Archive for the 'Faith' Category

Non-New Year’s Resolutions

Published November 7, 2010 Faith , Family 5 Comments

It’s not the beginning of a new year, but Kevin and I just made a resolution: We have created a monthly Family Night and Date Night, and we are committed to them! No more “We should go out more” or “We should have a Family Night”. We have picked the days for each month, and they are on our calendars!

Why did it take us so long to make Family Night and Date Night a priority? I have no idea. We have always been more spontaneous about taking the kids out, and Date Night? Well, we just fit that in when we could, which was rarely.

Individually, Kevin and I have a few weekly and monthly commitments that are always on our calendars, and nothing interferes with them, except for a serious illness in our family. These are personal commitments that do not include the rest of the family.

After listening to a message from Andy Stanley on time and commitments, I asked myself, “Why on earth are we putting all these other so-called “important” things before our marriage and our family!?!” We can fill our lives with so many “good” things that the truly important things might never happen. What kind of message are we sending to our spouse and children when we get so excited about Girls’ (or Guys’) Night Out, but we don’t give them a special night to look forward to?

So yay for Family Night and Date Night!

Two other things we are doing to make family a priority…

I put a limit of one TV show per day for Caleb and two TV shows per day for Chelsea. My kids have watched way too much TV in their short lives. Chelsea and I had a good conversation recently about how watching too much TV makes your brain turn to mush, but playing and drawing and building and pretending and going to school make your brain strong. She ate it up! We’re two weeks into our new TV policy, and so far so good.

A couple of years ago, Kevin and I promised each other we would sit down and talk for at least 15 minutes as soon as the kids go to bed. We stuck to our “talking time” for a while, and then we drifted away from it. Well, we’re back at it. We’ve put it in its proper place, and I’m so glad we have.

Marriages are crumbling and falling apart all around us, in our church and in our community. Kevin and I have had our share of tests and trials as well. Now is the perfect time to be intentional about strengthening our marriage.

Okay, now I want to hear from you! Do you have a set Family Night and/or Date Night? How often do you have them, and what things do you like to do? How has it improved your marriage and family?

She Speaks Conference 2010

Published July 16, 2010 Blogging , Faith , Friends , She Speaks , Writing 16 Comments

The conference is only two weeks away! I’m excited about returning this year and meeting new friends who have a heart for the Lord.

I noticed a lot of comments on the conference blog about tips and advice, and a couple of people have contacted me asking questions, so I thought I’d share some thoughts about last year’s conference.

I was nervous last year because I was rooming by myself, and I only knew one other person attending. I thought it was going to be an ultra-professional, ultra-competitive environment. It was the complete opposite! The conference (and the atmosphere) was encouraging, uplifting, worshipful, and inspirational.

It was a group of women (mostly young moms) just like me! A group of women who love God and want to use their gifts and talents for God. A group of women with dreams and goals, searching for direction from God.

Lysa TerKeurst made it clear during one of the general sessions that it’s not about competition. It’s about encouraging each other. If you go with the attitude that it’s all about you and your agenda, you’ll miss the whole point.

Cheri Keaggy was the worship leader last year, and she did a fantastic job of leading us to the heart of God during all the general sessions. I felt the Proverbs 31 team organized the conference in such a way that all the women attending could hear from God.

So ladies, relax! Go with the attitude that you will be surrounded by loving women who are very similar to you. Be ready to meet new friends and make connections that can only be explained by the hand of God. Consider it a privilege if someone shares her heart and dream with you! Go with an open spirit to hear a special word from God just for you.

Practical tips:

Some of the rooms are very cold. Bring a sweater. I wore dress pants each day.

Last year, Proverbs 31 gave everyone a notebook. It contained notes with outlines or fill-in-the-blanks for all the sessions/classes. This was extremely helpful. I assume they will be doing this again this year. I brought a journal to take notes, but I didn’t need it. I also carried a small Bible in my purse.

Bring some business cards. I got mine from www.vistaprint.com

Take some time to get alone with God. Last year, there was a prayer/meditation room set up. I went in the room, and it was awesome! In addition to a quiet peaceful place to pray, there were tables with the names of God and a verse printed on papers. Under each name of God, the Proverbs 31 team placed the names of every person attending the conference. It was incredible to find my name and read about the character quality of God that was selected especially for me.

The most awesome thing about going to She Speaks was knowing that the team prayed for me by name, and I felt covered in prayer. I knew it was not an accident that I was there. It was a divine appointment.

I hope to meet some people online before the conference. Leave a comment with your website. I’d love to check out your blog, or send me an email if you don’t have a blog.

Freedom

Published July 4, 2010 Faith , Family , Holidays , POTD 2 Comments

We celebrated our freedom a day early, and today we’re relaxing. For the third year in a row, we enjoyed local fireworks along with a patriotic concert from our city’s symphony orchestra. The weather was perfect. The music and fireworks were wonderful as always.

I couldn’t resist including last year’s picture because it is one of my favorites, and I love to see how much they have changed in a year.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1, 2

I am grateful for the freedom we possess in this country, but I am also thankful for my freedom in Christ, which cannot be taken away.

Hand in Hand

Published July 2, 2010 Devotional , Faith , God Lessons , Inspiration 4 Comments

Lisa, I have called you by name, and you are mine. I am always with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you.

For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Close your eyes and picture me holding your hand throughout your day. Wherever you go, whatever you do, you are never alone.

Tie something around your wrist to remind you that I am with you. We are tied together. I am leading you with cords of human kindness, with ties of love.

Stay in step with me. When you get anxious and flustered, you charge ahead of me. You are pulling on my arm and dragging me. Slow down. Walk next to me. Talk to me. Trust me.

When problems enter your day, there is no need to worry or fret. The Creator of the entire universe is holding your hand! Is there anything too difficult for me to handle?

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Nothing can separate you from my love.

–Jesus

 

 

 

Isaiah 43:1  Joshua 1:5  Isaiah 41:13  Hosea 11:4  Isaiah 43:2  Romans 8:35-39

What Will Your Kids Be Like as Teenagers?

Published June 5, 2010 Faith , Family , God Lessons , Missions 11 Comments

My friend Beverly wrote a great post detailing some parenting tips from John Rosemond. One point jumped off the screen: “As parents, you MUST have a vision for what you want your children to be in the future.”

That statement swirled around in my head. Yeah, I want my kids to be kind and love God, but do I have a specific vision for them? Not really.

About a week after I read Beverly’s post, I turned on the radio. A woman was sharing how each year she sits down with her husband and sets long-term and short-term goals for their children. They talk about what they want their kids to be like when they are older, and they discuss what they can do now to help them reach those goals.

She said something like, “A vision for the future helps you make decisions for today.” Her encouraging words reminded me of something I read in a parenting book a while ago: It’s much easier to prevent problems in your kids now than to fix problems later.

I’ve learned when God sends me the same message from different sources within a few weeks, it’s as if He is putting his arm around my shoulder and gently saying, “I really want you to get this.”

I shared the concept with Kevin, and we spent some time talking about the kind of people we would like Caleb and Chelsea to be when they are in high school.

Here are some of the things we discussed:

  • We want them to love everyone (put others’ needs before their own) and reach out to the kids in their classes who need a friend.
  • We want them to find their worth in God and be confident and secure in themselves.
  • We want them to be mission-minded and have a heart for those who do not know Jesus.
  • We want them to be involved in at least one extra-curricular activity, but we don’t want to them to be committed to 10 different activities. We don’t want their lives to be so busy that there is no time for family or personal time with God.

We might alter this list as they grow, but it’s a start. Helping our kids attain these goals requires us to model godly characteristics. Wow, what a great tangible way to keep ourselves accountable to live holy lives.

What vision do you have for your children? Are you setting practical goals to help them become the people in your vision?

I hope to write a post soon about one practical way we are helping Caleb develop a heart for missions. In the meantime, I’d love to hear what goals you have for your kids.

Fulfilling Your Purpose

Published June 1, 2010 Faith , Purpose 2 Comments

WordPress has some cool stats. I like how I can view the search terms people use to find my blog. Almost every day I see phrases like, “what is God’s purpose for me,” “fulfilling the purpose of God for my life,” “what is my purpose”. You might be one of those people who is wondering, “How can I know what my purpose is?”

No person is an accident. Everyone has a specific purpose–a reason to be on this Earth. One of the most amazing things to discover is God knew you even before the world was formed (Ephesians 1:4). He knew everything about you before you were conceived, and He had a special purpose in mind for you (Jeremiah 1:5).

I recently heard a fellow community member say, “Be present with God every moment, and do the thing that only you can do.” He was speaking about being a great leader, but I think his statement perfectly describes how to fulfill your purpose. No one else in the entire world has your unique set of gifts, talents, personality traits, and experiences.

God has a purpose that fits you and only you. No other person can fulfill your purpose. Every purpose is important–no matter how big or small. Even smiling at people can be a ministry and a purpose in life.

Two things will last forever: God and people (souls). It makes sense to invest your time, energy, and talents in things that will last forever instead of material things.

Here are some things that might help you discover your purpose:

  • Pray, pray, pray! Ask God to speak to your heart and reveal His plan for you. Trust that He will guide you. God never tries to hide is will. If you ask with pure motives, He will answer you.
  • Get to know yourself better. Take the Myers-Briggs Personality Assessment. Take a spiritual gift inventory questionnaire.
  • Ask friends and family what they think your gifts and talents are.
  • Try lots of different hobbies, service projects, ministries, and/or vocations until you find something that you are passionate about, something that gives you energy.

Books About Purpose

  • The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
  • Knit Together: Discover God’s Pattern for Your Life by Debbie Macomber
  • The Search for Significance by Robert S. McGee

Purpose Quotes

“For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible,…everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.” Colossians 1:16 (Msg)

“It’s not about you.” Rick Warren

“Unless you assume a God, the question of life’s purpose is meaningless.” Bertrand Russell, atheist

“I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.” Jim Carrey

“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…” Jeremiah 1:5

“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 hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11

“God, I’m going with your plans for my life, not my own. I’ve got plans, I’ve got dreams, I’ve got goals, I’ve got ambitions, but I know that you put me on this earth for a reason, for a purpose, and I am intentionally choosing your plan for my life instead of my own. I know you’re not going to reveal it to me all at once; it’s going to come a little bit at a time. But, I’m willing to take it one step at a time, knowing your plan is better than mine.” Rick Warren

“There is no happier place than the intersection of God’s will and your giftedness.” Phil Vischer

“Many people have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” Helen Keller

“Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” Tim Kizziar

“This is true joy in life, the being used up for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.” George Bernard Shaw

“Give yourselves to God…Surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes.” Romans 6:13 (TEV)

“I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me.” Psalm 57:2

“What you are is God’s gift to you; what you do with yourself is your gift to God.” Danish proverb

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21

“The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me…” Psalm 138:8

Overwhelmed

Published May 27, 2010 Faith , Friends , God Lessons 6 Comments

(I tried to think of a photo that depicts stress, and I remembered the day Caleb had his first hair cut. I think this is the only picture I have of either of my children crying. I didn’t want a bunch of pictures reminding me of unhappy moments. I’m thankful mental pictures fade over time.)

Last week I started to feel overwhelmed. A lot of things were piling up. One of my children has been dealing with much anxiety. The death of a friend. Lots of extra activities and volunteering at school. Feeling chronically behind in all my chores and to-do tasks because of our sick April. Trying to be all things to all people. And a few other things.

God reminded me that I can handle all these things. Not because I’m Wonder Woman. But because His grace and power enables me to deal with everything that comes my way, IF I give them to Him and stop trying to solve problems by myself. Did I listen to Him? Yes. Did I allow His gentle reminder to sink into my heart? No. I just kept plugging along, pretending I was fine, and WHAM, I had a meltdown on Tuesday.

I prayed. I sent a message to a friend, and I asked her to pray. I thought I was going to be okay. But then more stress was dumped on me, and I felt helpless. I talked to Kevin after the kids went to bed, and I just cried everything out. Nothing like a good cry to relieve stress.

The next day? I was a different person. Happy, calm, secure. The only explanation is God. I didn’t come up with some grand solution to all my problems. I just knew everything was going to be okay. I knew God has all the answers, and little by little, He will give me the guidance I need to deal with all the unexpected circumstances that pop up.

Thank you to Kevin and TZ for praying for me. I was in the place where the only thing I could think to say was, “Help me, Jesus.” So I know your words moved the heart of God. Thank you for speaking to Him for me.

“Because of the LORD’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

“weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:15

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]” John 16:33 (AMP)

Saying Good-bye

Published May 15, 2010 Faith , Friends Leave a Comment

A good friend of mine from high school passed away on Wednesday. Kenny was 34 years old. My heart goes out to his family and friends. I am praying for them.

I’m disappointed I won’t be able to make the 800-mile trip for the funeral, but I’m thankful I was able to re-connect with Kenny through Facebook over the last several months.

This difficult situation reminds me how life is fleeting. None of us is promised tomorrow.

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14

I’m grateful there is hope beyond this life. To all who receive Christ and believe in his name, he gives the right to become children of God. (John 1:12) …if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good-bye, Kenny. Thank you for being a true friend. See ya on the other side.

One of Those Mommy Moments

Published April 23, 2010 Faith , Family , God Lessons , Health 9 Comments

This was an unusual week. On Monday, Chelsea was covered in hives, and her right foot started swelling up and turning purple. She was in so much pain she couldn’t walk. And Chelsea is a tough girl, so when she was crying and asking me to take her to the doctor, I knew it was serious. I took her to the emergency room.

While in the ER, her knees started swelling up, and she was not able to straighten her legs. After blood tests and x-rays, the doctor said it was either Fifth Disease or a reaction to the amoxicillin she took for strep throat.

After two visits to Chelsea’s pediatrician on Tuesday, he was almost certain that she has Serum Sickness, which is a bad reaction to penicillin drugs, especially amoxicillin. She is taking steroids to relieve the hives, swelling, and pain.

There were a few moments when I was deeply concerned about Chelsea, but I didn’t freak out. I poured myself into research to make sure Serum Sickness was the right diagnosis. I trusted God would give her doctor wisdom to determine if it was something other than Serum Sickness.

Each day when I prayed, I thanked God for making Chelsea feel better, and I asked Him to heal her completely. I have been unemotional all week, but I had one of those mommy moments today at lunch. When I was praying, the reality of the week settled on me, and I got choked up.

As I watched Chelsea eating her crunchy carrots, I realized how thankful I am that she is here. Even though her situation was not grave, it showed me how fragile life is and how our lives can change in a moment.

God reminded me that my children are not mine. They are His. They are only here for a short time, and He could call them home at any moment. And one day I will stand before God and give an account of how well I cared for and loved His children. Sobering thought.

Thank you, God, for your faithfulness in teaching me how to care for and love your children. I want to live in a way that reflects your character.

Plumb Tuckered Out

Published April 22, 2010 Faith , Family , Health , POTD 3 Comments

This is Chelsea a month ago, before the storm blew in. She rarely takes naps, but she came down with a stomach virus that day.

This week, Chelsea has not been tired at all, even though she has serum sickness. She’s the Energizer bunny. I’m the one who is tuckered out!

Here’s our last few weeks:

March 29–Kevin got strep throat
April 5–Chelsea got chicken pox
April 6–Caleb got chicken pox
April 7–I got strep
April 9–Chelsea got strep
April 18–Chelsea came down with serum sickness (a reaction to amoxicillin, which she took for strep)
April 21–I have what appears to be a sinus infection [edit: good news--it turned out to be only a minor cold for me. yay!]

Lessons in faith, trust, and perseverance are in progress. I’m thankful Kevin and Caleb are well right now, and I look forward to all of us getting back to normal soon.

Chelsea and I listened to Step by Step this morning, a song by Rich Mullins. It reminded me of why I am here.

Oh, God you are my God and I will ever praise You
Oh, God you are my God and I will ever praise You
I will seek You in the morning
And I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You’ll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days

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