, our first full day in Costa Rica when we went to the beach and talked nonstop for a few hours. We couldn't believe we had so much to say to each other! It was wonderful and such an incredible time of reconnecting. That alone made the trip worth it. (Of course, we had no idea our sunscreen wasn't working too well and that we would be sunburned later that night!)

The next day we went out on a boat for a few hours and then snorkeled (my favorite thing!). Even though I normally do get "sea sick" when I'm out on the ocean, I've never actually tossed my cookies. That streak ended that day and they had to send another boat out to "recuse" me and take me back to shore. Still, I enjoyed that day.

Our last full day found us zip lining through the jungle. (Zip lining is mounting to two cables suspended between trees in the jungle usually high in the air and zipping from one side to the other.) I got brave and actually did it upside down! (Note: I will be sharing pictures from zip lining and other parts of our trip for the next several Wednesdays.)

As we left Costa Rica, I felt such a stronger bond with my husband. I was reminded that vacations are not only about the things you do while you are there, they are also about making memories that last a lifetime. Those few days alone in one of my favorite parts of the world (I spent a summer in Argentina) are a time that neither one of us will ever forget! We have decided to not regret anything from our trip, even though it could have possibly led to Brad's illness.

Now, that brings me to the second part of my reflections. We arrived home late on 5/7. Brad became ill the morning of 5/10. We had no idea how sick he was. I actually did not become too worried until the night of 5/11. On the morning of 5/12 (last Monday), I called to make him appointment with the doctor. As most of you know, he was hospitalized later that day. We did not know what was wrong with him and I don't think the doctor did either (I'm not sure if he would admit that or not). That made the situation quite scary.

As they hooked Brad up to IV's and ran tests, I was reminded of how much I love this man. We have been through so much in our nearly 7 years of marriage. I honestly do not know how I could love him any more than I do. In the past, I have called him my "hero." That has never been more true than today.

Marriage is easy when you're zip lining through the jungle having a great time in Costa Rica. But it's times when your faith is put to the test and you are really scared of what is coming next that you see who you are at heart.

What I saw during this last week is our strong bond become even stronger. I wanted to be the one laying there in uncertainty. He told me not to regret the times we shared in Costa Rica. "It was worth it," he told me.

I found it interesting how God sandwiched these two events so close together. The "sickness" and "health" of our wedding vows. The "good times" and "bad." It is these two things, the highs and lows, that make marriage what it is. It's a roller coaster some days but love is the common denominator.

So, I'm taking my cue from Brad and refusing to have regrets. God allowed all of this to happen for a reason and I trust Him completely. I see how He has used both of these events to make us stronger together and stronger for Him. I don't want to miss that lesson in all of this.

Brad is still not 100% and I'm still not convinced the doctor knows what he's dealing with. But I'm quite confident God does. So, who am I to question the hand we have been dealt? He saw us as strong enough to handle it and make us even stronger.

The lesson I have learned is first of all, not to drink the water in Costa Rica (hee hee, honey I couldn't resist!!) and most of all, be open and teachable in the journey that life is. Instead of fighting the hard times, allow them to make you stronger and deepen your faith in God and each other.

An Update

2008-05-16T22:09:00.002-04:00

First, I want to say thank you to so many of you who have left comments or sent me an e-mail to let me know you are praying for Brad. I cannot tell you how much it has meant to us. Computer time has been a minimum lately and I apologize that I have not answered everyone. Hopefully next week will have some semblance of normal and I can catch up on things!

Now, for an update on Brad. He improved dramatically during his two days in the hospital. Thinking the worst was behind him, the doctor released him on Wednesday morning. I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to have him home at night. He's been away for ministry-related events overnight before but knowing he was away from me with tubes hooked up to him was hard each night.

Thursday morning he took a turn for the worse again and I was forced to take him to the ER. We were both very frightened by that point. After hooking him back up to an IV for several hours and having blood work come back normal, they released him back to my care at 7 pm.

He visited the doctor again this afternoon and based on a lack of evidence that this was something he contracted in Costa Rica, they have now determined it was a terrible case of the stomach flu. (Note: I'm still not fully convinced!)

He is now on the world's blandest diet and will be for quite a while. Now that he is no longer dehydrated (which would make the number much higher), his total weight loss in one week has been 8 pounds!! They are anticipating it will be a few weeks before he will be completely "normal" (which, if you know Brad personally, "normal" is something he never has been in the first place!!). He will visit the doctor again on Monday.

Thanks again for all the prayers and kind wishes. If life starts to settle down over the weekend, I plan to return to blogging on Monday.

A Big Prayer Request...

2008-05-12T22:32:00.004-04:00

Please be in prayer for my dear husband, Brad. We returned safe and sound from Costa Rica last week only to discover Brad took home an unintended souvenir: a bacterial infection. He got progressively sick over the last several days. Fearing he was dehydrated, I took him into our family doctor this afternoon. He immediately admitted him to the hospital. He is on IV's with antibiotics to treat the infection. While it can be life threatening, they told me they caught it in time. He should be home in a few days. It's a little scary, however, when there is a note on his door cautioning people to stay away from him because he is very contagious. He has been in a lot of pain but just called to say that he is starting to feel a little better. I would so appreciate any prayers!!

A Little R & R

2008-05-02T23:57:00.003-04:00

Just a quick little post to let everyone know that I will be away for the next several days. My husband and I are escaping to Costa Rica for a few days!! For the last 4 summers I have either been pregnant or nursing and vacations weren't too easy for me. But this year is different!! We will be zip lining through the jungle, visiting a volcano, snorkeling, and other fun things. Our boys will be home safe and sound with grandparents. I will not be back blogging until late next week.

I also want to apologize to those of you that have left me a comment or sent me an e-mail that I have not responded to. This week has been nuts with me getting ready for the trip and meeting some writing deadlines. Hopefully when I get back I can catch up on all of that fun stuff.

Until late next week, ADIOS!!

Even Great-er?!?

2008-04-30T08:06:00.004-04:00

Sometimes in life you see something that can be described as nothing less than "Great!" That is how I have always felt about the Internet Cafe. They have the most talented writers and you leave that place feeling like you have really had a fresh encounter with Jesus.

So, is it possible for something that is already great to be even... well... "great-er?"

The answer is "Yes!!"

Later this afternoon, the Cafe will debut their new site. It has a new website you can visit at http://www.internetcafedevotions.com/. They have a new look, a new (and may I say very talented?!?!) crew overseeing it, and some new writers (as well as some of the super duper talented seasoned writers).

Now, the "new writers" part is actually my favorite part. Why? You ask?? Because I am thrilled to be counted as one of those people!! I was so excited when they asked me. I never even dreamed I could write with such a talented group of ladies!!

So, hop over there laster today and check out the new and improved Internet Cafe for some awesome devotionals. (OK, does this sound like an ad? Well, I suppose it is!! And to make it even worse...)

As Tony the Tiger would say, "They're GRRRRREEEEEEEAT!!!"

Why Do I Write?

2008-04-28T07:08:00.003-04:00

I ask myself this question a lot. I don’t really have an answer. I just know that I can’t stop. I got a degree in writing for goodness sakes! My parents paid good money for me to just sit and write my way through college. It almost seems like a waste except for the fact it is what I feel like I was created to do.

I recently discovered a local author in our area named Cindy La Ferle. She’s teaching a class at a local library that amazingly I will be able to take for free next month. Since I have discovered her, I’ve worked to read a lot of what she has written. When I like someone’s writing I tend to be a bit of a “bookworm stalker” and read everything I can get my hands on to study their style. I would say this is a little odd but I would love it if someone said the same of me someday.

She has a book that is a compilation of many of her newspaper articles and naturally the “bookworm” stalker” that I am, I checked it out of the library. All I have read is the Introduction so far since I only got it a couple of hours ago. She quoted someone from a writer’s conference that said, “We share our stories because we have faith – faith that the universe has meaning, and that our little lives are not irrelevant.” While my faith is more Christ focused, I have to admit I completely identify with this thought. I write because I believe God has put a message in my heart that I need to share. I know that what goes onto paper or the computer screen may only help one person – and that person may be me – but that’s reason enough to write.

I recently went though a little “thing” with God if He really wanted me to pursue my writing more than just blogging, journaling, and an occasional article here and there. His answer confused me. He just kept giving more ideas that He wanted me to write about. I continued to pray if I needed to work towards something bigger, even a career/ministry in writing. Again, more ideas and places to submit my writing. A little frustrated, I followed the things He kept putting at my feet during my times with Him each day.

Then, one day, it hit me so strongly. He was putting these things in my heart because they were my confirmation. Instead of giving me a flat out "yes," He was giving me assignments. Why it took me so long to connect the dots, I'm not sure.

This writing journey is a bumpy one. I read blogs of other writers who are much further along than I may ever be. Sometimes I leave a little scared of what I am getting myself into. But, the consolation I have is that I am being completely obedient to what He has called me to do. The thought of being disobedient by not writing is reason enough for me to keep doing what I love.

Surgery Update

2008-04-25T07:15:00.004-04:00

I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the prayers so many of you have lifted up for my son, Dylan. We returned to the eye doctor on Wednesday. Surgery is now scheduled for May 27. I have no doubt that everything will turn out fine but the thought of them putting my baby under anesthesia and operating on his eyes totally freaks me out. But I serve a God that can handle a freaked out mom. So I'm in good hands!

Dr. Baker no longer performs surgeries so he is referring us to one of his associates. That had me a little nervous, too. But I did a little research on the surgeon and she looks great. (If you want to learn more about her, click here.)

They will be loosening the muscles in the upper portion of both eyes. Following surgery, Dr. Baker warned me he will be a little cross-eyed. But after 2-4 weeks that will lessen. In 25% of cases a second surgery is required. I'm not even letting myself think about that!

I continue to ask for your prayers for Dylan. We are thankful he is young enough that he will not remember any of it. He will be 19 months when the surgery is performed. Thanks again for your prayers and I will keep you updated.

Thankful Thursday - Spring!!

2008-04-24T07:47:00.004-04:00

The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Job 33:4

Spring has sprung in the state of Michigan!! Yahoo!! Being a southern girl, I am so thankful that I survived my first Michigan winter. This past one was in the top 10 for snowfall records. It was quite a way to be broken in, let me tell you. But, it makes spring even that much sweeter.

Everywhere I look, I see new life. The birds have made the long trip back and are chirping as I write this. It's such beautiful music after being so long without it. My tulips are on the verge of budding. I look at them each day in eager anticipation. Trees have little leaves starting to grow. We had to mow our grass this week. Who knew that was something to be thankful for? This week, at least, I am choosing to rejoice in that fact.

I can't help but be reminded of the new life that Christ gives us. Even during the times where we feel cold and alone, He is there growing new things inside of us that are just waiting to spring forth, if we let them.

Spring is my favorite time of the year for so many different reasons. The best part is just knowing that God was there all winter long, working behind the scenes, for the magnificent display of beauty that spring is. He is like that in our lives, too. Today all this new life that is springing up around me, both physically and spiritually, is why I am rejoicing!!

Small Shrub Girl

2008-04-22T07:34:00.001-04:00

I remembered something on Saturday that I learned about myself last year. I’m a “small shrub” kind of girl. When we moved into our house last year, I was shocked at how gigantic our shrubs were when the leaves grew in. Who knew that big shrubs could be so unsightly?

That’s when I decided I like small shrubs. They’re just prettier. Bigger is just not better when it comes to the life of a shrub. One got so big last year that it was eclipsing the overhang of our roof.

So, I determined this year would be different. Saturday morning found me keeping a promise I made to myself last year. I would fulfill the “small shrub” girl within and trim them before they threatened to swallow the whole house.

Out came the gigantic clippers that I have. I got them on sale for $6.40 last year. My neighbor was shocked at how much damage I could do with those things. She assured me the blades would not be sharp enough to cut the thicker branches. I proved her wrong. Again, I’m trying to fulfill that girl that wants…needs… little shrubs.

I snipped away and kind of enjoyed myself. Some of the leaves were starting to sprout. I felt bad for cutting the new life away but knew it was necessary for the shrubs to be what they were meant to be…small (or in our case medium sized).

As I was out there, I got to talking to God. I do that when I cut shrubs. I don’t know why. But, it occurred to me that all of the good I was cutting away was necessary just like so much of the “good” He has taken from my life. Sometimes we have to loose a little “good” to become “great.” Cutting away new growth is necessary to let something even more beautiful take its place.

I know that tree must have grimaced with each snip I took. It had worked so hard to grow those little green pieces of foliage. But, I had the bigger (or should I say “smaller”) picture in mind.

How many times do we complain when God takes something good out of our lives? We’re like that tree, holding onto what we think is ours. But, He sees the bigger picture. And there is a much bigger picture.

So, the next time you’re driving by my house (I know some of you do!) and you see my naked little shrubs, just know there is a lesson there. God knows best. He takes away the “good” to make room for the “great.”

That lesson… and the sad fact that I’m most defiantly a “small shrub” kind of girl.

Another Year

2008-04-18T08:15:00.002-04:00

Today I am turning the big 33!! I usually am a little sad on my birthday. Time goes so fast and my birthday is just a reminder of that fact.

It seems like just yesterday I brought my oldest child home from the hospital weighing not quite 6 pounds. Now I have two that are nearly too heavy to pick up. Where does the time go?

This year I actually looked forward to this birthday. It's the first time since my early 20's. But the age 33 is the age Jesus was when He was crucified. For some reason 33 makes me feel a stronger connection to Him. Such a sacrifice at such a young age (even though it makes me feel old!!).

I married into a family that makes an extremely big deal about your day. My husband does whatever he can to make me feel even more special than he does everyday. My mother-in-law is having a party for me tonight and knows better than to get a birthday cake. We will all be feasting on my favorite sweet treat: cheesecake!!

I can't wait to see all of the wonderful blessings this year will usher in!!

Reflection

2008-04-16T05:37:00.000-04:00

This week ushered in some changes around our house. They weren’t actually changes, I suppose, but a return to how things should be.

The last couple of weeks I had discipline problems with my three year old. Throw in a touch of disrespect mixed with a hefty dose of defiance and you have all the makings for problems in the life of a little preschooler named Tyler.

I would like to blame it all on him. He was the one threw the tantrum at church. He was also the one who pushed his brother. So, it would be easy to pin it on him and be done with it.

Someone once said, “Children are natural mimics: they act like their parents in spite of every attempt to teach them good manners.” I have to blush and say I recognize the heart of this quote all too well.

No, I didn’t have a tantrum at church like Tyler. But, self-discipline in my own life has been far from where it should be lately. With a few sinus infections, a pulled muscle, and a lingering winter in Michigan, I have reasoned (not rightly so, mind you) that letting a few of the normal rules slip is acceptable.

The house has not stayed as clean as it should. I have not risen as early as normal. Daily schedules offered suggestions rather than structure. And, just like everything else, I have not enforced discipline the way I normally do.

So, my child and his behavior has become a reflection of my own lack self-control. Hmmm… children don’t miss a thing, do they?

I hear people from time to time say they just don’t have self-discipline. Sometimes people even wear the deficiency as a badge of honor, as if being disciplined somehow steals your identity and spontaneity. But the Bible lists it as a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). It’s not an arbitrary personality quirk but a “gift” that all believers possess. If we lack it, we just might need to do a little heart examination.

Sunday night I told my husband that I had to put us on a schedule again to put structure back into our days so that my little man learns to control those ugly little impulses that flash into his preschooler brain.

So I penned a very do-able schedule with much more structure than previous ones. And this time I planned to stick to it.

But, it could not end there. The problem was not solely with him. For the one finger I had pointing at him, I had four more pointing back at me. I spent a considerable amount of time on Monday morning during my regular prayer time praying for my own self-discipline. I asked for His help even during the bumps in the road. And I prayed that my munchkin could have some self-control of his own.

Prayer and structure were exactly what we needed. This week has been incredibly smooth. I have held up my end of the bargain and he is amazingly holding up his, even though he did not know there was any “deal” to begin with.

Each day that I look at my children, I see all of their differences. Tyler has blond hair. Dylan has brown. One is an extreme morning person like me. The other is the exact opposite like his Daddy. But they are also a reflection of my husband and I and the influence that we are each second of the day.

They show me all the time, just like Jesus does, the good and bad in my own life. They help me to be a better Mommy and ultimately a better person each day. They reflect me in so many ways, but they also reflect the One who created them. And what a beautiful representation they are.

The Journey

2008-04-15T07:04:00.004-04:00

One of the most wonderful things about knowing God is that there's always so much more to know, so much more to discover.Just when we least expect it, He intrudes into our neat and tidy notions about who He is and how He works.

~ Joni Eareckson Tadaby ~

My journey with God started on a dead end road. I was 20 and broken. I needed something… someone to complete me. I was exhausted. Jesus was my last resort. If He told me a journey lay ahead, though, I might have run in the other direction.

But, that is one of the incredible things about God. He shows you what you need to know right when you need to know it. Not a second sooner. Early in my walk, I didn’t need a map, I needed a pillow. And that is just what He gave me.

Since this trip began in 1995, I have never been able to escape a love and passion for Him. Some days it is stronger than others, but it is always there. Just like a spark that has the power to ignite the whole pile of wood, my love for Him grows.

In the beginning of my walk, I was simply strolling. I was only warming up for what was to come but had yet to realize it. I started going to church. I knew that was important even though I wasn’t really sure why.

Then a job opened up at that church. I took it. The pastor went to great efforts to ensure the staff was spiritually healthy. I didn’t even know there was such a thing!

All of the sudden, I wasn’t strolling anymore, I was galloping on my journey with Him.

When you are on a journey and your pace increases, so does the potential for blisters. Oh my, did I get some “spiritual blisters!” Things weren’t going as easy as I thought they should. And I fought God a little.

But, He wouldn’t let go of me and I couldn’t let go of Him. Some days He was dragging me along, but I was still there. A little wear and tear on your walking shoes can tempt you to give up. But, He doesn’t let go.

Sometimes the road is bumpy. There are jagged stones sticking out that we have to swerve to miss. Potholes to be dodged. Detour signs that threaten to get us off track.

True to His nature, God does not let us stay on the same path forever. His leading takes us to roads we didn’t even know existed.

My new road was seminary. Who knew that a girl that didn’t even know how to grow in her faith just a few years before could be called into the ministry? It’s proof that He can take a rusty old run down car and turn it into a Mustang convertible!

Now, I was running alongside Him waiting to see what He had in store next.

By this point in my journey, I had calluses the size of Texas! But, I was finally starting to understand this little road trip I was on. Those hard times that cause blisters and calluses make us stronger and tougher. And boy was I getting tough!

The best road trips have wonderful places to stop along the way. My favorite little excursions have been getting married and having two boys. God gives us things that are so wonderful that we wouldn’t even dare to dream about them.

My daily walk with God is not always about the destination. Many times is about the journey itself. It’s the parts of Him that I see while I travel that I would not even have a chance seeing if I was sitting on the side of the road.

Our life with Christ is the ultimate journey, isn’t it? Each day, I get fueled up and ready to hit the road and see a new side of Him that I never knew existed.

Where does this journey end? I’m not sure if it really ever ends. But, in the distance I can see something that makes absolutely everything I endure on this journey worth it.

It’s crude and hard to look at. But, it’s the cross. Without it, there would be no journey. There would be no hope. There would be no reason to ever even lace up our boots.

But, there is a Savior that we serve. Sometimes people ask me why my husband and I are in the ministry. I can’t really put it into words. Sometimes language is so deficient.

I can only point to Calvary. To a man. To a love. To a cross.

That is what this journey is all about. It is where I started and it is where I will end up. It is where we will all end up, really. At the foot of an old, rugged cross…

For more takes on this quote, visit Susan at Forever His.

The Color Yellow

2008-04-14T07:09:00.003-04:00

What is your favorite color? Scientists say you can tell a lot about a person by what his or her favorite color is. If you ask my oldest child what his favorite color is, he will quickly tell you “lellow” (yellow).

I am the first to admit that I have absolutely no artistic ability. I struggle with stick figures, for goodness sakes! An art class in college, however, made me appreciate art. Color is what it is all about.

One of my favorite artists is Vincent Van Gogh. He was a bit of a quirky man that is probably best known for cutting his ear lobe off. I, for one, would not my claim to fame to be for this peculiar act!

The pain and grief of this man is expressed in his art. But, he also used his art to express something else that people normally do not realize: God’s love.

Van Gogh spent years studying theology with dreams of becoming a pastor some day. He even served as a missionary in Belgium in 1879.

His peculiar personality kept him from the ministry and he eventually turned to his other love: art.

For Van Gogh, the color yellow symbolized the hope and truth of God’s love. One of his most famous paintings, “The Starry Night” (seen below) has only a glimmer of yellow in the stars that seem to swirl through the sky. The church, situated in the center of the painting, eerily shows no hint of the precious yellow.

Not surprisingly, this painting was created during one of Van Gogh’s more depressed periods. Isn’t that really what happens when we all get depressed, we fail to sense God’s beautiful and warming love?

Not as famous is his painting “The Resurrection of Lazarus” (see below). Shortly before his death, Van Gogh painted this, putting his own face in the place of Lazarus, quite possibly showing his own hope in the Resurrection.

While Van Gogh was not a famous theologian or even a man of great moral character, we can learn something about God through his work. Yellow meant something to Him that was above everything else. The love of the one who created him.

What color do you see in your life? Is there yellow everywhere? Or, are there shades of gray? There is hope when we look for the yellow all around us. Sometimes finding it amidst the blacks and grays can be hard, but it is there.

What is your favorite color? I think I am sticking with my son Tyler on this one and saying, “Yellow.” I simply can't imagine my life without it!

It's All About Worship

2008-04-09T08:22:00.005-04:00

There is an old saying that goes, “Character is who you are when no one is looking but God.” This thought sometimes runs through my head and no one is indeed looking. What does my character say about me?

Occasionally I am tempted to cut a corner here or there. Not in the big moral areas, but in one of biggest challenges I face each day: housework. This is not one the lots in life I have been given that I particularly love. Dust lurks behind every corner to push me over the edge to insanity. Dirty dishes wave at me like a long lost friend. And, the laundry, we won’t even mention what it says to me!

There is a temptation, and I will admit that many days I give into it, that tells me it doesn’t really matter how hard I work on the house. The laws of nature deem that it will only get dirty again. Why bother? My children seem to enjoy the chaos and my husband rarely notices the mess.

Yet, there is a beauty in the mundane nature of the dreaded work. I’m not talking about my cleaning ability, mind you. But, I do have two distinct choices of how to approach it: an attitude that sees it as an act of worship, something I do for God, or one that sees it as the most boring job on the planet. That second one gets me some days.

That first choice, an attitude of worship, changes who I am as a woman. From the perspective that housework is a way that I can honor God and my family, it does not seem so bad. In fact (don’t tell anybody this part…), it can actually be kind of fun!

Worship is not just something we do on Sunday mornings. It should be something we do throughout the day, every day. If we only permit our souls, the thing that links us to our Creator, to only be fed once a week, we are spiritually starving ourselves. We were not created to be Sunday morning Christians.

Everything that we do each moment of the day can be an act of worship. It is all about our attitude and how we choose to see each task we do, no matter how seemingly meaningless it is.

The Bible tells us “whatever we do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31), it does not stipulate only the most noble tasks should be done for God.

Attitude really is everything, isn’t it? We can choose to have an attitude that loves and adores God, one that looks for opportunities, whatever they might be, to give Him honor. It is all up to us.

This is so refreshing when I feel rather immobile many days at home with young children. Gone are the days of jumping in the car to run to the bookstore to get a great Christian book or chat with a friend to give me a little spiritual boost. But, I can have that same thing if I do all that I do with an attitude filled with worship.

I will admit that I most likely am not going to ever “love” housework. But, when I incorporate it into my daily schedule, a routine that includes honoring Him in all that I do, I can see it as a little dress rehearsal for heaven. That will be a time when we do nothing but worship. What an incredible day that will be!

Question Mark???

2008-04-08T07:31:00.005-04:00

I visited a couple of blogs yesterday that had an interesting quiz posted. They had taken a personality test of sorts that revealed what punctuation mark they were. Since I was reading my old college English Comp book for fun yesterday (yes, I know, I have an illness!!), I decided I should determine my own punctuation mark.

Here is what it said:

You Are a Question Mark

You seek knowledge and insight in every form possible. You love learning.

And while you know a lot, you don't act like a know it all. You're open to learning you're wrong.

You ask a lot of questions, collect a lot of data, and always dig deep to find out more.

You're naturally curious and inquisitive. You jump to ask a question when the opportunity arises.

Your friends see you as interesting, insightful, and thought provoking.

(But they're not always up for the intense inquisitions that you love!)

You excel in: Higher education

You get along best with: The Comma

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

When I got the results, Brad was standing over my shoulder and said, "I completely agree!!" Now, he meant that from the perspective that he is always trying to figure me out. Even though I question the "question mark" designation (which I suppose is why I got that particular symbol in the first place!!), I have to say the description of it truly does fit me perfectly!

For fun, I had Brad take the same quiz and what it determined for him will come as absolutely no surprise to anyone who knows him: he is an exclamation point!!!! I'm not sure if there has ever been a more accurate statement. When he argued the fact, I pointed out what it said he excelled in: public speaking. That was something the preacher could not argue with!!

2008-04-07T07:20:00.003-04:00

April's Marriage Monday Question:

Marriage:
Holiness or Happiness??

This question looks innocent enough. I feel like I would be a pagan if I didn’t answer “holiness.” But holiness, at the expense of happiness? Not at all!

These two words are not as far apart as one might think. The common denominator of both of these is obedience. That must exist for either holiness or happiness in a Christian marriage to occur.

One aspect of holiness is “to be set apart.” As a Christian man and wife, we are to be set apart from the world. Images of infidelity and selfishness are deemed acceptable in marriage in our culture. In some cases, they are even encouraged. But, a marriage with Christ in the center of it will look very different. Self-sacrifice and a reckless abandon to following Jesus should be its defining characteristics.

Husbands are told to love their wives just like Jesus loved the church and gave Himself up for her “to make her holy” (Eph. 5:25-26). What a beautiful picture of love, marriage, and holiness!

While the passage does not specifically address a wife making her husband holy, she certainly can encourage him to walk closer to Jesus and live a more holy life. Through her respect and submission to him (Eph. 5:22,33), she is following her role in marriage that will draw him closer to Jesus’ side.

When we are obedient to what He called us to do, we are made holy.

Most people would say they get married to be happy. Who can blame them? I know that certainly entered my mind when I married my husband. We all love being happy. But, happiness is an emotion that comes and goes with our circumstances. Joy, on the other hand, is something we feel deep down in our souls as a result of our relationship with God.

We cannot expect our spouse to make us happy all the time. It is an unfair expectation, to say the least. Our happiness, and ultimately our joy, must come from our relationship with Jesus. We must be obedient to what He has called us to do in life to find our joy.

“I don’t know what I’m called to,” is something Christians frequently say. It is difficult at times to see exactly what God is calling us to in life. But, even when the picture looks fuzzy, we should be obedient to Him in the things we do know. We know He wants us to follow His Word. We understand He wants to spend time with us in prayer. As a married person, we also appreciate the fact that He wants us to love our spouse no matter what.

When we follow Him in the small things we do know in our marriage, He reveals the larger plans over time. His will is not some ancient mystery we need a fancy code to decipher. It comes from obedience.

From that obedience in every aspect of our marriage we begin to discover what happiness and joy is. It is not about having a perfect spouse, a lot of money, or anything else we determine will make us “happy.” Serving a holy God because you love Him and each other is what a Christian marriage is all about.

So, is marriage about holiness or happiness? I really think it is about both. There is a catch, though. Obedience to God and all the magnificent plans that He has for our life should be our daily goal.

When we jointly, as a couple, follow Him and His will, we will experience the holiness and the joy and happiness that he intended in our marriage.

Francois Fenelon (1651-1715), a French Roman Catholic theologian, poet and writer once said, “There is but one way in which God should be loved, and that is to take no step except with Him and for Him, and to follow, with a generous self-abandonment, everything which He requires.”

I can think of no better way to describe the perfect marriage, a husband and wife following God together in this fashion, than this incredible quote, can you?

For more thoughts on this subject, visit Chrysalis.

Weak in the Knees

2008-04-04T07:36:00.001-04:00

My discovery of high cholesterol in January set me on a bit of new course in life. One thing I have diligently worked at is exercising. With all the hats I wear each day, working it in has been tough. But, four days a week you will find me doing an exercise DVD or running around my neighborhood.

My muscles have grown stronger but I also discovered something I wasn’t expecting: I have weak knees. Before having children, I was in relatively good shape and didn’t struggle with this issue. But now, the stronger I get in other areas, it seems the weaker my knees get. Some days they down right hurt.

My spiritual walk is like that, too. I can look back over the last year or two and see how much I have grown in my relationship with Jesus. Whereas I used to struggle with a consistent time of prayer and Bible study (particularly since having children!!), that is no longer an issue. As a result, my relationship with Him is stronger than ever before.

But, as I have grown stronger in Him, I have discovered some weak areas I did not know about before. While I usually consider myself a pretty enthusiastic person, I see that my zeal for Him is lacking sometimes. My resting securely in Him and not allowing anxiety to dominate me is not always what I wish it was.

I have weak spots in my spiritual walk just like my knees. The stronger I become, the more I see those weak spots.

Instead of just giving up exercising altogether, I am working on doing strengthening exercises just for my knees. They are weak and they need the extra attention. With time and diligence, I know they will become stronger

Our spiritual walk is no different. When we see those weak spots, whatever they may be, we need to isolate them and recognize them for what they are, just like I am with my knees. We should not abandon growing in Christ just because we are not perfect.

My knees may never be as strong and the rest of my body. If the problems persist and I cannot correct them, I may need to redirect my exercise program. I might need to find some lower impact calisthenics that do not put so much stress on my knees.

When we find those spots in our walk with Him that need a little work, we may not succeed at the first thing we try. If I struggle with anxiety and just praying about it is not working, I might need to be more proactive and eliminate certain things from my life.

Weak spots are not areas that we need to be defeated in. Instead, they are spots that we can work on until we find the solution that brings us closer to God.

Thankful Thursday

2008-04-03T08:02:00.003-04:00

When my first child was born a little over three years ago, I couldn’t wait to start communicating with him. Before he was a year old I taught him a few signs to help him “talk” to me. By the time he was a year old, I began working on gratitude.

I taught him the signs for “please” and “thank you.” It thrilled my Mommy heart when he used these signs. It was a lesson in gratitude even before he could say more than “mama” and “dada.” Now that he does speak, his gratitude easily translates into spoken tokens of thanksgiving.

As a child of God, how frequently do I say “please” and “thank you” to God? While it is important for me to teach my children gratitude, it’s tough remembering to continually thank God for everything He does. Expressing our gratitude to Him should be more than a weekly or even a daily thing. It should be an hour to hour sort of thing.

I’m working on keeping up that constant conversation with Him and thanking Him for all of the amazing ways that He works in my life.

Here are just a few things I am thankful for at this moment:

* The giggling and tickling attacks between my boys and me. Their laughter that echoes throughout our house is so much fun to hear. I try each day to have a time where we do nothing but focus on laughing together. It’s so much fun!!

* The sunshine!! I never knew until surviving my first Michigan winter this year that the sun is not a given during winter months everywhere. During the coldest winter months when the clouds dominated, the sun only came out once a week!! Even though the temperatures don’t reflect it, spring is here and the sun is out nearly everyday!!

• My husband’s work load has eased a little bit in recent weeks and he has actually taken a little time off. Granted they have only been half days, but we have enjoyed every second of those special days!!

To see what others are thankful for today, visit Iris at Sting My Heart!!

Resting in Him Admist Cracker Crumbs

2008-04-02T09:08:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was what I call a “Mommy fatigue day.” Anyone with small children knows what I mean. It’s a day that you wish you could have a little break but must continue on this incredible journey called motherhood.

Monday night found me with a migraine headache, something I don’t get very often. Tuesday morning the dull effects were still lingering so I knew to take it easy so that it would not return. Both of the children were not feeling well and both wanted to be held by Mommy. It’s a challenge since they are both getting big. There was also plenty of crying for inexplicable reasons.

Nap time could not come soon enough as I needed a serious mental break. I welcomed the solitude. The house was in serious disarray since I had not cleaned much since the morning before. But, I left it. I knew it would wait. Sometimes rest is more important. I’ve learned that a messy house does not equal a bad mother and wife. This has been a major revelation for me in recent months. There are more important things.

As the afternoon ended, my spirits were surprisingly high after a rough day. Then I was reminded that there is rest in the presence of the Father. The situations happening weren’t from my own irresponsibility. They were just a product of life. And my happiness and joy does not lie in the lack of a headache, happy kids, or even a clean house. It lies with a God that took a day of rest. It rests on the shoulders of a Savior that suffered fatigue from time to time.

It is so easy to get too wrapped up in this life and take it way too seriously. We miss the opportunities that God gives us to find our solace in Him alone. Yesterday I let Him carry me. He doesn’t care about the crushed crackers on the floor or the stack of dishes in the sink. He wants to love me. That’s enough to carry me through any migraine-filled, sick child laden, messy house day!

Theology of a 3 year old

2008-03-31T08:13:00.003-04:00

Last night my 3 year old Tyler and I had our nightly talk before bed. This is our favorite time of the day when we lay in his bed and talk about who we have seen and what we have done during the day. It’s become our special “Mommy & Son” time.

We talked about all the fun the things we did at church. Yesterday was a little unusual since the boys came into the sanctuary after the service. Time doesn’t usually permit this. When it does, however, they have fun exploring the pews and the choir loft. Both of them also love looking at the pulpit that Daddy preaches from each week. As Tyler and I talked about all of these things, I also talked about some of the things that we do during a service.

Then, we talked about some of the things one does after they “ask Jesus into their heart.” That’s the best terminology I could come up with to explain what having a personal relationship with Jesus on a 3 year old level.

Then I said something I have not said to him before, but has been the substance of many of my prayers. I said, “Someday Tyler can ask Jesus into his heart, too.”

Not missing a beat in the conversation, he said, “That’s cool!”

Choking back a few tears at such a profound statement from my 3 year old, I said, “Yeah, buddy, it sure is!”

Isn't the theology of a 3 year old profound?

What's Missing?

2008-03-28T08:28:00.004-04:00

We’re BIG football fans around our house. Some of my oldest child's first words were “Go Go!” in response to seeing a football.

My husband went to the University of Michigan and anyone that knows him knows that he lives and dies by the football team (secuarly speaking, of course!). For that reason, he is a pretty big fan of Tom Brady, quarterback of the New England Patriots. They attended UM at the same time.

Tom Brady is one of the best football players there is. He’s on top of the world. He has a beautiful girlfriend. Lots of money. Everything that the world defines as “success” which most people assume leads to happiness.

So, when I ran across the interview from 2005 of Tom Brady conducted by Steve Kroft on 60 Minutes, I was intrigued. Despite the fame and career accomplishments he had achieved already, Brady told Kroft that it felt like something was still lacking in his life:

Brady: “Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there's something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, 'Hey man, this is what [it's all about].' I reached my goal, my dream, my life. Me? I think, 'It's got to be more than this.' I mean this isn't—this can't be—all it's cracked up to be."

Kroft pressed Brady as to what the right answer was, and Brady added:
“What's the answer? I wish I knew… I love playing football, and I love being quarterback for this team. But at the same time, I think there are a lot of other parts about me that I'm trying to find.”

Here is this guy who has presumably “everything” and he still wants more. He feels like he is missing “something.”

I often say that we all have this “Jesus-sized hole” in our heart that nothing will fit into but Him.

Isn’t it incredible that He created us that way? He gives us the freedom to choose or reject Him. But, He still reserves a little spot for Himself. He never gives up on us. He’s always there waiting for us to invite in.

It reminds me of one of my favorite passages of Scripture:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35-39

Thankful Thursday Is Good For You!!

2008-03-27T06:38:00.004-04:00

Did you know that Thankful Thursday is actually good for your health?

I recently stumbled across a study by Robert Emmons, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, and psychology professor Michael McCullough of the University of Miami. They were intrigued in the role of gratitude on physical and emotional well-being.

To see if it really did make a difference, they had 3 groups of people. One group focused on the hassles of life, another group on everyday ordinary life events, and the third group, was told to focus on gratitude.

The result shouldn’t really surprise those of us that regularly participate in Thankful Thursdays. The third group that focused on what they were grateful for reported an improved overall sense of well-being, including fewer negative physical symptoms such as headaches or colds. In fact, those that were thankful were healthier, happier people!!

So, in an effort to keep healthy (hey, I do what I can!!), here is what I am thankful for this week:

~ The Easter service at our church was phenomenal!! My husband made the difference clear Christ can make in one’s life and how to have a personal relationship with Him. I can’t imagine anyone left the service without a more clear understanding of that fact. I heard later many people were emotional.

~ My youngest child, Dylan (17 months), who is the most active baby on the planet, has found a place that he likes to sit and look at books. I cannot tell you what a praise this is since for the last year I have done nothing but chase him. Others who have watched him comment on how he never stops moving. Praise God he has this week for nearly 10 minutes at a time!!

~ Spring is coming!! Spring is coming!! (I know what the calendar says but we still have a little snow on the ground in spots.)

~ I survived my first Michigan winter. Don’t laugh, this one’s a biggie for this Oklahoma-bred gal!!

So, there you have it!! I’m doing my part to keep healthy, are you? If you’re a blogger that doesn’t already participate, head over to Sting My Heart and join us.

If you’re not a blogger, find a journal and make a list each day of what you are thankful for. I did this long before blogs existed. Not only was it good for me, it’s also fun to look back and see all of the blessings God has given me over the years.

Passing the Test

2008-03-25T07:52:00.003-04:00

"Throughout the history of God's people as given to us in the Bible, we see that life is a test. We have before us the option to trust God "no matter what," or to walk away from Him. To walk away from God is to leave the fragments of our dreams in pieces on the floor, but to trust Him is to let God pick up the pieces and make us whole again. When we choose to let Him make us whole again, he will make our lives more beautiful than before."

-from "What I Learned from God While Quilting" by Ruth McHaney Danner & Cristine Bolley

Have you ever felt tested by God? I know I certainly have. As I have shared in other posts, my first real tests after becoming at Christian at the age of 20 was trusting God for my husband. Finally, I became content where he had me and you guessed it, I met my husband.

The tests didn’t stop after marriage, though. It always seems there is something God is trying to teach me and I am the stubborn pupil that resists the lesson.

When I was ready to have a child, it wasn’t in God’s timing. I worried, cried, begged, and tried to convince Him the time was right. Finally, I became content with where I was in life and started making other plans that did not include a baby. And, again, God answered my prayers and I became pregnant with my first child.

About a year after my first child was born, I had a test of a different kind. It was in the form of a positive pregnancy test. But, this time, it wasn’t in my plans and certainly wasn’t in our bank account’s plans. Even though I worried and prayed, I was finally beginning to see the lesson for what it was. This time I waited. I knew God had a plan. My job was to step back and watch.

There was absolutely no way we could afford this baby and shortly after his birth, my husband received a call for a pastorate in his home town. A few months later we packed up everything we owned, including our two precious boys, and moved. We were simply following His plan.

These tests and many others throughout my walk with Christ never came when I felt ready. I often wondered why God was allowing me to be tested in an area that I was so ill-prepared for. Unlike tests during school, I don’t realize I am going to take the test until I am right in the middle of it!

But, it’s during these "unprepared" times that He is shaping and forming us into the creation He has planned us to be. Even though I feel overwhelmed during these times, He steps in to provide that layer of protection and nurturing that I need.

God illustrates this beautifully in the formation of pearls. The process of a natural pearl begins when a foreign substance (sand, etc) slips into the oyster between the mantle (the organ that produces the shell) and the shell, which irritates the mantle. It's kind of like the oyster getting a splinter. The oyster's natural reaction is to cover up that irritant to protect itself. The mantle covers the irritant with layers of the same substance that is used to create the shell. Eventually, out comes a pearl.

Those times I spend with God day in and day out, no matter how tired I am or how cranky the kids are, are forming that hard shell of exterior. Each day’s quiet time adds extra strength to my spiritual shell. Even though I don’t see any little irritant (test) coming, I still know that I must keep getting stronger.

And then it comes out of nowhere. A sick relative, an unexpected medical bill, a physical ailment that shows no signs of letting up, or even a pregnancy (or lack thereof). Whatever the test is, we feel overwhelmed and incompetent to handle it. It enters into our life and within our heart it starts to fester, threatening to pull us under.

But that hard shell, a solid relationship with God, we have built in the previous months protects us. And that “thing” that threatened the very core of our being strengthens us even more. While the outcome may not have been in our plans, the lessons we have learned certainly were in His.

The result? Something absolutely beautiful emerges. Just like that pearl, we have moved into an even deeper and more meaningful relationship with Jesus. We have His perspective and His protection. We have Him and we realize that is all we need.

While I will never claim to “like” the tests that God allows me to go through, I must say that the glimpse I get of Jesus during the process is simply breathtaking. And for that, I am a student that is willing and prepared (even though I often don’t feel like it) to take whatever test He brings my way.

(Thanks to howstuffworks.com for the pearl explanation. Even though I knew the process I didn’t know to explain it without using words like “thingy” and “stuff.”)

To read more takes on this quote, Nina over at Mama's Little Treasures.

A Tale of Some Trees

2008-03-24T08:30:00.002-04:00

It seems fitting at this time of year to share one of my favorite stories. I first heard it when my husband used it as a sermon illustration during our first year in the ministry. Now, we have a children’s book of the story that we share with our boys.

It’s a story about how God can take the most ordinary thing in the most ordinary circumstances and do something truly extraordinary. Enjoy!

The Three Trees

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: " I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!"

The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. "I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!

The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. “I don't want to leave the mountain top at all,” he said. “I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.”

Years, passed. The rain came, the sun shone and the little trees grew tall. One day three wood cutters climbed the mountain. The first wood cutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shinning ax, the first tree fell. "Now I shall make a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" the first tree said.

The second wood cutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It's perfect for me." With a swoop of his shinning ax, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!"

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last wood cutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the wood cutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shinning ax, the third tree fell.

The fist tree rejoiced when the wood cutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, or treasure. She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.

The second tree smiled when the wood cutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the one strong tree was hammered and awed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river, instead she was taken to a little lake.

The third tree was confused when the wood cutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."

Many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. "I wish I cold make a cradle for him." Her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful," she said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and a thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She new she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awoke. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten wood pile. She flinched as she was carried through and angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hand to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong.

And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

~Author Unknown~

It gives me the chills every time I read it. Wow! If I could only aspire to be a piece of lumber used by God, He truly could do extraordinary things with me.

Thankful Thurday: Protection

2008-03-20T07:44:00.004-04:00

This week I am so thankful for God's protection. God has used a couple of situations in the last week to remind me that He is completely in control and is the only one we can totally rely on for protection.

~On Monday I received a call from my friend Dawn whose husband is working as a contractor in Iraq. The new military base he is working on was bombed 12 times on Saturday and 3 times on Sunday. Understandably, she was in tears and fearing for his safety. I had a time of prayer with her over the phone and then got the church prayer chain started so that many people in the church could be praying for his safety. There hasn't been a bombing since. Praise God!

~My brother-in-law and his family live in the Atlanta area where there was a tornado last Friday. They had no damage and they are safe. I am so thankful!

~I can look back on my life and see, even though I was kicking and screaming at the time that things didn't work out like I would have planned, that God's hand has been protecting me in so many ways. I am thankful that even as I sit here and write this post, God is protecting me from things my mind can't even fathom.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2

To see what others are thankful for, visit Iris at Sting My Heart.

What on Your Fridge??

2008-03-19T13:56:00.002-04:00

Yes, that's my refrigerator you are looking at. I've been tagged by Heather over at Not a DIY Life to post a picture of my refrigerator. I have to say this is one of the odder memes I have participated in but I decided to play along. I was going to organize the magnets in a nice orderly manner and make it look tidy. But, with a 1 & 3 year old, nothing is very orderly around our house. And if it is, it doesn't stay that way for long.

So here it is, in all it's glory. I have to give it one little ""shout out." It has a place for ice and water in the door which we absolutely love. I'm a water-aholic so I am constantly using that thing. My hubby broke the little lever for the ice off several months ago but I still manage to use it.

Instead of tagging some people that don't have time (which is usually my problem when I don't play along) or don't want to participate, I'm tagging whoever is reading this that would like to play along. Post a picture of your fridge, leave me a comment, and I'll come over and see how much more organized yours is than mine!

I Love God More Than...

2008-03-18T08:01:00.002-04:00

“Take it to Jesus before you take it to anyone else.” That’s my subconscious that you are listening to. For years I struggled with feeling more comfortable working out the issues of my soul with another human before I took it to Him.

For me, it was a symptom of something much more serious.

As a newlywed several years ago I struggled with the concept of loving God more than anything. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Him…deeply. But, taking things to Him before I discussed them with my husband was hard. The concept of loving Him more than my husband was even harder.

I loved my husband so much! While I didn’t openly admit this to anyone, not even the one that was causing the struggle, I knew my heart was lacking an essential ingredient of what He required of me.

Was I willing to put the desires of God above everything else? If death separated me from my husband would that destroy my love for God? These were hard lessons and ones I wasn’t sure I would pass, if put to the test.

As our marriage moved along, we added two sweet boys to the mix. Could I love God more than I loved these precious souls? Was it possible?

Again I felt like I failed at this test. I truly worried about my heart and where it was placing the priority of things. And once again only God knew of the struggle.

Then I went through something that wasn’t really visible on the outside. It was a spiritual crisis that wrecked everything inside of me. I felt the silence of God. And it was loud.

As I poured my heart out to him on numerous occasions, I felt nothing. And on those rare occasions that I felt Him, I didn’t like what He was showing me.

There was stuff in my heart that wasn’t pretty. Anger and bitterness left over from my childhood. A complacency in my relationship with Him. A refusal to put Him at the top of my priority list.

Through a lot of pain and even more healing, I determined things would change in my relationship with Him. And they have.

Since that time prayer and a nurturing my relationship with my Creator has become my absolute top priority everyday. If there is a problem, I go to Him before anyone else. I need His perspective before I even allow the words to exit my mouth to another’s ears.

Each day I pray to love Him more than anything else. Should something start to take priority over Him, I ask Him to show it to me so I can quickly reevaluate.

Is my husband jealous? Of course not! He would say the same thing about his feelings for me.

Are my kids neglected? Absolutely not! I think the best example I can give them is to show them that their Mommy loves Jesus more than anything. Of all the lessons I teach, this one is most important.

What I have learned is that I am a much better wife and mother when my heart is focused in the right place. I can love my family in a deeper way than was ever possible before that spiritual crisis.

So, when you hear my subconscious uttering “Take it to Jesus before you take it to anybody else,” you are hearing a lesson learned the hard way. I always dislike the process of learning those lessons but, for me, those are the ones that really stick.

For more thoughts on this quote (and just to see a really great blog!), visit Michelle at Because I Love You.

Who Are You Talking To?

2008-03-17T08:39:00.001-04:00

I had the most amazing conversation last week. No, it wasn’t with my wonderful husband, my very talkative 3-year-old, or even with my visiting mother. It was with God. Let me tell you about it…

For the last several months I have had a tremendous breakthrough in my prayer life. Its funny how you can walk with God for years and then, all of the sudden, realize there is a whole new depth to Him that you never noticed before.

While He does always stay the same, my view of Him is always changing. As I grow in my relationship with Him, so does how I view Him.

Last week I decided to try something new in my prayer life. I decided to pray out loud. While I feel completely comfortable praying out loud when in a group, for some reason I feel obligated to “be quiet” when alone. I didn’t even realize I felt that way until the thought of praying orally by myself seemed “weird.”

Last week, as I drove my mother to the airport, I realized I had nothing to listen to on the way home. All of my favorite CD’s were at home. As I dreaded the 1 hour solo drive back, I felt God nudge my heart.

“Why not talk to me?” He gently asked.

“Hmmm…” I thought. “It still seems a little weird but I’ll try it.”

As I got closer to the airport, the more excited I got about doing this. I had a mental list of things I wanted to chat with God about.

Once the car was empty and I was safely back on the highway…during Detroit rush-hour (a reason to pray in itself!)…I started talking.

At first, the sound of my voice was odd. It hadn’t sounded funny when I spoke to my mom moments earlier but now it did.

Still, I continued.

I didn’t have anything heavy on my heart. Just the regular things that happen in life that I needed to lay at His throne.

So I kept talking. And within a few minutes, it wasn’t feeling so “weird” anymore. In fact, there was a freshness to my prayers that I sometimes lack in those silent prayers.

There was a candor in my words that were as if I were speaking to another person in the car. Really, I was.

In the end, I was sad to arrive home.

While I love being at home with my family, the solitude of that time with God was broken, at least temporarily.

God reminded me of something that day: Prayers can be done anywhere, any time and in any way. Sometimes variety brings a deeper intimacy, as we encounter Him in new ways.

I liked it and found myself alone in the car again a few days later, doing the same thing.

I plan to make it a habit. Fresh encounters with God are addictive.

So if you pass me on the street and see my mouth moving but no one in the car with me, you’ll know who I’m talking to!

A Week for the Weary

2008-03-14T08:38:00.007-04:00

This was the week we all dread. You know, the one where you’ve lost an hour and you spend the week trying to recover it in some form or fashion. Or, if you’re like me, you try to rationalize to yourself that it was just and hour. Seriously. What is the big deal?

The detail that has me seeing a glimpse of God this week is that pesky little time change side effect:

BEING TIRED

Yep, I said it. I’m tired this week. It’s not too unusual for a pastor’s wife, mother of two, and oh yeah, did I mention the “aspiring writer” part, to be tired. But, it’s really knocked me for a loop this week.

One positive side of effect (one of many!) of being a stay at home mom is not being dominated by a time clock (oh, I don’t miss those “working in the real world” days!). As a result I usually gradually ease into the time change with no problem.

Since having children, I have become a very extreme morning person. I think I make my husband a little nauseated with my perkiness. Not that I would ever insult my dear hubby but he is not as enthusiastic about the day starting like I usually am. But, this week I’ve found myself getting up later than I did before the change!

The culprit for my fatigue I believe, at least partly, is the fact that this time change signifies spring and we still have a layer of snow on the ground. With Easter right around the corner, I’m wondering just how that fuzzy little bunny’s eggs will look in the snow.

Sometimes I feel “tired” spiritually, too. Don’t we all? A little worn down by the little “changes” that life throws at us. A fractured relationship. A nagging health problem. The “blahs” that seem to linger for no explicable reason.

I’ve learned to persevere during those “worn out” spiritual times. I serve a God that never grows weary. And the most splendid part is that He offers me strength when mine wanes.

A passage that brings me comfort when I am tired either physically or spiritually is this:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

I wasn’t made to handle all of the problems that life throws at me alone. I was created to have Him alongside me, carrying the load when I can’t. It’s exactly what He wants me to do. Give it to Him. All of it.

It is times like this that I am reminded that this body, “young” in the eyes of some and “old” to my 3 year old that assures me that I can’t be older than 10 (the largest number he knows), is mortal. Not meant to last forever. It was placed on this earth but for a mere flash of time. It gets tired. It gets worn down. It’s a reminder of something:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor. 12:8-10

By next week, this weary body will once again spring up out of bed at some early hour that no one else in my house wants to see. I will resume my normal perky morning routines that I have grumbled through this week. Next week, after all, is a new week.

Until then, I will happily carry around my Diet Dr. Pepper (my caffeine provider of choice) knowing that this weary body wasn’t meant to always be full of grace and vigor. Sometimes it gives out one me.

This week that is exactly the reminder that I need.

To see other details where God is revealing Himself, visit Lori at All You Have to Give.

Thankful Thursday: Family

2008-03-13T07:35:00.006-04:00

It’s hard to believe it’s already Thursday! This past week has been very special because my mom visited us. So, this week I am reflecting on how thankful I am for my family. The older I get, the more I realize how important it is. Here are just a few reasons:

~ I have in-laws that I can truly say I love as much as my own family. Growing up in a very small family, I always felt like I was “missing” part of my family. When I married my husband, his family became that missing puzzle piece. They are such a blessing to me!

~ I am thankful that although I live a two day drive away from my family, we live in a time of quick e-mail and relatively cheap plane tickets. The distance doesn’t seem as great as it is.

~ Last year we moved back to where my husband grew up. As a result, we have family close by. My kids are loving play dates with their cousins and dinner with Grandma.

~ We finally figured out how to work the webcams I bought my mom and myself for Christmas. It’s a miracle since they didn’t come with instruction books (someone tell me why they would sell those without them!!). Now, when my oldest, age 3, wants to talk to his “Nana” he runs over to the computer and asks to call her. He is always so excited to show her all of his favorite toys. I am thankful we live in an age where seeing his “Nana” on the computer is possible.

If you want to see a picture of "Nana" and the boys, scroll down to yesterday's post.

To see what others are thankful for, visit Iris over at Sting My Heart.

Every Picture Tells a Story

2008-03-12T08:58:00.003-04:00

What do you get when you have a very active one year old and three year old and you want to take a picture of them with their visiting Nana?

Yes, and this was the good one!!

Yes, we've had lots of joy around here. My mom visited for a few days and the boys absolutely loved it. She is now back home in Oklahoma resting up from all the noise and craziness that is my house.

******************************

As a side note, I received a comment on Monday from a friend of mine that I have not talked to in YEARS!! I was so excited but was sad to discover I still had no way to get in touch with her. So, Laura, if you are reading this please, please, please e-mail me at robynadams75 AT gmail DOT com! I want to hear all about those twin boys of yours!!

More Of Him: Pray Continually?!?!

2008-03-10T08:37:00.004-04:00

Pray continually.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

This Scripture has been God’s challenge to me lately. For only two words, it is a tall order. Prayer is something that takes a great deal of discipline to do. Doing it continually seems rather impossible.

I remember the first time I heard this Scripture. I was a new Christian, 20 years old, and was dumbfounded. How was that possible? Now, nearly 13 years later, I am still striving to accomplish this great task.

In recent weeks, though, I have been really meditating on what this means. I don’t think it means that we are constantly talking to God and ignoring the needs of those around us. Instead I think it is more about our reverence for Him. Here are some things He has taught me:

1. It starts when you first wake. When my eyes flutter open, I begin the process of talking to God. Since I get up well before anyone else in my house, I love the feeling of “being all alone” with God and chatting with Him like a friend.

2. Taking the opportunities we can to pray. My early rising is not always my desire. Instead it is a necessity to get my prayer time done before my children wake up. While I don’t think God faults me for getting a little wrapped up in the day once the kids are up, I do think He expects me to give Him my first energies of the day.

3. Sometimes it is more of an attitude than an action. With two children, ages 3 and 1, I am a busy gal. I am aware that my attitude should always be that of Christ, even when I am home alone with the kids in my bathrobe. I am a witness to them even though they are young.

4. Sometimes, however, prayer is a deliberate action. When there is time in the day to pray, I do my best to do it.

5. It’s an on-going conversation. Throughout the day I am learning to bring all of my requests to Him. Sometimes it’s for small things, like patience while fixing a meal, or the big things like disciplining a disobedient 3 year old. Sometimes, though, I just like to chat about my life with Him. It's fun when I know that He truly does care about every little detail.

That’s what God’s been teaching me in the last weeks about prayer and what it means to follow that tall order in 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

Want to see what Jesus is teaching others? Visit my friend Heather at Not a DIY Life to find out!

Burrito Pie

2008-03-07T07:33:00.005-05:00

When I saw that Overwhelmed with Joy was hosting a Mexican edition of Favorite Ingredient Friday, I had to participate. Mexican food is something I cannot live without! I have many recipes but Burrito Pie is one of our favorites. It also works great to make ahead and freeze. So, without further ado:

Burrito Pie

4 8" flour tortillas
1/2 lb ground beef
1 med. onion
1 small clove garlic-minced
1 4 oz can chopped green chilies, drained
1 8 oz can refried beans
1/4 t. salt
1/3 cup taco sauce
1/2 lb. Monterey Jack cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Brown beef, drain grease. To the same pan, add onion, green chilies, salt & garlic. Sautee. Stir in taco sauce. Spread refried beans evenly on the 4 tortillas.

In a 9" pie plate, add 1 tortilla w/ beans, 1/4 of meat mixture, & 1/4 of cheese. Repeat 3 times. Bake pie 30 minutes.

OK, there it is!! Be prepared to have your taste buds saying "Gracias!!"

A Thankful Thursday that is all about FOOD!

2008-03-06T05:44:00.000-05:00

This Thursday I am thankful for something that is going to sound a little odd. But, I can’t help it. It’s been dominating our lives and praises to God in the last few weeks.

This week I am thankful for FOOD and my son’s ability to eat it.

Umm…I told you it was going to sound odd.

Stick with me here... My oldest son, Tyler, was allergic to milk, eggs, and peanuts. A few weeks ago we discovered he had outgrown them all! (For that jumping up and down TT, visit here.)

However, when someone “outgrows” an allergy, you still have to be very cautious and start giving small doses of the former allergen. Since milk has the most difficult one to manage, that was the first one we challenged his body with.

And guess what! He can eat milk products!! I can’t tell you, as a mother and someone who loves to cook, how exciting this is!!

Can you imagine? Eating cheese for the first time? A cup cake? Ice cream?

The last few weeks have been a lot of fun for all of us and certainly a reason to be so very thankful.

If you’ve ever wondered what a 3 year old looks like trying food for the first time, take a peek!

2/23: His first taste of cheese - per his request - Taco Bell!! (Mommy's favorite!!)

Feb. 26: The first taste of cupcakes and ice cream!! Yummy!!

2/29: And the ultimate food: PIZZA!!

Yep, it's such a big deal we take pictures at meals!!

For the record, we will be introducing eggs (which won’t be nearly as exciting, I’m sure!) next month. And, peanuts (the most deadly food allergy there is!) will be introduced in the doctor’s office at his next appointment this summer.

So there it is, an odd, but certainly praise worthy Thankful Thursday! Visit Iris to see if anyone else is thankful for something more odd than their child being able to eat!!

The Legacy of Steak and Rice

2008-03-05T07:29:00.001-05:00

I can’t help it. Anytime I eat steak and rice, I think of my Granddaddy.

It was a dish that became one of my favorites sometime during my preteen years. Once my Granddaddy, a fabulous cook, knew I liked it, he made it nearly every time I came to visit. It became part of the experience for me.

During those years, my Granddaddy was a stable force in my life. My life was often shaken up like one of those snow globes that decorate many a coffee table at Christmas time. And so was that steak and rice.

So dependable, so tender, and just so very good…just like my Granddaddy.

He was a simple man, really. He was forced to drop out of school in the eighth grade to help with the family farm. Yet, he was one of the smartest men I knew.

His faithfulness spilled over into his relationship with God. He had not lived an easy life but he never stopped trusting Jesus. Even after his youngest child died of brain cancer while I was in high school and Grandmother’s faith wavered, he was still as faithful to God as ever.

When I look back on the younger years of my life and think of stability, I see his face smiling back at me.

When he passed away in 2000, I knew that there would be no more steak and rice dinners cooked for me the way he had. I think it was his sense of dedication to making something just for me that made it taste even better.

During those grief-filled days following his death, I knew what I wanted in a husband. I wanted someone reliable and dependable. Someone that meant stability and security. Someone just like my Granddaddy.

The recipe was very simple. Just round steak cooked in cream of mushroom soup with a little beef broth and then poured over rice.

A simple recipe. An outstanding meal.

A simple man. An outstanding man of God.

The Vision of a Christian

2008-03-04T07:04:00.002-05:00

"The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision."

~ Hellen Keller ~

When I was a child, I used to make up silly games to play with my friends. One game that we all loved was a modified version of the game “tag.” The object of the game was for “it” to tag as many as people as they could in a certain amount of time. The twist? The person doing the tagging had to do it with their eyes closed!

Sometimes I see Christians, myself included, running around just like that childhood game. Running around, trying to make things happen, arms flailing, rarely stopping to utter a prayer. We are desperately trying to work things out in our own way, never realizing we are doing it without God’s perspective.

“Vision” is something that’s rather hard to describe. In fact, I Googled it to try to put it into concrete terms and got a lot of stuff on the visual variety of vision. This “vision” is not something you can see with your eyes. It’s something you feel with your heart.

For the Christian, “vision” is perceiving something much greater than ourselves. It’s a recognition that we are not in control but that we know God is and has our best interests at heart. It is knowing that we can be a part of the “big plan” that He has.

How do we have any idea what our vision should be? Look to God through prayer and His Word and He will plant a vision for how He wants to use us in our hearts.

"When we find ourselves deficient in wisdom, it is not because the Word of God has pages missing, but because we have not seen all there is on the pages we already have. It is not another book we need, but better attention to the book we have; it is not more knowledge we require, but better vision to see what has already been revealed in Jesus Christ.

-Eugene H. Peterson

When we get on board with God, we get a glimpse of who He is and what His vision is. Let me tell you, when you get just a little look at what He has in mind, you can’t help but want more of Him and what He has in store.

So many of us linger on the shore, being content with the way things are, never even stopping to think about getting on God’s boat to ride alongside Him.

Oddly enough, Oswald Chambers likens a Christian’s “vision” to a ship, too. And, the loss of that vision to a leaky ship.

“If we lose the vision, we alone are responsible, and the way we lose the vision is by spiritual leakage. If we do not run our belief about God into practical issues, it is all [over] with the vision God has given.”

-Oswald Chambers

If we flip through the pages of the Bible for someone who had vision, we don’t have to look very far. Joseph (Genesis 37-50) was a man with vision. If there was ever a person that had a reason to be down on life, it was this man. He was beaten by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused of improper conduct and imprisoned for years as result.

This was a guy that appeared to have been dealt a bad hand in life. However, Joseph never lost his vision for God’s plan. When God turned his circumstances around and put Joseph in a place of power over the brothers that had mistreated him so many years back, he responded in a way that few probably would.

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Gen. 50:20

Joseph refused to hold on to the anger and bitterness. Instead He saw God’s providential hand in the matter. He knew God’s plan was better than His own.

It’s tempting, even for a strong Christian, to feel like we need to “help God along” in certain matters. When things don’t happen as we anticipate or hope, we start to take matters into our own hands. We feel like we know exactly what the situation needs. It happens so naturally, often we don’t even realize we are doing it.

Joseph waited for years to see God’s ultimate plan for His situation. I’m sure there was some questioning…some doubts… a little frustration…and a lot of temptation to “take matters into his own hands.”

But, he trusted God. In the end, the entire Jewish race was spared famine and starvation.

Instead of running around on the shore and playing a silly game of “tag” with our eyes closed and trying to make things happen on our own, God’s boat is waiting for us to get on board. His divine vision awaits. All we have to do is step up and ask…

For more thoughts on this quote, visit Heather at Mommy Monk.

Is Divorce Ever Right?

2008-03-03T07:54:00.004-05:00

When I saw the topic of divorce for Marriage Monday for this month, I groaned. I did not know if I could write about this topic objectively. Nothing my life has caused me more pain than the divorce of my parents when I was 5 years old.

I could go on and on about the pain and scars that it leaves behind, even nearly 30 years later. But what purpose would that serve?

Instead, I will say that it has completely shaped who I am today, both good and bad. I simply cannot imagine my life without having encountered such tragedy at such a young age. I rest in the fact that God does not allow anything to happen to us without His bringing good to the situation.

For that fact, I rejoice. Who would I be today if I had not happened? I see things everyday in my life that were shaped, for my good, from that experience.

But, if you ask me if divorce is ever “right,” I would have to say “No.”

There are, however, places in the Bible that “permit” divorce. There is a big difference between the meanings of the words “right” and “permit.” Just because we are given permission to do something does not make it “right.”

Jesus even addresses this matter by saying “anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness…” in Matthew 5:32, showing there are instances where it could be permitted. The divide in the marriage started long before the word “divorce” was ever uttered. It began with the sin of “marital unfaithfulness.”

We could get into a debate on what this phrase specifically means. I even looked back at some Greek translations of the term “marital unfaithfulness” to write about that more in-depth.

But, instead I’m listening to my heart on this one. I’m writing as a person that was deeply wounded by this action. Someone that still cries from time to time over something that happened in 1980.

If there is something that tears a family apart, hurts countless people, and stays with the children (and adults for that matter) for the rest of their lives, the pain even being felt in future generations…if that “something” was classified as “right,” would you want to be a part of that?

Whether there is an exception or not, I think the pain speaks for itself. It’s not “right.”

My heart breaks not only for the children that are affected by divorce, but for the adults that are involved in the matter, as well. What might have started out looking “right” doesn’t usually look so good on the other side.

Our churches need to remember this. Sometimes those of us in the church that view divorce as “wrong,” somehow forget that those involved are still loved by God and are, in fact, hurting people.

It happens. My mother and I were on the receiving end of that from other Christians. While I don’t believe anyone was deliberately mean, it did happen.

Some children from Christian families were not allowed to play with me because of what happened. Instead of seeing an opportunity to minister, they saw a better opportunity to shield. While I don’t fault the intentions, I do wish that we (myself included) could overlook the sins of a repenting, hurting family rather than just blanket judging.

It is easy to turn your back on someone that has a struggle that you don’t. Somehow we start to think we are little higher on the God barometer than “those people.”

We’re not. We’re all sinners in His eyes.

I hope I do not come across as bitter or angry in this post because neither is true. Instead, I am just opening my heart and exposing a little of the pain that still exists. It’s my emotional response to the “rightness” of divorce.

Again, read this as an adult child of divorce that shudders at the word. Please know that I do think there are some instances, such as abuse, when divorce is certainly permissible. This is just the heart of one person that knows the devastating effects it can bring.

Sometimes I wonder who I would have been had my parents not divorced. I’m glad I don’t know because I truly am happy with how He used something terribly painful to shape me into who I am today.

For more thoughts (less emotional than mine, I'm sure!), visit Chrysalis.

Keeping It Together: My Home Management Notebook

2008-02-27T05:58:00.000-05:00

When I thought of having children and being a stay at home mom, I had these beautiful visions of peering into my children’s eyes, cuddling during a good book, and playing games like hide and seek all day long. Something silly like “how to get everything done in a day” never even crossed my mind.

When reality hit and I became a mom to my two little ones, I found that each day was a marathon, and some days the only thing I got accomplished was brushing my teeth! (Don’t ask about the days that I didn’t accomplish that task!)

Things like cleaning, cooking, and even the laundry started falling to the wayside like all those warm and fuzzy dreams I once had. I knew there had to be a way to get a handle on the chaos that ran rampant during my day and I was determined to find it!

Enter: THE HOME MANAGEMENT NOTEBOOK

(OK, for those of you who know me and didn’t already think I was ready for the “Organizing Freak of the Year” award, get your ballots out. This one is going to put me in the Hall of Fame. This thing is crazy, I tell ya!!)

My Home Management Notebook has become my brain for keeping up with everything around the house and much more. I have tweaked this notebook over time and made it something that I can’t live without. It meets all of my needs without driving me totally insane (which, of course, is a small trip!)

So, here is what works for me to help me keep my house organized and some days even clean!

To make my notebook really mine, I picked out a fun one that really shows my personality. I even bought matching dividers!

Here is my notebook:

In the front, I have a clear binder pencil pouch that I keep pencils, erasers, pens, Post-It notes, and even a dry erase marker. That way when I need that stuff I am not rummaging around the house trying to find it.

Section #1: This is the “To Do” section. Some weeks, I make a list for each day. Other weeks, I make a list for the whole week and work off of that. Nevertheless, I have a list of things that need to get done. And, yes, I scribble them off as I do them. Nothing feels better at the end of the day (or week) to see a “To Do” list with a bunch of scribble marks that I shows I did actually get something accomplished.

Section #2: “Schedule” In here, I have a daily schedule that I try to follow. I have discovered that putting certain times to do certain things doesn’t always work when you have two young children, instead I break the times up into blocks. (For example: Block 1 – Get kids up, dress, breakfast time) By breaking it into blocks there is no stress that you are “off schedule” but it does give you a road map of where you are headed. This section is also an excellent place to keep a cleaning schedule.

Section #3: “Goals” Each week I make a list of what my goals for the week, month etc. This includes house cleaning, things I’m working with kids on, and even a rough blogging schedule, at times. This helps me make my “To Do” list in section #1.

Section #4: “Projects” We all have “projects,” don’t we? In here, I have a list of things I am working on and my progress thus far. Right now, I have a spring cleaning list that I am working down. I also keep a list of small projects around the house that need to get done “when there is time.”

Section #5: “Menus” I never have to wonder what we will be eating in the coming week. I make my menus up about a month in advance but you certainly don’t have to do that much planning. A week ahead would certainly be sufficent. This makes for easier grocery shopping and less stress when the tummies start to grumble late afternoon.

Section #6: “Shopping Lists” Since I have a few different stores that I shop at (Super Wal-Mart and Sam’s, to name a few), I always have a running list so there is little stress when shopping time comes.

Section #7: “Phone Numbers” Any number I think I need more than once or twice gets put in this valuable section. Doctors, drug stores, family members, and even my hair dresser have their number in here. I even put numbers I know (such hubby’s work and cell phone) so that I can leave this with a baby sitter if I need to. In addition, I have a copy of our church phone directory in here, as well.

Section #8: “Gift Giving” Sounds like a strange section? It’s come in very handy at times. In here, I note those small things mentioned by family members and friends that they would like to have. That way when I need to buy them a gift, I have a ready made list. In addition, I keep sizes of family members in here so they are always close at hand.

Section #9: “Munchkin Lessons” OK, you don’t have to call it that. That’s just my term of endearment for my kids. In this section, I keep a list of goals and objectives, as well as specific activities I am working on with my little ones.

Section #10: “Scripture Memory” I will admit this is a duplicate section to one that I have in my prayer journal. But, this notebook is usually with me throughout the day and I never know when I might have a short opportunity to work on a little scripture memory at some point in the day.

Section #11: “Misc” This section is for “everything else.” This particular divider also had pockets on it so that it will hold things as well as provide me a section for anything else I might need to get my hands on quickly.

So, there you have it. My “Home Management Notebook.” While my sections work perfect for me, you may want to create sections that work best for you.

The ultimate goal of this notebook is cut down on needless stress and help you run your household more efficiently. While I cannot guarantee that it will cut down on all the chaos that the incredible job of wife and mother often brings, I know that it will give you a place to go to restore a little order and feel like you have some structure and organization in the home.

That’s what works for me and our household!! For other great tips, visit Rocks in My Dryer.

The Greatest Miracle of All

2008-02-25T21:55:00.002-05:00

"Miracles have happened when God's people come together in prayer."

~ Billy Graham ~

When I see the word “miracle” and “prayer” used together, I’m often suspicious. It’s not that I don’t believe that God has the power to make miracles happen, there is no question about that. In fact my oldest child received a miraculous healing just last month from a life-threatening peanut allergy (You can read about that here.)

For some reason, though, my mind can’t stop seeing pictures of the TV preachers that so frequently appear and assure me I will receive a miracle from God if I will only send in a certain amount of money to their ministry.

Those are the kind of things that made me skeptical of Christianity until I met Christ in college. I used to ask myself who really believed all of that stuff. I still wonder.

This quote, though, is from Billy Graham, certainly one of my all-time favorite preachers and authors. Yep, he’s on TV, too, but his sincerity is evident in every word he speaks.

He loves Jesus and it shows.

As I thought about this topic and decided that I couldn’t write anything that would be extremely beneficial, God impressed something on my heart that brought this quote out in a new light.

The greatest miracle of all in my life is that God wants me to spend time with Him in prayer. He listens to my cares, concern, joys, and even the funny things I bring to Him. He listens to everything I have to say with an attentive ear that no human could even hope to offer.

(If you’ve heard me get off on one of my rambles, you would understand!)

"If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

But, the most amazing thing about God is that He is the creator of the universe. Everything you see was created by Him. He desires to have a relationship with everyone on earth and is always actively pursuing it. And, with all that, He still wants to talk personally to me everyday. Little bitty me!

Amazing!

One of the sweetest things I have heard in my life is when both of my boys learned the word “MaMa”. It was a distinction I waited many years for. Even now that my oldest is three and says it sometimes in anger, it still melts my heart. It symbolizes the special relationship we have.

God longs to hear us cry out to Him just like I longed (and still do) to hear those two precious syllables.

“He prays to God and finds favor with Him, he sees God’s face and shouts for joy; he is restored by God to his righteous state.” Job 33:26

In fact, He loves hearing us pray so much that He wants to hear it all the time.

“Pray continually.” 1 Thes. 5:17

Have you ever tried this? It’s hard to do! It’s something I am constantly trying to train my mind to do. It is about taking all of your worries, problems, and even joys to Him throughout the day. There is certainly no need to save them up for later. He is always listening.

The fact that the creator of the universe wants to have a personal relationship with me is mind-boggling, I will admit. But, it certainly does not make it any less true.

For me, the fact that God wants to have this continual close, intimate relationship with me every single day no matter what, is the biggest miracle of all in my life.

For more thoughts on this subject, visit Beloved Mama.

2008-02-22T07:55:00.006-05:00

I admit it. I’ve had a bad week.

I’m not really sure when "Mr. Black Cloud" settled over our house, but it lingered a lot longer than I like.

It was one of those weeks that it seemed like no matter how much I cleaned, the house was dirtier than when I started. The kids seemed to be unusually rambunctious. The laundry pile grew faster than the promises of the presidential politicians. Sleep seemed elusive. The unpredictable seemed almost…predictable.

All of the sudden, feelings of being overwhelmed and discouraged set in. Then, the battle became even greater and of a took on a whole new dimension.

When a bad Monday turned into a bad Tuesday, I had to stop myself and ask what I could do to combat the feelings of the “black cloud syndrome” that seemed to have taken up residence in our little home, and particularly in my heart.

My heart cried out to God, asking Him for the help He so willingly offers. His answer came quickly, almost as if He had only been patiently waiting for me to ask.

“Focus on Me love. Focus on My love.”

It was monumental. When the deck seems stacked against me, focus on the one thing that is not, no matter how sour my attitude may be.

I was sorry I hadn’t asked the question on Monday morning when the clouds started to form.

Wednesday was my day to put His plan into action. Could I possibly spend the energy I used on being frustrated with the little things, and turn it all on God and His love? The true test began. It was shaky at first because it was obvious Mr. Black Cloud was still hanging around.

When my mind was tempted to get caught up in the silly little things, I simply redirected it. By the end of the day, Mr. Black Cloud had more of a gray cast to him.

Thursday morning, I spent a great deal of time meditating on this Scripture:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39

Thursday morning, after my quiet time, my joy was back! How easily we forget the truly important things in life. What could be more important than His love for us? Why should we waste energy thinking about anything else?

Even when everything goes wrong, we can turn our minds from the things that distract us from Him and focus ourselves back on Him and His love for us. It’s hard for a sour attitude to linger very long.

So, that’s my detail for this week (and all future weeks, quite frankly): GOD’S LOVE!!

A special note to Mr. Black Cloud: We have had enough of you this week. Next week, find somewhere else to linger. We are basking in the light of God’s love in this house. And no matter how hard you try, we will not let your presence put a damper on that.

In fact, if you do come back, you better bring sunglasses. Because the light of His love is going to be shining brighter than ever before.

Thanfkul for Thankful Thursday!!

2008-02-21T07:47:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was a bloggy milestone for me. It was my blog's one year birthday!! It's hard to believe it's been a year. But, incredibly, when I signed up for a blog last year, I didn't even really know what a blog was. I had written a funny story about my oldest child being sick and I was just looking for a way to share it with friends and family. (You can read that first entry here.) My, my how things have changed!!

Since then, my blog has been many things. It has been neglected at times, and other times it has caused me to neglect things. It's been fun some days and frustrating others. But, most of all, it has been a tool that God has used to grow me. It's somewhere I like to put many of the thoughts and struggles that I am going through, in hopes that maybe they will benefit someone else, too. It has also introduced me to some amazing women of God that have inspired to grow even deeper. For that, I am truly grateful.

Why am I including this on a Thankful Thursday post? Because I credit much of this to the friends I have met through this weekly time of sharing. When I first started blogging, I knew there must be other women that wrote about growing in Christ, but I had absolutely no idea how to find them. Then, late last summer, while doing research for a writing project, I stumbled across a blog that participated in Thankful Thursday. I clicked on the link to Iris's blog and wasn't prepared for what I would find.

What I found was a gold mine of like-minded women. These were ladies that desired a closer walk with Jesus more than anything else!! I was so excited and quickly decided to participate. In the coming weeks, I met so many wonderful ladies and continue to do so every week. I can't imagine blogging without a Thankful Thursday each week.

So this week, I am thankful for Thankful Thursday. It has enriched my walk and allowed me to meet incredible people. That is certainly something to be thankful for!!

How about you? Would you like to be changed by this incredible discipline each week? Head over to Iris's blog just like I did six months ago and you will be amazed at all the incredible ladies you will meet!

A Quote Worth Quoting

2008-02-19T13:44:00.002-05:00

I am always stumbling across quotes that touch my heart in some way. I write them in my prayer journal like a precious jewel I've discovered that I don't want to lose. Yesterday, during my Bible study, this one really moved me.

"We can turn our weaknesses to great advantage if we remember Paul's discovery (see 2 Cor. 12:7-10). Weaknesses can make us more compassionate as we relate to others. They can make our faith more attractive as others see our vulnerability. They certainly can produce greater patience and dependence upon God. Instead of becoming disheartened over our struggles, we should simply ask God to use those very weaknesses to display His strength."

-taken from Life Application Bible Commentary: Galatians (pg. 139)

Wow!!