Servant, Wife, Mother

New Bible Study!

2012-02-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

"in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths."

~Proverbs 3:6

I'm so excited about my new Bible Study! It took quite a while to figure out which one I wanted to do, but I'm confident at this point that I chose the right one. A dear friend of mine and I are studying Elizabeth George's book "A Woman After God's Own Heart". My books came in late last week, and I have just been digging right in!

While We have only finished the first chapter, I have already learned so much. We're going through this very slowly so that we can digest the information and apply it to our lives. Here are some of the notes that I have made so far:

"Good, better, best,

never let it rest,

until your good is better,

and your better is best."

This little saying was accompanied by a powerful story of choosing God's best for our lives. While we make some choices that are good, we could make better choices, and even then, there is always a best choice. It definitely made me stop to think about if my choices were merely good, or the best that they could be.

The growth and study guide had some great questions to take us deeper into the book. We had to look up the definitions of 'priority' and 'worship'. Then list 5 actions that would help us make worship a priority. Here's my 5 things:

Have a daily quiet time each morning.
Read my Bible each night.
Read to the boys out of our Bible book each night before bed.
Memorize Scripture!
Listen to/ sing along with a worship CD each day.

I'll let you know how I did on those later...

The theme for this weeks study was the story of Mary and Martha recorded in Luke 10:38-42. A quick summary of what we learned was that while serving God is good, stopping to sit at His feed and worship Him is even better (our memory verses for the week are Proverbs 3:6 and Luke 10:42).

The biggest impact made on me during the first chapter was written in the form of a question. It essentially said:

"Am I in awe of God and what He wants to do in me, for me, and through me?"

So that is the question that I leave you with today. Are you in awe of what God has in store for you?

Saved without a Doubt

2012-02-11T18:29:00.000-08:00

Saved without a Doubt by John MacArthur

Christianity is a love relationship between God and His children. Salvation is not a transaction by which God grants us eternal life no matter what our attitude toward Him is. Those who are truly saved have a deep, ongoing love for God. ~John MacArthur (p. 169)

I will start off by admitting that I have mixed feelings about this book. The title is extremely self-explanatory; this is a book about being sure of your salvation. I went into this book most certainly not sure of my salvation, and not even sure that I believed someone could be sure. To be quite frank I had argued on many occasions why the “Once Saved, Always Saved” theory was false. While my mindset changed in the process of reading this book, the book itself had very little or nothing to do with it. As someone who believed differently I found Mr. MacArthur’s words to be rather harsh and they sounded like they were intended to make me feel stupid for believing differently than he did. The arguments that I had used to argue this doctrine, he dismissed as foolish.

If I hadn’t committed to reading this book and wanted to truly learn about this topic, I probably would have thrown it into the trash. However, God had been working on my heart and I had a deep passion to understand this doctrine better. While Mr. MacArthur and I think very differently, he said something that sparked a thought process within me. It would have been nice if the book would have followed that process, but he just mentioned a Scripture then went on his way, leaving me to back track and think it out on my own... which was just fine as well, but I can’t really credit the book for changing my mind as it was a Scripture that He used that God used to enlighten me. Anyway!

While I found the first section of this book worthless, after coming to the conclusion that you could be saved for all eternity and be sure of it I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the book. I should mention that I came to that conclusion sometime in the midst of the first section, and I still didn’t think the first section was worth anything. I’m going to sum it up as John MacArthur and I have two entirely different brains, and while we are both children of God, and believe in the same Savior, God created us entirely different. Mr. MacArthur is like an eye, and I am more like a finger, both part of the body, but totally different.

During the time that I was reading this book my pastor actually did a sermon on this very topic, and while he also thinks more like MacArthur than he does me, I found it helpful as well. If this is an issue you have been pondering on, I do recommend parts 2 and 3, and even part one IF you enjoy John MacArthur’s teachings and follow similar thought processes. And of course are not easily offended by people mocking your beliefs.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the MacArthur ministry in a free mailing. I was not required to review it.

Breakdown:

Worldview: Biblical

Target Audience: Christians on the fence about the security in salvation

Positive Elements: Chapter 9 was my favorite… but all of parts 2 and 3 were good

Inappropriate Language: None

Unbiblical Content: None, but I think the first part was a bit lacking in love and gentleness…

Other Negative Elements: None

A Mile In His Shoes

2012-02-10T07:15:00.000-08:00

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

~Ephesians 4:2

I recently won a fabulous movie, from a fabulous blog.The blog is called Write at Home Mom, and the movie is called "A Mile In His Shoes". It's based on a true story, and was a great movie for the whole family. We love sports movies, and this was definitely a hit in our house. Here's the trailer:

What I took away from this movie wasn't that people with 'disabilities' can do great things. This movie was a movie of encouragement. People came together to encourage one another, to spur one another on to great things. They encouraged each other to be humble, patient, and loving. I loved that. Sure, they all had their own struggles to work through, but they worked through them. They stuck up for each other, and learned to be supportive, no matter what the cost. I definitely recommend this heartfelt movie.

And on an exciting note, the movie came with a letter inviting me to join their blogger review program! I will now have a chance to review faith based movies here on my blog! WOO HOO! :)

Book Review: Unleashed

2012-02-09T18:28:00.000-08:00

*Yet another review that I am transferring over from my old blog....

This book was previously released titled "The Barbarian Way". Personally, I think that was a far better title for it. They re-released the book because it was dominantly seen as a book exclusively written for men. I don't think changing the title and cover really changes that much. Most of the examples he uses are either things that men will relate to better, or examples about his daughter... from the prospective of a father. Even the interior graphics are manly.

I had trouble staying engaged while reading this book. He used some great examples, fleshed things out really well, and I do have several things highlighted. I found the concept of the barbarian way intriguing, but this is not something that I will recommend to anyone. I agree with most of the points that he made, and that being a Christian isn't about comfort, but about living our lives for Christ. I have read some reviews that put this book in the emergent church movement and the New Age religion, but I just don't see that. Unless I missed something huge, this book is about living a life for Jesus Christ, not yourself.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Freedom's Stand

2012-02-09T18:19:00.000-08:00

Freedom’s Stand by J.M. Windle

Freedom’s Stand by J.M. Windle is the story of four people in Afghanistan whose very different lives intertwine. It is a story of life, loss, love, hope and faith. The gospel is prominent in this book, and I love the way it was not only described, but actually applied directly to the character’s lives. It was such a blessing to read about the characters finding peace, love, hope and confidence in the Word of God.

While I enjoyed the storyline of this book, I didn’t care for the way that it was almost 4 different stories that didn’t entirely merge until the end. I guess I just don’t care for Jeanette’s writing style, although I find her creativity captivating. While I found parts of the book to be predictable, others totally caught me off guard. I am usually an overly emotional person, and I was surprised at how such a seemingly intense book, didn’t move me at all. While I found this book to be amazing in so many ways, I will probably never read another book by Ms. Windle, just because I don’t care for her writing style. But for those who do enjoy this style, this book would be a great read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Tyndale Media Center book review program for bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Breakdown:

Worldview: Biblical

Target Audience: Adults

Positive Elements: The telling, retelling, and application of the Gospel

Inappropriate Language: None, but there is talk of rape, the mention of cursing although
curse words are never actually used, and much violence and even death.

Unbiblical Content: NONE!

Other Negative Elements: While I didn’t care for her writing style, I don’t think there was anything else negative about this book.

A River to Cross

2012-02-09T18:16:00.000-08:00

*This is actually a review that I had posted on my old blog, but I wanted to transfer it over here.

The Rio Grande - Texas, 1886

On the Lawless Frontier, a Texas Lawman Is Her Only Hope

Elizabeth Madison's brother paid the ultimate price as editor of a newspaper exposing the dangers along the U.S.-Mexican border. Determined to take up his cause, she's targeted and kidnapped by a rogue general--Manuel Diego.

It's the job of Texas Ranger Jake Nelson to protect the border against rustlers and marauders. With Elizabeth's photograph in hand--a dark-haired beauty with smiling eyes--Jake and his men ride across the great river to rescue her, to apprehend Diego and bring him to justice.

But Diego and his renegades are not about to give up that easily.

Amid the turmoil, Jake finds himself taken by Elizabeth. And she by him. Yet his life as a Ranger doesn't fit with marriage and settling down. Not at all.

A River to Cross by Yvonne Harris is an excellent novel! I spent one Sunday afternoon reading this novel start to finish and had trouble putting it down! I was able to read the whole book in 12 hours (I was up way to late that night!). It was such a well written and intrigging story. There was one part that got a bit redundant and another part where the main character had a drastic change in opinion that wasn't well explained, but other than that it was simply amazing! If you enjoy clean romance novels I highly recommend this book!

On a side note, this novel was tagged both historical and Christian fiction, but I would really say it was just a clean romance novel. There were some historical facts woven in, but I don't think there were enough to call it historical fiction. Likewise, God was mentioned but there were no Scriptures that I recall, and while it seemed that most of the characters were religious, Christ wasn't a main theme in the book.

You can read a sample of the book's first couple of chapters here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Bethany House book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

A morning reflection

2012-02-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

~Psalm 5:3

I was reading to one of my little girls the other day out of their tattern and torn book of prayers, when I stumbled across the above prayer. I'm sure that I have read it dozens, if not hundreds, of times (since the book is over 4 years old), but this time it held a new meaning. It wasn't simply just a prayer example for toddlers, it was one for me too.

What if I prayed that prayer each morning?

Mornings at our house are pretty hectic. I am not a morning person. It comes from having 2 daughters that still don't sleep through the night on a regular basis, and an elderly dog that has to be let out 4 times each night. Those might sound like excuses, but lack of sleep makes mornings difficult for me. Taking time for God is something that I long to do, no matter how my morning goes. I will admit that I can't always get to it. With running the boys to school, feeding the children breakfast, and any number of other things that pop up, mornings just never seem to go the way that I want them too. However, just stopping for 20 seconds to pray for God's will to be done, really can make all the difference, even on a busy day. I mean, everyone has 20 seconds right? Maybe I will type this up and tape it to the bathroom mirror...

Mr. Monday: Date Night!

2012-02-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

My lover is radiant and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand.

~Song of Songs 5:10

We finally got to go out to celebrate my birthday last weekend. We almost had to cancel due to a huge winter storm, but Mr. Amazing pulled it off. He had arranged a sitter for his day off (Friday) early on in the week. However, our sitter is terrified of driving in the snow, so he ended up having to go and pick her up. The roads were horrible, and he lost control at one point, slamming into the median. The car is a little banged up, and he had a headache, but he wasn't going to let that ruin our day (I would have. I completely freaked out when he told me).

He brought me a dozen roses, and then took me to P.F. Chang's (who has the best Chinese food EVER). Then we went and walked around the mall to pass time while we waited for our movie to start. It was simply wonderful having time with just the two of us. We don't get to do that very often, and I was thankful for every moment of it. My only regret is that it had to come to an end. **sigh**

Action Plans

2012-02-03T06:01:00.000-08:00

In his heart a man plans his course,

but the LORD determines his steps.

~ Proverbs 16:9

To prepare for our upcoming vacation (yes, I know it's almost 2 months away), I have a ton of stuff that I have to do. I'm planning a course, you could say, to get everything done in time. Yet, I don't always meet my deadlines. This happens more then with getting ready for vacations. Even my normal to do list is sometimes left unfinished. It's tempting to get frustrated or upset when things don't go my way, but then I look back to Proverbs 16:9. I can plan all I want, but God is the one determining my steps. God knows in advance what will get done and what wont. I shouldn't get upset, but rather trust God is accomplishing the things that He needs to do through me. If I miss a deadline or have to bump something to a different week, God is still God and it isn't the end of the world. So when I get a case of the Friday Frizzles I have to stop and focus on what God wants from me. I have to remember that He is in control, and all is not lost.

But for now, I thought I would share my action plan with you. Before we leave for Texas in now just over 7 weeks, I have to:

Finish writing the devotions for "Teen Devotionals... For Girls! Vol. 2"

Edit and format them for publishing

Re-format them for Kindle

Set up a blog tour and write the posts

Write blog posts for between now and when we will get back for 3 blogs

Clean my house

Set up a house sitter

My normal weekly tasks

Pack

Find a place with internet that I can use while there if needed

Write a letter to a family friend in the area

Edit and format another book

...that might be it... but probably not.

And those are just the things that HAVE to be done before I go, and don't count the other little projects that I am currently working on... ugh! I have to trust God that He will accomplish the things that He has planned to do through me, and remember that it's my job to plan, and His job to determine what I get to complete.

On a side note... What kinds of things do you have to do before you leave on a vacation? Is there anything that I have left off my list?

De-Cluttering

2012-02-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

Yet her profit and her earnings will be set apart for the LORD; they will not be stored up or hoarded. Her profits will go to those who live before the LORD, for abundant food and fine clothes.

~Isaiah 23:18

I'm going through a purging stage. I have already gotten rid of 2 trash bags full of toys, 2 boxes and 2 bags of clothes, plus some other odds and ins, and I'm not done. Some of the stuff I have set up for over a year to sell in a garage sale that we have yet to have. So I'm now just donating it all to Good Will. You see, there is no point in storing or hoarding things to save for later. We get a lot of stuff from Good Will, it's cheaper. We might as well bless others the same way. You can get a dozen toys at Good Will for less than you can buy a new toy at Wal-mart. I love that. For families on a budget it truly is a God-send.

When I read Isaiah 23:18 that's what I thought about. How much better it is to set our belongings before the Lord. Whether it's money, toys or clothes, it all belongs to Him, who are we to store it up for our own gain, when we could be sharing it with others in need.

Mr. Monday: Upcoming Vaca!

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

At this they wept again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by, but Ruth clung to her.

~Ruth 1:14

I'm so excited!!! We pinned down a vacation to Texas to see Mr. Amazing's amazing parents for spring break!! The last time were were there was a year and a half ago when his parents church was dedicating a stained glass window for his dad (who was the pastor there for years - now retired). The girls weren't even two years old! Now his parents come up to visit us each summer, but I love going to visit them. It's nice to get away from our home, somewhere where there is no demands on our time. Somewhere where we are loved, but not needed.

Plus, the drive down there takes 12 hours (if we drive straight through), and it's so much fun to spend time with the family. We always stop in Kansas to visit Dorthy's house. I love being with my family, sitting next to Mr. Amazing with nothing but time on our hands. Mr. Amazing acts like a kid the entire time we are there (okay, so maybe he always acts like a kid, but it's intensified when his parents are around). He just seems to let go of the cares of life, and relax. I love that.

When we go to Iowa to visit my family each summer, it isn't the same. I can't explain why. It just isn't. Maybe it's because that's where I grew up. We try to see everyone in my family, and do things with my mom, it's just not as relaxing. Texas is just so serene to me. It's like the one place that I get to go with no cares. It's my own special getaway with some of the people that I love most in the world.

Bad Vibrations

2012-01-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good...

~Genesis 50:20

Joseph spoke the above words after he had been through a lot. His brothers were worried that he would hold a grudge against them, because let's face it, he had every right to by human standards. However, he looked past the bad vibrations, past the hurt, the pain, the wrong doings, and he saw what God did through all of those bad things.

Last Friday I had a bad day, to say the least! I was behind on my work and trying to get caught up when it happened. My cat knocked over a vase that I had sitting on my desk, soaking everything: my research, notes, to do list, keyboard, mouse, computer, laptop, spare printer paper, 3 of my notebooks, my work binder, a book, all of my notepads, me and the clothes that I was wearing... I could go on, but you get the point.

As I sat there lividly looking at the water and desperately dabbing at the electronics, the words of Joseph flew to my mind. I had just read them the night before (because I'm already a week behind in my Bible reading plan for the year), and they just resounded in my heart. "God intended it for good." I don't know what good can come out of wet electronics and ruined papers, but God didn't call me to understand, He called me to trust.

So as sat there sopping up the mess, I fought the urge to focus on all that was lost; the urge to focus on the things of this world. I had to shift my focus on how much greater God was then anything I could ever put on paper. My computer wasn't ruined. The water missed the power strip by an inch or two, so nothing fried. Yes, I lost some notes due to water damage, but it wasn't the end of the world. God is still God, and I am still not.

I guess that the whole experience was humbling. It forced me to slow down and meditate on the reason that I do the things that I do. It made me look at the importance of material objects (replaceable or not), and really just refreshed my perspective. On a day when I was overwhelmed and beating myself up about being behind, I would have never guessed that a disaster like that would be the thing that improved my attitude, but if I had to guess, I bet God did.

Courageous

2012-01-25T06:03:00.000-08:00

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

~Deuteronomy 31:6

We watched "Courageous" last week when it came out. I had been looking forward to it so much! We tried to see it in the theater, but by the time we were able to line up a sitter, it wasn't playing in any of the theaters that were within an hour of our house. I was totally bummed, but we got to watch "Happy Feet 2"... Wait... where was I going with all this? Oh that's right, "Courageous".

I ended up with mixed feelings about this highly emotional film. I guess that if I had to summarize it in one sentence I would have to say that it was about a group of men who decided to make a pledge to be good fathers. However, for me, there was just too much going on in the movie. Too many stories intertwined. I also noticed that the gospel wasn't mentioned... at all (please correct me if I'm wrong). You see, the goal behind the movie was great, but we can't leave our men expecting that they should be perfect; that they can fulfill all of Scripture out of their own good intentions. People fail. We just simply can't be perfect on our own, we have to look to God for our strength, and forgiveness when we fail.

I also don't feel like we should pledge to be perfect parents. First and foremost, we should strive to serve God in ALL aspects of our lives. One of the Scriptures or points that they touched on was that we are to teach our children to be godly, and we can't do that if we are not first and foremost seeking to please Him. We can't live a Christian life out of desire to be good parents. If we did, we would be living a lie.

Yes, we are called to be courageous in our Christian faith. But not just for the sake of our children. We are to love the lord our God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds. We should make the right choices and honor our morals, not to teach our kids right and wrong, but because it's what God wants from US. Anyway, those are just some of my thoughts about this movie. I would love to hear some of yours.

The Gospel for the Imperfect Wife

2012-01-23T06:02:00.000-08:00

Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

~Proverbs 31:11

One of my all time favorite blogs is Christ in the Chaos. I love how she words her posts to always include the gospel. I'm bringing this up because her blog inspired this post. Anyway, on to the Mr. Monday portion of this blog post!

When I read the above verse today, it really just... well it hurt. I fail my husband in so many ways. He has full confidence in me, but only because love is blind and he's amazing like that. However, he lacks a lot.

I am far from the perfect wife. Housekeeping isn't exactly my strong suit. The dishes aren't always done, neither is the laundry. The floors all need to be vacuumed and I don't have meals planned out for the entire month (or even the day). He needed his hair cut, and I didn't have the time so he had to go to a salon. Things just add up, and when I read the verses in Proverbs 31, it can be tempting to feel like a failure. But that's not what Christ wants.

You see, Christ came to earth because He knew that we wouldn't be able to be the perfect wives. He knew that we were in capable of making it on our own. He came to save us from having to be perfect. Yes, it's good to read Proverbs 31 and have that as a backdrop for the perfect wife, but we have to remember, I have to remember, that God knew that I wouldn't BE that wife. He knew that I would fail, and that my kids would wash the dishes, do some laundry, and my husband would order pizza on days like today when I fell asleep with one of the kids.

I will never be perfect, and neither will you. Our husbands know it, God knows it, why can't we accept it? Today, I am choosing to bathe in the grace of God. I will not feel defeated when looking at the dirty carpet and mound of laundry waiting to be put away. I choose to feel the peace that God promised us through the blood of Christ. I choose to accept that imperfections and shortcomings aren't the end of the world. I might be an imperfect wife. I might fall short of the Proverbs 31 woman, but I have a mighty Savior and an Amazing husband, and I won't let the things of this world get me down!

P.S. It's my birthday, and I know he has plans... I just have yet to figure them out! More on that next week :)

Sanctification Multiplication

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."

~2 Peter 3:18

As any mother of small children can testify: children never become perfect. We don't just suddenly wake up one day with perfect, well-mannered, sinless children. Instead, they simply progress from one area of imperfection to another. While our children may no longer be biting one another, they move into the stage of talking back. When they get past that stage, they start doing something else. They, like us, will never be perfect.

I had an amazing book recommended to me a few weeks ago by a friend. It's called "Loving the Little Years" by Rachel Jankovic, and while I was originally put off by how amazingly short it is, it holds some very powerful truths. This being one of them. Rachel relates our children's progression in growing up and moving from one sinful deed to another, to basic math. I just love the picture that paints. You can never know everything there is to know about mathematics. While when we are little we learn how to count and that 1+1=2, in our spiritual walk we have to first learn who Jesus is and what He has done before we can move into the spiritual trigonometry of living out our Christian walk.

I guess that my favorite take away from all of this is that we have to teach our children to count today so that they will be able to face the later courses of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry with a leg to stand on. That doesn't mean that they won't struggle or fail (because we all do some of the time), it just means that they will have a foundation. A starting place, and a place to come back to when needed.

Worthy vs. Worthless

2012-01-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

"...go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

~ Matthew 9:13

As I was reading another blog this past weekend, I loved the analogy of the message of todays Christian music, verses the message sent in traditional Christian music (such as Amazing Grace). You can read the original post here.

The main point was that today's music doesn't have good theology. We are told that we are all worth dying for. We are told that we are worthy. But Jesus said that the righteous don't need a Savoir. If we are worthy of it, then we don't need it. That's why the old hymn says that Jesus came to save a wretch like me. That's why His grace is so amazing after all. God loved us even when we weren't worthy. In fact, on our own, we have no worth. Our worth is found in Christ alone. It is Him that is worthy. He died for us even though we didn't deserve it. How amazing is that?!

I guess the main point here is that if the grace of God isn't needed, but something that we deserve, then it isn't as precious as I was led to believe. What about you?

Mr. Monday: A Rose by any other name...

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

"I am a rose of Sharon,

a lily of the valleys."

"Like a lily among thorns

is my darling among the maidens."

~ Song of Songs 2:1-2

Mr. Amazing brought me a rose last weekend. It was his day off and he took the twins on a milk run while I made breakfast. After a little while the door bell rang. I went to answer it and found one of the sweetest little four year olds in the world standing there holding a beautiful long-stemmed rose. She said "Flower for you, Mommy." It was pretty much the cutest thing ever. She gave me the rose and a kiss, then went into the house. She was followed up the stairs by the other sweetest little four year old who proclaimed: "Mommy! That's you flower!" and then gave me another kiss. It was great. Mr. Amazing followed behind them laden down with groceries. He really is amazing :)

I use to not like getting flowers. I was one of those women that saw them as temporary treasures that eventually died, and when you give them as a picture of love, that isn't very encouraging. However, I love the above verses that Solomon wrote. The maiden says: "I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys." and her husband responds "Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens." Now that's a great picture of love represented by a rose.

I encourage you, the next time your Mr. buys you flowers, think about these verses. Remember that he is doing it because to him, you are more precious then anyone else in the world. Like a lily (or rose) among thorns.

Supernatural Peace

2012-01-13T06:23:00.000-08:00

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

~ Philippians 4:4-7

After a long day with 4 kids that have far too much energy for a mom with a kink in her neck, these words aren't exactly easy to read. As I sit in front of the computer with my throat burning from screaming at them for multiple things, my gentleness is not evident. Not to all, and defiantly not to my children.

With the temptation to feel like a failure building along with the pressing tears, the end of this passage brings hope. "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." That peace that surpasses all understanding truly is an amazing thing. It's the peace that takes over when I admit my failures, but claim the promises of Christ. It's the peace that washes over me, when I remember that God knew 2000 years ago that I wouldn't be able to be perfect. He knew that I would fall short of being the perfect mom, and He knew that I would need a Savior. Knowing that I'm forgiven brings me that peace. I hope it does the same for you.

While I know that I will not be the perfect parent, ever, I can trust that God will still bring me peace. He will guard my heart and my mind, and grow gentleness within me. Even if it doesn't happen over night, I can trust that it will come, and even when I fail, I can rejoice in the Lord.

What Are You Teaching?

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

~Psalm 34:11

This verse is one that I know well, but recently when I was reading it, God used it to convict me. He made me stop and think about the question this verse asks:

Am I teaching my children to fear the Lord, or am I teaching them how to be sinful human beings?

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself that question? I honestly don't think that I have. I have thought about the answer off and on. How I fail to teach them, or how I think I have done well. But never just the question itself.

Such a powerful question, has multiple answers. Yes, I read my kids the Bible. They love going to church. We pray before meals, and before bed each night. But teaching them about God, isn't the same as teaching them the fear of the Lord. Not even close. One is head knowledge, the other comes from the heart. What is my heart telling them?

Defiantly a powerful thought to meditate on.

Mr. Monday:

2012-01-09T06:06:00.000-08:00

This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands.

~1 Peter 3:5

Mr. Amazing hates this verse. He is a strong believer that men and women were created equal, and that saying that as wives we should accept their authority speaks to the contrary. I lovingly disagree with that sentiment.

You see, as a Christian woman, I look at it as a picture of our relationship with Christ. When I am trying to rule over my husband, I am not being submissive to Christ. It isn't about being greater than or less than. Christ said whoever is the least now will be the greatest then (Mark 10:31). I know that God created us all in His image. That we are all equal, we are just created differently, with different roles. For me, living under the authority of my husband isn't about feeling like a lesser person than him. It's about submitting to a righteous God, who is the Greatest.

I won't say that I am the perfect wife at living under my husbands authority. I am still a sinful human, and there are definitely things that I am stubborn about. But that's the best part. God knew that we would do that. It was included in the curse. But that's why Jesus came. He knew that we wouldn't be the perfect wives. He knew that we would need a Savior. I am so thankful for Him!

~Special announcement:
For today only, you can download a free Kindle copy of my book, "Teen Devotionals... For Girls!" at Amazon.com. Check it out here.

Self-image

2012-01-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

This is a modified version of a devotion that I wrote for the website FindYourTrueBeauty.com:

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

~Genesis 1:27

This is one of those verses that seems to just keep popping up everywhere I turn. And every time someone has referred to it, they have been referring to our self-esteem and the self-image we have of ourselves as humans. I guess that for me at least, it’s easiest to remember that God made mankind out of the dust of the ground then it is to remember that He created us in His image.

I think as humans, we tend to beat ourselves up too much, and I’m sure Satan just has a hay day when we are too busy beating ourselves up to be of any use to Christ. Satan enjoys it when we look at ourselves and all we see is a pile of dirt, when we can't get past our failures, or what we see as imperfections. But that isn’t what God sees. God created us in HIS own image, that means that when God looks at us, He see's Himself. We were created in the image of God! How awesome is that?! So why is it that we can’t see past the materials used in creation to the final product?

As a mom, one of the examples that I keep coming back to is a picture that one of my kids drew for me. My child was the creator of that picture. He can tell me exactly what he sees when he looks at it, and he can tell 100 other people the exact same thing. But none of us really sees what he sees. We might see colors and possibly some shapes, not the giant dragon with the pointy tail that is standing there looking back at us. Obviously God's a much more talented creator than my son was 2 years ago when he drew that picture, but I don't think the problem is the creator. I think that it is us that can't see past the materials used. When I looked at my sons picture, I saw crayon scribbles on white paper. When we look in the mirror, we have to look past the dust, past the physical medium, to the masterpiece that God created.

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You can get the actual devotion for free in your e-mail by signing up at http://www.teen-beauty-tips.com/free-teen-devotionals.html

The Perfect Parent

2012-01-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.

~Isaiah 1:2

I don't know about you, but as a mom, I find so much hope in this verse. God is perfect in every way. Meaning that He is our perfect heavenly Father. Yet in this verse we see that even though He is the perfect parent, we (His children) still rebelled against Him. That gives me hope, because it just reassures me that the salvation of my children doesn't rest on my shoulders. God gave us free will. If every child He created didn't turn out perfect, how on earth could I expect mine to???

What that means to me is that if I fail as a mom, it's not the end of the world. God was/is the perfect parent, yet His children still rebelled. Therefore, my parenting ability doesn't determine the eternal state of my children (thank you Lord!). This is why Jesus came. He came because God knew we couldn't do it on our own. I mean, if I can't secure my own salvation, what is it in me that makes me think that I'm responsible for the salvation of my children? When I think about it that way, it just sounds silly. Yet so many times I beat myself up because I'm not the perfect mom.

I'm very thankful that I don't have to be the perfect parent for my kids to have a perfect Savior. Sometimes I just need God to remind me how much I need Him, and how much He has done for me. It's good to know that I fall short. It's good to know that I'm not expected to be perfect.

Mr. Monday

2012-01-02T06:30:00.000-08:00

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

~Genesis 2:24

I have been doing a study called "The Truth About Man" by Paul Washer, and I am just loving it! This verse is one that has always meant a lot to me when thinking about marriage. To become one, is a powerful thing. We live in a time when marriages are failing more often then they are thriving. I truly believe it is because we have lost site of this verse. We live in the world of 'me and you' not the world of 'us'. We simply don't see married people as one flesh.

As I was contemplating this verse, I just couldn't help but ponder on what it takes to move from the 'me and you' stage to the 'us'. Here's what it looks like in my marriage:

One bank account- Not his bills and my bills, but our bills.
The same last name- I am his Mrs. and he is my Mr. I want the world to know it!
Forgiveness- You know when Jesus said that we should do to others as we would have them do to us? I really want Mr. Amazing to forgive me when I screw up, so it's essential to forgive him no matter how big or small the offence is.
Concentrate on the good things- Philippians 4:8! Instead of focusing on the things my Mr. does wrong, I focus on the things he does right. Sure, he is far from perfect, but so am I. I guess it goes back to the do unto others...
Shared responsibility- We don't have his and hers chores. Sure, I do most of the house work because I'm home more. But he helps out too. He does the laundry on his days off, and he cooks meals when he gets the chance.
Looking out for each other- in a world that tells us to protect ourselves at all costs, we do what's best for our family, not ourselves. If I have a PTA meeting and am running short on time, I don't cut out the door and stop by McDonalds, I take the time to put a meal in the oven for the family even if I can't eat it. Mr. Amazing goes to work day in and day out to provide for us, even during the stages when he can't stand his job (thankfully, he currently is loving his work... it depends on the boss I think).

What about you? What are some of the ways that you and your Mr. have become one, instead of him and you?

Big Changes!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

I have decided that I really need to refocus my blog. I originally started this blog not so that I could blog for the blog of it, or blog about me, my life, and my opinions, but so that I could share God's calling for women. I have recently seen that I have failed, and I owe you all an apology for that.

From this day forward I am seeking to change that. As a reminder to myself, I contemplated moving my blog over to wordpress where my other blog is. But in the end decided to move my other blog over here! LOL, I know, I'm indecisive (you can view my other blog here). This blog will have a new design and a new purpose. It will be a blog that shows my devotion to Him, not one that holds random tidbits of life, jumbled thoughts and skewed view points. I want it to be an encouragement to those that read it. I want it to be focused on Christ.

May the words of Isaiah henceforth describe me:
"The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being taught."

I do hope that you will continue to follow me. However, I do want to add that I really want to clean up my content, so I am going back through old posts and will be re-posting some previous content that is reworded to fit the new goal, but unless you have been following me for 3 years, you probably won't even notice. :D

I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of my followers. Your words of encouragement mean so much to me!

New Years Resolutions

2011-12-30T07:30:00.000-08:00

I don't know if any of you take part in New Year's resolutions or not, but I just love this idea so I thought I would share it with you. It's called the True Beauty Challenge.

The challenge only lasts for a month, but you could easily extend it out if it's something that you are passionate about. But here's the original challenge:

Think about all of the money you spend each month on outer beauty. Whether it is money spent at the gym, on make-up, new clothing, hair, or manicures. It adds up quickly for most women! For one month give up something $30 worth of that stuff and spend it to help someone else get their basic needs met. Whether it be donating food to a food pantry, sponsoring a child through compassion, or providing drinking water over seas. $30 can go a long way, and for most of us it isn't a huge sacrifice on our end.

So that’s the challenge. This year, while everyone else is making their New Year’s resolutions for self-improvement, I encourage you to listen to Paul’s words to Timothy written in 1 Timothy 4:7-8: …train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

You can learn more about the True Beauty Challenge at FindYourTrueBeauty.com

~Once again I want to remind you that there are big changes coming to my blog in the new year. Check back soon to find out what's going on.

Ministry Month: Revive Our Hearts

2011-12-29T07:30:00.000-08:00

This is the last post in the ministry month series. Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss holds a special place in my heart. It was this ministry that first taught me how to grow in my relationship with Christ. I had been a Christian for years before I found it, but once I did find it, I began to change as a person. I began understanding God's word and applying it to my life. Now, I know that it was the holy spirit that worked in me, but God used Revive Our Hearts in a powerful way in my life. Their 30 day challenges are amazing, and really every single one of their sessions is worth listening to (or reading if you prefer).

The first 30 day challenge that I did with them was their 30-day True Woman Makeover, and it really was life changing. Their 30-day Husband encouragement challenge was equally impacting (I have gone through it at least 3 times!).

Nancy Leigh DeMoss has also published some amazing books, and Bible studies. I really just can't say enough about this ministry. It's great!

~I mentioned earlier that there were going to be some big changes coming up to my blog. Please check back next week to find out more.

Ministry Month: Scott Mason

2011-12-27T07:30:00.000-08:00

I don't know if you have heard of Scott Mason or not, but he has an AMAZING testimony. It's a testimony of grace and forgiveness. He has been compared to Paul, as the worst of sinners now doing great work for Christ.

Scott is a Christian speaker and author. It amazes me that schools actually pay him to come and speak about the transformation that Christ did in him. I think what's even more amazing than secular schools inviting him to speak about Christ is that prisons actually give him (an ex-convict) freedom to move about unrestricted. I recently got to hear his testimony and it is so powerful. If the world can see the change in him and grant him forgiveness and grace, it saddens me to think that we as Christians, wouldn't offer that same forgiveness to him or others like him.

You can read part of Scott's testimony here. But that really hardly does it justice. The audio version that I listened to was over an hour long and still just scratched the surface. I strongly encourage you to purchase his book "No Reason to Live". All of the proceeds that he gets from book sales and speaking engagements go to help his prison ministry. He and his wife and children have opened up a rehabilitation house for women who have recently been released from prison. It is their hope that someday these houses will cover the nation, not just for women, but for all convicts so that they can be shown the love of Christ, and given a chance to turn their lives around.

Living True

2011-12-26T07:30:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had a very blessed Christmas!

I have to admit that I have saved one of my favorite marriage ministries till last. The Stokers amaze me. Their "Living True Ministry" is so useful! I have been touched to the very core by some of their books, and I highly recommend them. You can learn more about them and their ministry here.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T07:02:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas!

Merry Christmas from all of us at Pearl Girls™! We hope you enjoyed these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom" from the authors who were so kind to donate their time and talents! If you missed a few posts, I hope you'll be able go back through and read them on this blog over the next few days. If you'd like to keep up with Pearl Girls and our new book project, Mother of Pearl, coming this spring, just click this link and sign up for our newsletter (lower left sidebar).

Also, just a reminder that today is the last day for the pearl necklace and earrings giveaway! Enter now by filling out this {form}. The winner will on 1/1 at the Pearl Girls blog.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

***

Jesus -- The Reason For the Season

By: Rachel Hauck

Through the narrow scope of 2000 years, Mary, the mother of Jesus, appears to be one lucky woman. Chosen by God to give birth to His son, the Savior of the world? All right, Mary, way to go.

“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you,” Gabriel said.

How many of us would like a declaration like that? Highly favored. The Lord is with you. But Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

The angel told her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Mary’s seems confident and resolved when she responds, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”

She’d just been told the Holy Spirit will come upon her, that God’s power will overshadow her, that she’d become with child even though she wasn’t married, and she said, “I’m the Lord’s servant. Let your words be true.”

I find this amazing! A young woman. Ancient Bethlehem. Unwed mother. They stoned women for such things in her day. But Mary believed in God. And submitted to His will. He gave her the Holy Spirit – the same Holy Spirit given to us. If He gave her confidence, He will give us confidence. Even though, like Mary, our situation seems impossible.

Listen to Mary’s song later on in the first chapter of Luke.

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me Holy is his name…”

Conceiving a child out of wedlock, by Divine intervention. Not a girl’s every day existence. Yet she had a Yes in her heart to God. She rejoiced. She boldly said, “Generations will remember me!”

How we struggle to trust God with our children. Our finances. Our emotional well-being. We worry. We fret. And wonder why we have no peace.

Christmas is the season where words like joy, peace and love are bantered around like Christmas candy. Let’s not take them as just words, but as truth. Let’s be like Mary and embrace God’s favor on our lives. Boldly declare "He’s done great things for me!”

Out of the grit of our own souls, we can reach His heart, and feel Him reaching for ours. No matter the pain of our past, present or future, God is there for us. He is able. Best of all, He is willing. “My soul glorifies the Lord this Christmas!”

***

Rachel Hauck is an award winning, best selling author who believes God has done great things for her. She lives in Central Florida with her husband and ornery pets. Her next release is Love Lifted Me with multi-platinum country artist Sara Evans, January 2012. Then in April, look for The Wedding Dress. www.rachelhauck.com.

The 12 Pearls of Christmas

2011-12-24T06:59:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas!

Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom" from some of today's most beloved writer's (Tricia Goyer, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, Sibella Giorello and more)! Please follow the series through Christmas day as each contributor shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year.

AND just for fun ... there's also a giveaway! Fill out this simple {form} and enter for a chance to win a beautiful pearl necklace and earring set ($450 value). Contest runs 12/14 - 12/25 and the winner will on 1/1. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents. You may enter once per day.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

***

The Panhandler's Breath

By Robin Dance

He slipped in sideways between the closing elevator doors, as if he were late to a meeting; he pressed the "5" without looking. Instead of suit and tie, though, baggy pants and faded navy hung on his tall, slim frame...and his stealth entry stiffened the hairs on the back of my neck.

I had noticed him a few seconds earlier, just after we had parted a sea of clamorous teens. He was smiling, grandfatherly, standing maybe 30 feet away where the electric shuttle picks up.

I had no idea he had been watching us, studying us, predator patiently awaiting his next prey.

The four of us were sealed in a four- by six-foot metal tomb. Tomb--that thought really scampered across my mind. I wondered if he had a knife in his pocket. I wanted to protect my son. Fight or flight pumped adrenaline but there was no where to run.

Extreme and ridiculous, these thoughts - and more - flashed through my mind. The Stranger began speaking.

"Yessir, I see you're a family man with your wife and your son here..." and he nodded in my and my son’s direction.

"...you see I'm homeless and all I've got..." and on queue, he reached into his left pocket and pulled out two old pennies blackened with age. Two cents to his name?! It was all too contrived, too practiced, and I didn't believe a word he was saying.

It was then I smelled it ~ the small space lent itself to that ~ and I doubted my doubt.

His breath.

It wasn't the scent of alcohol. His eyes weren't red, his voice didn't waver; his wizened face matched his graying hair.

His breath was morning's, zoo breath, the pet name I'd given to the scent inhaled when kissing my children awake when they were little.

He needed to brush his teeth. I wondered how long it had been since he brushed his teeth.

The elevator door opened and I handed him my leftover pizza as my son and I brushed past him. My husband handed him a bill and the Stranger thanked and God blessed him.

The elevator door closed behind us. Conflicted, I was relieved.

We got in the car and blurted first reaction--

"I didn't believe a word he said."

"That made me nervous."

"I wonder if he'll really eat the pizza."

In the quiet, we were left to our own thoughts, contemplating the right thing to do. At the end of the day, this is what I decided: It doesn't matter whether or not his story is true; for an old man to resort to begging, he has to be desperate. The money my husband gave him will never be missed. It was a reminder we've been entrusted with much and given much. Materially, yes, but more so spiritually. Loved, chosen, forgiven, redeemed, graced, lavished--every spiritual blessing. E v e r y.

There's a part of me that wishes I would have been brave enough to ask the man his story, made sure he knew he was loved...and bought him a tooth brush.

Later, it occurred to me he could have been an angel. Doesn’t that mean generosity, kindness and hospitality is always the right response? Then it's not about you or the stranger or the circumstance, it's about a simple, God-glorifying response.

Had we entertained an angel unaware? We'll never know.

But it wouldn't be the first time the Breath of Heaven smelled like a zoo.

***

In a decades-old, scandalous affair with her husband, Robin also confesses mad crushes on her three teens. As Southern as sugar-shocked tea, she’s a recovering people pleaser who advocates talking to strangers. A memoirist, Compassion International Blogger, and Maker-upper of words, Robin writes for her own site, PENSIEVE, and also for (in)courage by DaySpring (a subsidiary of Hallmark) and Simple Mom. She loves to get to know readers through their blog comments and on Twitter and Pinterest. www.pensieve.me

Christmas Conclusion

2011-12-23T08:05:00.000-08:00

This is the final post in my Anti-Santaism series that started on October 21st. Here are the links to all of the previous posts if you missed them, or want them for your reference:

Series Introduction
The Beginning
Santa the Counterfeit Christ
What Santa Teaches
The Christmas Idol
Two Masters
Distraction
Saint Nicolas
Christmas Alternatives

I have pondered about a good way to conclude this series, and I the only real way to do that is to share the miracle of Christ. You see, I wrote this series simply to share my beliefs with you. However, I did not write it to judge you, your decisions, or to convert you to my beliefs. I simply wanted to share. I know that not all Christians celebrate Christ's birth, and some of them do so at a different time of year, and that's okay with me. Everyone has their own walk with God that they have to focus on. I can't walk yours, and you can't walk mine. God works in each of us on the things that He deems important. We cannot earn our way into heaven by the way we celebrate (or don't celebrate) Christ's birth. For the whole reason that Christ was born was because we are not capable of earning our Salvation. He came so that we could have the forgiveness that we could never possibly receive apart from the grace of God.

Because our inadequacy, God sent His one and only Son into the world. God incarnate came to us humbly on a cold, quiet night. The King of Israel was not born in a palace, but in a manger for there was no room available for Him. This precious baby, sleeping in a manger, was not visited by his closest relatives. He wasn't welcomed into the world with any of the things that we would normally bless a newborn baby with. No, His first visitors were shepherds, strangers to His family. While Kings did come from a faraway land to bestow gifts upon Him, soldiers were also sent to kill Him. So He lived in exile for a time.

When this precious baby boy grew up, He lived a life of scorn. All He wanted was to show us the way, but the religious leaders planned to kill Him. We sent Him to the cross with our unbelief, with our sin. Yet hanging there, moments from death, He prayed for our forgiveness, for that is the reason He came. He was born that night so long ago, to die for us. For me, and for you. That was His purpose. He came, so that we may be forgiven. His whole purpose here on this earth was to redeem our fallen souls. He came to earth so that we would not have to spend eternity in hell.

This is the reason that for me to celebrate anything else on the day set aside to as the day of His birth, would be wrong. He was born to die. How could I brush that off so that my children can have 'fun' with a lie? Where ever you are this Christmas season, I hope that you remember our Savior, the reason He was born, and the life that He lived for you.

Merry Christmas

Ministry Month: At The Well

2011-12-22T07:30:00.000-08:00

At the Well is a fabulous ministry to Christian women. They have everything from mentoring to book reviews. I'm sure that most of my readers are actually quite familiar with this ministry, I would love for you to share one of your favorite features or articles with us in the comments!

Personally, I think one of my favorite things that they are doing right now is the Scripture memory blog hop. Several women are learning a verse a week, and if you are taking part, you link your blog each week. What a neat idea!

The 12 Pearls of Christmas

2011-12-21T06:55:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas!

Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom" from some of today's most beloved writer's (Tricia Goyer, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, Sibella Giorello and more)! Please follow the series through Christmas day as each contributor shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year.

AND just for fun ... there's also a giveaway! Fill out this simple {form} and enter for a chance to win a beautiful pearl necklace and earring set ($450 value). Contest runs 12/14 - 12/25 and the winner will on 1/1. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents. You may enter once per day.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

***

Family Traditions: A Glimpse into Christmas Future

by Tricia Goyer

Have you ever thought about family traditions? As I helped my 1-year-old place ornaments on the Christmas tree this year I imagined her doing the same thing with her children—and maybe even grandchildren—one day. Traditions are beliefs and customs handed down through generations. By sharing meaningful moments with your kids you're sending yourself into the future. How amazing is that?

Sharing family traditions cause us to slow down from the busy, adult world for a while. We ignore the laundry to set out the nativity set with our kids. We set aside time in our schedules to drive around and look at Christmas lights.

Holiday traditions aren't only fun, they also help strength family bonds. Through traditions kids trust in the security of family unit. They think, “This is our family and this is what I do.” Of course, the most important thing to share isn't just what we do ... but why. Why do we put out a nativity? To remind us the real meaning of the season—Jesus coming to earth. What do the Christmas lights represent displayed on homes and on trees? They represent the Light of the World, Jesus.

Using traditions to bond our families and share our faith isn't new. I love these two Scriptures that talk about that very thing.

Exodus 12:25 says, “When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony.”

Psalm 78:4 says, “We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.”

What are you're traditions? Here are a few of ours:

Baking a Birthday cake for Jesus

Buying a new ornament every year for each child

Acting out the Christmas story (with props!)

Praying together before opening presents

What are your traditions? Write a list and appreciate them in a new way this year. Then ask, “If I could add one new tradition this holiday season, what would it be?” I'd love to hear what you choose! It also makes me smile to think of your children's grandchildren doing the same.

***

Tricia Goyer is a CBA best-selling author and the winner of two American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Awards (Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights). She co-wrote 3:16 Teen Edition with Max Lucado and contributed to the Women of Faith Study Bible. Also a noted marriage and parenting writer, she lives with her husband and children in Arkansas. www.triciagoyer.com

Ministry Month: CPP

2011-12-20T07:05:00.000-08:00

Today, I wanted to introduce you to Christian PenPals.

CPP is a wonderful ministry that connects Christians with people in prison that sign up with their program. Some of these prisoners are Christians, others are curious about Christainity, and others just want to hear from someone. It is such a great opportunity to share Christ, and offer encouragement to our sisters in Christ (I say sisters because they match women with other women and men with other men, and 99.9% of those who read my blog are women).

I have volunteered with CPP for a few years now. I have had 3 different pen pals, each one was very unique and completely different from the others! The one that I am still in contact with is now out of prison and starting her own women's prision ministry.

To volunteer for this ministry, you just have to be willing to write to one or two inmates once or twice a month. It only costs you time and the money for postage. If you prefer to just donate money, they do accept donations to help buy stamps for prisoners and a few other supplies. You can find out more by visiting: Christian-penpals.com

Focus on the Family

2011-12-19T07:23:00.000-08:00

Focus on the Family is such an amazing ministry. However, since it's Mr. Monday, I really want to focus on the marriage aspect of it. If you visit their Marriage & Relationships section you will find articles, audio files and even discussions about marriage. Almost any topic you can think of is covered somewhere in their archives. However they welcome feedback, and actually have a link on the site where you can submit questions that they haven't addressed yet. On top of all of the fabulous information on the website, they also have a ton of books and such available.

~I'm going to keep this post short, but I did want to give you a heads up that I'm planning some changes for my blog at the start of the new year. Check back for important updates!

The 12 Pearls of Christmas

2011-12-18T06:49:00.000-08:00

(Please ignore the fact that there will not really be 12 posts in this series... I had already decided to do ministry month before it was announced, so I am only using some of the posts)

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas!

Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom" from some of today's most beloved writer's (Tricia Goyer, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, Sibella Giorello and more)! Please follow the series through Christmas day as each contributor shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year.

AND just for fun ... there's also a giveaway! Fill out this simple {form} and enter for a chance to win a beautiful pearl necklace and earring set ($450 value). Contest runs 12/14 - 12/25 and the winner will on 1/1. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents. You may enter once per day.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

***

The Snowflake Party

By Deborah Raney

The first snow of winter hasn’t fallen yet, but in our kitchen tonight we’re doing a pretty good imitation. The whole family is circled around the huge old oak table. The snip, snip, snip of scissors is background music as tiny scraps of white paper float down, making our floor look like a giant brownie sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Tonight has turned out to be the night for our annual Snowflake Party, a tradition that began when our children were toddlers. There has never been a date blocked out in red on our calendar, but one day we wake up and the brisk autumn air has turned bitter cold. Naked tree branches trace their stark calligraphy on a dull grey sky and we need a taste of the joyful promises of Christmas and snow. It’s the perfect time for a party.

On such a day, one of the kids will fly in the back door, fresh home from school, and declare “Hey, Mom! Tonight would be a good night for the Snowflake Party!” First we round up every pair of scissors in the house. This is one time when sharing is not a virtue. While the kids search for scissors, I cut white paper into squares and fold them caddy-corner multiple times. The resulting triangles are artfully arranged in a basket, awaiting the beginning of the party.

Later, while the supper dishes dry on the counter, I recruit a volunteer to help me stir up a big pot of hot cocoa. For the next hour it will warm on the back burner, tantalizing us with its aroma.

Now the fun begins with careful cutting and snipping, shaping plain white paper into intricate works of art. Each snowflake we create seems as unique and spectacular as the genuine variety created by God himself. As each masterpiece is unfolded, collective oohs and aahs go up.

When the last dregs of our creative juices are drained, Dad oversees the vacuum patrol while I pour cocoa into generous mugs. We spread our handiwork on the floor around us and sit, quietly admiring our work while we dunk marshmallows and sip rich chocolate.

With empty mugs piled up in the sink, it’s time for the judging to begin. There will be awards for ‘prettiest’, ‘most unusual’, and as many other categories as we need for everyone to be a winner. Dad is the judge because he studied art in college. He also usually wins one of the top prizes––because he studied art in college.

Snowflakes deemed runners-up might be pasted in scrapbooks or hung on the refrigerator. A few even “melt” into the trash that very night. But the winners are taped proudly to the picture windows in the living room for passersby to enjoy while they long for the day when genuine snowflakes will color the world clean and white.

Our oldest daughter went away to college last September. She called just after Thanksgiving to tell me that her dorm window was covered with snowflakes. No, not the real thing, but the ones she remembers from her childhood––paper ones that she spent an entire evening cutting and snipping while sipping hot cocoa.

That’s the neat thing about traditions: They go with us no matter how far from home we travel.

***

DEBORAH RANEY's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title. Her books have since won the RITA Award, ACFW Carol Award, HOLT Medallion, National Readers' Choice Award, Silver Angel, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. After All, third in her Hanover Falls Novels series will release next spring from Howard/Simon & Schuster. Deb and her husband, Ken Raney, enjoy small-town life in Kansas. Their four children are grown now and having snowflake parties with their own children––and they all live much too far away. Visit Deb on the web at www.deborahraney.com.

The 12 Pearls of Christmas

2011-12-17T06:30:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas

Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom" from some of today's most beloved writer's (Tricia Goyer, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, Sibella Giorello and more)! Please follow the series through Christmas day as each contributor shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year.

AND just for fun ... there's also a giveaway! Fill out this simple {form} and enter for a chance to win a beautiful pearl necklace and earring set ($450 value). Contest runs 12/14 - 12/25 and the winner will on 1/1. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents. You may enter once per day.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

***

Why I Decorate for Christmas

By Elizabeth Goldsmith Musser

An old cassette tape of Christmas carols—received in a package twenty years ago when we had first arrived in France as missionaries—fills our den with delightful piano music as I place one more ornament on the already over-laden Christmas tree. This one is a little white wooden rabbit with pink ears that move back and forth. It actually doesn’t look much like a Christmas ornament, but I bought it for our baby Andrew when my husband Paul was in seminary, and I was working for less than minimum wage in the library. This ornament was literally all I could afford.

As I hang it on the tree today, I get goose bumps and then a rush of warmth. And that’s why I decorate for Christmas. Not to impress but to remember. I remember those lean, lean years, and God’s faithful provision for us.

There are the cross-stitched ornaments I made our first year in Montpellier—for the boys (for by now we had two sons) and Paul and me. How I ever had time to do that, I don’t know. I remember our puny little tree—the kind they sold in France back then—in a pot so that it could be replanted later. We perched that tiny tree on a small table out of baby Christopher’s reach. I guess I watered it too much, because about halfway through December, it started smelling and then stinking, and it rotted there on Christmas Day!

I smile with these memories.

I look at the other ornaments on the tree. Many were purchased—one for each boy—when we attended conferences around Europe, and that makes me smile too. Getting to travel on a missionary’s budget to exotic places! There are the waxed red bear and red baby carriage from Wales, the brightly painted clay sun and moon from Portugal, the blue and white porcelain windmill and wooden shoes from Holland, the hand-blown glass Snoopys sitting on gondolas from Venice, and the delicately decorated eggs from Prague.

Other ornaments include the little pinkish shiny ball ornament with Paul’s name written in glitter—I think he made it when he was about six , and the little red velvet bows, bought at Michael’s after Christmas one year for a dollar. They bring a unifying theme to the tree. I say this, smiling, because our tree is, and has always been throughout the years, a hodge-podge of our life. And I like it that way. I don’t think I could ever have a ‘theme’ tree. Mine is a ‘memory’ tree.

The music plays softly in the background and I smile through tears, remembering God’s incredible faithfulness to call and keep us here in France for so many years. Heart-breakingly hard years, overwhelmingly joyful years—the same years, the same amazing God, our keeper.

Before we left for the mission field, I memorized Psalm 121 in English and in French, and over the years I have held on tight to those last beautiful words of the psalm: The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever. (NASB)

Of course He will. He is God with us.

We decorate to remember Christmases past, our lives, our legacy, and mostly, for those of us who have embraced Christ, we decorate to honor and praise Him for coming to us—Emmanuel! We make our homes ready to receive the Christ Child, with soft music and candles burning and the sweet flickering of angel wings on an over-laden evergreen.

***

ELIZABETH GOLDSMITH MUSSER, an Atlanta native and the bestselling author of The Swan House, is a novelist who writes what she calls ‘entertainment with a soul.’ For over twenty years, Elizabeth and her husband, Paul, have been involved in missions work with International Teams. They presently live near Lyon, France. The Mussers have two sons and a daughter-in-law. The Sweetest Thing (Bethany House, 2011) is Elizabeth’s eighth novel. To learn more about Elizabeth and her books, and to find discussion questions as well as photos of sites mentioned in the stories, please visit www.elizabethmusser.com and her Facebook Fan Page. www.elizabethmusser.com

My Anti-Santaism: Christmas Alternatives

2011-12-16T08:05:00.000-08:00

This is the ninth post in my Anti-Santaism series. I have been posting a new Anti-Santaism post each Friday since October 21st. There is only one week left between now and Christmas, and next week I will be posting the series wrap-up that will include links to all of the post in the series this year. You can read the introduction post to the series here.

Up to this point, this series has mainly been about why I don’t like Santa (to put it mildly). However, I wanted to take some time to tell you about the alternatives that we use in our family. Simply removing Santa from the equation doesn’t accomplish much. The children still see him everywhere: at stores, friends houses, on Christmas cards that we receive, in yards, even in pictures of other family members. Last week I wrote about the real Saint Nicolas, and my kids know that the Santa that most Christians celebrate today, they do so because of him, however, they also know that the Santa that is displayed on decorations was a creation of Coca-cola as an advertising scheme in 1931.

Besides just knowing our history, and leaving Santa out of our home, we replace his presence with things to help us remember Christ. Instead of a tree, we have a manger to put our presents under. This helps us to keep our focus on Christ, because we are presenting our gifts to Him. We lay them at His feet. Instead of kneeling before a tree, we kneel at the crèche of Christ. We thank Him for the gifts that we receive.

Instead of singing Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, we sing Silent Night. We don’t sing Christmas songs about Santa or Christmas trees or anything like that. I will admit that I have no problem with songs like jingle bells, or Silver bells. But I will not sing about Santa, or to a tree. It’s so much more meaningful to sing about the birth of our Savior. Last year I posted a Christ centered Christmas song every day in December leading up to Christmas, from the 1st to the 24th. The best part is that I didn’t even struggle finding 24 songs that glorified Christ during Christmas. I actually posted a few more than that, because I posted some on my homeschooling blog as well.

Instead of having pictures of Santa or trees on our decorations, we buy decorations with pictures of the Nativity. We don’t want any Christmas idols in our home, so we only buy things that help us remember Christ. We have a nativity set as our center piece on our table, and we have a star on our window above our manger. We do have lots of snowflakes and snowmen for winter decorations out at this time of year as well to help decorate our home. We color pictures to put on the wall, and we have a banner with different Christian symbols that we hang up on our wall. Our home does not lack in the decoration department.

Our Christmas cards all have Scriptures on them instead of reindeer. We do not buy cards that feature Santa. There are so many cards in the store that have Christ, or Scripture (or both) on them, that I see no need to purchase anything that will not help us focus on Him during our Christmas season. If I were buying a birthday card for you, I wouldn’t buy a card that I knew you wouldn’t like, so I won’t do that on the day we celebrate for Christ’s birth either.

Instead of doing a Christmas countdown to Santa, we do a Christmas devotional book each year. We are using Why the Nativity by David Jeremiah again this year. It is such an awesome book!

Of course, we always have a birthday cake. We can’t celebrate a birthday without a cake the kids simply won’t allow it. Christmas Eve we watch The Nativity Story, and Christmas morning we read the story of Christ’s birth.

Is there some special way that you keep Christmas about Christ? I would love to hear about it!

Find Your True Beauty... In Christ!

2011-12-15T07:23:00.000-08:00

I am amazingly thankful for FindYourTrueBeauty.com! When I started volunteering for Shelley several years ago, I never dreamed of where it would take me or how much fun I would have along the way! I have shared my personal testimony of my work there several times, so I'm going to keep this post strictly about the ministry itself.

FindYourTrueBeauty.com is a website designed to help today's teen girls discover that their true beauty doesn't come from the outside appearance. It also offers support for girls that are struggling with eating disorders, cutting, have suicidal thoughts, sex, dating and modesty. It is such an amazing ministry, I can't tell you enough good things about it.

Besides the website, Shelley also travels around speaking to teen girls. She has been ranked up there with Leslie Ludy as far as making a positive impact on teen girls.

If you visit her website there are a number of free tools available for download. You can get a free PDF copy of her book "Mirror Mirror... Am I Beautiful?" when you sign up for her newsletter, and of course our "Teen Devotionals... For Girls!" are available for free there as well.

Welcome to the 3rd Annual Pearl Girls™ 12 Pearls of Christmas blogging series!

2011-12-14T07:30:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas!

Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom" from some of today's most beloved writer's (Tricia Goyer, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, Sibella Giorello and more)! Please follow the series through Christmas day as each contributor shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year.

AND just for fun ... there's also a giveaway! Fill out this simple {form} and enter for a chance to win a beautiful pearl necklace and earring set ($450 value). Contest runs 12/14 - 12/25 and the winner will on 1/1. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents. You may enter once per day.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

***

A Christmas of Kindness

By Suzanne Woods Fisher

"You can give without loving, but you can¹t love without giving." Amish proverb

I do it every year.

I plan for a simpler, less stressful Christmas season and, every year, by Christmas Eve I'm exhausted! After our delicious and very-time-consuming-to-make traditional Swedish meal to honor my husband¹s relatives (think: Vikings), it's time to head to church. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but the last few Christmas Eve's, I have sent my husband and kids head off without me. The pull to spend an hour of quiet in the house feels as strong as a magnet.

It's odd. My children are young adults now. Wouldn't you think that Christmas would be simpler? Instead, it's just the opposite. Jugging schedules to share the grandbaby with the in-laws, trying to include our elderly parents at the best time of day for them, dancing carefully around recently divorced family members whose children are impacted by the shards of broken relationships.

The thing is: you can simplify your to-do list, but you can't really simplify people. We are just a complicated bunch.

Here's where I borrow a lesson about simplicity from the Amish. It's easy to get distracted with the buggies and the bonnets and the beards, but there's so much more to learn from these gentle people if you're willing to look a little deeper.

Yes, they live with less "stuff" and that does make for a simpler, less cluttered life. But it's the reason behind it that is so compelling to me: they seek to create margin in their life. Not just empty spacebut space that is available to nourish family, community, and faith. Their Christmas is far less elaborate than yours or mine, but what they do fill it with is oh so right.

Christmas comes quietly on an Amish farmhouse. There is no outward sign of the holiday as we know it: no bright decorations, no big tree in the living room corner. A few modest gifts are waiting for children at their breakfast place settings, covered by a dishtowel. Waiting first for Dad to read the story of Christ's birth from the book of Luke. Waiting until after a special breakfast has been enjoyed. Waiting until Mom and Dad give the signal that the time has come for gifts.

Later, if Christmas doesn't fall on a Sunday, extended family and friends will gather for another big meal. If time and weather permits, the late afternoon will be filled with ice skating or sledding. And more food! Always, always an abundance of good food. Faith, family, and community. That is the focus of an Amish Christmas.

And it's also how the story begins for A Lancaster County Christmas, as a young family prepares for Christmas. A winter storm blows a non-Amish couple, Jaime and C.J. Fitzpatrick, off-course and into the Riehl farmhouse. An unlikely and tentative friendship develops, until the one thing Mattie and Sol hold most dear disappears and then. Ah, but you¹ll just have to read the story to find out what happens next. Without giving anything away, I will say that I want to create a Mattie-inspired margin this Christmas season. Mattie knew inconveniences and interruptions that come in the form of people (big ones and little ones!) are ordained by God. And blessed by God.

Creating margin probably means that I won't get Christmas cards out until the end of January, and my house won't be uber-decorated. After all, something has to give. But it will mean I make time for a leisurely visit with my dad at his Alzheimer's facility. And time to volunteer in the church nursery for a holiday-crowded event. And time to invite a new neighbor over for coffee. Hopefully, it will mean that my energy won't get diverted by a frantic, self-imposed agenda. Only by God's agendathe essence of true simplicity.

And that includes taking time to worship Christ's coming at the Christmas Eve service. You can hold me accountable! This year, I will be there.

***

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, The Search, and The Keeper, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Christy Award nominee and is the host of an internet radio show called Amish Wisdom and her work has appeared in many magazines. She lives in California. www.suzannewoodsfisher.com.

Christmas Ministries

2011-12-13T07:11:00.000-08:00

I probably should have posted this earlier, but these are two fabulous Christmas ministries, that have both already come and gone this season. Most people know about these but I thought I would share anyway, if you know of any others please leave a comment so I can add to my list for next year. :D

Samaritan's Purse has "Operation Christmas Child" Each year gifts are packed into thousands of shoe boxes to be delivered to children around the world.

Angel Tree was founded by a Prison Ministry to help prisoners give gifts to their children. We had a wonderful time wrapping the gifts that were donated by our church at our annual ladies Christmas party this year. After the gifts are wrapped people hand deliver them to the families and spend some time talking with them if they are invited to do so. It's such a great witnessing opportunity, each year we get to hear great testimonies from the families that do the drop-offs.

For Women Only

2011-12-12T07:02:00.000-08:00

Okay, I don't know if this really qualifies as a marriage ministry, but Shaunti Feldhahn is amazing! Her book "For Women Only" is a MUST read (you can read my review here). She also has a book for couples that I haven't read yet (there are only so many hours in the day you know!). Besides writing amazing books (9 plus 2 fiction novels), Shaunti is also a Christian speaker. You can read her short bio and start exploring her website here.

My Anti-Santaism: Saint Nicholas

2011-12-09T08:05:00.000-08:00

This is the eigth post in my Anti-Santaism series, which means that there are only two posts left. I have been posting a new Anti-Santaism post each Friday, you can read the introduction post to this series here.

The strongest reason I have heard for why Christians choose to include Santa in their Christmas celebration, is the historic Saint Nicholas. While this will probably touch some nerves, I must ask if anyone out there thinks that the way we celebrate Santa today really honors St. Nicholas? Would he be pleased with what we have turned him into? He started the tradition of giving to those in need to glorify Christ, and people have turned it into worshiping him and writing him long lists of their wants. Quite frankly, if I were him, I would not be happy.

Do you think that the goal of Saint Nicholas was to take the focus away from Jesus, and put it onto himself? Do you think that he would be pleased with us reversing his teachings and having people send him lists of the things he desired? This is the man who sold all that he had and gave it to the poor. He gave EVERYTHING he had, how used and abused would he have felt if someone had sent him a letter of their wants. Don’t you think that he had wants? I’m sure he did, but he laid it all aside to serve God and give to others. The Santa tradition has taken his love and generosity and commercialized it. I kind of tend to think that if he were still living, it might possibly be reason enough for him to at the very least stop giving, and possibly even regret starting the whole thing at all.

But what do we know about the real Saint Nicolas? We know he was from the town that was biblically known as Smyrna. In Revelation 2 Jesus said that He knew them and while they were poor, they were rich. Smyrna was a poor town financially, but they were rich spiritually. I picture Saint Nicholas like the rich young ruler that Jesus addressed in Luke 18:18-30, only Nicholas actually followed through and sold all that he had. Saint Nicholas probably understood Proverbs 10:22 better than anyone we know. He understood that it wasn’t material items that he needed, but the blessing of God. He probably wanted to be counted among the poor of this earth, and rich in his faith and an heir of the kingdom of heaven (James 2:5). He was following Christ’s lead by becoming poor by choice, so that he could give to others (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Saint Nicholas knew what Spiritual riches were. They don’t tarnish, break, or decay. They can’t be lost or stolen. Which is the exact opposite of the earthly riches, which we are told in Proverbs 23:5 can grow wings and be gone. I can see Saint Nicholas echoing Paul’s words in Philippians 3:7-11

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”

Saint Nicholas, didn't do anything to glorify himself, but to bring glory to God. How opposite has the legend of him become. The Santa that we teach kids about never sold all that he had to give to the poor. In fact, he owns an entire town located at the North Pole. He doesn’t care if someone is rich or poor, for he focuses on good or bad. He has no desire to share the love of Christ with others, or for anything spiritual. He only cares about toys for kids… the good kids. His entire life revolves around toys. He doesn’t care if you believe in Christ, only that you believe in him. I can’t imagine looking Saint Nicholas in the eyes and telling him that we remember him with Santa. Can you?

Do I think that remembering Saint Nicholas at this time of the year is wrong? Not at all, my kids know about him, but we keep our focus on Christ. There is one family in my church that participate in a Saint Nicholas party each year, that I think is FANTASTIC! They choose a family that has less than they, and then buy them tons of food, presents and such. The night of Christmas Eve they have a party, wrap presents, sing songs, and just enjoy themselves. Afterwards, once it is dark out they drive over to the selected families house and doorbell ditch the presents onto their porch. They never tell who they are; they just do it to bless others. What a wonderful way to remember Saint Nicholas. This is exactly the way I would want to be remembered if I were him. Not by having people write me lists and lie about who I am or what I stand for. Not lying to people about where I live, or what my house looks like.

I should also add that Saint Nicholas day is actually December 6th. So, if I were to celebrate Saint Nicholas, I would probably want to do so on that day, instead of removing the focus from the day we celebrate my Saviors birth… However, lots of Catholic Saints have days, and we don’t celebrate any others, so we probably won’t celebrate St. Nicolas either.

What about you? Do you do something special to remember the REAL Saint Nicholas?

Ministry Month: Mom's In Touch

2011-12-08T07:05:00.000-08:00

I cannot tell you how thankful I am for Mom's In Touch International (And for the mom who told me about it a few weeks back!).

The goal of Mom's In Touch is to have a group of mothers praying for every school around the world. Groups of women get together for 1 hour each week, just to pray for the schools that their children go to. There are groups for individual schools, community groups, and groups for homeschooler's. I am just extremely impressed by this ministry!

When praying with MITI(Mom's In Touch International-pronounced Mighty), moms follow the four steps of prayer: Praising God for who He is, Confessing our sins, Thanking God for what He has done (or is doing), and then Interceding for children, schools and MITI.

There isn't a group for the school that the boys go to yet, I am considering starting one if God brings me another mom to pray with. However, for the time being I am praying by myself. So, while it is a rule that what is prayed in a MITI prayer group stays in the prayer group, since I don't have a group yet, I did blog about my first prayer time, you can read that post here. Or if you would like to watch a short video that outlines the group prayer time, here is the one featured on their website:

If you have a child in public school, I cannot recommend this ministry enough! Even if you don't have a child in public school, our kids need all the prayer they can get!

I Won!! --Again!!!!!!

2011-12-07T16:16:00.000-08:00

So I must admit, the last several weeks have been pretty unusual here in blog land. In November I won my very first (as in ever) giveaway in blogland. And now I'm excited to tell you that less than a month later I won another one! How cool is that!!! Okay, enough rejoicing ;)

Rebecca, over at Rebecca's Hearth and Home, held a giveaway last week for the book "Given to Hospitality" by Judy Ann Lewis, and I won! I just received my book in the mail, along with a precious handwritten card:

I'm really looking forward to reading it! Thanks, Rebecca!

(and a special thanks to my friend Tam for sharing about the giveaway on her blog)

CJ & Shelley Hitz

2011-12-06T09:30:00.000-08:00

If you know anything about me, you know that I love these people! I have had the privilege of volunteering for Shelley for several years now, and even had the opportunity of meeting them last year:

(Photo of Shelley and I taken by CJ)

CJ and Shelley are currently living in an RV traveling around the country speaking at churches, schools and other events for the glory of Christ. They also are hosting a book launch today as a matter of fact! The have revamped their book "Mathematics of Jesus" and re-named it "Forgiveness Formula". This powerful book is simply amazing (you can read my review here).

If you are interested in this wonderful book, when you buy a copy today you receive a ton of free bonus gifts as well as being entered into the grand prize drawing for a new Kindle Fire, Nook, iPod Touch or one of several other fabulous prize packs. Plus, all proceeds go to helping them spread the Gospel of our Lord and Savior. You can't get any better than that!

Spiritually Unequal Marriages

2011-12-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned on Thursday, I am going to be highlighting some ministries this month that I love, and I also mentioned last Monday that I was going to be doing Marriage Ministries on Mondays. The first marriage ministry that I want to highlight is "Spiritually Unequal Marriage". Lynn and Dianne have an amazing blog designed to help other women who are in the midst of an unequally yolked marriage. You can visit their blog at:

They have also co-authored a book "Winning Him Without Words". I haven't read it, but knowing these two women from their blog, I'm sure it's great! Don't trust that? You can read a sample chapter here.

They also have a show that they do entitled "The Intentional Marriage":

Anyway, point being that they are two fabulous ladies with hearts for Christ, and helping other women who are in spiritually unequal marriages.

My Anti-Santaism: Distraction

2011-12-02T08:05:00.000-08:00

This is the seventh post in my Anti-Santaism series. I will be adding a post every Friday between now and Christmas, you can read the introduction post here.

Last week, I wrote about the two masters of Christmas, and I want to continue on with that train of thought. You see, one of the biggest things that bothers me about Santa is just the distraction that he poses. If you choose to celebrate Christmas as the time of Christ’s birth, then all Santa does is take away from that focus.

Every year at this time you hear Christians saying that we need to keep Christ in Christmas, but I believe that you can try to keep Christ in Christmas all you want, but unless Christmas is about Christ, than it really isn't His birth we're celebrating. Keeping Christ in Christmas, how would you feel if your family celebrated your birthday without you? Yeah, they decided to keep you in it by singing happy birthday to you, but it really wasn’t about you at all? Here is a video that illustrates that point:

This video really makes me think about our Christmas celebration. However, if you were to add a big clown in there that everyone was surrounding, and celebrating, it would really just make it that much worse. If you took the focus off of Mark, and put it onto the clown, but still remembered to keep Mark’s name involved, I think that would describe what Christmas looks like in a lot of homes. I’m not saying that to judge anyone. After all, I grew up in one of those homes. I just think it’s a great mental picture to help us see things from a different point of view.

It might be even more fitting to imagine Mark as a military man who is overseas fighting for our country. He isn’t getting shoved aside, but neither is anyone speaking to the video camera with a special message just for him. No one seems to really care about him, it’s just a great reason to come together. When he gets that video tape and sits down to watch it, he isn’t going to feel an overwhelming sense of love for him. He will be glad that his family got to come together, but with no one even recognizing him personally, it won’t feel like it was really about him.

Christmas when focused on Santa, isn't the celebration of Christ's birth, it is all about the presents that Santa brings, the looking forward to his coming, and something about a baby. Even for those few families that somehow manage to keep Christ at the center, but still include Santa, I don't see how that adds to Christ's birth. The only thing Santa can do is take away our attention from our Lord and Savior. Time that could be spent learning about the birth of Christ, is instead spent on writing letters to a man who either doesn't exist or is dead (depending on how you see it). Time that could be spent singing praises to our God and Father, is spent singing about a jolly fat man (as my husband calls him) and his reindeer. Time that could be spent looking forward to the return of Jesus someday, is spent in anticipation of parents lying to their children about someone breaking into their house and leaving them presents.

Yes, our kids get presents on Christmas morning, but they are pretty much all out when they go to bed that night. They can look forward to opening them, but they don't lose sleep in anticipation of animals on the roof. What we think about the night of Christmas is that somewhere many, many years ago a baby came into this world as a gift to us. It might not (or was not) on this particular night, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that He came for us.

Do I think that adding the Santa distraction to our holiday would be a bad thing? With every fiber of my being. If it doesn't add to our faith in Christ, what is the point? Fun? We have tons of that. Magic? The Bible says that God abhors magic. Innocence? Where is the innocence in lying? The only thing I can conclude is that Santa takes our focus off of Christ. I can't think of a single thing he could possibly add. Santa, in my eyes, is a huge distraction for Christians who choose to celebrate the birth of Christ on Christmas.

Cure for the Common Life

2011-12-01T07:52:00.000-08:00

Max Lucado has been my favorite author for quite some time now, and his latest book (Cure for the Common Life) did not disappoint!

While my life has been hectic lately, and I have had a very hard time trying to find time to read, I found this book simply inspiring. The simplicity of the ideas carried powerful messages. It seemed like it took forever to get through the first chapter, but I don't know if that was just because of me being so busy or if it was just that I didn't relate to the sports metaphor? Either way, I still enjoyed this book immensely.

"Learn to love tomatoes, appreciate the sound of an accordion, take art supplies to the canvas, not the sin, and view each child as a book, not to be written, but to be read." ~ Max Lucado, Cure for the Common Life

Ministry Month!

2011-12-01T07:05:00.000-08:00

Each December bring tons of new support for ministries. Some people are trying to donate before the end of the year so that they can write it off on their taxes, others are just in the charity mood. People donate money, food, time, and energy to all kinds of ministries during this month. For others, on December 31st when they are making their New Year's resolutions, they decide to be more giving in the coming year. For all of these reasons I have decided to feature some of my favorite ministries here on my blog during this month. I do hope you will join me, as I am involved in each one of these ministries in someway, and totally believe in their causes.

The first ministry that I want to mention is Thankful Thursday! While this isn't your donate money, serve the community ministry, it is still a ministry. It is a ministry of encouragement, a ministry of hope, and a ministry of community. It's so wonderful to come together with other believers and just be thankful, to praise God for what He has done. The ministry of Thankful Thursday has been so encouraging to me, and I am so thankful for it. I'm thankful for Iris at Grace Alone and Laurie at Women Taking a Stand who both volunteer to host this link-up. And I am thankful for each one of you who take part as well, giving your time to write a post about thankfulness, or to visit a blog and leave an encouraging comment. I am just so thankful that we can come together each week, and be thankful together!

Obviously, this Thursday I am thankful for ministries. I'm thankful for the people that volunteer their time and resources, just to help others. I'm thankful that in the self-centered age that we live, there are people who still know how to give without recieving. I'm thankful that there is the opportunity to help people that we may never meet, or even know that we are helping.

If you have a ministry that you would like me to mention, please e-mail me at heatherhart84@gmail.com

Oh! And don't forget to hop on over to Iris's blog and check out the other Thankful Thursday posts :D

Unshackled and Free

2011-11-27T19:38:00.000-08:00

Are you free in Christ, or do you find yourself bound by your circumstances, sins, or even your past?

If your answer was one of the latter, you need to know that you are not alone. So many Christians today don’t feel like they are truly free. We feel like there is no way to move forward because of where we are or where we’ve been, and that is exactly how Satan wants us to feel. The tighter we’re bound by his lies, the less of an impact we will have for Christ. However, it doesn’t have to be that way, we can find lasting freedom in Christ, and that is why CJ and Shelley Hitz have put together a free, 4-day online conference entitled: “Unshackled and Free”. They want you to know, and experience, the freedom that can only be found through Christ.

Starting tomorrow at 8PM EST each evening for 4 days we will hear from powerful speakers: Rae Lynn DeAngelis (www.livingintruthministries.com), Janet Perez Eckles (www.JanetPerezEckles.com), Renee Johnson Fisher (www.devotionaldiva.com), and Scott Mason (www.ScottMason.org), as they talk about how they have found lasting freedom in Christ, and how you can too.

They will be covering topics that are easily related to, including being set free from eating disorders, overcoming life circumstances, reflecting Christ in our relationships, and becoming a new creation in Christ. If you have ever felt bound by something in your life, regardless of where you stand today, I encourage you to sign-up for this conference. You can have lasting freedom in Christ, and these speakers would love to help you get there.

Each session will be broadcasted live, as well as recorded for audio replay. This way you can attend from the comfort of your own home, and if the scheduled time doesn’t work for you, you can simply listen at a time that is more convenient. Each call will be under an hour to make it easier to fit into your busy schedule of work, family and other activities. I do hope that you will join us for this life changing conference. For more information, including a complete schedule of events and speaker information, please visit: http://www.theforgivenessformula.com/conference/.

My Anti-Santaism: Two masters?

2011-11-25T08:05:00.000-08:00

This is the sixth post in my Anti-Santaism series. I will be adding a post every Friday between now and Christmas, you can read the introduction post here.

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Santa...

Last week I wrote about the Christmas idol, so I thought I would continue on that tone this week, and write about Luke 16:13 where Jesus said that no one can serve two masters. Either you will hate one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. My question for you is, who is Lord over your Christmas? Can you really celebrate both Santa and the birth of Christ? Take some time and ponder the following questions:

What do you look forward to each year at this time?

Do you look forward to studying and celebrating the birth of Christ, or do you look forward to decorating and Christmas morning when Santa's presents are under the tree?

Are you singing praises to God and to Santa? Which songs do you think are more 'fun' to sing?

What is your primary focus at this time of year? At Christmas time do you walk around telling others of Christ's birth, or do you ask what Santa is brining or what gifts people want?

Are you celebrating Santa and despising that Christ wants to be the Lord of this day as well as all of the others? Are you holding out saying that Santa is great, and that Christ needs to get over Himself and share the day with someone else? Obviously you would never use those words, but is that the feeling in your heart?

Can you really serve and celebrate God and Santa at the same time? Or on this day and this season each year, will you love one and hate the other? Will you be devoted to one and despise the other, because the Bible says that we cannot serve two masters. Will you serve Christ on Christmas, or will you devote yourself to protecting Santa, to serving him, and to promoting his legacy?

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” ~ Luke 16:13

I Won!

2011-11-22T07:15:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited! Last week I won a giveaway over at Homesteader's Heart, and my prize came over the weekend! Here it is:

This beautiful doorknob pillow (that is not hanging on a doorknob because Kim said it was okay) was made with extreme skill by her friend Kathy over at Bluebirds Nest. Isn't it adorable?!

And I absolutely loved the personalized little card that she sent with it! This is the first thing that I have ever won in blog-land and Kim really made it a memorable experience for me :D

Thanks, Kim!

Mr. Monday

2011-11-21T13:31:00.000-08:00

Last Monday I wrote about Squelching vs. Changing, and that is still very much on my heart. We have begun building back up our Coca-Cola themed dishes as McDonald's is conveniently giving them away free currently. So instead of sending a lunch with Mr. Amazing, I'm having him stop by and pick one up once a week. :D

That being said, while I have a huge list of things I want to write about for Mr. Monday, I am considering suspending Mr. Monday's until after the holidays. I'm just swamped right now, it it's hard to complete a train of thought.

December is going to be ministry month on my blog, so I might write about a ministry related to being a wife or marriage in general on Monday's just to keep the flow... If you know of any, please let me know :D

In the mean time, I hope you have a thankful Thanksgiving. :D

The Liebster: Blog it forward

2011-11-20T15:25:00.000-08:00

I need to thank my good friend, Tam over at Apron Strings & Holy Things, for awarding me the Liebster blog award!

"Liebster" is a German word meaning friend, love or dearest. This award is shared and given to up-and-coming blogs that have less than 200 followers.

Here's how this award works:

~ 1 ~ When you receive this award, copy and paste it to your blog.

~ 2 ~ Thank the blogging friend who awarded you and make sure you link back to their blog so others can check out their fabulous blog too.

~ 3 ~ Choose your five (5) up-and-coming blog picks then go share the love by commenting on their blog.

~ 4 ~ Hope and encourage that the recipients will spread the love to other up and coming blogs! (Be sure to check their blogs for the list to check out other great blogs!)

Thank you so much, Tam!!

Now, to blog it forward, here here are some of my favorite up and coming blogs. Some of these I just recently discovered, but I am loving them!!!

A Future & A Hope

Christ In The Chaos

The Daze of Us

OPEN KIMONO

Write at Home Mom

And, while you're out blog hopping, please be sure to stop by Tam's blog:

My Anti-Santaism: Christmas Idols

2011-11-18T08:05:00.000-08:00

This is the fifth post in my Anti-Santaism series. I will be adding a post every Friday between now and Christmas, you can read the introduction post here.

This week I’m writing about another topic that is very sensitive to me. The second commandment tells us not to have idols(Exodus 20:4), yet I believe that is exactly what Santa has become to millions. He is the idol of Christmas. People send their requests to him instead of God, they sing the praises of his name, and they line up for their chance to see him, going so far as to wait in the cold for hours for their 5 minutes of his time. People decorate their homes and yards with his image, then they wait while he ‘visits’ them at night, hoping that they found favor in his eyes. If that isn’t idolatry I don’t know what would be.

Exodus 34:14 says “Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” We worship God in prayer and in song. Yet come Christmas time, the time that has been set aside to celebrate the birth of our Savior, we submit our requests to someone who is not God, and then we sing praises to him and about him. We sing asking him to hear us (Jolly old St. Nicholas lean your ear this way…), we sing about his appearance (Must be Santa), and we sing about pleasing him (Santa Claus is coming to town). Then Christmas morning, we kneel before the tree, which is like Santa’s alter if you think about it. If we leave a tribute to him (usually milk and cookies), we always leave it near the tree to be sure that he finds it. We gather a the tree to see if they have been blessed by this magnificent being. Some families even encourage children to write thank you letters to him. Expressing their gratefulness for what he has done for them.

So what about you? Who will you be honoring during this holiday season? Are you worshiping God alone, or are you sharing His praises with Santa?

I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. ~ Psalm 69:30

Moms In Touch

2011-11-15T07:03:00.000-08:00

I am so excited about Moms In Touch International! I don't remember who suggested the organization to me a couple of weeks ago, but I am so, so, so thankful! There isn't a group for the boy's school yet, so I just started praying by myself, and I have to tell you, it is amazing! I have been searching to improve my prayer life for a while now, but have never been able to find anything to help me go beyond the pray in the moment prayers (which are good, but they aren't enough).

So! While it is a rule that what is prayed in a MITI prayer group must stay within the group, since I am praying by myself, I thought I would share what my first hour of prayer looked like:

Before I could start I had to pick an attribute(or name) of God, and look up the definition and supporting scriptures. Because one of my biggest struggles about putting the boys in public school was that I wouldn't be as involved as I wanted to be. As a parent, it is hard to put them someplace where I can't protect them, or help them. So I chose to praise God for being our Father.

Praise:
Attribute: God our Father
Definition: Our parent/protector - originator, founder, or inventor.
Supporting Scriptures:
2 Corinthians 6:18~ “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
Hebrews 12:7~ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
Proverbs 23:13~ Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Proverbs 13:24~ He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.
1 John 3:1~ How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Romans 1:7~ To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

--My Prayer--
Praise be to you the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, you have blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1:3). Thank you Father, for making me your daughter. You Lord are a mighty God, lavishing your love on us. I praise you Lord, for all that you do. I praise you for being a wonderful Father, not spoiling me Lord, but being a loving Father that disciplines me, and lets me know when I am in the wrong. I praise you for offering me grace and peace in every situation, and for calling me to be a saint. Thank you for loving me.

Confession
During this time I confessed some of the sins that God has been convicting me of (worry, fear, and anger mainly).

Thanksgiving
I took this opportunity to continue thanking God for letting me be His child, for being my protector. I thanked Him for being my guide and being trustworthy.

Intercession
I chose 3 Scriptures to pray. Then I prayed one over each of my boys, and the last one over all of the children at their school~
Matthew 6:9-13~ “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’

--My Prayer--
Lord, I ask that you are with Tyrel today. Please forgive him for his sins, and help him to forgive those who sin against him. I pray Father, that you help him to resist temptations and deliver him from the evil one.

Ephesians 1:17-23~ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

--My Prayer--
Father God, please give Kainen the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that he may know you more. I pray that you open the eyes of his heart so that he may be enlightened and know the hope which can only be found in you. Father, please help him to know your power and love. You loved him enough to die for Him and you raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at your right hand. Help Kainen to know these things as truth. Father God, I ask that you show him exactly who you are, and fill him with your spirit.

Philippians 2:5-11~ Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

--My Prayer--
Father God, I ask that you are present in [name of school]. Please help the attitudes of all of the children there to reflect that of Christ Jesus, who, in being God himself, did not consider being equal to you on earth. Instead, He made Himself nothing. He became a servant, Lord. He came to live among us, and serve us. He humbled himself, and was obedient to the point of death, Lord! And because of this, you have exalted Him. Help every student at [name of school] to know this as truth, oh God. Every knee will bow to Christ, both in heaven and on earth. Help the students of [said school] to confess with their mouths, Jesus as Lord, for your glory. I pray.

Next I prayed for some specific requests:
I prayed that Ty would try hard and do his best, without giving up or getting frustrated (in accordance with Galatians 6:9)
I prayed that Kainen would control his seemingly growing anger (Psalm 37:8 & Psalm 4:4)
And I prayed that all of the students would come to know Christ (John 3:16)

I could not find a list of the staff at their school, so I prayed the prayer that they recommended over the principle. Then asked that God would protect the children from lies over the coming Christmas season, and that the school would take no part in encouraging them to believe the lies. Because the boys just started there, I didn't have enough information to pray for school concerns. I guess that I could have prayed for safe travel to and from the school, but I didn't think of it at the time.

Following intercession for the students, staff and school, I prayed for the MITI organization (using their prayer calendar for requests), to find at least one other mom at the boys school to pray with, and then because I live in Colorado I prayed for the MITI moms, group and staff in Angola, Ethiopia, Mauritius, and Slovenia with the requests I found on the website.

I closed my prayer time with the benediction found in 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 and lastly Philippians 4:20.

It was such a wonderful time of prayer. I highly recommend looking into this organization. Even if you don't have kids in school, or even if you don't have kids. It has changed my prayer time with God, and I just felt so much better after spending that time with Him! I am planning on keeping one day a week set aside for praying for the boys and their school (Mondays), but setting aside a time everyday to follow this prayer outline to pray for other things.

You can learn more about Mom's In Touch at their website.

Changing vs. Squelching...

2011-11-14T07:15:00.000-08:00

It's Mr. Monday again here at Servant, Wife, Mother, and one of the things that has been heavy on my heart this week is the topic of changing vs. squelching. Very few people remain the same forever. We grow, we change, we mature and develop. We learn to like different things. I would hazard a guess that less than half of you like the same things today as you did when you graduated high school. The same goes for our Mr.'s. However, somethings don't change, instead they get trampled.

This was brought home hard one day this week when Mr. Amazing came home from work late. He had to be at work early the next morning and doesn't normally eat supper on nights like that. However he was hungry. One little thing you need to know about my Mr. is that he LOVE's simple food. He would be in heaven if I served hot dogs for lunch and hamburger helper for supper every single day. So, I tossed some hot dogs in the microwave and called it good. Now, I mentioned that he loves hot dogs, however, he gently reminded me that he doesn't love his hot dogs microwaved. :( He prefers them boiled then seared on the stove top. I knew this. I really did. However, the kids prefer the quickness that comes from the microwave. When I boil them for the children, I get groans and they stand in the kitchen longingly staring at the stove.

The whole situation made me start to wonder how many other things have been being squelched. I remembered when we were dating all of his dishes were Coca-Cola themed. If you look in our cabinets now, you will only find a handful of those dishes. The rest have been broken and replaced with more durable, plastic, dinnerware. Does he still like Coca-Cola themed plates? I'm sure he does.

I know that he also still loves his old '82 Supra that is parked in our driveway but never driven. That car was his heart and soul for as long as I can remember. He LOVES it. In fact, I think he use to love it more than me, but he's grown past that un-healthy car love. Since the time that he replaced it with a bigger vehicle (with more seats), it has had a tree fall on it, and one of our daughters has rubbed some of the now oxidized paint off of it. He doesn't complain, but I know that it is something he cares about.

So for Mr. Monday this week, I would love to hear about some of the things that have changed in your husband since you started dating or got married. Is there anything that hasn't changed but has been squelched by kids, marriage, or life? How can we stop squelching, and start nurturing?

Thoughts anyone?

Christmas Cards & Santa Dollars

2011-11-12T07:15:00.000-08:00

We got our first Christmas card this week. I must admit that I was thouroughly disappointed in it. The front of the card displayed a beautiful picture of the nativity scene, but once you opened the card there was no sign of Jesus. In fact, it attributed God's qualities to Christmas. Here's what the inside said:

"May you have...
The Spirit of Christmas which is peace.
The Gladness of Christmas which is hope.
The Heart of Christmas which is love."

My heart sunk as I read those words, for peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, not Christmas. In fact, today's Christmas is anything but peaceful.

Our hope is in Christ. It comes from Him, not from Christmas. While Christmas was the time of Christ's birth, our hope is in His ressurection.

We are suppose to love God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our minds, because God IS love.

Am I being legalistic and reading too much into this? Maybe. But it just hurts so much when I see my savior being pushed to the side. This card actually came from a ministry organization. When professing Christians can't even mention their Savior in their Christmas cards, there is something wrong. Besides the normal printing inside the card, there was also some print that was suppose to resemble their handwritten note. But not even it mentioned our Savior. If this truly is the time that we celebrate HIS birth, why can't we talk about HIS birth?

All of this has been magnified by the fact that I found out this week that the new Santa dollars have replaced the words "In God We Trust" to "In Santa We Trust". It's so fitting for this time of year, and I bet tons of people won't be bothered by this at all, but I am. My trust is not in the lie of Santa, it is in the Way, the Truth and the Life, Jesus Christ. My Savior is my hope, for nothing else is worthy, especially not the make believe Santa.

My Anti-Santaism: What Santa Teaches

2011-11-11T08:05:00.000-08:00

This is the fourth post in my Anti-Santaism series. I will be adding a post every Friday between now and Christmas, you can read the introduction post here.

Last week I started to touch on the Spiritual side of my Anti-Santaism by sharing some of the similarities between Santa and Christ. This week, I’m going to flip it around, and write about their differences. While they are similar in age, appearance, abilities, and what not, they differ greatly in what they teach.

I have a BIG problem with the message that Santa sends to children. While most people would say that Santa stands for joy and his main goal is to bring happiness to children, I see that as teaching children that joy and happiness come from material items. I would guess that 99% of children ask Santa for tangible things, objects that will be used, discarded, and forgotten. The other 1% ask Santa for things that he cannot possibly provide. He can’t bring peace on earth, save a dying loved one, or bring a child the love that they long for.

Matthew 7:7-8 says “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” That tells me that we are supposed to ask God for things, not Santa. The Bible also says in John 14 that we are supposed to ask for things in the name of Jesus (vs 13). Jesus said that if we ask for things in His name, they will be given to us to glorify the Father through Him. However, the Bible doesn't stop there. It tells us in James 4:3 that “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” Isn't that what we do with Santa? We ask for things for our own pleasure? Not only is Santa teaching us that joy and happiness is something that can be bought, he is also teaching us to ask with the wrong motives.

The Bible tells us ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20:35), and that is extremely different than the message that Santa is sending our children. Every year they are encouraged to line up and wait for their turn to tell Santa what they want to receive for Christmas, they write him letters asking for the gifts they are hoping to be given, and all the buzz is about what they want. In return for the plethora of presents, they might leave Santa a plate of cookies, and possibly watch their parents give a few gifts to others. While I know many parents that try to teach the importance of giving, I simply do not see the present day Santa sending that message (I say present day, because I am not referring to the historic Saint Nicholas, more on that in a later post).

To me, Santa teaches selfishness. He teaches us to make lists of the things we desire. Doesn't the Bible tell us to be content with what we have, and not to covet. We shouldn't be teaching our children to covet the things in the store by making lists and telling everyone what they "want".

To move past the presents, Santa is all about magic. The Bible does not convey magic as a good thing. All of the magicians mentioned were bad people (see Exodus 7:11 and Acts 13:6 for a couple examples), and in Acts 19:19 all the Christians who had previously practiced magic burned their magic books. I know this is a small thing to some, but it still holds some weight with me.

The next thing is much bigger to me. Of all of the innocent little songs about Santa, “I saw Mommy kissing Santa Clause,” isn’t so innocent to me. For children who believe that Santa is real, this song teaches that adultery is a cute little fun thing. Adultery is extremely serious, and anyone who has ever had their spouse cheat on them, can tell you just how not funny that song is. And don't even get me started about the fact that it is somehow supposed to be funny that he killed Grandma?!

These are just a few of the ways that their teachings differ, I’m sure that there are more (please let me know if you think of something I missed). But just with these few major differences, I must admit that I was saddened beyond belief last year when someone told me that her mom taught her that God was Santa, so that was what she was teaching her children. In their eyes, God provided the money to buy presents, therefore He was Santa. I have a huge issue with that. If God is something then it should be reversible (please let me know if you disagree).

God is God the Father/God the Father is God
God is Jesus/Jesus is God
God is the Holy Spirit/the Holy Spirit is God
God is Santa/Santa is God?! NOOOO!!!! That's blasphemy! God is triune, not quadruple.

While Satan would love for us to believe that the two are the same, God isn't Santa. God teaches the opposite of Santa. God teaches us to put others before ourselves, and not to want/covet, but to be thankful for what we have. God teaches us that it is better to give than to receive. Santa teaches us to make lists of our desires, and to think almost entirely about ourselves. Is Santa God? Absolutely not.

Confessions of a non-homeschooler

2011-11-10T07:51:00.000-08:00

Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ~Ephesians 5:19b-20

Earlier this week, I read something about trust that really hit me pretty hard. In my Women's Devotional Bible author Susan L. Lenzkes wrote that "STOOP-shouldered, foot-dragging, sighing resignation is not trust." That is exactly how I had been feeling about putting the boys back into public school. I know that it's what God wanted for our family, and I kept saying that I trusted Him with the situation, but I was very unhappy about it. So for the rest of this week, I have been working hard at being thankful for the situation.

Mrs. Lenzkes went on to write that "Real trust bounces on eager toes of anticipation- laughs with pure delight of knowing in whom it believes- rests easy knowing on whom it waits." That's what I should be doing. So, here is my list of the reasons I'm thankful that the boys are in public school.

I'm thankful that I was able to clean my house this week. I confess that it was a really great feeling to be able to clean during school hours and not feel guilty about it.

I'm thankful that I was able to play with my toddlers. I felt they were being a bit neglected while I spent time schooling the boys, so it really just felt great to slow down and play with them!

I'm thankful that I got to spend my husband's day off with him, actually spending time with him. It was incredible. When homeschooling was a priority if his day off fell on a school day, I didn't get to spend a lot of time with him. It felt good just to take the day and be with him.

I'm thankful for the wonderful lady that told me about Moms In Touch. While I am still learning about it, and trying to put a group together for the boy's school, it's wonderful to think about how much I can do in prayer for them. It will really help me learn to trust God in this situation, and to really put the boys in His care.

I'm thankful that Mr. Amazing's job schedule allowed me to attend my first PTA meeting. I have a lot to learn about how all of the stuff talked about works, but I now know what questions I need to ask, and a little bit more about how things work.

I'm thankful that Kainen loves school. He always has, but it's nice to hear about how much fun he had, and hear his teacher tell me how awesome he is (which of course I already knew!).

I'm thankful that the school pays for free tutoring. Even though I had the boys almost at grade-level from when they were both over a year behind when we pulled them out at the end of the school year 2 years ago, it's nice to know that they really will get the help they need to not stay behind, or get farther behind again.

I'm thankful that the boys eat both breakfast and lunch at school, and our grocery budget was just cut by over half.

I guess that I'm learning that while there were many, many reasons that I was thankful for homeschooling, and many more reasons why I don't like the public school system, I can still praise God in any situation, and trust Him to know what is best for my family.

What are you thankful for this week? Why not link up with Thankful Thursday over at Laurie's blog, Women Taking a Stand.

We Cried Today

2011-11-07T08:20:00.000-08:00

Today has not been a great day. I had it all planned out so that it would go smoothly, but nothing ever really goes as planned. I got up at 5 so that I would have time to shower and spend some time with God before the kids got up, except the girls both got up at 5:05. And they were cranky. They followed me around whining all morning. Then, when I was helping Alexa with something, Ella went upstairs and woke up her brothers. Who really didn't need to get up at 5:45 on their first day of school. By the time we left I was feeling defeated.

At the school, the heath teacher remembered the boys from when they were there two years ago. She was talking to them, and Ty informed her that he hated homeschooling. It was a smack in the face for me. He has always hated school. He hated public school and he hated homeschooling, I knew that. But just to have him say it aloud to someone who doesn't know the whole story hurt.

Kainen has the same teacher for first grade that Ty had. I'm not thrilled about that. She is super nice, but she doesn't believe in answering questions directly. She want's children to figure things out for themselves. So when the giant elf visited their class and the kids asked if it was real, she wouldn't tell them no. After school when Ty and I went in there because he had told me that she said it was indeed real, she still refused to tell him that it was just someone dressed as an elf. Of course, Ty idolized her and believed her over me.

Ty's new teacher seemed really nice. I liked her. I did find out that the boys will eat breakfast at school, so I don't need to feed them in the morning before we leave. This will let them sleep a little longer, but I will have to re-figure our morning routine and change the checklists that I made and laminated for them.

After meeting the teachers, the boys headed out to the playground, and Ella cried. She didn't understand why she wasn't allowed to stay with her brothers or why they couldn't come home with us. I never thought about how hard this would be for her. Alexa didn't care, but Ella cried, so I cried. We cried and walked back to the van together. Ella cried all the way home, I carried her into the house and she sat on the couch and cried for the next hour. It broke my heart.

After such a stressful morning, I would love nothing more than to take a nap, but with as tired as the girls are, they are refusing to sit still. I'm planning on giving them a bath and hoping that they will lay down after they are clean.

Pray for us. We need it.

Mr. Monday

2011-11-07T07:29:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to Mr. Monday! I love Monday's. It's so fun to brag on my Mr.!!! You know, 'cause he's so great! For those of you who don't know, every 1st and 3rd Monday is Marriage Monday over at Chrysalis. I highly encourage you to check it out. This week's topic is Mother-in-laws, which was actually covered there last spring as well. You can read my In-law's post here.

The question asked was how to deal with difficult in-laws. While I have never had to deal with that personally, my sister's first marriage was ruined by her overbearing mother-in-law, so I know what kind of an effect they can have on your marriage. I am a firm believer that in a Christian marriage the husband should leave his mother and father to be joined together with his wife. If your husband isn't willing to leave his mother to support you, your marriage won't work. That was the case with my sister's marriage. Her husband put his mother first, and her second. She couldn't take that, and to be quite frank, I don't know if I would be able to either. You can't become one with your spouse, if you are constantly being shoved to the side to cater to his mom. Regardless of where your husband stands, when we get married, we are agreeing to be our husbands helpers. Which means that we need to help him in whatever he desires (as long as it is in line with God's word). I think I mentioned this a few weeks ago. If our husbands goal is to help his mother, ours should be too. While our in-laws don't always make this easier, it is our duty as wives. We have to ask God for guidance, grace and peace. In the end, I think when we have difficult in-laws, it's important to remember Matthew 19:36. It might be impossible to love them and get along with them on our own, but with God all things are possible.

Even if you don't link up for Marriage Monday, I encourage you to check out e-mom's list of reasons why writing about marriage changes things. It's great!! (well, minus #4, I'm kind of anti-venting, Eph. 4:29)

After reading through e-mom's list, I was just reminded why I started Mr. Monday's in the first place. I started doing Mr. Monday because I LOVE Mr. Amazing, and Marriage Monday over at Chrysalis is only twice a month. It just wasn't enough! And, while every 1st and 3rd Monday is Marriage Monday, it isn't always writing about your Mr. and, I like writing about my Mr. :D

So each Monday I began posting something about Mr. Amazing. (I am contemplating having him make a button for me... but at this point there isn't one.) It has just been wonderful! It's so fantastic just to spend time each week writing down how amazing my husband is. Even on day's when we don't get along, he is still fantastic, and it's good to remember that. It helps me to meditate on what Scripture has to say about being a godly wife, and also a great reminder that no one is perfect, and God's grace covers all imperfections. The bottom line? I love Mr. Mondays! :D

If you would like to join me, all you have to do is start referring to your husband a Mr. ______. The point is that if you call him that, then you will start seeing him that way (and I have totally found this to be true!). I have started calling my husband Mr. Amazing (and he is sooo amazing!), so will you join me in referring to your husband as Mr.______(good name)?

No Church on Sunday

2011-11-06T11:44:00.000-08:00

What do Sunday's look like at your house? For most Christians, it consists of getting up early, eating a nice breakfast, and heading off to Sunday morning serviced. This is of course followed by a nice lunch, family fun, and then possibly evening services. While my church has yet to begin Sunday evening services, that's what our Sunday's use to look like too. That is, until Mr. Amazing got transferred to a new store. He told his boss that he wanted Sunday's off for church, but in the entire 2 1/2 months that he has been working there, he has yet to have a Sunday off.

While I am all for taking the kids to church even on days that daddy works, we have probably had every variation of the cold and flu possible during that time. Instead of leaving the sickly at home with dad or mom and the rest of the family attending, we are all stuck at home. It's been a sad time, and I am missing my church family deeply. We would have been at church this morning, but 3 of our children got immunizations on Wednesday and are now running fevers, have very runny noses and watery eyes. I was so excited mid-last week when it appeared that we were all healthy, only to have my hopes dashed by the bad reaction to their shots. (Can anyone tell me the point of getting immunizations to keep you from getting sick, if they themselves make you sick?)

So here we sit, at home again on a Sunday. Over the past several weeks I have been thinking of Church alternatives. You know, things you can do on Sunday to worship God, without attending the Church building. I know some families actually do church at home on those days. But my kids aren't old enough for that. However we do play worship music all day. Here are some options if you are ever get stuck with no church on Sunday:

Family Bible Reading- Sit down and read the Bible together. We actually do this every evening, so I haven't done this one yet, but it's always a great starting point.

Bible lesson/craft- A quick online search will pull up tons of free resources for Sunday school teachers that are easily adapted for use at home. We did tons of these when homeschooling, so we have several books and such with ideas as well.

Listen to an online sermon- Most churches have their sermons available online, so pulling up one to listen to even though you aren't in a church is easier than ever. I am not a big fan of Tele-evangelists, and it's unlikely that I would ever recommend watching a sermon on T.V., some churches even have videos of their sermons available on their website.

Watch a Christian movie- Something simple for the kids like watching a Bible story movie can help remind you and the kids that this is a day set apart for worshiping God, even if you are still at home.

Puppet shows- Put together a puppet show of one of your kid's favorite Bible stories. This is a great family activity, that helps teach Bible principles, but also gets the kids involved.

Pray together- Hopefully you do this anyway, but set apart a special time on Sunday's when your at home to pray as a family. Pray for your church family, and for anyone else that might have had to miss church that week. Pray for your pastor, worship team, and anyone else that God lays on your heart.

Those are just a few examples of ways that you can worship God on Sunday's even when you can't make it to church. Do you have any other ideas that you can share with me? I would love to hear about them!

Have a blessed Sunday.

My Anti-Santaism: The Counterfeit Christ

2011-11-04T08:05:00.000-07:00

This is the third post in my Anti-Santaism series. I will be adding a post every Friday between now and Christmas, you can read the introduction post here.

Last week I wrote about the beginning of my Anti-Santaism. However, it would not be fair to leave off there. It was a couple of years later before I turned my life over to Christ, but even then, my reasoning for being Anti-Santa stayed the same for years. It wasn't until a few years ago that it was no longer just about being a good mom and an honest person anymore. I began to realize that there really was a spiritual side to it... a big spiritual side.

I started meeting other Christian moms who didn't 'do' Santa because they didn't want to lose their children’s trust. They thought that if they lied about Santa that when their kids found out the truth, that they might doubt the reality of Christ as well. Some of them thought this way because they had experienced this first hand. Their parents had lied to them about Santa and they had trouble believing in Christ after they found out the truth. Other parents didn't 'do' Santa because they acknowledged that lying was a sin. While I related more to the second, I really did understand both sides.

A couple of years ago, I was introduced to Santa as the counterfeit Christ (you can google "Santa the Counterfeit Christ" and find all kind of information about this). During that time, I listened to a sermon by James Knox. While that sermon was extremely harsh, it blew me away. I decided to create a friendlier version of it, and I would like to share that with you now:

Have you ever stopped to think about how similar Jesus and Santa are? Many people have noted similarities, but I never realized just how similar they were. Both Santa and Jesus are known as Father. Jesus is called the Everlasting Father in Isaiah 9:6, and of course Santa is called Father Christmas.

According to movies and the stories that children are told, they are both eternal. Santa is portrait as a guy who has always been around, and will be around forever. The Bible says that Jesus always has been and always will be (Rev. 1:8, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1). But what does the Bible say about Santa living forever? The Bible says in Romans 5 (verse 12) that sin leads to death, and all men die, because they have all sinned. So according to the Bible, Santa can’t live forever because he is a sinner just like everyone else. (See also Romans 3:23)

The Bible also tells us that if we want something or need something that we should ask God for it. Philippians 4:6 says– “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” And Matthew 7:7 reads– “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” God wants us to pray to Him, not write lists to people that aren’t real. There is also a scripture that says if we ask and do not receive then we are asking with the wrong motives (James 4:3). I have to wonder what the motivation behind writing a wish list to Santa is? (More on that in a later post)

If we keep moving we come to the fact that Santa can see us all the time. He sees us when we’re sleeping and knows when we’re awake. He watches over little kids all year round. The Bible says that “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). Psalm 33:13-14 goes on to say- “From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth,” but the Bible doesn’t stop there. Psalm 33:18 says- “…the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love,” 2 Chronicles 16:9- “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him”. And Psalm 139:11-12- “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”

The Bible tells us that God can see us when we are sleeping, and when we are awake. He can see all of mankind, and watches over us always. Which brings us to the next point, where does God watch over us from? Hebrews 12:22 tells us- “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,” and Psalm 48:1-2 adds- “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.” (KJV) Then, Psalm 75:6 concludes- “No one from the east or the west or from the desert (south) can exalt a man.” God watches over us from the North, and we all know that Santa lives at the North Pole.

People have long anticipated the coming of Christ. When He lived on earth people lined up to see Him, and now we are anxiously awaiting His return (John 12:12-13 and Mark 13:26). Every year in December, (and longer for some) people anxiously await the return of Santa. They line up in department stores to sit on his lap or get pictures with him, they line streets to see him at that end of the parades, and they sing about him, and to him, while they wait.

Another thing that they have in common is mentioned in Revelation 20, where verse 12 says, “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” And then if you look at verse 15 it reads, “If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

God and Santa are both making lists. Both lists are based off of what we have done. Santa’s myth says that if we are naughty then we won’t get anything for Christmas (except maybe a piece of coal), and God says that we all fall short the glory of God, but with Christ’s blood covering us we will be forgiven, otherwise we will be thrown into the lake of fire. In both cases they are the judge, you can’t call Santa Christmas morning and petition because you didn’t get what you wanted, and you most certainly have no hope after you have been thrown into the lake of fire. On the other side of that, if you are found favored you will receive gifts:

2 Timothy 4:7-8 ~ “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (See also Revelation 22:12).

They both see time the same way too. The Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 that the return of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, and we all know that Santa comes at night. You don’t hear him coming, you don’t see him coming, but he comes and is gone before anyone ever knows. Kind of like a thief… Not only that, but in one night he visits every house with children in the world. How is that possible? Many believe that he lives outside of normal time, and while we sleep days pass for him. 2 Peter 3:8 tells us that to God a thousand days are like an hour, and an hour like a thousand days.

Santa is also well known for getting into every house, no matter how tight it is shut up: when we go to bed, we lock the doors and close the windows, and many homes do not have fireplaces. Santa was not the first person to enter a room that was locked down: On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" - John 20:19

Another little known fact is how similar the two are in appearance. Bible says Jesus will have hair white like wool or snow (Rev. 1:14), He will have a beard (Isaiah 50:6), and he will wear red (Isaiah 63:1-2). Every child can tell you that a white haired man with a beard that is dressed in red is Santa Clause.

While there are probably even more similarities, I want to point out one more (that is really two put together). “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’" - Matthew 19:14. Jesus wants the children to come to Him, to accept Him, and the children are the ones that Santa reaches out to the most. Santa wants the children to come to him. It’s practically a crime to try to hinder a child’s belief in Santa.

Those who believe in Christ are supposed to worship Him, and go into the world tell others about Him(John 9:38, Mark 16:15, and Matthew 28:19). Many of us have a hard time with that, but when it comes to Santa, we have no problem being a disciple for him. We dress up like him, and make sure not to damage his image. In fact, even those who don’t believe in Santa are expected to evangelize for him. We tell stories about him, sing about him, and even sing to him. In a way, it is like we are worshiping him. Which reminds me of the 1st and 2nd commandments…

Exodus 20:2-4 ~ "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below."

Our God is a jealous God (2 Corinthians 11:2)! He doesn’t want to share us with Santa. He designed us to love Him; to give our devotion to Him. But instead, They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator… (Romans 1:25). Santa is a created thing, a lie. Jesus is the truth, and will be forever. What will you do with that truth?

...as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. ~Joshua 24:15

Through the tears

2011-11-03T14:13:00.000-07:00

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: ~ Ecc. 3:1

I wrote a few days ago about surrendering. I realized that I was trying to live life on my own, and accomplish everything FOR God instead of THROUGH God. It has really been eye opening how stubborn and prideful I am, but God is working on me. One of the biggest things that God has laid on my heart has to do with homeschooling. I love homeschooling! With every fiber of my being it is something that I want to do. However, it doesn't work well in my family. There are multiple reasons, that I really don't feel like going over again right now. You'll just have to trust me on that. I have been fighting to continue teaching my children at home more than I have actually been teaching them. It's exhausting. God has really just laid it on my heart that I have to surrender my children to Him. I can't keep them to myself thinking that I'm the only possible hope they have for become Christ followers. God doesn't NEED me. He is more than capable of saving them even if they attend public school.

Do I think everyone should put their kids into public school? By NO means. I would prefer that the entire world homeschooled actually, and that includes my family. But that isn't practical, and it really isn't up to me. Each family has to do what God has planned for them.

I also want to mention that I am not advocating my parental responsibility to teach my children. The Bible does call us to teach our children, so I will still be working with them at home after school and some on Saturdays. We will still read the Bible together, pray, and do Bible studies. I'm just letting the public school take over their secular education (although I would rather not).

Today we went to the school to drop off their enrollment packets. I cried. The kids cheered at the thought of seeing their old friends, and I cried.

I knew when I first realized that I wasn't entirely surrendering my life to Christ that things would change, and not all of the changes would be easy, but I must admit this one is probably the hardest for me. I have to choose to trust that God knows what is best for our family, and trust Him with my children. God sent His Son into the sinful world, surely I can trust Him enough to send my children into the public school system.

On those tear drops, I will be unfollowing most of the blogs about homeschooling, and probably editing my Facebook friends as well. Not because I love you, your blogs or homeschooling any less, but because this is really painful for me, and I'm trying to cut back the salt in the wounds so to speak. I hope you will forgive me, I will understand if you unfollow me back.

30 days of thankfulness: Day 1

2011-11-01T19:44:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day of the 30 Days of Being Thankful challenge, hosted by Sonya over at Becoming a Strong Woman of God. While I didn't find too many teaching opportunities (probably for lack of looking), I was amazed at the number of gifts I have to be thankful for.

~I have beautiful sweet children. We might not always be the perfect family, but I love my family and am extremely thankful for them.
~I have the most amazing husband EVER! He works so hard and does so much. He really is great and I am thankful to have him in my life.
~We were surprised to hear that Mr. Amazing has 3 days of vacation left, and that he has to take them in the next couple of weeks as their vacation time rolls over into the new year on December 1st. Extra time with him is always something I am thankful for!
~I'm also thankful for my mom. She was in the hospital Monday night, but is home now. I'm thankful that even though my sister and I both live a ways away from her that she has good friends who were there for her when she needed them. One of them drove her to the hospital, another picked her up, and yet another came to return her library books for her as she isn't able to drive yet. I'm thankful that she has a job that pays for sick time and that she has the opportunity to rest until she is completely restored to full health. I'm also thankful that it wasn't as severe as the doctors first thought.
~I am thankful for the gift of having a home, heat, electricity, running water, beds to sleep in, and blankets to cover up with. I'm thankful for our dishes, the food we eat and the money that God provides to pay our bills.
~I'm thankful for the gift of friendship. A dear friend called me today and we talked for quite a while. I'm not a phone person by nature, and haven't actually spoken on the phone to a friend since the last time she called a few months ago. I truly am blessed to have her as a friend.
~I'm thankful for my phone so that I can receive phone calls :D
~I am thankful for the gift of my Savior. Born in a manger, he came to die so that I could have hope, and live. He amazes me!
~I'm thankful for my computer so that I can write and get encouragement from all of you here in blog land.
~I am thankful for this challenge. It's been great concentrating on thankfulness today, and I am looking forward to doing so again tomorrow.

Would you be interested in joining us?

-The challenge:
to be thankful for every gift that the Lord has given you, and to teach your children simple ways to be thankful.
-The goal:
to learn to be thankful for the smallest things and see God all around us as we move through each day.
-The hope:
what is learned and observed during this challenge will have a lasting effect on our thankfulness.

Would you consider joining us on this journey? Hop on over to Sonya's blog:

I Surrender

2011-11-01T08:15:00.000-07:00

My attitude always improves after praying. This morning, well, it just wasn't a good morning. In fact, I don't have good mornings often. But the past few weeks, I have just felt defeated. The phrases "I quit", "I don't care" and others like them have been heard often in my home. I know that these are not godly words that will point my children to Christ, but it seems like the harder I have been trying, the harder they have been fighting. So I did quit. God spoke to me today though. He reminded me that when I am weak, He is strong. That is not code for "Suck it up girl!" It's meant to tell me that it's okay to be weak. It's okay to feel defeated, but the attitude I have been having wasn't okay. I wasn't really quitting at all, because I did care. I was still trying to do everything, to be super woman, and I was failing. My attitude didn't stem from being weak, it stemmed from failure. I was not dying to my self, and relying on Christ. I was mad that I couldn't do it all on my own.

That all changed today. Instead of quitting, I surrendered. I surrendered my days to Christ. I will do what He wants me to do, I will be what He want's me to be, I will listen and obey. I have been fighting God for quite sometime now. I have been fighting because my sinful, prideful self, wanted to do it all on my own. I wanted to show the world how great God was, by being perfect FOR Him instead of THROUGH Him. But it doesn't work that way. When we try to do it on our own we will fail. When we try to imitate someone else's walk with Christ instead of letting God direct our paths, we will fail then too. While I freely admit that God has His work cut out for Him in my life, I know that He can do anything, even perfect my stubborn, sinful heart.

There will be a lot of changes in my heart and home over the next few months as God does some house cleaning. I must admit that I am excited to see what comes of it all.

Picture Taken From Christian Clip Art

2 Corinthians 12:10~ 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 Corinthians 13:9~ We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection.

Romans 5:3~ Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

Mr. Monday!

2011-10-31T08:05:00.000-07:00

On this beautiful Mr. Monday, I want to talk about commitment. Marrying our Mr. was probably one of the biggest commitments we ever made. God's Word says that when two people get married, they become one. Getting married is committing to putting the marriage above ourselves. As wives, we are committing to be our husbands helper forever, as long as we both shall live. That's a HUGE commitment.

Sometimes, once we get into the marriage, we realize that we don't exactly care for all of the ways he needs us to help him.Washing clothes might not be our strong suit, but it's not his either, and as his helper it falls to us. Or maybe he needs help managing the finances, or he might just need encouragement when he gets down. The different ways we help our Mr.'s are endless. Each Mr. needs something different. He might need your help to win a battle with sin, he might need your help replacing the kitchen sink, I don't know what your Mr. needs help with, but I know he needs your help.

Regardless of our feelings, when we committed to our marriage, we committed to helping our Mr.'s, through thick and think, rich and poor, happiness and sorrow, we promised him that we would be there. Are you honoring that commitment to your husband, or are you complaining about being expected to the things that you don't like to do? I know I lose sight of that commitment sometimes.

The bottom line is that I love my Mr., and I know you love yours too. Maybe we should commit to being happy about the commitments we have made. Let's try it for a week, shall we? For the next week I challenge you to be thankful and joyous about helping your Mr. No matter what you are helping him with, be it laundry, dishes, finances, a bad attitude or a different sin that he has, be thankful for him and the opportunity to walk through life together, for better or for worse.

30 Days of Thankfulness

2011-10-30T07:05:00.000-07:00

Sonya, over at Becoming a Strong Woman of God, is hosting blog challenge during the month of November:

-The challenge:
to be thankful for every gift that the Lord has given you, and to teach your children simple ways to be thankful.
-The goal:
to learn to be thankful for the smallest things and see God all around us as we move through each day.
-The hope:
what is learned and observed during this challenge will have a lasting effect on our thankfulness.

Would you consider joining us on this journey? Hop on over to Sonya's blog:

Contentment

2011-10-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

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. ~ Philippians 4:12

This Scripture has been on my heart for several days now. What stands out to me the most is that Paul didn't just instantly become content, he had to learn to be content. I think that God is teaching me this, and I must admit that it's not an easy lesson. While I do know what it is to be in need and what it is to have plenty, and I even know the secret of being content. The secret is thankfulness. The secret is choosing to be content, even if situations aren't ideal. It's choosing to be thankful for what you have, instead of wishing things were different.

What does that look like to me? It means:
...being thankful for our pets, even though I don't like caring for them. It's choosing to be thankful for my husband who loves animals, instead of upset about the hair on the rug, the poop in the litter box and the algae in the fish tank.
...being thankful that my children are creative when they make a big mess, instead of feeling putout by it.
...being thankful God made the seasons, even when I have to go out early in the morning and shovel the sidewalk and clean off the car.
...being thankful for my family when I have to clean up the living room, again. It means choosing to be thankful for hungry people when I have to cook dinner, wash the dishes, and go grocery shopping (my least favorite thing to do).
...being thankful for little legs that run and play when I have to mend another pair of pants with holes in the knees.
...being thankful for food to eat, instead of grumbling about the mess in the kitchen, or spilled milk on the floor.
...being thankful for the time with my children when homeschooling them, instead of upset with their poor attitudes about learning.
...being thankful for a house full of love, even when I can't remember the last time I had a full nights sleep, a moment to myself, or a shower without someone banging on the door.

This list could go on and on, but I think you get the point. What does learning to be content look like in your life?

Christians and Halloween?

2011-10-28T11:53:00.000-07:00

When I logged onto my computer today there were tons of posts about Christians and Halloween. Some people are extremely against it (with good reasoning) and others are extremely for it (again with good reasoning). Instead of writing a post about my personal beliefs, I just wanted to share some of the articles that I have run across this year. Please remember while reading these articles (if you so choose) that God is the true judge. Both sides are well supported and backed up with Scripture, so the most important thing is for you not to sin by doing something that violates your beliefs, but walk the path God has laid out for you.

God Questions

Christian Answers

My Deodorant is Giving Out

Princess Party Girl

Rightthinker

Stay-At-Home Daughter

I ask that whatever your decision about Halloween, you make it in effort to glorify Christ. Make your decision after prayer, and then do it all for the glory of God.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
~1 Corinthians 10:31

My Anti-Santaism: The beginning

2011-10-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

This is the second post in my Anti-Santaism series. Just as a reminder, a new post will be added to the series every Friday between now and Christmas. Last week I introduced the series, you can read that post here. This week, I wanted to take some time to tell you about when it all started.

My Anti-Santaism began when I was 14. You see, I was one of those kids that believed in Santa with every fiber of their being. When all of the other children's hope in him faded away, I held on. After all, the movies all said that he was real, even if parents and older kids didn't believe. I thought that it was special that I could still believe when others lost their faith. I thought Santa would be pleased by my faith in him and maybe, just maybe, I would get to meet him. He might even take me to the North Pole in his sleigh. I was sure I would be rewarded for my faith in him.

The harsh reality? Santa isn't real.

When did I find this out? Just before Christmas one year. I was shopping with my sister and one of her friend, and on the way out of the store and back to the car the topic of Santa came up. I proudly announced that Santa was most defiantly real, even if they didn't believe in him. They responded by laughing at me and saying they couldn't believe I was so stupid and childish to still believe in that. But it didn't stop there. They continued poking fun at me for quite some time, and I spent the ride home in the back of the car trying to hide my tears. My mom wouldn't have lied to me, would she? Surly all this time it wasn't her like they were saying. Just the year before I had received a letter from Santa in my stocking, that wasn't from my mom!

That was the day I decided. That was the day I made the choice that I would NEVER lie to my children. I knew that no loving parent could ever be the cause of the treatment that I received that day. Especially not just for their own enjoyment. I remember wondering what kind of a mom could lie to her kids? It was just so inconceivable to me. I still loved my mom (and my sister), but I was wounded.

I was the brunt of jokes that entire Christmas season. My sister told everyone we met that I still believed in Santa, and they would join in with her to laugh at me. I would try to deny it, even though I wasn’t sure what to think anymore, but they didn’t believe me or simply didn’t care. It is probably one of the most painful childhood memories that I have; more painful than being made fun of for having only one eye, and even more painful than being sexually abused by my stepfather.

That was the beginning of my Anti-Santaism. For those of you who were expecting something that was related to my faith in Christ, I have to tell you that it started out having nothing to do with religion. Back then I knew of Christ, but I didn’t know Him. I was raised in church, and I'm sure I must have known that Christmas was about the birth of Christ? But Christ wasn't important to me. He loved everyone, God was good and that was the extent of it. Santa, now he was the reason for the season. Every image of Christmas was about him. Every Christmas card held his photo, and on Christmas eve we watched him on the news. And it was all a lie. My Anti-Santaism came from the hurt that I felt that day. The hurt that I knew I could NEVER wish on any other child, especially not my own.

Mr. Monday!

2011-10-24T20:23:00.000-07:00

So, I have been slacking on my Mr. Monday posts. Not because I love Mr. Amazing any less, but for some reasons finding time to turn the computer on on Monday's is becoming difficult for me. I should start pre-writing them... Yeah, that would be good. But for now, I thought I would just go ahead and write this week's post.

I have been thinking all day about how much I am amazed by Mr. Amazing (hints the name). He worked the closing shift last night, didn't get to bed until after 11, then got up at 5am to go back to work. Why would anyone do that? Why would they drag themselves out of bed when they are dog tired? The answer is simple. Love.

He doesn't do it because he loves his job. He doesn't do it because he loves money. He does it because he loves our family and wants to provide for us. That amazes me. It amazes me how much he sacrifices for us. It amazes me that day after day, week after week, year after year, he gets up and goes to work, no matter what. He goes when he is sick (unless he can't stand up or something), he goes when he is tired, he goes when I forget to make him something to eat, he goes when I forget to wash his clothes. He just goes. He gets up and puts forth the effort to take care of our family, no matter how much his family fails him.

The Proverbs 31 woman has come up several times in the past few days. What I'm realizing is that I am ever so thankful for God's grace, because I fall so short of that. I am far from the perfect wife, yet there my husband is. Standing strong, loving me despite my faults.

Sometimes it's easy to focus on ourselves, on all of our needs that aren't being met. But if you ever take a step back and look at things from the other point of view, it gives you an amazing since of gratitude. Instead of looking at all of the things you have to put up with, think about all of the things that you make your husband put up with. If your anything like me, I bet you will want to give him a great big hug and tell him how truly amazing you think he is.

Blog Party!

2011-10-23T09:06:00.000-07:00

Just an FYI:

Oh, and happy Sunday! :D

NaNoWriMo Help!

2011-10-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

November is fast approaching, and I must admit that I don't have a clue what I am going to write my novel about this year. Last year I had an idea in September, and it burned in my head all through October. Practically drove me nuts that I couldn't write it down, then in November I had to start at the beginning all over again. So this year, I have put off coming up with my plot, and now that it's a week away, I have nothing! :(

Here are my thoughts: I wanted to do a modern-day Bible story, but am really struggling with coming up with a good scenario. So thought of doing a novel about a modern day St. Nicholas, but my only problem is that he was Catholic, and I don't know too much about the Catholic religion. I'm sure I could learn, but that might take a while and would require a ton of research! So here are my options:

A) Write about the Catholic St. Nicholas and lead him to Christ at the end of the story. Do the research, and get over the time requirements...

B) Alter the story enough that he is raised in a Christian home instead of a Catholic one.

C) Pick an actual Bible story like Esther, Ruth or Martha and Mary (just a few random examples) and make it a modern-day story?

D) Take one of Jesus' parables and write about it in a modern setting.

I'd love your input! I only have a few day's left before I wanted to have the teaser paragraph written and I don't even know what to write about :( Thoughts anyone?

Servant, Wife, Mother

2011-10-22T13:33:00.000-07:00

It's funny how easily priorities get mixed up. As a mom of young kids, it's essential to take care of your children. However, I have also found, that if you put your children first in your life, life seems to get completely out of hand, and quick. It seems like every time I look around and see my life in utter chaos, it's because my priorities are mixed up. I'm either thinking about myself too much, or trying to be the perfect parent.

On day's like that, it's good to come back to my target priorities. First and foremost, I need to be a servant of Christ. If my walk with God isn't right, nothing will be. I can't be a good mother, or a good wife, or even a good person if I'm neglecting my heavenly Father.

Likewise, I can't be a good mother to my children if I'm not being a good wife to my husband. My children see the way that my husband and I interact, they see the way that we treat one another. Not only do they mimic that behavior towards each, and us, they will also mimic that behavior in their own marriages years down the road.

Next comes my children. I have no business volunteering for ministry work, if I have not taken care of my children. Someone once said that the biggest mission field you can ever serve in, is your own home. Think about it. If I raise my children to love and honor Christ, then they will go out into the world and share that with others. I can reach more people by properly raising the four of them, then I ever could on my own.

After those three things are in there proper places, then I can use what is left to serve Christ outside of my home. I can use the love that God has given me to serve my community. You might have noticed that I left myself out of that equation. I did that on purpose. The Bible says that we are to die to ourselves. Everything that I do should be for the glory of Christ. Not for myself. The best thing I can do for myself, is to grow closer to God. To give more of myself up, to live for Him.

Christmas Series Intro

2011-10-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

Once again, the Christmas season is fast approaching. It seems like it comes earlier and earlier each and every year. The stores have already begun bringing out their decorations, and the great Santa debate has already been brought up. Anyone who has been following my blog for more than a year knows exactly how I feel about Santa. But for those of you who don’t, I doubt that you will be surprised to find out that “Santa” doesn’t visit our home.

While I tire of the debate, I am actually glad that it was brought up early this year. You see, I am Anti-Santa. I don’t look down on anyone who chooses to include Santa in their Christmas celebration. I do, however, feel very strongly about not having him in ours, and I am often taken aback by how far people go to defend Santa. If they start the conversation, and I attempt to share my side, I am often verbally attacked, insulted, and accused of many things that I believe are unfair. While I always try to take this with a grain of salt and move on, it is weary.

As always, the question arises within me, how far is too far to go with my Anti-Santaism?

-I’m not judging others. That is God’s job, not mine.

-I’m not telling others how to celebrate. That is a decision each family must make for themselves.

So what am I doing?

- I am stating my beliefs, and why I believe the way that I do. And I am doing so on my blog.

-I am telling my children (and whoever reads my blog) the truth about St. Nicolas, and refusing to lie about Santa.

-I am encouraging my children to obey God and will not ever encourage them to lie, not even to protect a lie that you told your children.

-I am seeking a way to co-exist with the people of this world, to be in it, but not of it. I am seeking away to love my brothers and sisters in Christ, and yet lovingly disagree with them during the Christmas season.

-I even asked the kids Christian choir teacher (a free program that I signed them up for) if she was planning on teaching secular Christmas songs. If she was, I was planning on pulling my children out for the Christmas season. I want my children to sing their praises to God, and God alone (more on this in another post).

Is that taking it too far? Is it going to far to not allow Santa into my home, not even in a snow globe? That's your call to make. It is becoming a tradition to post an Anti-Santaism series each Christmas. Many of the posts are re-written from the year before. I add things, take things out, and re-word them. I have decided to give you all prior warning this year. Each Friday between now and Christmas I will add a new post in my Anti-Santaism series.

I would love your feedback (as long as it is gently worded in accordance with Eph. 4:29). I want to learn how other Christians handle the Christmas season, and the whole Santa thing. But I do not want to argue. I will do my best to word my posts with love and respect, but I must admit that each year it is my Christian family that hurts me the most. They are the ones that attack me for my beliefs. Everyone else in my life, my birth family, my non-Christian friends and neighbors, they all accept my beliefs for what they are. It is my Christian family that is always outraged by it. So please, know that I am not attacking your beliefs, just stating my own. If your beliefs differ, I would love to hear about how, as long as you are simply sharing your beliefs in love, not attacking me.

Tired

2011-10-13T14:39:00.000-07:00

I'm tired. My mom says it is a side effect from being a mom that she is just now getting over. She says that it will only get worse as my children grow, and wont subside until well after they are married and living a minimum of 30 miles away. This does not instill much confidence in me. However, the Bible tells me that God will refresh the weary, and satisfy the faint (Jer. 31:25). That gives me hope. Even when I almost fall asleep while the speech therapist is here working with my children, I know that God gives me just the amount of strength that I need to get through each day. He gives me the strength I need to accomplish the tasks that He has set out for me to do. I'm thankful for that.

The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. ~ Isaiah 50:4

You can read more Thankful Thursday posts over at Lynn's blog, Spiritually Unequal Marriage

Diligence

2011-10-08T15:48:00.000-07:00

A while back I was reading this fabulous book that contained a quote from Mary Fish's father, that has really just stuck with me. "Are you idle, my child?" he would ask her. I must admit that I am idle much more than I wish I was. Lately, I have been learning how to be more diligent with my time. I want to take each moment captive for Christ's work. This has drastically changed the way that I live. I'm only using the computer in the evenings (if at all) each day. This has freed up my time to get more cleaning done. I have spent more time being a mom (and less time being an author/editor). My priorities were mixed up. I've got them straighter now, although I am still working on it. This has helped me learn to do everything better. I have been able to focus on the task at hand, instead of feeling torn in a million directions. I actually feel like I'm getting more done then before, just not as frequently, if that makes since.

While I don't always get to check my e-mail everyday, no one has died because they had to weight over 24 hours to hear back from me. I have also put a t.v. in my office so that if the kids need to be near me while I'm working, they can sit quietly and watch a movie (I have headphones so I can listen to something if I need to, or turn on some music to drown out the t.v. so I can concentrate).

We have started a more set routine for school. While we still don't have access to our school room, we are working on being more diligent anyway (instead of making excuses). We don't play until the school day is done, and then I make sure that I spend some time with the kids doing non-school things each day. Even if I just force myself to sit down and watch a movie with them, it makes them happy. Yesterday we rearranged the boys room, and made it easier for them to keep clean (and set consequences for if they didn't). The girls room is next, but probably not until late next week. :)

I know we still have a long way to go before I can say that my life is back in order, but for now the kids are happier, I am happier, and my house is cleaner. It's great! I love moving in the right direction!

Bad blogger me

2011-10-01T19:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'll admit it, I'm a bad blogger. I haven't blogged consistently for months. Here's my excuse: I'm a stay at home, work at home, homeschooling mom, housewife, AND there are still two guys living in my basement. Yes, you remember, the two that asked to stay for a couple of nights back in JULY. Yeah, them. We have asked them to leave several times, but they still haven't found a place to live. This is killing our electric bill, toilet paper expenses, and homeschooling (as they are sleeping in our school room). :( Me no likey! I do like them, they are great guys and I can't wait to get the one guys little boy back into my arms. But I'm ready to have my house back. I use to have a good day laid out. I would get up, spend my quiet time with God, go to the basement to start laundry and work out, then shower and get the kids up. I can't workout upstairs, because you can't jump upstairs. It shakes things. It would also wake up everyone in the house. I do not feel that I should be going down to do laundry while two men, neither of which is my husband are asleep... It's just not right.

Mr. Amazing is being transferred to a new store...again. At this store it sounds like he will have more of a chance to promote, but he's not getting his hopes up. I'm still trying to convince him to move to Texas so I can be neighbors with his mom. :D Okay, that's not the ONLY reason that we are talking about moving to Texas, and it is both of us, not just me. We're prayerfully considering it together, and waiting on God to direct us.

Oh, let's see... Homeschooling. It's not going the way I want it to. The kids (and I) are learning tons, but it's stressful and un-organized. I think I could organize it better, but I want to be back in our school room, and hopefully will be soon, so organizing it has to wait until then, or I will waste a ton of time organizing it twice!

Work is going pretty good. I really enjoy it, I just wish I had more time to get things done. I also have a ton of devotions floating around in my head, but can't find the time to write them down either... I have to prioritize... I have one book on my list to edit. Well, technically 2, but I haven't been sent the 2nd one yet.

Our family has had severe colds for the past week. Alexa and I came down with them on Wednesday, Followed by Kainen and Mr. Amazing on Thursday night, and then Ella Friday. Today Ty's nose has started to run. :( I took the kids to the doctor on Friday, Kainen just has a cold, Alexa has a double ear infection, and Ella has fluid behind one ear. :( I'm feeling tons better than I was on Thursday when Ella cut a chunk of her hair off (although I'm still not 100%).

Today, I cut the kids hair. Ella's hair is really short. I'm not as skilled at cutting hair with scissors as I am with clippers. I mean let's face it, it's a ton easier to buzz hair than it is to cut straight lines on a child that won't sit still... But, I think it turned out pretty good:

I almost cried when I cut it. I loved her hair. :( But, God is teaching me that I can't put her glory in her hair, anymore than I can mine. Hair is part of our external appearance and has nothing to do with our eternal salvation (which I really already knew, but obviously I valued it too much).

Anyway, I'm sure that there is more, but the kids don't think they can leave me alone long enough to write an entire sentence, so I'm just gonna go ahead and post this. Sigh.

Philippians 2:14

2011-09-17T18:18:00.000-07:00

I'm having a Philippians 2:14 kind of day. You know, one of those days where you have to keep reciting Philippians 2:14 in your head to remind you not to complain. I posted on Facebook a little bit ago that I was having one of 'those' days, and when a friend responded with a kind message I broke down in tears. It really is one of 'those' days. I know that I'm not suppose to complain, and I don't really think that venting is biblical, unless of course you are venting to God, and casting your cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7). But what is a girl to do on one of these days, where the smallest thing makes you break down?

I love my kids, I love being home with them all of the time, and I really don't want to trade it for the world, but I'm just overwhelmed! My writing career is taking off, but it's hard to concentrate with kids arguing over who gets to play with a certain block of clay! Part of me thinks that I should just set my career aside until the kids are older, but that means a drop in income, and at our current state, that might cost us supper ever other night. Another part of me thinks putting the children back into public school would give me the time that I need to get things done, but the very thought makes me sick to my stomach. So the last part of me is left thinking that there has to be a way to make this work! Which of course brings me to Matthew 19:26 and Philippians 4:13.

Sigh, and all of this is written to procrastinate because I'm having trouble getting my work done that is due today. So. I should go. Philippians 2:14.

I need your help!

2011-09-13T09:29:00.000-07:00

My son loves telling people that I am an editor, and that always springs on tons of questions. So I thought it was time to have some business cars. Thankfully, Mr. Amazing is a graphic designer, and he was more than happy to make up some rough drafts for me to look at last night. The problem I am having is that they are all so good, I could never choose!!!

Can you help me? Which one do you like best? I asked some friends and got votes for all of them!

Oh, and I created a facebook page for my writing and editing. This blog isn't linked to it, but if you want to check it out, your more than welcome to!

21 days of romance

2011-09-12T21:52:00.000-07:00

Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love. ~ Song of Solomon 2:5

It's Mr. Monday again! Well, technically it's almost over. I have been super busy, but thinking about my wonderful Mr. Amazing all day! Partly because he was home from work after getting a nasty chemical burn on his foot yesterday :( and partly because it's Mr. Monday and I was trying to figure out what wonderful things I could share! One of the ladies at my church unknowingly helped me out with that when she posted her blog post today. She is doing 21 days of romancing her husband! What a great idea! I'm going to join with her, and I hope you will too. (You can read her post here)

Would you care to join us on this journey of romancing our husbands? I'd love for you to let me know and share some ideas for ways to romance our Mr.'s! I use to be really good at this, but I know I have been slacking lately :( I did drop a love note into his lunch for tomorrow though :D

Rest areas, strangers, and showers

2011-09-09T18:32:00.000-07:00

We just got back from our vacation, and I'm not back up on days of the week yet, but I'm pretty sure it's still Friday, and that you all will get a kick out of this. For our vacation every year, we drive to Iowa. This is an 11 hour drive without children. However, when you add children, it ends up to be much, MUCH longer. So on this extremely long trip, we stop at lots of rest area's and meet/encounter lots of other travelers. Well, on this trip, one rest stop will forever remain in my memory. Burnt there to make me laugh and want to throw up at the same time...

We were driving through Nebraska on I-80 when Ella expressed her need to pee. Of course we stopped at the first available place, which was a rest area. It was even a nice rest area (as most of the ones in Nebraska are). There was a beautiful lake, and some play equipment for the kids, however all of that would have to wait. Ella made a mad dash for the bathroom and I trailed after her. My friend Nita, who we were helping move back to Colorado, would follow with Alexa when they were out of the van, but Ella couldn't wait.

So, I got into the rest room, and located the stall that held my child. There was only one other woman in the bathroom, so I left the door open a bit so that Alexa could find us then turned my attention to Ella. I hear Alexa run into the bathroom and call for me, and call out to let her know where we were. Apparently not fast enough, as I hear the voice of a woman say hello. I stick my head out the stall the door to see her on her hands and knees with her head under the door of the only other occupied stall! I call her back, and apologize profusely to this poor traveler, who said she completely understood. She must have been a grandmother. Nita came in about this time, Alexa had ran ahead of her and she didn't think there was a need to chase after her as I was already in there.

Once I had both of my dear daughters in the stall with me, Ella said she was done, so I got some toilet paper, leaned over her to help her wipe and was in the middle of asking her to lean forward a bit when the toilet spontaneously flushed. And this was one of those spastic toilets that shoots the water 4 feet into the air (no exaggeration necessary). Let's just say that Ella got a full shower, but lucky little me, I only got my face washed, and because I know you're wondering, no, I did not get my mouth closed in time...

After I semi regained brain activity, I finished wiping my daughter, dried off her back, hair, and my face with toilet paper, pulled her off the potty and huddled my children in the corner while it flushed again. I then wiped the seat, now soaked with water, down so that my other daughter could go (being much more careful with the positioning of my head this time) and the repeating the speed of light huddle in the corner again.

I then washed my mouth out as best as possible, washed my face, chewed some gum, and spit profusely for the next 20 minutes. And let everyone enjoy a good laugh at my expense of course. :p

For more Friday Funnies, visit Kim's blog:

Mr. Monday!

2011-08-29T16:01:00.000-07:00

Mr. Amazing cleaned Sparky's bowl today. This is normally my job, however, I have been super swamped lately, and had fallen behind. It was on my to do list to get done before we leave for vacation on Thursday, and it would have gotten done, but now I don't have to. He's so thoughtful. (on that note, no Mr. Monday post next week, as we will be out of town.)

I am so looking forward to going on our week long vacation! A whole week with Mr. Amazing, nothing could be better!!! We are helping a friend move, and I am a bit disappointed that we have to take 2 different vehicles. He is pulling the trailer with his 4runner, and she can't drive a stick, so she and I will take turns driving our van, and Mr. Amazing will be in the other vehicle. I might ride with him part of the way, but we will have to wait and see. But, after we get there, we will be inseparable. :)

What is your favorite part about vacationing with your Mr.?

Politics

2011-08-24T15:45:00.000-07:00

Anyone who is following my blog knows that I don't talk politics... well, ever. This is the first time that I have ever brought politics to this blog, and I'm debating on whether or not it will be the last. You see, I am not all that into politics, but God has challenged me on how Biblical that decision is.

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. ~ Romans 13:1

If we are called to be subject to the government, shouldn't we do our part to ensure that our government is subject to Christ? No matter who is elected, we can know that it is God's will, however, God has been gently prompting me that I need to do my part to know what is going on in my government. I wouldn't follow a pastor if I knew nothing of his beliefs, why would I blindly follow a president? Anyway, that's where my mind has been today. So I have been looking at the websites for the presidential candidates for 2012. A couple things have caught my attention, that I thought I would pass on.

#1 I really like bullet point lists when it comes to issues. If you can't tell me flat out what your goals are and what you stand for in an easy to read format, it makes me wonder how much is fluff, and how much is actual issues. One candidate never even said what he stood for, another just said that he thinks Obama has failed us (without mentioning how or why). I can't vote for either of them, because I don't know anything that they stand for.

#2 After knowing what they stand for, there are a few issues that stand out for me.
-If your main issue is creating jobs, why can't you tell me how you are going to do that? Every single candidate cares about jobs, in fact, every presidential candidate in history has claimed to better the economy and help make more jobs. Unless you have an action plan that you are willing to openly share, I just don't buy it. Sorry.
-All of our presidential candidates claim to be pro-life (well, all of those that have posted what they stand for anyway, there's no way to tell about the other 2). I think the more important issue at this point is their definition of what that means.
-The only candidates that mentioned education, specifically mentioned homeschooling. That makes me happy :)

So after that little recap of my discoveries, here is a list of the candidates and who I will be watching, and who I have written off:

Mitt Romney:
Doesn't say what he stands for (other than America and that Obama has failed). I will not be voting for, or following him through this election.

Jon Huntsman:
Also does not share his stance on issues, at all that I could find. I can't follow or vote for him either.

Rick Perry:
The current leader in this race, only mentions 4 issues, and all of the other candidates mention those as well, and there are a ton of issues that he doesn't seem to care about, so I won't be following or voting for him.

Newt Gingrich:
Instead of addressing issues, he posts solutions. I liked that. I will be watching him and learning more about who he is and what he stands for.

Rick Santorum:
Another man that I will be watching. The first thing he lists as standing for is faith and family.

Thad McCotter:
I really like that he first outlines the issues as he see's them, and then lists how he thinks we should confront them. I will be keeping my eye on him as well.

Ron Paul:
This one is surprising to me. It seems like Ron Paul has been running in the presidential race for as long as I remember, yet never wins. I always chalked that up to mean that he wasn't worth anything, I have been surprised. I will be watching him, and hope to learn more about this man that I have always ignored.

Michele Bachmann:
I'm not sure how I feel about a female president. I've been back and forth on this issue most of my life. In high school I was a feminist, and thought girls were much more capable then men. However, once I recognized Christ as Lord of my life, that view changed. I went dramatically the other way, thinking that because women need to be submissive to men and thus shouldn't run anything, only support their husbands. To recognizing Debora as a biblical leader, thus understanding that it has it's time and place. I will be following her through this election, as well as looking further into the study of women leaders in the Bible.

Did I miss anyone? I know that Tim Pawlenty has already withdrew from the race, but that's as far as I have came so far.

What about you, do you follow politics? Who are you watching this election?

9 years ago...

2011-08-23T03:09:00.000-07:00

August is our busy birthday month. Mr. Amazing's birthday is on the 19th, followed by my mom's on August 22nd, and ending with my first born's birthday on the 23rd. I still remember that first night. At 3 am on Sunday, August 22nd, 2002 I went into labor. We were living the two story house where I grew up. My mom had rented the main level for years, when my husband and I moved back to town we had rented the top level. I loved being so close to my mom. So when the labor started, we went downstairs and woke her up. I couldn't imagine doing this without her. There was a couple hours of timing contractions, then we were off to the hospital.

At 8am my doctor came in to check my progress. I was at a 3 and still having contractions every other minute. She decided to go ahead and break my water to get things moving along. I did a lot of walking up and down the hall. My mom was right there with me every step of the way. While my husband was in the lobby watching baseball with his family, my mom was there. I don't even remember her leaving to get something to eat or drink. Not once. She was always there. Even my mother-in-law was there almost constantly.

They finally decided to give me some kind of medicine to increase the contractions. That's when it all went bad. I started un-dilating. But the medicine had worked. I now knew what it felt like to need to push. I couldn't stop myself. Everyone in the room was screaming at me not to push because it might hurt my precious baby. My mom was asking for something to undo what the last medicine did, but they were telling her there was nothing. My mother-in-law, the nurse, told them there most certainly was (she might have even told them what, but I don't remember). They finally got me something that stopped the need to push.

It was early in the morning now on the 23rd. The on-call doctor was explaining the C-section procedure to me. He was letting me know that everyone had to live within 20 minutes of the hospital so we should be getting started within the hour. All I needed to do was stay calm and hold on.

Over an hour and a half later they finally came and got me to take me back to the operation room. I remember my husband was back and my mom was gone. She had spent her entire birthday by my side, but it was over now. Now I was numb from the middle of my back down. I felt little movements in my tummy, but not enough to know what was going on. I wanted to know if I was having a little boy or a girl, they told me to be patient, that they would let me know when they got that far. It seemed to take forever. I was finally told that I had a little boy. My husband got to hold him before they took him away. I had to stay to get sewn up, and I wasn't allowed to hold him on the table.

Next was recovery. I was in there for quite some time. Finally, I was allowed to go back to my room and see my baby. I was able to hold him and kiss him. The nurses told me that he shouldn't stay in the room with me, and took him to the nursery so I could rest. I wasn't happy about this at all. They also started giving him bottles of water, and gave him a pacifier, all things that I was against, but no one checked with me. I remember the nurses coming into push on my belly to help it heal. I don't recall it doing anything but being agonizingly painful.

I'm so thankful that I no longer have to rely on the nursing staff. My boy turned 9 today, and I can hold him, and kiss him, and cuddle him whenever I want to (provided that I'm faster than he is or he is willing). I now have total control over what he eats and when he eats. He want's Pizza for his birthday. It's amazing the changes that have happened in the past 9 years. If I hadn't been along for the ride, I would doubt that it was even possible for him to be the 7 lb baby that came from that terrible time. The one thing that hasn't changed though, is my love for him.

Mr. Monday: Happy Birthday!!!

2011-08-22T06:53:00.000-07:00

Mr. Amazing's birthday was on Friday. He had to work, but we met him at the park for lunch. Then after he got home from work we had a surprise party for him. The kids each made him a card, and then we had made home made decorations. We ran out of time to bake the cake, so we got him an ice cream cake, which he said was the better choice anyway as he is always craving ice cream.

I love spoiling Mr. Amazing. He is like the only person I know who has ever responded to every single post on his Facebook wall wishing him a happy birthday with a personal message (yes, all 200 of them!), He never ceases to amaze me, and I love him more each and every day.

August Pies

2011-08-20T05:01:00.000-07:00

He is the happiest, be he peasant or king, who finds peace at home. ~ Amish Proverb

I have had the privilege of reading Amish Values for Your Family by Suzanne Woods Fisher over the past month. I was so excited to receive my free review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, because while I do not agree with everything the Amish believe I have always admired their lifestyle. This is not your normal book review. Instead of reviewing the entire book, the request was that everyone pick one chapter, or Amish value that they could apply in their own life, without becoming Amish. I picked the chapter "August Pies" because the story was one that I could relate to so well (only I would probably have had a different reaction then the mom in the story...). The proverb says: He is the happiest, be he peasant or kink, who finds peace at home.

Isn't that so true? The short story that was included in this chapter was about two mothers who baked pies and left them on the floor on the porch to cool, while their toddlers played outside. Low and behold, when they were taking the last of their baked goods to the porch to cool, they found foot prints in all of the pies (well, minus the one that was being polished off by the dog). The two Amish women blamed themselves for not paying closer attention and decided the next time they had a baking day like that, they would have someone help with the children. They put the blame on expecting too much from their children, and themselves, and moved on.

The point was that children and to-do lists, don't always mesh well. To adapt this Amish proverb into our life, we need to realize that even when we have days when our goals are not met, our time is never wasted if it is spent caring for our families. Children aren't perfect. Instead of expecting them to be, we should expect a little less from everyone involved, and then be delighted when situations exceed our expectations, and not angry when our expectations aren't met.

There are so many ways that I can relate this story to my own life. As a mom of four children, let's just say that I expect to much daily... One specific example is one of my daughters has always loved playing in my room. While my room is baby proof, she has recently picked up the habit of finding things she shouldn't have to take in there. Over the past month I have found a bottle of sunscreen, hand sanitizer, finger nail polish, shampoo, body wash, and multiple bottles of lotion all emptied onto my floor. At first, I was upset, the next time I was angry, but now I just put the blame onto myself. I know that she has this habit, so I have started locking my bedroom door, and keeping all bottles out of reach (although, I must admit, she is quite the little climber). If I find things emptied on my floor now, I only have myself to blame. It is now my own fault for leaving the door unlocked, and/or a bottle not put up. While she still gets informed that she was in the wrong, I can't excuse myself from blame. I think that is really the bottom line to this chapter. To find peace at home, we have to be willing to share the blame. We have to be willing to forgive, to work together, and to move on.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever had a fascination with the Amish way of life. Also, don't forget to enter the give away:

Suzanne Woods Fisher is thrilled to announce the release of Amish Values for Your Family, her latest non-fiction release. "It offers loving ways to bring your fractured home back to life-Amish style. Read it and apply generously! It’s a beautiful book-funny, charming, soulful, and beautiful." -Mary Ann Kirkby

Read the reviews here.

To celebrate the release of Amish Values for Your Family, Suzanne has teamed up her publisher Revell Books to giveaway a Kindle, and with Bill Coleman (the amazing photographer used on Suzanne’s book covers) to give away a signed Bill Coleman original.

One Grand Prize winner will receive an Amish Values Prize Package (valued at over $200) and includes:

* A brand new KINDLE
* A Signed Bill Coleman original
* Amish Values for Your Family (for KINDLE)

Click on one of the icons to enter. Winner will be announced on 9/2 at Suzanne’s blog. Be sure to stop by the blogs on Suzanne’s blog tour – many have copies of Amish Values for Your Family to give away.

But, wait there's more! Suzanne is running a Bill Coleman caption contest during the month of August on her blog. Title one of Bill’s gorgeous photos for a chance to win a print from Bill’s Amish Photo site and/or a copy of Amish Values for Your Family.

Guest blog and a giveaway!

2011-08-16T12:08:00.000-07:00

I have been granted the opportunity to review a free copy of Amish Values for Your Family, by Suzanne Woods Fisher. I will be posting my review on Saturday, but I wanted to take the opportunity to share a guest blog written by the author and let you know about the giveaway!

So without further ado: Guest blog from Suzanne Woods Fisher for “Amish Values for Your Family” (Revell)

Five More Things I’ve Learned from the Amish that Have Nothing to Do with being Amish and Have Everything to Do with being a Christian:

Live humbly. This is the basis of the Amish life. They don’t waste, they reuse and recycle, they live simply and without luxury, they provide for each other’s needs. Daily life is embroidered with gratitude for all God has given them. Two prayers bookend every meal—a meal begins with thanks to God for the nourishing food, and ends with gratitude for what was received.

Amish proverb: “The blessing of sharing outweighs the blessing of having.”

The Lesson: Choose simplicity over clutter. Economy over luxury. And give thanks!

A task takes as long as it takes. It seems like such a paradox—the Amish are busy, yet unhurried. They have a deliberateness in their actions—one job isn’t more important than the other. And they don’t have televisions or computers or radios or telephones—which gives them more time to cook, fish at the lake, enjoy a good book, and spend with their children and grandchildren. They have time to slow down a bit—to smell the roses along their path.

Amish proverb: “Every day that dawns brings something to do that can never be done as well again.”

The Lesson: Reduce the time where attention is focused on electronics (computer! Cell phone! Television!) and strive to be more emotionally present when with others.

Success and Size are not related. The Amish have rapidly adopted to the demands of the modern business world. Their self-owned businesses are remarkably successful, but not at the cost of everything else. They view money as a tool, not the goal.

Amish proverb: “Love, peace, and happiness in the home is of infinitely more value than honor, fame and wealth.”

The Lesson: Never let ambition destroy life’s better goals.

They teach us not to seek vengeance but to forgive. The Amish take the Lord’s Prayer seriously—if they are asking God to forgive them their sins, they must be willing to forgive others who have sinned against them. Being a forgiving person is an everyday intention.

Amish proverb: “It is far better to forgive and forget than to resent and remember.”

The Lesson: No doubt you’re familiar with the Nickel Mines tragedy. If the Amish can forgive the killer of their children, can’t we forgive a friend for not inviting us to a party? Or a driver who cuts us off? Make forgiveness your default button. A habit. An everyday intention.

God has a plan. To the Amish, everything passes through the hands of God. Everything. Joys and sorrows, both. God is sovereign over all—from weather to illness to births to who’s in the White House. They yield to God’s perfect will, trust Him for what they don’t understand, and thank Him for what they do.

Amish proverb: “God’s hand that holds the ocean’s depth can hold my small affairs. His hand, which guides the universe, can carry all my cares.”

The Lesson: Trusting God isn’t passive—it takes a lot of work! But what peace and joy are available to us when we put our faith in the Almighty God. Everything, ultimately, works out for good.

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a bestselling author of Amish fiction and non-fiction and the host of a weekly radio program called Amish Wisdom. Her most recent book, Amish Values for Your Family released in August. The Waiting is a finalist for a 2011 Christy Award. Amish Peace: Simple and Amish Proverbs were both finalists for the ECPA Book of the Year (2010, 2011). Her interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, W.D. Benedict, who was raised Plain. Suzanne has a great admiration for the Plain people and believes they provide wonderful examples to the world. When Suzanne isn't writing or bragging to her friends about her first new grandbaby (!), she is raising puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. To Suzanne's way of thinking, you just can't take life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone's underwear in its mouth. Keep up on Suzanne's latest news on Facebook, Twitter and on her blog!

Enter 8/15 - 8/31!

Suzanne Woods Fisher is thrilled to announce the release of Amish Values for Your Family, her latest non-fiction release. "It offers loving ways to bring your fractured home back to life-Amish style. Read it and apply generously! It’s a beautiful book-funny, charming, soulful, and beautiful." -Mary Ann Kirkby

Read the reviews here.

To celebrate the release of Amish Values for Your Family, Suzanne has teamed up her publisher Revell Books to giveaway a Kindle, and with Bill Coleman (the amazing photographer used on Suzanne’s book covers) to give away a signed Bill Coleman original.

Mr. Monday

2011-08-15T21:55:00.000-07:00

Sorry I am just getting this up! I have been super busy, and totally thought that I had already written a post for Mr. Monday!

This past weekend my dad came into town. He is an over the road truck driver, and was picking up a load just north of our house on Monday, so he stayed with us Saturday night and most of Sunday. We had a GREAT time! I love that Mr. Amazing get's along so well with my dad. We went to the lake and rented paddle boats. We also played at the park for a while:

Today we went and ran errands around town as it was Mr. Amazing's day off. Then he watched the kiddo's while I went to a meeting. I love that he not only enjoys spending time with the kids, but is also willing and able to watch them when I'm not at home! I know there are many mom's whose husbands aren't willing (or able) to do so, and I just totally feel blessed!!

Too Blessed to be Stressed

2011-08-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

Do your to do lists have footnotes? Has your fam suggested a rabies shot because your bite has surpassed Rover’s?

Maybe it’s time for a healthy dose of truth gift-wrapped in humor. With her own offbeat brand of wit and near-wisdom, inspirational humorist Debora Coty addresses the heart-needs of desperate women drowning in the churning everyday stress-pool of busyness.

In Too Blessed to Be Stressed, you’ll find simple, practical steps for attaining the peace that you crave as you struggle with the stresses of finances, health, career, relationships, self-image and family. You’ll discover healing, refreshment, and revitalization for your own spirit, body and mind through heart-changing real life stories, biblically based insights, and short chapters for on-the-run convenience.

I recently requested a review copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity, and I couldn't wait until it arrived! However, I must admit that I was a bit let down. While I love the layout and categories that the book is broken up into, I don't care for Debora Coty's writing style. To me calling our Holy Father "Papa God" is demeaning. I know that not everyone feels that way, and I'm not putting anyone down who does use that name. It's just not one that I am comfortable with. She also used several Bible paraphrases, instead of actual translations (NLT and Message included). Again, nothing wrong with paraphrases in general, I just prefer word-for-word translations. In the end I didn't get a single thing out of this book. For something that I was looking forward to so much, it's hard for me to say that I will not be recommending this book.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Debora M. Coty is a humorist, columnist, speaker, writing workshop instructor and award-winning author of over 100 internationally published articles and ten inspirational books. She has also contributed short stories and devotionals to numerous anthologies. Debora's passion is sharing her offbeat blend of humor and hope, wit and near-wisdom with women of all ages. As a piano teacher for twenty years, she acquired the skill of auditory long-suffering and has helped countless people as an occupational therapist specializing in orthopedics for over three decades. Mother of two grown children, Debora currently lives and loves in central Florida with her husband and desperately wicked pooch, Fenway.

To celebrate the release of her latest laugh-out-loud book, Too Blessed to Be Stressed, Debora Coty is hosting the Too Blessed to Be Stressed KINDLE Giveaway!

Too Blessed to be Stressed is a fun-filled read overflowing with insights and practical tips. Perfectly delicious for living happily ever after!
-Rhonda Rhea, best-selling author of Whatsoever Things Are Lovely

Read what the reviewers are saying here.

Debora has created a “Too Blessed” prize package worth over $150! One grand prize winner will receive:

* A brand new Latest Generation KINDLE with Wi-Fi and Pearl Screen

* Too Blessed to Be Stressed by Debora Coty (for KINDLE)

To enter just click one of the icons below. Hurry! The giveaway ends August 25th. Winner will be announced on the evening of the 18th during Debora's De-Stress Facebook Party! Debora will be hosting a "life-preserver" chat (it’s okay if you haven’t read the book – who knows, you might WIN a copy!), testing trivia skills, swapping funny stories, handing out some decom-stress tips, and giving away tons of great stuff! (Chocolate, books, and more!) Hope to see you there. Bring your friends and join the fun on August 25th at 5:00 PM PST (6 PM MDT, 7 PM CDT, & 8 PM EDT).

Also - be sure to check out Debora's series of Stress-Buster videos at her website: deboracoty.com. She’s also hosting a photo caption contest on her blog for a chance to win a copy of Too Blessed to Be Stressed.

Or if you would like to buy a copy of this book, you can purchase it here.

Again, I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for agreeing to write an honest review. It obviously didn't have to be positive. Just honest. And that's what you got.

Winter, oh how I miss thee

2011-08-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

Here in Colorado, August is the hottest month of the year. This is when we get all of our over 100 degree days. It's so hot that the kids don't want to play outside. I don't want to clean, we just sit around and sweat :( ugh! So I have been looking ahead toward winter. Here are a few of the things that I am looking forward to:

Sweaters!
I love sweaters! I would wear them year round if it wasn't so hot!

Blankets!
I love cuddling up in a blanket to stay warm and cozy. I try to do it in the summer, but then I just end up all sweaty :(

I miss how pretty it is when it snows, and how much fun the kids have in it (although, I don't miss driving in it...)

Baking!
I miss baking. It's been far too hot in my house to risk heating it up by baking. Even just regular cooking makes it hot. So while I love baking and cooking, I haven't loved it lately. And I miss it.

Hot tea!
I miss drinking hot tea. It's just one of those things that you really can't drink during the summer as your body temperature is already too high. The kids have been missing hot chocolate too. They have asked for it twice already this month! Craziness, I tell you!

Snuggling!
I miss snuggling with Mr. Amazing and the kids. During the summer if we try to snuggle we end up sticking together, and that just takes the fun out of it!

It's hard to believe that I'm saying this, but I actually miss wearing my boots... I am a year round flip-flop girl, but I do wear boots in the winter on occasion, and I really do miss them. I looked at them in my closet the other day and thought about wearing them to church, but it was far too hot to cover up my feet, so I stuck with with sandals.

What about you? Is there anything that you miss about winter?

In vain

2011-08-10T06:08:00.000-07:00

You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain... ~Exodus 20:7

When most people think about the third commandment, they assume that it's talking about using God's name as a curse word, and while that would be one way to use His name in vain, I believe there are many other possibilities. When I looked up the definition I found that the dictionary describes the phrase "in vain" as in a disrespectful manner. Well, last night Mr. Amazing and I were watching a movie and the main character came into church late and then she started singing along with the rest of the congregation "Blessed Be Your Name" while she is lost in thought about something else. It got me thinking. How often do we take God's name in vain that way? How often do we go to church and start singing along while lost in thought about something else? That isn't worshiping God at all. I know that I have been guilty of this multiple times.

Next time you are singing a worship song, I encourage you to remember that doing so in a way that isn't devoted to God is virtually the same thing as taking His precious name in vain and thus breaking the third commandment.

For more Word-filled Wednesday posts, hop on over to internet cafe devotions:

I won!

2011-08-09T06:45:00.000-07:00

This summer I signed the boys up for the summer reading program at the library. While I was doing that, the librarian suggested that I sign up as well. I thought it might be a good way to encourage the boys, so I went ahead and did it. For the kids program they got prizes for every so many hours of reading. Adults got their name entered into a drawing every week that they logged time (or pages), and then everyone was thrown into a raffle at the end of the program.

It just so happens that I won one of the raffle prizes at the end of the program! When I went in to find out what I had won last week, I got to choose one of multiple book bags. How cool is that! They had one with romance novels, one with mystery novels, one with sci-fi stuff, and one with homemaking and cookbooks (which I thought Kim over at homesteader's heart would love!), but here is the one I chose:

I am a non-fiction girl myself, and they didn't have any bags that were Christian based, or anything for writers, so the one I ended up choosing was called "Our World". I was a bit concerned that it might be full of books on evolution, but I took the chance anyway in hopes that some of the material would be suitable for teaching the children later on (and me learning a bit now).

The my prize consisted of:
"The Pursuit of Happyness" target="_blank" by Chris Gardner with Quincy Troupe. This is the New York bestseller that the Will Smith movie was based on.
"Rare Earth" by Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee. This book is about scientific reasons why complex life is uncommon in the universe.
"Over the Edge of the World" by Laurence Bergreen. This has something to do with Magellan's voyage.
"City Walks with kids: San Francisco"... this is a card set with 50 different self-guided walking tours that you can take in San Francisco. (I will probably never go to San Francisco...)
a bookmark
a notebook
3 pieces of Ghirardelli chocolate squares (raspberry, white mint, and caramel)
and a purple book bag! :)

I'm pretty sure that every woman would have to agree that books are best read with chocolate! Although, I ate all of my chocolate before I started reading the books. :) Anyway, it was really cool to win, and I'm looking forward to reading these books!

Mr. Amazing Dad

2011-08-08T06:45:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure that Mr. Amazing is the best dad in the whole wide world. What other dad do you know that would take his children hiking and carry a sleeping 3 year old?

Or stop to sit by a minute with his other daughter by a stream?

Or when he isn't carrying them or sitting with them, hold both of their hands?

Or pretend that he is scared when one of them jumps out from behind a tree with a roar?

Or teach his boys to jump across a stream of water?

Then help his daughter when she couldn't do it?

Then take the kids out for ice cream and hold the ice cream cone for his little girl?

And that was just one day! Mr. Amazing is an amazing father, and I love him very, very much!!!

What about your Mr.? I would love to hear about how he is a great dad!

My Camera

2011-08-04T11:38:00.000-07:00

This week for MamaKat's writer's workshop, I am responding to prompt #2 "Who is the last person you spoke with on the phone for more than 30 minutes? Write about one thing you talked about."

The last person I talked to on the phone for more than 30 minutes was the customer service department for Samsung. The lady that I spoke to was named Kimmiaco (what a neat name!) She was super helpful. You see, the display screen on my camera is going out. There are new black spots appearing everyday, and existing ones are growing larger. Thankfully, it is still under warranty. I just received my shipping label so that I can mail it in and have them fix it, and then send it back. This will mean that I will be without it for over a month. :(

Kimmiaco and I talked about the fact that I reported this problem over 2 weeks ago and was required to send in my proof of purchase, which I did, but I still hadn't heard back from them. I ended up having to send it in again, and I finally got a shipping label so I can get it fixed!

So! I am thankful for warranties. I really am. It's a love, hate relationship really. If you know anything about me, you know that me and my camera are connected at the wrist (literally) most of the time:

I use my camera to capture pictures of my beautiful children, God's creation, and anything else that finds it's way into the view screen :) I use it to document our homeschooling journey and the children's growth. I can't imagine being without it for that long, although I know that I could live. Thankfully, I have a back up!

This is my old camera. I loved this camera. In many ways I liked it more then the one that I currently have even though it is considered a lesser model. However, I got a new camera for a reason. My old camera doesn't charge anymore. We had to buy a battery charger to be able to continue using it:

At the time I was thankful for the cheap solution, and thankful that I could still use my beloved camera. However, it wasn't long after that, that my precious camera got left in the van on a hot summer day. After that, it started taking pictures like this:

and like this:

Granted, it did take normal pictures sometimes, I just never knew when to expect good pictures and when to expect not so good pictures... Thankfully, when I took it out this morning and charged it up, this is how the picture came out:

I'm thankful for that. This time without my good camera might not be to bad after all. And I am very thankful that I can get it fixed for free. So, I'm off to the UPS store to ship it in for repairs. It will be missed!

I am linking this post with both MamaKat's writer's workshop and Thankful Thursday. I hope you have a blessed day!