Singing Like Myself

Moving

2011-03-10T09:42:00.000-08:00

Lots of reasons why, but the main reason is I don't sing like myself anymore. I want to sing like Him. You can find me here.

A Dare Worth Taking

2011-01-17T22:38:00.000-08:00

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

Just Watch...

I read the e-book a month ago and am now ordering a hard copy to read through and highlight. This time I'm bringing a handful of friends with me on my reading journey! One Thousand Gifts is poetry, beauty and a search for gratitude in the midst of a world that can be rough, harsh and difficult to understand. What I especially love about this book is how it continuously points us to the Giver of All Good Gifts. I am challenged and comforted as Ann Voskamp walks us through her experience of seeking the seemingly insignificant special moments in her day-to-day life and actively appreciating the blessings she finds, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. I've begun my own gratitude list and don't intend to stop at one thousand. My heart is beginning to become tender in places where life-hurts had hardened and I thought were lost forever. I am reminded daily, moment-by-moment, to Taste and See that the Lord is Good! Highly Recommended!

Interested in participating in a reading group? Here's One!

Acknowledging the Ending

2010-12-31T11:24:00.000-08:00

Taking down the ornaments,taking a moment to reflect on the changes that came to us this year. In our home, we choose ornaments every year to add to our tree. It has been fun to witness what memories each ornament evokes as they are unearthed. Somehow, putting everything back in storage is less exciting, less glamorous. Rarely can I find someone to help me box everything back up. This year, that's OK. As I put away ornaments, they are reminding me of years past and filling me with gratitude for where we are today.

I put away the Little Women ornaments and think of my daughter. The past couple of years have been quite tumultuous for her and it is so nice to watch the fruits of healing manifest in her life.

I put away the backpacking, fishing, robot and computer ornaments and am reminded of my son, my little thinker, creating things with Legos at 4-years-old that I couldn't have come up with if I had tried for days. I remember his first encounter with real, scientific robots at JPL in Pasadena. Those engineers were rock stars to him. Now he wants to pursue his fascination with robotics and computers in college. We say he's scary-smart, but, really, I'm not scared!

I take in the abundance of snowman-themed ornaments and wonder how on earth I became so obsessed with the little guys. I think about it awhile, then decide I don't really care why. They make me smile.

More year-end thoughts that become prayers:

Loosening the ties that bind as our firstborn leaves home to further her education. Lord, thank you for seeing her through a deep valley and for bringing her to a lovely place, both with You and with the people around her who love her so much.

Witnessing the maturing of our second-born into an amazing young man with a brilliant mind. Lord, thank you for giving him such a peaceful spirit. Thank you for the generous and intelligent people you've placed in his life to teach him what he needs to know and what I will likely never be able to comprehend.

Making the tough decision to set firm boundaries with people in my life whom I love, but who's destructive behavior has become toxic. Lord, thank you for giving me the strength to say, "no more." Thank you that you are right there by their side, doing whatever it takes to bring them to repentance. Keep my heart tender to them, constantly praying for them, welcoming them when they return from the wilderness.

Making the decision to live what I believe, not just talk about it. Lord, thank you for stripping me bare of all the busyness I had convinced myself was ministry. Thank you for pointing the way to begin to truly glorify You with my life, to make an effort to make disciples, to share Your message of salvation with the world, to pray without ceasing. You've placed so many resources in my hands and even handed me my first mission trip opportunity. Thank you for including me in Your most important work!

This year has ended well. Thank you, Father. Amen.

Role of Voodoo in Haiti

2010-01-24T15:53:00.000-08:00

What must it be like to serve a god whom you can't trust when things get ugly?

The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.

Psalm 23, NLT

Even in the darkest valley, our LORD is there.

I'm praying for the people of Haiti and so glad Samaritan's Purse is there meeting immediate needs and bringing the Good News of The Savior to this hurting country.

Scentsy - I LOVE my Job!

2009-10-20T17:19:00.000-07:00

Here's a little video to give you a tast of what a day is like for a typical Scentsy Consultant. Have you thought about starting a business from home? Contact me for details! Scentsy is available in the US, including Puerto Rico, and Canada!

Visit my Scentsy Website

Give More Than You Receive - WomenEntrepreneur.com

2009-10-07T14:27:00.001-07:00

Give More Than You Receive - WomenEntrepreneur.com

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Life, Death and Elsie

2009-09-11T08:46:00.000-07:00

I remember where I was that day 8 years ago; the confusion that turned into panic, flipped to brokenness, then finally landed in rage. I remember the prayers of desperation, not knowing if that was the end or just the beginning. Should we stockpile food and weapons? Should we run for the hills? Should we be glad it was over? I opted for weeping, crying out to God and holding my family close.

Since then this date has affected me like it has so many other Americans. It is sacred. A day of remembrance and respect. A day of thoughts and prayers going out to families who's losses must feel as fresh today as they did on that terrible day. I have tread lightly, not making plans that included anything but the most mundane, feeling as though any sense of celebration would trivialize those who were lost. It was such an invasion, a violation, a loss of what we as Americans took for granted. That sense of pride in our country was bruised by the punch we took in our collective gut.

It is more than a day of remembrance to me now, though. It is a day they tried to take away from us and, so far, I've let them have it. But no more.

What a better way to honor those who's lives were taken away so brutally than to thumb our noses at those who bullied and beat us up that day by showing them they didn't win. I won't live in fear. I won't close the curtains in my mind, centering my focus on what they took away. I will, instead, remember the bravery and strength of those we lost, tipping my hat to those who stepped in to rescue and even gave their lives to alter the terrorist agenda. I refuse to allow short-sighted men to kill my resolve, my pride or my joy. I will, instead, choose life.

Life is proof that darkness can never occupy the same place as light. Life is proof that joy and laughter can soothe even the most broken of hearts. Life is proof that the mundane isn't enough. Life bursts forth and propels us to engage in relationship. Life is proof that we are meant to love, embrace and encourage each other.

Elsie was born today. September 11, 2009. I WILL CELEBRATE!!!

Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. Deuteronomy 30:19-20a, NLT

Slow Revelation

2009-09-08T21:46:00.000-07:00

I can't say I am surprised. I've had a sense of this truth for awhile. I thought I was giving up on Him. In reality, I was just giving in.

God loves me.

I don't know this because I have a warm, tingly sensation in my heart or because I "feel it in my spirit." I don't know this because I just left one of the most blessed praise and worship services of my life and not because I heard someone speak to me about how high, deep and wide is God's love for me. It has nothing to do with how I feel.

I gave up on "feeling" God's love awhile ago. I was often filled with an overwhelming sense of longing and I just knew God was reaching out to me, trying to express His love for me, and I wasn't doing the right things to receive it. I thought if I prayed more, worshipped more, loved others more or whatever I would then understand how to receive His love. How to fully feel His love for me. After awhile, the sense of longing would pass and I knew I had failed, yet again, to do whatever I was supposed to do to feel that elusive sense of "love."

After the valley I walked through last year, one of the things I let go of pursuing was that all-important sense of feeling fully loved by God. I was a little disappointed in myself when I realized letting that desire go actually brought me more peace. Why wouldn't I want to feel loved by God? Pursuing that elusive sense of "God's Love" had been such a central part of my religious experience for most of my life. Prayer meetings, worship times, conferences...I lived for those moments where I felt like I was being lifted straight into Heaven. Of course, when those moments passed, I was left feeling abandoned; like God had stopped by to say Hi, then moved on to visit the rest of His kids. Sibling rivalry took the enjoyment out of fellowshipping with the Lord. I had to share those high times with others, to let them have a turn with our Father. Hard not to feel jealous of other's high moments when my thinking was skewed like that.

So, I let it go. God's Word told me He loved me. Jesus' sacrifice demonstrated His love for me. That had to be enough. And, strangely, it has been more than enough. Tonight I finally understand why.

Love isn't a feeling. It isn't that emotional high we feel when we are fully engaged in any activity, be it singing praises or painting the hallway. Don't get me wrong, those moments are precious and I wouldn't want to miss even one opportunity for that sense of closeness or accomplishment. But that feeling isn't love; at least not the love that I have craved to receive from God my whole life.

If you ask my kids if I love them, they'll say I love them very much, maybe even too much. You could ask them that question when we were having a fabulous time at an amusement park, on Christmas morning, or even when they are grounded from all of life's pleasures and ostracized to their bedroom and the answer would be the same. Their confidence in my love for them has nothing to do with feelings that wax and wane. Their confidence in my love for them stems from a lifetime of relationship, from the knowledge that, no matter what, I'm with them; I'm on their side; I want the best for them. That's love.

Those high moments I have during praise or prayer time are wonderful because those are the times I have let the cares of the world go for long enough to attempt to demonstrate my love for my Savior. Those times bless me because I was made to praise Him, as we all were. But whether or not I have those moments every day or not at all, it doesn't change God's love for me. God's love isn't a feeling; it is steadfast, unchanging, unending, unconditional, mind-blowing, solid commitment.

This is how God showed his love to us: He sent his one and only Son into the world so that we could have life through him. This is what real love is: It is not our love for God; it is God's love for us. He sent his Son to die in our place to take away our sins. 1 John 4:9-10

Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.

Breaking the Rules

2009-05-11T07:49:00.000-07:00

We drove about one hour away from home yesterday afternoon to visit with my children's Grandma, dear Husband's mom, for Mother's Day.

Grandma has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's' Disease. Some days she recognizes her grandchildren and some days she doesn't. Yesterday was a good day. She and the kids spent the bulk of the visit looking at old pictures of her and their dad from days of old. Back when their old man wasn't old at all. They laughed when they saw him smiling as a baby...he rarely smiles unless we trick him into it (which has become a fun pastime during long trips), so catching unguarded moments from him at any age feels like a victory!

Just to be clear, dear Husband is not an angry or mean man, per se, he's just a serious kinda guy. He tells people he was born old. It's just who he is (although I suspect he likes it when we trick those smiles out of him).

Anyway, the day grew late and we all said our goodbyes. With Grandma, each goodbye feels like the most important goodbye for the kids because it might be the last time she says their name. Tonight she said their name, hugged them and asked them to come back and see her next week. It's great when it ends on a nice note like that, but it still leaves the kids a little at loose ends. They're 15 and 18 now and want to be mature about the whole thing, but they miss that sheltered feeling of protection they were lucky enough to experience for most of their lives when they had both sets of grandparents and their parents doting on them all the time.

On the way out of town, we were all a bit quiet. We stopped off at McDonald's to grab a soda for the drive home and decided to walk in and order so we could stretch our legs. We entered the restaurant and it was totally empty of customers. It was so quiet in there, which is rare for any McD's! We ordered our sodas (ok, we ordered a snack, too!) and were waiting for our order to be filled when I noticed my grown-up kids sharing a glance and staring wistfully at the giant playplace sitting totally empty before them. The one at this particular Mickey D's is a huge one that's not very old. They were only able to play in it once before they were too old to participate in the fun.

In a moment of naughty weakness I told them, in my most serious voice, that they had exactly three minutes to get into that climbing maze, go through the whole thing and find their way out. Go! They looked at me like they misunderstood me. I told them they were to remember they were big, so to be careful, but they now only had 2 minutes and 45 seconds. GO! They looked at each other with shocked grins and took off!

For two-and-a-half minutes my kids were like tiny mice hunting for that elusive piece of cheese!

When they found their way out, their entire countenances were uplifted! They are still talking about their fun dash through kiddyland this morning!

We broke the rules. No one got hurt. Two really great young adults were able to experience that perfectly safe bliss that only little ones have...for two minutes and thirty seconds.

I'm so glad we were naughty!

Balance

2009-05-06T13:41:00.000-07:00

I'm learning there's no such thing.

Trying to find balance in our lives is setting ourselves up for failure. It's simply not possible. On any given day, in any given season or even any given year one aspect of our lives must take priority over others.

Although most would agree marital relationships should take precedence over all other earthly relationships, there are times when others need the bulk of our effort and attention. Sick kids, aging parents, business concerns, bills, etc., can all become our first priority for at least a short time. Does it mean we're failing in our marriage? Of course not! It's just life.

I used to beat myself up because I would over-obligate myself to tasks at church, my job, the kid's schools, or whatever else might need my input. I'd look at the other areas in my life that needed attention and make mental notes in permanent ink about who I was letting down or how I wasn't measuring up. If I shared my concerns, I would likely get a hug and be told that I just needed to find some balance. I could never find balance because we were not designed to give attention equally to everything.

Jesus is our primary example. His first priority always was his relationship with his Heavenly Father and, of course, letting the world know who He was. How he conducted his ministry, however, was never balanced. Sometimes he focused on his family; sometimes his friends. Sometimes he ministered to multitudes; sometimes to just one person. Sometimes he fellowshipped with groups of friends and sometimes he spent time alone. Sometimes he even let people down.

We read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (humming the tune by The Birds), but I wonder if we really apply that passage to our lives.

There's a time to focus on your kids, but they won't die if they aren't the center of the universe for a few weeks, especially if they're older. Love them, hug them, feed them, listen to them, then get busy with building your business.

There's a time to focus on your business, but if you back off and move into maintenance mode when big events are happening at home (graduation, illness, school vacations), your business won't crash and burn.

I call it flexitizing; flexible prioritizing. It sounds weird, but it makes more sense and is much less guilt-inducing than trying to live the myth of balance.

Dr. Henslin Interview

2009-04-21T12:19:00.000-07:00

Link: Interview with Dr. Earl Henslin

Dr. Henslin wrote the book This is Your Brain on Joy. The interview is about 10 minutes long and will give you a glimpse into the book that you NEED to read if you have issues with depression, anger or even ADD.

Sacrificial Love

2009-04-19T22:08:00.000-07:00

I've been sick with what I was beginning to think was West Nile Virus or Malaria for about a week now. Web MD says it's allergies. Whatever. Anyway, I've spent more than a few hours lying around with nothing to do but think (and I've taken my allergy medicine). So, here are some ponderings I wanted to share here:

First, sacrificial love is really hard. Not with strangers; it's pretty easy to love strangers...they haven't had enough time to bug me yet. On the other hand, most people I've known for more than an hour or so have said or done something or other that wasn't pleasant in my estimation. It seems that the longer we know people, the harder it becomes to love sacrificially. Then again, I guess we really can't call it "sacrificial" love if it isn't difficult for us. Maybe sacrificial love is more an act of ongoing forgiveness than anything else.

Next, I am convinced that I will see my dog in Heaven. If you disagree, I don't want to hear about it. If Jesus can ride around on a white horse up there, I can chase Tucker down the Streets of Gold.

And if giving up alcohol is 1/100th as difficult as me giving up Diet Coke, I absolutely tip my hat in total respect to those of you who have fought the battle of alcoholism and remain sober. I refuse to make light of it. I know the artificial sweeteners are really bad for me, especially since I'm prone to depression. Still, I find myself giving into the craving at least once a week; even more often than that if I'm being honest. What I need to do is focus on relieving stress in some other way...it is definitely used as a comfort device for me.

Finally, I am so grateful to the Lord for His miraculous provision in my life over the past year. From even before I was diagnosed with depression, He was placing tools to aid my healing before me on this path. I look back and see how I discovered Scentsy in a doctor's office when I went for further testing regarding the chest pain I was experiencing. As heart disease was ruled out, a tool to help me move forward was introduced in the waiting room. One of countless gifts facing depression has brought into my life.

When things look dark, look around for the light God is shining on your path. If you are His child, He's there. He loves us enough to throw us life vests before we even know we're drowning. Before we have time to ask, He knows what is going on and how it is going to turn out. He knows exactly how to refine us in any given situation. And even when we don't acknowledge Him, He is reaching out to us. We get into deeper trouble because we don't reach out to Him. Man, he loves us; even though we don't deserve it.

Sacrificial Love.

Jesus blows my mind and humbles me yet again. Yes, Lord; yes.

Online Bible Study

2009-04-13T13:21:00.000-07:00

If your life is feeling a bit out of control and you'd like some help putting the pieces back together, you might want to explore Donna Partow's online Bible Study: Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be. You could certainly simply buy the book and do the study on your own, but if you'd like a group of other women alongside you and someone leading the way, you can participate in this study online without leaving your home.

Donna takes everything one step at a time. No rushing. Yet you accomplish something new every day. It's nice to have someone coaching you to move forward when you are having trouble finding your way. It's up to you, so check it out.

Gut Check

2009-04-13T10:09:00.000-07:00

Effexor Baby's Grieving Mother Protests Potential MOTHERS Act, Warns Others
Christian Delahunty blames Effexor for the September 2008 death of her six-week-old daughter Indiana. To those responsible for pushing Effexor on Christian and similar drugs on pregnant women across America, that may be "impossible" to prove.... Read more"

Reading this article was painful. My heart hurts for Ms. Delahunty and her family. Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare. I hope the rest of what I write here does not minimize her loss, because that is most certainly not my intention.

I won't even question whether Effexor, an anti-depressant, might or might not have been a contributing factor in the death of her precious baby.

I want to point out something we all need to keep in mind. According to the article, Ms. Delahunty asked her doctor whether or not she should continue taking this medication while pregnant and he told her there were no studies that showed Effexor is transferred to babies while pregnant or breastfeeding. Here's the issue: She thought enough about it to ask. That was her gut talking!

We have all had those incidents where something inside us made us want to question generally accepted logic or apparently benign situations. Call it "mother's instinct," "a funny feeling," "gut check" or whatever, we all have the ability to use discernment when making decisions. As Christians, we have the benefit of the Holy Spirit in us to guide us in our decision-making process.

I absolutely DO NOT mean to say that this loving mom has any culpability in her precious child's death! Only the Lord knows what issues were affecting this little one. I just see so many women who squelch their instincts because someone in "authority" disagrees with them. I admit, it's difficult to have doctors, nurses, teachers, principals, etc. not happy with you, but them's the breaks.

If your gut tells you to question authority, question it. Educate yourself, seek professional advise, do the research, PRAY, then make the best decision you can for you and your family. Trust God for the outcome. I have even done that while walking through the valley of depression, and I'll share those experiences another time. For now, just know that whenever I had a sense that I needed to question what was being told to me, I was right.

Gut-Check: It's a GOOD thing!

Freedom

2009-04-11T20:17:00.000-07:00

I was struck by the thought of what resurrection morning really meant to mankind. No longer did we need to perform blood sacrifices to attempt to pay for the sins that separated us from God. We didn't have to worry that we would one day die with the stain of sin still covering us. Painful rituals and tedious tasks were no longer required to participate in a relationship with God.

Jesus freed us from that bondage! We could finally remove our pious masks, throw ourselves at the feet of our unfathomably generous Savior just as we are, warts and all, knowing he paid a horrendous price for our redemption. That's how much our Lord God loves us!

Humanity could collectively breathe a sigh of relief as we humbly and confidently give our lives to our Savior.

I opened my Bible to Galatians 5 and basked in my freedom in Christ.

He is why we celebrate!

FOXNews.com - Brain Differences Mark Those With Depression Risk - Mental Health | Illness | Disorders

2009-04-11T00:06:00.001-07:00

FOXNews.com - Brain Differences Mark Those With Depression Risk - Mental Health Illness Disorders

CHICAGO — People who have a high family risk of developing depression had less brain matter on the right side of their brains on par with losses seen in Alzheimer's disease, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

Brain scans showed a 28-percent thinning in the right cortex — the outer layer of the brain — in people who had a family history of depression compared with people who did not.
"The difference was so great that at first we almost didn't believe it. But we checked and re-checked all of our data, and we looked for all possible alternative explanations, and still the difference was there," said Dr. Bradley Peterson of Columbia University Medical Center and the New York State Psychiatric Institute.

His study appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The findings are based on imaging studies of 131 people aged 6 to 54 with and without a family history of depression.

The team was looking specifically for abnormalities in the brain that could signal a predisposition to depression, rather than changes that may be caused by the disease.

The thinning on the right side was only linked with a family predisposition to depression. People who actually were depressed also had thinning on the left side of cortex.

"Because previous biological studies only focused on a relatively small number of individuals who already suffered from depression, their findings were unable to tease out whether those differences represented the causes of depressive illness, or a consequence," Peterson said.
He said having a thinner right cortex may increase the risk of depression by disrupting a person's ability to decode and remember social and emotional cues from other people.

They did memory and attention tests on the study subjects and found the less brain material a person had in the right cortex, the worse they performed on attention and memory tests.
"Our findings suggest rather strongly that if you have thinning in the right hemisphere of the brain, you may be predisposed to depression and may also have some cognitive and inattention issues," he said.

Peterson said the findings suggest medications used to treat attention problems such as stimulants might be useful in the treatment of depression in some patients.

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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to My Blog

2009-04-10T18:18:00.000-07:00

I've been awol for a significant amount of time. I'm finding my way back now, but I don't think I can come back without offering an explanation. First, I want to thank my friends for praying for me - some of you knew what you were praying about and some of you didn't, but you offered hugs and prayers without questions. God bless all of you!

I experienced some strange physical symptoms last spring and underwent fairly extensive testing. All tests came back negative. The whole situation was puzzling, stressful and frustrating. I wasn't sleeping, I had chest pain and I was feeling more and more out of control. Then one day I looked at the dirty dishes in the sink and had no idea how to get them cleaned and put away. I'm not kidding. I was so tired. I wished I could just disappear.

Because of my family history, I made an appointment with my doctor right away. She diagnosed me with Clinical Depression. I would have preferred any other diagnosis but this. Bless her, she had a heart-to-heart talk with me and encouraged me to seek professional counseling. She also prescribed an anti-depressant. I thought very little of anti-depressants up to this point; I had witnessed their abuse and lack of effectiveness for decades in others and didn't want to go down that road. I need not have worried. After one medication change (the first one totally freaked me out), my thoughts became more fluid and I was able to make dinner without feeling I was walking through mud to get it done.

I went to counseling and that helped a lot. First, I was able to let go of some old hurts I hadn't really dealt with before. It turns out that stress was the trigger...I was in a difficult job and refused to walk away even though it was tearing me up inside to be in that office. I was taking on responsibilities elsewhere that I was not fully equipped to handle and completely overloading myself with busyness. I snapped. She gave me some very helpful tools to manage stress better. After about 8 visits, she felt comfortable that I was handling things well and we agreed to see each other again as needed or when I discontinued the anti-depressants, just to be safe. It is recommended I remain on the medication for 12 months, so I still have a few more months to go before I can discontinue their use.

In the meantime, I have been on a life-changing journey and want to share much of it here in the hopes that it will help others who have been or are now in the valley of depression. For now, I recommend the book This is Your Brain on Joy. I'll share more as I have time. I will likely be blogging less often, but hope what I share here can make a difference.

Tucker

2009-03-05T00:42:00.000-08:00

Tuckerlicious died Monday. I miss him so much.

http://singlikemyself.blogspot.com/2006/05/tuckerlicious.html

Look Who Just Might Steal the Election!

2008-09-04T22:12:00.000-07:00

Click on the picture to be taken to the breaking story

(sorry, I couldn't resist ☺)

Photo of the Day: September 3, 2008

2008-09-03T21:28:00.000-07:00

Big Mama's Quilt.

She was my Great-Grandmother.

I was born on her birthday.

She made this quilt to be used.

It lays on my bed.

I'm so lucky to have it!

Desert Song

2008-09-02T08:54:00.000-07:00

Desert Song by Hillsongs

It is speaking to my heart today.

All of my life,

In every season,

You are still God,

I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to Worship.

Bless His name!

Jump-start on Christmas

2008-08-30T18:15:00.000-07:00

"Try the Houseworks Holiday Plan and make your house work ... for the holidays! Part book group, part organizing schedule, the Houseworks Holiday Plan is an 18-week holiday plan designed to help you clean and organize your home in time for the holiday season--and take care of seasonal preparations, too.

Beginning at the end of August, the Houseworks Holiday Plan breaks decluttering, cleaning and Christmas organizing chores down into small, weekly bites.

Each week, the plan assigns a cleaning-and-organizing focus based on the book Houseworks, along with a short list of holiday planning chores to chill out seasonal stress before it begins.
You'll learn to STOP clutter, clean and organize each room in your home. At the same time, you'll tackle a few holiday preparations each week. The goal: to bring house and home into readiness for the holiday season."

It sounds like a great way to break down the Christmas craziness into smaller bites over the course of the next few months. I'm going to give it a try. It begins August 31, so if you want to check it out, don't procrastinate. You don't need to purchase the book to follow the plan.

Read the whole entry and check out the entire schedule here:

Houseworks Holiday Plan

GENIUS?

2008-07-29T19:10:00.000-07:00

WHY??

Photo: June 28, 2008

2008-07-28T17:41:00.000-07:00

The boy left for Youth Camp this morning.

First time away.

Miss him already.

Photo: July 25, 2008

2008-07-25T12:44:00.000-07:00

Two books that would have fit in a large padded envelope.

Instead, they were sent packed in the bottom of a huge box

Stuffed with what appears to be shredded cardboard boxes

in a possible attempt to reuse them rather than dump them

in a landfill.

Is it more "green" to waste another box plus pay extra shipping

than to just use a padded envelope and save a tree or two

(not to mention a buck or two!)?

What's the deal??

Photo: July 24, 2008

2008-07-24T22:45:00.001-07:00

Beluga Whale

Cool!

Photo: July 23, 2008

2008-07-23T11:59:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love Farmer's Markets?

Thank You, Lord!

2008-07-22T00:02:00.000-07:00

My son survived a rather unpleasant encounter with our dogs this afternoon. They decided to fight and he instinctively tried to break it up. The big loser? My boy. After spending 3 hours in the emergency room, we discovered that, although he had two pretty yucky puncture wounds, they wouldn't need stitches. We were sent home with antibiotics and instructions to keep an eye out for signs of infection. I would appreciate prayers for Sam's health for the next couple of days.

Dad took Sam home while I headed to the all night pharmacy to fill his prescription. As I waited in my car until the prescription was ready, I had some time to reflect on the day's excitement. It could have been so much worse. I was so grateful to God for keeping his hands on my son when I couldn't (I was on the other side of a locked door with no key...my knock on the door is what set the dogs off. Guilt in spades.). As I shared my gratitude and concern for my son with my heavenly Father, this song came on the radio. I have never been more sure that God heard me than that moment. He is so good to me! Thank you, God.

Thank You by 33 Miles

What if in morning when I wake up
Even before I fill my coffee cup
I said thank You
Thank You

What if I look at the day and hours ahead
And before I move forward I bowed my head
And said thank You
Oh I said thank You

What if I looked at my life in a different way
Took a little more time to stop and pray
I know it would change all the moments in between
So here I go

Thank You for everything
Thank You for loving me
It don't even matter what tomorrow brings
Well I will sing my

Thank You for sun and rain
For what You give and take away
For all Your goodness I will always say
Thank You
Oh I'll say thank You

What if I lost everything that I had
I could smile and somehow still be glad
And say thank You
Thank you

Cause life is joy, life is pain
But the prayer on my heart will never change
I say thank You
Oh I'll say thank You

Photo: July 21, 2008

2008-07-21T23:47:00.001-07:00

He'd stand real still,

then jump and surprise an unsuspecting tourist.

Notice the tip jar.

He made about $15 in the 8 minutes we watched.

Not a bad hourly wage,

but it IS expensive to live in San Diego.

What else could a Tin Man to do?

Photo: July 20, 2008

2008-07-20T13:02:00.001-07:00

Tall Ship sails at the Maritime Museum

Photo: July 19, 2008

2008-07-19T16:33:00.000-07:00

Petco Stadium

San Diego Padres vs Atlanta Braves

...at least I'm pretty sure that's who San Diego was playing.

All hot dogs and sodas were on sale for a buck.

Now THAT'S worth remembering!

(Padres lost, but it was a great game!)

Photo: June 30, 2008

2008-06-30T13:48:00.000-07:00

This is how I might look if

Amedeo Modigliani painted my picture.

I found this cool place that morphs your

picture into what you might look like if you were:

Afro-Caribbean, East/West Asian, Painted by different artists,

a different gender or even drunk (that one wasn't pretty).

Try it yourself if you like!

link: Face Transformer

Photo: June 26, 2008

2008-06-26T20:11:00.001-07:00

Tiger the Cat.

It's my mom's cat, but she moved into an apartment

and can't have pets.

I'm not a cat person.

I feel a little sorry for him because of it.

He's OK...

...for a cat.

Photo: June 25, 2008

2008-06-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

The boy gave in and let me cut off the mop.

Ain't he handsome???

Movie Review: Fireproof: The Movie

2008-06-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

Last night I was privileged to attend a screening of Fireproof: The Movie. Fireproof takes us behind the scenes of a marriage that is smack dab in the middle of crashing and burning before our eyes. Within a few minutes of watching the film it is painfully clear how ugly the relationship has become.

Caleb has betrayed his wife. He may not think his actions were a betrayal, but his wife does. So does the Lord, but, since Caleb doesn't have a relationship with Jesus at the beginning of the film, what God says about his behavior is a moot point. What does matter is his wife, Catherine, reaches a place where she can find no way to move forward in this marriage. Cue the waterworks and grab me a tissue, please!

When Caleb shares the news of his crumbling marriage with his parents, his father issues him a challenge: The Love Dare. Written in a journal in his father's own hand, Caleb embarks on a 40-day journey to win back the heart of his wife. In the process he finds Salvation through Jesus Christ and our Lord changes everything! Oops. I'm getting misty again just thinking about it.

Through all of the drama, pain and healing, we meet friends and family of Caleb and Catherine who are funny, loyal, and downright silly sometimes. We also meet a person or two (I won't give anything away) who could use an encounter with Jesus themselves. Caleb is a firefighter (surprise!), so there are a few intense rescue scenes, plus some funny firehouse pranks to enjoy.

For those of us who are Sherwood Pictures fans, there are plenty of references to their other two films (Flywheel and Facing the Giants) to find in the movie. I know I didn't catch them all, but I saw a "Jay Austin" motors license plate cover (Flywheel), and saw a few actors from the previous movies in cameo roles. Even the writers, Alex and Stephen Kendrick have a bit of face time onscreen! I'll have to watch it a few more times to catch more of those little touches.

Fireproof: The Movie is a unique film, filled with sources of laughter, tears and Truth. Kirk Cameron surprised me with his excellent portrayal of a self-centered firefighter turned committed husband. I expected myself to be reviewing episodes of Growing Pains in my mind every time I saw him, but I quickly stopped seeing him as Mike Seaver and only saw Caleb Holt, a strong man struggling with some tough issues. Erin Bethea shines as Caleb's wife, Catherine "Cat" Holt. Most of the cast and crew are made up of volunteers, not professionals, but if Erin was not a pro before this film, she is now. I wept with her, understood her weaknesses, and wanted to pick up my cell in the middle of the film, dial her up and give her some sisterly advice. These two actors allowed the story to unfold beautifully before the audience. Kudos, Kirk and Erin!

The story line is a bit predictable, I must admit. The title alone pretty much lets us know how this movie is going to end. But this movie is not about finding out what happens in the end; it is about the process of getting there. It's about relationship, friendship and getting through the tough stuff. What does it take to heal a marriage that is broken? Is it even possible? And what does Salt and Pepper have to do with relationships? You'll have to watch Fireproof for yourself to find out the answers to these questions. It is definitely worth the price of admission!

Fireproof: The Movie opens in theatres September 26, 2008. Seeing this film on opening weekend is essential to keeping it in theatres for as long as possible. Do yourself, your present or future spouse, and the rest of the country a favor and make a point to see Fireproof opening weekend!

Photo: June 22, 2008

2008-06-22T18:06:00.000-07:00

The kids went to Target today and brought this ridiculous doggy hat home.

He looks like he's smiling,

but he's yawning after trying to shake off this stupid hat.

I hope they bought it in the dollar section.

Kids.

Photo: June 21, 2008

2008-06-21T18:24:00.000-07:00

At 6:00 pm.

In the shade.

Official temp is 107°.

Can you say "Blast Furnace?"

I knew you could!

A Nicer Email Addy, Anyone?

2008-06-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

Here's your chance to get a nice email addy. Tired of all those silly email addresses you have to think up because all of the good names are taken? Yahoo has just opened up a whole new domain. If you hurry, you might be able to pick out an easy addy there.

Link to register at yahoo for a ymail or rocketmail addy.

Check the pull down menu when you type in your new id and password to find a fresh @ymail or @rocketmail name.

Photo: June 20, 2008

2008-06-20T20:35:00.000-07:00

Sudoku.

Still my favorite addiction.

Photo: June 19, 2008

2008-06-19T18:12:00.001-07:00

This is Ruben.

I realized today I hadn't introduced him yet.

He's our gentle giant.

Photo: June 18, 2008

2008-06-18T23:39:00.000-07:00

Found these in the backyard

shaded by some pretty tired pines.

It was comforting to see something pretty

in the midst of all the heat.

It gave me hope.

It won't be this hot forever!

Photo: June 17, 2008

2008-06-17T17:42:00.001-07:00

VBS is over. No excuses.

Home Improvement Summer Season 2008 Begins.

Wistful Beige in the living areas.

I'm being daring and painting the front bath Red Ginseng.

Wish us luck!

Photo: June 16, 2008

2008-06-16T08:32:00.000-07:00

Oh, sure, he sleeps now.

It was a different story at 3:30 this morning...

Wakey, wakey, Coco-NUTS!!

Photo: June 15, 2008

2008-06-15T20:28:00.001-07:00

He requested the Rambo Complete Boxed Set....on Saturday.

Of course, it's sold out all over town - it's the PERFECT Father's Day gift!

(tongue firmly in cheek)

Got a raincheck, some workshirts and two classics to tide him over.

Food for Thought from Tozer

2008-06-14T21:27:00.000-07:00

"If you want to pray strategically, in a way which would please God, pray that God might raise up men who would see the beauty of the Lord our God and would begin to preach it and hold it out to people, instead of offering peace of mind, deliverance from cigarettes, a better job and nicer cottage....What good is all our busy religion if God isn't in it? What good is it if we've lost majesty, reverence, worship--an awareness of the divine? What good is it if we've lost a sense of the Presence and the ability to retreat within our own hearts and meet God in the garden? If we've lost that, why build another church? Why make more converts to an effete Christianity? Why bring people to follow after a Savior so far off that He doesn't own them?

We need to improve the quality of our Christianity, and we never will until we raise our concept of God back to that held by apostle, sage, prophet, saint and reformer. When we put God back where He belongs, we will instictively and automatically move up again; the whole spiral of our religious direction will be upward." A. W. Tozer, The Attributes of God, 194-195

We worship God. He's more than our friend, our buddy. He is omipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. We are His. He OWNS us! I wonder how our daily lives would look if we really believed that.

Photo: June 14, 2008

2008-06-14T07:57:00.000-07:00

Do Not Adjust your Screens!

The church lost power 15 minutes before our

VBS Grand Finale Night.

God is Good.

Our Music Leader for VBS can actually play the piano,

so the kids sang their songs in the dark.

The Show Must Go On!

Photo: June 13, 2008

2008-06-13T17:05:00.000-07:00

I know it's not the healthiest choice,

but it's 100° outside and the last night of VBS.

Besides, it's yummy!

Photo: June 12, 2008

2008-06-12T08:59:00.000-07:00

All the Bible study materials have arrived!

I can't wait to start Stepping Up with my Sisters-in-Christ on June 26!

Studying with Miss Beth is going to be great!

Abstinence Pledges (PG-13)

2008-06-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

A study by the Rand Corporation research institute found that 34 percent of youths who took such pledges as teens had had sexual intercourse within three years compared to 42 percent of similar teens who did not make virginity pledges.

"These findings do not suggest that virginity pledges should be a substitute for comprehensive sexual education programs, or that they will work for all kinds of kids," said Martino. "But virginity pledges may be appropriate as one component of an overall sex education effort."

Full Story Here

I know that's only an 8% difference, but 8% is a pretty large number of kids who are protected from disease and unplanned pregnancy.

On the other hand, I am one who has been a bit dubious in the past regarding purity pledges. I have watched parents push their kids into signing purity pledges, then breathe a sigh of relief that "now their kids are safe." That attitude is naive at best; at worst, it's poor parenting. The article doesn't differentiate between correlational relationship vs. causal relationship between pledge signing and virginity. Possibly teens who sign purity pledges are often also teens who choose to remain pure. Maybe it's causal in the opposite way than they are alluding. It is quite possible that choosing to sign a purity pledge comes as the result of a teen's previous decision to delay intimacy until marriage. In other words, maybe they decide to stay virgins, then sign as apposed to signing a pledge then remaining virgins because they signed a contract stating they would.

I'm wondering if the difference lies in the type of kids who choose to sign purity pledges. Maybe they're simply more likely to wait for marriage to become sexually active as a result of their family values. My guess is that this is the most likely reason for that 8% difference.

Either way, signing a pledge is meaningless if there aren't core values instilled to back up that pledge.

Now I'm just rambling, but it's something to think about anyway.

Photo: June 11, 2008

2008-06-11T07:00:00.001-07:00

A bouquet of coffee bean-center flower pens

to use at a BIG party I get to do

at a restaurant downtown tonight for my business.

I'm excited!

Photo: June 10, 2008

2008-06-10T06:22:00.000-07:00

Nerds fill up my purse.

Forgot they were there - heavy!

Until end of day.

(that's a Haiku...well, a redneck Haiku, anyway!)

Photo: June 9, 2008

2008-06-09T08:32:00.000-07:00

VBS 2009 BEGINS!!

(I really like the shirts this year!)

Photo: June 8, 2008

2008-06-09T08:29:00.000-07:00

My first day back as Summer nursery worker.

Man, I missed those silly toddler knees!

(they were taking turns hiding in the "boat")

Father's Day Gift Idea

2008-06-07T08:08:00.000-07:00

Photo: June 7, 2008

2008-06-07T06:16:00.000-07:00

Quiet time out back this morning...precious time

Loving When We Disagree

2008-06-06T21:35:00.000-07:00

I was cleaning up some old files and found an unpublished draft I was working on over a year ago. Funny thing is, the subject is still something I find myself considering on an ongoing basis. I suspect it will be something we contend with until we meet Jesus face-to-face.

When we form relationships and attachments with others, one thing is bound to happen sooner or later: We WILL disagree. And I'm not just talking about what to have for dinner. As similar as God made us, He also blessed each of us with the ability to think and reason for ourselves. We aren't simply puppets on strings that he choreographs to His delight. We are individuals with life experiences that contribute to the conclusions we form and the decisions we make. Because all of us have unique compilations of experience from which to draw, the results of our thought processes can lead us to polar opposite conclusions, even when we are supposed to love each other.

It is perplexing and disappointing when those we love make decisions with which we fundamentally disagree. The little stuff isn't so bad. We can all make adjustments for those who insist the best weekend diversion is golf when we'd rather cruise through town on our bicycles. We find ways to compromise between watching mysteries on TV versus comedies. Sometimes, however, our sensibilities diverge on some deeper issues; things some of us might consider deal-breakers.

I could make a short list of such deal-breaker issues, but all of us have them and know exactly what they are. The issues themselves are not the point. It is how we are supposed to treat each other when those issues rear their ugly heads that is the center of this rambling post.

What I write next is more for me than for anyone else.

I am called to love my neighbor as myself. Period. When I am standing toe-to-toe with a brother or sister in Christ, I must do it with the express purpose of being unified, not because I need to be acknowledged as "right." I don't know about the rest of you, but this is probably the toughest thing God has asked me to do, especially when I-know-that-I-know-that-I-know that my position is the unequivocally correct position. How do I pursue unity - how to I LOVE someone when I know they are wrong and they won't budge? How do I pursue unity and love someone if our disagreement turns ugly and maybe both of us say things we shouldn't?

Here's the other hard thing God called me to pursue: Humility. Ouch. It is my job to find a way to mend that relationship. That doesn't mean we need to be BFFs forever, but I do need to make every effort to get the two of us pointed in the same direction, pressing toward the goal to which we were called.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-5

That may mean I don't get my way even when I'm 100% right. I have learned how to be OK with that, though. God always gets His way, even when I don't. If I am living my life to glorify Him, it won't be about winning the argument, but about doing what He called me to do. And from what I read, that boils down to this:

Surrender Myself to Him
Make Disciples
Love Each Other

For me, that's enough of a job description to keep me busy until I am finally ushered into Glory.

If you disagree, that's OK. I love you still! Let's stay pointed in the same direction, no matter what.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:12-21

Photo: June 6, 2008

2008-06-06T09:30:00.000-07:00

Chopped all my hair off for the Summer and forgot to bring the camera to the beauty shop.

Trust me, it's short. I love it!

Photo: June 5, 2008

2008-06-05T08:36:00.001-07:00

Giving out Snowcones, inviting kids to Vacation Bible School

(that's not my hairy arm)

Photo: June 4, 2008

2008-06-04T13:39:00.000-07:00

Off to the thrift store....more trips to come.....

Photo: June 3, 2008

2008-06-03T10:10:00.000-07:00

Son's 8th grade graduation last Thursday

I read a moving article about a gentleman who took a polaroid picture every day for 18 years. His friends posted his pictures online after his death from cancer. Some pics are silly, some mundane and some are heartbreaking. They tell a beautiful story. You can see his pics here. I want to give it a try.

Stockpiling

2008-05-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

Now that gas has officially topped $4/gallon, I am becoming obsessive about maximizing any trip we take with the car. As my husband came home from a trip to his office Sunday evening, I asked him to stop by the grocery store to pick up stuff I'd need for this coming week; you know, cereal, bread and the like.

He came home with 12 pounds of ground beef. 12 Pounds.

I now remember why I don't ask him to make quick grocery stops on a regular basis.

He happened to show up at the butcher counter when they were drastically marking down the remains of the day's ground beef and shutting down for the night. When he saw 15% ground beef for .99, he couldn't help himself. I have to give credit where credit is due, though; he only purchased half of the 24 pounds they were trying to unload. Oh, yes; he also got a deal on two pounds of bulk Italian sausage. What a bargain hunter he is!

I now have two bags of mini-meatloaves, three spaghetti entrees, two bags of seasoned taco meat, two shepherd's pies and a dozen hamburger patties safely stored in my deep freezer. I have a little over four pounds of ground beef left and am running out of creative ideas. I'm thinkin' sloppy joes and maybe a batch of ground beef enchiladas. There's only one problem. Making those would require another trip to the store and I don't have enough errands piling up to justify putting my car into service.

I guess I could ask my husband to pick up what I need on the way home from work, yes?

;-P

Fireproof: Love is Not a Fight

2008-05-07T13:28:00.001-07:00

Warren Barfield knocks it out of the park with this one. He wrote this song for the movie Fireproof. I can't wait for the movie to open this Fall! This film has the potential to save marriages. Watch the video...clips from the movie are included. I got this widget from the Fireproof website. Click on the "Warren Barfield" video first, then watch the rest!

Catching Up

2008-04-25T13:29:00.001-07:00

This has been a wild couple of weeks.

UPDATES:

Living Proof Live with Beth Moore in San Diego was such an encouragement to me. Travis Cottrell and his praise team/band knocked it out of the park. To say Mrs. Moore spoke some important truth into my life is a great understatement. If you ever have a chance to go to Living Proof Live, don't ask, don't think, just buy the ticket, make the hotel reservations and go. She is speaking in Las Vegas in September at the Deeper Still conference with Kay Arthur and Priscilla Shirrer. Again I say don't think, just do it.

I'm in!

Before LPL I attended Wired, a women's ministry training event put on by Lifeway. I sat at the feet of some of the most incredible women I have ever met! Leighann McCoy blessed and encouraged me with her compassion and energy. She spoke about helping women in crisis and spoke eloquently from personal experience. Loved her. Debbie Stuart lit a fresh fire in my heart to minister specifically to women. I wish she lived closer because I know we'd be friends. She was so funny and challenged us to be about the business of Kingdom Work (focusing our efforts on glorifying God), not busyness. Chris Adams was so real when she spoke. She gave us some helpful tools to prevent burnout and shared a bit about the challenges she has faced as a woman ministering to women. Kelly Minter is a woman loving the Lord with all her heart, mind, soul and strength! She shared something with us from scripture that I had never considered and I'm still pondering two weeks later! She is using her many talents to glorify God! This woman knows how to worship!

I was educated, humbled and encouraged.

Hubby was asked to speak in front of a Legislative committee in Sacramento this week. One of the companies in town flew him and another gentleman up there in their private plane (...I know, oh my gosh!) and through witnessing the behavior in the room during the meeting, came to an understanding of why some people would think we evolved from lower life forms. My husband, while pretty abrupt most of the time, is refreshingly gracious with most people. When he came back from that meeting he told me it was all he could do to keep himself from smacking a few of those people upside the head.

Them's strong words from my man.

Took husband and son to see Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed last weekend. My son and I were on the edge of our seats in total fascination, but hubby nodded off a couple of times. Just being honest. I guess watching a bunch of guys talk for two hours is more than some people can take. That said, I'd see it again. There is very little that is more attractive to me than an articulate man. Maybe I shouldn't see it again...

I'm just sayin'.

My Scentsy business has taken off like a rocket! It is so nice to spend my time doing something I enjoy and brings other people such ...hmmm...how shall I put it...pleasure doesn't quite cover it: delight and giddiness. Yup. I have actually had women call me giggling over their Scentsy stuff. These are professional business women! I refuse to name names!

I love my new job!

The puppy is about to break my spirit. Pray when you think of it. Remember the patio furniture I got for my birthday last year? He chewed through one of the ottomans. Today he ate a rubber ball. He treats the cat like a chew toy. He chewed the sheer curtains right off the french doors. He tinkled on husband's shoes.

It's a good thing he's adorable.

I think I'll leave it at that.

Mom Frustration: A Memory to Share

2008-04-06T20:05:00.000-07:00

We were cleaning out a file this evening when we found this. After passing it around the entire family (and the boyfriend) and laughing hysterically, I KNEW I had to share this one! At 14 and 17, I know I am blessed with the two most interesting, loving, creative children on the planet, but when they were younger I sometimes wasn't so sure....

This is for all you moms in the trenches with your pre-k and elementary-aged siblings. My two must have been 8 and 5 when this was drafted. I don't even remember writing this, but I must have been really mad. In all honesty, I don't think I could have really gone through with my final threat, so thank goodness they didn't call my bluff. For your edification, enjoyment and encouragement (and my embarrassment), I give you

The Contract:

I will be polite to my brother/sister when we go with Mom to pick up transcription.

The first time I am mean to my brother/sister in the car when we go to pick up transcription I will go to bed at 7:00pm.

The second time it happens I will go to bed at 6:00pm.

The third time it happens I will go to bed at 6:00pm for 1 week.

The fourth time it happens, Mom will get a job outside the house and I will have to go to daycare.

...I made them sign it.

Sheesh.

Choosing our "Christian" music wisely

2008-04-02T13:23:00.000-07:00

I have commented in the past here about some songs that we sing in church, but somehow don't seem doctrinally sound to me. For example:

"I'm trading my sickness, I'm trading my pain, I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord."

Please don't hate me. I know many people LOVE this song. I'm just not one of them.

While I like the thought, it doesn't jibe with what scripture says. We can't just lay down our sickness, walk away from it and have only the joy of the Lord to contend with. Sometimes, no matter how much we'd like to dump pain on the side of the road and leave it there, our suffering instead becomes a part of our lives and, hopefully, a part of our witness. We can, however, rejoice in our suffering (Romans 5:3-5), knowing it will mature us in our faith. We can also count our trials (i.e. suffering and pain) as joy (James 1:2-4) for the same reason. But that is not the same thing as laying down our sickness and pain. That is only one example, of course, and many, MANY, songs are written that are consistent with scripture. Some favorites:

Shout To the Lord -All time #1 (Psalm 98:4-8)
He Knows My Name (Brings my thoughts directly to Psalm 139 every time we sing it)
How Great is Our God - A new favorite! (Only touches the surface of Psalm 104. Lovely.)

I bring the issue up again, first, in the hopes that it might be a reminder that just because a song seems to be "Christian," doesn't mean it is biblically accurate. We need to be careful what we listen to, especially when it comes to songs written for Christian audiences. Turning our radio to the Christian station does not give us permission to put our thoughts on auto pilot. Think about the words being sung in the song. Yes, it may have a catchy beat or make you feel special, but is it TRUE?

Lifeway is getting ready to release a new 2008 edition of the Baptist Hymnal. Baptist Press published an article on the subject that included some really important stuff. First, Jon Duncan, state music director of the Georgia Baptist Convention, said something that is so true I needed to read it twice just to take it in:

I believe that, along with most Baptists, my theology was shaped through the singing of hymns... Although I didn't understand everything I was singing as a young boy, the theological deposits being made during these formative years provided anchors for my life. As a result, the teaching impact through singing our hymns cannot be understated.

He is absolutely right! Much of our personal theology is shaped through the music we listen to and sing! Think about it! We need to be careful that the music we expose our children to presents the Gospel accurately or they may grow up to have an inaccurate understanding of God. That's big stuff.

The committee took their job of selecting songs to include in the hymnal very seriously. Here is the criterion they used:

Each song's suitability is based on these questions:

-- Does the hymn speak biblically of God?

-- Is it God-honoring?

-- Does the hymn present a biblical view of man?

-- Does the song help us to cover the depth and breadth of our theology?

-- Does the hymn call us to true discipleship, service, repentance, witness, missions and devotion?

-- Does the hymn speak biblically of salvation?

-- Does it engage the whole person - allowing a person to express his deepest feelings?

-- Does the hymn emphasize that Christ is the Christian's Lord, Master and King? (the idea of total submission)

-- Does the hymn present an Americanized/Westernized gospel? (civil religion)

-- Is there a balance with corporate and individual response in worship? (immanence and transcendence)-- Does the hymn speak biblically about the church, the body of Christ?

If we used such a criterion to consider the songs we allow in our homes, cars and even our churches, do you think it would change anything?

I'm just askin'.....

The new hymnal will include about 650 songs, 300 of which are brand new to the hymnal. Some of the titles are:

Amazing Grace
Awesome in This Place
Better Is One Day
Breathe
Change My Heart, O God
Draw Me Close
God of Wonders
Have Thine Own Way, Lord
He Knows My Name (YES!)
I Give You My Heart
I Worship You, Almighty God
Just As I Am
Made Me Glad
Open the Eyes of My Heart
Shout to the Lord (Double YES!!)
Wonderful, Merciful Savior
You Are My King [Amazing Love]

and the list goes on...

I am not saying the Baptist Hymnal is the "bible" to be used to judge whether or not a song is Biblically accurate! What I am clumsily trying to express is that we need to use discernment regarding everything we expose ourselves and our children to, including music written for Christian audiences. The list of criterion the committee who chose the songs to be included in the hymnal impressed me as something that could be applied in many circumstances. That's all.

You can read Mr. Duncan's interview through this link.

You can read the Baptist Press article, which lists the criterion, through this link.

You can find the complete song list at http://www.lifewayworship.com/

Ben Stein's Expelled...A MUST SEE!

2008-04-01T14:34:00.000-07:00

Opens April 18, 2008!

The website for this movie is up, running and stuffed with great things! Check it out at http://expelledthemovie.com/

This one looks really good, people! Finally, someone in "Hollywood" who is willing to blow the lid off the myth of evolution and the censorship forced on those in acadamia who disagree with Darwin's theory.

Do any of my Bakersfield buddies want to go as a group? It's going to be playing at the Pacific Theatre by the Mall (although the Expelled website calls it the Bakersvield Stadium 14). Any takers? C'mon! Let's support the good stuff together!

My New Business

2008-03-26T13:35:00.000-07:00

For those of you who were curious about what kind of business I have started, this is it. I'm not the lovely lady demonstrating the warmer in the video, but she does a great job!

This particular warmer is an older model. The tops no longer have handles or pour spouts. You can see the whole Scentsy catalog here.

Easter Evolution

2008-03-21T23:13:00.000-07:00

My children asked me if we could dye eggs tomorrow. They also asked what I was making for Easter dinner. My answers? OK and Ham. Whatever.

Is this what Easter has evolved into?

This has been a very eventful week at our house. The kids are on vacation from school this week, I launched a new business on Monday, my Mother-in-Law was hospitalized for two days (comfortably home now) and the puppy got into my closet, chewed up two of my favorite slippers and apparently buried 1/2 of my last precious pairs of Vans. He also pulled books off the bookshelf to use for his chewing pleasure. He thinks trash is best enjoyed scattered throughout the house, freed from the confines of the garbage bag in which it was placed. Coco is not my friend. These situations took on an urgency in my life that needed to be addressed as each issue arose. Preparation for Easter became an afterthought. I been occupied with Ham, hospitals and canine homicide all week. Even now I'm not sure how to approach Easter. I am tired and would like nothing more than to rest this weekend.

Our church is hosting an Easter Eggstravaganza tomorrow. Work.

The praise team needs to spend a couple of hours rehearsing tomorrow evening. More work.

We will have tons of visitors at church who need to be welcomed. Even more work.

Dyeing eggs, ham dinner, dressing up (pantyhose-yuck). Work. Work. Work.

Just thinking about what needs to be done this weekend makes me tired. Somehow, they feel like chores. I hate chores.

My thoughts go back to Monday; the day of my business launch. Friends were coming over that evening to sample my wares (thanks, ladies; you're the best!) and I cleaned like a maniac to get ready; I even dragged the kids into the effort. You know what? I didn't mind it at all! I was so filled with anticipation of the evening festivities I didn't even think of what I was doing as "chores." It was a labor of love - I wanted my friends to feel comfortable, welcome and free to be as excited as I was about what I wanted to share with them.

Maybe that's why I am struggling with Easter. I have lost sight of my goal, allowing myself to be distracted by the minutia of the individual tasks themselves. My ultimate purpose for this weekend is what matters. Do I just want to get through the Eggstravaganza or do I want to share Jesus with children and their parents who may never have the opportunity to make a decision to follow Christ again in their lives? Why should I look at the preparation for Sunday morning as anything less than a labor of love? The Good News shared on this Easter morning is the most important message anyone will ever have the good fortune to hear! I have the opportunity to contribute to a comfortable, welcoming environment for people who may only visit our church once a year, or even once in their lifetime!

Wouldn't it be great if some of those occasional attenders saw a body of believers who were so genuinely loving to each other and to their Savior that they wanted nothing more than to come back the following week and learn more about whatever filled all of us with such joy? It would be a shame for them to see frazzled, impatient people, so caught up in the minutia of Easter dresses, our favorite seats and lunch plans that we aren't excited about the joyous celebration this Holy day commemorates!

HE IS OUR REDEMPTION!!
He paid our bond, our debt, through His sacrifice on the cross. Although we deserve eternal punishment for our disobedience to His law (our sin), He took on the punishment Himself, so we could be in fellowship with Him for eternity.

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. - Colossians 1:13-14

HE IS ALIVE!!
He didn't just rise from the dead, then fade into history. HE IS ALIVE RIGHT NOW!! He is physically in Heaven, preparing a place for us, his children, so we can one day join Him there.

Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. - Mark 16:6

And that is the crux of the matter, isn't it?

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

How can we not be excited about that? If we believe God is who He says He is, how can we keep that a secret? Why would we want to keep it a secret??

Now I'm getting excited! I can keep it simple and to the point. The kids can help prepare the Ham dinner, I'll happily wear a dress and Coco can spend the afternoon in the backyard. I'm going to keep the most important thing as the most important thing and let the people know that Jesus cares this weekend!

UPDATE:

1. I found my missing Van (sneaker) in the laundry room. The puppy left it beside the laundry hamper.

2. I have decided to wear boots.

God is Good!

First Fireproof Trailer

2008-03-10T20:12:00.000-07:00

From the group that gave us Facing the Giants and Flywheel (their less-known first effort) comes their next effort. I am so excited about this one! They posted their first trailer today and I had to share it here. So, for your viewing pleasure, here's the first trailer for FIREPROOF, opening this Fall, 2008:

I can't wait!!

If you'd like to keep up with the final production of the movie, release dates, maybe get a peek or two behind the scenes, check out the Fireproof Blog.

Finding Answers

2008-03-05T09:48:00.000-08:00

The world says we shouldn't care, we should just seek pleasure wherever it can be found. That's what the world says. In reality, we all want the same thing. Answers.

The answer to the important question not answered in this video?
Follow this link

Sorry about the bad word used in the beginning of this video. I debated about sharing it, but it speaks to a very real need we all have that can only be met in Jesus Christ.

Law and Order...and Grace

2008-03-04T11:18:00.000-08:00

Driving my children to school is often very frustrating for me. Although there are signs indicating how traffic should flow, who should go and who should wait, the majority of drivers seem to be unaware or uninterested in the posted information. We've all been sent home specific guidelines for how to safely drop off our children, but every day I see people walking their children through dangerous areas that were designed for only cars to pass through. The whole thing makes me so crazy I often end up lecturing everyone from my driver's seat, much to my children's embarrassment. I can't help it! If they would just READ THE INFORMATION given to us, there would be NO PROBLEMS AT ALL!! ARGH!!!

On my way home, I entered a neighborhood where an elementary school has been built in the center of all the homes...it's a great idea in theory, but the traffic can be maddening and nerve wracking with many drivers apparently believing the rules were put in place for everyone but them. It drives me nuts.

Today, as I approached the school, the road was just as crowded as usual, but everyone was driving safely - appropriately. I was in shock. I could not believe how lovely everyone was being! No one was driving over 25 mph, parents were not double parking and making their children jump out of their cars on the traffic-filled side of their cars (that one makes me want to slap someone in the back of their head, btw). I was so impressed! I was taking this orderly scene all in when I found the source for the order: A police car, lights flashing without the siren, was setting the pace in front of the usually erratic pack. Bless that officer!! We all made it past the school and all of the children were safely deposited in their classrooms. It felt great to be a part of such an organized procession and I was so thankful for that officer taking the time to keep us all in line, in spite of ourselves.

Isn't that just like our walk with God? He placed all of us here on this planet and gave us all the information we needed to be successful here (The Ten Commandments). So, what did we do with that information? We may have read it, but we pretty much disregard it whenever it conveniences us. Our behavior puts ourselves and those around us at risk for not only physical/emotional injury, but spiritual death. So, did God just throw in the towel and give up on us? Nope. He sent His Son, God made man, to step in front of us and set the pace.

Jesus came here and led the way. He showed us how to live our lives to glorify God. He knew we already had the rules for living set before us, but he loved us enough to also reduce Himself into the form of a man to show us it could actually be done. He came here, waved his arms and said, "This is how it's done. Follow me, mimic my example, and you'll get through this the way God wants you to get through this." That alone would have been miraculous, but He went further and went ahead and paid the penalty for the multitude of times when we disregarded God's law and instead pursued our own pleasure. He suffered and died to pay restitution for our selfishness. Because of Him, we can approach God as His children, forgiven and adopted into His family. What a gift.

That's grace.

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:1-2, NLT

1-800-Calorie Count

2008-03-03T06:43:00.000-08:00

Well, not exactly; but this is as good or even better. Now you can send a text message requesting either calorie/nutritional info or requesting Weight Watcher's points for many popular menu items served at restaurant chains across the country. You'll get a text reply that will include calorie counts or points info. The picture to the left shows the points value of a Turkey sandwich from Subway.

To get calorie info, text the name of the restaurant and the menu item (example: Subway Turkey Breast Sand) to DIET1 (34381). To get WW points info, add either "pt" or "points" to your text message (example: pt Subway Turkey Breast Sand) and send to DIET 1 (34381)

Visit their website and try it out for yourself there before you try it on your phone if you'd like.

Finally a good reason to use my text message feature!

Check Those Due Dates!

2008-03-02T09:40:00.000-08:00

link to article

"Beloit Public Library director said when books aren't returned, the library sends three overdue notices. After the third notice, a citation is sent that could include court date.

[The library patron] said she was in the process of moving so she never got the notices. When a police officer pulled her over for a traffic violation in November, the officer found out about her outstanding warrant and took her to jail. She and her family couldn't afford to pay her fine so she remained in jail for six days."

I'm speechless.

Update: I found an article that does a pretty good job of giving the library's side here.

The Beloit Public Library sends three overdue notices at two weeks late, four weeks late and six weeks late, said library director Dan Zack. After a third and final notice, a citation is sent, which includes a mandatory court date, or some kind of action.

The municipal fine that Givhan says she never saw included $172 in court fees and another $159 in restitution from the library for the items that were not returned, said Zack.

Notices were sent to Givhan to no avail, Zack said. And when court appearances were missed in March, April and June of last year, a warrant was issued.

Hmm...

God, Creator - Elohim

2008-02-29T10:09:00.000-08:00

Elohim (e-lo-HEEM): God, Mighty Creator.
In the beginning God (Elohim)...Genesis 1:1

It is the first name ever used for God. Before He was anything else to us, He was our creator.

He created light when there was only darkness, He created land, sea, and living creatures when there was only void and silence. He created man from the clay of the earth and His very breath.
He created order from chaos. He created companionship. When He was finished, He looked it all over and declared it to be "very good."

Elohim (e-lo-HEEM): Plural form of El.
Then God said, "Let us make..." Genesis 1:26

He is God of gods. He is Three in One. He is magnified above all others, the One True God. He is bigger than what can be contained in one, singular, name.

Elohim (e-lo-HEEM): Giver of Life
"Let us make man in our image, in our likeness..." Genesis 1:26

We are made in the image of God. Does my life reflect His likeness? Do I bear His image to the world?

Do I live a life of order? Of companionship? Of generous creativity? Of gratitude to the One who created me? Do I show Him proper respect? Do I reflect His light? When I go to bed tonight, will I be able to reflect on this day and say it was "very good?"

....meditating on this today.

Sucking up the Word

2008-02-27T13:20:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, I found a vacuum cleaner on clearance at Sam's Club and bought it. I needed a new one which was evidenced by the amount of icky stuff I pulled out of my living room carpet when I used my new Hoover for the first time. Yuck.

Last weekend, one of my loving family members graciously tidied up the house while I was running errands, including vacuuming the entire house. Lord, please bless them! As they finished up their task in the master bedroom, the brush in the vacuum stopped spinning. We checked to see if there was something stuck in it and couldn't find anything. We declared the belt to be broken and decided to stop by the home improvement store to purchase a replacement.

After taking a couple of days to locate the replacement belt, I waited not-so-patiently for either my husband or the daughter's boyfriend to fix the vacuum for me. They were busy, so it didn't get done. The mess of five grown people, two adult dogs, one cat and a rambunctious puppy was accumulating quickly. Today I couldn't take it anymore and decided to examine the vacuum cleaner myself. There was note on the vacuum cleaner to consult the manual for instructions on changing a belt. Check. I pulled out the manual and followed the instructions to the letter.

Guess what I discovered when I opened up the vacuum? The belt wasn't broken. It had just slipped off the "motor shaft," whatever that is. I slipped it back on, put the vacuum back together and plugged it in. It works like brand new (which it is, by the way)! I felt so good about myself when I was done. I knew more about how the vacuum cleaner works and am completely confident that, if a belt does break one day, I can handle it.

After I got the dogs all riled up from all my celebratory jumping around and high five-ing myself, I realized how much time I wasted by not tackling the issue myself in the first place. I knew there was a problem, but I waited for someone else to solve the problem for me. The longer I waited, the more annoyed and discouraged I became. If I had just turned to the manual written by the company that made the vacuum cleaner in the first place, I would have been able to tackle the issue immediately, eliminating the mess that piled up as a result.

I started thinking about how much we treat our spiritual lives the way I treated that vacuum. We feel like something is amiss and start blaming it on our Sunday School class or our Pastor or the lack of a special Bible study that we'd like to complete. We think, if our church would get all its ducks in a row, I'd be so much happier. We might even take it further and decide that the church isn't "feeding" us the way we need to be fed.

Instead of pointing the finger at everyone else when we feel a bit spiritually dry, maybe we should look at the manual our Creator left for us. The Bible. He left it for us to encourage and instruct us until He returns. We don't need to wait for our Sunday School teacher to read it to us; we don't need our Pastor to explain it to us; and we don't need a special Bible study to help us make sense of everything. All those things are wonderful blessings to us, but they aren't the most essential thing. Knowing God's Word for ourselves; seeking His truth on our own and applying it to our lives and circumstances as His Word instructs is such a better plan. Once we begin to understand for ourselves how God has set up this planet and how He expects us to live in it, we can deal with a lot of stuff without waiting for someone else to solve our problems for us. We will be able to live in confidence, knowing that when the day-to-day stuff happens, God and the Truth of His Word can get us through.

Of course, there are times we all love a supportive group around us as we find our way. That's why we have churches and families. God set up this world to provide those support systems for us. But knowing what our Savior expects of us, understanding our role in this world, is really our responsibility, not our Pastor's, Sunday School Teacher's, Deacon's, etc.

I'm certainly not saying there aren't times we NEED some outside guidance when things get overwhelming. When we really can't do it on our own, we absolutely should run to Godly counsel. I thank God He has placed people in our midst with the ability to shine a light for us when our spiritual batteries seem completely dead. But, for the daily stuff, and even some of that angsty why-isn't-my-life-turning-out-the-way-I-want baggage, the answers can be found in the truth found in our operating manual, the Bible. The problem is, if we don't read it, consider it and apply it to our lives, we'll never really know how effective His Word can be for us. We were created to function well; we just need to read the manual.

I Am Enchanted

2008-02-24T20:37:00.000-08:00

If you have a chance to take your kids to see this one, you HAVE to do it! Our internet was down for most of the day yesterday and I took my daughter to see Enchanted. It was so fun! If you don't have any kids to take to see it, borrow some or be brave and go sans children. It is so worth it!

I dare you to watch this video and not smile!

That's How You Know

Schooled in the Wal-Mart Parking Lot

2008-02-22T13:57:00.000-08:00

As rain fell sporadically this afternoon, I popped into the store I hate to love to pick up some diet cola and eye makeup remover. You guessed it, I'm planning an amazing night of soda consumption and beauty treatments. It is Friday, after all!

$50 later (never knew eye makeup remover was so expensive, did ya!), I took my full cart through the checkout line and headed for the car, only I can't see my car. I knew exactly where I parked it, but I couldn't see it. I sped up my pace, hoping to be able to see past the minivan blocking my view to confirm my car is still where I already know it is. Confusing and silly enough? Oh, it gets better, my friends!

This obsession with laying my peepers on my car has me all befuddled. I'm pushing the cart, craning my neck, rushing to find a better vantage point when it happens: I skip into the deepest, dirtiest, widest puddle in at least a 100 foot radius. Muddy, smelly water fills my last pair of Vans (lost my other pair in the bathroom flood last week - still not ready to talk about the loss), soaks the lower half of my right leg and splashes me up to the waistband of my jeans. Yuck.

I swim my way out of the muck and realize that, from the other side of the cavernous puddle, I can see my car perfectly fine. It is exactly where I left it. Duh. I was so embarrassed! Thankfully, no one I knew saw me...at least I don't think they did.

After shaking the drippy water off, loading my trunk with shopping bags dotted with mud and heading home, I had a moment of clarity.

How often do I waste my time focusing on things that either don't matter or I already know the answer to while neglecting to be alert regarding the stuff that really does matter?

Who cares if so-and-so said something thoughtless that bothers me? God already knows about it! Why should it matter if my efforts are not recognized? God sees the heart. He knows my motivations. So what if I don't know exactly what is in store for me in my life over the next few years? God is already there and will equip me for whatever comes my way.

In the meantime, I didn't read my Bible this morning. I was running late. I neglected completing a task I need to finish. I didn't want to face it. I ate cookies for breakfast. I didn't feel like going to the trouble of making my planned oatmeal (and it didn't sound appetizing). As a result, I am not meditating on God's word, I have an unfinished task nagging at every thought and my stomach is not happy. Wouldn't it be better to focus on those things I can control, knowing God's got the unseen stuff covered? At the very least, I'd have more peace in my life as a result. That, and I'd have less clean up to deal with this afternoon.

Class dismissed.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - Matthew 6:33-34

A REAL SUPERBOWL VICTORY!!

2008-02-22T11:49:00.000-08:00

Churches can return to having Superbowl Parties beginning next year!

YAHOOOOOO!!!! Here's an excerpt from the article:

The NFL, which found itself on the receiving end of protests and controversy after it objected to churches showing the Super Bowl on big-screen televisions, has reversed course and will now permit the viewings.

In a letter to Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league would not object to "live showings -- regardless of screen size -- of the Super Bowl" by religious organizations.

In response to questions from Hatch, Goodell said in the letter, dated Feb. 19, the NFL will implement the policy starting with next year's Super Bowl.

Read whole article here

I LOVE THIS!!! Bring on the 7-layer Mexican Dip!! Better yet, I propose my church have a Chili Cook off next Superbowl Sunday!!! (Of course, I nominate Cynthia to plan the whole thing. I may not be able to pass a football, but I can sure pass the buck!)

Here's my blogging history regarding this issue. I can now put this issue to rest. Yay!!

Planner Pages : FlyLady Control Journal

2008-02-21T12:34:00.000-08:00

I'm moving full steam ahead with my day planner, adding an item or so per day. So far, it has not become overwhelming at all. I am so grateful to Donna Partow for getting me started through her study: Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be.

Today, I decided to incorporate some home management tools I have used in the past into my new planner. Many of you probably already know about FlyLady. She has a GREAT website with fabulous tools to help those of us who are organizationally challenged get our lives in order. One tool she offers is a "control journal." It breaks down household obligations/chores into daily activities, reserving a specific day each week to tackle recurring tasks and reminding us what things need to be done daily.

Her plan is extremely useful, so I decided to format this list to fit my planner. Since I went to all the trouble to put it together, I thought I'd share it with others who can use it here.

Control Journal 5.5 x 8.5 **sorry, link doesn't work anymore. I'll post it somewhere else and re-link soon**

Set it up to print by telling your printer you want to print two pages per sheet after clicking the "properties" button before you actually print the page. Also, tell it to print two-sided. The pages look out of order in my pdf document, but when you print two to a page, two-sided, you'll cut each page in half and they'll be set up perfectly, beginning with the Monday routine on the front page and finishing with the Weekly Checklist on the back. I put it behind my tab marked "daily" in my planner.

Don't Tug on Superman's Cape or Mess Around with My '70s Music!

2008-02-19T16:10:00.000-08:00

Travis Cottrell spent some time compiling a list of his favorite '80s music on his blog today. I was a teen in the '80s, but had older sisters who sowed their wild oats in the '70s and took me along for the ride. Without my precious big sisters, I might still think "I've Got a Mansion," is the most rockin' tune ever. Although I still like that song a lot (and In the Garden), I cut my musical eye teeth on popular music in the '70s and feel like I need to represent for my fellow flower children.

I have to say first, though, that my most favorite popular song in the history of history is Respect by Aretha Franklin. I even named my Ford FiveHundred Aretha. I am serious. Ask my kids. Since that amazing song was done in the late '60s, I can't officially put it on this list. Just know it's #1 on any list for me.

The title of this blog entry comes from one of the songs listed here. Any idea which one?

Now, without further ado, the best of the '70s according to me:

I Go Crazy (No smarmy comments, please. Too obvious.)
Just The Way You Are (Sing to me, Billy!)
The Closer I Get To You (I'm getting swoony!)
Reminiscing (top ten for sure)
Always And Forever (theme for my 8th grade graduation)
Whenever I Call You Friend
Car Wash (Go ahead, start clapping to the beat!)
Fly Like An Eagle
Easy (like Sunday mornin'. Yeah.)
Don't Stop
Cold As Ice
Boogie Nights
Don't Go Breaking My Heart
December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)
Love Machine
Boogie Fever
Right Back Where We Started From
Baby, I Love Your Way
Shining Star
Best Of My Love
I'm Not In Love
When Will I Be Loved (Those three listed consecutively like that make me look pathetic)
You Are So Beautiful
How Sweet It Is (to be loved by you)
Show And Tell
Time In A Bottle (Jim Croce wrote it for his newborn son. Sweet)
Then Came You
Crocodile Rock
You're So Vain
Superstition
Midnight Train To Georgia
Papa Was A Rolling Stone (kind of an angry sort of song, but I really dig it)
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Lean On Me
You Don't Mess Around With Jim
Joy To The World (Jeremiah was a bullfrog)
You've Got A Friend
Aint No Sunshine
Amos Moses (One of the great story songs of the '70s)
Mr. Bojangles
Proud Mary
If (Don't judge me)
Close To You
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
O-o-h Child
Signed Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)
Fire And Rain (It's cool to hear my name in a song even if this particular Suzanne met an untimely end)

Admittedly, most of these songs are from the early 70's. Something happened in the music industry in the latter part of that decade that no one seems to be able to explain. (My Sharona? Y.M.C.A?)

So, did I leave any of your faves off the list?

Valentine's Dessert

2008-02-14T20:57:00.000-08:00

Chocolate Heart-Shaped cookies

piled atop a scrumpdiddlyumptious

Red Velvet Cupcake.

Placed on my favorite thrift store find ever...fine china!

Tied with an adorable ribbon,

Dusted with powdered sugar.

Perfect!

Valentines Madness

2008-02-14T08:54:00.000-08:00

This morning, the hubby surprised us all by actually participating in Valentine's Day! Indeed, he did write "This is a made up holiday" on the envelope of each of our cards, but he actually gave us cards! Then, if that wasn't enough, he gifted us with an entire CASE of our most favoritest chips in the WORLD...Taco Works Tortilla Chips! You can only get them on the California coast (they're based in San Luis Obispo). He went there for business last week and bought a case in anticipation of Valentines Day. Will wonders never cease??

The kids and I were already in total awe at his generous gift and amazing advanced planning when, nestled in the case of chips, we discovered a jar of the most amazing honey we have ever tasted. Lavender Honey from Clairmont Farms in the Santa Ynez Valley region of California (they filmed the movie "Sideways" there).

If I wasn't feeling loved already, I was able to go to church this morning for a special praise and prayer time before I took the kids to school. We lifted up love songs to our Lord and He loved us right back. I was a weepy mess!

Fresh off my Jesus high, as I am driving the kids to school, we spot an elderly lady crossing the street using a walker. The cars in front of us slow down to give her some comfort space as she crosses and we notice her waving at everyone as they pass once she is safely across. I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy with love until I notice she's only waving with her middle finger.

Sometimes you just have to laugh.

Happy Love Day, everyone! Don't forget to wave with all five fingers!

Planner Pages to Print

2008-02-13T09:56:00.000-08:00

I am on day 8 of Donna Partow's newest Bible study: Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be. You can still access the FREE downloadable study here. I am really enjoying the process of getting my life in order one day at a time.

One problem: The forms she offers in the downloadable book are not formatted for my 5.5x8.5 planner and the link she provides for finding the forms online are not yet active. So, I used the information provided in her study and formatted the forms to fit my planner. Since I went to the effort, I thought I'd try to share the forms I have completed so far here.

When you click on the link provided, the PDF file will open up on your computer. You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read them, though.

Let me know if these are helpful to you. Please.

link: Printable 5.5x8.5 Bible Study Page for Planner

link: Printable 5.5 x 8.5 Daily Planner Page

link: Printable 5.5 x 8.5 Blank Lined Paper

You'll notice a bit of naked space in the margins, especially on that last page. That's because the pages actually have to be a bit shorter than 5.5 inches to fit in the binder and still be able to see the divider tabs easily. I printed each form on two sides of the same sheet of paper, trimmed about 1/2" off the edge, then cut the page in half. All you have to do after that is punch holes and put them into your planner.

Posting this now. Fingers crossed! Hope this works!

The Great Bathroom Flood of 2008

2008-02-08T11:14:00.001-08:00

Dateline: Bakersfield, California

The sun was shining for the first time in many days. One recently-returned-to-homemaker status woman was capitalizing on all the warmth and clear skies by giving her oven a good scrub down. She was expecting her sister, niece and nephew the following day for a weekend of family togetherness and wanted everything to be nice for them.

Then it happened. She felt the urge to visit the most private of rooms. She drew closer and a chill ran down her spine as a distinctive hissing sound emanated from behind a closed door.

::cue theme from Jaws::

She opened her bedroom door and every nerve in her body leaped to full alert status. A lake was forming throughout her master bathroom, threatening to engulf her bedroom as well.

RED ALERT!! DEFCON 5!! WHOMP-WHOMP-WHOMP!!!

Faster than she thought she could move, she swiftly lept over the pile of clean laundry at the foot of her bed, threw open the door, navigated the torrential waters spilling from the shower drain and spun the shut off valve into full stop mode! Now ankle-deep in water, she frantically searched the far reaches of her mind for any tool she could think of that would help her in this situation.

She remembered the Wet-Dry vacuum, purchased at a yard sale over 20 years ago and rarely used. Wading out of the bathroom, she squished her way to the garage where she last gazed upon her saving hope. It was perched on a window sill. She embraced it lovingly and carried it to her source of distress. But, alas, the yard-sale find had a power cord that had obviously been repaired more than once; it was only about 2 inches long.

Again, homemaker-woman sought a source for rescue in the garage. This time, she found an industrial extension cord. Dragging it up from the ground and winding the cord as she ran, she approached the flood zone one more time. With both tools hooked together, the suction device sprang into life, only to be gummed up by the dirt already inside the tank - a small detail missed by H.W. Following a quick and messy mud removal surgery, extraction began with gusto.

Nearly one hour and 25 full tanks later, the bathroom was spongy but navigable. By that time, the husband had come home to help with the heavy lifting. Dressers were moved, desks rotated, carpet and pad cut out and dumped; after 4 hours of hard work, most of the damage had been mitigated.

Assessment:

Lost in flood:

Favorite Cook Book. That's what I get for reading while indisposed and not picking up after myself. I'll miss you, Angel Biscuits.

Digital Scale with body fat analyzer. Purchased recently. Full understanding of product functions not yet realized by any member of this family.

Most beloved pair of Vans. Not ready to talk about it.

Gained in flood:

A renewed respect for the way hubby and I work together in a crisis. We may be impatient and demanding from time to time, but, when the chips are down, I wouldn't want anyone but him by my side.

Getting rid of that nasty bathroom carpet. Who puts carpet in a bathroom? It was there when we bought the house, so we lived with it. I'm glad I don't have to live with it any more...even though I may have to put up with nothing to walk on but a cement floor for a few months while we save the money for tile/re-tile supplies.

Confidence in myself. I didn't collapse into a heap when everything was crashing around me. I handled it, messy as it was. Good for me!

An opportunity to discuss with hubby how we can have joy in all situations; not because we like the situations, but because we serve a BIG God who is going to bring something good from this.

Hopeful anticipation of what good God is going to bring from this. Will we improve our budgeting skills? Will we end up with a beautiful retreat when all is done? I can't wait to find out!

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. - Romans 8:28, NLT

My Life in Six Words...

2008-02-06T20:58:00.000-08:00

...My Faith has set me FREE!

From an article in the LA Times about a challenge issued by "SMITH, our online magazine" to summarize your life in six words. Try it yourself!

Go RED Today!

2008-02-01T00:05:00.000-08:00

February 1 is National WEAR RED Day!

The goal is to raise awareness of heart disease among women. We are more at risk than we want to consider, ladies. We have people whom we love very much depending on us. As busy as we are, it is in the best interest of not only ourselves but also our loved ones to take the time to assess our risk for heart attack and stroke. I lost my father to heart disease seven years ago and know I am at risk of facing the same fate. Still, it has been awhile since I've visited my doctor to have my heart health evaluated.

Take the time to go to Go Red For Women and take the FREE Go Red Heart Check Up. If you know your Cholesterol level, Blood Pressure and Fasting Blood Sugar level, they'll send you a FREE Red Dress pin when you complete the Check Up online. Do it for your family. I will if you will!

And WEAR RED TODAY!!

Cool Bible Study Freebie

2008-01-31T08:44:00.000-08:00

Becoming the Woman God Wants Me To Be: A 90-Day Jumpstart for Living the Proverbs 31 Life
by Donna Partow

Follow the link to recieve a FREE PDF copy of her newest devotional/study. The formatting of the book is not completely finished (you'll see some notes where she mentions future editing possibilities), but if you're looking for a study to help you "get it together," and have limited funds or time to leave the house to seek out a study for yourself this looks like an excellent option.

The study has to be started on a Monday and requires some preparation/supplies before you begin. If you look at it today and decide to do the study, you can have everything ready by next Monday. In this study, Mrs. Partow covers every aspect of a woman's life that I can think of: Faith, Family, Fitness, Personal Appearance, Finances & Retirement Planning, Household Management, Ministry, Business, and Self-Management are areas she specifically addresses in the overview.

The book is scheduled to be released June 1, 2008. Once you complete the study, you may want to get some copies to share with friends. It looks pretty good to me!

You can learn more about Donna Partow at her website: http://www.donnapartow.com/

UPDATE: I found a notebook on my bookshelf that will hold the paper size required for the organizer used for this study. I found one identical to the one I have at staples.com for $3.49. Tab dividers (5), also needed, can be found on the same page (check "recommended items") for $1.49.

Then I tripped over this website that is the ultimate resource for setting up a personal organizer on the cheap. They even have templates you can download and print so you don't have to buy that expensive 5.5 x 8.5 paper!

www.diyplanner.com Wowser. This is going to suck up waaaay too much of my time today!!

Eeeeww! A Game Day Caviat

2008-01-31T07:09:00.000-08:00

Finally, a useful study!

Students at Clemson University decided to test the issue brought up in an old episode of Seinfeld: Is double-dipping unsanitary?

In short: Yes.

One exerpt:

"On average, the students found that three to six double dips transferred about 10,000 bacteria from the eater’s mouth to the remaining dip.

Each cracker picked up between one and two grams of dip. That means that sporadic double dipping in a cup of dip would transfer at least 50 to 100 bacteria from one mouth to another with every bite. "

Gross. No double-dipping, people!!

link: read the whole story here

You are Not Alone!

2008-01-28T08:58:00.000-08:00

Beth Moore's LPM blog is in the midst of a conversation with women that will bless you. If you have ever felt like you weren't "good enough" or "spiritual enough," you need to read these two blog entries and the generous comments other women left behind for you to explore. We all struggle, we all trip and fall. God is merciful and loves each one of us exactly where we are. I have set up a link to the two blogs. Read the oldest (last) one first.

link: Breaking Free/Living Free

Legos ROCK! Happy Anniversary LEGO!!

2008-01-28T07:47:00.000-08:00

"It was at 1:58 p.m. on January 28, 1958, that then-Lego head Godtfred Kirk Christiansen filed a patent for the iconic plastic brick with its stud and hole design. Since then, the company has made a staggering 400 billion Lego elements, or 62 bricks for every person on the planet."

Complete article here.

Those little plastic bricks have meant the world to us in our family. Anyone else? I was one of the "earthy" young moms who was adamant about my children never owning toy guns. Guess what my son built out of legos when he was three? Yup. Of course, he had chewed his toast into the shape of a gun at least one year earlier.

From there he graduated to towers and action figures. He loved Bionicles. We have visited Legoland in Oceanside, CA, about 30 minutes north of San Diego. I've included some pics here from our times there. What a blast!

For the longest time, the boy planned on putting himself through college (he told us he wanted to be an engineer when he was 5 and has never wavered in his decision) by being a lego builder at Legoland. Now that he wants to go to CalTech, he thinks he'll try to find work closer to Pasadena.

For those of you who love legos, but would love to take them to the next level, I found this book recently. I haven't seen it in person, but it looks like lots of fun for Legomaniacs who may have gotten older but never completely grew up.

Forbidden Lego: Build the Models Your Parents Warned You Against!

Hint: We have TONS of lego bricks, but paid very little for them. If you have lego lovers in your home, I highly recommend getting up early on Saturday and visiting some yard sales. You can get buckets of legos for just a couple of bucks.

What great memories!

The Moses Code - Are You Kidding Me??

2008-01-24T13:52:00.000-08:00

Don't shoot the messenger. Coming to a screening venue near you some time in early April, 2008. If "The Secret" wasn't blasphemous enough, this ought to do the trick. Have Mercy.

Update: This link is better, I think:

I found a document that appears to be a version of the book "The Moses Code" that is being released March 1, 2008. You can find that document by clicking here.

From my quick perusal of the document, it appears that the "code" that will unlock all wealth and power into your life is to understand what "I am" means, at least in the author's ( James Twyman) eyes. It appears to be a reworking of that whole prosperity doctrine, taking Jesus completely out of the picture though. You know, ask for whatever you want in my name and it will be given to you; only this time it is referring to the most Holy name of our Creator. The author, Mr. Twyman, seems to think invoking the Holy name of God (I AM) is some sort of magic enchantment that will draw anything you ask for to you. The author asserts that everything is one with God, so if we name something as part of us (ex: "I am wealthy"), and we are one with God and that thing is one with God, we are one with that thing. We just have to claim that thing as part of us and it will come to us.

In short, invoking God's name, Twyman claims, will bring us anything we ask for.

Dare I mention the third commandment? I'm just sayin'....

And that's just in the first 20 pages! It goes downhill from there. Read this:

"The Moses Code doesn't work when you ask for what you
want, but rather, when you "feel" then "know" that you
already have the thing you are seeking. Then the very
thing you are seeking is automatically drawn to you
because the Universe does understand lack. It
understands only abundance simply because God only
gives, or expands."

I'll end with this:

"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve." - Jeremiah 17:9-10

As soon as we start relying on our fleshly "feelings," we're in serious trouble.

Wow.

Praise At All Times

2008-01-21T08:31:00.000-08:00

I will praise the LORD at all times,
His praise will always be on my lips. - Psalm 34:1

Yesterday, as I was helping lead our time of vocal praise and worship at church, I found myself watching the faces before me. In the crowd I saw people with hands and heads lifted, caught up in a time of revelry with our LORD. I saw others following the words on the screen overhead, some smiling, some obviously considering the words being sung and some with foreheads wrinkled, fully concentrating on getting the words right. There were some just staring ahead, expressionless, and a couple with arms folded, obviously wishing this part of the service would end quickly. In some faces I could see the tracks of their tears.

Every church is composed of a pretty diverse gaggle of humanity. Some have been pursuing Christ for decades and some are brand spankin' new at this whole "Jesus" thing. There are people who have gone to church their whole lives and have no idea what it really means to be free. Some understand how free we can be in Christ, but occasionally decide to voluntarily wear the chains of unforgiveness, legalism, pride, etc., that hinder our ability to experience the joy promised to us every day.

And Jesus loves every single one of us, exactly where we are. And we can praise Him, exactly where we are. That doesn't mean we all have to dance around in front of the sanctuary waving scarves to prove we know how to worship our Savior, but it does mean we are free to adore Him for who He is, not for how He makes us feel.

I'm reading a book I'll review when I'm finished, but in the meantime, I wanted to share a couple of quotes from 31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers on this subject.

"True praise is unconditional. It's not an attempt to manipulate God into producing the precise results we hope for. Instead, it helps us accept our situation as it is, whether or not He changes it." - Ruth Myers

"Continued Praise helps us reach the place where we can say, 'Father I don't want You to remove this problem until You've done all you want to do through it, in me and in others.'" - Ruth Myers

"To give thanks when you don't feel like it is not hypocrisy; it's obedience." - Dr. Jack Mitchell

Praise Him at all times. No matter what.

A New Direction

2008-01-10T08:10:00.000-08:00

For the first time in a few years, I don't have an office to go to every day anymore. Although I still work for the same business, I have elected to scale back my responsibilities to the bare minimum. What I will continue to do for my employer can be handled at home with occasional update visits to the office.

Although I have loved being able to use my abilities to earn an income, I am ready to use those same abilities to bless my family and to glorify God. I need to write something more substantial than blog entries. The Lord has been shaking my shoulders about this for some time, but lately He has kicked things up a notch. I haven't been able to write much of anything for quite some time now. I am convinced it is because I need to focus my thoughts and insights toward creating something more lasting than writings that are read for maybe a day or so, then soon forgotten.

This has been a wonderful venue for me to begin to test myself as a writer and I will continue to blog on a regular basis, but my writings here will be scaled back a bit. The deeper writing is going to be compiled into something more permanent.

I am so thankful for the encouragement I have received by those of you who comment regularly here and to those who comment to me face-to-face when we cross paths in the real world. Please continue to encourage and pray for me in the coming months. I'll need all the support I can get. I am not as confident in my writing ability as I'd like, but I am confident in my Savior.

Thanks for everything!

Taking Scrapping to a Deeper Level

2008-01-08T11:41:00.000-08:00

Have you ever considered using your love of scrapbooking to glorify God? FaithSisters.com is a website I discovered that encourages us to do just that. They are organizing a challenge this year to scrapbook about our faith. Can you imagine what an amazing scrapbook will result from rising to such a challenge? What a gift to leave behind for our children and grandchildren! A new challenge will be issued every week. By the end of the year, you will have a 52 page legacy. Cool!

link: Faith Discovery Challenge 2008

UPDATE: There is more than one challenge on the faithsisters site. This Challenge begins this Friday, January 11, 2008. You have time to do a bit of research before we begin. Sorry for the confusion.

I'll post my pages as I finish them. Hold me accountable, people!

The Simple Things.

2008-01-07T14:31:00.000-08:00

Today is my favorite son's 14th Birthday. I only have one son, but that makes him no less a favorite in my book!

Last night I was performing my very last 13-year-old tuck-in and was feeling especially sappy and generous. I asked him what he wanted for his birthday dinner. Every restaurant in a 20 mile radius was offered to him plus a plethora of his favorite meals, including barbecued hamburgers. Such a meal would be a true sacrifice of love considering our chilly and wet weather today. After entertaining all the options, he chose to have a mexican fiesta a la Suzanne of Bakersfield! Yay!

As soon as I hopped out of bed this morning, I began my shopping list: Fresh corn tortillas to fry into shells (no taco shells from the box would do for my fella!), lean beef, all the makings for authentic mexican rice and beans, plus every accompaniment I could come up with. The task looked daunting, but I was determined to do this for my boy.

Within minutes of my awakening, the Birthday Boy was at my side.

"Mom?"

"Yes, my favorite son, Birthday Boy, computer wizard, incredi-geek, love bear; what can I do for you"

::favorite son rolls eyes, sighs and smiles::

"Is it too late to change my dinner request?"

"It is never too late, babe. Would you rather have barbecue? Go out to eat? You name it!"

"Well.....I know this sounds weird.....I'd really like to have hamburger helper."

"Huh?"

"Yeah. I woke up and the first thing I thought of was hamburger helper. Could we have that for dinner?"

::doting mom rolls eyes, sighs and smiles::

"Absolutely."

"Thanks, Mom."

I just love that kid!

Wouldn't it be great if we all could learn that lesson? Instead of letting others influence us about what would bring us joy, what if we took the time to ask ourselves what we really want? I suspect we'd be surprised at how little it really takes to bring contentment.

Saved by Candied Popcorn

2008-01-07T14:29:00.000-08:00

Did you know a regular box of Cracker Jack contains only 120 calories?? Yes!!

...Thank you, Lord, for your provision. amen

I'm All Abuzzzz

2008-01-04T14:24:00.000-08:00

New Years Morning I went for a walk with my Tuckerlicious dog and encountered something so

unique I ran home and grabbed my camera.

A beehive! It was sitting there in the middle of a field, treated as though it were garbage. For shame! This is anything but garbage: It contains nourishment, life and enough danger to be worthy of a healthy respect. Look at how intricate the honeycomb is! To think a multitude of individual creatures managed to create something that fits together so perfectly! Everything in the hive works together to create the optimum environment to create and sustain life. It even nourishes others outside the hive!

Miraculous.

I wonder if this isn't similar to the way the world treats God's Word, the Bible. The Bible certainly isn't an object to be worshiped, that's for sure. However, in it lies an amazing treasure...if we are willing to look for it. It is the tangible gift our Saviour has left here to sustain us until He returns. It was written by individual human beings, inspired by God Himself, and forms one cohesive truth for us to live by. Within the pages of the Bible we can find what is needed to encourage, bring joy, guide us; to sustain our lives. As we are sustained and encouraged through the Word, we are free to encourage and spiritually nourish others who aren't spending time in Bible study. When they see how richer our lives are as a result of growing in knowledge through study, they may be encouraged to study for themselves.

The Word is even sweeter when it is scooped up and tasted with our own hands.

How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! - Psalm 119:103

Learning to Take It

2008-01-03T12:20:00.000-08:00

Receiving complements is something I really stink at. I am the reigning queen of deflection. Seriously. When any praise is handed to me, my standard m.o. is to say "thanks," but run down the list in my head of why they didn't really mean what they said.

I have come to realize how out of line that type of thinking is. When others complement God's creation (me) and I reject their complements, I am essentially calling God a liar. As I reread that last sentence, it looks a little crazy. Maybe if I share a recent example it may make more sense.

On Christmas Eve our church holds a special service. Many churches do this, I suspect. Anyway, I sang at the service. As I was gathering my things to leave, a few people approached me and shared their appreciation and complemented my talent. I said "thank you," but my brain immediately started in with:

- They have to say that because they're your friends.

- They just want to end the evening on a positive note...tomorrow is Christmas, after all.

- Only a couple of people even said anything. Everyone else is probably too embarrassed for me to even say a word to me.

Seriously, I am messed up when it comes to receiving complements. Now the world knows. Plus, I have just said all that stuff about someone whom God regards much more highly:

I am God's Temple - 1 Corinthians 3:16

I am Wonderfully Made - Psalm 139:14

I am Free from Condemnation - Romans 8:1

And just read this: "For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority." Colossians 2:9-10

I am complete. I am Wonderfully Made. I am Free from Condemnation. I am God's Temple. To say I am less than any of these things is to call God a liar.

When someone says "Great job," I need to say "Thanks," receive it and believe it.

I've just covered the why - I found a great article that covers the how to. Follow this link to read more about how to take a compliment.

NFL/Superbowl Saga Continues

2007-12-29T16:54:00.000-08:00

Last year, I shared my annoyance with the NFL for not allowing churches to hold superbowl parties. I even sent them a letter.

My first entry with all of the basic information can be read following this link.

You can read the letter I sent to the NFL through this link.

They sent a rude reply to my letter. That can be read following this link.

Now someone has found a loophole to the "big screen" controversy. I sure hope this guy finds a church willing to take the NFL to task over this. The idea that BARS can have superbowl parties and not CHURCHES still bugs me. And I loather football!

Here's a short clip of the article:

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the reason bars and sporting establishments are permitted to show the game on larger screens is a legal exemption for organizations that use them year-round instead of for a one-time event. Baptist Press knows of at least one unidentified church that called the NFL earlier this year and cited the exemption for those who use large screens year-round. The church argued that because it uses its screen year-round, it should be exempted. The NFL allowed the church to hold the party without interference.

Super-Cool! I really hope a church steps up and makes an issue of this. I know it's not necessarily a hill worth dying on if you look at it on the surface. When you think about it, though, this is a basic right being denied Christians that bars can enjoy. Is it discrimination? I'm not sure, but it's something worth considering, IMO.

You can read the entire article by following this link.

Then He Left Her

2007-12-27T15:37:00.000-08:00

I must confess to paying little attention to Jesus' mother, Mary, when she is mentioned in the Bible. Because she is almost always mentioned in the context of her son, The Son of God, my focus has been on what those passages tell me about my Messiah. This Christmas, however, I paid attention.

In Luke 1, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to tell her how her life was about to change. Mary understandably freaked out for a minute or two, asking all of the obvious questions. Gabriel answered each one and Mary ultimately surrendered her will to the plan of God:

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered, "May it be to me as you have said."
Very brave answer, in my opinion. Here's where my interest was piqued, though. No sooner did she utter these words then the angel who brought such incredible news did the most frustrating thing: He left.

Left!

Here's a teenage girl who has apparently lived her life in such a way that God took notice. She was betrothed, as any upstanding young woman in her culture was at the time, to an upstanding man in her community. Her life was just beginning! Then an angel came and delivered news that would turn her life upside-down. Even so, she accepted it. Yet, as soon as she began to wrap her brain around the concept of being the mother of the Messiah, the only one who could tell her what to do next left.

Left!

The reason this has stuck with me is that this is exactly the situation we can find ourselves in when we feel God calling us to make a change in our lives. We may feel convicted to become more involved in serving in our local church through teaching Sunday school or helping with Awanas, for example, or maybe we have been struck with the need to take better care of our "temples". Then, the minute we make that commitment we are struck with the challenges we may face as we seek to fulfill that commitment. God convicts us, we submit, then -BAM- we're on our own to actually do the thing we said we'd do.

Many of us use this time of year to review our habits and commitments of the past year and resolve to make some positive changes. We may even pray about them and truly believe God wants us to make those changes in our lives. We'll commit to them then -BAM- one week later, we're filled with guilt and regret at our failure to follow through. Obviously, I've experienced this scenario more times than I will ever admit to anyone!

This year, I would like to make some positive changes in my life and believe those changes are fully based on how the Bible teaches me to live. I am convicted to make those changes and I desire to follow through. I am so glad the Lord revealed through Mary's example some ways I can be successful, even when I'm on my own to see things through.

1. Seek out support.

Once the angel left, Mary packed and hurried to Elizabeth's house. They were both facing pregnancies that would shock their communities. They helped each other through the tough stuff.

Finding others who are on our same path of change to take the journey with can be the greatest success tool there is. There's nothing like having someone to celebrate and commiserate with who knows exactly what you're going through.

2. Stay positive.

Mary focused on the blessing she was receiving, not on the upheaval caused by an unexpected pregnancy. (v46-47, 49)

We can keep our minds on the positive aspects of the changes we are making. For example, if we commit to teaching a Bible Study once a week, we could focus on how much time we have to spend preparing or we can appreciate how much time we now make to study God's word. What a gift we give ourselves when we spend more time in Bible study!

3. Keep the result in mind.

Mary praised God and knew that she would be revered for all generations to come for the sacrifice she was making now. (v.48)

What will our lives look like once we are successful in our quest for improvement? How will our friends and family see us differently when we meet a goal we set for ourselves? Will these changes improve our relationships? Those are all great things to keep in focus!

4. Focus on others, not yourself.

Mary could have become self-indulgent through her entire pregnancy. After all, she was giving birth to the Word made Flesh! Who would fault her for wanting to have someone rub her swollen ankles or maybe even sleep in? Instead, she made herself useful in Elizabeth's home. Using my limited math abilities, it appears Mary was told of her pregnancy in Elizabeth's sixth month and stayed with Elizabeth for three months. Sounds like she stayed until John the B. was born to me. How nice it must have been for Elizabeth to have someone to help her with the household chores during her last trimester.

When we face challenges and changes, it can be easy to fall into a mode of self-pity. Feeling sorry for ourselves because we feel deprived, restricted or whatever gets us nowhere and sets us up for failure. Instead, we can turn our energies toward blessing others. If we decide to fast once a week, how about serving a meal at a shelter that day? If we start feeling overwhelmed by leading a study group, we can stop and write a note to a member of the group, encouraging them to keep up with their studies. That's the crux of loving our neighbors as ourselves, I think; placing their needs before our own.

I'll be keeping Mary's example in mind as I face changes in my life in the coming weeks. If you, too, are planning to make some life improvements, I hope these ideas help you as your journey begins. Blessings!