Happy Thanksgiving!

I have so much to be thankful for!

First, I am thankful for the mercies of God and salvation through Jesus Christ. I am thankful that He wants to have intimate relationship with me. It blows me away that the God who created all things chooses to love me!

I am extremely grateful for my husband and children! God is so good to give me such a precious family! My husband is my best friend! I pray that my girls will be able to find a man who loves, cares for, provides for, and cherishes them like Brad does me. My children... oh, where do I start? Abigail is so much fun to be around! She cracks me up! I love to watch her take the stage in her theater productions. When she is singing and dancing, she is in her element and she shines! She is a friend to many! I love and cherish our special time together in the mornings drinking coffee! She is so precious! My sweet Allison is such a joy! She is a hard worker. You can give her a task and she is on it, and you can expect it to be done correctly! I love to watch her serve others! Whether she is cooking, working backstage at the theater, or serving at church, she is in her element when she is serving others! I love when we get to spend time together in the kitchen. She makes my heart smile! Andrew is so much like his daddy, which is how I have prayed for him to be! He can say the funniest things and make me laugh! He is so tenderhearted. He amazes me at how well he memorizes scripture for his AWANA class at church. It is a cool thing to know my children are hiding God's word in their hearts! I love to watch him play football, baseball, and basketball. He loves to ride his skateboard, too. I love going in his room each night and spending a few special minutes praying with him. My son is an awesome kid! I am so blessed by my family!

I am thankful for my godly heritage! My parents are my example of what it looks like to live for Christ. I can't even begin to say how awesome they are! My grandparents loved the Lord and always had the Word of God on their lips! I remember my 90 year old grandfather quoting scripture after having a mini-stroke. I asked him then, "How do you know the Bible so well?" His response to me was, "When you have read the Word as much as I have, you will know it, too." What an example of feeding on the Word of God! I miss them greatly!

I am grateful for the friendship I have with my mother and sisters! These ladies are a part of who I am! We have so much fun together! I know that they love me no matter what and I love them deeply! I can't wait to do our traditional Good Friday Shopping with my two sisters!!!

I am also thankful for my church home! Worshiping together with other believers is such a joy! Being led by a team of pastors who teach the Word of God is a blessing. I am so grateful to be a part of a body of believers who encourage and love one another. I am grateful that it provides a place for me and my children to make strong friendships with people who have the same core values and beliefs.

There is so much more...

I am overwhelmed with God's goodness! Thank you, Lord Jesus, for blessing me beyond measure! 

Lacking wisdom? Ask God - not Google!

James 1:5-8
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.


Why is it that so many times, I change verse five to say, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should google it!"? If I am not careful about this one, the first place I look for answers to life's questions is the internet. We live in a time where we can google any question we have and find thousands of answers. Most of us don't even have to wait until we get home to get online; we can now use our smart phones. I am asking the Lord to help me with this.

I want to seek Him first! Not google! I am not saying that googling my questions is all bad. I am just saying that it should not be my first place to seek wisdom! If I seek Him first, He may lead me to the exact website I need to find my answer - He has done that before!  He may choose to use a different means altogether to provide wisdom for me. I believe his answers can come from His Word, my husband, my parents, my children, church leaders, godly friends, doctors, etc. His means are limitless!

When we ask for wisdom, we have to believe that He is able to give us that wisdom. We must trust that His ways are far above our ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Therefore, we must believe and not doubt Him. We have to remember that His love for us far outweighs any other love for us. Jesus loves us so much that he bled and died for us. If He is willing to do that for me, why should I not trust Him?

I don't want to be double-minded and unstable. I want to be solely focused on Him so that Christ is the solid foundation of all that I do!

Join with me in seeking God's wisdom first. Then have the freedom to google your questions, or ask for wisdom and counsel from others. Remember that God's wisdom is holy and righteous. He will not lead you away from His teachings. Let the Bible be your measuring stick. Does this answer line up with the Word of God?

Psalm 8:17
I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.

James - Consider it Joy!

James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.


Two years ago, I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. This is a chronic illness, meaning there is no cure. My symptoms have been extreme fatigue, muscle and joint pain, sun sensitivity, and the most recent is sores inside my mouth. Thankfully, these symptoms are not always present! I am on medications to help the symptoms, but I still have flares periodically where I feel really bad. Currently, I am on the up swing of one of these flares. I have had many people praying for me and I am so grateful, because this past flare up was extremely hard for me!

This is my trial that I am to consider pure joy. Wow! It seems crazy, but God commands it. I know that the suffering I may have in my body is NOTHING compared to the suffering that Christ endured for me on the cross. God has been reminding me this week to put my suffering into perspective.

I don't know of anyone who likes to have trouble come their way. However, if God allows it, there must be a reason! James says that one of the reasons is to develop perseverance, which leads to maturity and being complete.

Dictionary.com defines perseverance as "steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement".

What is my course of action? My course of action is living a life as a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ! My purpose is to love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. My goal is to consider it pure joy to suffer through this trial called lupus. I must look at the bigger picture! No, I don't think I will ever enjoy suffering. But in the deepest part of my heart, I must learn to consider it joy to be facing this trial.

I know other trials will come and go in my life. I will strive to consider them joy as well! Remembering God's purpose in them is to develop me into maturity.

James - the brother of Jesus?

I am studying the book of James with the teenagers at my church. I will be spending some time blogging about what the Lord is showing me along the way. 

James introduces himself as a "servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ." What an example of humility! It is believed that the author of this book is the half brother of Jesus Christ. If Jesus were my half brother, I would probably introduce myself by saying, "Hey, I'm Susan, Jesus' sister." But that was not James’ description of himself. He was extremely humble and called himself a mere servant.

This leaves me in deep thought and conviction as to where my heart is according to my position. How do I introduce myself to others? It is usually, as Brad's wife, my kids' mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend, or even a youth small group leader. How often do I consider my title to be a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ?

I do seek to serve Him. I talk with Him daily. I spend time in His Word. I teach my children about the love of Christ and how to seek Him. I honor and respect my husband as head of our home. We try to teach, nurture, and train our children in the ways of the Lord. I honor my parents. I love my sisters, who are my best friends. I am trying to help my small group learn more about Christ and His love for them.

Jesus said to his disciples, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

Because of this truth, I can say that I am serving Christ, when I am serving these others in my life. Therefore, I only need to see myself as James saw himself - a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

If I fix my eyes on Him and on serving Him alone, then I will be able to be a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and small group leader. Then my thoughts and ways will stay pure and focused!

This is what I am meditating on right now. What about you? Are you willing to label yourself as a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ? Let's serve Him together!

And to think that this is only verse one of the first chapter of James!

15 Year Anniversary

I have now been married to my best friend for fifteen years! Wow! Time has gone by so fast! When we got married, I knew I was marrying an incredible man. However, over the years, I have realized that he is much more incredible than I could have ever imagined. Brad completes me! He is my best friend, my spiritual leader, my love, my companion, my defender, my strong rock. He is the only man for me! As I am looking at these descriptions, this list resembles the list of what my Jesus is to me. The Bible says that the husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. Well, in doing that, Brad's attributes line up with those of Jesus. I am so blessed!

I sat in the living room tonight while playing a game (Would You Rather) with the family and was in awe of what has taken place in fifteen short years. I looked at how grown up my children are becoming. We now have a fourteen year old daughter, a twelve year old daughter, and a ten year old son. I just can't stop saying how blessed I am. These three children are an enormous responsibility and at the same time they are an enormous amount of FUN! We knew as soon as we got married that we were ready to have children, which was a good thing because the Lord saw fit to bless us quickly! Like nine months after we were married! I am so grateful!

I didn't understand at age 22 how the decision to marry my best friend would change my life. I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. I knew that I loved Brad and he loved me. I knew that he would work to provide for me and the family that we would some day have. I knew that we would serve the Lord together. I knew that God would bless us. I just had no clue what that was really going to look like. So now, fifteen years later, I sit here in awe.

No, we do not have it all together. No, we do not have all the answers. We have more questions than answers most of the time. I think that is what keeps us drawing strength and wisdom from the only One who knows the plans He has for us. I am looking forward to MANY more years married to the man of my dreams. My Superman!

Family Heritage

I am very blessed to have a godly heritage. My grandparents have been with the Lord in Heaven for 15 and 16 years now. My granddaddy died in 1995. He was 91 years old. My grandmother died almost exactly one year later at age 86. They were the most amazing people! I miss them an awful lot! By earthly standards, they didn't have much. They lived in a small town in Mississippi. When they got married, they bought some land from his daddy and he farmed that land. This was his trade. They raised five kids in a three room house. Not three bedrooms, but three rooms. There was the kitchen, a living room which had a bed in it, and one other room that had two full size beds. Oh and thankfully it had a bathroom inside, which was added on at some point. I loved this old house! It had a front porch where we could sit and watch the cows graze in the pasture across the gravel road and wave at folks as they drove by.

Like I said earlier, they didn't have much by earthly standards. But I am so glad that I was taught that those aren't the standards in which life is measured! My grandparents had the sweet love of Jesus. So by heavenly standards they were rich! They loved life and loved being with their family. My granddaddy KNEW the word of God. I asked him one time how he knew scripture from memory so well. His answer to me was, "If you'd read it as many times as I have, you'd know it too." What incredible advice that was! He knew the Bible backwards and forwards. Anytime he came to visit us, he would find any of our Bible study or Sunday school books and just sit and read. He was always reading the Bible or some commentary on it. He had a true hunger for the Word of God. Grandma was the type of woman everyone loved to be around. She could make anyone feel welcomed. She was so witty and loved to make people laugh. I cannot wait to be reunited with them one day! I am so blessed to have had them in my life for so many years.

Now that they have gone home to be with the Lord, I have adopted my husband's grandmother as my own. She turned 94 a week ago! Just like my grandparents, she was born and raised in rural Mississippi (not the same town, but similar in many ways). She is a precious lady and I love her very much! It has been years since she has been able to “go to church”, but she would always watch church on TV.

My wonderful father-in-law has done an amazing job taking care of her needs for the last 25-30 years since her husband died. For the past several months, he has faithfully gone to her home each morning and helped her get out of bed and into her wheelchair where she spends her days. Then each night he would go help her get back into bed. I cannot even describe to you what an incredible man he is. He is such a servant and has lovingly taken care of his mother. Unfortunately, because of her frailty and her complete inability to move from bed to chair or vise versa, she cannot continue to live alone. Sadly, she has just been moved to a nursing home. The fact that she has continued to be able to live alone and take care of herself this long is an attribute to her strong character. She has shown love to me and my children every time we come near her! She loves to remember stories from when my husband was young and would spend the night with her and her husband, their grandfather.

Again, my family is so blessed to have this heritage. I also am grateful for the example of my mother helping to take care of her parents in their final days as well and the example of my father-in-law taking care of his mother all these years. They have shown the love of Christ to their parents and in doing so have shown love to Christ.  Matthew 25:40 “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Let this be a reminder to talk to your kids about their grandparents and pass along the stories of their family heritage. Although my kids never had the privilege of meeting my grandparents, they know all about them because we talk about them all the time!

Modesty

I Timothy 2:9-10
And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.

Modesty is a very touchy subject. I feel the need to discuss this topic is very important, especially as summer approaches!

Anything a Christ follower does should be Christ honoring. Right? Even the way we dress? The way we teach our daughters to dress? YES!

This subject is very heavy on my heart. As Christian parents, I believe it is our responsibility to teach our children to honor God with their bodies. I Corinthians 6:20 says, "for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body." This is from the Word of God! Before we go out the door, we need to do a self check and ask, "are we honoring Christ with the clothes we have on, or are we drawing attention to our bodies for our own purposes?"

Let's talk about swimsuits.  Parents, please don't let your daughters grow up wearing immodest swimsuits! Don't even start when they are little or the trend is likely that they will continue to wear that type of suit. If you wouldn't let them go around wearing their bra and panties in front of the world, what makes it alright for them to wear a swimsuit that looks like a bra and panties? And let's face the facts, it's not just seen at the pool or beach anymore. We are in the facebook age, where one day lasts a lifetime and can be seen all over the world through digital pictures. "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise.", Ephesians 5:15.

We are to please the Lord in all areas of our lives. This includes the way we dress and the way we teach our daughters to dress. What picture of Christ are we letting others see? Are we different from the world in the way we dress? Romans 12:1-2 says it this way, "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

Growing up, I always had to make sure that my dad approved my swimsuits and, now I make sure my husband approves the ones that my daughters wear. This is because guys see something totally different when they look at girls than what we see when we look in the mirror. Dads have a way of knowing whether these clothes will send a wrong impression of their little girls to the boys who will be seeing them. The Bible teaches us not to cause our brothers to stumble. If we dress immodestly and it causes others to have lustful thoughts toward us, then we are indeed sinning and in some cases setting ourselves up for danger.

Mark 9:42
“But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck."

2 Timothy 2:22
Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

I know for some of you, this could be a new battle. I encourage you to embrace it and help your daughters shop for a swimsuit that is modest to the eyes. They are harder to find, but they are out there! I'm not saying that you have to cover your whole entire body to go swimming, but I am challenging you to make sure that your daughters are covered enough so that they are not sending the message "look at my body" to the guys they will be with at the pool (or the world who will see their pics on fb!).

As a mother of two beautiful daughters, I am very cautious of what "image" they are presenting to the world. As a mother of a soon to be 10 year old boy, I find myself wishing that more girls would cover up their bodies to protect the images that are being sent his way. I know that the battle for his mind is approaching, and I am praying that God will protect his eyes, heart, and mind from lustful thoughts.

I am asking for you as Christian parents to make a conscious choice about what you allow your girls to wear. Let's be wise and honor Christ with our bodies and teach our daughters to do the same!

Summer Break

It is the time of year that we all get to take a breather from schooling! We have actually been done now for several weeks and have had lots of down time already.  I have played catch up on laundry and worked in the yard some (when we can get a break from the rain) and watched a lot of baseball and softball games and practices. But I have really not been focused on accomplishing anything for several weeks - and it felt pretty good... for a while. Now it is time for me to establish some sort of summer routine! I love free time, but my mind feels so much better when that free time is scheduled.  That seems like an oxymoron statment, doesn't it! Let me explain...

Like I said, I LOVE free time. But being a scheduler and an all or nothing type person, it seems that if I don't schedule my free time around the things that I need to get done, then free time runs rampant and my day is gone before I've had time to even consider what is for dinner.  So, it is time for me to think about what I want to spend my summer break doing!

1.  Visit with my parents
2.  Work in the yard/garden
3.  Blog
3.  Plan for next school year
4.  Play with the kids
5.  Exercise
6.  Go to the zoo
7.  Swimming
8.  Read, Read, Read!!!
9.  Take the kids to the park
10. Do NOTHING! :)

There is lots more I could add in there, but that is a good start!

In order for me to do these things, I must plan for them.  I will be establishing a new morning routine for everyone. This will be much less rigid than during school days, but we've got to make sure that the house doesn't fall to pieces! Also, I will be setting aside time to do my meal planning/grocery shopping as well.  It is my opinion that these are two important staples for a well run home. 

Once our morning routines are finished, then I say we can play the rest of the day! And if I have my meals planned in advance, I won't have to worry about coming up with something at the last minute before our evening events begin. 

Ahh... I can feel my mind getting clearer already! Just thinking about a schedule and routine helps me!

What will you spend your summer days doing? I'd love to hear what you have planned!

O the Blood

I heard this song at church last week for the first time and was blown away. After we sang it again today at church I knew I needed to share it with you.  Please watch this video and worship with me the One who died for us even in our sin...Jesus.

O the Blood sung by Kari Jobe - Gateway Worship
Lyrics:

O the blood
Crimson love
Price of life's demand
Shameful sin
Placed on Him
The Hope of every man

CHORUS
O the blood of Jesus washes me
O the blood of Jesus shed for me
What a sacrifice that saved my life
Yes, the blood, it is my victory

Savior Son
Holy One
Slain so I can live
See the Lamb
The great I Am
Who takes away my sin

O the blood of the Lamb
O the blood of the Lamb
O the blood of the Lamb
The precious blood of the Lamb
What a sacrifice
That saved my life
Yes, the blood, it is my victory

O what love
No greater love
Grace, how can it be
That in my sin
Yes, even then
He shed His blood for me

Sins Like Weeds

Let me start by saying that I haven't been able to blog for a while because I have been taking care of my husband who had knee surgery (ACL reconstruction) three weeks ago.  Thankfully, he is recovering and doing better and better every day! Since it was on his right knee, he still is not able to drive.  Hopefully as his knee continues to get stronger, he will be back behind the wheel before too much longer! To all of you who knew about this and prayed for him, I am very grateful! Now on to what God has been teaching me...

It's Spring and that means that its time to weed the garden and flower beds. That is exactly what I have been doing. I love being out in the sunshine and working in the gardens! Since we had such a cold winter, I am especially ready for time in the warm sun!

As I was weeding my rose garden I began thinking about how those weeds in my rose garden can be compared to sin in my life. There were some weeds that were a booger to get up because they had rooted in one area, then spread out into several different directions, then rooted again, then spread out even more, then rooted themselves AGAIN, and on and on and on.  Get the picture? This is not very fun to think about, but I know that I must examine my heart and see if there are any sins in my life that could act like these weeds.

So what did I find? One that I will share is my selfishness and my quickness to say "no" to my children when they ask me to do something for them. Sometimes in all the busyness of my life, I tend to not want to waiver off the planned path that I have for that day. For instance, when my tween daughter wants me to roll her hair, in my selfishness, many times I have said no immediately. I have said no before even thinking about it. Why...? She cares about how she looks and loves for her hair to be rolled. It takes about eight minutes to put the rollers in her hair... Ugh! This makes me sick to think about all the times that I've said no without even considering how important it might be to her. Conviction has been hitting me hard over this one.

Another example of my selfishness is when my son wants to show me something on a game he is playing or to look at something on the computer with him, I shouldn't let "no, not right now" be the first words out of my mouth. It usually only takes a minute or two for me to pay him that attention that he needs. If I let this continue, he will stop asking and then our relationship will be hindered. I have got to be interested in what is important to him.

I think that saying no once makes it easier to say it the next time, then the next time, then the next time.

Does this mean that I should always say yes to whatever they want me to do?  Absolutely NOT! What I am realizing again (seems like God has shown me this before and I went back to my old ways) is that I need to be aware of why I say NO and why couldn't I really say YES every once in a while.

This is not the kind of behavior I want to impress upon my children. This is not the kind of character quality that I want them to remember in me. It is certainly not a character trait that I want to teach to them.
In general, I would not consider myself to be a selfish person. In fact, most of my time is spent serving my family and I LOVE it! Spending time with them is my favorite thing to do! God has blessed me with a wonderful husband and three beautiful children who love me! God continues to show me ways that I need to grow more like Him. I am so grateful that God shows His mercy to me when I mess up!

Moms, listen - I am not saying that we are to be slaves to our families and never take time for ourselves!  Please understand that this was a lesson with the condition of my heart! Usually when this affects me the most is when I have to many irons in the fire. I want to slow down and enjoy these special bonding moments with my kids.

It is definitely okay to say no to your children. I just want to make sure that when I do say no or don't take the time to listen to them right away, it is not because I am being selfish.

Is there something that needs weeding in your life? It's not fun to go there really, but it is necessary! I don't want us to be walking around with sin crowding out what God intends to grow in our lives! I want for us as Christian mothers to be growing the fruit of the spirit!

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

There is a Harvest to be Reaped!

Do you ever just get tired of doing the same everyday tasks of life?  For a mother, these tasks can sometimes seem tiresome, overwhelming, monotonous, boring, hard, stressful... Are you with me?

I woke up this morning and said to my husband, "It's Friday!" Then right after that came, "But that doesn't mean anything for me, because my Saturday and Sunday are just as busy as my Monday through Friday." I guess you could say that I didn't wake up with the best outlook. I think I was still just extremely tired from a big day yesterday.  Thursdays wear me out!

Let me just get this out of my system: You see, yesterday afternoon, after searing and putting a tenderloin in the crock pot for our dinner, I drove to take the kids to band (15 minute drive from the house), then back home because I forgot to put a little bit of water in the crock pot with the meat so it wouldn't dry out, then drove back to pick them up from band, then drove across town to take one to violin, then drove just around the corner to take one to the theater, then back to pick up the one from violin, then drove back across town to drop her off at softball practice, then went further across town to take son to baseball practice, then right back across town to the theater! Thankfully my wonderful husband picked up the two from softball and baseball practice. I left the theater at 6:30 and came back home to finish supper.  See why I was tired? Sorry for that little rant, I feel better now!

Let's just say I didn't wake up feeling very motivated to do anything because I am still TIRED!

However, I asked the Lord to speak to me this morning and help me have the motivation that I need to keep going.  This is what he gave me:

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

I know that what I am doing as a mother - yes, even carting kids back and forth across town - is "doing good". For you see, I am not really just carting them around.  It's much deeper than that! I am encouraging them in their talents. I am listening to them. And we are having life building conversations in the car. This reminds me of the scripture in Deuteronomy 6.

Deuteronomy 6:5-9
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

I guess driving them to their practices is my "walk along the road" time with them. So in light of this scripture, I see a bigger calling than being their chauffer. 

My encouragement to you is that as you go about your daily "chores", make sure you are talking to your kids about loving the Lord with all their heart, soul, and strength. If we as moms can continually teach this truth to our children, if we can stay encouraged, and if do not grow weary in doing good, THEN we will reap a harvest. I want to reap the harvest that God gives in Proverbs 22:6. It says, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Isn't that an awesome promise from God!

I may be tired this morning, but the perseverance of sticking to the schedule of events for today is so worth it! Although we did start out a little late, we are getting things done. I have had special time with my Lord, kids have done their chores and are now doing their schoolwork.  So glad I didn't go with my first feelings for the day and stay in that frame of mind - it is a trap from the enemy!

I am so grateful that God can renew my mind and my strength.  I will be trusting in Him today to do just that! Let me leave you with the scripture from Isaiah.

Isaiah 40:28-31
²⁸ Do you not know?
   Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
   the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
   and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
   and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
   and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.

How am I treating those I say that I love?

I just finished reading Karen Kingsbury's This Side of Heaven: A Novel. I love reading Karen Kingsbury stuff! She helps put life into perspective. Without giving away too much, this book has made me not want to miss a thing in my kids' lives.  As I've been reading this book, I have been reminded of the importance of loving people "this side of heaven". I'm talking about REALLY loving them and listening to them. God has given me special gifts - my family and friends - and now I am made freshly aware to love them without passing judgment. 

I know that I need to take time to listen to those I love and to give them opportunities to tell me about their adventures, their dreams, their successes, and even their failures without the fear of being judged. As I'm reading this book and crying through the pages, I find myself thinking about what the Bible has to say about love in I Corinthians. 

I Corinthians 13:4-8a
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

This is causing me to reflect and make sure that  I am loving others the way God intends for me to love. I have so many people in my life that I love, and I know that I do not always love them with the kind of love that was just described.  Sometimes, in the moments of conflict, it is really hard! But after reading this book and after being reminded that life with our family is a gift and we don't know how long that gift on this earth will last, I want to show this kind of love! I'm also reminded that I'm not to stand in judgment of their behavior. I'm to love them unconditionally and pray for them.

First let me say that without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, it is impossible to carry out this kind of love.  I John 4:8 says that "God is love." Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  God sent his only Son to pay the redemption sacrifice for our sins! That is the ultimate gift of love! Because of this amazing love, we can place our trust in Him and let Him love through us.  Please let me know if you want more information about how to give your life to Christ. You can click here to learn more.

Maybe it's time for a quick evaluation of our relationships:
 
How about you? Are you being kind and patient with those you love? Are you prideful toward someone that you love? Are you bringing dishonor to your loved ones? Are you self-seeking around them, looking out for your own interest? Are you easily angered with them? Do you bring up old conflicts from the past? Or do you try to protect, trust, hope in and seek to persevere with those that you love?

I pray that as we evaluate our relationships (gifts) that God has given to us, we will become more Christ-centered and show love the way He desires. If you struggle with this, ask God to help you show this love or to love through you. It is not in our human power to love someone when they seem unworthy, but it is our responsibility, our calling from Jesus who said, "love your neighbor as yourself."

I don't want to have any regrets when the day comes that I am separated from my loved ones in this world!

And I highly recommend this book - but make sure you have a box of tissues!

Prayers for Japan

I've been watching all the video clips of the earthquake and tsunami devastation in Japan and am so saddened.  I can't even begin to imagine what they are going through right now.  My heart breaks for those who have lost loved ones and for those whose loved ones are still among the missing.

As a mother, I think about those who have lost their children - incomprehensible. 
As a wife, I cannot imagine living my life without my husband, my best friend.
As a daughter, I am so sad for those who have lost their parents - my parents mean so much to me.

Its hard for me to try to put myself in the shoes of these who have lost so much.  Along with the personal loss of loved ones, many have also lost all their earthly possessions. Everything they knew as normal everyday life - gone. Now they have the nuclear radiation scare that is threatening what they have left. 

I have been praying that God will be evident to those who are surviving this horrible disaster and that they would cry out to Him and Him alone!

I am reminded to be grateful for the time that I have with those that I love. It can all be swept away in just a few moments. 

With all that said, God is still God and He is still on His throne!  Nothing is too big for Him or without purpose. I know that He allows all things. Sometimes our earthly minds do not understand, but we must trust in Him. 

Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Join with me in praying for those living in Japan and for their loved ones who are scattered all over the world.

The song in this video is a reminder that this world is not our final destination! 

Making a List and Getting it Done

Are you a list person?

I am!

Today was a good day for lists, too, because I had so much to do! It made me feel so good when I got home and saw everything checked off my list! 

Here is what my list for today looked like:

1.go meet second daughter's softball coach
2.go to an educational store to buy paper to make a time line
3.stop in at a used book store to check it out
4.go to library #1 to get a DVD
5.go to sister-in-law's house to pick up a bird cage to use in a production of My Fair Lady that my oldest daughter is in
6.go to a friends house for coffee and to borrow some books to look at for evaluation for next year's homeschool curriculum possibilities
7.go to library #2 for a music CD that was on hold.

What a good feeling it was to check it all off the list.  To top it off, the weather was beautiful and I got to hang out with my two favorite guys - my husband and son. 

However, I didn't include EVERYTHING that needed to get done today on my to do list. 

Now, I'm sitting here wondering what to do next... ironing or grocery list...  Doesn't seem like I'll get to them both tonight.  I need to finish my menu and grocery list, which includes cutting the rest of my coupons that need to get cut out. I also need to do some ironing and make sure that we all have clothes ready for church in the morning.  What to do, what to do?

Well, now that I have written them both out, it's almost like a list.  Maybe I'll get them both done after all!  I think I'll get our clothes ready for church first, then sit down to watch Like Dandelion Dust with the family and clip coupons/make menu/finish grocery list! 

Guess I better get up and going!  Oh, and next time you feel overwhelmed with so much to do, make a list and get what you can done.  If you don't finish it in one day, just carry it over to the next day.  It really will make you feel good to cross things off your list.  Go ahead, give it a try!

God Bends Down to Listen!

I remember when my kids were small and they really wanted my attention, what did they do?  They would come to my side and pull on my shirt and say, "Mommy, Mommy!" Sometimes I could answer them quickly and they would rush off to play again. BUT, when they really wanted my help, really needed me for something that they couldn't do alone, they didn't stop calling my name until I bent down and looked them in the eyes and asked them what they needed. 

Does this sound familiar to you? I'm sure it does!  The role of a parent is so demanding!  It seems that our children are in constant need of our attention. Unfortunately, I am not always the best at answering them right away. Maybe because they call so often, it seems like their requests aren't always "important". 

Wow!  I am so glad that my heavenly Father doesn't look at me this way!  He is the best role model ever in parenting.  He does it right, all the time!!!

Psalm. 86:1  (New Living Translation)
Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help.

This is a constant prayer of mine, it seems.  I so need the help of my heavenly Father - every day, all day long!  I am so glad that he never gets tired of me calling on Him for help.  Jesus even says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28.

Psalm 116:1-2 (New Living Translation)
I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. 
Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!

God is wanting us to cry out to Him and ask Him for help.  Will you take his offer today? Will you let him be that loving father who wants so tenderly to love you, to listen to your needs, and to help guide you along the way?

When I think of the awesome Creator of the Universe, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the One who parted the seas, I am in awe that HE would want me to call on Him and that He would bend down to listen to me!  I agree with the psalmist in saying, "I will pray as long as I have breath!"

Mom, what's for lunch?

Does this questions sound familiar?  I have been posting my menus on my fridge for about a month now and I still get this question, occasionally.

All I say now is, "Go, look and see what it says on the menu for today." One day recently it was left-over chicken and rice, and one child said, "But we just ate that last night!" Can you hear the whine behind those words? Oh, there was a definite whine behind them! However, I didn't let that whine affect me!  I just said, "Well, it was so good that we get to eat it twice!  I'm so grateful that we had some left for today!" And guess what, they ate it with no complaining!  There is something wonderful about having the menu planned and in ink on the refrigerator! They may question it once, but they don't keep on; and for a mom of two semi-picky eaters, that has been a marvelous thing!

Hope

My husband, oldest daughter and I have been attending a homeschool conference for the past two days.  We still have one more day left and I can't wait to see what God has in store for me to learn tomorrow.  I want to encourage all parents who homeschool or are considering homeschooling to attend a homeschool conference. Hopefully I'll share more about how the conference in a later post, but for now I want to share about who I met and how I was encouraged today as I was browsing through the vendors.

I stopped at the FamilyLife's MomLife Today booth to ask about a weekend retreat/study that I want to go through with my daughters - Passport 2 Purity. Since my oldest daughter is 13, I want to go through this book with her first.  I have heard so many wonderful things about this study! Today God reminded me again of the beauty of getting to share God's design with my daughter in a retreat type setting. Her father and I have been praying daily for her and our other two children that they would stay holy and pure. She and I have had "the talk", but I still believe that this study will be a time when she can look back and remember that she made a commitment to stay pure.

So today at this booth, I met an amazing Godly woman, Tracey Eyster, who took time to encourage me and share with me how she and her husband went through this book with their daughter when she was 13.  It brought tears to my eyes because everything that she was sharing with me was just what I desire and long for with my own daughter. I connected with Tracey today and believe that God orchestrated the whole event! Isn't He a good God!  I found out later in our conversation that this amazing lady is the Creator and Senior Editor of the momlifetoday website.

Tracey not only encouraged me in mentoring and mothering my daughter, but also in keeping this blog going and being a mentor and encourager to other moms out there.  I believe that this meeting today was by devine appointment!  I'm not sure where God wants to take me with this blogspot, but I do believe that He is leading me through it. 

Isn't it neat, that as God has been speaking to me about mentoring to others, that he would send a mentor to me?  He is so faithful! I am just sitting here in awe Him.  I quoted Jeremiah 29:11 earlier this week, but I must do it again today:

 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

Today God has given me a hope! As long as He know the plans for me, I will put my hope in Him and ask Him to bless this blog and hopefully bless others through it!  I can't wait till I get to have my mother/daughter weekend with my oldest! I have great hopes for that as well! 

Grocery Day

Yesterday was grocery day! Yes, I get excited about grocery day because that is when I get to save lots of money and get free stuff! I started out at Walgreen's first.  I got a tube of Colgate toothpaste, a bottle of Motrin, the new Tylenol Precise cream for joint and muscle aches, and a pack of Altoid mints.  I spent $4.50 cash for all of that AND left the store with $3.00 in Walgreen's Register Rewards to be used as cash at Walgreen's on my next visit, which I plan on buying more toothpaste for $3.00 and they will give me $3.00 back.  Then I will buy Motrin with that $3.00 and they will give my $3.00 back again.  That is a cycle where I can stock up on toothpaste and Motrin and get it all for free just by using the Register Rewards that they give out at the register!.  Oh, and because they gave me the original $3.00 back, that means I really only spent $1.50 on my original purchase! That makes for one happy mama!

Then I headed to Kroger, with all of my coupons and my grocery list - if I don't have a list, I'm toast.  As I was making my way through the meat section, I noticed that they had just marked down a ton of meat.  So I stocked up on pork chops, steaks, beef stew meat, and roasts.  Only the roast was on my list, but when meat is marked down to a good price, I stock up and store it in the freezer! On meat alone I saved over $25.00.  I saved an additional $60.00 on coupons and store ads.  I spent $150.00 and saved $85.00!  That also makes for one happy mama!

I consider myself to be frugal, but I am always looking for ways to be a better steward of our money.  Right now, I am reading through the Economides' books Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half with America's Cheapest Family: Includes So Many Innovative Strategies You Won't Have to Cut Coupons and America's Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money: Your Guide to Living Better, Spending Less, and Cashing in on Your Dreams.  I saw them first on the Today Show and was very intrigued by how little they spend a month on groceries.  If I can learn a little bit from them, I will be very grateful!

If you have any other great tips for saving money at the grocery store or drug store, please leave a comment and let us know!  I would love to hear what you do!

Where we are now...

Today my children are 13, 11, and 9. So that means that I am homeschooling an 8th grader, a 6th grader, and a 4th grader. While that may seem challenging (and on some days it is very challenging), it is the life we choose to live. Because we homeschool, my children are able to be involved in lots of extra curricular activities. They are all three in a homeschool band and participate in that twice a week. My oldest daughter does community theater as well as participates in local high school theater programs. She also plays the piano. My younger daughter plays the violin as well as her band instrument, which is the clarinet. She also plays softball, which is about to be starting up! My son plays the trumpet and piano and plays whatever sport is in season, with the exception of soccer. He is finishing up basketball and is about to start baseball! This doesn't count all the activities that they are involved in at our church and then just hanging out with their friends. Whew! That makes me tired just typing that all out.

Life is definitely busy, which is why I MUST stay on top of things. If it is not in my calendar that I carry around all the time, it doesn't get done! I'll post more later about how we try to stay organized and get it all done.

Titus 3:14 says, "Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives."

In all that we do, I never want us to lose sight of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our source of strength and our purpose for being on this earth. It is Jesus who loved us so much that He gave His life as an atonement for our sin. I am undeserving but very grateful for His love!

Where it all began...

I was about 20 years old and in my second semester of nursing school when I realized what I wanted to be when I grew up. I was already dating the man I knew I would marry and I wanted nothing more than to get married, have children and be a stay-at-home wife and mother!

So after much prayer, I decided to quit nursing school and work full time while waiting for the moment when my dreams would become reality. When my current boss asked me why I was quitting, I politely told him, "I don't need a degree to change diapers and be a mom." Really, this had been my dream while growing up in a wonderful home and watching my mother as she loving raised three daughters and took care of her home while my dad worked very hard at his job.

My dreams became reality in 1996 and 1997. I got married to my best friend in 1996 and had my first bundle of joy in 1997! My husband and I decided that we both wanted me to stay at home and raise our daughter. While it took much sacrifice, I quit my job and began staying at home right before she was born.

I now have three children: two girls and a boy! God has blessed me so much! I am also blessed to be able to homeschool all three of them. I want to be the best mentor to them that I can. My job as mom is vital in teaching and training them to walk in the ways of the Lord and to be successful adults. This is definitely the most challenging job, but it is the most rewarding job I could ever have!

I have NO regrets about quitting school to be a stay-at-home mom. I loved learning new things then, and I continue to learn to this day!

Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."